Beginning To Learn The True Meaning of the Word "Awesome"

The devotion from this morning has me thinking and thinking hard, what is really awesome. I myself have used this word to describe different things. I know I have used this word to describe the web, tech gadgets. I have used this word to describe places I have visited, (Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee comes to mind) but what may be awesome to me maybe mediocre to someone else.

The older I get I am beginning to use words very carefully. I have always tried to watch what I say because I try to think ahead because as one very mature Christian gentlemen told me before I was married, "Choose your words carefully because once they come out of your mouth you can't pull them back in." I try and take the wisdom to heart each and every day. I am beginning to realize the when thinking of the goodness, the patience, the intelligence of my Lord and Savior you can not describe God any other way but awesome.

• To know that even before creating Adam and Eve you were going to have to send your Son to take our place on the cross because you knew that by giving us free will we were going to fall from your grace is awesome.

• To be so forgiving toward me and sustain my life for some 42 years is awesome. Most black men in this day and age hope and pray they make it past the age of 25.

• To know that I would be brought up in church, fall by the wayside and walk away from You and find my way back to You after 15 years and not turn me over to Satan while out in the "streets" is awesome.

• To keep loving me even when I cursed Your name time and time again before coming back to You is awesome.

So many other things when I sit back and just think of His grace, His mercy is truly remarkable. Last night as I was driving home I looked up at the sky and saw a beautiful full moon and I got to thinking how God positions the planets in our solar system. If the moon were to be position just slightly from the earth that would devastate life here on Earth. How God has tilted the Earth and the Earth's distance from the Sun and how the speed of the rotation around the sun gives us our days, our seasons is truly awesome. I can't even fathom that God knows my moves before I do, to know that when make an mistake He is there to let me know He forgives me and to keep moving forward and to love me "just because" is truly awesome.

I may use the word awesome for some things but the older I grow the more I'm learning what the word "awesome" truly means. Waking up and being able to give thanks to Him one more day is awesome.

Be Blessed, Be Safe, and Have a Wonderful Weekend.


"He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

~proverbs 28:13

*If you get a chance this weekend check out these very insightful messages on Pride and Envy.

Devotion and Reflection for Today

One thing I love about the Bible is that it is not a fairly tale book. The Bible doesn't use perfect people and God shows their flaws and all. Some of the heroes of the Bible lives are cut short because of their own choices, (Samson comes to mind). But what if you have done every thing God has told you to do? When you are tithing and bills come out of nowhere do you stop tithing? How about if you have a co-worker or supervisor that for no reason just keep giving you a hard time and you are there on time, you mind your own business do you stop being the model employee? If you are married to a unbeliever and now matter how much you pray do you just stop praying for that spouse?

No, No and No.

It may be easy to say "No" now but when you are going through that storm and you read post like this you say to yourself, *Hump* "Easy for you to say mister, you don't know how long I have been going through this mess." I'm not going to lie no it's not easy, it's very hard to keep our mind on God when you are going through your valley. King David felt this way many times, some grief was brought on "just because" and some grief was brought on because of the choices he made as being a neglectful. This is where I come back to the Bible. In Matthew Jesus advises people who choose to follow Him; the road will be tough, it will not be easy, many times you are going to be that lone voice of reason at times whether if you are at work or at home, with co-workers, with family members, you will be the "the odd person out" at times.

As I wrote yesterday I was that odd person out so to speak. I was not attractive (not saying that I am now...just average but my wife loves me...that should count, right?), I stuttered really bad, I was molested as a child by a relative, it seems like a had a crush on a girl every other month and to no prevail never really dated, never really had a close relationship with my mother. All of these things I could have just walked around with a chip on my shoulder and been angry at the world and at times this is what I did but at sometime in my life I took a very hard look at myself and said, "who is the really hurting, the people who have wronged me or myself ?"

Sometimes it's hard to look within and be totally honest with yourself. Some of the things that happened to me was not my fault but some situations I brought on myself and that is when I realized that no matter what I have been through God has been with me. When I was stumbling and stuttering God was with me...He taught me who to listen to and how to control my stuttering, to be patient with people who have difficulty speaking (this is why I am in pursuit of a Mass Communication Degree). When I was taking advantage of as a child God was with me...he taught me to show love toward my grandchildren and niece because sometimes children just need to know that you love them for who they are even when there make mistakes. When I did not date all through high school and felt all alone...God was with me because many of the guys I thought was cool and had it all together, most fell by the wayside either to drugs or had 2-3 children out of wedlock and is paying child support to no end.

