In 2012 the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, to win their 2nd NBA Championship as a franchise! Just the year before, they had lost in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games. So that year they came back hungry, determined, and more focused to finally get over that hurdle and win an NBA Championship. It was fitting to see the celebrations take place, and to see that this team had finally overcome a tough year in order to finally have that victory! Even though it didn’t start out good, didn’t mean it had to stay that way all because of coming back made all of the difference in the world!

There is something very important in life, there is something very important to our souls, and there is something very important that we should always take with us is how do you bounce back after you’ve been disappointed!?!? Have you ever been disappointed, have you ever been frustrated, have you ever had a setback, have you ever had a tough conclusion to something, and really have you ever had to have a restart! There are periods and moments within our lives, that we all have to face these challenges and obstacles because they bring themselves to us, and not just that but they don’t leave us because they find themselves always teaching us something.

It is easy for one to say they are okay, but are you still okay after the fact that you’ve been hurt and that you’ve been forced to encounter something that really has pushed and tested you! I see that as it relates to our walk with God, that there are things that the Lord gives us and places in us that push us, that don’t let us sleep, that always eat at us, that always make us strive for more because it is for us! You’ll never be comfortable, when you know that there is so much more for you to do!! That’s what dreams do, that’s what goals do, and that’s what vision does is that it will bring a feeling of being uncomfortable all because there is a potential and a goal that you have to reach, that you desire, and that you want!

Sometimes that’s all you can do, sometimes that’s all you have, sometimes that’s all you can and will muster up is that uncomfortable all because you have these feelings that are pushing you on and not allowing you to stay down! What is pushing, what is driving you, and what is making you not be able to really rest!?!? Well….. whatever it is go for it, go after it, and don’t stop until you get it! That’s the thing that should always be a light bulb to you, should always be a daily reminder to you, and should always be a daily notification to you is that there has to be that willpower in you that says “Nothing is going to stop me from reaching this goal”.

Now you have to dream it, you have to believe, you have to see it, and you have to go for it! There is always personal responsibility attached to wanting to achieve, there is a responsibility on your part to go after what you dream and seek!! Have you ever noticed, have you ever seen, and have you ever felt that personal conviction that if I truly want it – “I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT”!!!!!! I have to do something about it, I can’t always try to have many different conversations and polls trying to get so many pieces of advice but I have to do something about it myself!!!

When it’s your dream then it is your dream!!!! I’ll say that again: “WHEN IT IS YOUR DREAM, IT IS YOUR DREAM”. That’s enough right there, that’s enough for you to be inspired, that’s enough for you to be motivated, that’s enough for you to be dedicated, that’s enough for you to be changed, and that’s enough for you to be transformed! It is personal, it belongs to me, it pushes me, it makes me believe in the impossible because I serve a possible and powerful God! The Lord with me makes me believe I can do it, that is how you can do it and will do it because you have a belief in the Lord!!!

The belief system that you have in God is what will make you believe! Do you believe God, do you trust God, do you know God, and do you follow His words!?!? See when you are dreaming knowing God will get you through it, you’ll have to be mindful and careful that you can’t always turn to people with your dreams! See….. some people have limits to them because they don’t believe in themselves, and if you turn to people who don’t have faith they will crush your faith if you aren’t careful! You have to be careful who you tell your goals, your dreams, and your ambitions to because there is a penalty when you turn to the wrong ones when you are going through moments of dreaming and achieving!!

Just because you have vision, doesn’t mean that everybody else does!!! You have to block out the criticisms, block out the noise, block out the chatter, and block out the negativity!!! Could it be that sometimes we don’t achieve, is because we have still held on to the words from people who we knew weren’t about anything, and they really were low-key jealous of us and they did their best to demoralize us!?!? Watch out for the little innuendos they throw at you, that they try to shove at you, and that they try to push at you because they don’t want to see you achieve but don’t let that drop you from achieving!!!

Kevin Costner starred as: Billy Chapel in the movie “For Love Of The Game”. He is pitching as a Detroit Tiger in Yankee Stadium, and what I loved about it was that he had this saying – “Clear the mechanism”. Which basically meant that Chapel was clearing and blocking the noise, the chatter, and the trash talk from all of the negative fans so that he could focus on pitching! Then as the movie comes to a close, it was Billy Chapel that pitched a perfect game against the Yankees which is one of the greatest achievements for a Major League Baseball Pitcher to achieve and acquire! All because he made up his mind, to clear the mechanism and not allow the outside distractions to stop him from his assignment!

You have an assignment, you have a charge, you have a goal well do it! Trust in the Lord, and allow the Lord to be your leader and your shield!! God is able to get you through, God is able to let you make it, and God is able to allow you to have it come to pass!!! Trust in the Lord and yourself, that’s what is valuable and important because nothing can keep you down when you have faith that is strong in you! Nothing can keep you down, nothing will keep you down, and nothing is going to keep you down when you have that faith and belief!!! Go for it!!! Go for it!!! Go for it!!! God will make a way and take care of you!!!

