This Christmas day I woke up and watched Timbaland True Hollywood Story. His story inspired me to write this morning, it was full of obstacles, tragedy, opportunity, perseverance, vision, determination and drive. His story allows me to look at all the people that give up and miss out on their blessings and their purpose because of their attitude and their outlook on life.
Timbaland grew up poor. His parents were together but they could barely make ends meet. He said that he wore old clothes and underwear with holes to school. He didn’t allow what he didn’t have to keep him from his dreams. Nor did lack of money stop his family from being supportive.
Early on, Timbaland’s mom noticed he was creative and had a love for music. So, his parents encouraged that side of him. His mother would sometimes miss her rent payment just to buy Timbaland the equipment he needed to make music, she had vision.
While in high school Timbaland was able to showcase his musical talent to his friends and classmates. He began DJing parties. Back then in the late 80’s the DJ was the foundation of Hip Hop music. Timbaland had one problem however, he didn’t have the right clothing to project the right image as a DJ, he needed fresh gear. He didn’t mope, he did something about it, he got a dish washer job at Red Lobster. Enter obstacle #1. His co-worker had a gun, showed it to Timbaland, Timbaland asked him to put it away, the gun went off and shot Timbaland in the neck. The bullet traveled to his under arm and the doctors said they would not be able to remove it due to its location. The doctors also told him he was lucky, I say that he was blessed. The worst part of it all the doctors said he would not be able to use his right arm nor would he have feeling in his fingers. It took him 2 years to recover, but Yahweh!
Although the doctors gave their report, Timbaland had something else in mind. He was still going to be a DJ and make music because that is what he loved and that is exactly what he did. He persisted, he persevered, he worked through it. To this day he says he feels tingling in his arm and discomfort yet he goes on.
Hard work and determination doesn’t go unrewarded, opportunity presented itself, he was introduced to Missy and by way of Missy he was introduced to super producer at the time, DeVante Swing. He learned a lot from DeVante and vice versa and was able to make a little money. He decided to buy a car, his mom didn’t want him to buy but he bought it anyway. One night he went with a female friend to the store to pick something up, hit a patch of black ice the car spent out of control and hit a tree. Timbaland walked away from the accident unharmed but his female friend didn’t make it. To this day he doesn’t know how or why he survives and even believes that he shouldn’t be alive. I say when you have a calling on your life and Yahweh has a plan for you, if you stay in faith and keep the right attitude you shall reach your destiny.
For years, he made beats/music under the tutelage of DeVante but one day he realized he was ready to go out on his own. That is exactly what he did, he moved back home, received a call from Atlantic Records and began working with Aaliyah on her second album. This is when his celebrity and stardom was finally displayed for the world to see.
His work with Aaliyah was short lived. For those who don’t know, while filming the video for Rock the Boat in the Bahamas (if I’m not mistaken), Aaliyah and everyone on the plane back home died when the plane crashed. Timbaland was suppose to be on that plane but he’d decided at the last minute that he wasn’t going to make the trip. Yahweh is awesome, favor is not fair!
What obstacles have you faced in life? Did you look at your difficulties and say Yahweh must have another plan for my life? Or did you look at your obstacles and say I must be going in the right direction and Satan and his demons must be trying to hold me back?
Unfortunately there are a lot of church folk that will tell you if your life isn’t 100% perfect and everything isn’t exactly right you are not in the will of Yahweh. Well I am here to tell you that could not be further from the truth. We can look at Jesus’ life.
He was betrayed by his good friend, he was tempted for 40 days in the desert by Satan, he was on a boat that almost sunk, his friends turned their back on him, he was wanted for dead before he was born, he was crowned with thorns, whipped, beaten, hung, humiliated, he was given a death sentence. Through it all, every step of the way, he was in the perfect will of Yahweh.
In no way am I comparing Timbaland to Jesus, well you know what I can compare him as well as us to Jesus for Jesus came to show us how to live, he was our living example of how to deal with life and all that comes with it. We are supposed to be imitators of Christ.
