Walk in deez shoes

A mile in deez shoes

If you walked this path given to me i often wonder if you would see what i see

Would what God reveals to you make you cry, stray away or try to deny... the truth

Or would it make you shout, exist with fear and trembling in knowing that His gospel is proof

I mean my path is no easy lane

I sometimes wonder why i haven't gone insane... But He keeps me together!

See if you walked a mile in deez shoes you would feel persecution without solution?

And feel the fragrant ambiance of people's delusions

You would strive to stay in flight while sitting in the upright position

While trying to place the oxygen mask on yourself first for breathing provisions

Then help out others and be the obedient child

Placing yourself in position as bondservant... all the while

Enduring scourging, lashes through words that whip through many lips

That speak death like that tiny steer that guides the whole ship

Here take my left shoe and see how it fits.

See if it contours your foot the way it does mine after I've broken it in

See if you can walk in them to be redeemed from MY sins

See if you can worship the Abba Father like I do from beginning to end

See if you can cry out and push through my struggles and how i try to blend... in this life

I don't think you can handle the other shoe that is on the right

Because then you would have to clearly walk as me in my life

You would have to come full circle of the walks of joyful moments and then moments of strife

You would have to endure false promises broken

Late night words unspoken

Being with people as they only use you as a token

Only for you to be prayin and hopin... that they'll be true

See can you handle deez shoes too meaning yours and mine?

Can you wear two pairs of shoes at the same time?

Can you endure my walk and every step that I take?

Can you take the pressure when I'm being burned on the stake?

I'm sure you can endure the ones who love but can you endure the smiling faces that deeply and truly hate... me?

I have questions to ask... i just have to know

Can you handle the ups and downs the highs and lows?

Can you still stand when the angels that war for me come to blows

With the realm of darkness when they battle my foes?

Can you handle the whole pair when you have to be quick on your toes?

Can you handle deez shoes when you're weak but you gotta stand?

Can you handle deez shoes when you've been repeatedly betrayed by man?

Can you handle these shoes that fit only me?

Because they've been broken in to walk the path that's only been designed and tailor made just for me

So you need to walk in your own shoes and not the ones made for Kimberli.

Because the struggle is real and this life is too

I could just imagine what it feels like to walk in your shoes

And i guess because i have my own shoes, my own path to walk with God in

The Son of perdition

The one who took my sins in exchange for redemption

Who has saved me from my own destruction but that i won't mention

And still loves me even when I failed to listen... to Him

I can't begin to phathom even beginning to step a foot in your size 7 1/2s through 10s

Or whatever size you wear in women or men's

Would i want to walk in your shoes? Nah I'm good... I'll have to pass

Because i know how life can be, I've got my own path

And with a path like mine it keeps me out of your shoes

I can't begin to imagine your struggles and what your going through

So again I'll pass on walking in your shoes

But because i serve a God who shows me continually that nothing is too impossible for Him to do

When I go before the Lord in prayer I'll tell you what I'll do

I'll go to Him for my shoes that I'm made to walk in and I will pray for yours too!

Being a Bondservant of Christ!

My message is coming from the textual reference of Colossians 3:17-24 (ESV version) and it reads as follows:

¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

¹⁸ Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 

²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

²² Bondservants,^[a] obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[b] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

²³ Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 

²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Have you ever been in a situation where you can't help but to focus on the foolishness of people, but you totally missed the mark of what God wants you to get out of the situation? That was almost me?

I have struggled in the area myself because I found it hard to serve under people whom I knew were not right. This has been a problem for me. I don’t think that I’m perfect and this does not apply to all leadership positions that I have had to submit to.  I am specifically referring to those who are in positions as leaders or masters as Colossians refers to them in chapter 4:1 when it calls for them to “give unto your servants which is just and equal; knowing that you also have a master in heaven.”

So, I'm going to talk to you about being a bondservant. Paul provided instruction about how to present ourselves as a bondservant in various the positions we carry out in life. We must understand that these instructions are ultimately demonstrations of being a bondservant of Christ. Though these are only earthly positions and titles, in the eyes of Christ when we accept His will and way, we place ourselves subservient unto HIM and have made the decision to do works that are pleasing to HIM… in other words we have chosen to be His Bondservant.

