When I was in high school I use to spend majority of my evenings with my grandmother, who pretty much raised me. I would come home after school and grab a bite to eat, preferably the amazing leftovers from the night before(pork chops, okra, mash potatoes, etc..such a glorious snack), pour me a glass of some sweet tea and make my way towards the living room where my grandmother awaited me with her already programed TV shoes that we were going to watch together. Out of all the programs we watched together Golden Girls was by far my favorite, followed by a close second, Murder She Wrote with Angela Lansbury, sorry girl, your still my road dog.

I think my favorite part of watching the show was not actually watching it, but observing my grandmothers reaction to what was unfolding on the screen. I loved to listen to her laugh and those women on TV seem to bring it out of her. I'm not going lie the show drew me in too. Before I knew it I was consumed by the characters as well. I primarily enjoyed watching the show mainly because I was surrounded by the presence of my grandmother and just being near her made a evening after school such an enjoyable experience, she was my real life golden girl. She always made sure I was up for school, had something to eat, and clothed for the day. I never went without anything. I'm so thankful for her in my life and for God redeeming the image of a Godly woman that was stripped from me at such an early age with the divorce of my parents. My grandmother epitomized a women who's sole purpose in life is devoted to giving her King the glory He so deserves. As I look back at her life it still remains a challenging conduit to pursue after the Lord harder than I ever have before. She became my first stepping stone to many golden girls to come into my life.

Time has progressed now and I'm getting closer to finishing college. I look back at everything and see God's faithfulness with showing Godly women who have challenged me greatly to pursue the Lord's heart even more and more everyday. So to Sara McCann, Hillary Smit, Amanda Holder, Jill Stevens, Crystal Maddox, Lakean Carter, Ally Edge, Ashley Stephen, Brittany Lottito, Brittany Batts, Lindsey Hodge, Kaye Blackmon, Lauren Foster, Katlyn Renfroe, , Ansley Tison, Clarrisa Morrison, Ms. Anne, Jessica Pool, Kimberly Prescott, Diane Howard, Danette Frazier, Diane Padgett, Beth Ford, Mrs. Sweet, Leslie McGhin, Wendy Cook, Claire Cook, Taylor Holder, Janetta Evans, Hannah Holder, All my Aunts, Ellen Sbarra, and lastly my Mom. Be encouraged women of God for you challenge men of God to be better leaders in the light of Christ shining His radiance through you. So in all I just wanted to say....Thank you for being a friend!

......sorry if I left someone out I did have a heat stroke you know

The blind see better than me

I just got finished taking a test for my industrial psychology class, upon leaving I was steered by the Holy Spirit in a different direction that I usually do not travel, in fact I never travel at all! I felt my heart beat profusely inside my chest, it was like a sonar that was sounding the red alert to signify it just spotted an enemy ship and that you needed to head to this vicinity if you desired to engage and destroy it. I don't think I really had a choice here the Holy Spirit was real aggressive. The Holy Spirit really wanted to show me something so I went not knowing what to look for, but trusted He would show me.

