While growing up in the islands I was quite familiar with lights being out. Being prepared for an electricity issue was a year round practice- somewhat like life. When the lights go off in life it seems like they go all at once. Confusion, depression, anger, frustration all seem to avalanche at once. Last Sunday I left church, and ooh was the spirit of God flowing. I did all the antics; jumped- check, twirled around- check, danced, spoke, in tongues and even ran around the church- check, check, check. Then darkness struck.
This Sunday during praise and worship they sang the song about oceans rising and thunders roaring, voices belt out "I will soar with you above the storm". It was about this time that my words got a bit slurred. I wasn't brave enough to go there.. I had enough with the storms. Singing that song meant that I had to go through another storm- another period of darkness. I will opt out of this one I'll just hum the song this time. For the entire week I skipped over parts of the Bible that even hinted darkness. I was reading Psalms 23 and I started off really well; God was providing for me, I was lying next to still waters and I was taking restored and righteous walks. Then came doom again- it was time to find another chapter and verse. My conversation with God that followed was a very frank one. Lord why should I trust salvation if i have to go through the same turmoil the unbeliever goes through? What's my WIIFM. If I trust you, What's In It For Me? It then occurred to me that though darkness was inevitable, it was short- lived. I flashed back to periods of darkness that I had come through to research the benefits of having God as my side-kick:
1. His presence confirmed that he would never leave me or forsake me, even when others
did.
2. He got the hook-up. During the time when I needed it most He would put me in the path of
people who made a difference in my life.
3. He created me, so He more than anyone else knows how to navigate me through my
storm. Who do we go to when our valuable electronic gadgets malfunction- the designer
right?
4. Even when I bring the darkness on myself, He is there and I don't have to hear " I told
you so". I can't count how many times I have turned off the lights myself one by one,
knowing that one night of bliss would result in a seemingly unending period of being lost.
He is there waiting to give me directions, and He knows that despite my promise to stay
out of trouble once He gets me out of my present one, He will be throwing out the
life-saver raft again.
Every season of darkness helps me see the character of my God in a greater light. I have no choice but to trust Him.
I can't swim so I don't get into the water without my noodle float. I am not about to go through my storms without Him.
Anonymous Writer
Soul Stimulation is not your average blog, its a resource of motivation for your soul (YOUR mind, YOUR will, YOUR emotions). Allow the articles, which are written by various writers, to incite your dormant places and excite your bored places. No matter your race, gender, religion, sexuality, or age...become reinvented as your soul becomes stimulated.
Who turned Off the Lights (Part1)
Since daylight savings time ended, I can't count how many times I have heard people say how much they don't like the fact that darkness seems to come sooner. I have to admit that I sometimes agree. Unfortunately darkness has had attached to it a seemingly unshakable negative stigma. Think about it if I said the word "darkness" what things immeditiately come to mind? Ironically though darkness serves its own strengthening processes. Why didn't God get rid of darkness totally when He created light? Probably because He knew we would never quiet down from our oh so important lives. Even nature replenishes itself at night. In the same way there are things in us that God uses darkness to replenish, remove or reverse.
The light went out in my hallway leaving the staircase in my home pitch black. The first night it happened other lights at the top of the staircase were also off so I decided to venture up the stairs to my room in darkness. I used the walls as a guide and was at the top of the staircase before I knew it. Would I have depended on the walls or railings in the light? I would have dashed up the stairs like second nature. It occurred to me that when I have a job, money or the relationships I take for granted, I sometimes trade in my God sensitivity- the appreciation for the very presence of the power of God that protects me from day. I can see too much on my own, so I take most things for granted. But someone who is physically blind experiences a physical darkness in sight yet their hearing becomes so much sharper.
