In the past few months, I’ve spent a lot of time heart broken at the state of our young people and even our older ones. I’ve watched as people use facebook to fight, argue, tattle and prostitute themselves. And I wonder all the while what is coming next. It’s bad out here now.

When I was raising my son, I used to drill one principle into him- be the same kind of person you hope to find. If you don’t want a loose goose, don’t be one. If you don’t want a busybody, don’t be one. Values, they matter, especially when no one is looking. Unfortunately, I walked the dark side first and I can tell you that once you have lost your integrity, it is hell trying to convince anyone, especially yourself, that you have value.

Back to my original point: I see young ladies showing their bodies to the world, bragging on their sexual prowess, and posting about their frequent bed partner changes right here on FB. But later on, you see the same young ladies crying about being disrespected, cheated on, lied to, or lied on. I was young once and I do understand, but the truth is there are times when we open ourselves up to attack and pain. Being victimized is one thing. But setting yourself up for failure is another.

Loving yourself means resisting the things that feel good today but destroy your future. I made so many mistakes growing up, but didn’t really begin paying for them until later on in life when I had finally settled down. Now, I look at the mess my young decisions created. And I recognize the patterns when I see them. Trying to find value in the eyes of others, selling your soul and all your own respect just to feel loved, wanted, needed, or celebrated. Rather a male or female, this isn’t the way to peace. It creates a never-ending circle of pain, confusion, frustration and hopelessness. These kind of circles need to be broken.

If someone is going to love you, it will happen outside of the bedroom, without all the shenanigans, without all the lies, without you having to earn it. People will give you what you demand, not with empty words but by your character. If my character demands respect, generally, people will respect me, or avoid me completely. But if I sell my soul, living for those around me while being untrue to how God created me, I find that even if they do accept me, I cannot accept myself and the cycle of brokenness, loneliness and despondency will continue and fester. We must stop setting ourselves up for failure. We must love ourselves and demand better first from self and then from our surroundings.

Class isn’t something a person can fake. Either you have it or not. If you find yourself in that hopeless circle of pain, disrespect and loneliness, then choose to break it by changing your own behavior first. You cannot control what’s around you all the time, but you can control how you respond to it. Choose the high road even if it does not pay off the way you think it should. If no one notices, it isn’t about them. If no one pats you on the back, it isn’t for them. This is for you. This is about you loving you. Trust me, everyday these past months, I’ve had to tell myself that I love me. I’ve had to fight my own way back from depression and loneliness, desperation, etc. Let that circle be broken in your life.

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.” Luke 15:28

Dear Brother,

Dear brother. I remember as if it was just yesterday, the look on your face the day I made the decision to leave home. I remember the conversation we had. You tried to dissuade me from leaving. You thought I was making a bad choice. You feared for my life. You begged and pleaded with me not to leave. But I was obstinate. My mind was made up. This place just wasn’t doing it for me anymore. I had a whole world awaiting me: territories to conquer, opportunities to grab, a life to live.

When I asked for my share of the inheritance, it wasn’t so that I could squander it. I was going to invest it. I really was. I had it all figured out and I was, indeed, wise in my own eyes. I had scouted the land and seen all the many business ventures just waiting to be explored. Of course I knew that these were not businesses that our Father would approve, but I had a plan. Somehow, I was going to make it all worth the inheritance. It would all, somehow, end up pleasing Father. Dad will not be disappointed. So, I left. Despite Father’s disapproval and your fervent dissuasion, I packed up my bags and left home.

You’ve heard the story. Somehow, time got out of my hands, and so did all my money. Before I knew it, I was eating with the pigs and regretting the day I was born. But even more than that, I regretted the day I left home. I just couldn’t imagine coming back here and not hearing the end of all your “I told you so’s.” So, I chose to stick it out a little bit longer. But the longer I stayed, the worse I got. There was simply no hope for me out there. Too proud to ask for forgiveness but too desperate to stay away, I came up with an ingenious plan. I decided to come back home and work for Father. I knew that I didn’t deserve to be taken back. There was no longer anything for me as a son. All my inheritance was squandered. So, I decided to come and work for Father. No longer worthy to be called son, I applied to serve. In doing that, I figured that what I could not do so well in the world, I could do better in my Father’s House.

But as it turns out, our Father would not hear of it. He didn’t even let me finish my apology and proposal. He said that He considered me His son and He welcomed me back to His House as such and nothing less. I recall how everyone celebrated with songs and dance. The meat was in plenty and the wine flowed abundantly.

