Thursday, February 24, 2011

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
[Habakkuk 2:3]

I Saw It.. Now I’m Walking Towards It!

Good Afternoon Beloved,

I pray this finds you in a good place.  Last night for me was the beginning of a dream that started in my Grandmother’s trailor back in the ’70′s.  The Columbia School of Broadcasting used to air a commercial that caught my attention.  It sparked my interest and I mused that I would go one day.  My life seemingly took a few detours and off-road paths along the way, but last night I ended up in the C.S.B office and walked out a student… with my first assignment.  I am excited, not only because I believe the program is a good fit for me, but because I see this as another instance of God’s favor on my life.  He never forgets.  Not even the smallest prayer whispered years ago is forgotten by our Father.  Also, what I’ve learned is that we are working toward our destiny.. and we may not even know it.  I’ve been talking for YEARS.  All of my friends can attest to that!  When I was young, there was a time when I shut down and became very quiet in school because of constant taunting by the other kids.  Even during that time I never stopped talking.  I talked to myself, I talked to the TV, I talked to my dolls, I talked to the chickens, I talked to the dog, I talked to the cat and the duck, and Lord knows I talked my poor Grandmother’s head OFF!   When I moved to DC, I met a lot of people.  More talking.  I became the “go-to” girl for many of my male buddies who would call me at all hours of the night for advice on their situations.  I even joked that they were preparing me for my own late-night call-in radio broadcast! Some of those days seemed dreadfully boring and endless. Now I see they were preparation and I’m grateful for them. These days are preparing me for something else.  It is that hope that keeps us motivated to keep going.

Even with what we see.. there is sooo much more that we have yet to see… God’s Word promises us ~

“But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.”

[1 Corinthians 2:9]

…. and Beloved that is Good News!

Y Stress? … U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Awesome Wonder”, Trent Cory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCo04_puOJ0

“How Deeply I Need You”, Shekinah Glory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raOaMCjSvUM

“I Understand”, Smokie Norful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0skD7d3usw

“I Give Myself Away”, William McDowell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ofQmeao9I

“All I Have To Give”, Mali Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd-FTx0QJQQ

“Welcome To This Place”, Gary Oliver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwCJvAIabGY

“The Power Of One”, Israel Houghton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlmOzJ4rGck

“Surely Goodness & Mercy”, Israel Houghton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlpui7Mxrlo

“Your Will”, Darius Brooks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTmWEk9GFNc

“Hide Me”, Bruce Parham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSF4WrOTvx4

“Call Jesus”, Bruce Parham

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHS8cYl4uhM

“Don’t Forget To Remember”, Donald Lawrence w/Lalah Hathaway & Ramsey Lewis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-76rRvUj4A

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that reads it.
[Habakkuk 2:2]

“Clear Vision”

Good Morning Beloved,

Vision is a beautiful thing… clear vision is even more precious.  Today, I will be reminded of that fact…. I left my glasses at home.  Now those of you who know me, know that is a problem.  Right about now “I see men walking as trees”. Glad I don’t have to drive today.  I am so used to having my glasses, that I really don’t pay attention to them much anymore.  My natural vision, made me think about the vision that God has given me.  It appears just as hazy sometimes.  The Lord is so patient with us.  I like how He spoke to Habakkuk.  Habakkuk sounded like us.  He was upset about what was going on around him.  He saw violence and injustice everywhere and cried out to God for answers.  God didn’t strike him dead and say how dare you question Me.  He listened patiently for Habakkuk to pour out his heart to Him, and then God gave him instructions.  So it is with us.  We have questions, concerns, fears, issues, anger, and our God is big enough to handle them all, and too strong to ever be intimidated by them.  He knows before we even ask them anyway.  What He does, is give us an assignment… a vision.  Our vision is tied to something that is in our heart.  When we think about the issues that we are most passionate about.  Those things that affect us the most.  It could be the safety and well-being of children, or the preservation of nature.  We are all fitly joined together, and as a friend reminded me, we all need what God has placed inside each individual, or something will be missing.  The other thing about vision, is that it may shift from time to time and we need to be flexible enough to shift with it.  A person may have a burden to travel to remote parts of the world now, that they did not have when their children were small.  So today, that will be my goal to re-write the vision I have, and make it plain, so that somebody can run with it.  A wise man once said that the richest place in the world is the graveyard.  People who died never emptying themselves of the ideas, cures, inventions, books, music, movies, etc., that God had given them to bless humanity.  The more of these things God pours into us, the more we have to pour out to others. 

…. and that my friend is Good News!

U Blessed

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

“Your Steps Are Ordered”, Fred Hammond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxVFmvgJPuI

“Psalm 8″, Richard Smallwood

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_oZXnKVY24

“He’s Preparing Me”, Daryl Coley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpJ_0IxNoUM

“Sovereign”, Wilmington Chester Mass Choir w/Daryl Coley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApCX84oDDJ8

Telescope -2 Corinthians 4:18 15 of 110   By faith we can ‘see’ things that we cannot see with our natural eyes. By faith we can get a vision of God’s plan for our lives.