When I pick up the phone, and no one is available on the other end, and I can't see touch or hear the solutions to my issues. I have no other choice but to trust Him. While going up the stairs in darkness it never occurred to me that the railing or the walls I held on to would cave in. I trusted that they were firm enough to hold me up, but isn't God even more effective in my life? I am learning that my dark periods are the opportunities for me to tune in to Him even more. Instead of complaining about the darkness, or praying for it to be over with, I try to seek God's purpose for me in that season. It is definitely not always easy to think about the good in the darkness. At times I've used darkness as an excuse to cut up- do my own thing- DO ME.
When I was four years of age,my Mom wanted to punish me for something I did, so she put me in the her bathroom, turned of the light and closed the door. I decided to correct the situation for myself by turning the light back on. Did she think I was just going to sit in the dark? . She would open the door, and turn it off again. I turned it back on a couple of times until I got it. If I stopped doing it she would let me out sooner. Ever got your car stuck in mud? The more you try to rev the car out the more you got stuck. My favorite scripture is Romans 8:28 because it says that everything in my life works out for good. This meant that even the bad things- the darkness, worked for good, but how? It meant that I had to gain something from my darkness, I had to use it as a teachable moment instead of a chance to run my mouth.
Anonymous Writer
The light went out in my hallway leaving the staircase in my home pitch black. The first night it happened other lights at the top of the staircase were also off so I decided to venture up the stairs to my room in darkness. I used the walls as a guide and was at the top of the staircase before I knew it. Would I have depended on the walls or railings in the light? I would have dashed up the stairs like second nature. It occurred to me that when I have a job, money or the relationships I take for granted, I sometimes trade in my God sensitivity- the appreciation for the very presence of the power of God that protects me from day. I can see too much on my own, so I take most things for granted. But someone who is physically blind experiences a physical darkness in sight yet their hearing becomes so much sharper.
When I pick up the phone, and no one is available on the other end, and I can't see touch or hear the solutions to my issues. I have no other choice but to trust Him. While going up the stairs in darkness it never occurred to me that the railing or the walls I held on to would cave in. I trusted that they were firm enough to hold me up, but isn't God even more effective in my life? I am learning that my dark periods are the opportunities for me to tune in to Him even more. Instead of complaining about the darkness, or praying for it to be over with, I try to seek God's purpose for me in that season. It is definitely not always easy to think about the good in the darkness. At times I've used darkness as an excuse to cut up- do my own thing- DO ME.
When I was four years of age,my Mom wanted to punish me for something I did, so she put me in the her bathroom, turned of the light and closed the door. I decided to correct the situation for myself by turning the light back on. Did she think I was just going to sit in the dark? . She would open the door, and turn it off again. I turned it back on a couple of times until I got it. If I stopped doing it she would let me out sooner. Ever got your car stuck in mud? The more you try to rev the car out the more you got stuck. My favorite scripture is Romans 8:28 because it says that everything in my life works out for good. This meant that even the bad things- the darkness, worked for good, but how? It meant that I had to gain something from my darkness, I had to use it as a teachable moment instead of a chance to run my mouth.
Anonymous Writer
Hold On To Your Balloon
I remember my daughter as a little girl and how excited she was to receive a balloon. I had to make sure I wrapped it around her wrist and tie a knot so she wouldn't lose it. She walked with pride and joy as people passed by smiling at her and her balloon. But when the knot became loose and her balloon floated away she was devastated, I mean she cried and was hurt.
If only we cherished our bodies like my daughter did that balloon. We've become so numb to the value and sensitivity of a young lady's virginity or a woman's celibacy. To be honest we're just giving our bodies away not realizing that a little piece of our soul goes with it. Of course the music and videos and reality tv is promoting sex as power, making it seem as if women act like men they are in control; but are we? Isn't there more power in saying no? I remember going out with girls and how good it felt when a man approached me and told me I was beautiful and doted on me as he worked his way up to that final, "can I get your number". Then the great feeling of knowing that I had the power to say "thank you, but no thanks" as I walked away. What happened to those days? Have we devalued ourselves so much that we're just giving ourselves away to any cutie with a hot ride, only for him to send you home after he's done and never call you again? He didn't even take a moment to get to know you. A young lady who values her body is like a precious rare gem; everyone wants it but only the one who studies and toils to find it will have it. The harder you are to obtain, the more you are desired. Make those men punch in and work for your attention nevertheless your body.
