Month: January 2018

Daily Post, Spiritual

Strategy

Dr. R. A.

Image result for strategy

Accomplishing your goal can be done by having a strategy

Steps to be taken must be keenly outlined in a strategic plan

One by one the wheels must turn

While adhering to time or date set for the next step

However, there is one key step you must never forget

That is to put God first at the onset of each new task

As you continue you will see

The dream unfolds and realize you have in your hand the victor’s cup

All this was done because of the clearly outlined strategy which incorporated the One who always gives us the victory

1/21/2018 Dr.R.A

via Daily Prompt: Strategy

life, Spiritual

Dream Stealers

Dr. R. A.

Have you ever noticed that when you have a goal in mind to accomplish that the actual pathway is paved with obstacles? With each step, you are bombarded with one hurdle after the other. These barriers often seem insurmountable.  If you focus on the challenges, however, you will become daunted and never accomplish the goal. This will result in your dreams being stolen.

Dream stealers come in various innumerable shapes and forms. They are usually disguised as “well-wishers” (family, friends, relatives, society, etc.). The Bible outlined a story of a man named Joseph who had a dream that his family would one day bow down to him. This resulted in his brothers hating him even the more. His brothers hated him to the point that they wanted him dead. One day as he was on his way to see them the saw him afar off and decided that they would kill him when he got closer and see what would become of his dreams. Looking at this story, you may be able to relate as you may have had several experiences of others trying to kill your dream. Nevertheless, dream stealers are not always external. In fact, I would dare to say that the biggest and most potent dream stealers are internal.

It may seem quite alarming, however, that dream stealers can be disguised as your very self. What? You might be saying to yourself that “I am the dreamer how can I be the dream stealer?” Well, to answer your question is very simple. You can be your own dream stealer as you allow the negative thoughts in your mind to dissuade you from taking the first step or to prevent you from continuing along the road to the destination in mind. These thoughts are usually anchored in the soil of guilt and fear and are consistently watered by insecurities.  Hear this may cause you to feel very hopeless. However, all is not lost. I dare to even declare that you will be victorious and your dream of greatness will manifest. How do I know this? Well, because you are still alive and there is still hope while you live.

So what do you need to do? This answer is quite simple.

  1. Simply get up. Get up from where you are. Make a move. Take a step towards that which you want to accomplish.
  2. Put blinders on so that you can focus on the dream and not the peripheral view.
  3. With each step change your mindset from a victim to a victor.

Most importantly remember you were born to win. The victory is already yours as the battle has already been won by the Champion of champions.

1/21/2018 Dr.R.A.

life, Spiritual

It is not what it seems

Dr. R. A.

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Things are not always what they seem. Our perceptions of things are not always are accurate as we are led to believe. Sometimes our situation seems like we have to go through great waters and great troubles all by ourselves. At other times it seems like we are going through great fire and we are being utterly consumed by the vehement flames. However, I’m here to say don’t focus on what it seems like. Instead, focus on the one who can turn things around or even keep you protected in the midst of it all.

In Isaiah 43 the Bible lets us know that the Lord promised that those who abide in him will never be left alone or be consumed with that which was designed to kill. It admonished us to take courage knowing that when we go through the great waters and troubles they will not overflow us, we will not sink, we will not drown, our situation will not get the best of us. The flaming situations that we encounter occasionally will not consume us, we will not be burned, as a matter of fact, we will not even smell like smoke.  Now it may seem impossible to be in the midst of fire and not be burned or worst not smell like smoke, but the God that we serve specializes in things that are impossible.

It doesn’t matter what the enemy is trying. Yes, the enemy may come in like a flood but the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard. God will be your defense in the in the midst of it all. Why would He do it? Well simply because He is your Savior. He is God who is your father and your defense. He also promised that He would never leave us or forsake us. He will never leave because the situation is really bad.  He will never forsake even when we are in the wrong. So no matter the situation resist the urge to panic and fight in your flesh. Instead, rest on God and watch him handle your situation. God can handle it better than Olivia Pope. … trust God and consider your case handled! !!!

1/16/2018 Dr. R.A.

Daily Post, Spiritual

Carve

Dr. R. A.