While traveling in this direction I began to observe two people who collectively decided to pace in front of me. Upon staying back i heard a tapping sound on the ground about 50 clicks from me. I thought nothing of it because of the construction that was happening on campus. The sound got closer, but I subconsciously decided to ignore it . Then it happened I felt a gentle breeze pass by me, and as I looked up I noticed the two people in front had whisked by a blind girl ( who I will call Rose, because of her awesome pink shirt) that was passing me and was venturing into a construction zone that was on your left across the street from where I was coming from. My heart immediately fell into a sense of great compassion for Rose, but before it reached the compassion level, it stopped at anger. I was utterly disgusted in the fact that the two people in front of me had to dodge Rose and walk completely around her to avoid a confrontation with her and just simply neglected dealing with situation that had the potential to be really bad for Rose if she kept walking toward the construction zone. Whatever the case maybe and how bad I wanted to dropkick them in the face I had to get over it because Rose was not stopping anytime soon. So, I ran to her as quickly as my feet would take me and reached out to stop her movement and asked her if she needed some assistance. She softly replied, "Yes if you would, I want to get to the Langdale parking lot." Rose had walked entirely in the wrong direction and was not intending on stopping anytime soon, she needed intervention. So I began to negotiate with Rose, more so to say I don't care what you say I'm taking you where you need to go and gave her my arm and I took her where she needed to go. As we walked together through the campus, peering eyes seemed to flock to our location very rapidly like a hawk descending to their prey. It was like no one had ever seen someone that was blind. Nevertheless, the perceptions may have differed that day to what they saw and what Christ saw. During my conversation with Rose I realized she was very different and had a glorious glow about her that i found very fascinating and uniquely relaxing. I never asked Rose what happened to her, but treated her as person that was not different from me and the same grace that came to me could undoubtedly come to her. By talking to Rose I had to ask if she knew Jesus, and with a smile she did not hesitate to reply, "Yes of course, He is my life." I wanted to just hug and commend her for the faith in Him that was convicting the fool out of me. Even as the outside world lay closed to Rose visually there was a smile and response in her voice about Jesus, that brought me to conclude that even though she could not see, she has seen everything that she wanted and needed to see in the face of Jesus and was really not blind at all, but was innately in tune to real vision, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I not gonna lie to you it was tough walking with Rose because the tears i was fighting where kicking my butt, I just wanted to make everything better for her. I wanted to fix her and end her suffering of not being able to experience life like the Lord has graciously allowed me to experience it. However, The Lord is great teacher and patient with me, reminded of the things in life that we take or I take for granted. That life is simply not in what we experience but rather who were experiencing. The Lord reminded me through Rose even though her experiences in this life were difficult it did not stop her from experiencing her maker. It brakes my heart for all the people who are missing out on the Lord and are experiencing tings that come anywhere remotely close to who He is. I don't understand a lot things but I do know He chooses the foolish things of man to shame the wise(1 Cor. 1:28-29), thank you for humbling me through Rose. I love you and pray I keep your commands by being your Son to all people, no matter what there clothed in.

John 9

before I left Rose God brought to light His Holy word. I believe everything in this universe points to Jesus and creation testifies to His glory. There are moments all around us where we can experience God the way He wants us to experience Him and the craving in us can be satisfied by our lover if we allow Him to speak to us. This moment with Rose being one of those times. I'm recalled to the healing of the man that was born blind. Jesus heals a man that was born blind since birth, the pharisees did not like the fact that Jesus healed some on the Sabbath. So, they interrogated the man and eventually kicked him out the temple because he mocked the Pharisees for the unbelief and resiliency to lean upon the law of Moses rather than the grace and truth of Jesus Christ(John 1:17). Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you." He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him. Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains. (John 9:35-41)

This brings me to what I wanted to address real quick. I believe that there are a ton of us who claim to see but really don't see at all. The sin of omission(not doing what the Lord tells you to do) has clouded our vision and just like those two people who chose to avoid Rose and not confront the need for grace in her life, overlooked the very thing the Lord wanted them to see. We are just like that, we avoid the obvious indicators where grace needs to be extended, refuse to confront them with Christ and do everything to run away from the responsibility of what the Lord is commissioned us to as administrators of love to make Him famous and share His gospel to all people. Where is our love for Him? Have we forgotten we were all once blinded by our sin, and God rich in His mercy and grace pulled the scales away and allowed us to see Him. I want to challenge those who claim to see , are you guilty of your religiosity of living life the way you think it should be experienced, or are you experiencing Christ the way he wants you to experience Him, through associating your self in His will and being Him no matter what situation or circumstances arise. Everything exists to give Him glory. What part are you playing, giving or stealing?