Ladies; especially my young ladies, take your time with this sex thing. If I could go over my list of sexual encounters and erase HALF of them I would because they didn't matter. I gave them a piece of me and when they took it, I no longer had value to them. That feeling of being wanted and pursued was gone, leaving a woman yearning to be desired again and so the cycle continues. Know the true value of yourself is within and a man must seek that first in order to value you as a whole, otherwise we are just objects. You have the power! Walk down the street with pride and joy as they admire from afar, because they know your not giving it away. Hold on to your balloon!
Anonymous Writer
If only we cherished our bodies like my daughter did that balloon. We've become so numb to the value and sensitivity of a young lady's virginity or a woman's celibacy. To be honest we're just giving our bodies away not realizing that a little piece of our soul goes with it. Of course the music and videos and reality tv is promoting sex as power, making it seem as if women act like men they are in control; but are we? Isn't there more power in saying no? I remember going out with girls and how good it felt when a man approached me and told me I was beautiful and doted on me as he worked his way up to that final, "can I get your number". Then the great feeling of knowing that I had the power to say "thank you, but no thanks" as I walked away. What happened to those days? Have we devalued ourselves so much that we're just giving ourselves away to any cutie with a hot ride, only for him to send you home after he's done and never call you again? He didn't even take a moment to get to know you. A young lady who values her body is like a precious rare gem; everyone wants it but only the one who studies and toils to find it will have it. The harder you are to obtain, the more you are desired. Make those men punch in and work for your attention nevertheless your body.
Ladies; especially my young ladies, take your time with this sex thing. If I could go over my list of sexual encounters and erase HALF of them I would because they didn't matter. I gave them a piece of me and when they took it, I no longer had value to them. That feeling of being wanted and pursued was gone, leaving a woman yearning to be desired again and so the cycle continues. Know the true value of yourself is within and a man must seek that first in order to value you as a whole, otherwise we are just objects. You have the power! Walk down the street with pride and joy as they admire from afar, because they know your not giving it away. Hold on to your balloon!
Anonymous Writer
HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?
We all have a favorite food or drink, one that we could enjoy day or night. Among other beverages Wendy's chocolate Frosty just calls to me. There were quite a few nights when, I found myself at the drive through at 11:45pm aiming to satisfy these cravings. The funny thing is, I think I am lactose intolerant because it goes down really good, but wreaks havoc on my digestive system. A few days pass by and there I am collecting my cup and straw at the check-out window. You know I have to make that slurpy sound with the straw just to make sure that no drop is left behind. I was doing this one day and it occurred to me; am I really putting this much passion into the real desires of my heart? If God does not see my passion, why would he waste his resources on me?
I enjoy reading of God's power, especially when it manifested in the miracles Jesus performed. There is one miracle that took a while for me to really come to grips with though. "Jesus, did you really have to spit in the man's eye?" Jesus being the great healer, could have found so many show stopping ways to heal the blind man, but spit? Yeahhh! He stopped the show alright. Spit? Degrading, dirty, embarrassing.... but to the blind man who would have done anything to see, it was healing.
Sometimes I desire things, and wonder why I have to wait so long to see these things come to pass, but am I willing to do whatever it takes. A part of receiving is stretching out. I learned to see Jesus as a gentleman; he does not throw things at me. What if your friend bought you a gift, and instead of handing it to you they just dropped it in your lap? I am sure you would like to properly receive it. Some of us get really hot at the check-out counter when the cashier refuses to give us the change in our hand. Stretching needs to occur.
God needs to see that we really desire the things we ask for, and desire them for the right reasons. Strong desire does not mean that we agree to be spat on, but sometimes receiving means putting forth an effort when it isn't always comfortable. Maybe I need to choose to forgive someone, before God can bless me in another area, or choose to forgive myself. Neither of these behaviors are comfortable but, the healing produced is ground- breaking.