Yet, even in the midst of the celebration, I couldn’t help but notice your absence, brother. At the back of my mind, I knew that there were two people I needed to apologize to, our Father and you, dear Brother. I wanted to tell you how sorry I was for not listening to you. I wanted to apologize for shunning your warnings and advice, for thinking you were stupid for opting to stay in our Father’s House. You told me I was too wise in my own eyes, and I proved to be too wise to listen to you. There’s so much I wanted to tell you. So much I had learnt in my disobedience. But you were nowhere to be seen.

When I asked Father where you were, he told me that you were angry, and would take no part in the celebration of my return. Father told me that you were bitter at how faithful you have been towards Him and yet you never received any of the attention that I was now getting. In your anger, brother, you sinned and refused to fellowship with your prodigal brother. You said that you had been hurt once, and would not risk it again. I was your brother, yes, but I was no longer worthy to be called your friend. Even though our Father had chosen to take me back with all fullness, you did not.

You stood afar, the memories of MY past too painful for YOU to forget. Yet, there’s so much I wanted to say to you, elder brother. Your dedication and commitment to our Father’s house is impressive, and quite encouraging to me. You have always remained faithful, even when I was enticed by the world outside. A large part of the reason I found it so hard to return is because I knew I had to face you – a person I had disappointed and hurt so much. Not once did it occur to me that I would be telling you the next words that I am going to say to you.

‘Dear elder brother. Father pleads with our proud, hardened and stubborn hearts. It is His kindnesses that led me to repentance. I knew that our Father was a good man. That He would be willing to take me back as a servant because I had seen how He treated His servants. But I had underestimated His kindness. He chose to forgive me of everything I had done. He forgave it all. He didn’t want me to perish. It is solely and entirely by His mercy and grace that I am back home and responding to the name, “Son.” Please, dear brother, do not let me – your imperfect brother – keep you out of your Father’s House (church). You have been faithful for so long. Do not give up now. I want to learn how to become faithful like you but you, the only teacher I can trust, are nowhere to be found.

Do not give in to the devil’s trap of bitterness and unforgiveness. Sin is crouching at your door, dear brother. It desires to have you, but you must master it. Do not end up like me. I was the prodigal who abandoned my Father’s house. But you, dear brother, are being the prodigal within the Father’s house. Your predicament is much more dangerous because it may go unnoticed both by yourself and those around you. You are in the House, but are not of the House. You are in this room but not in this Home. Please, dear brother, do not fall away. Our Father is pleading with you, and I am pleading for you.’

Please, dear elder brother, come back home.

With Love, Younger Brother.

This is scene 5 of Faith Talk Cartoons illustrated by Leah G. This illustration is a revelation of Psalm 23:5. The verse reads, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” Our enemies are not flesh in blood. Ephesians 6:12 states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Our prayer is that you will come to the knowledge of the truth because the truth will make you free. Make a conscious decision today to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal savior. Don’t let worry, doubt, fear, hate, or bad thoughts overcome you and make you a slave.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman!!

Holy ghosts and goblins, Batman.

Robin, to the Batcave.

You would not like me when I’m angry, chides the Hulk.

All of these phrases come from our memories of watching our favorite Superhero on television. My favorite superhero is Spiderman. My sons are enthralled with Wolverine of the X-men.

These individuals were either born “super” or were infused with radiation. For whatever reason, we are infatuated with “super” beings, beings that can conquer any situation with extraordinary powers and the will to not be defeated so that good can prevail.

I am reading a book right now called Extraordinary Living – Dr. John Bevere. In this book, he makes this point that we are in love with the super heroes. While his point is not to explore that reason but to get us to see (as believers), we have the opportunity and possibility to live extraordinary lives for the Lord to fulfill our calling.

I am so amazed at how many of us are settling for “average” living. We are surrounded by people who are so content on just being average. Well, I refuse to any longer live below my potential. Do you not realize who and Whose we are? We are children of the Most High God. We have been wonderfully and fearfully made. God breathed into our nostrils and we became a living soul. See, so many of us are settling for Humans that are being instead of Humans that are living.

Well, Minister of Motivation how do I began to live extraordinarily. While I have not finished the book, but I have been sopping up so much stuff lately that I can probably muster 3 or 4 starting points:

1. Realize you were created for a purpose. Please do not adopt a METHESULAH mentality (I will explore this more later probably in a sermon or another blog). The Bible says he lived and he died. That is all it says about this man. Are you just existing? Do you just get up…go through your day…and go to bed. Then start it all over the next day. This is so boring…(she knows who I am talking about who said that..hehehe). You have a purpose find it (if you need help, that’s what my services are for..heheheheh).

2. Do purposeful things. Now, that you know and realize you have a purpose, do things that build on that purpose. If you know that you are a teacher, teach; if you are a speaker, speak; if you are a singer, sing; if you are a motivator, motivate. Do things that feed your purpose. This is how you stay sharp and stay on course.