Image result for carve word

Carve me out until I reflect the design You have in mind

You are the Potter, and I am the clay

So I say no to my will and yes to Your way

I admit that removing chunks of my lump will hurt

All the straightening, curving, bending, gouging and flattening

Will alter my shape significantly

The quick deep cuts may produce a sharp squeal

But I am assured that my beauty, in the end, will compensate

So carve me

Put me on Your sculpting board and carve me

Carve me until a reflection of You is all I see in me

1/11/2018 Dr.R.A.

via Daily Prompt: Carve

life, Spiritual

What are you leaving room for?

Dr. R. A.

Image result for be angry and sin not

We all have a tendency to leave room for stuff. For instance, if we are out dining then we ensure that we do not eat too much appetizer or entree. Instead, we eat in moderation so that we leave room for dessert. Additionally, whenever we are getting an apartment or house we also get an extra room in the event we start a family or have a guest. However, leaving room goes beyond these things. Have you ever considered that you are leaving room whenever a conversation takes place between you are others? Yes, you are.

Whenever we communicate how we end our conversation can create space for either good things to flow or bad things to brew. This occurs especially when we are angry, and we speak in anger. It is said that anger is the condition in which the tongue works faster than the mind. This only means that words flow out without calculating the damage of impact.  As such, we need to be cautious of the words that spew from our mouth especially when angry.

Image result for words spew from mouthRelated image

Being anger seems like a natural occurrence when we believe that we have been wronged. As a matter of fact, we often justify our right to be angry. And I might even agree as I have been angry more than a few times myself. However, there is a way that specified as it pertains to dealing with anger. The Bible admonishes us in Ephesians 4 that we should be angry, but not sin. Additionally, it implores us to ensure that the cause of our anger is addressed before the sun goes down. In doing so, we will protect ourselves from the tsunami of catastrophic events that can occur when the enemy walks into the room that we have left available.

Also, to be counted among the wise then we should keep our anger under control.

Image result for be angry and sin not

As we progress throughout this year, let us monitor our words and our emotions. Let us ensure that we do not leave room for the adversary.

1/11/2018 Dr. R.A.

life, Spiritual

Get your sense back

Dr. R. A.

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Senses play a significant role in our everyday life. Without them, we would be utterly unaware of our surrounding environment. We would not be able to behold the beauty in the seasons of life. Neither would we be able to distinguish the exquisitely exotic flavors of life. We would not be able to perceive the vibrating percussion or the flattering rhythmically sound of music. Life would be extraordinarily uneventful and outright dull.

Unfortunately, however, we take these gifts of senses for granted and allow ourselves to be deceived into thinking that they are not essential and serve no real purpose. The glitter and the glamour of what is displayed as “good life” trick us into giving up or walking away from that which profits the most. Leaving us cold and empty as we have been robbed of what life’s splendor genuinely consist.

A story was told in the book of Luke chapter 15 about a father who had two sons. He was a wise man who ensured that he had an inheritance for his children. When the younger came of age, he decided that what the father had to offer in his household was mundane and there was no way he could spend the rest of his life that way. As such, he asked for his portion of the inheritance that he would receive so that he could go out and “live life” the way it was meant to be lived. He allowed himself to be deceived while passing through vanity fair street. Unknowingly to him, all that glitters was not gold. As he prolonged on the street, he lost all he had and everything he hoped to achieve and found himself lacking and in need. He, however, came to his senses as he was partaking of that which only pigs eat. He remembered that things were actually better in his father’s house and even his father’s servant had a better life than he did currently. Therefore, he arose and returned to his father’s house.

Sometimes like the younger son, we allow the enemy of our soul to trick is into thinking there is more to be done and better to be found outside of the father’s house. Upon leaving the house for the “better,” we realize experientially that everything that was shown to us was just a mirage. As we progress throughout this year, it is imperative that we do not allow ourselves to be fooled by the enemy’s tricks as they are always the same (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life). Instead, we put on blinders on your senses. Keep our eyes fixed on the precepts and statutes of the word of God as we continue to trod. However, if you have been enticed by the mirage come to your senses and return to the father’s house where his arms are outstretched. You don’t have to live without. Remember that even the hired servants in the father’s house have food to spare. There is abundance in the father’s house so don’t live in lack. GET YOUR SENSES BACK!!

