Category: Spiritual

Spiritual

Pungent Words

Dr. R. A.

Caustic seeds were sown in the soil of the subconscious heart.

They began to germinate and sprout as constant ridicule watered them

It almost seems like they grew overnight into enormous oaks providing a place of refuge and shelter.

Onlookers faces become disfigured at sight, but they are unaware of its genesis

Pungent, sharp, waspish, acrimonious are things they whisper under their breath

If only they knew it took a long time coming and these pungent words are just a mere defense mechanism

An armor worn with honor from the many battles won.

Yes, it may seem acerbic but, it’s an armor covering inner fragility.

via Daily Prompt: Pungent

Spiritual

Liminal

Dr. R. A.

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In transition caught up in liminal space.

Not where I was, but not where I should be

Not who I was, but aspiring for who I should be

No longer holding on to what was solid, but rather reaching for what seemingly is air

Should be ecstatic about the growth so  far, but terrified that current condition may prevent me from grasping firmly on to what lies ahead

In between, in between the process that haunts like a bad dream.

Can’t help but wonder if gravity will prevail as suspended in air by sheer will power that defies the laws of nature.

Still can’t get caught up in thoughts of what may happen, rather focus on what is certain

Failure is not an option so I persist

If I die, I will die empty, so I stretch even the more

Allowing passion of hope to drive until I arrive knowing that it won’t make me ashamed.

Via Daily Prompt: Liminal

Spiritual

Sated Desire?

Dr. R. A.

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Can desires be sated or is it a fantasy?

The quest begins with voluminous ideas of attainable possibilities which grandeur alone leaves you breathless.   Yet, every step taken requires tremendous effort that leaves you aching in areas unbeknownst and saturated with perspiration. Reality is obscured  in the blind spot of the peripheral view, as the passion of desire devours  logic.

Halfway through the course, fatigue sets in. Goal attained and effort is  weighed in the balance. Ruminations  highlight the  insurmountable cost. Blood, sweat and tears already  poured out. How to regain what seemingly is lost? Nothing! Absolutely nothing, but to continue to push forward.  The voracious appetite of gaining will not allow you to quit. So you break your own barriers and remove all the limits. Finally, you arrive but the satisfaction is temporary, as the clock is reset and the cycle continues.

Via Daily Prompt: Sated

Spiritual

Scorched Hope

Dr. R. A.

Image result for scorched

Hope in God starts as a bright spark. It is the spark that is necessary to get the fire blazing.  However, for flames to be produced, then it has to be oxygenated by trials and tribulations of life. It is fueled by unpleasant experiences that leaves us gasping for air at times. Unpropitiously, however, instead of keeping our eyes fixed on the Master we gaze on the boisterous winds and waves. This, unfortunately, results in our hope being scorched.

Scorched by intense heat of the vicissitudes of life which  leaves our hope dry, flaky, brittle and charred.  We no longer expect what God really has for us. Instead we begin to listen keenly to the wrong voice… the voice of the enemy and believe the lies that are even whispered.  Lies like “you are not good enough, you are not worth it, you will never succeed,  you will never be healed, you will forever have not enough to supply your needs, you are not lovable, etc. As the winds of life continue to blow, ounces  of your hope is also blown away … piece by piece. Eventually, all that is left is a tiny flicker deep within, and you are convinced it has no purpose. But I say that’s a lie.

That’s a lie because the Bible says “hope maketh not ashamed.” Yes, only a flicker is left, but it is filled with purpose, so hope again.  Come on you can do it! Hope against all hope! When you exercise that flicker, it will grow just like the muscles in your body when exercised. And the best part is that you will not be ashamed.

Read the word of God and let  it water that scorched area back to life. Remember the thoughts He has towards you are good and not evil, thoughts to give you an expected end. That which you hope for is what He wants to give. HOPE again!!!!

via Daily Prompt: Scorched

Spiritual, success

Pleasure Seeking

Dr. R. A.

Image result for pleasure definition

Pleasure seeking is the order of the day. Almost everyone is seeking how to please only themselves. Hardly anyone to lend a helping hand unless of course, it brings glory to themselves.  Me, myself and I is the mantra that’s sung on the lips of many.  Whenever the concept is challenged, then a plethora of excuses justifying our actions flow like a stream from the lips. None to stand firm admitting that this cannot continue as it degrades humanity.

The goals sought are idolized causing the One who deserves glory to fall second in rank. Much effort is given to ensure satisfaction that vanishes like a vapor once it has been acquired. Then the cycle continues like hamsters on wheels we run until we obtain the “drug” that never satisfies like the first “high”. It’s a real conundrum that should only be a dream. Yes, seeking to find is a principle that we should apply, but why seek pleasure that is solely seasonal?

