New Year's Dedication

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

I hope you all enjoy your holiday today, and that you're able to spend it with family and love ones. This is a time to give thanks, appreciate life, and be grateful for even having the opportunity to see another Christmas. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season. Blessings to you and yours 👏🏾🎁

Verse of the Week

T.I.M.B.S, Vol. 1: 8 Steps Towards Personal Growth

As I mentioned before, I am beginning a series of posts aimed at helping you see improvement in different aspects of your life. This first installment is in regards to self-growth, with the motivation behind it being that I have been going through a process similar to this. Listed below are 8 areas of life that numerous people tend to share the commonality that addressing them is quite difficult. My belief is that if you seriously work on these aspects of your life, you should experience some level of growth, and begin moving in the right direction towards a more positive, and less troublesome, lifestyle. But you have to legitimately put in the effort to work on them, and make that commitment to stick by the changes you make as a result. Are you up for the challenge?

T.I.M.B.S. - Taking Initiative in Maturity Betterment and Success

Later today, I will be releasing the first installment to my new series, Taking Initiative in Maturity, Betterment and Success, or TIMBS for short (shoutout New York). This is the series I gave a prelude to back in November that is aimed at helping you discover the areas of your life that may be holding you back, need significant attention, or in which you could use some guidance; and then, how you can take action! There will be many topics covered, with a new subject coming out each month, and my hope is that one, or more, of them will prove to be a great benefit to you.

So lace up and let's get to work.

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Thanksgiving Dedication

Originally, this was going to be the week I released my tips on bettering yourself and pointing you in the right direction towards individual growth. However, with Thanksgiving being today, I thought it best to postpone that idea and post a little something about Thanksgiving.

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

New Series Centered On Improving Various Aspects of Life

For the month of November and moving forward, in between and/or in lieu of my monthly to bi-monthly releases, I want to begin posts with the goal of giving advice and direction of how to ameliorate, or improve, different parts of your life. I'm sure we all have some aspect of our lives that we want to see a change in, or development. Whether it's trying to take the right steps towards finding a job, or determining what steps you can take toward growing as a person, these posts will cover a wide array of topics. So stay tuned!

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Cuffing Szn - Did You Make the Draft?

As if Hurricane Harvey and Irma weren’t bad enough, another potential problem has just surfaced - cuffing season: the 5th, unrecognized season that is now an actual thing. For those who don’t know what cuffing season is, traditionally, it is the time of the year when people start looking for someone with whom they can brave those frigid Winter nights. From the application process, to the scouting period, to the tryouts, to the draft, and beyond, cuffing season has become quite a time to be alive. But just as it provides a great deal of benefits, especially for those in school, it can also have numerous potential downfalls- downfalls that are oftentimes overlooked. In numerous cases, this season is awaited by many because of the sudden influx of relationships around us. Isn’t that crazy? Just when you’re learning to be single, it seems like all of a sudden, everyone wants to jump into relationships, and you, being on your own, start to think that your spacious twin XL bed could have room for one more. Some might attribute this to FOMO (fear of missing out), and some might say it’s the justification people need to not be alone because Winter is actually coming. Regardless of the reason, cuffing season is now a recognized time of the year and that is now upon us. So how are you gonna act?

Cuffing Season Post Coming Up, Eh?

With the season of cuffing approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to center my next post around it and all of the unspoken details that come along with it. These are the details we tend to ignore- whether it be consciously or unconsciously - that could or could not spell trouble later on. Cuffing season is no longer just a joke that we have when the Winter time comes around - it's become a sought after time of the year.

You can expect it's release to be sometime this week so be on the lookout.

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

I'm Single. Now What?

The timing of this post couldn’t have been any more convenient. For those who may not know, God works in mysterious ways, and personally, he will never cease to amaze me. The purpose behind this post is to help those who listened to the advice I gave in my last post, or even those who are going through something similar in general, to figure out the big question - what’s next? The reason this is such a coincidence is because I too am going through, and have endured, something similar. So if anything, I hope that adds credibility to what I will share with you all. Going through a breakup of any kind is rough- period. You’re letting go of someone very precious to you, and unfortunately for some, you are being separated from their lives completely. But the good news is that there is hope, as hard as that may be to believe. You can get better. However, just as I’ve stated in previous posts, it has to be something you want for yourself.

Verse of the Week

Verse of the Week

"(7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. (8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
- Romans 5:7-8

Verse of the Week

"For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes."
- Proverbs 24:16

PREACH.

Verse of the Week

"(7) But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. (8) They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
- Jeremiah 17:7-8

Verse of the Week

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it, and are safe."
- Proverbs 18:10

Why Settle?