01/09/2018 Dr. R.A.

life, Spiritual, success

Remove the Veil

Dr. R. A.

 

remove the veil

Life has a way of veiling our vision so that we are unable to clearly see who we are and who we were designed to be. Our sight gets blurred by life’s experiences. The resounding voices declaring that “you are not good enough,” “you will never become anything,” “you are nobody,” “you will never be anybody,” “you are stupid,” etc., repeats perpetually in the recordings of the mind. These echoes of despair paralyze the slender nerve of effort to achieve. Leaving us laying on the sidelines begging for a handout. The menial contributions further break our spirit causing us to hesitantly plead with closed eyes. However, if we could look again and muster the courage to remove the veil, then we will astonishingly be able to see our worth and abilities.

Our worth without the shadow of a doubt far exceeds the problems that we face. And our abilities are far beyond the thundering sound of naysayers. We were created with innovative and creative abilities that we have not begin to tap into. However, it requires us removing the veils. Remove the veil of doubt. Remove the cloud of fear. Remove the veil of insecurities.Remove the veil of what your mother or father said. Remove the cover of labels that were placed on you. Remove the veil of stagnation. Remove the mask of procrastination. Remove the veil. Peel off one layer at a time until your vision is clear.  We need to remember that we were created in His image and in His likeness.  He took time out to carefully construct every intricate fiber of our being. After construction, He breathed into us. His breath is assurance that we possess His attributes and characteristics, albeit we are imperfect. This simply means that have the same innovative and creative abilities flowing through our veins. And since those abilities flow within us we need not sit back and beg for bread. We should get up and consistently work on our dream. Prodd away one step at a time until we see it manifest before our eyes.

Remember there is nothing to fear but fear itself. That which you hope to accomplish is waiting for you to put in the work. Dig if you must and do not quit. Never forget you have been commanded to be fruitful and multiply and subdue. Rise up and conquer that which is yours.

In my Captain Planet voice “THE POWER IS YOURS!!”

01/02/2018 Dr. R.A.

Spiritual

What’s in Your Cup

Dr. R. A.

Image result for what's in your cup

If we should be asked the question “what is in your cup?” our minds would automatically gravitate to contents that usually occupy a cup, such as, water, coffee, alcohol, etc. However, the question is being posed for us to take a deeper introspection of our lives.

A story was told of a man carrying a cup of coffee. As he walked someone, accidentally collided with him and the coffee was spilled making a colossal mess. When asked why he spilled his coffee his initial reaction was to blame the person who bumped into him saying that it was his fault that his coffee was spilled. However, truth be told if he carefully analyzed the question he would realize that the coffee was spilled because coffee was in his cup. Whatever the contents of his cup was that is what would have spilled with any collision. It went on to explain that the collision that took place is just like life and whenever “life happens” then we will be shaken. The important thing, however, is not to focus on the shake but to pay keen attention to what spills out because only the contents of the cup can be spilled from the impact of a collision.

Starting today and continuing daily, I want us to not think of literal cups but to think of ourselves as cups and ask ourselves the question what is in my cup.  Whenever we experience a collision what intrinsically spills out of us? Under extreme pressure does the characteristics of the fruit of the spirit spills out of us naturally or does the manifestation of the works of the flesh become more intrinsic? Does our fundamental reaction consist of harsh (curse) words, anger, bitterness, hatred, malice, envy, unforgiveness, etc.?

In Matthew 23 Jesus made reference to the Scribes and Pharisees as only paying attention to the outside of the cup, ensuring that the outside is clean and presentable, while the inside of the cup is filthy. Have we become a people who are more concerned with our outward appearance and ignoring the contents that are within us and flows out of us without a second thought? When we are overwhelmed by the vicissitudes of life wouldn’t it be more satisfying and pleasing if love, gratefulness, joy, meekness, temperance, humility, and peace spilled out of us?

We all have choices and life is filled with them with every scenario that we are faced with. What will you choose? What fruits will you decide to bear? What contents will you allow to spill out of you when encountering the impact of a collision?

In my Captain Planet voice “THE CHOICE IS YOURS!!!”

May your year be filled with prosperity and good success, and you choose to display Godlike characteristics daily.

01/01/2018 Dr. R.A.