Maybe stretching out means turning that plate down to spend more time in His presence. For many of us "fast" is a word that just doesn't have a place in the dictionary. I remember when I first started fasting, midnight to 6 pm meant that I would eat as though it was my last supper at 11:45pm the night before, and at 5 pm I would start preparing the greatest feast. It would be plated by 5:59, I would bless it for the next minute. By 6pm if the prayer didn't last the full minute, I would ensure that the fork was heaped with food as the last seconds went by. As the clock struck six the food was in my mouth. I learned that really receiving my desires, demanded discipline.
Sometimes effort means obedience to God even when it doesn't make sense. How do I give tithe, when it isn't even enough to pay the bills? I' ll just take my bathroom break around offering time. What if God took a bathroom break, when I wanted Him to bless me?
I realize that in most cases when Jesus worked a miracle in someone's life, he required their effort in some way, when He could have just said the word. They were interactive because it taught receivers to trust even when they did not know what the end result was going to be. At a wedding He changed water into wine by asking for jugs to be filled with water. I could just imagine what was going through the minds of those filling the jugs. Sometimes getting the desires of your heart simply means doing your part, as tedious or senseless as it may seem. Or even when change is not apparent. The Bible also tells of ten lepers approaching Jesus for healing, and strangely He never healed them in the way most expected. To their requests He returned another, by asking them to go and show themselves to the priests. It was during this journey that they saw the evidence of their healing. Sometimes when we want something so badly it is frustrating when we seem to be getting closer but still no fire. We walk away to soon.
"I am a leper and this man seems to be my last resort. They say He is a great healer yet we approach Him, and instead of manifesting His power, He tells me to go to the priests." My own " Doubting Thomas" tendencies would would have led me to believe the this man was a joker. What if they didn't obey, and just gave up because they had not seen immediate healing?
How bad do you want it? When you are required to stretch, will you be content to take the scraps that happen to fall in your lap, or will you push. Think of a woman giving birth- the baby is already there, but the joy of holding him/her does not come without the push; painful, uncomfortable, sometimes scary, but WORTH IT!
Anonymous Writer
I enjoy reading of God's power, especially when it manifested in the miracles Jesus performed. There is one miracle that took a while for me to really come to grips with though. "Jesus, did you really have to spit in the man's eye?" Jesus being the great healer, could have found so many show stopping ways to heal the blind man, but spit? Yeahhh! He stopped the show alright. Spit? Degrading, dirty, embarrassing.... but to the blind man who would have done anything to see, it was healing.
Sometimes I desire things, and wonder why I have to wait so long to see these things come to pass, but am I willing to do whatever it takes. A part of receiving is stretching out. I learned to see Jesus as a gentleman; he does not throw things at me. What if your friend bought you a gift, and instead of handing it to you they just dropped it in your lap? I am sure you would like to properly receive it. Some of us get really hot at the check-out counter when the cashier refuses to give us the change in our hand. Stretching needs to occur.
God needs to see that we really desire the things we ask for, and desire them for the right reasons. Strong desire does not mean that we agree to be spat on, but sometimes receiving means putting forth an effort when it isn't always comfortable. Maybe I need to choose to forgive someone, before God can bless me in another area, or choose to forgive myself. Neither of these behaviors are comfortable but, the healing produced is ground- breaking.
Maybe stretching out means turning that plate down to spend more time in His presence. For many of us "fast" is a word that just doesn't have a place in the dictionary. I remember when I first started fasting, midnight to 6 pm meant that I would eat as though it was my last supper at 11:45pm the night before, and at 5 pm I would start preparing the greatest feast. It would be plated by 5:59, I would bless it for the next minute. By 6pm if the prayer didn't last the full minute, I would ensure that the fork was heaped with food as the last seconds went by. As the clock struck six the food was in my mouth. I learned that really receiving my desires, demanded discipline.
