You Cannot Fool God Dummy

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?  ~Isaiah 29:15 

God is able to see everything you do.  You may be able to fool many human beings but you’re never able to fool God.  Everything you do behind closed doors is not out of the view of God.  Why not just be real with yourself and God and truly live for Him the way you profess to live for Him?  You can compose messages on Facebook and Twitter each day about your love for God and still not fool God about your love for Him.  In all that you do God must get the glory.  If you really love God you will be willing to surrender the things in your life that are not like Him.  If you really love God you will be willing to do only the things pleasing to Him.

How deep is your love for God really?

Who are you really?

It’s time for you to remove the metaphorical sheets, curtains, blinds, and shades you employ to mask the things in your life that are not like God and replace them with a true commitment to righteousness.  You can witness to people and invite them to your church every Sunday, but was what you were doing Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday night in your bed, on the Internet, at the bar, at the club, in your car, on the phone, and etc. pleasing to Him?

What if the metaphorical sheets, curtains, blinds, and shades you use to hide the things that are not like God were removed from your life?  What would people learn about you that would change how you’re perceived?

If walls could talk, what would they reveal about you?  If your text messages were able to be viewed by the public, what would they communicate about you?  If your email accounts were able to be read by the public, what would they communicate about you?  If your closed doors were open at times when you’re covering up what you want to hide, what would people learn about you that would alter their views of your public image?

Get real with yourself so that you can get real with God.  It’s time to repent now, for God is soon to return and people must be ready for His evaluation of their lives.

Far too often people become too angry about the true criticism they receive from others, but people need to learn to appreciate true criticism.  True criticism can lead you closer to being the person you need to be to please God.  Words that may seem harsh from people you perceive to be “hating on you,” “envious of you,” and/or “jealous of you” can be the very words you need to seriously wrestle with to change your life for the better.

At the end of the day, we need to a help to one another.  Being a help to one another does not mean supporting one’s ways, words, and actions that are not pleasing to God.  We have a clear understanding of what’s pleasing to God by reading the bible daily.  You can ameliorate your understanding of righteousness by reading the bible daily.  Study the Word of God to enjoy the fullness of His power and spirit.

God wants to be first in your life.  Will you let Him?

Deuces,

Tony

Don't Let Mistakes Distract You

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. ~Philippians 4:13 

People do make mistakes and we should not hold those mistakes over their heads forever.  Although there are times when people need to be reminded about their errors, especially when they begin to act like they are perfect, people deserve a chance to change and progress without being constantly reminded of their mistakes.  God is the only one who is perfect.  All human beings make mistakes and many human beings make more mistakes than others.  Some people sit around and wait for you to make a mistake so that they can gain gratification from your errors.  Many people who are bitter and have low self-esteem feel that the only way to improve the way they feel about themselves is to tear down others.  As Christians, we have to understand that the Devil would love nothing more than to distract us with the tactics of these individuals.  Don’t let folks move your attention away from what God has for you.

If you make a mistake, learn from it and strive to never make it again.  While you may continue to struggle with the same problem for a certain period of time, you will inevitably conquer it with God’s help.  Don’t beat yourself up over making mistakes.  Making mistakes is a part of what makes you human.  The Original Sin was a mistake that allowed all of us to be born from it.  Begin to see your mistakes as learning experiences and as opportunities for you to get closer to Jesus.  We all need something to struggle with so that we will know that we need Jesus every day.  It is time out for seeking Jesus only when you need something.  You must learn that you have to seek Him daily. 

In all that you do, ask Jesus to help you.  Never think that you are beyond asking for help from Jesus.  You must remember that all of your talents and skills come from God and without God you are nothing.  Therefore, never feel that you can make it alone in this evil world.  Having Jesus in your life is necessary.  God will also provide you with some earthly help as well.  It’s foolish to believe that you don’t need human beings in your life.  Many “deep” Christians will assert that all they need is Jesus, but as a person living in the world and not in Heaven, you are going to need another human being in your life for so many reasons that time and space will not permit a listing and explanation of all of them.

Be encouraged today.  You don’t have to let the Devil defeat you by constantly letting him play with your mind about mistakes you have made.  Remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.  Moreover, all things work together for the good for them who are called according to His purpose and who love Him.  Stop having pity parties about your mistakes and live in the fullness of God.  When you seek God first, He will provide you with all you need to accomplish the desires of your heart.  Nothing is impossible for those who truly believe God.

