Press On

This morning I am sitting outside my job, I'm listening to a song called Pressing On by James Hall. Although the music is wonderful I tuned my ears to the words. As they were singing the song, they mentioned every mode of survival to ensure they press on. Pressing on is probably the most tedious and at times loneliness capers of all. There are very few of us who have hat onward soldier mentality. No matter what happens, no matter the circumstances, no matter the tests, I'm still going to press on. This should be the mind of us but many of us have given up. It's a shame because many of us have great purpose in God. But we let the distractions, regrets, misgivings, and people bring us down. Today, I know what my purpose is and it seems bigger than me. This is the opportunity God has been waiting on to do what He wants to do in me. This same principle goes for each of us. We have to allow God to be God. His life, death, and resurrection shows His determination to finish what was started in Him. This is why Paul refers to Jesus as being the author and finisher of our faith because He is the perfect example of faith unwavering. This is the hour for God to show out in our lives when we give up the ghost (our lives), stop doing things our way, and let Him carry us on this journey called. To be honest, Christianity is the only belief system that makes God tangible, tells us we are born jacked up, gives us principles to live by for a life eternal, exposes the true enemy of our lives, and tells us we are in need of a Savior who is Jesus Christ. Many people are falling away but I'm saying us get up, try again, let God into our lives, and then we will press on.

Til Next Time, dgwo.

References:

Philippians 3:12-14
Hebrews 12:1-2

Proverbs Is Some Good Reading!

I apologize for this blog coming so late. I just started a new job and will be in training for the next 6 months. But today's blog is something I've been thinking about. This morning I was listening to Bishop Tudor Bismark's message The Wealth Generation. It was pretty thought provoking because it'd dealing doing business by the good book, which is the Holy Bible. So many people always discredits the Bible because it was written by men and women. Many people say so many other things about it but it produced so many principled that set us up for success. However, it warns us of things that'll lead us to failure. One thing that has happened is that we have forgotten God and this is the 1st step to the recession occurring in America. It's sad but true. I think that any of us who are looking into business ventures or have businesses should read the Book of Proverbs and really digest what Solomon was saying. Matter fact, let's make a pact together to read a Proverb a day and apply his words in our lives. He's just a byproduct of God's eternal wisdom.

Til Next Time, dgwo

References:

The Book of Proverbs

Moving Forward: The Ascension

For me, today is the closing of one door and the opening of another. I know today that I am changing and shifting to another place in my life. I know that I'm not the only one going through such changes. Change is good and rocks your entire world. Time,  money, character, the whole nine yards. This is what ascension is all about. It's not a place where pride should dwell (though it can happen if not careful of ourselves) but where humility and opportunities dwell. It's pressing towards a higher mark and leaving behind things are of no use to us. As I've said in past blogs, we're in a time of change and transition. A lot of us are faced with tough decisions, what to take on, what to go after, and what to leave behind. Today, I have no other choice but to leave behind selfishness, envy, jealousy, lust, pornography, anger, bitterness, frustration, doubt, unbelief, temper tantrums, which are the forms of adolescence, not the characteristics of maturity. Maturity is adulthood, not a state of perfection (that is free from making mistakes or having faults) but being complete, thorough, and strong to handle whatever situation we find ourselves in. I remember my dad used to tell me, that we should consider our lives as an airplane. To reach to higher heights in the air, the airplane has to be at a certain weight. If a plane has exceeding weight in its carrier, then that plane can't go to the level of height to reach it's destination. Can you imagine a plane flying low to the ground near a interstate highway because those in charge allowed excess baggage to be carried in its cargo area? A lot of us including myself are carrying too much weight yet we expect to ascend to newer heights in life. Homie, that's not how ascension is designed. It's designed for people who are willing to let go of whatever it is to get to that next level. Ascension is for people who are willing to change whatever it is in their life to move forward. This is why the Bible says that we are to lay aside every weight (distractions whether it is people, places, or things) and every sin (bondage, etc.) that will keep us back from moving forward (Hebrews 12:1). Think about it. Professional athletes can't be the best unless they rid themselves of regimens that will keep them from being champions. The same applies to us, especially to those who profess they have faith in Christ. What I'm sharing is applicable; that's the whole purpose of the Bible. It's not made to control us but to instruct us as well as convict us to be better people pleasing only to God's eyes (I'm saying this to everyone, believing or unbelieving). Today, I truly believe God is doing some miraculous for those who take heed to His word and allows Him to order their steps by His word (Psalms 119:133). He's freeing us from all this mess we've picked up in this journey called life so we can experience the richness of abundant life in Him (John 10:10). This is the purpose Jesus Christ came and died for. It's simple if we would only just believe. So please, take heed to these words from this 31 year old scrawny scruffy faced war-torn yet getting healed day by day dude from Raleigh, North Carolina (go N.C. State Wolfpack). Much luv to everyone.