Sometimes effort means obedience to God even when it doesn't make sense. How do I give tithe, when it isn't even enough to pay the bills? I' ll just take my bathroom break around offering time. What if God took a bathroom break, when I wanted Him to bless me?
I realize that in most cases when Jesus worked a miracle in someone's life, he required their effort in some way, when He could have just said the word. They were interactive because it taught receivers to trust even when they did not know what the end result was going to be. At a wedding He changed water into wine by asking for jugs to be filled with water. I could just imagine what was going through the minds of those filling the jugs. Sometimes getting the desires of your heart simply means doing your part, as tedious or senseless as it may seem. Or even when change is not apparent. The Bible also tells of ten lepers approaching Jesus for healing, and strangely He never healed them in the way most expected. To their requests He returned another, by asking them to go and show themselves to the priests. It was during this journey that they saw the evidence of their healing. Sometimes when we want something so badly it is frustrating when we seem to be getting closer but still no fire. We walk away to soon.
"I am a leper and this man seems to be my last resort. They say He is a great healer yet we approach Him, and instead of manifesting His power, He tells me to go to the priests." My own " Doubting Thomas" tendencies would would have led me to believe the this man was a joker. What if they didn't obey, and just gave up because they had not seen immediate healing?
How bad do you want it? When you are required to stretch, will you be content to take the scraps that happen to fall in your lap, or will you push. Think of a woman giving birth- the baby is already there, but the joy of holding him/her does not come without the push; painful, uncomfortable, sometimes scary, but WORTH IT!
Anonymous Writer
Who Comes First?
Having a baby is a wonderful blessing, a gift from God but for some young parents after the initial news the "novelty" wears off and so many people take this for granted. Your own lives and interests become top priority and this precious little gift becomes more of a burden than a blessing. You begin to pass them off on relatives and friends or anyone who will babysit so you can "do you". You become bitter and impatient and yell at them and even hit them for things they've done in innocence.
What we fail to realize is that if we just take our focus off of our selfish desires we'd awaken to the amazing life developing under our watch. Being a parent means we are responsible for not only nurturing and caring for this child but shaping, guiding and molding who they become. The biggest regret of my life was putting myself before my daughter as a young mother when she was a baby. Although I eventually got it together after being checked by my loved ones I was torn at the fact that I will never get back that time lost. She was only a one year old once and that was such an important age in her development.
There is nothing wrong with being a young parent, but there is plenty wrong with neglecting or abusing your child because you are frustrated that a decision you made is now interfering with your "life" as if they had a choice. This child IS your life and they are completely dependent on you. Embrace parenting and make a conscious decision to give this little person the best experiences life has to offer. There's no greater feeling or accomplishment than seeing your beautiful child become a wonderful person. You're all they've got, give their life a chance for greatness.
SS Blogger
What we fail to realize is that if we just take our focus off of our selfish desires we'd awaken to the amazing life developing under our watch. Being a parent means we are responsible for not only nurturing and caring for this child but shaping, guiding and molding who they become. The biggest regret of my life was putting myself before my daughter as a young mother when she was a baby. Although I eventually got it together after being checked by my loved ones I was torn at the fact that I will never get back that time lost. She was only a one year old once and that was such an important age in her development.
There is nothing wrong with being a young parent, but there is plenty wrong with neglecting or abusing your child because you are frustrated that a decision you made is now interfering with your "life" as if they had a choice. This child IS your life and they are completely dependent on you. Embrace parenting and make a conscious decision to give this little person the best experiences life has to offer. There's no greater feeling or accomplishment than seeing your beautiful child become a wonderful person. You're all they've got, give their life a chance for greatness.
SS Blogger
Contradicting Popular Opinion
"Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me. I don't care what people say about me." Isn't it funny though that these statements often end a coversation you were carrying on with a friend, giving them a very colorful account of the very words someone said to you. The truth is unless you are emotionally paralyzed some words do tend to leave behind a lingering sting. As a matter of fact, other peoples words can negatively or positively alter our behavior in drastic ways.