It’s such a liberating feeling to be with someone that makes you happy. It’s even more exhilarating to think that person is your soulmate, or the person you were destined to be with. You invest a great deal of time, effort and money into them, as well as sacrifice for them, in hopes of this being the relationship that lasts forever. Sometimes we become so consumed in it that we begin to overlook signs that maybe we are in over our heads. Maybe it starts with small habits they exhibit that starts ticking you off more than it used to. You say, “Nobody’s perfect.” Then, maybe you begin to realize the arguing happens a little more often, and usually goes unresolved. So you might say, “Every relationship has its troubles.” The list of the little things people tend to ignore in relationships goes on and on. We become blind to the truth that’s right in front of us; the truth that maybe, just maybe, we aren’t with our future wife, or husband. But how does one really determine this?

Verse of the Week

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."
- Proverbs 16:3

I Haven't Forgotten to Post Lol

I know I said the post on relationships would be released soon, and it still is. There is just a great deal of information being included in it and I wanted to make sure I hit at least most of the areas. In addition, I was traveling to Jamaica this past weekend, so that put me behind a bit. That being said, I also apologize ahead of time for it being a little lengthy. 😅 But rest assured, the information is useful. You can expect it by week's end, or the beginning of next week.

Thanks again for your patience!

Verse of the Week

"(16) So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (17) For the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."
- Galatians 5:16-17

Relationship Post Soon to Come

Hope this post finds everyone well! I know you haven't heard from me in a while but I am working on a new post that continues with the theme of relationships. You can expect its release within the next two weeks, so bear with me in the meantime!

Verse of the Week

"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation."
- Psalm 68:5

Verse of the Week

"(34) Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (35) For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.'"
- Mark 8:34-35

Verse of the Week

"Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied."
- Proverbs 27:20

Keep this verse in mind when making decisions with the mindset that once you do it, you will be contempt. Your human desire will never be quenched, and that is why we must learn to fight it. Instead, thirst and hunger for God.

That’s My Best Friend, Who’s Also My Bae?

“­My best friend. My best friend.” The person that holds that special place in your heart. Not a sibling. Not a cousin. But a best friend. That person obviously holds that title because they play a significant, and beneficial, role in your life in more ways than one. But have you ever had a time when you wanted more than just a close friendship? I mean, clearly you love their company, the conversations you all have, their personality, and overall, who they are as a person; they would seem like a great choice! But are they? I’m sure the thought of starting a relationship with a best friend has crossed some of our minds at some point, but we probably never acted on it. Why is that?

Verse of the Week

"Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven."
- Luke 6:37

Congratulations - We Made It

I want to take a second to congratulate all the individuals graduating this season, including myself! It is not an easy achievement to be graduating from college, graduate school, med school, law school, or even high school. But you overcame the odds, the stereotypes, the people who doubted you, and the obstacles placed before you, and are standing here today as a graduate! Be proud of your accomplishment and savor the moment. And good luck with everything moving forward. You are destined for great things. 🙏

#BLESSUP

Verse of the Week

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need."
- Matthew 6:33

Verse of the Week

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus- the work of telling other the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."
- Acts 20:24

Verse of the Week

"So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son."
- John 1:14

Verse of the Week

"There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother."
- Proverbs 18:24

The Road to a Happier Life: Part 3 - You’re Facing Forward, But Your Heart is Looking Back

We’ve talked about forgiveness and why it plays such an important role in living a life without anything holding us back. We’ve discussed how to apologize and its importance in amending the wrongs we have done to others. But then what? You’ve either forgiven a person, or been forgiven, and now you’re here - but where exactly is “here”? Have you actually let the issue go, or are you still holding animosity in your heart? For most people, it is the latter half. Even though what’s done is done, and we have dealt with the situation head on, we still can’t seem to move past it. We just can’t seem to let go of what happened. Now, I am not saying we should necessarily forget it - because that is close to impossible to do without orthodox means - but being able to move past the event is like getting those soothing additional 5 minutes of sleep before you get up - it’s the finishing touch that plays a significant role in attaining satisfaction.

Verse of the Week

"(8) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, (9) for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
-1 Peter 1:8-9

Coming to the End of the Road

The final piece of the series, The Road to a Happier Life, will be released soon!

You can expect it to be posted either late this week, or early next week.

As always, thanks for your patience!

Verse of the Week

"(16) Rejoice always, (17) pray continually, (18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Verse of the Week

"One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
- Proverbs 18:24

That friend is The Lord.

Verse of the Week

"My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare."
- Psalm 25:15

New Age and More Blessings

I just wanted to take a moment to thank God for seeing me with through to another year of life! It's not something everyone has the opportunity to say, and therefore I want to acknowledge this blessing given to me. And thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!