Good Morning Beloved,

You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? As surely as God is faithful, my word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. [2 Corinthians 1:17-19 NLT]

God keeps His promises.  If He spoke it… it will surely come to pass.  Many times, the problem comes when we see the end result.  We do not know what is going to happen in the middle.  That is where it gets tough.  Much of the mundane or rough spots were are in, are simply setting us up for the next level toward our goals.  It reminds me of Moses.  He was given a word that he would be used to deliver God’s people.  He did not know how, and he made a few mistakes along the way.  One ended with him killing an Egyptian taskmaster who was abusing a Hebrew slave. Unbeknown to him another Hebrew saw the whole thing…. and “snitched” on him.  Pharaoh heard about it, and sent men to kill Moses.  Imagine, the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter running for his life… from his adopted grandfather.  He was trying to help his people, and they were turned on him.  I believe he went through intense internal struggle.  He had been taught the truth of God by his virtuous mother, who was allowed to raise him.  He was also educated by the finest teachers in Pharaoh’s house.  He could have simply stayed in the palace and lived in luxury for the rest of his life.  He chose to be a vessel of God.  He could not rest, while the children of Israel were in bondage.  He finds himself in land of Midian, where he sees seven women drawing water for their fathers flock.  Shepherds try to chase them away and Moses helps them.  They take him to their father Jethro, a priest, and in appreciation for his bravery, Moses is allowed to marry his daughter Zipporah…. (want drama, action and intrigue.. read the bible!).  Just as he is getting settled and comfortable with his wife and the children he is blessed with, God tells him to go back to Egypt.  God lets him know that the people who sought to kill him were dead… but now he must go back… and (now get this)… go to Pharaoh and tell him to let His people go!  You probably already know the rest.  Nothing that Moses did came ‘easy’.  Yet his mission was sanctioned and blessed by God.  Whatever God has told us will require diligence on our part, but in the end it will be worth it to be able to say:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Timothy 4:7)

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

By faith we can ‘see’ things that we cannot see with our natural eyes. By faith we can get a vision of God’s plan for our lives.

Brace yourself DC/Metro for another scorcher…. hey, remember a few weeks ago when we wondered if warmer days were coming… well they’re here!  I’ve been thinking about the vision that God gave to me.  A good friend and I were talking recently about the number of people who desire to start their own business.  She was concerned about those who falsely believe that being self-employed is easy.  I’ve been listening to the experts who say, that many business fail simply because of poor planning and a lack of discipline.  The bible tells us to ‘count the cost’.  God is sovereign and in ultimate control, however He gives us the delightful privilege of working with Him.  He said that if any lack wisdom that they can ask Him and He will give it to them freely.  That is a blessing, because in the age we are living in we really need wisdom.  I remember re-occurring dreams in my grandmother’s trailer at the age of 13.  I had no idea what they meant at the time.  I have actually seen many of them come to pass.  There are 2 dreams left, and I know that they too will be fulfilled in the very near future.  My dreams, visions and business are all connected.  Wisdom lets me know that because my business is in its infancy, like a baby it must be nurtured and protected.  I do not expect it to provide for me yet, I must pour my resources into it.   However, every parent, raises their child with the expectation that someday he or she will make a positive difference in the world.  That is my hope and expectation for my vision… that it will grow strong and affect the lives of God’s greatest treasure… His people… for the good.

“And the LORD answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that reads it.”  (Habakkuk 2:2)

And He said, “Hear now My words: If there be a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will make Myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. (Numbers 12:6)

Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18)

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”  (Acts 2:17)
U Blessed

Have a Fabulous Day! (… drink lots of water)

Regina

Cartoonist’s Comment:

The promises of God are a solid rock that we can cling to, no matter the trials that may try to pull us away.

I hope your day is going well.  I talk a lot about “vision”.  The reason why vision is imprinted in my heart, is that I have worked many places since my SYEP (DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program) days as a teenager.  Every place that I have worked, without exception, I have met people who were totally unsatisfied with their lives.  These people, took jobs they could barely stand, to pay their bills and feed their families.  The next thing they knew, years of their lives were gone, and they either resigned themselves to the thought that this is IT, or they were getting more bitter by the day.  Ever stop to think about why that co-worker that irritates you is so evil?  It could be that they know they are supposed to be doing something… they may or may not know what it is, they don’t believe they have the time or resources to do it, and that makes them angry.  In Habakkuk 2, God is giving His servant instructions, that I believe we need to heed as well.

“Then the LORD replied: ”Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. ”See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright ———- but the righteous will live by his faith”.

Did you see that?  The righteous will live by his (or her) faith.  Other people can see great potential in us, and bless our lives and pray for us, but our success in life is not primarily dependent upon other people…. according to my faith… so be it.  Sounds familiar?  It should.  Remember, Jesus told several people who came to Him for healing those words… “your faith has made you whole”…. “according to your faith”.  That is good news, do you know why?  Because, if someone told you that you won’t be anything, that you are too old, too broke, too dumb and it’s too late.. you can totally dismiss their comments.  God knew how old you would be, when He gave you the vision.  Some of you know “DB”… Doris Boyd.  She is my pastors sister, and this lady is phenomenal.  The word “can’t” is not in her vocabulary.  She is in her 70′s and has worked all of her life, most of her career has been on Capital Hill.  She is the oldest of 12 children.  She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and was a good wife for many years to the late “Mr. Willie Boyd”.  She managed a Gospel singing group “The CCV Ensemble”. From there she developed a long running cable television show “We The Friends” that featured local artists and preachers.  She has been on the radio with her broadcasts, ”Music in the Air” and “It’s Time to Check Yourself Out”, and been a regular feature on two of Washington, D.C’s most prominent gospel stations, Spirit 1340 WYCB and Heaven 1580 WPGC.  (Are you tired yet?).  This lady has seemingly limitless energy, and just when you think she can’t possibly add one more thing to her plate… she does something else.  A few years ago she accepted the call to pastor, and now her congregation is growing and flourishing…… hey… with God all things ARE possible ….. to those who believe…  so according to your faith, write down that vision you’ve had.  It could be to go back to school and get your Masters, or teach Sunday school, or train for another vocation, or take a well needed vacation or mentor those boys on your block that keep sitting on your car……. whatever it is ‘NIKE’ (…just do it!).

With Your Blessed Self!

Have A Fabulous Day!

Regina