So in your life I am sure you have experienced tragedy, loss, hurt, pain, something. Know that it did not happen for you to mope, give up, feel bad, get down, or stop. It was to help you grow, mature, develop, and fulfill your destiny.
With the New Year approaching, if you have chosen to give up or stay down, I encourage you to get up and get moving. Timbaland is just one example of how just when things are going right, something goes wrong. There are many examples of famous and non-famous people that will tell you no matter what, keep going.
Despite what it may look like, if you are a believer, walk by faith and not by sight. The only way to overcome obstacles is to face them, smile, speak and think positively and keep going!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
A blog created to E-nspire, E-ncourage, E-ngage, E-nform, and E-mpower!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
7 DAYS TO A NEW HABIT
Today is December 24th, for many it is Christmas Eve, for others, Kwanzaa is right around the corner and if I am not mistaken Hannakuh has already begun. This is also the very last week of 2011. In 7 days it will be New Year’s Eve and 2012 will begin.
Last year I refused to make any New Year’s Resolutions because most people don’t stick to their resolutions. How many of you decided to join a gym and lose weight? How many actually stuck to it? Did you write your resolutions down or did you just say them to yourself? It is very important to write things down, once written there is a better chance that you will meet what is written.
As for me, I set goals for 2011 did I meet every goal absolutely not, did I try absolutely. One of the goals I set was a deeper connection to the Most High, Yahweh, and I am thankful that I achieved that, not necessarily by attending church but by truly seeking Him, His Kingdom and His Righteouness. As 2011 closes it is my goal to never refer to Yahweh again as God as I realize it is a pagan word rooted in everything outside of what Yahweh is. Hey but that is just me.
So ok, in this last week of 2011 how can you position yourself to start 2012 full speed ahead? I hear a lot of people say I will start working out in January, why not start today? Do you know it only takes 7 days to start/create a new habit? If you start working out today, stretching today, reading more today, saving today etc., whatever it is you want to do in the new year, by the time the new year begins you will have a new habit!
I am excited to be embarking upon a new endeavor starting next week. Once all things are finalized I will definitely tweet about it and ask you all for your support/thoughts.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Last year I refused to make any New Year’s Resolutions because most people don’t stick to their resolutions. How many of you decided to join a gym and lose weight? How many actually stuck to it? Did you write your resolutions down or did you just say them to yourself? It is very important to write things down, once written there is a better chance that you will meet what is written.
As for me, I set goals for 2011 did I meet every goal absolutely not, did I try absolutely. One of the goals I set was a deeper connection to the Most High, Yahweh, and I am thankful that I achieved that, not necessarily by attending church but by truly seeking Him, His Kingdom and His Righteouness. As 2011 closes it is my goal to never refer to Yahweh again as God as I realize it is a pagan word rooted in everything outside of what Yahweh is. Hey but that is just me.
So ok, in this last week of 2011 how can you position yourself to start 2012 full speed ahead? I hear a lot of people say I will start working out in January, why not start today? Do you know it only takes 7 days to start/create a new habit? If you start working out today, stretching today, reading more today, saving today etc., whatever it is you want to do in the new year, by the time the new year begins you will have a new habit!
I am excited to be embarking upon a new endeavor starting next week. Once all things are finalized I will definitely tweet about it and ask you all for your support/thoughts.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Thursday, December 1, 2011
WORLD AIDS DAY
Today is World Aids Day, I'm positive I'm negative are you? Get tested, know
your status, protect yourself! AIDS is an epidemic that effects millions of
people around the world. Living here in America we have a lot more options
and resources available to us to make wise decisions and protect ourselves
from this life altering disease. While many gains have been made in
treatments their is still no advertised or talked about cure for AIDS.