Deuces,

Tony

Broaden Discourses about Sin

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. ~ Romans 3:23

Far too often, discourses about sin are too one-dimensional: they are almost always negative.  If you really understand sin fully as it is disclosed in the bible, you will recognize that you would not be here today if it was not for sin.  Because of the Original Sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, it allowed them to be able to produce other human beings, which inevitably led to the human beings who produced you.  In no way am I trying to make sin sexy—it’s not!  What I’m arguing, however, is there are some meaningful and positive things about sin that are useful.

Sinful acts give us examples of what we should not be doing.  Knowing what not to do is very crucial to living a life committed to God.  Sin comes to give us understanding about what it is that God wants us not to do.  Sin helps to inform us about what is not like God and what it really means to be holy.  Many people try to act like they have always been saved. As the aforementioned epigraph illuminates, everyone was born a sinner, and many of those people pretending to be so holy are some of the greatest sinners.

Let’s get real about sin.  When we engage in comprehensive and serious discussions about sin, we can see sin as providing opportunities for us to find ways to prevent it.  Additionally, serious discourses about sin allow us to develop innovative ways and strategies for reaching sinners.  If we are always approaching sin from such indignant dispositions, then we will only continue to turn people away from accepting Jesus into their hearts.  True Christians are to win souls for Christ—not push people away from Christ.  When you are walking around like you are so high and mighty, don’t forget that you were once a sinner too, and had it not been for the grace of God you would still be a sinner—so don’t get it twisted.

At many churches, especially at many Black churches, it’s real popular to see who can speak the harshest about sin and sinners.  As Christians, we are supposed to dislike sin but not sinners.  It seems like many people have a difficult time separating their hate for sin from the people who are committing the sins.  In all things that we do, the bible informs us that we should do them with love.  The bible lets us know that it is love that saved us and it is that same love that will draw people to Christ.

One of the greatest opportunities for you to expand the discourses about sin is during Sunday School.  I encourage you to challenge members of your church during Sunday School about the complexities of sin that are often just overlooked as a result of the desire to appear so holy.  You can engage in thorough and intelligent conversations about some of the positive aspects of sin and still be saved—it’s called having intellectual discourses.  Let’s be more intelligent in our discourses about sin.

Deuces,

Tony                 

What is

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? ~ Proverbs 20:6

You can’t take away what already is.  When I find myself in the midst of justifying my friendship with the man that graces this blog with me, I am always baffled.  Yes, Antonio and I exercise arrogance in our friendship because that is the type of love that we have for each other, but never have we withheld how we feel about the challenges we face, nor have we EVER masked the deeper issues we have with each other with an attack, passive aggressive statements, or public humiliation.  We just state how we feel and continuously encourage each other’s endeavors.  I adore when people try to steam roll our friendship because it inspires post like these.  I have found that our friendship is something that people envy, loathe, and desire all together.  Trying to glean an understanding of what is leaves most angry, upset, and confused in trying to understand why we passionately advocate for each other.  Our friendship is an intimate association of familiarity and companionship (no we are not, nor have we, or will we ever sleep together).

One of the most important things that I will never force is a friendship.  Relationships should be built and sustained naturally and as in any thing that is natural, you will have flaws and imperfections, but when embraced there is a beautiful evolution that can be everlasting like God’s love.  The self problems of some individuals can and have spilled over into their personal friendships and a serious amount of self-reflection must occur before the loneliness of having no real, purposeful, loving friendships occur.  Sadly, it is a direct reflection of weak minded people and I don’t contribute to things or people that take away from, instead of, adding to positive reinforcement.  When my connection with Antonio and other friends rustles the feathers of some so much so that they have to seek the most minute tactics to bother me in some form, it makes me laugh from the inside out.  Why? Because they couldn’t be more obvious *laughing*. If something about my character bothers anyone just that bad, they should know to feel free in speaking to me at any time.  I will never try to out do others when it comes the core of my friendships with gift giving, titles, attire, career choices, or relationship.  How does one pass judgment on a friendship that is powerful and loving, but be completely blind to the fact of the negative energy and hurtful actions that they have bestowed in the friendships that are claimed to be near and dear to their heart…just saying?   