Psalm 15:1-2 ESV
[1] O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? [2] He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart;

I love cycling, there are many times that we see in races that there will always be a cyclist that will always be on the bike! You have to see it for yourself, and what I loved about cycling is that a person will be on their bike and will always keep on pedaling at all times! You will have to stay on the bike in order to cross the finish line, and there are times that when you are on a bike that it is a relationship that has been formed, there is a bond when you hold the handles, and there is a connection that has happened because you are on this bike!

There are times in our Christian lives that it is like riding the bike, because you have to always pedal and there are times that you can be in a crowd or not be in a crowd but you still have an assignment, you still have a duty, and you still have an obligation because you still have to pedal even in the midst of all of that you still have to pedal! So the job for you is that you have to pedal, you can’t just be on the bike but you have to put it into action and go forward! That is the same with us, you are going to have to go forward and not stay down, not stay contemplating, and not stay in despair but you have to make up your mind to go the distance even when it hurts, when it tries you, and when you tests you will you keep on going on the distance?

You will never know, see, or understand just how strong you are until you have to keep pedaling in this life! Many times in our lives we want to cross the finish line, but are we really ready to do the work that it takes to cross the finish line!?!? Can you cross the finish line when nobody is pushing you on, can you cross the finish line when nobody is chanting your name, can you cross the finish line when you h e been forgotten about, can you cross the finish line when your name isn’t called on, can you cross the finish line when you aren’t even pecked to cross the finish line!?!? Will you still pedal, will you still go on, and will you still have a positive outlook!?!?

I believe and sense… all of us are in this boat, because all of us are in a lane on a bike in the spiritual sense where we have these thoughts, we have these moments, and we ponder these things as to whether or not we will make that choice to keep on pedaling!?!? It’s easy to pedal and stay on the bike when it’s easy, but what about when it becomes hard, right, tough, trying, difficult, and when it becomes a true test of wills that’s when it becomes a new destiny and a new challenge!! Are you ready for challenge, are you ready to go on, and are you ready to really take that next step in life!?!?

Life has its challenges, life has its problems, and life has ups and downs but that doesn’t mean you stop pedaling! In any cycling race, there will always be a cheering section and there will always be intervals where you go at a certain pace and then you have to speed up! The thing about is…. don’t stay slow the whole time, don’t stay sluggish the whole time, and don’t stay down the whole time but there are times the Lord is telling you to speed up! You have to speed up when it’s time to speed up, you have to keep going through the adversity, you have to keep going when the enemy is attacking your mind, attacking your dreams, attacking your heart, attacking your spirit, and attacking those things that are close to you that’s when you have to keep on pedaling!

It reminds me of Magic Johnson, and you know Magic Johnson had a challenging time playing against the Boston Celtics, and the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1980s! Even with that going on, even with winning against both teams and losing against both teams, there was something that I admired about him that he kept going!! Magic Johnson kept playing, he kept smiling, and he kept giving it all that he had and that’s why he became a champion, that’s why he became a legend, and that’s why he became a well known figure because he showed his resistance and his will to win and to keep on going!

That’s how it is in our lives, that’s how it is in our spirit, and see when you trust in the Lord there is going to be that boldness that comes to you, that drive that comes to you, that confidence, and that courage that comes to you yes it will! There is always something about a bike that I admire, when a bike is assembled correctly it will be a smooth ride even though where you ride it to might not be smooth that doesn’t stop the bike from being smooth! Do you have the right parts in your life, do you have the right assemblies in your life, and do you have the right structure in your life so that you can stay with the ride!?!?

Sometimes people leave the ride because they don’t have the right parts, they don’t have the right structure, and they don’t have the right leader for the ride! Things change but God doesn’t, and because the Lord doesn’t change then that’s all you need to know, that’s how you make it, and that’s why you can overcome with it because you know that the Lord is with you and doesn’t change! There is some great news about that, there is a great feeling about that, and there is something that keeps us all going is knowing that the Lord doesn’t change, and knowing that the Lord is with us so I can keep on pedaling because the Lord won’t change and God will be with me!

Make sure you remember that, make sure you hold on to that, and make sure you are always trusting in the Lord to keep the faith!! You’ll be tested but you’ll make it, you’ll be tried but you succeed, you’ll be up against some stuff but you’ll overcome it if you keep on pedaling!!! Keep going! Keep going! Keep going! The Lord is there with you, the Lord won’t leave you, and the Lord won’t forget about you so you have to keep on pedaling and trusting that the Lord will take care of you and that the Lord will get you through!

1 Chronicles 16:11-12 ESV
[11] Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! [12] Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered,

Anytime that we go to a restaurant, we always have an order ready for us because we have ordered food! There are times that when we order food, or even sit in at the restaurant that they will give us a number that is our specific number for our order! When we have our orders, then it is our number and our own number at that. Because my order is different then your order, but the thing is when it is my time then I will get my order!

That’s the importance in our Christian life as well, God has an appointed time for all of us and for some of us it is sooner, for others it is later, but no matter what time or when it comes the key is that it will come. You know waiting on God doesn’t always mean you like the process, but see it’s just like ordering food that what works for me isn’t going to work for you, and what works for you isn’t going to work for me but at the end of the day it is about what works for me!