Granted I can not down play the fact that there are true authentic followers of Jesus Christ out there and I implore them to keep fighting the good fight, but with regret I must say Rose walked completely across campus were 13,000 students attend and no one inquired if she needed help, she was going the wrong way! Let's not be a generation who let people go there entire lives in the wrong direction and not inquire if the need help. They need the extended hand of grace that will walk with them and talk with them and point them in the right direction, to Jesus! let's be that generation!

Thank you Jesus for Rose. Thank you for opening my eyes!

Sitting Alone

I was sitting alone yesterday at zaxby's eating my evening meal just enjoying the savory bites of chicken strips dipped in that illustrious commodity called zax's sauce. I remember looking over directly in front of me to an unoccupied seat where you would generally find some occupancy in the form of a friend, a family member, or intimate other. There were none that resembled these forms today. None to fill the air with joyous laughter, none to contemplate concerns, or none to just simply gaze at and admire the culmination of beauty in their eyes. There were none this day, making sitting alone a rather empty and dissatisfying experience.

I believe that the complex of human ingenuity seeks to fulfill a craving for companionship. There is a longing to be in fellowship with something or someone and you can fill that void with anything and anyone. For me yesterday at zaxby's reminded me of my need for companionship, especially in the form of the intimate other. Thankfully my debacle did not leave me in a dilemma where I looked to fill that seat with something or someone, for I have already been filled and being fulfilled everyday by intimate other, Jesus Christ. I can sulk in my sadness or relinquish myself in the rest and company of my great companion, Jesus. In Him I find sitting alone is really not that bad, it's actually pretty darn good. I know that where ever I sit I'm not sitting alone that I always have the fellowship of the Trinity to surround me and in that I can take complete and utter delight. Without the companionship of Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter who's occupying that seat beside you or in front, you will always feel empty, dissatisfied and alone.

I guess my predicament doesn't lie in my lack of companionship, but rather my lack of trust in my companion to fulfill the desire for a tangible other to walk in this life together with our great companion, making Him known and enjoying the savory communion of being know by Him. So this is my pray for my future partner in sharing the Gospel of our great companion, the Lord Jesus Christ, " I long for the day when the seat I'm surrounded by is no longer unoccupied, but is filled with the elegance of your face, and your brilliant beauty will steal the attention everywhere we go, especially mine. I long to hear your voice and at its sound I can rejoice as it puts a smile on my face. I long for our conversations and wait in anticipation knowing a moment with you will never be dull. I can't wait to walk, to talk, to live life with you. I pray that you will be completely captivated by Jesus and the splendor of who is and what He has done for us would overwhelm you. I want you to know your never sitting alone He is always there drawing you to Himself. I love you and I'm waiting for you."


"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord" Proverbs 18:22

Thank you Lord for always sitting with me! -be Jesus and sit with lonely who long for his fellowship!

What's your enemy?

"Anything that keeps me from my Bible is my enemy" - A.W. Tozer

This is probably one of my favorite quotes by A.W. Tozer. The first time I heard this quote I was deeply penetrated by the Holy Spirit with conviction in the regards to how I treated God's inspired living word, from which numerous of lovers have devoted and given their lives to this undeniable content that lay breathing between the covers thats covered in the blood of God's only Son, Jesus. 2 Tim 3:16 says "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."(ESV) That means without scripture there is no profitable teaching, no reproof, no correction, no training in righteousness, no competent men of God that are equipped for every good work. Basically, there is no hope for understanding God and for men such as myself there is no guide to guide us to and in the heart of our Father. This is serious stuff!

To take it a step further the beginning of John chapter one states very clearly "In the beginning was the Word(capitial son!), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." , not a god that the Jehovah witnesses would claim, but the God. Another way you can look at it is like this " In the beginning was the Son of Man(Jesus), and the Son of Man was with God, and the Son of Man was God." So what I'm referring to is that scripture is Jesus and all about Jesus and any neglect of scripture in your life is an open face refusal of Jesus himself. The Old Testament is Christo centric meaning it's message revolved around Christ, it pointed to Christ and He's glorious coming. The New Testament shows us His first coming that God made Him that knew no sin, became sin for us that we may become the righteous of God.(2 Cor 5:21) and that He resurrected in unrivaled beauty and is one day coming back again for His bride-the greatest love story ever! Scripture is everything!

