Spiritual

An Opportunity for Great Joy

Dr. R. A.

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It is a known fact as stated in the word of God that man (mere mortals, humans) that are born are of few days and full of trouble. It shows us just how fragile humans are and also that having severe problems frequently is a part of life. Yet, although this is no secret whenever we as humans face troubles, then we begin to panic. Fear set in and begins to paralyze us from accomplishing our goals. Hopeless thoughts of “woe is me” begins to flow through our minds like streams from an endless source. All that is seen by the mind’s eye is doom and gloom. Our immediate thought process is not “what a great opportunity for joy.” Something about the human psyche preclude us from associating problems with joy readily.  Honestly is tough to wrap our minds around problems bringing happiness or comfort. Nevertheless, the word of God admonishes us that when faced with troubles of any kind that we should consider it an opportunity for great joy. Troubles of ANY KIND – meaning no matter how much or whatever classification it falls it should be regarded as an occasion for great comfort. This alludes to the fact that problems in your health, finance, marriage, relationship, etc. are not what they look like; they are not harassment, agitation, hassle, tribulation, suffering, grief, heartache, misery, etc. Instead, they are KAIROS moments for bliss, euphoria, exhilaration, happiness and joy.

It is also a known fact that a lobster shell does not grow. In fact, whenever a lobster is in the growth process it gets to a stage where it is too big for its shell, and it is in a place of constant agitation. Now it could remain in that place of problem and remain stagnant or even die. However, because it recognizes that the problem of not being able to fit in its shell is an opportunity to get beyond its current size it gets within a safe place and get out of its shell and continue to grow until a new shell is formed on its flesh. Taking a lesson from the lobster, could it mean that when faced with problems all we need to do is to get out of our current shell and get to a safe place where we hide in God and grow until a new “shield of protection” is formed around the areas that are soft/fragile. Could it really mean that all the problems that we are faced with are just in our lives for us to grow and when growth takes place then we will be delighted?

Whatever the issue you are faced with, I implore you to take another look at it. Let the scales fall from your eyes and truly see it for what it really is…a moment for you to grow and have joy. That broken heart, loss of job, loss of loved one, loss of a friend, failed exam, loss of a car, loss of a house or whatever earthly possession took place so that you can grow and have joy. I know that currently, your mind is echoing that this is how things will remain for the remainder of your days, but that is not the truth. Things are about to change as all you need to do it get out of that shell that is too small for you. Get out of that place of darkness that you have found your heart and mind – that shell is too small. Get under the ROCK and hide. Stay there and endure the process of being alone until a new shell is formed. God wants you to have a bigger shell, a larger sphere of influence, a greater impact on those you are associated with. He wants you to get to a stage where you can feed others. Joy awaits you- get out of your current shell that is too small- step into greatness – cease your Kairos moment.

12/6/16 Dr. R.A.

Spiritual

Vanish

Dr. R. A.

Man: I love you

Woman: I love you

Man: I love you more

Woman: I love you more

The constant back and forth of who loves who more is the theme of every conversation in newly established relationships.

The desire to speak and be in each other presence consistently rages like a fire with the most vehement flame.

Sharing of dreams, desires, accomplishments, hopes and fears builds a bond that seemingly is indestructible.

Both parties have wings and strength to run through troops and leap over walls.

Giggling is the order of the day until the appearance of a pot hole on the smoothly paved roadway called love.

Why would there be such an imperfection on a pathway that seemed flawless?

Keen attention to the defects results in further erosion of what was perceived to be unbreakable.

Declaration of who love more no longer reverberating

Laughter dissipates

Passion vanishes with conflict like frost when the sun comes out

via Daily Prompt: Vanish

Spiritual

Gift of Peace

Dr. R. A.

