Russian Roulette

If you are reading this I encourage you to pay close attention to these words," Do not play Russian Roulette with your life"! I know some may wonder why would I make this statement. Well in some form or fashion we all play that game with our life . If you happen to be doing drugs, gambling, cheating on your spouse, having unprotected sex or have multiple sexual partners, stealing, being dishonest, lying, drinking while driving or driving over the speed limit, breaking the law in any fashion,over eating or over drinking or even driving without your seat belts, then you are playing Russian Roulette with your life. When I think about they ways a human being can hurt or kill themselves it made me question even my own practices. I had to realize that I only have one life to live and I should cherish it. I am a person that likes to get somewhere in a hurry, so I often speed while driving. But one day God showed me what could happen to me if I continue with these reckless practices. One day I was running late for work and I needed to get there in a hurry. I ran out of my house, got into my car and stepped on it. Every street I turned on somebody was driving slow and I had to get to work because my time was running short. So I did what I always have done, I went around the car that was in front of me, before I knew it a big truck was in my path from the opposition direction. I slammed on brakes and thank God the other driver saw me. At that time I could visualize the end of my life. I know at that time God was telling me to slow down. So what if I was late, my life was stake. If you are still reading this take this too heart , your life is precious value it and take care of yourself. I am old enough to admit that I have done some stupid things and some of those things could have gotten me killed. If I would have paid attention to those warning that is out there for everyone to see, I wouldn't have almost been killed. We all make mistakes, but its the dumb ones that get us killed or keeps us from being blessed. Sometimes we can be our worse enemy. We do things just because everyone else is doing it or because it makes us feel good. But when you know what you are doing is wrong ,then there is no way you can make it right. Even if your spouse happens to cheat on you or even if somebody has hurt you. Revenge should never be something you get involved in. Its foolish or Russian Roulette a game with your own life. If you are doing anything wrong that displeases God. Stop! God is trying to tell you something. Stop playing games with your life.

Be blessed,

Charles

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

Its Not Over!

It does not take a genius to figure out that we all live in a very judgmental world. Today, its hard to find anyone in the world that is not being influenced by other peoples opinions, the media or some expert that has been educated by the system. It seems that people expect you too be perfect or not too make mistakes. But as you know if you lived long enough, all of us will make mistakes, because none of us are prefect. But what makes life so very difficult is when people, especially the people you love, give up on you.(Parents or Friends) Sometimes even the  people that are close to you or even the people you grew up with are easily influenced by the thoughts of others.That is when they write you off and figure just because you made a mistake your life is over. Now as some would say you are damaged goods, trash, unwanted,unworthy or beyond repair. That is why everyday I give thanks to God and praise him. Because as long as I have breath in my body, I know that my time here is not over. I know that the mistakes,  that I have made are the building blocks of success. Some may wonder or question why I wrote this statement . Because history proves this statement to be true or correct. For every successful business owner, athlete or anybody that has the courage to step out on faith, has been told that what ever they dreamed of becoming or whatever ideal that they had couldn't be done or achieved. Its funny that, even parents or spouses can sometimes be the main sources when it comes to discouraging someone when they have a dream or ideal.What I began to realize that these type of people offer a good source of motivation. In my own life I have been told that I am not educated enough, smart enough, too short, black or other discouraging words to be able to make it in the world today. Thank God I had parents that always told me as a youth that there is nothing I couldn't or wouldn't do with out a little motivation and hard work.

Now at the ripe age of forty-eight, I have endured many ups and downs. I as a single parent and that have almost finished raising my 18 year old son. Through out all of our challenges both of us are on our way to being very productive citizens. My son is making great grades, even though in his past he was failing in school and was told by friends or family that he was a failure or not smart enough to make good grades. That is when I stepped in and passed on the same words my parents gave me when I failed. My mother used to say, "Son when you fall, don't stay there get back up again." Dust yourself off, because we all fail sometimes. "When you are down there is only one way to go and that's up. "Sometimes God takes things away from us to show us that without that him, there is no way we could have accomplish or have what we have today." Even in failure God still loves us all and never writes his children off.
 I encourage all who are blessed to read this to never give up and never loose faith. If you are alive then the fact is God has not given up on you and he has plans for your life. Sometimes we all have to be humbled to realize that our sins or our mistakes are not pleasing to God. He punishes us when we are ungrateful or not appreciative when he blesses us. Even now in today's time the rich or famous are being humbled. Their money, materiel possession's(houses and cars) or way of life are being taken away from them. Why? Because God wants to get their attention and he wants all of his children's attention. He wants us to know that without him their is no us. Gods way is the only way each of us will be successful and if one follows man then they will only fail. What God our Father in Heaven, wants us to realize that even though man, our family or friends, has given up on us, he has forgiven us and wants us to move on. He wants his children to exercise a little faith, to get up when down and too never give up. The old saying is, "If you had it once then you shall have it again". God can take you from the pits of darkness and bring you into the light. Our God is in restoring business, he can make you new or over and he gets the glory when a man or woman brought back to their rightful place. If you happen to be having a hard time in your life always remember this, Its not over, until God says its over. God makes what man says is impossible, possible, for its only he that has all power in his hands.

