One Day at a Time

Approximately 40 days until the election. The senate needs to pass a bill within the next few weeks to bail out the economy. It is Mid-September and I already have my work schedule for October, pending appointments and engagements through November. The danger of looking towards the possibility of the future is that you can miss the reality of the present. The future is often overrated and the present is not rated high enough. Not to get philosophical but there is no such thing as the future. Once the future arrives, it will be the present.

This was one of the first weeks I (kind of) took one day at a time. With the completion of a course for school, (see blog I’m Hungry) I had personal time that I devoted to God. I slept more than I usually sleep and felt rested this week. I also read the bible not for school purposes, and it spoke back to me in a profound way. I asked myself what was different this week and it hit me, I seized the moment. I took this week one day at a time.

I realize God who is omniscient and omnipotent could have created everything in 1 day; however he chooses to do it in 7 days. He embraced the process and celebrated small victories, not waiting until the entire creation process was completed to see “It was good.” Goodness is not in the completion alone, but in the process that leads to completion. The significance of each day is further expressed when the children of Israel were being led from Egypt, God fed them from heaven one day at a time, and instructed them to eat enough for one day and not to save any. In the model prayer recorded in the gospels, Jesus says Give us this day, our daily bread. When we take life one day at a time, it causes us to rely on Jesus entirely for everything.

I have a job where it is not uncommon, for a young person to come to me and say “Today was the best day of my life!” or “You changed my life!” In the past I would minimize these words and find a way to humbly turn it around, instead of saying thank you. I read a quote last week that checked me saying “You are not that great to be that humble.” Today when young people said these words I looked them in the eyes, thanked them, and allowed their gratitude to fill my heart.

Jesus was so accurate when he said, NAS Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. If you are married, then celebrate your spouse today, you don’t get to a 50th anniversary without discovering the significance within seemingly insignificant moments. If you are single cherish your solitude, and embrace the opportunity to devote your entire attention towards God. God I thank you for this moment and I repent for taking the present for granted. Thank you for things that help me remember the beauty of the moment and how precious life is, things like reading your word and allowing the words to leap from the pages into my sprit, my Fred Hammond Pages of Life CD chapters I & II, my John Mayer Continuum CD, Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (visit the website only served in southern states)

What if tomorrow didn’t come, how did you spend today? I would hate to look back over my life and have the testimony of being busy without real significance. I can ill afford to miss life because I was too busy allegedly living life. The appointment of speaking anywhere is nothing unless I pause between flights to stare outside of the window at the cumulus and stratus clouds that God created. Relationships are insignificant, without expressing to those individuals how much I love, care, and appreciate them. Alicia Keys says “I don’t want to forget the present is a gift, and I don’t want to take for granted the time you may have here with me, Cause Lord only knows the another day here’s not really guaranteed.” Alicia couldn’t say it better than David, NAS Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Enough writing, time to go eat, its not everyday you get to be in Canada Eh?

Your Isolation Determines Your Elevation

Déjà vu…. Alone in a hotel room typing... This has been the setting for the movie that is my life quite frequently this year. I have been reflecting, this year has been an amazing year of manifestation, work has evolved and yielded amazing opportunities including a television appearance, travel throughout the United States and Canada, and as far as ministry various speaking engagements have occurred; literally speaking events every weekend for the past 3 months. Everyday I feel like my purpose is unfolding and being manifested right before my eyes. Just as God had promised in January, 2008 would be a year of manifestation that would require me to walk by faith.

This past weekend was spectacular. On Friday I worked with an awesome co worker at a High School in Northern California, then flew to Ontario and spoke on Saturday and Sunday in Rialto. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share the word with this congregation. They had a hunger for the word of God and a high aptitude towards receiving the word, which is indicative of the leadership of Bishop and 1st Lady Garrett, and Evangelist Paulette Anderson. People were filled with the Holy Spirit, one beautiful little girl in particular captured my heart, and 4 young men who were worshipping God with tears streaming down their face. I was so excited to see Antwon, Yvette, and my goddaughter Hanna walk in as I was preparing to speak. They tell me Hanna was raising her hands and worshipping while I was talking, “That’s my girl!” Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Sunday was amazing and my parents came from Los Angeles, and God moved in a mighty way. We went to PF Chang’s (of course, the usual firecracker shrimp, crab wontons, fried rice, and we tried candied walnut chicken) and I got back on the plane only to re pack and get on a plane to come to Ohio.

This weekend is a sample of what my year has been like. It has also been the most introspective reflective year, and I can’t help but recognize the correlation between isolation and elevation. When Moses was groomed for leadership it was on the backside of the dessert (Exodus 3:1-10), when he received the 10 commandments he was with God for 40 (number of testing) days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai. (Exodus 34:28) When David was anointed for King, he was a shepherd boy, (I Samuel 16:9) when God speaks the book of Revelation to John he is first isolated on the Isle of Patmos.

I mentioned the things that happened in public, but didn’t mention the walks through the airport terminal and simply observing people, didn’t mention how exciting it was to walk with my goddaughter in the beautiful Aloft hotel (Google it, it is so dope and contemporary) and then to place her in the car seat, and how lonely that walk back to my room felt. I didn’t pick up the phone to cover it, but I embraced the loneliness. As I embraced it and fell asleep that night at 4am Sunday morning I was awakened by God and my room was transformed into a sanctuary.

I’m not saying in order to be anointed, you have to be deep and spooky and become a prisoner of your own analysis. What I am saying is that one on one time with God is essential if you are going to be used by him and live a purpose driven life. Isolation makes me confront me, and reveals in private what I try to hide in public.
It is when we are alone that God prepares us for what others experience publicly. Let’s make it clear, I am not talking about that isolation because you have been hurt and you say with an attitude and bitterness, “I am fine all by myself!” No, no no! I am referring to that alone time that God seeks from us, that exclusive attention that he desires where He speaks and challenges as we listen and accept.

Fellowship is a key component and God made us with a desire for interaction, I was so blessed by text and voice messages from the young adults at the Cov, and I went with Sam and Tonesha to grab ice cream from Ici (a great ice cream spot in Berkeley) when I got off the plane, because fellowship is essential. It is not a question of either or, but both and. Isolation and fellowship are complentary.

Embrace isolation because God uses it to cause us to be complete in ourselves. When God allows individuals to come into our lives in any capacity, we won’t put the unfair burden and pressure of making them complete us. When they come in our lives we will be whole with Jesus and they will be a benefit, not a necessity.