I was actually chatting online with my wife a little while ago and the conversation took a turn for the, um, better. . . I guess. I was thinking about how long I had been a part of the church "arena" and how much I've learned through the process of osmosis. . .both voluntarily and involuntarily.
See, as a c.k. (church kid), I was exposed to a lot of good churchin'. I, as well as my siblings, have had a working knowledge of the Bible, for quite some time. Mom taught us the Word, we learned it again at school, then again at church. One would think, after all those years, surely I would have no problem understanding and adhering to the commandments and principles of Godliness. WRONG!!!
Revelation (noun): //something revealed or disclosed, esp. a striking disclosure, as of something not before realized.
Everything I had known before, every bible memory competition I won, every person I'd impressed, that made me think I had arrived. . .I count it as dung. Having a knowledge without an understanding, is like having a recipe that only lists the ingredients. It doesn't matter that I have the eggs, flour, sugar, oil, etc., etc., if I don't know what to do with them. . .I can't make a cake! My prayer is for wisdom and understanding, not just for me, but for the Body of Christ in its entirety. Papi always said [paraphrasing] instead of just seeking more knowledge, understand and implement what you already know. . .and watch God work.
-Taz
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Why did Rerun wear that beret?
Who knows?! I started to name the post "What's Hap'nin?", but then the wheels kept turning in my head. . .
Anyway, the purpose of this post is to inform my reader(s), pun intended, of what's been going on in my life since the last time I've blogged. I resolve to be a more consistent blogger, and since writing is a creative release for me anyway, it might actually do me some good.
If you look at the time line of posts, you'll notice a huge gap in time. Back when I fell off my blog-wagon, it was because I was discouraged. I had fallen in sin with my then girlfriend and she became pregnant. We knew long before we'd get married, but was I bummed about the timing of my actual proposal. I didn't want her or anyone else to think this was just another shotgun, cover-up wedding. In any case, after counseling from my Pastor, my parents, and future in-laws, we went full speed ahead with our original plan. Fast forward to July 2008.
Picture it, Alexandria, LA. Here I am, grinning from ear to ear, watching my bride walk down the aisle. She was beautiful. I looked good . . .everything else was a blur. Just joking, not really though. Fast forward to October 2008.
Here comes SAMARA!!!!!!! My daughter arrives to accompany her mother, father, and 3yr old brother in this journey of life. Fast forward to January 2009.
I'm back, blogging as frequently as I can . . . so pray that I keep it up!
-Taz
Anyway, the purpose of this post is to inform my reader(s), pun intended, of what's been going on in my life since the last time I've blogged. I resolve to be a more consistent blogger, and since writing is a creative release for me anyway, it might actually do me some good.
If you look at the time line of posts, you'll notice a huge gap in time. Back when I fell off my blog-wagon, it was because I was discouraged. I had fallen in sin with my then girlfriend and she became pregnant. We knew long before we'd get married, but was I bummed about the timing of my actual proposal. I didn't want her or anyone else to think this was just another shotgun, cover-up wedding. In any case, after counseling from my Pastor, my parents, and future in-laws, we went full speed ahead with our original plan. Fast forward to July 2008.
Picture it, Alexandria, LA. Here I am, grinning from ear to ear, watching my bride walk down the aisle. She was beautiful. I looked good . . .everything else was a blur. Just joking, not really though. Fast forward to October 2008.
Here comes SAMARA!!!!!!! My daughter arrives to accompany her mother, father, and 3yr old brother in this journey of life. Fast forward to January 2009.
I'm back, blogging as frequently as I can . . . so pray that I keep it up!
-Taz
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Out with the Old. . .
It seems so commonplace this time of year for everyone to start saying things like, "Out with the old, in with the new". . .myself included. I got to thinking though, what does that mean for me? Usually, I start the year off with a "clean slate", but about 4 months down the line, I find myself back at the proverbial square one. I guess that means I never went out with the old, I kinda just pushed it to the back of the closet, along with the thoughtful sweater Granny made for me.
So what makes this year different, you ask? The attitude, the approach, the whatever you want to call it is totally different. I realize that, underneath it all, I've been trying to help God fulfill His promise. I call it, making power moves without power. There's a song that Kim Burrell sings called "It is done" and it has become very personal to me as it describes a believer in need of a miracle who decides to take God at His Word and be done with it.
