Daily THOUGHT #77 "The Replay Button"

"Many things in life are right before your eyes, you just have to know what you're looking for"

Hello there my people! How are things for you? I am doing quite well today, just enjoying these last few days off before getting back into the swing of things...Can you believe that 2011 is only 4 days away from being over. I still remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on New Years Day as if it were last week or something. Today is also interesting to me because I am reflecting on the memory of my Granny...my Mother's Mother. Today she would have been celebrating her birthday, but I still am very thankful for the life that she did get to live and the influence that she had on mine.

So many times, even when we aren't sleeping, we wake up out of nowhere and realize that we are in a situation that has escalated to something way more than we imagined it could be. As we are going about our daily lives we have spur of the moment realizations that flash scenes in our head that warn us, remind us or bring us ideas to various encounters that we experience in life. Wouldn't it be amazing if you could just press replay and view how everything leads up to everything? I sure think it would.

Great TV shows tend to have several different scenes going on at the same time. Although the camera may be focused on one particular person or area, there is always something else going on...and mind you it's happening chronologically. Ever thought about how people just always seem to show up at the right time when you are watching a sitcom? Characters will be talking about a particular character and then that actor walks in...or characters will be in discussion of something and they end the conversation by suggestion things needed to be done by someone and then a character walks in...You know life is the same way.

I'm pretty sure that all of you are familiar with the phrase "history repeats itself". I like to believe that this is very true and more so applicable to the issues we face daily as a person, more so than an actual event happening more than once. This can too be confusing, so don't get it twisted up. A lot of times, especially at the young age, people will experience partnerships with a significant other and things will either go swell or not swell at all. From this...assumption, expectation and mental embroidery is established. "Mental embroidery is the development of patterned thinking that comes over time due to repetition of activities and/or overwhelming experiences."When this happens, the inner self is molded. Better hope for positivity!

Each day we develop habits, simply because we chose to do something again that we did before. So many times in our life we will do things and not even realize that we are doing it, simply because it has become so natural. I see myself now, so much like my father in aspects that I never thought we would have been similarly comparable...this comes with age, maturing and concept understanding. We must soon realize that we can not truly understand the manners of life if we are not familiar with the concepts that have been developed to make things work. Parents and guardians have hopefully experienced these concepts and are able and willing to share with young people. Because of this, the parent raises the child instead of the child raising the parent.

Earlier this football season the AAMU Bulldogs took on the Tuskegee Golden Tigers. Now let me tell you, those TU fans were something serious. They had to be the rudest people that I ever had met and when we won, it made their attitudes worse. Now any average Joe would have taken this experience as a reason to bash the character of a visiting institution and as well place a stereotype of all Tuskegee students and alumni for this shameful act of school pride...but instead, we should think why? Why entertain the workings of the enemy? Why allow him to destroy something that was meant for good. Why allow this incident to PRE-determine future encounters?

Just as sure as God is everywhere, so is the devil. He is lurking the same way and waiting for our first slip up. Because the devil knows the things that are promised to us and the goals that we are supposed to reach, he will place block holds in our path to prevent us from getting there. Just imagine if I had got into a serious altercation with Tuskegee fans as it was leading up to be and then I developed a feeling for anyone who was associated with that institution...because of this demeanor I could miss out on friendships, possibly a job and who knows...maybe an opportunity to have my life saved! Who knows...we can't determine what is before us.

"Life is too short to dwell on the past, but too long not to sit and replay certain situations that define who we are." Are we really moving forward in life with an idea of prosperity or are we allowing things that happened to us to shape our relationships with others and our overall outlook on how to live. Pictures are a great Replay Button, both physical and mental. Take advantage of life's snapshots but don't let them hold you back. Just as sure as you are born you will die. Just as sure as you are loved you will love...and just as sure as you are wrong to others others will be wrong to you. If you don't like Jessica because she wears a red shirt, don't mess up a chance to have a great friendship with Tiffany because she had on a red shirt when you met her....Think about that. Have a productive remainder of the week my people! Peace.

-rjhii

Sunday Reflection #9 "THAT WONDERFUL DAY"

"Today is the day to make the moves that will replace tomorrow and prepare the future"



Hello there my people! How are you? I hope that all is well and everyone is enjoying the holiday season and all that it has to offer. Merry Christmas! Take time to thank God for the birth of Jesus Christ, who alone died that we may live free and without worry of the compliance to mans law and knowing that through him we may achieve eternal life. God is so great to us and we must give him thanks! Afterwards be sure that you let your family know how much you love them, spend time with friends and just remain positive; bring closure to the year in style.