At the age of seven I was diagnosed with Leukemia, and the illness consequently led to Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment. A year later I went into remission, and was able to go back to living the life of a somewhat normal child again. However, it was the doctor's responsibility to inform my parents of the unfortunate long-term symptoms of the treatment process. One of their predictions was that the radiation to my head would prohibit me from academically performing as a normal child. As years went by, the time came for me to go to college, but I realized that my parents would take as many detours as they could when the topic came up. They tried to encourage me to attend a school where I could learn to cook, or sew, but I insisted that I wanted to go away to college. It was at this time that they revealed what the doctors had said, and their concern that I might not be able to perform at the college level. After I continued to insist they finally agreed.
Here I was the first day of college. The day was finally here, but excitement was diluted with fear. I could not help but to replay the doctor's words in my head. I said I believed God would take me through, but I was shaking like a leaf. Will my brain shut down without a warning, or will it be a gradual process? How am I going to do this? I received my schedule of classes, and of course nosy upper class men/women asked to see my class assignments."Oh No", one interjects. "You have Jude, and you're a freshman? Man he failed so many students." Also in the office was another student announcing her intention to drop a class if this infamous instructor was teaching it. I stood there waiting for the hidden cameras to be revealed- I must have been punked!
This man enters the class, and introduces himself, and ensures that all students know of his ability to fail, or drop anyone who does not hand in assignments that meet his standard. He never cracked a smile. Yep this is definitely a joke. What if my brain really starts shutting down. 0f course it was not long before one of his infamous exams rolled around, and the papers had been graded. He waved them from side to side voicing how disappointed he was. One by one he began to pull apart each person's exam ensuring that at the end of his critique you would want nothing else but to crawl under the table. So guess who was not about to get in embarrassed when he got to their paper? It was time for a bathroom break- one that lasted about fifteen minutes, which gave him enough time to get past my paper. I re-entered the class room and everyone applauded as I stood there like a deer in headlights. He turned to me and stated that the quality of my work was higher than he ever expected. The paper sat on my desk with the red A+ stamped at the top.
Still nervous, I pushed through the semester fearful of what could happen with my brain. But It was halfway though the semester when I decided not to allow myself to be a puppet to the doctor's words. I was going to conquer my contradictions. Though skilled in his profession, the doctor does not hold the remote for my destiny, God does. I did not recall any one-on-ones with God informing me that my brain which He created was no good. The last time I checked I was healed. Instead of expecting the worst I decided to take my God-given authority over the situation. I was going to do my best with every opportunity given to me. I wasn't an Einstein, significant portions of my day were devoted to studying. By the end of the first semester I had received a letter of congratulations for making the Dean's List.
I remained on the Dean's List for the duration of my college journey. The skeptics were proven wrong semester after semester, and my final two years were funded through an academic scholarship. In May 2004, I was in my cap and gown with proud family members there to cheer me on. How did a dumb girl pull off a 3.98. GPA? I sat thinking, "what if I had succumbed to medical predictions?"
I felt a nudge, and it was Jude (the infamous professor) who was seated on my left. I guess I was day dreaming. "You have to go up." I quickly jumped back into reality to realize that I had received the university's merit award. I got up from my chair and walked to the stage watched by thousands. I received the award and screeched my hand out to shake the hand of the dean. Refusing to settle for a handshake, he threw his arms around me, and reiterated "you did it."
Here is a challenge for you...
Take your bank card and give it to someone along with your PIN, then turn around and walk away. Better yet, the next time you go for a drive, have someone blindfold you. You drive, and let them direct you. Does this sound crazy? Even crazier is to allow someone's words to limit you from achieving what God has in store for you; your whole reason for living.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Colonel Sander's secret recipe, was rejected 1009 times before one restaurant finally gave him a chance. Sometimes we have to swim up-stream instead of going with the flow. LIVE ON PURPOSE!
