hope

Once You Get You Some Learning

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They can’t take it away from you. I learned about art and spent time with aspiring artists.  I learned to draw and process black and white film and create digital art.  It gave me different eyes to look at the world with.

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I don’t know what your 2018 will hold, but I hope you choose to do something that will change your point of view about the world around you. I hope it will help you look at the world though another lense.  I hope you will try to do something you never thought you could do.

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These are some of the 17 things I did this year that are different from what I have done in the past.  Each year of your life, that you are able, you should explore this amazing world that God has placed you in.

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My faith has been stretched in 2017 like it has never been before. I have had some of the best laughs of my life on Twitter. And I learned how to make an incredibly good grilled cheese sandwich.

It doesn’t cost anything to live life. Go

Peace and Hairgrease.

September Book Event Week One

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It is Week One of the September Book Event. Please join us on Facebook to learn more about the books and projects created at UPP Creative Media.

This week the featured book is Connections. There will be contests, writing tips, featured projects and more.

Join the event on Facebook : Facebook Event

You can also follow on Youtube:

 

God Has Planted Seeds In All Of Us

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which many ignore because the possibilities are far too scary.  But if you tap into God’s power, it will take you beyond your wildest dreams. You will have to look your deepest fears in the face and tell them that your God is bigger than them.

Many people will not do this. They do not have the faith to trust God to complete something through them.  But He gives us all the choice to try.

The past couple of weeks I had been praying over some projects.  He has given me some fun stuff to write, but I just didn’t have time.  All of the things I was doing were things He had instructed me to do, so I just prayed, “show me how.” I even prayed “is this what you want me to do? If not, what do you want me to do?” I don’t always assume that I have heard Him correctly, so I will go back and check.

I try not to become so fixated on anything so that I cannot do without it.  Whether I write, photograph or anything, I know that the ability could leave me at anytime (because the Lord gives and the Lord takes away). He might ask me to do something else.  I don’t want to love the creation more than the Creator.

This week He opened the door so that I could spend more time writing. Wow.  Pray and believe, you will receive. Trust Him, not your situation. Even though all hell is breaking lose on planet earth, the One who laid their foundations is still in charge.

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Here is some truth. We are all going on a journey in this life.  You can sit back and enjoy the road trip trusting the Driver. Or you can fret and worry, wondering where you are going , if you have enough gas to get there or if you will like it when you get there.

This journey isn’t going to last forever, but our relationship with the Driver will.

When You Pray Over Something

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You don’t get to decide how God answers. Today God sent me a message that He has my back. Many folks today like to paint a portrait of God as love, peace, kindness…you get me. They seldom like to think of the God who strikes terror in the hearts of those who wrong the ones He loves.

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I have learned to let Christ fight my battles.  I know He is just and will dish out what the other side rightly deserves. I don’t question Him. If you ever come against me, you don’t have to worry about me trying to get you back. You might want to read Psalm 18 and see who is coming for you though.

I love that the Lord has seen fit to destroy one of my enemies on the same day the Republican house voted to destroy healthcare for millions of Americans.  It was not a day of celebration, but one where we felt sorry for the person who had done so much wrong to others.  Some had forgotten all of the wrong done to them. Not me. God assures me He will deal with all of the wrongdoers according to the measure that they dish out.  Again, I pity them., but for the most part they earned it.

For the month of April, I camped out on Psalm 18.  I fell in love with the fact that “He” is the one who defends me.  The image is absolutely terrifying and I am glad I am on His side. And what keeps me there? Repentance. Regular and often.

When God places someone in a leadership role, responsibility comes with it.  He promises to show Himself shrewd to the crooked, those who take advantage of the ones they are supposed to lead.  He will take your job, home, all your assets and leave you flat on your back so that there is no place to look but up.

As I watch elected officials take advantage of Americans and make themselves rich, I pity what is coming for them.  As I have prayed over my circumstances, He has been faithful. He has shown me He won’t allow corruption to stand, not in our government and not in our church.

This past year God has revealed Christian leadership that does not know Jesus.  I am dumbfounded by some of the things folks claiming to be Christians have said and done. I am secure in saying there is no way any of these folks could stand before the Lord and say those same things or act the same way.  Only evil can do that.

I will continue to pray and lift up these situations, but God has assured me He is going to handle it.

What’s Your End Game?

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I saw this tree all day, but it wasn’t until the end of the day that I actually looked at it. Then I saw the one leaf hanging on for dear life. It is funny how you can see something all day and not really see it. How you can work at a job for many years and wonder what the heck you are doing there? How many of you are hanging on to something that is not for you?  Like this leaf, you think you are going to make this work.

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Many of you are in places you were not supposed to be. Maybe God had you there for a little while and you got comfortable and stayed.  You figure the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. But it is slowly killing you, physically, mentally and spiritually.  You have lost hope because you have your hope in the wrong things, like a job, a child, a marriage, location, a president.

The Creator of the universe created you for something special. When He called you into being, He specially designed you with a purpose and a plan.  He knew He could bring something beautiful out of darkness.

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And like the sun that sets everyday, He has a purpose and plan for you. It is time for you to start operating in your purpose.  I remember seeing this sunset and thinking wow. I need a picture of it, but sun was setting faster than I could get my camera ready.  If you don’t start operating in the purpose He has for you, you are going to miss those amazing moments God has planned for your life.  It is possible to miss the blessing.

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But it is never to late to catch a glimpse of His glory as long as you are on this side (in the land of the living). It is not as spectacular as the original blessing, but still worth it.  In 2017, ask God what is your end game? What are you working towards? What were you created to do?

 

 

 

Prayer for my People

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Lord Jesus,

You created us different for a reason. You darkened our skin and curled our hair. It was according to your magnificent purpose and your Everlasting plan. You operate in the spiritual and physical realms so you know better than us what is going on. But you have taught me, that if I cry out, you will hear and answer.

My heart is heavy and my soul cries out.

Lord, the devil is trying to annihilate my people. He has used many things in his arsenal including destroying our family units, but we are strong and have been able to push past that.  Now he has taken to killing us defenseless in the streets.

Lord, like you defended Israel in Egypt and Babylon, defend us.

You birthed us from the bottom of a ship,so I know there is a mighty plan at work.  We are your people Lord, you have seen to that. You taught us who you were before we could even read your word.  You put a song in our spirit that connects us to you. Some have strayed, but we are your people.

My prayer Lord is this. For every one of us that they kill, give us 10 more. Let us multiple to the point where this continent is so full of dark skinned people it makes the African continent jealous. Let our oppressors see that every time they kill one of us, 10 more will spring up.

Not only am I asking you to multiple my people Lord, I am asking to you bless whatever they put their hands to in your name. Make us many and bless our work in your name. Show our oppressors that you are a mighty God who decides what this continent looks like and who will run it.

Lord, I pray you will look upon our oppressors and change their hearts. Take the scales from their eyes and allow them to see that they are persecuting you.

Work out your plan and protect my people. I know you will do exceeding, abundantly above all I can ask or imagine.

Amen.