Picture Abraham, his confidence in God concerning Issac speaks volumes, even today. There are many of us that have received promises from God, some of which have yet to manifest. I know firsthand how anxious one can get when it seems as if it's not happening soon enough. There is a process, a boot camp if you will, that must be endured before we're trusted to go out with the big guns. So when thinking about that promise or that calling on your life, take comfort in knowing that God's promises are yea and Amen.
A closing line from "It is done":
"If God said it, I ain't got no better sense than to believe, that by my faith. . .it's already done!"
So what makes this year different, you ask? The attitude, the approach, the whatever you want to call it is totally different. I realize that, underneath it all, I've been trying to help God fulfill His promise. I call it, making power moves without power. There's a song that Kim Burrell sings called "It is done" and it has become very personal to me as it describes a believer in need of a miracle who decides to take God at His Word and be done with it.
Picture Abraham, his confidence in God concerning Issac speaks volumes, even today. There are many of us that have received promises from God, some of which have yet to manifest. I know firsthand how anxious one can get when it seems as if it's not happening soon enough. There is a process, a boot camp if you will, that must be endured before we're trusted to go out with the big guns. So when thinking about that promise or that calling on your life, take comfort in knowing that God's promises are yea and Amen.
A closing line from "It is done":
"If God said it, I ain't got no better sense than to believe, that by my faith. . .it's already done!"
Thursday, April 3, 2008
A Long Time Comin'
Ok, so I haven't exactly been on the mountain top, but life hasn't been a total valley experience either. To make a long story short, I'd allowed my mind to wonder about things I should leave in God's hands, which caused my focus to shift away from Him, then made me doubt, which gave birth to confusion, then came fear. All of these things combined with a severely starved spirit man made my mind a disaster area. I began to feel disqualified, too ashamed to even blog because I felt like I wasn't taking my own advice. I stopped tithing my time, took my foot off the brakes, and ate a muffin at work just because I could. The trip part about it is, I didn't see any of this until after it was all said and done. You know what they say, "hindsight is always 20/20".
In any case, I went to Bible study tonight - even though about 45% of me wanted to stay home and sleep (I work nights) - and I enjoyed God's Word. The message was a simple question, "Where are you setting your affection?"(Colossians 3:1-2). With me spending my time, which is my ultimate treasure, pleasing the flesh, worrying about tomorrow, stressing over yesterday, my affections can't be on heveanly things. . .which is where the Word instructs us to set them. Truth is. . .I must do better.
Throughout the service, I had been getting convicted by the Word and as things came to me, I repented; I was really humbled by it all. I remember thinking, "God, I don't even belong in a leadership position. I've fallen so short, if I could just be a lay-member. . .just forgive me. . .forgive me. . .humble me . . .I'll start from the bottom, just have Your way. . ." Yeah, it got real for me. The most awesome part of the service (although it was all great - my pastor is a riot!) was the end. The Spirit started to move and, though unusual for a Wednesday night, we had an alter call. I went up for prayer because I was in DESPERATE NEED OF IT! As I began to pray at the alter, I started to feel the Holy Ghost move. God spoke through my pastor everything I'd been feeling and that God has given me a fresh start. At that point, I could do nothing but cry "Thank you, Jesus!" I was so in awe that He would do something like that. As I went to my seat, I kept thinking, "What did I do? I hadn't tarried, snotted, or anything." I left service.
Driving home, the Lord said to me (paraphrasing), "You didn't do anything. There's nothing you could've done to deserve this." I was so geeked, I couldn't stop smiling! I admit, there were times when I've tarried, fasted, cried, etc., and when God moved, I (logically) assumed He was moved because of my actions. However, He showed me tonight that I shouldn't get hung up on natural qualifications (whether in action or ability), because 1.) He moves when and through whomever He wants to 2.) He's not impressed by my spiritual etiquette 3.) There's nothing I could ever do or say that would qualify me to receive His grace and mercy. Just when I thought I had the formula figured out, here He comes doing something off the wall. . .Big ups to my homie J.C.(that's Jesus Christ for all the squares)!
-Taz
In any case, I went to Bible study tonight - even though about 45% of me wanted to stay home and sleep (I work nights) - and I enjoyed God's Word. The message was a simple question, "Where are you setting your affection?"(Colossians 3:1-2). With me spending my time, which is my ultimate treasure, pleasing the flesh, worrying about tomorrow, stressing over yesterday, my affections can't be on heveanly things. . .which is where the Word instructs us to set them. Truth is. . .I must do better.