Til Next Time, dgwo.

References:

Psalms 24:3-5
Psalms 119:132-133
Philippians 3:4-14
Hebrews 12:1-2

The Many Faces of News Media

For the past couple of years, I come to work, log into my employee account, and surf the web to check out what's going on in the news. I really don't have a favorite source of news media so I jump from Fox News, to ABC News, to CNN, to Yahoo News, and then to the Daily Beast. All of them provide messages of current events around the world. Today, there are so many things being covered by the news media from the Prince Harry incident (OMG), to the Syrian conflict, to Republican Representative Akin's comments concerning rape and abortion. It's crazy because there are so many views proceeding and sometimes it's hard to make a distinction from the truth and lies. It's crazy, homie. While attending University of Phoenix for my now attained B.S. in Communications, one of my college professors dealt with the topic of news media. He discussed how news media from the journalists, editors, and company executives gather their information, compile the data, and produce it for all the world to see. What are their motives? Are the motives based to thoroughly inform the reader with impartiality? Or are the motive based to manipulate the reader to think a certain way to support a certain agenda? Now this is something to think about. One thing I've learned to understand is that news media can be very "flashy" at times because certain individuals are trying to manipulate readers in how they think about certain topics. For example, a lot of people don't know there are actually three candidates in the presidential race, Barack Obama (Democrat), Mitt Romney (Republican), and Ron Paul (Independent/Republican-not even recognized by the media). Right now, the push is for Romeny/Ryan as they "talk about" the failures of the Obama Administration instead of an epic failure of Congress as a whole. Hmm, interesting, isn't it? There are various other events within the world news media is covering. Some news media are trying to give the people the right information so they will be thoroughly informed. Others have agendas, basically to keep the masses in a box; to make them gullible. As readers, we need to make sure we do research ourselves, don't take every word you hear or read as gold. Search it out. The news media has many faces. Look at what the news media has done to the likes of Pastor Creflo Dollar, Kristen Stewart, and Whitney Houston. The media was almost successful in crucifying Pastor Dollar for his recent parenting incident. The man had to go on national television to clarify what really happened to dispel any rumors, lies, or other manipulative measures by the news media. Kristen Stewart hasn't been so fortunate as she has gone into a cave over the recent revelations of her affair with Snow White And The Huntsman director Rupert Sanders. Although what she did was wrong, the director has faced little scrutiny from the news media and now in the process of directing the sequel (while Kristen Stewart becomes the "seemingly" scourge of Hollywood). Whitney Houston's legacy is still in question because of the way the news media has tried to destroy her character as a person, which includes a mother, an artist, a friend, and a wife. Now, there are testimonies from Jordin Sparks, Tamela Mann, and her road dogs the Winans concerning the life and times of Whitney Houston. They talk about her struggles but show she was about investing into other's lives that they may be more successful than she. As Americans, it's time we take time to read, do research, and start to call out the news media when they go off tangents about event or people in the wrong way. We'll delve in the realms of manipulation and hate people or misinterpret events without even recognizing Reading and research is fundamental and is a God given gift. I just wanted to share some nuggets of wisdom with you all and hopefully you'll see where I'm coming from with all this. It's the honor of kings (us) to search out matters and the affairs of the world. Check it out for yourself. Learn to decipher the truth from the lies the various facets of news media tries to feed us. The truth will hurt about some things once the lies and manipulations are exposed but we'll be built up in wisdom. God wants us to walk in wisdom not in ignorance. Got it? Good.

Til Next Time, dgwo.

Reference:

Proverbs 25:2
Ecclesiastes 1:13

The Risk Takers

Today, I wasn't going to do a blog today but my boss was spitting some knowledge on to me today. She said this,
"I love humanity in this world because there is so much diversity among us. We have two types of people I see, the risk takers and the cautious ones. The risk takers are those who push pass their fears and venture out. They are ready for the journey before them and are the trendsetters. The cautious ones are those who don't like situations being out of their control. They are planners and think first before they act."

