Neckbones

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Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.

James 1:19-20 NLT

It was not a good day. I mean, I know there are a lot of people without jobs. And I, as a Christian, should be very thankful I have a decent paying job. I know. But it was not a good day. 

And what makes this really bad is I live with someone who had a worse day. And I will share how I know that. 

Though it was not a good day and I did not want to be working, I soldiered on and worked. I had followed the guidelines to a tee. I had answered the questions. And wrapped everything up like I was supposed to do. But it was not good enough. The guidelines showed the steps, but did not give the procedure. So, the asst. supervisor was frantically trying to get my attention. And she got it after I had wrapped everything up. Then she wanted to have the conversation while I was on lunch. This was the 15^th straw that broke the camel’s back. Eleven minutes in, I said enough. And I went to break after saying I was on break.

I’m hungry, and wondering what is up with this chick since I had followed the guidelines. I’m grumbling. I head to get some food, and problem number two reared its ugly head. I didn’t see food prepared and I needed to eat fast, so my mind was on frozen chicken tenders and a bowl of cereal. I’m grumbling and I am asked what was wrong. I explained what I could and I am told to let it go. Which I would have if left alone. Then it was “there’s Neckbones.” 

Okay. I don’t like neckbones. And even worse, I don’t like neckbones covered in barbeque sauce. I am not a fan of picking my meat out of bones like a scavenger bird. I had not had neckbones in decades. Apparently, neckbones is a favorite meal where I am staying. Like pizza at my previous place of residence (so not complaining about that), and meatloaf at the place before that.

I am told the meat falls off the bones. I am chided (because berated may be what I felt but I know it was not the intention).  I have removed chicken tenders from my menu because I needed to get out of the kitchen fast.

My first thought and second and third is “leave me alone about neckbones.” My fourth thought was ”Seriously, drop this neckbones tandem.” The next thought is “Lord, what’s up, because seriously, neckbones?”

Then I hear the words that people just straight up should not say to me: “I know you are not hearing me because of the tone in your voice.” Seriously? For real, for real, no conversation about neckbones is going to be a good conversation. But are you kidding me? You started it. I get my bowl of cereal and jet like a 747.

I went back to work. As I calmed down, (and really it was let go of some of the pride because when it came to my job, I did not know anything and honestly, this new curveball being thrown was expected), I remembered what happened earlier that day. That this person had received terrible news about their health.

Now while I wanted to say a bunch of things to both my roommate and this asst. supervisor, I said nothing. For work, I knew that it would work itself out. When I got a further explanation of what I did wrong, which was technically nothing, I struggled but I was able to give God some praise. 

As for my roommate, I also realized I had been down this path before with yet another relative so I was not going to be coerced into eating something I did not like, and this also will pass. 

I recognized I needed to bring down the pride in both situations. For work, pride showed in “but I followed the guidelines!” and for home, “Are you kidding me after all that I do?!”

But I knew this situation. And I knew, no, I know things are going to change. Romans 8:28. A God’s Property song kept coming in my mind. 

Don’t get me wrong. I was hot, and there were times the next day I struggled with recognizing who the real problem is, but I would turn back to simply saying, “Thank You Lord!” or “Hallelujah!” (or at worse, “Have mercy, Jesus!”) I made sure to send up prayers for everyone involved.

Be ye angry, but sin not. I failed, but at least it wasn’t an epic fail, and I was able to get back up, and recognize who was the real problem, and realize that if the situation was not going to change in the next minute, then all I could do was give thanks and praise God because I really am blessed.

Despite recognizing that I was in a bad mood, you want to make it worse?! I used to think most people could recognize this type of situation. I am going to change most to some. And this happens a lot among family. We seriously take each other for granted. Yes, we love one another, but common courtesy flies right out the window. Sadly, if you have a bad day at work, you take it out on those closest to you. Because your family will forgive you. I could go on and on, but even your family gets tired of you constantly jumping on them because you had a bad day. 

There are times where yes, those in your vicinity need to read the situation and skedaddle, but there are times where you need to check yourself before you wreck yourself. 

Realize who the real enemy is. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, etc., etc. And I know this may shock you but those closest to you do allow themselves to be the tools. They may have had a bad day. Or they may even be standing on you will forgive them once they apologize. 

When this happens, you need to use that armor. You need to calmly express your need for silence or space. And if it is not honored you need to step away. Will you be angry? Probably, but you do not want to act rashly.