3. Surround yourself with like minded people. Do you know the proverbial saying, Birds of a feather flock together. It should be true for you and me. Surround yourself with people that are going in the same direction as you are. Iron sharpens iron. Like minded people talk the same talk and have a tendency to keep each other focused and pointed in the right direction.

4. Have a spirit of gratitude. If you are around me any length of time, you know I am big on this one. I truly believe if you are grateful for what you have in your life, it will propel you to live the most extraordinary life imaginable. You know why? I believe truly grateful people live extraordinary lives because they don’t take things for granted and live each moment as if it were their last. Are you thankful for what you have?

Have you started living an EXTRAORDINARY life yet? There is no time like right now…your extraordinary life is waiting on you!!

you have been Motivated.

Blog: Minister of Motivation

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” -Vince Lombardi

This scene in Faith Talk Cartoons paints a picture of God’s Amazing Grace. Most of us have heard the song “Amazing Grace”, written by John Newton, but have not truly understood the magnitude of this blessing. We hope that through this illustration of Grace, done by Leah G, you will be inspired. Romans 5:20 says, “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” May the Holy Spirit open your eyes regarding the gift of His Amazing Grace!

A newborn in Argentina was found very much alive in a morgue by her mother 12 hours after hospital staff had declared the baby dead. Two hours after being issue a death certificate, Bouguet and her husband visited the morgue because they wanted to see their child one more time.

“The baby was there and they put the little casket on a stretcher. We looked for a bar to pry it open,” the baby’s father, Fabian Veron, said in a press conference. “My wife looked and uncovered it slowly. She saw the little hand and then uncovered the face. That’s when it let the first little cry out.” -Eric Pfeiffer

This is scene 3 of Faith Talk Cartoons. This scene was inspired by a friend of ours. She has been through a lot of adversity with health and she knows first hand how God heals. We thought this illustration done by Leah G would really encourage our friends and also remind them that God is still in the healing business.

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king.  His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger.  Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said “Is God good?  If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lose my finger.”  The slave replied:  ”My king, despite all these things, I can only tell you that God is good, and He knows the “why” of all these things.  What God does is perfect.  He is never wrong!”

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave. Later, he left for another hunting trip and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices.  On the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that the victim had not one of his fingers, so he was released.  According to them, he was not so complete to be offered to the gods.

Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave  whom he received very affectionately.  ”My dear, God was really good to me! I was almost killed by the wild men, but for the lack of a single finger, I was let go!  But I have a question:  if God is so good, why did He allow me to put you in jail?”

“My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, I would have been sacrificed for you, because I have no missing finger; therefore, remember everything God does is perfect.  He is never wrong.”

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.  Every morning, offer your day to God, don’t be in a rush.  Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings.  And do not be afraid.  God is never wrong!

I had a dream where I was told in the dream:

“You have Cancer, go to the Doctor”

At this time I was due my cervical smear test, which came back with minor changes. Two Doctors told me this was nothing to worry about. However I was concerned as I believed I had a symptom that needed further investigation. I was also mindful of my dream.

I reported the ‘symptom’ I believed I had to the Doctor and on examination the doctor stated my cervix was very healthy and I had nothing to worry about. However I was not convinced as I was worried about this ‘symptom’ and still very mindful of my dream. I went to see the nurse.

After speaking with the nurse about ‘my symptom’ she said she would refer me as with my ‘symptom’ a referral was automatic.

Two weeks later I arrived at the consultants office for a colposcopy. This is an examination of the cells on my cervix using a camera. Before the examination, the consultants exact words to me were:

” I can tell you now, there is nothing wrong”. This made me feel anxious as I was sure something was indeed wrong.

Less than five minutes later it was a VERY different story. I was told I had severe pre-cancer of the cervix and if this had not been discovered at this time, 6 months hence I would have full blown cervical cancer. This was terrifying news but a blessing all the same, as it had been discovered in time to treat and prevent.

“There but for the Grace of God go I”.

The ‘symptom’ I presented with which worried me along with my dream and resulted in the nurse referring me…did in fact not exist. I did not have that symptom. I didn’t lie…I was merely mistaken. The detail is too delicate to go into, but it was an easy mistake to make.

Fear Of Death – Who Do We Talk To When We Are Told Death Is Close?

I recall discussing a lack of fear for death on a science forum and found that I was in the minority in that I did not fear it. The majority feared death for reasons such as the method of dying and the fact that they enjoyed life too much to want it to end. So why did I not fear death? Was it because I believe in life after death and so when this life ends, I believe I shall merely go somewhere else? Was my life here so empty that I would not miss it? Was I just complacent and did not value my life enough to contemplate what it would be like without it? I think it was most likely the latter. I did not really think about my own mortality and so there was no fear of losing it.