There are those like Magic Johnson whose count of the virus is undetectable
and that is awesome! Nevertheless protect yourself, make wise decisons, get
tested and know your status.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
your status, protect yourself! AIDS is an epidemic that effects millions of
people around the world. Living here in America we have a lot more options
and resources available to us to make wise decisions and protect ourselves
from this life altering disease. While many gains have been made in
treatments their is still no advertised or talked about cure for AIDS.
There are those like Magic Johnson whose count of the virus is undetectable
and that is awesome! Nevertheless protect yourself, make wise decisons, get
tested and know your status.
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
1ST DAY OF THE LAST MONTH
Today is the 1st day of the last day of the calendar year for 2011. Think about the beginning of the year, whether you made New Year’s resolutions or set goals for yourself how have you measured up to what you’ve set? Even if you feel like you didn’t accomplish all that you should guess what? Today is a new day filled with new grace and mercy. How will you end 2011 so that you will have a great start for 2012?
It’s never too late to accomplish your dreams and as long as there is breath in your body you are well able to see them through to completion.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials
It’s never too late to accomplish your dreams and as long as there is breath in your body you are well able to see them through to completion.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE DESTROYS
Hosea 4: 6 (NIV) “...my people are destroyed (perish) from lack of knowledge…”
Knowledge, many of us have heard that knowledge is power, more importantly applied knowledge is power. In Hosea 4:6 Yahweh is letting us know that people are destroyed or perish for lack of knowledge. That made me think about a seminar I attending at Mars Hill Baptist Church, a mortgage broker was speaking and saying how African Americans were losing their homes to foreclosure because they did not have knowledge. Not only that they were not reaching out to obtain the necessary knowledge they needed to find out ways to save their homes from foreclosure.
Knowledge doesn’t mean that you know everything, knowledge means that you have sense enough to know your strengths and weaknesses and then you use wisdom to find those who are strong where you are weak to help you out! In other words, use your resources, like Yahweh asked Moses what is in your hand? Moses was holding the staff in his hand that parted the red sea. Now of course the staff didn’t part the sea it was Yahweh but more importantly it was Moses faith and belief in Yahweh’s ability to give Moses the knowledge to complete the task of freeing the Israelites.
This morning I was blessed by Pastor Winston, well I am blessed by him every morning and most importantly abundantly blessed by Yahweh as daily I wake up and receive new grace and mercy and I give a big Hallelujah and Thank You Yahweh. Let’s go back to the garden, Satan or the serpent told Eve if she ate of the tree of knowledge and evil she wouldn’t die, she would be just like Yahweh. Here is the revelation moment: Eve and Adam were already like Yahweh! Unfortunately for Eve she didn’t know that she was already like Yahweh and she was tricked into believing she had to do something to become more like him.
The same goes for us, once we were born again and dipped in the water we became just like Yahweh. Not only that we are citizens of heaven. What does that mean?
We are rich in finances, joy, peace, love, hope, faith, health, etc.
We can do anything that we think as long as we have faith the size of a mustard seed.
I like with Pastor Winston said the scripture said people perish from lack of knowledge, it doesn’t say people perish because lack of money, connections, friends, family, hook ups….
People perish because they lack knowledge. The most important knowledge we lack is knowledge of ourselves, who we are and whom we belong too. Once we all come into the knowledge of the truth of who we are, who are creator is, and that our lives have absolutely no limits, then we will walk and live in the fullness of Yahweh.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials
Knowledge, many of us have heard that knowledge is power, more importantly applied knowledge is power. In Hosea 4:6 Yahweh is letting us know that people are destroyed or perish for lack of knowledge. That made me think about a seminar I attending at Mars Hill Baptist Church, a mortgage broker was speaking and saying how African Americans were losing their homes to foreclosure because they did not have knowledge. Not only that they were not reaching out to obtain the necessary knowledge they needed to find out ways to save their homes from foreclosure.
Knowledge doesn’t mean that you know everything, knowledge means that you have sense enough to know your strengths and weaknesses and then you use wisdom to find those who are strong where you are weak to help you out! In other words, use your resources, like Yahweh asked Moses what is in your hand? Moses was holding the staff in his hand that parted the red sea. Now of course the staff didn’t part the sea it was Yahweh but more importantly it was Moses faith and belief in Yahweh’s ability to give Moses the knowledge to complete the task of freeing the Israelites.