What works for me is what I need, but see the thing about is that I have to trust God even when my number is on my table but it hasn’t been called yet! How do you handle it, when you see everybody else’s number called but your number is still waiting to be called!?!? You can do it right, correctly, and appropriately but still you have to wait for your number to be called! Just because you have trusted God, doesn’t mean that God is going to rush but there comes a time that you have to be patient with God always!

See if you rush your order… it can be messed up, not feel good, not taste good, and not be fulfilling. That’s the same in the Christian life as well, you can rush it and not be ready for it, not be fulfilled with it, and honestly not happy with it because you rushed the order and didn’t wait for the order. There are moments in our Christian lives that we have to remain patient, we have to remain diligent, and we have to remain steadfast because we always have to abound in the works of God but we have to wait for our name to be called.

We live in the age to where, when we see what somebody else has and because their number has been called we want ours to be called! We run the risk of; trying to get something too fast but the rush has now caused us to get something that is “Okay”, but if we would have waited we can have what is “Great”! That’s the thing in our Christian lives, what do you really want because your attitude and faith about it will show up, it will manifest, and it will walk with you to showcase what do you really want!

I don’t want anything to come to me that isn’t right for me. Now of course in theory that sounds good, it is catchy, and it is great to say but that doesn’t mean it is easy to deal with it when your number isn’t called. There has to be belief in God, and not a belief to try to be on the same level with other people but you have to be on your level! There is a level that is just for you, a door just for you, an assignment just for you, and a blessing just for you but you have to wait on your own order!

It wasn’t easy for John Elway to keep losing Super Bowls, watching other quarterbacks such as; Joe Montana, Doug Williams, Troy Aikman, Brett Favre, and Steve Young. They were winning Super Bowls, but he wasn’t and of course it go to him but he kept on playing, going to the playoffs, and then eventually in 1997 and 1998 while playing for the Denver Broncos he won back to back Super Bowls. Now of course he wanted to win those 3 Super Bowls he lost, but even though some he lost he won others because it was his order that was served.

That’s what we have to do with God, the Lord knows the right blessing and destination for us! The thing is that you have to wait on Him, trust Him, and believe Him at all times. The more you wait on the Lord, the more you believe in God, and you let God do what God needs to do then your order will come right on time and you’ll walk in the goodness, favor, power, anointing, and great ways of God because you have waited on the Lord.

Lord I want it all, but what I want is what you want for me to have and not the other way around. I don’t want anything that isn’t for me, because if it isn’t for me then I don’t need to have it with me because it is useless. I just want what the Lord wants for me, I want what the Lord has for me, and I want the Lord to anoint me so that I have the right order for me because I need the Lord with me and I want it all! Send it to me Lord in the name of Jesus! I pray Amen!

Psalm 27:14 NASB

[14] Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

In this photo you see, a kid who nobody was sitting with at all then came Florida State University Football Star Travis Rudolph who decided to sit with him. Rudolph asked the boy (Bo Paske) could he sit with him, then Bo replied “Yes”. Then this photo became viral, and gained national attention because of the kindness that was shown, and the friendship that was displayed within this one photo.

That spoke volumes to me, I can recall within my own life about being the odd person out, being the one overlooked, being the one not necessarily thought of, being the one not getting all of the invitations. I think many can relate and sympathize with this, you understand as I do about sometimes being passed by, being neglected, being rejected, and even being forgotten about.

Sometimes in this life, you’ll feel like this kid looking around and you’ll see that others have company and people all around them and with them but you can be at your own table by yourself. That’s what happens in our lives at times, we’ll be seated a table and have to enjoy our company, enjoy our lunch by ourselves, enjoy our own thoughts and ideas by ourselves, just enjoy us by ourselves that indeed does happen and occur within the realms of our lives and experiences that we will have to sit at our own table.

Even though you have your own table, notice something about Bo that he kept on eating! Did you catch that… he was still eating at his table, I’m sure he probably wanted friends around him also, yet he still ate at his own table. I learned that, is that even if you don’t get the table full enjoy your table, enjoy your character, enjoy who you are at your own table and many times people can’t enjoy themselves because they want the crowd. Ignore who isn’t there, you learn more about yourself at your own table when you are by yourself, you learn about your resistance and ability to still be who you are by sitting at your own table.

See when people learn to enjoy their table, that’s when the Lord will send somebody to you. You see that Rudolph came to Bo, and Bo didn’t seek him but he just showed up. When you let the Lord use you, when the Lord displays you, when you stay who God has made you people will see and recognize that there is something about you that’s special to where they’ll want to come join in, they’ll want to be around, they’ll want to talk and converse with you.

That’s what is beautiful about enjoying your table, that’s what is beautiful about enjoying who you are, that’s what beautiful about remaining who are that you love yourself so much… to where it doesn’t mater who is there or not you’ll be there and most certainly the Lord will be there! I know God will be there, I know God is there, I know God is keeping me at this table for a reason so instead of me trying to fit in at your table I’ll just be more focused about building my own table.

I’ve discovered the more I look at Baseball Stadiums, there are 30 Major League Baseball teams and every team has their own unique design of that stadium that they play in. Some play inside, some play outside, some have a bigger outfield then others, some seating arrangements are different then others but yet they have their specific designs and because of the way it was built and they’ll still play baseball in their stadium.