Antonio and I don’t have to censor our friendship PERIOD, however, the same cannot be said for others. I am receptive to constructive criticism, but I am disgusted by underlined messages: masking what one wants to say, but never stating it.  I take delight knowing that I can affect many by just being truly with no veil, no mask, no co-signer who I am.  Don’t be so upset about the closeness, genuineness, and passion of another’s friendship that YOU fail in adding building blocks or completely demolishing your own.  Antonio and I will never conform to another’s blueprint of what our friendship is and will continually be: rare, layered, and candid.  Our friendship is victorious and we celebrate it every day by just being. Simply because it’s what is.  I want to leave you with this status that I borrowed from one of my Facebook friends, (K.A.):

When you know your value, you don't have to beg people to be your friend or mate, to spend time with you or to love you. Be confident in who GOD made you to be. Everybody can't afford the luxury of your friendship.

Who has been afforded the luxury of your friendship?  What, if any, backlash have you all received because of how close you are?

Deuces, 

San

Sensitive Mean People

While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, their wrongdoing will be exposed in public. ~ Proverbs 26:26

It becomes frustrating when grown people will not act like adults AND when people constantly treat others in a demeaning and negative fashion, but are the most sensitive when those same actions are reciprocated. How do you play victim to those things that you have been on the offending end of!?  Recently, on my personal Facebook page I posted the following status:

“The worst thing that you can do to me is throw back into my face what you have done for me or hold over my head what I need you to do for me. All it does is express piss poor character. It DOES NOT stop me from progressing toward taking care of business. This is one reason why I dislike asking people for anything. #OhWell Next...pressing play on my playlist. :-)”

I had a long day and having someone throw into my face on THAT day what I needed, upset me and truly pissed me off.  I addressed the issue with that person via phone call and flew to my status to express as is asked “What’s on your mind?”  I can’t monitor every single moment of the day what an individual has to say about me.  If I am doing well or if I am doing poorly, someone will have something to say.  I will NOT, however, be responsible because someone has this nerve racking notion that the status was or is about them.  It only proves that those individuals ran out into traffic and were hit by a vehicle. *roof roof*

My discovery and learning experience in dealing with these types of people is that that they are mean spirited, but the most sensitive individuals that you will ever meet.  Sometimes it makes me feel bad and hardens my heart because these same folks have no idea of how their personality is reflected towards the people that love them and in public with complete strangers.  Here is what I do not like: 

 The 5 Acts

1.      When people make the assumption that my status is about them and fail to pick up a telephone to call me and inquire.

2.      When people take to their status in reply to my status, therefore, talking to me and about me in 3^rd person.  I don’t do 3^rd person talking about me.  You may want to ask close friends that have fallen victim to me addressing this.

3.      When people try to play off that everything is kosher and cool between them and I, when in all actuality they really can’t stand me…at all! LMBO!

4.      When people get upset and extremely defensive about me sharing their “ugly” truth with them to their face and not behind their back as others have done.

5.      When people ATTEMPT to be cheeky with me by being nice/nasty.  Newsflash: I speak nice/nasty fluently. *smirking*

The aforementioned 5 Acts are almost as bad a lying to me.  I love unconditionally and sometimes people need a kick in the old keister with tough love.  What will never happen is stopping me from progressing in what needs to be taken care of.  I may have a small delay, but there is always a detour sign somewhere.  Hence another one of my recent status updates to Facebook:

“Sometimes the intentional negative actions of others can turn out to not only work in your favor, but end in a greater result than what was expected. God said he would turn the bad meant for you into good. In this instance it was an academic issue that He handled almost immediately. God is awesome and always got my back. #BlessedandFavored”

Listen up and read people.  I am a Christian and very much candid in expressing all aspects of my life with no qualms about offending ‘mean spirited, sensitive people’.  I pray for them and love them just as He would. *batting eyes* If you find that you are guilty of being mean and vindictive to provoke harm, yet sensitive and against reaping that which you have sown, then read the following for wisdom, practice humility, put that hand mirror up to your face, pray, and drive away the very thing that contributes to your poor character:

Proverbs 26: 23-28

23 – Smooth* words may hide a wicked heart,

just as pretty clay covers a clay pot.

24 – People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,

but they’re deceiving you.

25 – They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.

Their hearts are full of many evils.*

26 – While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,

their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

27 – If you set a trap for others,

You will get caught in it yourself.

If you roll a boulder down on others,

it will crush you.

28 – A lying tongue hates its victims,

and flattering words can ruin.

What of the 5 acts mentioned above have people committed towards you or you towards them?  Do share!

Deuces,

San