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27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

In a world engrossed with constant activity possessing peace becomes challenging. From the moment one’s eye open an imaginary list of things to do is presented on a silver platter. The race is on for not letting anything be carried over. Constant movement and rushing from place to place to ensure that everything on the list is scratched off before the day ends. The regular watching of the clock to evaluate time for completing a task further adds tension. Everyone trying to be their own super hero both for self-gratification and the satisfaction of others. Sometimes the pressure to perform can be overwhelming and deplete the reservoir of peace in our hearts.  This diminution often leaves us feeling fatigued, empty, abandoned, spent, miserable, downhearted, and downright wanting to throw in the towel. Matters can be further complicated when we feel like we are being left behind, as this produces feelings of bereft, abandonment, loneliness, anxiety, fear and hopelessness. What to do? Where to turn? Who can help in alleviating the stress? You think you are the only one in this situation, but that is not true.

In the book of John, the disciples found themselves in somewhat of a similar predicament where they had to evangelize the world and if that was not pressuring enough they were now being advised by their leader that he will be leaving them. One can only imagine the panic that took place in their mind as they tried to process what was being said. They must have wondered how on earth they were going to accomplish such a task with the rug being pulled from under their feet. An assessment of their environment showed that they were not the most loved and accepted. After all, what they represented was against society’s status quo. What will we do? Where will we go? Who will help us?  These questions highlighted their minds as they would no longer have a crutch to support. However, their leader spoke resounding tranquility in their hearts. Yes, I will be leaving you to accomplish a great task but I am leaving you with a gift. “I leave you the gift of peace of mind and hearts.The peace I give the world cannot give, so don’t be troubled or afraid.” He was basically, saying you have no need to panic or be alarmed because when I leave the comforter will come and because He will reside on the inside of you, there will be greater within you that whatever it is that you will be faced with.

The same promise has been passed on to every believer, the God of peace, whose peace surpasses all understanding is  on the inside of us. He gave us the gift of peace in our hearts and minds which means, He resides in our hearts and minds so we need not become discombobulated. He is the Creator of the universe, Who has and is orchestrating all things as it pertains to us. We are in His hands and He is constantly watching over us. He is our protector, provider and just about anything we could have need of. He is the great I AM, that which we have need of and more. Rest in His peace because there is nothing that will ever happen to us that takes Him by surprise. He is in control. He is Sovereign! He will never leave of forsake us! Let His peace saturate your emotions and your intellect. The peace that the world offer can only partially satisfy one component of us at a time. But God’s gift peace satiates every part of our being at the same time. Again I say, don’t let life’s circumstances causes you to become distraught or upset, instead, let His gift of peace saturate your emotions and intellect.

12.05.16 Dr.R.

Spiritual

Sacred Silence

Dr. R. A.

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Pandemonium everywhere, tumult filled the air

Constant chitter chatter

Wheels turning, horns honking, pots whistling,

Wind blowing, thunder blasting, blades spinning

Birds chirping, snakes rattling, wolves howling,

Bees buzzing, dogs barking, children screaming,

Bells ringing, music playing, phones blaring.

It’s a ruckus, that’s what it is!

They say silence is golden

And so I ask “where oh where can it be found?”

It’s not in schools, churches, hospitals or homes

Definitely not in a nursery or in a monastery.

Is it under a rock somewhere far into a cave?

Oh sacred silence, be thou no longer hidden

Show thyself, so there can be peace

Demonstrate the beauty of your sacredness silence

Shhh….oh Silence!

via Daily Prompt: Sacred

Spiritual

Do-Over

Dr. R. A.

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Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; Don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He is the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.Run to GOD! Prov. 3:5-6

Every now and again when the hustling and bustling of life activities come to a halt, we find ourselves in reflection mode. The choices that we have made rummage through the proverbial magnifying glass within our minds. It is within these moments that no matter how well established and successful we have become that secrets deep within our heart surface, and we admit to ourselves silently that we could have made better choices in some aspects. Better choices where success was at the expense of happiness; instant gratification at the expense of self-esteem and pride at the expense of love. There are areas where choice wounds cut so deep that although it’s been years the wound has still not been healed. It is in those moments that we furtively wish for a do-over. Although in the open we pretend that this is not applicable to us, behind closed doors we allow the light to enter the darkest room in our hearts.