That reminds me of my table, and reminds of how God works because the Lord gives us all our own placements. With that placement, that lets me know I’m unique and you are unique so stay with who you are and stay at your table. Your table has something no other table has, your table has a special presence no other table has, your table has a warmth and spirit no other table has, your table is good by itself so stay at your table and don’t leave your table too soon!

God has something great in store for you, God has something amazing for you, God has something purposes for you, God has something in mind for you, God has all that you need and everything that you need at your table! Trust God, and let the Lord bless you and the table that you are sitting at!

Psalm 37:23 NASB

[23] The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

There is a story behind this!!!

Starting from 2008, not being able to walk with my class for High School! Having to wait another two years, to get my diploma and I swore I would never walk across a stage because of those demons!

Then starting at community college, then going to school in Oklahoma, leaving and coming back to Texas! Not only that… then having to take Mini-Semesters, Summer Courses, Winter Courses, Saturday school, and taking classes at two schools at one time just to get my credits!

Also missing out on semesters, due to financial issues not being able to pay, missing out on registration deadlines, failed some classes & retaking them, frustrated, burn out, wanting to quit, and many times wanting to just quit!

Frustrated with progress, talking down to myself and not happy at times! Stressed out, and there were just hard days along this journey! Working full time, and summers all year long to pay off all of my tuition! Parents helping me with tuition money!

Yet here I am today, and able to say the Lord is good! It’s all because of the Lord that this degree has happened!! I’m so glad the Lord kept me, I’m glad that the Lord still kept me, and thankful for so much encouragement towards to keep going and now I’m glad that I did!

What a joy and feeling this is!!! The Lord is so good!!!!

We all have met people who have inspired us, there have been great ones that have been inspired for the road and journey. Young basketball players are inspired by; Steph Curry, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and other great players, young football players are inspired by; Cam Newton, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson we all have those people who we will never forget, never take for granted, and never not treasure.

For me this man on the left of this pic, has been my Dad, my inspiration, my confidant, my Pastor, my encourager, my person whom I have sought for wisdom, leadership, ministry moves it has been this man right here who has done all of that for me! Rev. Dr. Earl W. Bryant (Wildewood Baptist Church OKC) my Pastor and my Dad!!

This guy has meant so much to me, it’s nothing like having that Pastor and Son relationship it is one that you can’t buy or replace. There have been times, when I have been discouraged and wanted to give up I sought Dad and he gave me words to hang in there, keep the faith, and hold on. There have been times when I had heartbreak, and Dad was there to let me that wasn’t the right one, times when I felt like my labor was in vain but Dad told me I was doing a great job and to not quit or focus on the other stuff but serve the Lord, and watch the Lord take care of you.

My love, drive, and passion for preaching, to make sure I’ve been faithful to the text, faithful to the word, and gave the proper diligence to the word is because of what I was taught, and what I learned from watching Dad. His dedication to God, and to the word and helping me has been so important. Preaching is special and serious to me, because it lives in me and because I watched Dad and continue to watch Dad how he gives it all that he has, how he challenges me in conversations to be better, how I’ve watched him talk about preaching, and how he lights up about preaching has aided a residue effect on me and that’s why I love preaching, due to what I have seen, felt, and experienced from Dad over the years.

There have been times in my young ministry, that I’ve needed to be checked and corrected and that’s what Dad has done for me. As a young preacher, it is good to have a Dad who loves you enough you correct you and my Dad loves me enough to where he has corrected me, he has told me about staying faithful, he has told me about staying committed, he has told me to be careful about what you say, what you post, what you do, he has told me about sticking and staying with it and not just running away when it doesn’t go your way. Dad has taught me those things, and they have really helped and have saved me and I’m glad for our relationship that He talks to me like that, and He treats me as His own.

The reason I love ministry, love people, love Church, and interact the way I do is because I watched it from my Dad. When I have seen him lead, step outside the box, I have seen him do things to always stay relevant and stay with the times. That means a lot to me, because I know that I have watched him since I was 6 years old, when he would cut my hair, how he’s been close to my family, and I can recall as a kid him giving me money when I was a kid going to his office, I can recall him coming to my grandmother’s house for thanksgiving, coming over to my Uncle’s house for dinner, helping, visiting, and praying over my family when it was needed Dad has done that time and time again.

It reminds me of Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan, it was the right coach for Michael Jordan that helped him get to legendary status. Doug Collins got him off to a good start, but he couldn’t propel the Bulls not until Phil Jackson came on the scene and things changed and he became the one who won 6 championships and 6 Finals MVP’s. The right combination, helped make all of the difference, the right combination produced that fire and produced that will to never lose but win yes it was the right combination that did that, and when you have that right combination and it is true to you then it will get you to a better place that gives you that kind of success.

That’s how I feel about my Pastor, a Pastor who pushes you is a great luxury and Pastor to have! Dad pushes me, Dad motivates me, Dad has been another Dad for me not just in the pulpit, but outside of the pulpit. Life lessons he has taught me, I’ve been on the car with him going to the hospital, going to different places and those conversations have been priceless, meeting up with him at the Church and those conversations have been priceless as well. EW has been a God-send to me, especially how he has invested in me since I’ve been in the ministry.