At the age of seven I was diagnosed with Leukemia, and the illness consequently led to Chemotherapy and Radiation treatment. A year later I went into remission, and was able to go back to living the life of a somewhat normal child again. However, it was the doctor's responsibility to inform my parents of the unfortunate long-term symptoms of the treatment process. One of their predictions was that the radiation to my head would prohibit me from academically performing as a normal child. As years went by, the time came for me to go to college, but I realized that my parents would take as many detours as they could when the topic came up. They tried to encourage me to attend a school where I could learn to cook, or sew, but I insisted that I wanted to go away to college. It was at this time that they revealed what the doctors had said, and their concern that I might not be able to perform at the college level. After I continued to insist they finally agreed.
Here I was the first day of college. The day was finally here, but excitement was diluted with fear. I could not help but to replay the doctor's words in my head. I said I believed God would take me through, but I was shaking like a leaf. Will my brain shut down without a warning, or will it be a gradual process? How am I going to do this? I received my schedule of classes, and of course nosy upper class men/women asked to see my class assignments."Oh No", one interjects. "You have Jude, and you're a freshman? Man he failed so many students." Also in the office was another student announcing her intention to drop a class if this infamous instructor was teaching it. I stood there waiting for the hidden cameras to be revealed- I must have been punked!
This man enters the class, and introduces himself, and ensures that all students know of his ability to fail, or drop anyone who does not hand in assignments that meet his standard. He never cracked a smile. Yep this is definitely a joke. What if my brain really starts shutting down. 0f course it was not long before one of his infamous exams rolled around, and the papers had been graded. He waved them from side to side voicing how disappointed he was. One by one he began to pull apart each person's exam ensuring that at the end of his critique you would want nothing else but to crawl under the table. So guess who was not about to get in embarrassed when he got to their paper? It was time for a bathroom break- one that lasted about fifteen minutes, which gave him enough time to get past my paper. I re-entered the class room and everyone applauded as I stood there like a deer in headlights. He turned to me and stated that the quality of my work was higher than he ever expected. The paper sat on my desk with the red A+ stamped at the top.
Still nervous, I pushed through the semester fearful of what could happen with my brain. But It was halfway though the semester when I decided not to allow myself to be a puppet to the doctor's words. I was going to conquer my contradictions. Though skilled in his profession, the doctor does not hold the remote for my destiny, God does. I did not recall any one-on-ones with God informing me that my brain which He created was no good. The last time I checked I was healed. Instead of expecting the worst I decided to take my God-given authority over the situation. I was going to do my best with every opportunity given to me. I wasn't an Einstein, significant portions of my day were devoted to studying. By the end of the first semester I had received a letter of congratulations for making the Dean's List.
I remained on the Dean's List for the duration of my college journey. The skeptics were proven wrong semester after semester, and my final two years were funded through an academic scholarship. In May 2004, I was in my cap and gown with proud family members there to cheer me on. How did a dumb girl pull off a 3.98. GPA? I sat thinking, "what if I had succumbed to medical predictions?"
I felt a nudge, and it was Jude (the infamous professor) who was seated on my left. I guess I was day dreaming. "You have to go up." I quickly jumped back into reality to realize that I had received the university's merit award. I got up from my chair and walked to the stage watched by thousands. I received the award and screeched my hand out to shake the hand of the dean. Refusing to settle for a handshake, he threw his arms around me, and reiterated "you did it."
Here is a challenge for you...
Take your bank card and give it to someone along with your PIN, then turn around and walk away. Better yet, the next time you go for a drive, have someone blindfold you. You drive, and let them direct you. Does this sound crazy? Even crazier is to allow someone's words to limit you from achieving what God has in store for you; your whole reason for living.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Colonel Sander's secret recipe, was rejected 1009 times before one restaurant finally gave him a chance. Sometimes we have to swim up-stream instead of going with the flow. LIVE ON PURPOSE!
SS Blogger
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