Old things can be made new so think twice before you throw them away
While we may want to throw everything out with the new year coming in, let us not be too hasty.
There is this belief that we have that everything is suppose to magically change with the start of a new year. If we had a negative mindset we instantly develop a new more positive one. If we ate poorly the year before we just make the resolution and it will be a healthy year ahead.
All our problems will disappear and puff, we begin with a clean slate.
So we hastily try to get rid of everything , the good and the bad, they all must go!
Hmm, I have realized from experience that more thought, planning, action and discipline is required than we give.
While we need to get rid of the things that have held us back from reaching where we need to be, we need to make sure that we do not make the mistake of getting rid of something we may need later down the road.
Sometimes it take a while and some effort to recognize the beauty in what we have and to appreciate it fully.
In the act of being mindful, let us all be cautious and think carefully about what we are about to let go of.
Is there more value in keeping something, than letting it go?
Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Ps 103: 02
Sometimes we get so busy with live that we forget God.
We become so in love with the many things we have (titles, material possessions, friends, name and reputation), that we forget from whom it all comes.
We get so busy that we forget to meditate on the word of God, while we strive every second of the day to be the best that we can be – without God.
Yes we have all at one point or another forgotten that we have limited power compared to a greater force that enables us to reach the heights we have achieved.
We begin to forget or do not recognize our purpose when we forget God. Instead, we begin to follow the poor and limited advice given to us by those who seem to be on our side and end up being causalities in a very unforgiving world.
When we forget that everything we have or ever will achieve, then we are careless with them and end up losing it all.
Whenever we find ourselves doing foolish or desperate things yep we have forgotten God. It is at this point that is when we need to check in with ourselves, we could be about to lose our way or even our very souls.
When we forget the awesome things that God has done for us, because we now face some of the hardest challenges and greatest trials of our lives, then we have forgotten God.
When we think we can solve our own problems, we say to God we don’t need Him and He in turn leaves us to solve the mess we create. We do this because we forget God.
When we worry and fret about the future, it is because we have forgotten that we serve a Mighty God. One who needs no testing because the greatness of God is beyond our understanding.
For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God
Hebrews 3:4
So ehm, I have a confession…
I’m not perfect and that’s ok.
I realize that I have always lived my life with the erroneous assumption that I have to be perfect. I have to say and do the right things at the right time with the right people. And you know what I am tired. I’m tired because trying to be perfect is a lot of work that involves mental and physical contortions.
I am tired of trying to be everything to everyone and never messing up for them to see. It’s kind of ironic that behind them I mess up all the time and I am still here. God has not struck me dead and neither has he brought down fire and brimstone upon my head.
Perfection is overrated really.
I was listening to a sermon that spoke about living perfectly with our imperfections and being blessing. Based on an uncomfortably yet necessary situation I experienced the other day, I realize that I am a work in progress; and, as I work I will have to get rid of some things and people that are holding me back from following God’s blueprint for my life. So today I acknowledged and embrace all my imperfections as I use them as a measurement of how far I still have to go, and how far I have come. I also realize that I value the truth from myself and others above all else. But first, let’s be honest with ourselves. It maybe hard but we have to practice doing so. When we do so the truth we speak will be lasting.
It’s hard not trying to fit in when you have developed a fear of belonging nowhere, when you have been told or given the impression all your life that you do not. If you feed off the negative then it becomes the only reality you are known for and that I do not want. We have to decide what we want to be and how we plan to get there. But in the middle of planning and plotting, we have to ensure that we put the Almighty at the center of all things; when we leave God behind things will fall apart. So, before we seek the advice or counsel of any man, woman or child, we need to check in with God.
I am realizing that it’s hard to be honest with yourself about your faults than it is to be honest with others about their imperfections. If we focus on the wrong things, then that is all we see, and we miss out on being apart of something great. We miss out on what we are meant to experience. So moving forward, honesty will be the key ingredient to any goal we hope to achieve. Using your voice is also one of the most powerful things anyone can do. If we realize that those around us influence us to use it in the wrong way – consciously and unconsciously -then we need to leave them at the next stop. As 2019 marks the end of a decade, Leave everything that needs to be left in 2019 and begin 2020 committed to focusing on restructuring for the 10 years ahead. The construction work is never done.
I have said before and I will say it again, this platform is geared towards help all those who need it and me. In the process of finding our real voice we will have to release idol worship , and embrace all that we are, the good the bad and the ugly.
But, for now I’m not there and I don’t know how or when I will get to where I should be . But I’m holding on tight trusting that God will get me there.
If you have done or said something that you later regret well then we have all been there and done that.
Usually, when this happens the most powerful three letter words are, if I knew. Of course by then it is also too late.
We all experience regret but guess what, it is a negative emotion that we should not dwell on. We can become so consumed by the regrets that we have, that we do not recognize our blessings and worse, do not recognize or accept the opportunities to expand our horizon. We are so traumatized by the one incident that gave birth to a paralyzing sense of regret that become the great stone we cannot remove.
