My wife is about to have a child. OUR child. Not our first, this beautiful child will be our third together. She had two before we met and so this is her fifth. Do not try and judge her and if you do decide to place her in your judgment, then judge me too. I had two before we met as well. All four children from our previous relationships are mixed and yet we are both African American. We also had one child out of wedlock together.
That said, I was not a minister at that time. There was no Christianity, no God, no prayer, and no faith for me. My wife was more Muslim than Christian, but still a wonderful person. It was she who helped me to build back into what I needed to be. It was her encouragement that made me feel the need to change my life, my whole paradigm and seek the Lord. I had never been in a relationship that had so much care and support, but to my astonishment she took to Christianity very well and since then we have begun our trek into Life Eternal.
Life Eternal. It takes so much more than lip service and Sunday mornings. It takes more than discipline, dedication, and belief. It takes more than what we call "faith". It takes knowledge. Not the type that is gained through reading books and learning, but knowledge of the truth. Knowledge of God and his existence. Far too often have I been looked at funny when it comes to my saying that God is in control. People say it all of the time but how many really know for sure? Not many. Why do I say that? Well, it starts with my child.
I will be naming my new daughter Amarachi N'Gozi. This is Igbo for God's grace and blessings. Why am I naming her such? Because I took every precaution not to have another child. We already have six together, so a seventh would be a financial strain correct? No one has that many children in this age, it just isn't right. You have to use birth control methods, you have to to get permanently "fixed". Where does God fit into that logic? Oh, I guess now you say, "God gave us the technology for proper drugs, surgery, and condoms." The same logic can be used to ask about nuclear weapons, tanks, and poison. Truthfully that is not my point. You see, we were using birth control.
Yes, we were using birth control and still my wife will be giving birth. Was it not good enough, or was it an act of God? Take time to ponder that last question.
I am married and in love with my wife. Life isn't perfect, but we are working hard at it and living in prayer. Yes, we struggle and endure. Money comes slow, we are always behind, and need a bigger vehicle. We do not complain though. We praise God for what we have.
If anyone thinks that they have better advice than this let me know...
Trust in God, he never puts anything on you that you cannot bear.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Take Your Medicine
I have been in so many adverse situations in my life that I could actually stand to write an autobiography. The truth is that my testimony is nowhere near complete and every day is the next day of going through what many people call struggle, I call life.
Many people are looking for a testimonial to be more or less a point in life, but there is no clear ending to what we all go through. We are guaranteed to deal with life's struggles and pain, but how do we deal with it all? Some make it worse by sidestepping the things that we must endure, but the only way is to take "The World" on face to face.
Jesus brings us salvation through the promise of forgiveness and takes it all away. Through him our lives are more filled with joy and happiness away from the world. What many do not understand is that the same concept lies within the faith that he will also take away your worldly troubles.
You don't have to. God created man to have free will. In that free will you can choose to not pray and to not give thanks. You can choose "The World" over God. But if you have chosen "The World", then you have rejected God. This is not limited to watching Football instead of going to Church, or love of a companion over God, or even worldly music over The Word. This also pertains to worries, to griping, to seething in anger over money and bills, to giving in to the temptations of illegal activity.
With that, I know you feel as though you are being judged. Maybe you have already said "Don't judge me, thats why I don't go to church." But to be without salvation is an illness. Church is a more of a hospital for the faithless and non-saved, not necessarily for the Saint. Would you tell a doctor "Don't judge me!" if he just told you that you had a serious illness? NO! You would ask what treatment options are available.
This is not a judgement, but a diagnosis. Allow us to prescribe you the cure for all of your troubles. Daily prayer, weekly church (probably more than once per week), a few scriptures, and a mustard seed of faith. You take all of this "medicine" and you will be cured! Yes, The Word is a cure all.
I am available for questions and comments. I can point you into the right direction of where to get your medicine. I can teach you the right way to praise and be thankful. Being thankful and humble to God are the first doses of what you need.
When it all comes down to it, its all about Faith, Praise, and Prayer. That's really all that you really need. Take time to pray, you will not be sorry.
Many people are looking for a testimonial to be more or less a point in life, but there is no clear ending to what we all go through. We are guaranteed to deal with life's struggles and pain, but how do we deal with it all? Some make it worse by sidestepping the things that we must endure, but the only way is to take "The World" on face to face.
Jesus brings us salvation through the promise of forgiveness and takes it all away. Through him our lives are more filled with joy and happiness away from the world. What many do not understand is that the same concept lies within the faith that he will also take away your worldly troubles.
You don't have to. God created man to have free will. In that free will you can choose to not pray and to not give thanks. You can choose "The World" over God. But if you have chosen "The World", then you have rejected God. This is not limited to watching Football instead of going to Church, or love of a companion over God, or even worldly music over The Word. This also pertains to worries, to griping, to seething in anger over money and bills, to giving in to the temptations of illegal activity.
With that, I know you feel as though you are being judged. Maybe you have already said "Don't judge me, thats why I don't go to church." But to be without salvation is an illness. Church is a more of a hospital for the faithless and non-saved, not necessarily for the Saint. Would you tell a doctor "Don't judge me!" if he just told you that you had a serious illness? NO! You would ask what treatment options are available.
This is not a judgement, but a diagnosis. Allow us to prescribe you the cure for all of your troubles. Daily prayer, weekly church (probably more than once per week), a few scriptures, and a mustard seed of faith. You take all of this "medicine" and you will be cured! Yes, The Word is a cure all.
I am available for questions and comments. I can point you into the right direction of where to get your medicine. I can teach you the right way to praise and be thankful. Being thankful and humble to God are the first doses of what you need.
When it all comes down to it, its all about Faith, Praise, and Prayer. That's really all that you really need. Take time to pray, you will not be sorry.
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