Dad came at a critical time for me, because I needed to know the ropes and have that Pastor who would spend time with me. That’s what he does for me, that’s what he always is doing, that’s what I need because he has and is that constant presence for me. When you think about your Pastor, how do you feel about your Pastor, how do you honor and admire your Pastor, if your Pastor called you and said I need you would you be right there for your Pastor? That’s how I feel about my Pastor, whatever he needs and whatever he asks, then I’ll do it because I love him to death and he is my Pastor.

There are things that I do and how I preach, where other Pastor’s have said that it reminded them of my Pastor! I take that as a major compliment, I take that as a high honor that I remind people of my Pastor! I’ve watched how he dresses, his ties, his shoes, I used to preach with paper and make them little pages because of watching Dad, and now I preach from my IPad and the main inspiration was watching my Dad preach. There has just been so much, that has helped and made me who I am now because of my Pastor! I thank God for my guy and Pastor Rev. Dr. Earl W. Bryant the best!

If the Lord allows me to Pastor, Dad will be the one who installs me, Dad is the one that has pushed me towards better education, pushed me to be a great man, a great future husband and father it is all because of Dad. The reason I have published books, started a podcast, create flyers, and do other things is because my Pastor spoke and feed into me that made me lose fear and anxiety, and be bold to walk by faith and keep the faith to live and walk out by faith and give it all that I have in everything. With preaching and teaching give it all that I have, and in everything be a great steward without any regrets because I watched my Dad!

Thank you Dad for what you mean to me, and how much you have inspired and changed my life!

Love your son, Chris

In 1997 one of the great legendary quarterbacks of all time, John Elway finally won the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. He has eclipsed major accomplishments, he had become known as a great and legendary quarterback, and the only thing missing from his resume was a Super Bowl victory. That finally happened, when the Denver Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers and won the Super Bowl, and then owner the late Pat Bowlin got up and said… “This one’s for John”.

Finally that came to him, and what I loved about John Elway throughout his career was that he never changed who he was, he never stopped throwing, he was always being the same quarterback and player that he was supposed to be. Yes there were some losses, some uphill battles and climbs, some tough times, but John Elway stayed being John Elway and not trying to be any other quarterback at the time (Brett Favre, Troy Aikman, Dan Marino, Randall Cunningham, Warren Moon, Chris Chandler, Kordell Stewart, Mark Brunell, Steve Young, or Jake Plummer). He remained him, and held on and then he was able to have that victory.

I thought about that, have you ever felt and even noticed that sometimes in our lives… we can find ourselves going from being secure to insecure because of what we see others have that we don’t? Sometimes our moods can change, and they change because have we gotten to a place of insecurity and the reason we have, is because we weren’t very secure in the first place. Sometimes we miss out and mess up, because insecurity can be dangerous and detrimental to us all because we lose who we are, we forget who we are, we start to act in a way that is not us, we begin to be unhappy, and we start to transition from being happy to being uneasy all because there has been a flood of insecurity, that has taken away the security from us.

Yet when you know who you are, then you can be secure. When you like and love who you are then you can be secure, when you have strong belief and confidence in yourself then you can be secure, when you trust in God and love the person that God has made you then you can be secure. Whether or not people like you or accept you, if you are secure with yourself then you can enjoy who you are, love who you are, treasure who you are, value who you are, be content with who you are because there has been a secureness that lives with you that has not died but that is yet living for you and with you.

There are those who have messed things up, because they weren’t secure. There are those who have walked away from things because they weren’t secure. When you know what you have done, and when you know your worth and what you bring, then you can be secure knowing that you have done the right things. Doing the right things, and doing what you are supposed to do will make you secure, and there will come a time and moment that you will stop always trying to get so much attention or approval from the outside world when you know what God has said and told you then that’s enough for you to be secure, that’s enough for you to be strong, and that’s enough for you to be positive.

Every time we drive, we always notice and see that there will be stop lights. Those stop lights have their own function… Green is to go, Yellow is to slow down, and Red is to stop. You’ll never see Green trying to Red or Yellow! None of these 3 colors, will try to do the job of the other color even if they are connected together, they still know the job and assignment that they have. We all are connected, we all are in this together, we all are God’s children but we all have different functions, we all have different characteristics, we all have different personalities, we have different ideas and thoughts, and we all do things different so just trying to be somebody else and trying to act like somebody else will bring on me, a loss of self-identify and character that shouldn’t have been there to begin with.

That’s what happens when you are secure, you function and operate in your own gifts and callings. There is no need for me or you, to let somebody else’s achievements or success to make me look down on myself. God has room for them, and God has room for me also, God has blessings for me, God has great things for me, God has specific doors, assignments, and opportunities that are strictly for me so there is no need to be insecure but I can be secure knowing that I am who I am supposed to be, and that God is the reason that I have this and have been blessed the way that I have.