So what ever your enemy is that is keeping you from the Holy inspired Word of God, your wife, your husband, your schedule, your agenda, your ambitions, your classes, your church, your job, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your friends, your sports, your facebooking, your myspace, your guitar, your cell phone, your texting, your everything. I beg and plead that the Lord would crush any desire that is not of Him and give you the desire to run to the Savior with reckless intent from which the scripture speaks about.(John 5:39-40)-get to know Him! Dig! Dig! James 4:4

What's your enemy?

Hank Murphy Band-"My Timothy"

It's been a little over two and half years since I've had the glorious privilege of God introducing me to a man by the name of Hank Murphy. I just remember seeing a man who's heart reminded me of my own and how thirsty it was to drink the living water of our dear Savior the Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:14). Little did I know the Lord was going to use this encounter to link the two paths of our lives together and lead us down the narrow of making Him famous to a world that has widely exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things instead of the Creator(Romans 1:25).-Thank you Lord!

Hank is a very interesting individual. My first impression of Him was that I was not impressed. His anatomical structure was a little petite and his persona carried a tapestry that was very ordinary. He looked liked the traditional back woods brother that enjoys blaring a little Brad Paisley while casting his lure into a pond looking for the big catch (which that assumption is totally accurate). Nevertheless, the Lord took my predispositions and through them out the door. He showed me a man that was after God's own heart. Unlike Saul, which was the studded choice of the Israelites to replace the Lord God himself as ruler of themselves( 1 Sam 8:19-22, 1 Sam 9:2) , Hank embodied the counterpart as modern day David that conclusively seeks to make much of the Lord and live a life filled with the praises of God for His undying love and faithfulness of being a holy, just, pure, merciful, and gracious Creator by the giving of His Son to redeem us from the law of sin and death(read Galatians 3).

Hank's spiritual atmosphere revolves around the Christos centric nature of self denial and glorious art of cross following. If you are anywhere near him the visible degrees of the Holy Spirit will permeate the room and penetrate your heart with conviction and prow less to pursue the presence of God with reckless intent and radical passion. When I see him I don't see him, but Christ in Him and the spiritual fruit as Christ at the helm, which undoubtedly produces a produce that I must say is a delight to be refreshed by. Here lays before me is a man who epitomizes what an example should reflect and I'm very thankful for our encounter and partnership with the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.(1 Cor 1:12)

Seemingly, Hank is just a man like us, who is probably going to punch me in the throat for writing this about Him, but none the less I can't contain what the Holy Spirit has pressed upon me to encourage my brother whom I dearly love. As Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him in the fight, I write to "my Timothy" to say, "You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.(2Tim 2)

God's provisional plans for our lives far exceed any expectation that the human mind could infer. They com bust with a furious flame of love to consume the ones who follow hard after His footsteps. I'm very thankful that the Lord has taken His plan of salvation of redeeming the world and has graciously included the Hank Murphy Band to endure in the marvelous process of professing to all people that it is finished(John 19:30).

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you, "My Timothy" (John 1:17)

Giving Blood: Type P

I not sure if any of you have ever given blood, but it really is a fascinating process; from the requirements needed to even give blood, down to the after effects you experience when blood is relinquished from your body. Giving blood can envoke a variety of responses within your being. One being the compassion that arises to give, because the demand for certain types of blood are greatly need to prolong, sustian, or even redeem a life. So, the automated reaction is to actively pursue in this cause that is greater than ourselves to contribute in selfless love by giving ourselves to the cause in this case the cause for us is giving blood. Though that maybe one of the many facets that drive us to give blood, I'm constantly reminded why am I compelled to give blood.