Throughout the service, I had been getting convicted by the Word and as things came to me, I repented; I was really humbled by it all. I remember thinking, "God, I don't even belong in a leadership position. I've fallen so short, if I could just be a lay-member. . .just forgive me. . .forgive me. . .humble me . . .I'll start from the bottom, just have Your way. . ." Yeah, it got real for me. The most awesome part of the service (although it was all great - my pastor is a riot!) was the end. The Spirit started to move and, though unusual for a Wednesday night, we had an alter call. I went up for prayer because I was in DESPERATE NEED OF IT! As I began to pray at the alter, I started to feel the Holy Ghost move. God spoke through my pastor everything I'd been feeling and that God has given me a fresh start. At that point, I could do nothing but cry "Thank you, Jesus!" I was so in awe that He would do something like that. As I went to my seat, I kept thinking, "What did I do? I hadn't tarried, snotted, or anything." I left service.
Driving home, the Lord said to me (paraphrasing), "You didn't do anything. There's nothing you could've done to deserve this." I was so geeked, I couldn't stop smiling! I admit, there were times when I've tarried, fasted, cried, etc., and when God moved, I (logically) assumed He was moved because of my actions. However, He showed me tonight that I shouldn't get hung up on natural qualifications (whether in action or ability), because 1.) He moves when and through whomever He wants to 2.) He's not impressed by my spiritual etiquette 3.) There's nothing I could ever do or say that would qualify me to receive His grace and mercy. Just when I thought I had the formula figured out, here He comes doing something off the wall. . .Big ups to my homie J.C.(that's Jesus Christ for all the squares)!
-Taz
Friday, February 29, 2008
Because I Can. . .
Wow, I almost missed this lesson, BIG time. God is so merciful and I'm thankful. Here's the what happened:
One Saturday night about 3 weeks ago, I was on my way to print some programs for a special service we were having that Sunday morning. I was at a red light that allows left turns on green, but only after yielding to cars going straight. Well, I was waiting to go straight across and there was a car, facing me, waiting to turn left. When the light changed and I proceeded across the street, he pulled out in front of me, and BANG -we hit! My front end was/is messed up, airbags were all in my face (though they never even touched me, thanks to God), and his car had to be towed. We both got out, called the cops, and did all the usual accident stuff.
I drove my car home, replaying the accident in my mind over and over again. I kept thinking, especially since I was doing something for God (there's that pride again), "What's this for Lord? Where's the lesson?" Once I really started to think on it, I remembered a small voice telling me to let him turn. It came and left so quickly, I never even gave it a second though --besides, the light turned green and I had the right-of-way.
Fast forward to now, I am frustrated because my car is not in "good working condition" (i.e. one headlight, no horn, no airbags, passenger door won't open, etc.) which means only I can ride in it and I take a chance driving since my brake tag (New Orleans term) expires in 2 days. I haven't heard anything from their insurance company and I'm starting to think they're purposely prolonging the process. In the heat of my frustration, I "googled" car insurance claims and complaints yesterday, only to find I was not alone in my suffering and that I had no choice other than to wait. I emailed my teacher, who's also a lawyer, for some advice, and he immediately was ready to go get 'em! As I read his response, I was quickened by the Holy Ghost. I didn't want money for pain and suffering, or to visit a doctor, I just wanted my car fixed.
Then, the "lesson" hit me like a ton-o-bricks. . . just because it's lawful, doesn't mean it's expedient. Had I not bound my reasoning to the law alone, I would have let him turn before me and avoided this headache altogether. Now, granted, I won't have to pay anything for my repairs, but who wants to go through all the red tape if they don't have to?
At times, we all do or say stuff that, though we may have every right to, we probably shouldn't. When faced with such a situation, we must ask ourselves, "What's the cost of being right?"
-Taz
One Saturday night about 3 weeks ago, I was on my way to print some programs for a special service we were having that Sunday morning. I was at a red light that allows left turns on green, but only after yielding to cars going straight. Well, I was waiting to go straight across and there was a car, facing me, waiting to turn left. When the light changed and I proceeded across the street, he pulled out in front of me, and BANG -we hit! My front end was/is messed up, airbags were all in my face (though they never even touched me, thanks to God), and his car had to be towed. We both got out, called the cops, and did all the usual accident stuff.
I drove my car home, replaying the accident in my mind over and over again. I kept thinking, especially since I was doing something for God (there's that pride again), "What's this for Lord? Where's the lesson?" Once I really started to think on it, I remembered a small voice telling me to let him turn. It came and left so quickly, I never even gave it a second though --besides, the light turned green and I had the right-of-way.