Verse of the Week

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'"
- John 6:35

The Road to a Happier Life: Part 2 - Apologize? Where They Do That At?

I. Hate. Apologizing. And I hate it for two reasons. The first reason being it means I am admitting I am wrong. The second reason being that I feel that it means I have fallen short as a friend, sibling, coworker, or whomever I am in that situation. And let’s be real, you’re not sorry either fam. You’re not. If you’re second guessing the sincerity of your apologies, or people aren’t accepting your apologies; or maybe, they’re even calling you out on your BS. If any of these apply to you, then trust me, you are not sorry.  Regardless of the reason, I’m sure we have all found ourselves in a situation where we have committed some sort of wrong against done some wrong to someone and it is our responsibility to make it right. Hopefully, with the help of this post, you’ll learn to apologize with sincerity.

I know I'm extra late ...

I apologize (sincerely) for not having released the post about how to apologize properly. Ironic, isn't it?

I realized that there were additional, necessary pieces that needed to be added to the post before it was released. Then, I was delayed by Spring Break this past week.

But I assure you all that it will be released this week, and work on the third part of the series will begin soon after.

Thank you for your patience.

Verse of the Week

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."
- Psalm 119:11

Verse of the Week

"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God."
-  1 John 4:15

Verse of the Week

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
- Matthew 24:35

Verse of the Week

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
- 1 Corinthians 15:58

Part 2 Coming Soon - Apologizing the Right Way

What's up readers! Hope you enjoyed the first part of the series centered around forgiveness. The feedback so far has been nothing but positive. 👌

The next part is soon to come and will discuss how to apologize correctly. By correctly, I mean giving an apology that shows both humility and sincerity.

Stay on the lookout!

Verse of the Week

"(11) My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, (12) because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."
- Proverbs 3:11-12

The Road to a Happier Life: Part 1 - You Mad or Nah?

Could you forgive someone who cheated on you? Or better yet - could you forgive someone who hurt your family (God forbid)? As impossible as it may sound, there are people who have. To others, they could never imagine doing such a thing to someone who cut them so deeply - and I don’t blame them. The crazy thing is, despite knowing why forgiveness is important, I still find it difficult to answer those questions. Forgiveness has to be one of the toughest challenges in life - right up there with patience, staying awake in late night 2.5 hour class, and dieting. But it is also one of the factors of life that hold most of us back. Absolving someone of the wrong they did you - relieving yourself of that resentment, anger, and even hatred you may feel toward them - though hard, is the best thing you could do for yourself. You may think removing that person from your life completely is the best decision you could make for the benefit of your future - but you’d be wrong. Although it may feel like the right decision now, it is only going to create a void within you that will only give way to sadness, and overall, an empty feeling inside. You may not notice it, or understand where it is coming from, but more often than not, that void is created because of these kinds of situations - situations where we just can not let go of what someone has done to us. But what we fail to realize is that in the end, we are only hurting ourselves.

Verse of the Week

"The Lord is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?"
- Psalm 27:1

I apologize for the first part of the series post not being released last week but it will be in the next few days. A couple of changes just needed to be made. Thanks for your patience!

Verse and Update

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."
- Psalm 55:22

Look for part one of my new series to be released this week!!

Verse of the Week

"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
- Romans 10:9

Verse of the Week

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."
- Psalm 32:8

Incoming New Series: The Road to a Happier Life

As promised, there is a new series in the works centered around improving one's satisfaction and regard towards their own lives. You can think of this series as a road to redemption as it expounds upon certain aspects and actions of life people tend to overlook, and/or ignore, that eventually develops into a burden that weighs them down. These include apologizing, forgiving, moving on from the past, and more. Being in the new year, we should all take the time to reflect on how we handled situations in 2016, the grudges that are still buried deep within us, and different things that may be causing us more harm than good. We should all aim to live healthier and happier lifestyles, and it starts from within. The goal of this series will be to help you get that point and be able to move on from the negative things in your past holding you back.

Verse of the Week

"Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."
- Joshua 1:8

New Years Sentiments

I know this is coming a week late but I was debating if I should create an actual post about New Years or just share some advice. I've decided to go with the latter half and even though it's a little late in the game, this is some food for thought about how you plan on treating 2017.

Verse of the Week

"(1) Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children (2) and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
- Ephesians 5:1-2

Happy New Year!

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the city wasteland."
- Isaiah 43:19

2017 has begun and it will be a year of growth, accomplishment, and reward for all in Jesus name! As we all know, many were not able to see this new year; and thus, we must be thankful to have made it this far. God already has blessings lined up for you this year. You just have to go and claim them.

Expect a post to be released today or tomorrow in honor of the new year!