Be blessed,

Charles
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.
Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

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Psalm 54:4 Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

House Of Cards

Have you ever wondered why most relationships , marriages, churches or corporations fail? Also have you ever wondered why some people(especially rich people or people that have become successful) eventually fall or fail? The real reason for this is because their relationship or business practices are built on lies or deceit. It can also be because most people who become rich, get that way by taken advantage of , then cheating or deceiving people out of their incomes. When marriages fail, sometimes it can be because the husband or the wife did not reveal their trues identity,  before the marriage began. My mother used to tell me and my siblings, if you lie, then you will cheat, if you cheat, then you will steal and if you steal  ,then you will kill. She would say its a chain reaction , so start practicing doing the right thing or the wrong thing may get you in trouble.
 I used to laugh at my mother when she would talk about other peoples relationships. You know the people who seem to have it all and seem to be the perfect couple. Or the people who seem to be blessed despite their evil ways. She would say, "honey their marriage or business is just a house of cards waiting for a strong wind to blow it over". Even though I was laughing then, I understand now what she really meant. What she meant was if you are going to do anything in life and want to stay successful in it then you have to do it by being honest. What I have learn in my own life is ,the person you really need to be honest with besides God , is yourself. Like my mother used to say, the truth will set you free or she would say ," tell me the truth even if it hurts, because I rather you tell me the truth then a lie". Because if you lie, steal or deceive to achieve happiness or success then you are guaranteed to fail.
Another thing remember this that power corrupts and if you use your new found power to hurt people or to use people then, God will eventually punish you. Yes even in marriage, the husband or the wife may gain power over their spouse. Just because you make more money than your spouse, own your own home or even if you are more educated than you mate, you should never make them feel less than what they are. To those who have been blessed with a very successful life I have a few facts that you should be aware of. Money even though its good to have will not buy you happiness or keep you safe from, pain , suffering or from the law. Money, drugs or sex can corrupt the soul and cause you to loose everything. Even though you may happen to have more money or more power than the average person, that gives you no right to use it to hurt people. If you practice evil then you will pay , then fail and when you fail it will not come without pain or punishment. My mother would smile and say," Oh how the mighty have fallen". God is a vengeful God and he will punish those who tell lies, those who cheat, deceive or use their power in a disrespectful way. If you are planning on getting married , interested in starting a business or starting a church, do it with truth and with Gods blessings. Because if you follow the way of the world and want too be just like everyone else, then your life, marriage, business or church or your career will be just like a house of cards waiting on the wrath of God to blow it away.
Have a blessed night,
Charles
1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart

Being Patient

I often hear people talk about how hard it is to be patient. I think the reason people have a hard time being patient is because they do not know how important it is to be that way or why God demands this from his believer's.( Proverbs 14:29 A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.) The reason God demands that we be patient, is because God has a plan or purpose for our every breath. But as humans we are weak in the flesh and we often rush into things without consulting God. When we do things without consulting or trusting God we fail. So many businesses, marriages, relationships and churches fail, because they fail to include God or to make him first. The world has become so impatient, most of us want things now and do not want to wait. Most people often do things because of the way they feel, without thinking about the consequences for their actions. We want our children to grow up fast or early; we want our husbands or wives to be prefect or right for us even though we have not taken the time to learn about or understand them. Also we rush into things without thinking or using the brain that God has blessed us with. Technology , has made us all very lazy, spoiled and impatient. Most of us do not understand that God has an natural order that everything that lives has to follow and there is a reason why everything has its time or  seasons. What I mean by seasons, is there is a time when everything that God has created will show its true purpose on that given season. The same thing applies to a man or a woman. That is why there are people who progress early and some people late, because it was their time or season to do so. To anyone who is blessed enough to read this, be patient in all things, even when it comes to your own life. Always pray and consult God before you make any major decision. God has a purpose for us all and when our season comes we all will bare fruit, just like a fruit tree that has been planted for years. Always remember good things come to those who wait, but those who rush may walk into the arms of destruction.

Be blessed,

Charles

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.