Those so called "thorns" in my side was God growing me, showing me that through your lonely nights it was not easy, it will not be easy but I will never leave you, never. He has taught me when situation are going really bad to still look within and ask the tough questions to myself and to be honest with myself before I go pointing the fingers at others. I know now that following God is a very tough road but when you see others stumbling you can come besides them and let them know it's okay to make mistakes, it's okay to get angry sometimes, you're human, you are not perfect and that you Lord has not left you. I will make mistakes today tomorrow but knowing that when I ask for true forgiveness God truly "forgives and forgets". When you are going through tough times and it's no fault of your own God is there growing us and at the time we may not understand why but in the end we see the results. I have come to love the fact that I am an odd ball (not in the mystical, creepy way. I can be honest...there are some Christians that are just "too religious and you hate to see them coming). I have said time and time again, "I rather be an outsider in Christ's Circle than popular in the world's circle."

Be honest with yourself, when do you learn the most, grow the most; when times are going great or when you are going through "hell"? We do not need to go through bad times all the time but I think that is when we truly learn about ourselves and others and who is truly there for you in those times and for me Christ has had my back every single time.

"A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin."

~proverbs 26:28

Devotion and Reflections for Wednesday

When coming up as a child I thought I was, well...kind of weird. I would listen to albums (they I go, dating myself again) and I would read the liner notes...which musicians played on which track, who produced what song, where the song was recorded, who mixed the song(s), things of that nature. I kept this to myself because after a while I didn't think it contributed to anything. I have always had gadgets thanks to my grandmother (she was and always will be my chief Geek, she bought me my first type writer, first digital watch, first Sony Walkman, first computer...Commodore 64, she was the greatest). I never thought I would use this "useless" information along with my passion for gadgets, and years to come the web. It's amazing how God puts a gift, a passion inside of each and every one of us and at the time we do not understand why we are drawn to certain hobbies but He puts it all together for us later in life that will come out okay if we allow Him to do so.

Now years later I am able to share my taste in music, my passion with technology (what little I know), gadgets, websites, and most important God's word through my blogs. I heard a pastor not to long ago say that God shows us on step at a time and if we complete that step He shows us the next step and the next step and so forth. Who knew I would be able to meet so many people across the world and not even leaving my home most of the time. I remember making PDF files when living in Florida with Our Daily Bread copied on them and sending them to people at work to get their morning started and when I think I was making a impact and kind of slacked off people would say, "Where's my Word for in the morning?" This is how today's devotion touched my heart this morning because what I may not understand or what other people think is weird, God's plan is always in order and if we keep allowing Him to nurture you and I we will blossom like a flower.

That is when I realized how God was truly using me. It's amazing how God plants the seed in each and every one of us and when seeking His wisdom he can truly grow us into something special. Most will never be famous but He will make sure we will be taking care of and most important we will have a passion for what we do day in and day out. When I began my blogs last year at times I didn't think I was having a impact and God had to remind me, "you trust in me...use your abilities the way I have giving them to you." I have to remind myself that everything takes time, it's like planting a seed. We may not see what the seed is doing underground but as long as we continue to care for it, water it, give it proper sunlight before you know it up it comes out of the ground. God has to remind me many days "Be God focus, not people focus." That is not in a negative way toward anyone because like I said earlier, I truly enjoy meeting people and what God tells me is that true, intelligent people know phonies. They know if you are there for them or to "toot your own horn" so to speak . I am learning every day to be God focus because in this way I can help people more and in return this is what draws people to God. To let people know that you have flaws, that you don't know everything and that you are willing to not only teach but to learn from others, no matter what the age will help build lasting relationship whether in person or on the web.

Now that so called "useless" information I share with people on my blogs and most days I may get a comment or two and most days I don't and you know what, why should I? It's good to hear from people but if I don't, God let's me know time and time again, "Whether you know it or not, you're touching people lives...Be God focus not people focus." As Dr. Charles Stanley always says...

"Trust in God, leave all the consequences to Him"

Be Blessed, Be Safe and Have a Great Wednesday.


"Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,
and do not claim a place among great men;

it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"
than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
What you have seen with your eyes "

~Proverbs 25:6-7