Beyond a Season

Today is History!!

Let me touch you Kirk Franklin

21:03 singing cover me

This song really ministers to me. We, as Christians and people in general, need to realize that we need each other. We are not strong enough to do this on our own. Sometimes, we [especially me], feel the need to be "strong" and not ask for help or let people know that I'm struggling but a series of events made me get over that to a great degree. Pride aint worth it. All it takes sometimes is someone to simply say "You can make it" or "I'm proud of you." Not much in deed or time but much in action. With that said:

My brother or sister, whatever you are going through [Christian or not] I want you to know that you can make it. I want you to know that we are all struggling. None of us have arrived. Remember, I need you to cover me and continue to keep me lifted. Be blessed.

The Christian Struggle

I fell down. Yes, me. Rakeem Vaquan Person fell down. The "arrogant" one, the confident one, "the one who had it all together" stumbled and not only stumbled but fell--and hard. Some of you may take joy in this, some of you may be horrified, some of you may be saddened. I apologize for all of this, but guess what? Im human. I tried to forget that in the past but now i realize that it isnt necessarily a weakness, being human has its strengths. It means that I dont have to try so hard. I dont have to be so strong. Weakness is okay, frailty is expected, and God is the source behind my success.

Some of you may wonder what i mean by this. If you dont know...then ask me personally, if you do then it needs no explanation. There is a journey that i took, a journey that i sometimes regret. But the choice was not completely mine to make. I am not a quitter, not by nature anyway--but sometimes i feel like quitting. And for a little while...i did quit. But i see that quitting is not the answer, for some reason I cannot run away. I dont have that luxury.

For some this may reinforce doubt, for others this may strike a nerve...in any case, its not about really what you think its about what my Father thinks and I had forgotten that for a while. Perfection can be a burden when one tries to perfect himself but i have learned, in this undue season, that only One can truly perfect a human being.

I am not worthy of this second second chance. I don't deserve the forgiveness of those i have led astray. Some of you wont be hearin from me for a while--if at all. Some of you will. Its not personal...its spiritual.

Maya Angelou wrote a poem called "When I Say I Am A Christian" and it states the most profoundly simple, yet intricately spiritual truths that many of us Christians [including myself] have missed. I will excerpt two stanzas of Maya's poem for the purpose of this note.

Stanza 2:
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.

Stanza 7:
When I say... "I am a Christian"
I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner
Who received God's good grace, somehow!

The mercy of God thru Christ did not come because of my own merit, no, it came because God said it out of incomprehensible love. This poem shows that Christians have no right to be arrogant, no right to condemn others, no right to look down their noses because we are all a slip away from the gutter. We are all a breath away from that which we frown upon. Be not deceived, God is not mocked--above all things is charity.

I ask those who know what i am talking about and resent me for making this mistake[s] to forgive me but more importantly NOT to look to me as your only example if an example at all. Look to Christ. I'm striving just like you, I'm human just like you, I'm struggling just like you. I havent made it. I have not arrived. Honestly, i'm too far behind.

Some of you will not understand or agree with this but i know via the Word of God that ALL things work to the good of them that LOVE God. Not some things, ALL things! Remember a saint is just a sinner who fell down and GOT UP.

Its not gonna be overnight. You may hear me cuss, you may observe my eyes wandering--but you will NOT see me quit as long as God is on my side. I am one of many prodigal sons and i am returning home. But not out of merit but out of the grace and mercy of the Most High. I do not judge you--I do not have the right. But i do ask you to [when the time comes] choose to get up. We have work to do and we need each other. I need you to help me and I promise that i will return it.

Thank you. Be Blessed forever.

Micah stampley-Holiness

This song ministered to me in a way that few have done. I saw a Dance Ministry minister using this song and it brought me to tears and revelation. This kind of anointing and understanding comes from a personal relationship with the Most High. I'm striving to get there ya'll. I'm trying to want what He wants.

Anthony Hamilton Ft. Jaheim, Musiq - Struggle No More

Tyler Perry Prayer

We Fall Down but We Get Up?

...For a saint is just a sinner who fell down, and GOT up.

These words can be traumatizing to one who doesnt fully understand the meaning behind them.
Donnie McKlurkin was not calling saints wicked people. He was making a very insightful observation that I'm
sure God revealed to him. Romans 3:23 tells us that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

1 John 1:8 reads "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the TRUTH is not in us." NIV

Romans and 1 John clearly state that we have sin but what keeps us from being sinners? What makes us righteous? What makes us holy? What makes us saints?

Proverbs 24:16 New Living Translation reads:
"The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked."

Provers 24:16 KJV reads:
"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief."

This is the scripture by which Donnie McKlurkin got this song. We fall down but we [the just] get up while those that are truly sinful revel in it. They lie there and dont have the want or desire to get up.

One would think that if someone falls SEVEN times that he is definitely a sinner but according to the Bible a sinner has to only fall ONCE and stay there in order to be considered unrighteous in the sight of God. But if one falls and has the faith and spiritual strength to get back up then he [in the sight of God] is righteous.

After we have repented and been baptized in His name and received the precious gift of the Holy Spirit we are saved but we are still pressing for that mark of the HIGH calling in Jesus Christ. We may slip, we may even fall but if we do we have to remember:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 NIV

This song should keep us Christians humble, those verses should remind us that we are just a slip away from becoming ungodly. The only thing that is keeping us is the Love and Grace and Spirit of the MOST HIGH. It is not our own doing. 1 Corinthians 6:11 "...And such WERE some of YOU. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

I say this to encourage myself and others. We fall down but we get up. So if you have fallen, if you have slipped as David stumbled [When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. Ps 94:18] all you have to do is GET BACK UP. Be blessed and be made perfect in His righteousess.

Hear This- Kierra Kiki Sheard