Contrary to popular beliefs even stalwarts of old like Abraham, David, Paul, Jonah to name a few, had these pensive moments, but they allowed the light of God to shine in the darkness of their heart. They had a revelation of the “do-over” God. There are several keys required to unlock the doors of the do-over process. The first key to having a do-over is to ALLOW the light of God to shine within our dark areas. David stated emphatically in the book of Psalm that he wanted God to “enlighten his darkness.” After letting the light in, the next crucial step that we must take is to TRUST God. I say trust… really TRUST God. We often profess that we trust God, but when put to the test we fail miserably as we murmur, complain, whimper, whine, look for other options and sometimes even become stagnant. However, take God at His word and Trust Him from the bottom of your heart not trying to figure things out on your own. You see God can be trusted. He can be trusted even when we mess up. If we should go back to the beginning of the Bible, we read the famous story of Adam and Eve’s poor choice, which resulted in them needing a do-over. In their time of need, they did not run to God and asked for the do-over instead they tried to cover themselves and hide from the presence of God. However, God showed up consistently, and inquired Adam where are you? When they reluctantly admitted where they were and allowed the light of God to shine in, God introduced them to the “do-over” God. Proving that even in your mess God can be trusted.

The next vital key is listening. LISTEN to the voice of God. We are a generation who love the sound of our own voice. This I believe is the genesis of problems but that’s another story. To prove this point where we converse we often listen to respond to the individual and not to hear what is being said. Listening to the voice of God is key as it will keep us on track to our destiny. It is listening to our own voice and the voice of others that causes us to be hijacked and held as captives on our journey to our purpose. As such, we need to LISTEN to God’s voice, listen not to respond but instead LISTEN to FOLLOW. The voice of God not only guides, reproves and admonish but it also comforts. Whenever we fail to listen, just like sheep we end up falling in ditches and cannot come out unless drawn out by the shepherd. Therefore, LISTEN to God’s voice to get instructions for a do-over.

Finally, we need to run. RUN to God. Whenever we are faced with heightened emotions, our first instinct is to run. This I realize is a good thing as the reason it was embedded within us is that we can RUN to GOD. It is said that the reason we are given a leap year is that the calendar does not truly reflect God’s time and so it drifts. Whenever there is a leap year, we get to spring forward to where we should have been before we drifted. Just like it is in the natural we in our spiritual lives have often strayed from God and need a do-over that will cause us to leap into the place that was designed for us to be. As such, we need to run to God. Run to God like Joseph did when he was faced with the choice of satisfying his flesh. After all, the Bible did say that we should flee youthful lust. Run to God. Run like a deer runs into the water whenever it is thirsty or afraid. Run to God, as He is the only one that can give the ultimate do-over.

Now, never forget that the keys to a do-over are ATLR. Allow the light of God to shine within our darkness; Trust God; Listen to God’s Voice and Run to God.

12/3/16 Dr.R.

Spiritual

Faded

Dr. R. A.

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Like a bright light, you entered the scene

All cameras began rolling to capture the depicted essence of your being

Vibrant colors were everywhere as you seemingly brought life

Flowers in full bloom, fragrance the air

Music and laughter was the undertone sound

Quick let’s take a picture so the memory won’t be lost, but instead, would be captured

Snap

 

We say this will be forever

Days turns to weeks and weeks turn to months

The light began to dim

Shadows overcasted  colors

Flowers hang low…the air was filled with a stench

Music and laughter could no longer be traced

Snap

 

All that was captured was the pinnacle of pain

Life defining moments of impact

Like an enchanter, the illusion was now seen

Slowly vanishing like vapor

OH SNAP

Just like that you faded

12/1/16

via Daily Prompt: Faded

Spiritual

The Keeper

Dr. R. A.