This morning I was blessed by Pastor Winston, well I am blessed by him every morning and most importantly abundantly blessed by Yahweh as daily I wake up and receive new grace and mercy and I give a big Hallelujah and Thank You Yahweh. Let’s go back to the garden, Satan or the serpent told Eve if she ate of the tree of knowledge and evil she wouldn’t die, she would be just like Yahweh. Here is the revelation moment: Eve and Adam were already like Yahweh! Unfortunately for Eve she didn’t know that she was already like Yahweh and she was tricked into believing she had to do something to become more like him.
The same goes for us, once we were born again and dipped in the water we became just like Yahweh. Not only that we are citizens of heaven. What does that mean?
We are rich in finances, joy, peace, love, hope, faith, health, etc.
We can do anything that we think as long as we have faith the size of a mustard seed.
I like with Pastor Winston said the scripture said people perish from lack of knowledge, it doesn’t say people perish because lack of money, connections, friends, family, hook ups….
People perish because they lack knowledge. The most important knowledge we lack is knowledge of ourselves, who we are and whom we belong too. Once we all come into the knowledge of the truth of who we are, who are creator is, and that our lives have absolutely no limits, then we will walk and live in the fullness of Yahweh.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essentials
Thursday, November 10, 2011
WHAT IMAGE IS IN YOUR MIND?
I was watching Bill Winston Monday I believe and he said something that made me go hmmm...He said we as a people most importantly believers do not have a money problem or a health problem, we have an image problem. When speaking of image he nor I are speaking of how others view you, this directly refers to how you see yourself. If we truly saw ourselves the way Yahweh sees us we would be a lot better off than we are now.
That is not to say that every situation in our lives would be perfect that is to say however that our words would line up with that image. So how does Yahweh see us?
"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
"Because I master all things by The Messiah who empowers me." (Philippians 4:13)
"Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever." (Psalm 112:3)
"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)
"but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." (Psalm 112:3b)
"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;" (Psalm 34:19a)
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)
"And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if that you hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them:" (Deuteronomy 28:13)
So let's see a few things that Yahweh says about us, we are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, your seed (children) shall be delivered, we always triumph, we always win, we always have the victory, we are a royal priesthood, yes! you are ROYALTY, your seed shall be delivered, you shall not want, and overwhelming victory is yours. This is just a start of scriptures that you can meditate on everyday when you get a chance. Meditate on them until they are engraved in your heart. There are plenty more scriptures that you can find on your own. If the problem is our image we have to go to the source who created us to find out what our image is.
Most importantly we were created in the image of Yahweh. So if your actions and words do not line up with the Word you are not living and embodying your true image. Enough of that Yahweh made me the way I am. No Yahweh made you in His image so if you are doing anything contrary to that image Yahweh did not place that in you.
Your image is reflected in the current state of your life. I do not know about you but I definitely have some work to do!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
That is not to say that every situation in our lives would be perfect that is to say however that our words would line up with that image. So how does Yahweh see us?
"No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
"Because I master all things by The Messiah who empowers me." (Philippians 4:13)
"Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever." (Psalm 112:3)
"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." (Psalm 23:1)
"but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered." (Psalm 112:3b)
"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;" (Psalm 34:19a)
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place." (2 Corinthians 2:14)
"And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath; if that you hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day, to observe and to do them:" (Deuteronomy 28:13)
So let's see a few things that Yahweh says about us, we are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, your seed (children) shall be delivered, we always triumph, we always win, we always have the victory, we are a royal priesthood, yes! you are ROYALTY, your seed shall be delivered, you shall not want, and overwhelming victory is yours. This is just a start of scriptures that you can meditate on everyday when you get a chance. Meditate on them until they are engraved in your heart. There are plenty more scriptures that you can find on your own. If the problem is our image we have to go to the source who created us to find out what our image is.