This, however, changed in May 2006, I believe for the better. I now fear death, but this is not a negative thought; it merely means that I value life more than I did. Through valuing life more, I make more effort to get more out of it, to make the ride more comfortable and pleasurable. I am not just coasting along anymore, waiting for the end. I am making that end a distant nightmare, while I seek to fill up my time in useful endeavour.

So what brought about this change? What was special about May 2006?

In May 2006 I was diagnosed with severe pre-cancer of the cervix. It was treated and the pre-cancerous tissue was removed. Six months later, I tested clear. I am 100% well and I expect to remain that way.

And yet, during that period, as I waited for my biopsy and pelvic scan results, and before my six month re-exam, I contemplated death and what it would mean to me, my children and my loved ones. I did this because during that period I did not know whether or not I would develop cervical cancer, and in that event, survival rate is something like 53%. So, despite being mostly positive about my future health – which I was – I had a few moments when I lapsed into sadness about what would happen if I got cancer. From this sadness arose fear … the fear of dying.

My fears were based on the following thoughts:

Should I die prematurely…

My children, toddlers at the time, would be without a mother – who would take care of them?

How would they cope without me to comfort them the way only a mother can?

Would they grow up angry, resentful and scarred due to my premature absence from their lives?

What effect might this have on their future – where they live, the education they receive, the circle they mix in? These are things which I had carefully planned before they were even born, as most mothers do.

How should I spend my remaining time with my children if death beckons? Should I be distant and cold so that when I leave they do not grieve, or should I remain close and adoring so they treasure their memories of me? At this young age, will they even remember me at all? Is my wanting them to remember me selfish? Would it be better for them to forget?

Will I endure prolonged pain during treatment/illness, and how will I cope? Will I become depressed, suicidal even? Who will look after me while I am ill?

What effect will my death have on those remaining? What hole will I leave in their lives? How will they cope with their distress at seeing me ill? What about my new relationship, this is not what he signed up for. Should I let him go?

What preparations should I make for death… guardians for my children, a will, and diaries? Will access be allowed for all those I wish to remain part of my children’s lives?

Will I be angry and resentful about being ill and dying, my time with my children and family cut short?

I did not afford these fears much time or consideration, for I generally remained positive and concerned myself with what I knew, which was nothing until I was told. After all, there is no point in being morbid and sad for the sake of it. Yet on that rare occasion when I did allow fear to grab hold, these were the concerns I had.

Who did I talk to about these fears?

Well, aside from stating the facts relating to my diagnosis, I was positive and rarely mentioned the matter. This was for two reasons:

I was being proactive in taking steps to improve my general health. I was eating anti-cancer foods and taking coriolus mushroom supplements.

I felt that people, whether they be close or distant, do not really want to listen to others talk about their fear of death.

The nearest and dearest will try to keep you positive; they won’t allow you to be morbid or glum, or to prepare for death. You’ll see the fear in their eyes – their own fears of losing of you – so you’ll be brave for them, to keep their spirits high.

Should you talk to strangers who don’t care enough about you to be hurt by your possibly imminent death but who care enough to listen? Do they really want to hear the nitty gritty of your fears? It seems not, but why? Perhaps it makes them think about their own mortality and what difficulties they themselves may face. Perhaps because they are on a ‘high’ and don’t want your fear to make them feel low. All of these are good reasons for deflecting your fear away from them.

So who then is left to talk to? God, Angels, deceased friends and relatives, a priest, a counselor, others who are also dying?

During this time I thought about my relationship with God. I am not religious but I do believe in an interfering presence, which I call God. I asked God what important role these events were playing in my life. How fair would it be if I could not learn from them but died instead? What point is there in that? What deal could I strike up to ensure survival? What promise could I make?

Well, I promised to value my life, and I do!

I am grateful for this seemingly negative set of events because valuing life is no small thing. Consider for yourself what not valuing it means.

Life is a big deal, and being alive is a big deal. It is a miracle that life ever got started on this planet at all. While theories abound, it remains a mystery, at least to the non-religious. So not to value this time here, short as it is, is wasteful in the extreme.

I know what it is to suffer through dark moments of depression and despair, feeling like you want to die. In reality, though, it is not death that is sought, but merely escape. Escape from the feelings that gnaw away at your body, a physical pain manifested from a psychological source. Escape perhaps from a situation you feel trapped in, for to remain is intolerable and you are at the end of your patience. You may just be weary of existence, tired and wanting a rest from it all.

I have no answer to this except the old cliché’ that it is good to talk. In times when we feel this way, we need each other.

Visit:  LeahG Artist & Cartoon Illustration Services