fruitless exertion...

"It's useless to rise early and go to bed late,

and work your worried fingers to the bone.

Don't you know he enjoys

giving rest to those he loves?"

- Psalm 127:2 MSG

Is it just me or does this contradict the core of what our society drives and pounds into us as contributing members of the business world? How do we reconcile this idea that God did not intend for us to worry, over work ourselves, stress out, and so much more? As a person I am wired for success and to strive for perfection in everything that I do... but yet in so many aspects it is unattainable. When implementing this concept into my life of attempting not to worry as it does not accomplish anything, it seems that I am going against everything that makes people successful in the world. But maybe that is my problem am I striving for worldly or spiritual success? Can I have both? If so how?

I also feel that sometimes I have a difficult time "tooting my own horn." God ridiculed the Pharisees for fasting and making a big deal out of it so that everyone would know how "holy" they were. To my benefit or my fault I unintentionally feel that I sometimes adopt a similar philosophy in my work life and career. I work my hardest in everything that I do, help all that I can, and probably do not say no enough. I do all of this because I like to think that I have integrity and am a humble person. But in the workplace and business world this can often times be misinterpreted as being timid, undetermined, or unqualified for a different position or promotion. Although I know that even if my coworkers, superiors, or organization cannot see the work and effort that I give in its entirety, God does.... and his opinion and plan are what's most important in my life.

I understand that God knows me down to the number of hairs on my head, he understands me and created me for a unique and wonderful purpose. The somewhat frustrating and battle going on inside my mind and body is what this purpose might be. The mind is a powerful thing... Lord use it to my advantage and your Kingdom!

Nocturnal deliberation

How come things often seem most clear late at night after watching a good movie? Roughly 37 days away from having my Master's... I continue to try and figure out how it will play into my life and career, but there seems to be so much unknown and variables at play it is difficult to even speculate. With all of that said I pray and know that it will bring change, challenges, relief, and invigoration... a some what tall order but I know that someone upstairs has some BIG plans for me and am looking forward to executing them soon.

You know as I reflect back on college, schooling, and the rest of the time that I did not really have any responsibility.... i remember how great it was. One of the wisest things that someone said to me when I was in college was, "When I grow up I want to be a college student." I was obviously playing pool at the time and gave it not a second thought, but how great was that.... food was always ready for you... friends were but steps away at all times, movies... activities... and obviously studying. Real life takes on this fourth dimension that is powerful, dominating, and draining. That is why it is extremely important to harness it and dictate where it takes you.... use its strength and power to your advantage.

Everyone has their hobbies... exercising... running... crafting... etc... I am sure that as school draws to a close I will develop and rejuvenate many new and old hobbies. But with that said no matter what is going on in my life, when I have the control to play the perfect song or listen to some great music it melts me away from reality and takes me somewhere that knows no limits or boundaries... When I close my eyes I can remain perfectly still for what seems like forever without even knowing it. Music massages my mental muscles and recharges my spirit... My life is my own and I am daily creating my personal soundtrack... What are you listening to?

Life goes on...

It has recently become so apparent to me that life goes on. It truly becomes what you make of it and the legacy that you live. For me it has become a very tricky and slippery balance to maintain between the never-ending chase after the "American Dream" and the "unknown." There are so many factors, limitations, challenges, and choices that we face on an everyday basis. I just pray that I have the strength, patience, and self-motivation to ensure that I stay the path to what the Lord has for my life. Even though it seems with every passing moment it becomes less clear to me I have faith and know that there is a plan.

It seems somewhat cliche to quote this scripture here, but will do it regardless. This passage is fairly common, but it has taken on a new and complete meaning for me in my life. Jeremiah 29:11 from the passage states, "I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

You know I have hoped to be many things in my life, everything from a bowling ball, dentist, a businessman, missionary in some aspect, and so much more. I know that God created me with the talents that I have for a divine uniquely purpose, and I am excited how he will merge all of my hopes and talents to satisfy my wants and needs while fulfilling his purpose of furthering the Kingdom of God.

...

16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!