We need to remove the scales from our eyes and have our vision realigned. What we should seek is the kingdom of God so that “all these things” can be added to us.  It’s better to seek Him as it requires less effort and the rewards are unmeasurable. In His presence, there remains “fullness” of joy, and at His right hand, there are pleasures forevermore.  Yes, I said FOREVERMORE! PLEASURE FOREVERMORE at His right hand. Not the kind of pleasure that dissipates or is seasonal, but pleasure that is always there forever lasting. Won’t you seek that pleasure?

Spiritual

Success -Mythical

Dr. R. A.

man-on-top-of-the-mountain

To achieve success seems mythical. To achieve it one must be a lion with a unicorn horn and eagle’s wings as the pathway to success is never straight and filled with various obstacles.

Nevertheless, to achieve it we cannot focus on the pathway but focus on the goal. It must be embedded within our core that success can only be determined by the obstacles that we overcome. Some obstacles may just be small pebbles that we can easily pick up and throw over our shoulders whereas, others may mighty boulders that cannot even be lifted as such we may have to walk around them or climb over…needless, to say neither option is going to be easy.

To achieve success everything within you has to be employed. Yes, you may get tired and feel like quitting but, you will have to get past feelings and keep the goal at the focal point of your view. You may have to sing the mantra continuously as you climb the slope “winners never quit and failure is not an option”. While singing, your thighs will be burning, your back will be hurting, sweat will be dripping and lungs seem to consumed with the most vehement flame as it is difficult to even breathe… but continue to PUSH. Emotionally, you will be exhausted… but PUSH (PRAY, UNTIL, SOMETHING HAPPENS). You may slip and fall… but PUSH. It’s okay to rest for a bit…but get back up and PUSH.

I say PUSH because the rewards will far exceed the excruciating pain.  Not only that, if you don’t push you will never achieve as it will NOT happen by chance.  However, when you get there, you will experience the mythical joy of success. You will be among the few who can proudly tell the story of its mythical path.

via Daily Prompt: Mythical

Spiritual

Thankful in chaos

Dr. R. A.

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“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you.”

Sometimes being grateful in everything can be a real challenge. Truth be told when you examine your current seemingly disastrous situation being thankful may be the last on the list of things to do.  Yet the word admonishes us to be thankful in these situations as this is the will of God as it concerns your life.  What? ?  This catastrophic chaos is in His plan for you?  Yes, it is! I’m not kidding you. That chaos is what He is using to develop you into He designed you to be.

In the midst of trying to make sense of the chaos, we tend to forget that the environment in which we operate as children of God is controlled.  So the thing that seemingly is chaotic is under God’s  control. As such, it doesn’t need to make sense. Therefore,  as difficult as it may be don’t panic.  Don’t panic breathe instead.  Come on breathe…inhale and exhale slowly, as you repeat the process let out a praise of gratefulness.

Be grateful because you are alive and you are loved!  You are loved even in the midst of your mess! Now that you are aware get your praise on.

via Daily Prompt: Chaotic

Spiritual

Percolate your Masterpiece

Dr. R. A.

Image result for percolate

A terrain of solid earth is what I see.

Beautifully contoured with hills, valleys, caves, and ravines.

As light hits the surface, various hues of chocolate are reflected.

Glamorous is an understatement of the majestic bare landscape tapestry.

If this is just the exterior, then what really lies beneath?

Is it penetrable or is it concrete?

The only one who truly knows is the Manufacturer of such a masterpiece.

So I gazingly looked to Him and said, please percolate me.

Percolate me, until You are all I see in every fiber of my being.

Daily Prompt: Percolate

Spiritual

Filthy Rag

Dr. R. A.

rags

Not a spot that’s clean.

Not an area unblemished.

Everywhere that’s seen is tattered and tarnished.

Muck and grim protruding from within

 

Filthy, filthy, disgustingly dirty can only be viewed as completely unworthy

Mere mortals efforts to make it clean proves futile when examined by the One that’s unseen

No amount of alms given, no amount of good deeds can change the perspective of the heavenly King.

 

What can I do? Who can help? This really can’t be the absolute end.

I scurry around, frantic to find one that can cleanse such a one as my kind.

Alas, I heard a voice so clear, saying come my child only draw near.

I followed the voice with acuity until I but see my Savior with arms wide open.

 

Breathless, I ran into His arms,  to escaped the cold and embrace warmth.

Then He gently whispered, “You are now cleansed as you have been washed by the stream unseen”

I began to sob uncontrollably on His shoulders, as joy flooded my heart

I am no longer blemished,mucky, grimy, tattered and tarnished

My filthy rag has been made righteous.

via Daily Prompt: Filthy