Usually, I'm always talking about us humans being cautious but today, this blog is about us taking risks. Risk takers are those who take chances to become successful no matter what the cost may be. They ride on the hills of hope and faith, not in themselves or their own abilities, but in the God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. They allow the hand of God to pull them to fresh and new dimensions and will give up whatever and whoever to achieve this plateau. Risk takers go down in history as people who change the very course of mankind. There are many risk takers today but very few who are taking risks in the name of Jesus Christ. Even Himself was a risk taker and did all the Father had put in His heart to do. He was determined, motivated, and only had desire to see His Father's will accomplished (John 4:34). However, most of us aren't there yet. We're very reserved and worry about what other people will think of us once we step out on the boat. To become successful in this life, we're going to have to be like Peter and we will fall at times, but Jesus is right there to pick us back up. The beautiful thing about taking risks is that it pulls us out of our comfort zone. We learn not to be satisfied with the condiments of complacency and normalcy. We get tired of the same ole same searching the very heart and mind of God for what's new on His horizon. This is the beautiful thing about the Lord and what separates Him from every one and everything else. He pushes us to go forward and not backwards; to do great exploits that will honor Him as well as accomplish His perfect will in our lives. When we purpose in our hearts to become risk takers, we won't half step but we will give it all we've got. Paul is probably one of the most exhilarating men in world history. No matter what he faced or what challenges came his way, he take risks. When people said he would be chained and even die for what he purposed in his heart to do, he just said bring it on. This is the beautiful thing about being a risk taker. Risk takers go all the way in. They place their lives in God's hands and go for the gold. Even if they don't accomplish what they seek after, they have made the path straight for those after them to walk in the path and do what they couldn't (Moses to Joshua). As risk taker, we have to be wise in every decision we make but we don't let the fear of tomorrow nor the regrets of our past hold us down. Oh no, we've got to keep moving (sorry, I'm an 80's baby!). I hope these words of our good friend Paul stirs something within us to what God has called us to do:

Philippians 3:14:

I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

No turning back my friends, it's time for us to move forward.

Til Next Time, dgwo

References:

2nd Samuel 7:3
John 4:34
Philippians 3:14

Ain't No Half-Steppin'

Some of you who see the title of today's blog we'll see that I have to bite off of Big Daddy Kane's hit song in the mid-80's. The title says a lot and I just want to break it down in various terms that come to mind. Some of you (maybe the young-whipper snappers) may not know what half-stepping means. Half-stepping means not putting our best foot forward when it comes to personal, professional, educational, or spiritual business. It means being lackadaisical, sloppy, lazy, inconsistent, unreliable, or just to simply put, just getting by. In times past, this attitude worked pretty well when we were spoiled or in other terms spoon-fed. Nowadays, we've got to work for what we want; meaning, we have to show ourselves faithful as well as diligent. The other side of grace is that we have to live these two characteristics, faithfulness and diligence. Solomon shares with us in Proverbs 12:24 that the hand of the diligent will bear rule but the slacker will always be under tribute (slavery, poverty, unsuccessful, unfulfilled). Unfortunately, this is the case for many of us, young and old. A lot of feel like the world is supposed to revolve around us, that is, to cater to needs, desires, and lifestyle. But here is a little lesson I need to share with us all. If the Lord Jesus Christ had to suffer and show Himself faithful as well as diligent in what He had to accomplish in His life on earth, why not us? Who are we to put our frame of mind about His? Think about it. Why are we half-stepping? Why are we always starting something or some things but never see them through? Why are we always dropping the ball? Why do we always step out of the house not dressing like our best but to regress ourselves? Why do we feel we deserve to make straight A's but don't study for only 15 minute to pass a mid-term exam? Why do feel like we always have to speak a word or prophesy but never take at least 30 minutes to an hour to be broken in God's presence let alone His word? Why do we feel like our businesses are going to bloom but we never put in the time, money, and efforts to get it going the ways we've envisioned? Half-stepping is leading to the next full step but never makes it there. Therefore, we are like slaves or people with much promise yet never reach our full potential. Dudes and dudettes, this isn't God's plan for us to be half-steppers but to be overcomers. Just as He is, we must learn to become the diligent, the faithful, the starters and finishers. For example, the reason why Big Daddy Kane in the 80s, was probably at the top of the rap game was from his diligence. He made sure his lines, flow, delivery, style, appearance, and stature was opulent. He wanted to stand above the rest of the rappers of his time. Now, I'm not talking about us doing things that will displease the Lord Jesus through our own ideologies and ways, but we've got to take on the nature of being the best of what God "pre-expects" in our lives. I've learned within the past couple of months, that if I'm not going to do my best or do things right; it doesn't make much since to do it all. I can't half-step. I can't just get by and ask God to give me grace when I'm not showing Him some type of effort (faith without works is dead-James 2:20). I've got to do the best and He will empower me to go for the gold. Our human nature, especially in these days, we only settle for less. God is saying, No baby, aim higher, get smarter, and push yourself as an a great athlete to do better. So my friends, let's not leave behind a legacy for this current and future generations a pathway of half-stepping. Let's leave behind a legacy of excellence in everything we do. This is just one facet of innumerable facets of giving glory to God.