Romans 12:16

3rd Eye Vision

3RD EYE VISION

Whoohoohoo yeah

I heard you saying it wont' make a difference

It's only you and it's just this once yeah

It's only this time

Don't you think that it all adds up

There's a reaction for each action many drips fill the cup

Where do you draw the line

Know thyself and to thine own self be true

Any other way is gonna make you feel blue yeah

Ya gotta reason to be here

Hey maybe if we focus and we get it together

We could raise the human consciousness and make things better yeah

I know you think I'm a dreamer

But I know that you're also seeking peace of mind

Wonderin' why you feel so tired why your third eye's blind

I know that you're also trying to find your place

Somewhere out in time and somewhere out in space

Get so exhausted from all the exhaust

From living in fear , from living in a box hey

How come we always have to drive

I keep wishing corporations, and the politicians

Would make tighter restrictions on our fossil fuel emissions and meanwhile

Why don't we walk

If we all did a little then a lot would be done

We could clean up the mess and try to have some fun yeah

I'm off to plant a tree now

Cause if everybody takes and nobody gives

There'll soon be no air to breathe and no where to live

But you can't stop mother nature

But I know that you're also seeking peace of mind

Wonderin why you feel so tired why your third eye's blind

I know that you're also trying to find your place

Somewhere out in time and somewhere out in space

Did you remember to give thanks for the food

The earth air the water and everything good

The fire's still burnin'

Talk to yourself cause no one knows you better

Even take the time to write yourself a letter

To know the wheels are still turnin'

There's no better time than now to stand up straight

Take a deep breath Lord it's never too late to

Exhale your confusion

They say its all been done and there's no sense trying

But they don't really know you and they're probably lying

You got to see for yourself yeah

But I know that you're also seeking peace of mind

Wonderin why you feel so tired why your third eye's blind

I know that you're also trying to find your place

Somewhere out in time and somewhere out in space

- Mishka

This is a song that I found by a great reggae artist named Mishka. The song is great, but I think the lyrics are truly inspiring and makes me want to fine tune my "3rd Eye Vision." I think that this vision is a great concept and think that it is through your 3rd eye vision that people need to live their lives. But where does this 3rd eye vision come from? This is all just my own perspective and thinking but I feel like your 3rd eye vision comes from your heart, and God can use this to help you live out the plan that he has for you and your life. I think that the most difficult part to gain this vision is staying open and becoming foolish in the world's eye's. Just like it says in Bible:

"Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being

up-to-date with the times.

Be God's fool - that's the path to true wisdom.

What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. "

- 1 Corinthians 3:18 (message)

Not sure if Mishka meant all of this when he wrote this song above, but his lyrics really resonated with my heart and mind and I truly listen to this song with a different perspective. Check out the rest of his album it is all great!

Brittle Existence

Recently I have been so amazed by life and different paths that are available everyday! You can tell that our existence here on the Earth was so carefully and thoughtfully put together and yet it is so brittle in our own eyes that the slightest change we believe could be fatal. But I don't think that any more I feel invigorated, excited, and almost impatient for the next slightest change hoping to break the daily routine and force me out comfort zone where you know you are suppose to be! It is so easy to get caught up with life and before you know it days, weeks, and months go by before you know it.

Earlier during my drives around today from Houston to Pearland to Lake Jackson and back home I was listening to a book by Marcus Buckingham in which he stated that you should find out what you don't want to do in life and stop doing it as quick as you can. Cut it out of your life and never look back in order to obtain sustained success in your life... (paraphrased of course) How profound but yet so simple! I am trying to take this to heart and really try to work on this on a daily basis to ensure that I stay the course that was set out for me and my life. Of course this sounds so straightforward but every day is challenge to continue to attempt to bring everything in focus and clarity, but yet it is so easily blurred, distorted, forgotten, and almost suppressed until that AhHA moment which everything is clear and you want to attack whatever it is with all that is in you before you just to see it crumble and disintegrate right in front of your eyes!

Patience is a virtue that I learn everyday... learning to know that I am being prepared for more than I can imagine! I will have VICTORY and choose to live my life and pray everyday that GOD will reveal to me what that is suppose to look like.

AhHA Moments...

Since it has been so long I am all to new to this blogging thing so for that I am going back to the basics. And my return can only be attributed to my AhHA moment. Have you ever had an AhHA moment? For me this moment is something that I have know forever and for some reason had forgotten or been distracted from and yet when you rediscover it in that moment it clarifies and confuses you all over again? The details to my AhHA moment will continue to come in future posts....

However right now as I was updating my profile which was two years plus old good old Albert seemed to have transcend time to confirm parts of my AhHA moment.. in the quote that I used all to long ago. "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
-Albert Einstein.

I am back and will update more as time goes on but I have a lot on my mind!