Fast forward to now, I am frustrated because my car is not in "good working condition" (i.e. one headlight, no horn, no airbags, passenger door won't open, etc.) which means only I can ride in it and I take a chance driving since my brake tag (New Orleans term) expires in 2 days. I haven't heard anything from their insurance company and I'm starting to think they're purposely prolonging the process. In the heat of my frustration, I "googled" car insurance claims and complaints yesterday, only to find I was not alone in my suffering and that I had no choice other than to wait. I emailed my teacher, who's also a lawyer, for some advice, and he immediately was ready to go get 'em! As I read his response, I was quickened by the Holy Ghost. I didn't want money for pain and suffering, or to visit a doctor, I just wanted my car fixed.
Then, the "lesson" hit me like a ton-o-bricks. . . just because it's lawful, doesn't mean it's expedient. Had I not bound my reasoning to the law alone, I would have let him turn before me and avoided this headache altogether. Now, granted, I won't have to pay anything for my repairs, but who wants to go through all the red tape if they don't have to?
At times, we all do or say stuff that, though we may have every right to, we probably shouldn't. When faced with such a situation, we must ask ourselves, "What's the cost of being right?"
-Taz
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Reality
Sup?
I'll begin with the increasingly-popular/almost cliche' blog opener: It's been a while since I written, but I'm back.
I'll begin with the increasingly-popular/almost cliche' blog opener: It's been a while since I written, but I'm back.
The reality is, I've been missing my blog and I just wanted to write. I have a whole HEAP-o-things to say, so I've been wanting to post for a while.
Truth is, however, there was alot going on of greater importance. Plus, God had to show me some me. In the spirit of transparency, I have to confess that I like my work to be prepped and polished before anyone reads it, so I rarely (read: never) post without having something in particular to say.
The reality is, I wanted the whole world to read my blog. I'm fairly new to this blog thing, so once I found out how popular it was, I went crazy trying make everyone come to my small corner in cyberspace and listen to what I have to say.
Truth is, that was pride and I had to repent. I'm still, like this blog, a work in progress. So to whomever reads this, don't let the posts fool ya, I'm still learning. Pray for me as I pray for you.
-Taz
Friday, February 15, 2008
Tithes and Offering
Before y'all pull out your wallets, know that I'm not asking for or speaking about money. This is kind of a supplementary post to Pump Your Brakes, so you should probably read that one first.
". . .and those that seek me early shall find me" Prov 8:17
What seems like ages ago, my family and I would get together for home Bible study. One particular day, Papi led the study and he introduced a concept of tithing time. It's basically the same concept of tithing money, except your giving of your time. He told us to calculate how much time we are awake during the average day and give at least 10% of that to God (offering was left to our discretion). It made sense to me and I actually found that it helped me stay on track with my prayer.
Unfortunately, over time, we all fell of the bandwagon. However lately, as God has began to deal with me about my prayer life, I've decided to take it on again. I've noticed how much more productive I am when I pray before I start the day, so it actually feels like God multiplies my time when I offer it to Him first. It's easier said than done, especially for those who already beat the sun rising, but it's worth it! Give and it shall be given.
**Note: Should you want to start such a routine, pray about it first. One must still remain sensitive throughout the day to the voice of God; you could be urged to hit your knees at any given time. I will say this though, tithes are only 10% off the top (i.e. the first fruits), and should be rendered before anything else is spent. Offering is totally up to you, just know you should plant according to the harvest size you desire.
-Taz
". . .and those that seek me early shall find me" Prov 8:17
What seems like ages ago, my family and I would get together for home Bible study. One particular day, Papi led the study and he introduced a concept of tithing time. It's basically the same concept of tithing money, except your giving of your time. He told us to calculate how much time we are awake during the average day and give at least 10% of that to God (offering was left to our discretion). It made sense to me and I actually found that it helped me stay on track with my prayer.
Unfortunately, over time, we all fell of the bandwagon. However lately, as God has began to deal with me about my prayer life, I've decided to take it on again. I've noticed how much more productive I am when I pray before I start the day, so it actually feels like God multiplies my time when I offer it to Him first. It's easier said than done, especially for those who already beat the sun rising, but it's worth it! Give and it shall be given.
**Note: Should you want to start such a routine, pray about it first. One must still remain sensitive throughout the day to the voice of God; you could be urged to hit your knees at any given time. I will say this though, tithes are only 10% off the top (i.e. the first fruits), and should be rendered before anything else is spent. Offering is totally up to you, just know you should plant according to the harvest size you desire.
-Taz
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