Have you had a bad day and tangled with someone who had a worse day? Or were you the one who had a worse day? If you fell and stumbled and acted like you were never a child of God, just repent, confess, and ask for forgiveness.

Be Blessed and Stay Encouraged!

Breast Cancer Awareness Vs. Cuss Words: Stay Focused, Yo!

©Copyright Not Mine _Quote Francis Chan

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV

I got several things on my mind. Yesterday everybody had on pink at church (except me cuz I didn't know and a lot of the men<smh, #heforshe>), and a couple of shirts made a profound statement but I don't think some people got it. Why? It stated "Walking the Hell out of breast cancer!" I know! Le Gasp! How dare they make that statement in church?! Couldn't they have said something different, like heck or H-E-double hockey sticks? I mean, the nerve! And let a child wear it?! Tsk tsk. Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do. I would never! (Yes, that was sarcasm. #sorrynotsorry) 

Sit down and be quiet. Better yet, read Ephesians 6:12. This battle against breast cancer is a spiritual thing.  And if it takes shock and awe to get people to think and do something, then knock yourselves out. 

There are so many ways to let survivors and those going through know you are with them in their fight. You can give, but you got to make sure you are giving to the right organization. Yes, sometimes the money you give only paid for the CEO's salary not the research. You better check. 

Another way is to participate in fundraisers, like bake sales and walkathons and marathons. I thought about breast cancer and that so many women have gone through it and died from it. I know very few women who breast cancer has not affected them. But I also recognize that this battle is not just an earthly one. So I got the shirt, even if they may not have thought of Ephesians 6:12 when having it made. And for me the statement worked. Did I catch the vapors because a CUSS word was on a shirt? Me?! Ha! There is so much to catch vapors on and trust, a CUSS word on a shirt don't faze me. I aint judging the ones that did but I do challenge them with one word: WHY? Again, so much more to be upset about but this is what got you hot and bothered? 

The statement worked. It got me thinking about breast cancer awareness. I know it got tongues wagging because I heard a couple of statements and saw the looks. But instead of having a conniption over a CUSS word, let's use the one power God has given us that does a lot more than donations and walkathons and marathons and bake sales. Let us PRAY because we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Because we know that prayer works. And this most effective tool can be used to shine God's light in the darkness. Let's have a conniption that this insidious disease is being used to take out both the unsaved (who lose the potential to be saved) and the saved. Let's get our knickers in a twist over the fact that the loudest "fighters" for breast cancer research spend more money on everything but breast cancer research. We have the best tool in this fight, and we elect not to use it?! Keep praying, y'all. And sadly, try and stay focused on the right thing.

Be Blessed and Stay Encouraged

**Disclaimer: I do not mean to offend with my sarcasm. I just firmly believe that there are other things to get upset about and to wag your fingers and tsk-tsk and shake your head because of a cuss word is not worthy. Doing that without all the facts divides not unites. That is why I am #sorrynotsorry. AND I like Francis Chan's quote but have not heard of him until I searched him. This is not an endorsement of him but of that particular quote. Would like to read his book though, I will confess.

God Loves You

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For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 NKJV

A little over a month ago, Dr. Maya Angelou died. That upset me. Her life and her words affected me as a teenager and to be honest, throughout my life. Her poem, "Phenomenal Woman" helped this teenager through many self-esteem issues. "And Still I Rise" was also one of her poems that helped during college. I had read most of her books in high school, and Dr. Angelou became one of my nurturers. 

No, I have never met her. I did not take her class posted online either. At some point in the late 1990s, I read her most inspiring words. It comes from her book, Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now." I can't tell you that I read the book or saw it in an article, but these words resonated with me.

Excerpt from “Power of the Word," Wouldn't Take Nothing For My Journey Now:

    In my twenties in San Francisco I became a sophisticate and an acting agnostic. It wasn’t that I had stopped believing in God; it’s just that God didn’t seem to be around the neighborhoods I frequented. And then a voice teacher introduced me to Lessons in Truth, published by the United School of Christianity.

