The Chains they Gave Me: Have you ever been Labled?

 

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The Chains they Gave Me

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In a world full of stereotypes, titles, and labels. Everyone wants to either have a title. Titles make us feel important. or not have one. And not having a title is a title in and of itself. Titles can oftentimes come with negative consequences. Labels come with echos that resound for years. Let’s talk about it. 

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Chained in the Dungeon

Two preachers found themselves in jail because they decided to help somebody. I heard that 

No good deed goes unpunihsed.

This was no different. Paul and Silas found themselves in jail. They were chained in the dungeon. But these chains did not belong to Paul and Silas. They belonged to the Roman Government. They belonged to someone else. Somebody put their chains on them.

Have someone ever put their chains on you?

Have you ever been labled?

When was the last time someone identfied you by your problem and not your name?

Given you a label that made you uncomforable. Labled you wrong without getting to know you. 

In the midnight of life, someone decided to put their chains on you. They may have

Marked you

Branded you

Called you lazy but you are just tired. 

Labeld you quiet but you are dealing with anxiety.

Labeld you arrogant but you are just guarded

I’ll be honest. They did it to me.

Labeld you underprivileded because of your zip code or family dynamic.

When you are doing your best. Somebody decided to chain you. Let’s be honest we too have done the same to others. 

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Chained but not Bound

My wife loves murder and crime documentaries. After years of listening to CSI, and First 48. I noticed the mistake the soldier made. The Bible says he

chained their feet (Act 16:24)

Not their hands. 

I learned that even though we may have chains. Even though we may have issues or problems. The good thing is everything isn’t falling apart. We still have something to be thankful for! 

So the chains they gave me, I am going to use!

With your chains you can make a joyful noise.

You are more than a conqueror! Be encouraged, you may be chained but you are not bound! 

Conclusion

Be encouraged, and ktrust God even when your heart is heavy. Talk to you later.

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My Heaven on Earth

 

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My Heaven on Earth

Many people talk about heaven on earth. They describe what it looks like. The sounds of it. I think the most important part is how this special place makes them feel. Well here’s mine.

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Photo by the author

The Sounds of Heaven on Earth

Heaven on earth is my grandmother’s house in Arkansas. The four to five-hour drive there seems magical when you’re young. The road trip music my Dad would play. He had a portfolio of cassette tapes. Sometimes he would have a mix tape and others one would be dedicated to one group.

Earth Wind and Fire

The Temptations

Stevie Wonder

Ohio Players

The Supremes

Parliament

The Chi Lites

Gladys Knight and the Pips

Morris Day and the Time

All of the majestic sounds seem to blend in with the scenery. To the point, it became the soundtrack for the journey.

Once we arrived there were other sounds that greeted us.

The sounds of birds chirping.

The sound of the dirt road

Sounds of laughter

And the sound of my Grandmother greeting us.

To hear her voice, and to hear her sing at church. A sound still rings in my soul.

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The Season of Heaven on Earth

It didn’t matter the time of the year. Sometimes we would go in the fall, which is nice. The cool breeze on my skin. And the disappointment when we can’t go out to play because of the rain. Coming from the city to see this is life-changing. Fall is when we can see the various hues of the leaves in the trees. The tree that sets the tone is the Pine tree. As soon as I think about my Grandmother’s house I can smell the pine in the air.

We also came in the spring for Easter. That was a sight to see. I still don’t know how my Momma and her sisters hid the Easter eggs from all of us. But they did. So I believe the season of heaven on earth is there too.

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I don’t know how to end this article. However, the memories will never end. My Grandmother’s house in Arkansas was, and still is a beautiful place. One day I’ll go back to my heaven on earth.

Talk to you later

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A Gift and a Curse: Have you ever been Used?

 

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A Gift with a Curse

I love to help people. I enjoy sharing, and teaching. Over the years I realized that some people wait on you to use you. Have you ever found yourself with a gift? Have you ever come to the conclusion that the more you use it. The more they use you. This is a gift and a curse. Let’s talk about it.

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She was Possessed 

There was a woman in the Bible who encountered Paul and Silas. She might have been a wonderful person, however, she was

Possessed with the spirit of divination. (Acts 16:16)

She could have been many things for God. She could have been

A minister

A intersessor

A leader 

A community activist 

However, she was possessed with 

The wrong spirit. 

The wrong motives

Sadly she was with the wrong people. 

This changes a lot of things. We may have been ideal for something. May have been on our way. Yet, there are lingering flaws in our lives. That keeps us from moving forward. Sadly, everybody can see it but us. She was possessed with the wrong spirit, and that possession drove her in the wrong direction.

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She’s Possessed by People

To keep money in her pocket she has to deal with people that don’t care about her. 

It seems as if the wrong people find us with our gifts before the right people do.

They used her. They were using her to get what they wanted.

Have you ever been used?

You are gifted but being used

Mistreated 

Mishandled 

Misguided 

At one time or another, we’ve been used.

Gifted but being used at home 

Gifted but being abused by family 

Gifted at school but they bully you there

So gifted at work. Instead of them giving you a promotion. They promote you with more work!