It's so amazing how the enemy (satan) will do all that he can to distract us from reaching our destinations, completing our tasks and accomplishing our goals. He will use our family, the people around us and sometimes even ourselves to diliberetly put a stop to the things that we know we need to do in life. As I was trying to go to church this morning, my car was acting up...could have lost my life but I spoke against everything that he thought he would have control over.

See what a lot of us Christians forget, is that we have dominion and administrative right over this land that we call earth. When in the world do we plan to live that way? Every desire of your heart, God knows...every temptation of the mind, satan will attack. Remember satan's dutie is to steal, kill and destroy. On this day we were given life in the most darkest of times. Will we allow the purpose of this occassion to die? We got some serious evaluating to do.

As I listened to the pastor preach today, he placed major emphasis on the fact that God made no mistake when he orchestrated how he would make hisself evident on the earth. He did it the best way that it could be done...by making himself to be human, just the same as us. But examine how he came, there wasn't any glamour and fame in his entry, but solemness and humility. To be born of a women, who at the time had little importance in the world, was one thing...but to be born in a barn, in one of the worlds poorest areas means the most.

As humans we get so caught up in material things that we forget the true riches of the world. Do you have someone that you can talk to any day about anything? Are you sheltered and fed? Is there something in life that you enjoy, that will pull you away from all the other stresses of the world? If you answered yes to any of these, you are more than blessed. Remember that love is the richest of all things and to give that is the greatest gift of them all.

I am so greatful that I have life and wonderful people to share it with. Do great things because you have been given the ability. Help others because that is the right thing to do and of course because the person who we celebrate today helped us in ways that none of us could probably ever even imagine. The sound of kids opening presens in amazement, families laughin at the dinner table and of course the great games that will be on are all signs that God loves us. He gives us the things that make us smile and remain positive. Use this as an anchor as you battle the trials and tribulations of life. God loves you, so all is well.

Don't be afraid to take risks, and please don't be afraid to believe that anything is possible. Baby Jesus proved that to us. I love you all! Again, Merry CHRISTmas!!! If you go somewhere, speak to someone you don't know! Peace...

-rjhii

Daily THOUGHT #76 "Giving Thanks"

"Have offerings when things in life speak for themselves...You had better paid attention!"

Attending church a few Sundays ago, the preacher insisted that we give thanks for the blessings that we know God has told us will be ours. He informed us to have faith in the visions that we believe will define who we are in the near future. The preacher's words helped me realize that there is an answer, you just have to understand how to find it. By giving thanks to what is given other things will be presented that will aid in the quest of your journey. With these signs, we must too express thanks and proceed in task. There is always someone with less, physically and emotionally...give thanks for that.

How are you all today? I am well, just sitting here thinking about how I want to express things to you in the blog...There is so much that I'd like to say, but I know I have to narrow it down a bit for my non-readers =^) It seems that we as humans indulge in so much that we desire for self reasons, to the point we don't even realize nor show any form of concern for the living conditions of our people as a whole, an international society. There is so much that we wish to gain as individuals, that we even unintentionally dismiss the existence of other people in our life.

When you are unknowing to how important something will be in your life, you will tend to treat that something with little attention to detail. This is especially when when you develop self anger over another matter...you know like when you really have someone that cares for you, but you keep blowing them off because you can't get over some petty issue that has nothing to do with them..then weeks later, they are with someone else doing very well and very without you..now you mad...I wonder how this would have ended up if there was a little appreciation initially?

So soon the faces that we grow so fond of seeing vanish away in thin sight and we wonder, in awe of how somethings could actually come to pass. The moment, though never really recognized as much anymore, is quite precious. We must respect every opportunity that is granted to us as if we were in our last days. This is how to create longevity of life. Though we may not have the freedom to truly live in this nation, we do have the freedom to think and give thanks for life. Common courtesy grants a thank you...This man gave his life.

As you carve your baked, fried or roasted turkey or whatever else you eat, remember to give thanks, definitely for the simple things. Let loved ones know that they are loved and love your self as you should first. Do not take for granted the moment that you cherish most on this day, indeed it stands for a purpose. Use what you gather and solve the puzzle to what is before you. I pray you safe journeys if you are traveling for the holidays. I offer that you submit yourself to being in tune with your surroundings this holiday creates. Learn that you may give. Peace...

-rjhii