"Finally Done"

This year has been more than the greatest experience I've had in a long time. It was like being given the opportunity to start my life all over again. I've made leaps and bounds in this 2010 year. I've found myself and I've started moving in a new and better direction and I love where I'm headed. Sure I'm still the same old Devin and like every other person on this earth I make my share of mistakes. However, I refuse to let the obvious ones that I can control right now get away from me! I'm ready to start the next year even better than I did before. I have some changes to make and I know they will all be for the better. I'm ready to get back to the way I once was. Happy and thriving, loving life and enjoying the amazing time I've been given here on earth. Thank you God for being my friend and never giving up on me! It's time I started running back towards you!

"Pick Up"

As I was sitting in my house with some of my family, our conversation kept getting interrupted by the phone.  But, every time that I answered it, no one would talk.  I could hear someone breathing on the other end, but they wouldn’t talk to me or answer my questions.  After the fourth time, I was getting upset.  The most difficult thing for me to deal with was the fact that I couldn’t hear the person on the other end of the phone.  I knew someone was there, I just couldn’t communicate with them.  I was incredibly frustrated. Because many people never learn to talk to God, they feel the same way that I did that night.  They know someone is there, but they don’t know how to communicate.  In vain, they ask questions trying to get input, but because they have not taken the time to get to know God, they can’t discern His voice.  God is waiting to build a relationship with you that is defined by open and honest conversation.

"Just Love"

Love does not manipulate.  It does not willfully harm.  It does not ignore your needs for its own.  Yet, that is the love that is sung about  and highlighted through entertainment.  In the media, love is destructive, continually tearing down and building walls.  But, that is not real love.  True love was revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.  

Giving up the comfort of Heaven and the absolute authority of divinity, he came to earth to put love into action.  He did not manipulate, he brought freedom.  He did not harm, he healed.  And, he willingly went to the Cross in order to provide salvation and hope for you and me.  

"Traverse"

Because this man thought he knew the city, he was confused at the route that the taxi driver had chosen.  He began to suggest that the driver use alternative routes, but each idea was answered with solid reasoning.  The passenger, who was in a hurry to catch a plane kept making suggestions, until the driver finally said, “I will get you to the airport and I will get you there in time.  You know the city some because you have visited here often, but I have lived here my whole life and make a living traversing the streets.  You can trust me.”  

Not because He believed him, but because he knew that his input would not be heeded, the man in the back seat sat back and remained silent.  Glancing down at his watch as they pulled up to the airport, he realized that he had arrived earlier than he had anticipated when he had left his hotel.  “Thank you, I guess you did know best.”  The driver responded by saying, “I told you that I could be trusted.  We made it, and we made it on time.”

"My Hero"

Anyone that lays down his life for another is a hero in my book.  A man or woman that lives selflessly so that others can experience a life of freedom or the opportunity for hope should be applauded.  Service men and women, police, fire crews, teachers and many others fit into this category, but there is one that is at the top of my list of heroes.  And that is Jesus Christ. The one and only son of God boldly loved and served.  And, he willingly laid down his life so that you and I could experience hope and a great future.  When Jesus was being persecuted on his way to the cross, some were mocking him telling him to exert his power and free himself.  Make no mistake…he could have.  He could have escaped torture…but he chose not to. He knew that only by laying down his life could he purchase freedom for all of us.  Jesus did die on the cross in the ultimate act of heroism, but God raised from the dead.  His selfless act, continues to offer hope even today.  Anyone who chooses to trust Him for the forgiveness of sins experiences freedom and the promise of heaven.

"Inspect me"

Are you brave enough to let someone come in and check the quality of your cleaning? I am not sure I am. I don’t want anyone checking for dust behind my picture frames.   Rules for my living space and my heart are different, however. There is one who I willingly give permission to examine my heart.  

Because I want to be pleasing to God, I have decided to pray a prayer found in Psalm 139 as often as I can. By giving God permission to search my heart and reveal anything that isn’t right, my desire is I would understand the areas that aren’t clean so that with His help, I can work to overcome them. Have you ever prayed that prayer? It is a dangerous prayer to pray.

"Just because you coudn't"

I came up with an interesting thought yesterday. I thought of the influence of my father and what type of an experience I've been able to have with him over my brief lifetime. I thought about what he is to my family and more specifically what he means to me. Crazy enough I wasn't able to come up with just what it is that links me to him! anybody else have this problem?

"Is this the Picture of a Woman"

Is this the picture of a woman? One who would not lead her life by her own intentions but through the eyes of the father who's gifts are endless. A woman who's walk is right and who's words are both pleasing and wise. Her beauty cannot be marked in her dress but instead by her character. Is there such a woman or will this remain forevermore, just a picture.

"The 80/20 Fabric of a Woman"

Relationships when put in perspective can be viewed like any old game we play. In that just like a game, it has rules. One in particular that I would like to point out. It's called the 80/20 rule. It's pretty easy to understand but it's also the one rule in the dating game we tend to break the most! However high we set our intentions for being good to another our human nature limits us to receiving 80% of what we really need from a significant other. Even when we feel that we gave 120% on any given day, the other only takes hold of the 80 they've grown accustomed to. Because we are human and live for a 100% satisfaction guarantee we often go searching for ways to fill the void. Whether through hobbies, friends or other secret lovers, we can't help but chase after the 20. Our biggest downfall, especially in my generation is that we have become so used to losing out that we are blinded to the very moment when we've won the biggest. In other words we spend so much time in attempt to catch the 20 we eventually lose the 80 we needed and had all along. As for my question to you people ask me all the time why I don't date. I laugh everytime I get the chance to respond because my answer is simple. I in return ask them have you ever cheated on your lover. Nine times out of ten they say yes and with they're response is my truth and my answer. God has made my heart a work in progress. I am not yet ready to say that I am able to receive and respectfully cherish the 80% fabric of a woman I long to have! I highly doubt that the majority of the people I consider friends are either. I watch everyday as most people I've known over the years not only despise the 80 but would at times rather spend their lives putting their own 20% here and there to make a personal remodeled version of 80 or 100. Like I've said before when will one, ever be good enough for the other!

There Is Such A thing!

Most people would be the first to say that we should never intend on living our lives for others but instead for ourselves. Many would agree that life is a personal journey, where when everything is said and done you are the one who at the end of the day who made the difference in the success of how you lived it. However especially in these past few weeks I find myself not believing this to it's full potential. In fact I find that the success of my day lies in who I meet, where I go and even at times how many other lives I was able to better in that present day! I saw someone today. Someone that in my heart and mind I know I am supposed to make a difference in. Someone that I know will make a difference in me. My biggest question is; Is it wrong to pursue the difference when that difference is the motivation for being me. If my professor were to ask me to describe myself I would tell them that at the beginning of everyday I am an empty box. I have plenty of space and nothing to put it in. However when at my best can hold more information and be more useful than most would ever imagine. I see no problem in this analogy other than the fact that an empty box has nothing more to offer than to wait for others to fill it up with the goods they wish to protect for later. Unfortunately a box cannot fill itself meaning it is always waiting for another to poor into it. That's how I feel though, Like I'm a great individual but I only have motivation when I can be of use to another.