    One day the teacher, Frederick Wilkerson, asked me to read to him. I was twenty-four, very erudite, very worldly.  He asked that I read from Lessons in Truth, a section which ended with these words: “God loves me.” I read the piece and closed the book, and the teacher said, “Read it again.”  I pointedly opened the book, and I sarcastically read, “God loves me.”  He said, “Again.”  After the seventh repetition I began to sense that there might be truth in the statement, that there was a possibility that God really did love me. Me, Maya Angelou. I suddenly began to cry at the grandness of it all. I knew that if God loved me, then I could do wonderful things, learn anything, achieve anything. For what could stand against me with God, since one person, any person with God, constitutes the majority?

    That knowledge humbles me, melts my bones, closes my ears, and makes my teeth rock loosely in their gums. And it also liberates me. I am a big bird winging over high mountains, down into serene valleys. I am ripples of waves on silver seas. I’m a spring leaf trembling in anticipation.

I did the same thing. I said "God Loves Me" over and over again until I got it. And when I forgot that undeniable truth, whether it's because I had yet to confess my sins or I let worry, stress or anger, etc., keep me from remembering, I do it again. And I will keep doing it.

If you think of you are unworthy of God's love, think again. He does not stop loving you. God loves you. God loves me. It is such a simple thing, but it trips everyone until they get it. I suggest we do like Dr. Angelou and say it over and over again until we remember it.

How do you remember that God loves you?

Stay Encouraged and Be Blessed!

Calm Down, Shut up, and Quit Trippin'

Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:3 NKJV

Back in 2002 or 2003, I received an email that made it all plain. I forwarded it, and at the beginning of each year, I would send it out again. I have not done so for a few years, but I felt the need to do it today. I have no idea who wrote it or when it first surfaced, but this is like the bible to me. UPDATE: I have learned it was written by someone named Tommy, so credit goes to him. (7/26/19) It is so plain and so simple. I, personally, have been like that for years. My bestest friends were the ones who were like me ninety percent of the time. Back then, our saying was either "Deal with it" or "Oh, well" or "It's not that serious." When this email came along, it illuminated things. Calm Down Shut Up and Quit Trippin' is what I tell and have told people. I seem to have forgotten that. Thank God for the Internet. If it is posted once, somebody somewhere has it. 

So many times we make situations more than they are due to our anxiety.

CALM DOWN! God has your life under control; He knows how to handle even the seemingly complex situation with ease.

SHUT UP! Stop having pity parties and talking about your business all the time; don't you know that the power of death and life is in the tongue! Stop speaking negative things into existence in your life and in others.

QUIT TRIPPIN'! When you look at your situations through your eyes, you often read more into the situation than what is there. It's not as bad as you think particularly if God is in your life; Stop over analyzing your life.

Be courageous

Fear is not of God. Have the courage to step out on faith and do the seemingly impossible. Start your own business; go into the ministry; apply for that promotion; anything that you've been afraid to do and you know that God has called you to do - JUST DO IT!

Have confidence

Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."

Remember, greater is He that's within you than he that's in the world. You have the power of the most High God working in you, and you have His Son steadily making intercession for you. You have nothing to worry about! Walk with your head up! You say you have low self-esteem; somebody told you that you'd never amount to anything; the devil is a liar! Know that you are somebody not because Jesus said it, but because you are a child of The King!

Walk in the VICTORY!

Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

Does anything else need to be said?

The jury has been out and the verdict is in - YOU WIN!

In your finances - YOU WIN!
On your job - YOU WIN!
In your relationships (married, single, divorced, family, friends) - YOU WIN!!
In your health - YOU WIN!

God has already worked it out for you. It may not come the way you think it should come (or when you think it should), but remember - CALM DOWN, SHUT UP, AND QUIT TRIPPIN'!

He's working it out for "YOUR" good (in His time).

Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet.

Be Blessed TODAY!!

Tommy Last name still unknown

It blessed me back then, and it blesses me now. My aces might be gone, but God does have my back, and He certainly has yours. But that last part, "Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet," yeah that trips up a lot of folk. We all would pray and think that is the end of it. Nope. Now comes the lessons in patience, faith and wisdom. And sometimes new trials and new tribulations.

I have no idea where I am headed. Things that worked before are not working, but I have to have faith, and still strive forward. I have to do my part. Not each storm will fall under "Peace, be still." The storm you are in may fall under "Do You Trust Me?" Sometimes we want things to happen our way, but it never does. And especially if it is not God's way. Drop it. Let it go. If God has called you to something, do it. If you don't know, seek Him. And stand on His promises. Remember, calm down, shut up and quit trippin'!

Be encouraged and be blessed!