Til Next Time, dgwo.

Reference:

Proverbs 12:24
Daniel 6:1-3

For The Men: Happy Wife, Happy Life

I'm so in love with my beautiful wife Dionn aka Mrs. Williams. She has been there for me through the thick and thin. She's been there to understand me all the way through when no one else does. I know that we are one in spirit, soul, and body. I know that she is a gift from God I must cherish for the rest of my days. This weekend, we will have the opportunity to reconnect and cherish one another. One thing I've learned in our almost 9 years of being together is to make sure my wife is happy. When she's happy life is happy and vice versa. One thing that makes my wife happy is when I listen to what she has to say. I know that I have a virtuous woman in my house. She always gives it to me straight. Whether it's telling me how to fold clothes, how to wash clothes, how to present her plate to her at dinner time, how to dress for success, and just plain old manners. I have to listen to her because she has wisdom within her that will take me far if I would just listen. I actually learned this from a good friend of mine, Mr. Dirk Bailey. Back in 2008, he shared with me this phrase, "Happy Wife, Happy Life." It's true. Now he and his wife Mrs. Bailey have a beautiful family, in fact one is in college now (Congrats Bria, represent!). Many of my close friends have great marriages resurrected from painful memories, indiscretions, turmoil, and other issues. Many of them have told me, David, you better take care of your wife. Not only is she your best friend, she is your wife, your rib, the one who will keep your together. So some of you guys are like, what is Ol' Dave talking about now? I'm noticing dudes that we take our wives for granted. We treat them any ol' type of way. Most of us only show our wives respect and love when we want to get them in between the sheets like Ron Isley (it's true, don't front). A lot of us think we're supposed to be the man's man, meaning we control everything including our wives as we treat them like government property. We treat their opinions, thoughts, and actions as sub-human from taking the title "head of the household" too far. We suffocate our wives from being who they are supposed to be, heirs with us of the same inheritance in Christ (1st Peter 3:7). We believe our wives are supposed to walk behind us when in God's eyes they are supposed to walk beside us. We're physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and sexually abusive to our wives because we have little patience and compassion with them. Shoot, half of us don't even have a heart to heart talk with our wives, showing our weaknesses before them. We're not even best friends with our wives. That's not what God intended marriage between husbands and wives to be. He wants us to be the best of friends. My dad always tells me that he wouldn't be who he is today without my mom. He knows the power of unity between a husband and wife. So where did all this mess we as husbands come from concerning how we look at our wives? Why do we always blame our wives when all Hades breaks loose in our lives? We get it from Adam. Instead of taking the wrap for his family's hang-ups, he blames Eve, his wife. But it was he who allowed certain things in his life to take place. Just recently, I've had to own up to lot of things happening in my home and stop trying to put my wife at fault (I'm just being honest). My behavior, my treatment of her, my ideologies, my selfishness, my short temper, me, me, it's been me. But thank God for the new me and he is going to love and cherish his wife more and more. When she smiles, when she feels secure, when she feels loved, when she feels she is reaching her purpose in life, then I've done my job as a husband. So take not brothers, stop looking at our wives as just somebody holding you down from being successful. That's a bunch of garbage. Our wives elevate us but when we tear our good women down, then we are definitely going down. Another thing, stop looking at her faults. She's not perfect, shoot, we're probably worse off because of our pride issues. Love them with God's love, which sees past the faults to take care of the needs. Rub their feet, take them to a movie. Talk with them. Sometimes, we got to our busy lives down and spend time with our wives. If they want to get a job, let them get a job. Let them get their education. Let them preach if God has called them to preach (more than just singing, doing testimony services, & looking pretty). Mistreatment of our wives will cause us to lose our favor with God and with men. There are many men I know personally that have made the terrible mistake of throwing away their virtuous women. They lost their favor and now someone else has them. It's a shame but it's true. Why I wrote this blog, it must be God working on this wretched heart. Remember these words from Solomon. The grass ain't greener on the other side. It's better to learn to love our wives as God loves us.

Proverbs 18:22:


"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord."

Say this with me, My wife is my favor. I treat my favor wrong I might lose it (ask Nabal - 1st Samuel 25).

Til Next Time, dgwo.

Reference:

1st Samuel 25
Songs of Solomon
Proverbs 31
Ephesians 5:25-33