EMERGENCE FROM THE DARK

Ah, the darkness!  We all go through times when it seems to be trekking from one dark tunnel into another.  Sometimes we think, "Can I just catch a break?"  Situations come into our lives unwelcomed.  Even if we try to do things right, life throws us a curve ball and always when we least expect it.  Ride with the tide they say.  Well, it's so much easier said than done, you know?  

The dark days may seem endless when we have no faith.  No matter how close our relationship is with God, it seems that darkness follows us anyway.  It is true.  But we have to put things in perspective.

If we break it down, whether you believe in God or not, we all go through down days.  No one is exempt from that.  So, being aware of this fact is already the harbinger for better days to come.  Not that we expect that bad days will follow good ones, but we all need to be prepared.  

Preparation entails faith.  Knowing and accepting that prayer really works would be the next step to disastrous circumstances.  I can't even begin to imagine those who have no faith in God.  I mean, how do they cope?  If they can just tap into that gift of prayer and faith that there is a God who really cares for you, and will take that burden from you if you let Him.  But only if you let Him.  If you surrender it to Him, it has to be a full surrender, not a half-ass one.  Surrendering and taking it back from Him won't work.  

God has a light inside us all that if fanned into flames will only serve to benefit us rather than extinguishing the fire and becoming self-reliant.  God has the power to change ANY circumstance and when He does, you will know that it is Him who paved the way to the solution of your burdens.  Keep your hearts open, accept that you are powerless against those curve balls that are coming your way.  There is always a God-sized hole in everyone's heart.  No one escapes that.  Once filled, life is easier to handle.  Let go and let God!  I love that phrase!

UNTIL MY NEXT RANT... LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

GOD OUR FATHER - HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Yes, He is the one who created everything.  He was the one who Adam and Eve feared, the one who was envied by the once very beautiful and intelligent angel cast out of the heavens because he was envious of the most powerful one!  The one who orchestrated every single event from creation to current events.  He is the one that we cannot ever escape from yet we choose to reject Him.  

He is the reason for all the turmoil and battles being fought to this very day.  He was the one who punished the rebels and the stubborn people since the beginning of time.  He is feared, mocked, rejected, turned away from because of lucifer who runs amok on this earth being given liberties by those who rebel against Him, the very powerful God of the entire universe!

Since the beginning of time, God has revealed Himself and has been known to man as a scary God.  A God who is angry.  

But that is not how I know God.  For me, God my father is a gentle God.  A person I turn to who extends His arms and His heart openly to me when I need to be comforted.  Sure, in the days before Jesus, He was a very stern and sometimes angry God.  But He was also gentle to the people who were loyal and loving to Him.  Over and over again, He has saved them, forgiven them and given them blessings throughout history.  Not until He sacrificed His only Son, Jesus, did he back off, letting Jesus take over.  Jesus is our advocate, the gentle part of God who understands our situation because He became human just like us.  He was able to feel what it's like to hurt, to want to live, to feel physical pain.  He is our protector, our guide, our shelter and our solace.  

A good father is one who will take a bullet for his children.  He will protect them from harm, work hard to support them and be their children's confidante.  The one whose fathers were absent, He especially loves and protects.  I am that person.  God has always been my go-to person, especially today.  The older I become, the more I understand God and the more I understand Him, the more I love Him.  I may not have had a father to guide me throughout my life, I have to say, all my life God was there for me.  A father that is ever present, a father who got me in touch with two other father figures, Papa Henry and Grandman.

God is the best father there is.  Sure, most people have been the prodigal children but when they are ready to come back to Him, He will have his arms stretched out so far He could hug them all at the same time.

Until my next rant... HAPPY FATHERS DAY and LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!

JESUS CHRIST, OUR SUPERSTAR

In all of history and in all of humanity, no one  in this planet who was born, lived, died had ever came back to life, left, and will come back again except Jesus Christ.  Did it every occur to you or do you know anyone else in existence having the wherewithal to enter and exit our world defying multi-dimensional realms?  If you haven't thought about it, maybe it's time that you do.  

How shameful it is when we mourn celebrities who pass away and pay tribute about their lives but don't even give Jesus a second thought.  The one and only who not only contributed to all of humankind while He was alive but continues to do so to this very day and forevermore!

You may say that Jesus walked the earth eons ago and you may even doubt He ever existed.  But if you put it in perspective, the likes of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Charlie Chaplin, etc. are still being memorialized and kept alive to this day, re-living their contributions to this world via their records, stories, videos, etc. and we pass them along to the next generation as role models.

Similarly, the Bible is the legacy of Jesus Christ, a tribute to His existence in this world and is THE WORD that is still relevant and applicable to this life.  But yet, it is doubted, He is doubted, forgotten and crucified over and over again with so much hate.

Think about this.  If Jesus is the King of the coming world, this world and eternal life, then how can He not be the King of our lives?  I believe that if anyone deserves reverence, worship, perfect example, etc., it is Jesus!  He should be numero uno in our lives.  In return, He will bless you with an abundant life here and for the one after.  Caring for God is caring for your own soul!

Death is inevitable for all of us, whether or not we leave a lasting legacy on earth.  We all want to be remembered.  But when we are remembered, we ought to strive to be remembered as Christ is remembered, the one who sacrificed His life to save ours, because that type of remembrance is significant for the good of all mankind.

Until my next rant... LOVE ONE ANOTHER!

DISCOVERING YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE

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I was posed a question one day, "What were you born to do to make a difference in the world?"  It must have been one of the most difficult questions I have ever had to answer.  It wasn't an instant knowledge for me.

It took years of analysis of my own life, my own abilities to be able to come up with the reason for my life.  There were times when I struggled with it.  Until one Sunday, at a church service, Pastor Bill narrowed it down for me.  He said, what is your natural talent that God has given you to share with the world for his Glory.  The question wasn't easy to assess but it got me closer to my answer.  I then asked myself, how can I use being an artist to help further the kingdom of God?

I wasn't in any way a public speaker, I am a self-proclaimed introvert befitting to my artistic personality.  I have the words in my head about what to say, but put me in front of people and I clam up.  So that avenue was out.

I am however, a pretty decent writer.  I've written poems, short stories and in the process of writing an autobiography, maybe not for the world to read but at least my family's generation to come.

So here I am today, writing blog posts associated with my artwork.  I found a niche I could fit in.  God tells me almost daily what to write and illustrate.  It is perhaps the most comfortable place  for me.  My posts are being read all over the world.  But mostly America and Russia.  Thank you so much to you all who read my posts and view my artwork.  I hope it inspires you as much as you all inspire me.

So to recap, what are you passionate about?  What are your talents you can share to the world for God's glory?  Like Steph Curry who is unabashedly giving God the glory for every time he plays and plays well.  What can you contribute?  It may not be a talent you think is a talent.  You may have the gift of gab and engage people to what you are saying.  You may be able to influence someone to turn their lives back to God. My motto is, if I can only save ONE soul, then my purpose is completely satisfied.

Thank you again for readying my posts.  Until my next rant... LOVE ONE ANOTHER!!