We all are blessed, and it’s great knowing that what is for you is specifically for you. When God has done it, don’t ruin it by letting outside influences or even personal jealousy get in the way. There are those who have ruined relationships, friendships, and other type of great doors all because of insecurity and because they want all of the attention. A mature person knows, and understands you won’t always get all of the attention, and that you’ll have to share the spotlight but that’s okay because the Lord has some light for you, the Lord has what you need and are supposed to have.

That can be a big problem, is always wanting the attention. When you are secure… even if your name isn’t called, if they don’t call you, if they ignore you, if the neglect you, and even if they forget about you that happens but you know who you are, you know what you have done, you know what God has blessed you to do, and you know what the Lord will continue to do for you yes you do know that because you are secure. So the question is… “Is it about God or about my ego?” What is it about.. if it is about God, then let it always be about God and watch how the Lord will bless and elevate in His own way and time.

You will notice in sports that teams will change jerseys periodically, I grew up in 1990s which was the best decade of NBA Jerseys. Whether it was the; Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and other great uniforms from teams during that decade. Pinstripes, animals, and different color schemes and designs were awesome to see. Now sometimes switched up, and they changed up and of course they bring them back at times, but yet some think they are ugly and others think they are cool but it doesn’t matter what the outside people think, because that team loves them and will wear them because they like them and that’s all that matters.

That’s how it is in our Christian lives as we talk about being secure, you have to wear that uniform if being secure with honor. You have to say I’m secure so much, I can stay smiling, I can stay encouraged, I can stay happy, I can stay with it the the Lord at all times, and there is nothing that can or will keep me down or pinned down because I am secure with who I am. It’s a great feeling… when you have that type of freedom about you that you are fine with the person that you are it is a great feeling and a feeling that doesn’t evade or escape but it lives with you all of the time.

So today… be happy with who you are, grow with being who you are, and trust the Lord with who He has made you to be!

Every human being, needs to feel safe and secure in their life! – Kether Donohue

Philippians 1:6 NASB

[6] For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

A Love Letter To My Shayla

You complete me!! As I look at this photo, and every other photo we have taken I always think “Wow! Look at us now, look at how far we have come, and look at what the Lord has done”. You and I both know, about heartbreak, about settling, about trying to make something work that we both know and knew wasn’t going to work. Yet because we were both, so engulfed with trying to make something work then we were doing that, placing ourselves with people that we shouldn’t have, and really not being completed our satisfied.

I can admit that, that peace or satisfaction never came to me trying to have someone but not having something. Babe isn’t that crazy… how people can have “someone” but not “something”. You can have “someone” to date, go out with, spend some time, spend some quality time with, but if that’s it and you know there is no real connection then it’s just someone. When you have “something” there is a major difference because; you and that person have each other, but you have that love, friendship, joy, spark, togetherness, and have future goals with each other. Having “something” isn’t just trying to fulfill a need as having “someone” is, but is having building something special to where it’s only you and that person growing together, loving together, and building together.

Since you have come into my life, it’s been great, it’s been special, it’s been what I prayed for, and I know what you prayed for. It’s amazing how the Lord works, never could have imagined or thought we would be together. I knew from the time we first started to talk, that you were the one for me. I knew how you made me smile, how you made me excited, and had you made me light up you were the one. Even now… I still light, I still sparkle, I still think to myself (This is real? God you did this? I know I’m unworthy but thank you God)! Those thoughts of course ring in my head, well favor ain’t fair and I’m walking in my favor because you are my best friend and the one in whom makes me smile, makes me happy, and makes me grateful as you see flowers spring in a garden, I have to see thank you Babe for building a garden with me.

Times before, we both were already ready to just say well it’s not going to work, it’s not going to be anything, not this time around. The Lord has brought us together, the Lord has done a miracle for us, the Lord has changed us, the Lord has turned our whole mindset around. We went from doubt, to know blessed deliverance because God has delivered us from the past. I’ll tell you, loving you has helped me get past many past demons, loving you has pushed me to be better, loving you has shown me that when you have a special person then you don’t let what outsiders say affect your relationship, loving you has made me more determined and motivated to be a better servant, preacher, man, and teacher of the word.

You have changed my life!!! As I reflect on us, I think about how a paper gets ripped and that paper has to be taped up. Sometimes even though it gets taped, it doesn’t always stand up or stay. That’s how our past was, it was like that tape it stuck for a little while but it wasn’t long lasting. Then came November, the Lord allowed two torn pieces of paper to unite and become one strong piece of paper that has begun to always draw and create a lifetime of memories. I love you so much, I thank God for you everyday, I never can or want to imagine my life with anyone else but you as I often say, and will say. There is never a period or moment, where I’m unashamed or unapologetic about how I feel about you because you mean so much to me.

Now I know what real love is all about; real love brings out the best, real love is patience, real love is strong, real love is powerful, real love is a miracle, real love has no limits but it continues to grow daily, it grows weekly, it grows monthly, and it grows yearly. Babe… that’s how I feel about you, we have that real love that love that is consistent, that is strong, that is powerful, that stays with you, that never leaves, that love never decreases but increases by the day. That’s what I have for you babe, you are the best thin and my good thing, God is that truest love we have and because of that, we have been blessed to love each other the way that have. You light me up, in ways that I never thought would happen for me or even be imaginable for me.