For me I always feel the need to help others, because it's a natural reflection of the heart for those who love the Father and care about his heart, but sometimes I feel an obiligation to give blood to make pentance for the crime that I committed against my Creator to recompense the offense of my sin that grieved my love with righteous anger. Therefore, by giving blood I feel this may relieve the tension between us, put my conscience at ease, and appease the Holy anger that has diconnected this relationship, which I long so much to be fixed. Giving blood almost comes to a sense of duty "it's the least I could do because you given so much to me". I know though that my blood will never be sufficient enough to satisfy this offense; it wouldn't even make the cut to be a goat that needed to be sacrificed for the sins of the people that year(Lev 16), because it so tainted with death. The fact is my blood is not good enough to make things right and God reminds me of that all the time of how precious and pure His Son's blood truely is; in this case I'm reminded of the tranfusion of life He has pumped into my veins by the simple act of giving blood and the requirements needed to satisfy this righteous anger. Right now I just want to show you what the Lord's been showing me through is Holy word about the requirements for being a Type P donor that satisfied the law and wrath, which was accomplished through the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ( John 19:30)

The Story: Just imagine your sitting in a room filled with people waiting eagerly to give blood and there is a representive for the American Red Cross giving you instructions on the procedures on how to give blood. She says"before you give blood at the American Red Cross you have to read this pamplet which runs you through the procedures and requirements to see if your eligible to even give blood. You notice some of the candidates don't even read the pamplet, they scan it and give blood anyway thinking their good and not infected because they don't do anything bad. Their blood is thrown away immediatedly and their ushered to the door to leave. You decide to read the pamplet to see if you can go to the next step, but before you start reading you notice a chair that is above the rest and is sitting in the front with tubes extending from the chair down to all the other chairs that are on the floor. You become curious and raise your hand for assistance. The representive makes her way to you and you begin to ask, " What is that chair for in the front the room that is above all the rest?' she answers, "That chair is reserved for our Type P donor." You reply "Type P donor", yes " Type P donor is a person who has pure blood" she replied. "Have you ever had a Type P donor before?" you ask, "No, we have never had a Type P donor but were hoping today is the day" the reprensentive replies with hope in her eyes. Though not completely understanding what a Type P donor is you decide to move on in the pamplet anyway, storing it away in the corner of your mind for now. As you read you come to a part in the pamplet, do not give blood if ....and the list is incredibly long. Even as you read people begin to put down there pamplets and walk out with their heads down. The crowd starts to thin very rapidly and only a few people remain. As you read you run through the check list in your mind there were a couple of close calls. If none of these symptoms or situations apply then you are eligible to give blood as a Type A, B, AB, or O donor. It stops there, you seem to meet the requirements to be one of these donors, but you frantically search for the requirements of a Type P donor as turn to the last page you see it at bottom in fine print. As you begin to read, the representive takes your pamplet and leads you to booth were she fine tunes everything to make sure you can give blood. Everything is good and she leads you to a chair. You sit down and look to left only to be entranced by a beaten, bruised, bloody man walking by you with a cross on His shoulders. As He passes by you He looks you directly in the eyes and smiles at you. As you lean in your chair to watch this man gently get closer to that chair in front of the room, you began to inquire "Who is that?' and everyone fell to there knees to proclaim" It's Jesus, the Son of God, our first ever Type P donor". You look in amazement as He sits down in a transendant beauty of perfection and says "It is finished"

The requirements for being a Type P donor: Your blood must be pure and undefiled by anything. There must be no traces of sin(2 Cor 5:21). The donor must fulfill the righteous requirements of law of God(Rom 8:3-4). You need to be royalty. Your name must be Jesus Christ. You must be the Son of God. You must deny yourselves and become obedient to the Father's work and will. If you meet these requirements you are eligible to appease the wrath of God and save the world from their slavery in sin.

Jesus thank you for your blood!