Most importantly we were created in the image of Yahweh. So if your actions and words do not line up with the Word you are not living and embodying your true image. Enough of that Yahweh made me the way I am. No Yahweh made you in His image so if you are doing anything contrary to that image Yahweh did not place that in you.
Your image is reflected in the current state of your life. I do not know about you but I definitely have some work to do!
Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials
Thursday, October 20, 2011
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS
Resources and Opportunities for African-Americans
1. Wake Forest University has an opportunity for minority students to attend its MBA program for FREE, and so far, the response has been very poor. Please pass along this opportunity to your friends, families. This is a great school and a tremendous opportunity to attend a top graduate school. See the details below, the contact person is: Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, Rm. 3139 Worrell Professional Center, Babcock Graduate School of Management – Wake Forest University_ WINSTON_SALEM N.C 27109-8738 email: derrick.boone@mba.wfu.edu or visit www.wfu.edu phone# toll free (866) 925-3622
2. Black Male Teachers needed. Do you know any Black Males who are seniors in high school who want to go to college out of state for FREE? The CALL ME MISTER program offered by 4 historical black colleges in South Carolina, Benedict College, Chaflin University, Morris College and South Carolina State University – visit the www.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htl details online application or call 1.800.640.2657
3. Harvard University is offering free tuition to families of HONOR STUDENTS and their income is less than $125,000 per year. Visit www.fao.fas.harvard.edc or call 617.495.1581.
4. Syracuse University School of Architecture is desperately seeking young women and men of color interested in pursuing a 5 yr. professional degree in Architecture. Contact: Mark Robbins, Dean School of Architecture, 201 Slocum Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-1250 (315) 443-256 www.soa.syr.edu/indes.php
5. A free pair of eyeglasses from Target for any child ages 12 and under brings a valid prescription for glasses from their doctor. You can find stores with optical departments at www.target.com
6. APPLY NOW - If you have/know young adults between the ages of 18-31 with a High School Diploma. Can earn up to $100,000 and earn benefits. The Federal Aviation Association is taking application for Air Traffic Controller School visit the website www.faa.gov/
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essential
1. Wake Forest University has an opportunity for minority students to attend its MBA program for FREE, and so far, the response has been very poor. Please pass along this opportunity to your friends, families. This is a great school and a tremendous opportunity to attend a top graduate school. See the details below, the contact person is: Derrick S. Boone, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing, Rm. 3139 Worrell Professional Center, Babcock Graduate School of Management – Wake Forest University_ WINSTON_SALEM N.C 27109-8738 email: derrick.boone@mba.wfu.edu or visit www.wfu.edu phone# toll free (866) 925-3622
2. Black Male Teachers needed. Do you know any Black Males who are seniors in high school who want to go to college out of state for FREE? The CALL ME MISTER program offered by 4 historical black colleges in South Carolina, Benedict College, Chaflin University, Morris College and South Carolina State University – visit the www.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htl details online application or call 1.800.640.2657
3. Harvard University is offering free tuition to families of HONOR STUDENTS and their income is less than $125,000 per year. Visit www.fao.fas.harvard.edc or call 617.495.1581.
4. Syracuse University School of Architecture is desperately seeking young women and men of color interested in pursuing a 5 yr. professional degree in Architecture. Contact: Mark Robbins, Dean School of Architecture, 201 Slocum Hall, Syracuse, NY 13244-1250 (315) 443-256 www.soa.syr.edu/indes.php
5. A free pair of eyeglasses from Target for any child ages 12 and under brings a valid prescription for glasses from their doctor. You can find stores with optical departments at www.target.com
6. APPLY NOW - If you have/know young adults between the ages of 18-31 with a High School Diploma. Can earn up to $100,000 and earn benefits. The Federal Aviation Association is taking application for Air Traffic Controller School visit the website www.faa.gov/
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Epiphany Essential
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