Thank you for taking a chance on me, thank you that even though age could have hampered it didn’t, thank you that there was no looking down, thank you that there was no judgments, thank you babe for what you have meant and what you mean to me everyday of my life. I think about your voice, your smile, your lips, your demeanor, your traits, and I love how God has made you who are. Even though you are taller than me (lol), I thank God for my Baptist Tower, I thank God for you because you have given me a deeper belief in myself, a new spirit, a new confidence, a will and I know it’s all because of the Holy Spirit and being connected to you babe!

1st Corinthians 13:4-8 says “1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NASB [4] Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, [5] does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, [6] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away”.

Only the love of Jesus Christ, for His suffering at Calvary, for Him being our redeemer and justifier could build and bridge this. If we didn’t love Jesus, we wouldn’t experience these blessings, we wouldn’t have met each other, we wouldn’t have been able to speak and showcase our love to each other. How sweet, how pleasant, how pure it is for us that we are followers of Jesus Christ. That’s the main reason babe, my love for you is so strong. I see your love for Christ, I see how you love the youth at Unity, I see the dedication you show to Unity, I feel the devotions you compose, I see how dedicated you are to God, and I feel your prayers that you have prayed for and over us.

Never have I felt that urge to pray, that urge to grow, that urge to have promise rings for anyone like I have for you Shayla. It is such a blessing, it is so sweet, it is so awesome, it is so unique how God can really bring like minded people together even with our flaws, our issues, our mistakes, and how God ushers out those things in order for us to be who we are and complete. We have been blessed, we are blessed, and we are going to be blessed to the love of my life, my wife, my babe, my best friend, my Shayla, my y’all tall hot chocolate, and the sugar in my Kool-aid I love you so much!! I can’t wait to see what God does for us, I can’t wait to see how God blesses us, and I look forward to our lifetime journey together!!!

Love, Your Chipmunk!!!

My favorite running back, and in my opinion the greatest running back of all time is Barry Sanders. If you have ever watched Barry Sanders, from his time at Oklahoma State to his career with the Detroit Lions he was unstoppable, elusive, great, and special. All you have to do, is watch the highlights and you will discover and see just how great of a player Barry Sanders was.

He played for the Detroit Lions from 1989-1999, and he retired early and abruptly from the Detroit Lions. When news broke of his retirement, there were hurt feelings, shocked, and just couldn’t believe what they had heard and seen. This great player would no longer be here, this great player would no longer wear #20, this great player would no longer have his name called in what was then “The Pontiac Superdome” no longer would he be with this team because he retired and left.

Yet even to this day he is remembered, celebrated, and admired by how good he was. I thought about that, in our lives every day we are living then we are creating memories every day. That’s why you have to be good everyday, be wise everyday, be holy everyday, be kind everyday, be respectful everyday, because your name can help or break you, your name can be important or insignificant, it’s all about how you do things and how you treat yourself and treat other people.

You have to take care of yourself, you have to be someone that is known for the integrity that they bring to the table, you have to be someone that those can trust in. What story are you writing, what story are you publishing at this moment and is it worth being read. Our story ought to be something impactful, inspiring, igniting, and that has given somebody else a mindset of wanting to do the incredible.

Every time I wake up, it’s another day to write a better story and chapter. God is good to allow us another day, when you have been with God and are with God the Lord gives you grace and mercy for another time that’s a sign we have more work to do, that’s a sign we have some more stuff to accomplish, that’s a sign that there is more attitude achieve, and that’s a sign that we can do more in our lives. Whatever you do, give it your all and best and do right by people, do good to people, treat people right, treat yourself right, and give all of you to your gifts before the y are gone.

Also one must honor those, and value those who are with them while they are here. Barry Sanders retired, and one of the main reasons was that the Lions did not build a contending team around him and him running the ball, taking so many hits, and enduring punishment got old after a while. So then what they once had, they didn’t have anymore and he was gone from their presence and didn’t return.

That’s another thing, who you have in your life that God has placed you with you should love unconditionally all the time. I mean you don’t want, someone leaving or walking away and you didn’t do all that you could have while they were there. So what’s important to you, how do you live with those in your life, how are you helping them, how are you praying for them, you should want what Barry Sanders had in this photo after eclipsing 2,000 rushing yards his teammates were happy for him, and they carried him off the field because he was loved, respected, and special in their eyes.

That should be our sentiments and goals, that people didn’t mind helping us, people didn’t mind loving us, people didn’t mind helping us because we did the same for them. They knew that we were trustworthy, they knew we were about doing what was right, they knew we were about helping everybody and not just ourselves. What people say about you, think about you, and feel about you always will come out when you are around them, when they are around them, or even when your name is brought up even without being there.

When that happens, you’ll either get a positive or negative reaction. Some names you think positive such as; Maya Angelou, Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Thurgood Marshall, and others for positive influences. Then there are others such as; J. Edgar Hoover, Al Capone, David Koresh, Jim Jones who have a negative connotation attached to their names. The thing we all should strive to be, is a positive influence and role model that can and will influence many generations.