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The LORD is your keeper… Ps 121:5

We live in a society where rating is the order of the day. There are songs and clichés depicting an individual’s worth on a scale as it pertains to their looks, style, demeanor, etc. These superficially ascribed numerical values are somehow used in determining whether a person gets rejected or remains in our lives. This quandary has persons trying to “out do” each other in ranks in order to be the ‘keeper.’  Especially in the dating arena, performances are nothing short of being in a circus. If individuals were to be surveyed on what was their ‘ideal’, responses of acquiring a purple elephant that can fly and perform surgery at the same time, would seemingly be quite the norm.  Needless to say, this perfunctory assessment only intensifies the inferiority complex that burdens the psyche.

Although this cosmetic review has overcast our cultural environment all is not lost, as there is one whose words are absolute. David said  “the Lord is your Keeper” not in the sense of being more of a husband/wife material but rather that He is the One that protects and takes care of His own. He will never discard you. When you are being suffocated by fear, He is your Keeper. When you are paralyzed by the past and haunted by the present, He is your Keeper. When you are weak, feeble, timid, fragile, inadequate and just struggling in darkness, He is your keeper. He will never thrust you aside regardless of what number society or you have rated yourself. He is your Keeper.

In an era where discarding persons is like second nature, it is as easy as breathing; God will never discard you. He is your Keeper. He looks at you with His beautiful eyes, and He says you are a keeper! In your mess, you are a keeper! At your best, you are a keeper! He is the Keeper who never fails at providing constant care and protection.  So don’t look to man who is fickle to determine if you are a keeper. Instead, look to God knowing that He is the Keeper of all keepers, who amazingly thinks that you are also a keeper.

Via Daily Prompt: Culture

love, Self Esteem, Spiritual

Love Cost

Dr. R. A.

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We are often of the persuasion that love does not cost anything. Because of this misconception we settle for less than what we deserve and truly sabotage our own dream and desires.

This settling causes us to live in a sphere less than our true potential. We allow ourselves to become options in the life of others. Their actions further cause us to devalue ourselves as ostensibly we have become fixtures that can be removed and put in place at their own convenience.  We then become stuck at the revolving door not seemingly able to enter another phase or exit the current scene.

We sacrifice our heart, time and the essence of our being for broken individuals because we believe that we have invested too much to walk away empty.  We try to cover our wounds with band-aids and gauzes, but the laceration is so deep that blood runs profusely, further depleting our lives. However, if we could get in a clandestine area for a minute and unmask we would realize that everything around us screams vehemently that there is a price to pay for dreams and desires.

Nature teaches us that in order for a seed to become anything then it has to fall into the earth and pay the price of death. For a baby to be born then conception has to take place, and the mother has to pay the price of housing that seed for a period of nine months. It is the same with obtaining an education, becoming employed and just about any facet of life. There is a price to pay.

God taught us that love costs… and the price is heavy… love costs life. As such, if we are to accept this love then we, in turn, have to pay the price. David stated emphatically “I will not offer God that which costs me nothing.” Grace isn’t cheap!!!  So then, why would we allow someone to get our love for free? Why do we not ensure that they pay the price, pay the price of responsibility and integrity? Why do we not let them know what our standards are and what it takes for them to be a part of our lives?  Are we too fearful of being alone that we settle for half of a man, and broken relationships, hoping against all hope that we will be rewarded eventually for our patience or investment?  Are we so desperate to receive a profit or to break even that we subject ourselves to being used and abused?

Look in the mirror … after all your sacrifice, do you like what you see?  Is it not the time to pay the price to be free?  Is it not the two that shall become one? Then why continue to be deceived about two halves making a whole?  Open your eyes…be true to yourself. You are more valuable than your experience, more than the things that you have been labeled. Stop devaluing yourself and putting yourself on the discount rack. Your shelf life is not expiring so don’t put yourself on markdown.  You are worth more… a lot more!!! YOU ARE WORTH MORE!!!! Pay the price…fall in love with you. Dare to love what you don’t like about yourself.  The persons that deserve to be a part of your life will be more than willing to take note of you, probe for your value and then pay the full cost.  Remember YOU ARE WORTH MORE…A LOT MORE!!!! 9/17/14

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