She, as well as some of us, was gifted but used. Never meeting her needs. never reaching her personal goals because she is too busy meeting others. Focusing on other people. Prioritizing their needs over hers. her she is, possessed by people!

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She’s Possessed with a New Purpose 

After her encounter with Paul and Silas.

After trolling them. 

After following them. 

After calling them out 

She got what she needed but didn’t ask for it. 

Paul said

At the name of Jesus come out of her!

I’ll be honest God wasn’t on my mind. Jesus wasn’t in my plans. But somebody prayed for me! 

My Mom prayed for me

My Grandmothers prayed for me

Friends prayed for me

Most especially my wife prays for me

Now I have a new purpose. New ideas and new goals! Now I can move forward using the gifts that are no longer a curse but a blessing to me and my family. 

We don’t know what happened to her after that. But what I do know is. Her users weren’t happy about it. Which means she left them.

Conclusion 

Don’t let the wrong people possess you. Don’t let them possess your time, your talents, and anything else. Be encouraged. 

Talk to you later 

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That's Not Your Jacket: The Problems of an Empath

 

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Many times we tend to put on extra duties and extra responsibilities. Most of which do not belong to us. Resulting in headaches, heartaches, and loss of sleep. Some of my colleagues would come to me stating all the things they have to do, which is fine. However when it does not directly affect them. I would kindly tell them

Take that jacket off.

It’s not yours

Saying YES to everything can lead to

Exhaustion

Stress

And Burnout

Saying NO may be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary. Here’s what I learned by prioritizing and setting boundaries.

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It protects your wellbeing

I know you want to help everyone. I know you want to heal everyone, instead of saying NO. You try to accommodate everyone in everything.

Their burden isn’t yours.

Their issues that they’ve caused isn’t yours

Before the young David went to battle against Goliath. King Saul offered him the opportunity to wear his armor. However, David respectfully declined.

Because the armor didn’t fit him. I Samuel 17:38–40

So when they try to make their burden your priority. Kindly decline.

It’s ok to say no

Or show them a way that they can do it themselves.

Just because you are there doesn’t mean you are there for that! Protect your well-being.

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It helps your productivity

Putting on everyone else’s jacket. Would tie your hands from doing what you have to do. Focusing on other people’s needs and feelings causes you to neglect your own. Prioritize your ideas and your goals may sound selfish. However, at times, you have to be. Otherwise, society would then write you off as being lazy.

Reach your goals first

Take yourself to the next level first

Ascend to your most dominant aspiration first.

Then you would be in a position to help others.

Take the speck out of your eye before helping someone else. Matthew 7:3–5

To be more productive for you. Take off their jacket and put on yours.

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It promotes self-respect

Respecting yourself and your boundaries causes others to do the same. It shows people that

You

Your time

Talents

And efforts

Is just as important as others. Saying No teaches people to value you. Resulting in healthy, and positive relationships. Keeping your personal jacket on teaches self-respect, and it builds your self-esteem. Over time the people who love you will understand.

Conclusion

Bottom line, it’s ok to say no. Establish clear boundaries for yourself and others. It will protect your well-being, and your productivity, and it promotes self-respect.

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Fond Memories of the 4th: The Sights, Sounds, and Smells of a Holiday

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Last week while I was at the doctor’s office, assisting my aunt at her follow-up appointment. While going to the truck, I saw a cousin who I haven’t seen in years! He said

You know I see you!!

That’s his jovial way of saying

I recognize you from anywhere

He was a few years older than me. We always had fun together growing up. He was there because his wife was pregnant and had a

False alarm

I was glad to see him. I then reminded him this was the time of year when we got together! Immediately our minds went back to the sights, sounds, and fond memories of the 4th!

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The 4th came with a Smell

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When you walked into Momma Nita’s house (My Dad’s mother) you could smell the holiday! It was a smell laced with

Chicken

Ribs

Brisket

Potato salad

And Uncle Sam’s pipe!

And I loved it!!! The aroma was full of love and hope.

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The 4th came with a sound

The sound of joy, laughter, and conversation.

The sound of

Dominoes slammed on the table!

Dishes clinking

Aunties gossiping

The sound of

Maurice talking trash!

But the one sound I could hear above all else was

My Grand Father’s laugh!

The man would be in mid-conversation at the domino table and would holler out laughing!!!

My cousin said

Man that Cat Fish!!!

The same man who was full of laughter brought us joy when he presented to us his specialty

Cat fish!!!!

The World War II Navy Vet was methodical in his catfish cooking process, and I enjoyed it.

The food is ready and Grand Dad (knowing the crowd) he would give the shortest prayer ever it’s either

Lord thank you for this food we are about to receive for the nurishment of our bodies for Christ’ sake

Or the crowd favorite

Jesus wept

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The 4th came with Sight

To come and see our loved ones in the summer was amazing. We already had summers off but to see our cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and friends all in one place was a sight to see.

As I got older with a family of my own, I see the future of my family and my community. At one time we as children went into a secluded room to take a nap. This evolved into us bringing our children to an aunt’s room for a nap. Now our youth are bringing their children to our rooms to take a nap.

Conclusion

The 4th is a mixed bag for some people, especially those who are of African descent. However, I can’t help but enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday. These are MY fond memories of the 4th.

Talk to you later

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