Our sense of regret, at something or somethings that happened in the past, may cause us to want to repent for the rest of our lives. Now that is a sorry state of affairs.
Sometimes when things happen we have to accept the role we played and if needed, make changes that show our growth.
We need to be at that point of no return when we no longer apologize for what we did in the past, because that is no longer who we are. The thing is, we cannot freeze the past and fix it and the present cannot influence the past. All we can do is continue to life the live we have been given, the best we know how at the stage we are at.
The point of no return can seem ominous based on the situation you are faced with. However, it can be the opportunity you need, that we need, to break free from the regrets of the pas,t to find, that being at this point can only make us stronger; it’s at this point that we either sink or swim.
A disclaimer here, I am not big on beauty pageants. So when the Miss Universe and Miss World Competitions rolled around I did not even know.
When Miss South Africa won I was a bit surprised, I thought”oh that’s nice” and I kept it moving.
Then I was even more surprised on Saturday when I read that Miss Jamaica had won the Miss World competition – was it even on the telly? But as a Jamaican I was happy for her, her family and everyone who was happy for her. I was happy because everyone was happy -there was a lot of happy going around, another black beauty queen. For real, mmmm.
But Miss Nigeria man…
Now Miss Nigeria really got my attention. I mean she went all out with celebrating and she wasn’t the one with the crown! And I thought, “She is the mad friend I want”.
My aunt jokingly related that she thought Miss Nigeria had won because she seemed more excited than Miss Jamaica and when I saw it for myself I understood what she meant.
I also thought, here is someone you would be happy to have in your corner. You just needed one of her to be your cheerleader. We all could use a friend like that, but also we all need to strive to be a friend like that.
Be a friend who does not care about getting the applause or outshining those around her. A friend who is not afraid to big yuh up when she sees you need it. A friend who just needs you to just be you no matter what. A friend who celebrates with you, cries with you laughs and cuss every and anyone who tries to diss you. Be a friend who knows that when one of us wins, we all win.
It made me start to look at the kind of friend I have been so far and question how I can be better.
It doesn’t take much to show that you are genuine, just be a friend like Miss Nigeria. Be ready to go all out in your support if the occasion calls for it.
It’s hard to be thankful when nothing is going right.
When things are working out and we get what you want, that’s when we will be quick to say thank you to God and whom ever is paving our way, by assisting us.
So is there a right time to say thank you?
Would you thank a police officer for giving you a traffic ticket, someone who messes up your order, who charges you twice as much as you should pay or when someone gives you unfair and unwanted criticism?
Our instinct is to say no, of course not. Why would you thank persons for creating unpleasant situations for you?
What if the tables turned and you did something nice for someone, instead of a measly thanks they respond, “oh I could have done that, you didn’t have to do it!” Would you regret helping and promise to never help another soul ever?
Whatever your vantage point, saying thank you is a part of being humble. It reminds us that we are not invincible and so cannot do everything on our own and for ourselves. We need the support, encouragement and strength of others to sufficiently get by in this world. We need the strength of God to assist us in overcoming our many mountains.
We need to be thankful for the bad things that teach us something new about ourselves and those around us. Sometimes, unfair criticism can force you to self-evaluate and help us in turn to be less judgmental. Just uttering the words as you endure a difficult season can make you more hopeful for the future.
Though two simple words, the phrase has the power to transform the thinking and lives of the speaker and receiver. No matter what the situation, true humility is always being grateful no matter the situation. After all gratitude, as I have said before, is a must.
The idiomatic phrase “outside looking in”, is how most of us feel from time to time. We look and see the best that everyone has to put forward of themselves and we feel like an alien.
Many people fear being labeled an outsider, but it has it’s benefits.
Opportunities come and go, people (friends, family members strangers), seem to take advantage of them while you remain just beyond their reach.
Being an outsider is just a way for recognizing your unique qualities; when you do not belong among the in-crowd it means you have something special to contribute. Once you are aware of what makes you an outsider, it is up to you to use it to make some changes that will benefit others.
When people point out things about you that to you are not unusual pay attention; you might discover how unusual and thereby how rare your abilities are. No one wants to have the same things presented to them 24/7. If you want to bring something new to the table but there is no seat available for you, just build your own; people will appreciate what you have to offer and join you there.
If you find it difficult to conform to what is expected and you have an idea how something can be improved, don’t wait on anyone to give you permission, create your own lane and make people take notice until they too can see the benefit of what you have to offer.
When you are outside the accepted line, people will leave you alone to do what you would have been distracted to do. So while they are busy trying to stay inside the line, you’re thinking of ways in which you can move it to be beneficial to more persons, including you.
Finally, as an outsider no one can define you, but you. Many may ask, who you are, what you are or what you stand for; you determine all of this and as a result earn the right to change when you see fit.
Being an outsider does not have to be lonely because you stand alone, it can be the opportunity you need to truly discover how limitless your world is for all the potential you have, waiting to be unleashed.
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