Let the Lord use you, and let God bless you!! When you allow God to lead and guide you, then you can and you will make an impact for years to come!!!

Proverbs 12:2-3 NASB

[2] A good man will obtain favor from the LORD, But He will condemn a man who devises evil. [3] A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.

Life is like a track race, there are times that when you are running in this race called life that it can be challenging, it can be tiring, it can be gruesome, it can be hard at times. This life has many things that come up against us, that can get to us, that can wear us out, that can wear us down, that can really stress us out at times. It’s just apart of the journey, you never can predict what might happen in this life.

You don’t know what can happen, but you can choose how you respond to it. Either you will keep on running, or you will stop running but that choice is up to you. In this life you have to keep running your race, you have to stay in your lane and and not trying to get into other people’s lanes. You have your own race to run, you have your own things to do, and you have your own purpose and plan.

That’s the thing you have to remember, that you have your own life, you have your own purpose, you have your own goals, you have your own race to run, and you have your own things to accomplish. Have you ever noticed in a race, the runner is focused on crossing the finish line and that’s what is important for you and I is to focus on crossing the line and staying in our lane.

I mean it is common isn’t it, that sometimes when we are running this race that we sometimes can tend to look at others and have a comparison spirit over us!?!? You can’t compare yourself to others, if you do that then you’ll never be happy, you’ll never be fulfilled, you’ll never be joyful, and you’ll never really know what all you can do when you compare yourself to somebody else. There will come a time, that you have to just run the race you have been assigned in order to make it and in order to survive.

I remember one Sunday I went to go hear my big bro – Pastor Bertrain Bailey preach at St John Missionary Baptist Church Dallas, Texas. After the sermon was over he made mention; that someone asked him a question. The question was… “How are you going to make it in Dallas? With TD Jakes, Freddy Haynes, Bryan Carter, Rickie Rush, and others?”. I remember that big bro said – “I’m going to do what I’m supposed to do, not worry about the outside stuff, but focus on what I’ve called to do and let God do the rest”.

That’s has helped me, that when you are about serving God and doing the work of God. You have to have the right focus, you have to be about doing the work of God, you can’t worry about what others are doing. You can admire, but you can’t be so focused on trying to be like them that you take away your own uniqueness, your own spunk, your own power, your own personality, and your own character. You’ll never know how special you are, what you can accomplish, and what you can go if you let yourself be judged by your progress and someone else’s progress.

It’s your race, it’s the race that God has given you, it’s the lane that the Lord has given you, and if He has you in this lane then there is a reason for that. The Lord knows what you need to do, the Lord has a specific plan and work for you to do and to complete. Now… some might cross the line before you, but that isn’t important on who crosses the line first what should matter to is that you cross the line and make it. That’s your ambition and goal, make sure you finish your race, make sure you complete your race that God has given you!

Proverbs 16:3 NASB

[3] Commit your works to the LORD And your plans will be established.

Life is like this picture, there will be times that we can sail and can be on our routes but then out of nowhere a storm can come. Have you ever noticed, that the weather can be ideal one minute and then the next minute it becomes ruthless and unbearable the next day. Life can produce storms, life will bring us storms, and life will give us storms it is apart of this journey.

Even if and when they come, you have to keep on sailing, you have to keep on moving, you have to keep on going! There will be a period in your life, that you will have to make up your mind and determine whether or not will you keep on sailing. Just because a storm is here, doesn’t mean you jump off ship, it doesn’t mean you leave where you are to try to go somewhere else but you have to hold on and hang in there for the long haul.

Just a few weeks ago, in Oklahoma we had an “inland hurricane” and when I tell you it was crazy, it was chaotic, and it was unexpected like that. I mean trees snapped, power outages all across the city, and we all were like “What!?!?” Yet even though, this hurricane came it didn’t last the whole week. Yes it was challenging, when it happened but yet it was as over and the sun shined again, Power was restored, and cleanups happened because it didn’t keep us down but got us back up.

Are you going to get back up, are you going to hold on, are you going to trust in God even when the storms are raging, brewing, hollering, shouting, and trying. There is always a reason, why we go through what we go through. There is a plan and process, the Lord has for all of us and storms are apart of the curriculum but you can always pass the test when you know that the teacher has given you the study guide.

In football it was said that… Peyton Manning would always be in the film room, always studying the playbook, always preparing for the next team with audibles as well. He was ready for the next opponent, because he studied and prepared himself for it. That’s how the Christian journey is, when you stay with God, pray with God, read the word of God, and have the right relationship with God the Lord will prepare and give you that strength and give you that boldness and courage to make it through and to believe that this too shall pass.

It’s not going to last forever, it’s not going to last forever, it’s going to pass, it’s going to be alright! The best thing for us can be a storm, as crazy as that sounds you wouldn’t know how strong you are or how much you could trust in the Lord until you have been through the storms of life. Thank you God for keeping us, thank you God for being with us, thank you God for the storms because they have made me trust you, praise you, love you, treasure, and value you!! Thank you Lord that you are good to me!!

Psalm 46:1 NASB

[1] God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

God is good!! I have now, started a podcast!! I’m grateful to God, for this opportunity to publish this podcast!! Would love for you, to support the podcast!!