The Greek translation for bondservant is doúlos (a masculine noun of uncertain derivation) – properly, someone who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own. This holds true for those who were under the old covenant and those who were a part of the gentile nations.

However, because we are now in Christ and are established under the new covenant  bondservant or doulos is now used with the highest dignity of believers who willingly live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers.

God allowed me to realize that I was looking at this thing all wrong. Did I see what they were doing and how they mal treat people who worked for them? Yes!

Did, I still serve them knowing that they were doing wrong as they talked about people, spread the business of others, and plot on how they would take people’s jobs? Yes!

Yet, God let me know that I could no longer serve them in a capacity that supported the efforts in which these people operated under because they we not of His will and So I dropped every position that I was asked to carry out.

Immediately I became to object of their affection… as I call it because they did everything all the way up to the end of the school year to defame my name, character, and black ball me in the school system. 

However, it was the Lord who allowed me to realize that this was still a part of His will and way for me.

The Lord led me to Colossians and told me that though I am experiencing these things from this group of people…that is not my focus! My focus should be on Jesus! Paul said that I should do ALL things as it is fitting to the Lord!

When we do things that fitting to the Lord we are doing things that are appropriate, suitable, apposite; fit, proper, right, seemly, correct; We are doing things that are a pleasing scent unto His nostrils.

Being a bondservant is NOT about you, your enemies, who talks about you, who loves you and who doesn’t, how much money you have or don’t have and so on or what position you have or don’t have.

It’s not about your children, your spouse, your employer, your co-workers. No, being a Bondservant is about serving Christ! Doing things in life that are pleasing to Him, serving, with diligence, and with joy… for in verse 23 it states the, Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men". This means that we should do ALL things in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH!

When Paul says that we must do things as it is fitting to the Lord… that means that the Abba Father takes precedence over everything and everyone!

In ALL things that we do and say Jesus should ALWAYS BE regarded first! 

Jeremiah 1:8 ESV, says, "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD." and Colossians 3:24 speaks specifically of our great reward and inheritance when Paul says. "knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

In Galatians 5:19-21 it reads, "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

1 Peter 1:3-12 also says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Therefore, when we forget about the faces of man, because through them we cannot obtain eternal life which is the ultimate reward and inheritance that we are to receive, we must consider that all mercy, power, grace, and blessings come from Christ! Therefore, we must put Christ first in all things we do because our duty to do great works that are befitting unto HIM!

I encourage you ALL who are bondservants: it doesn’t matter what trial or situation you are in. it doesn’t matter whether you are a husband, wife, child, employee, master/leader, IF have accepted Jesus as Lord, and Savior, and you have have received the Holy Spirit and committed your life to the dedicatio of being a vessel and temple for the Almighty, then you are still a bondservant and are called to do ALL things as it is befitting unto the Lord so that you can receive the great reward and inheritance… which is to reign eternally with HIM! 

BONDSERVANTS, do all things as it is fitting to the Lord. He is your Bridegroom and the one to whom all praises, worship and works of diligence is due.

I'm Not Judging You!

Judgement is not my style.
I go by character which should last for miles.
Form many opinions I am not phased.
I stand on honor and truth in many ways.
I'm not perfect in the flesh
But I'm perfectly made I'm one of God's best
Creations HE put on this earth
If you don't many still see my value and worth
And if they didn't it wouldn't really matter to me
Because I would do HIS will and seek HIS glory
That's why it doesn't matter what you or I are going through
You shouldn't be judging me because I'm NOT judging you

People are amazed at what I have to say
But I will tell the truth each and everyday
No watered down version but what is really real
It's the truth it doesn't matter how you or I feel
Perception is death and expansion of truth in your brain
It mixed with emotions and experiences that has left a stain
It can kill whatever you're doing and destruct whoever you're with
It's imagination gone wild get rid of it.
It doesn't matter what you or I are going through
You shouldn't be judging me because I'm NOT judging you.

Have you ever stopped to look at yourself
Do you see yourself as a good picture of health
Do you see yourself free from life's pressures and strains
Or do you see your life just going down the drain
Do you have finger pointing or have chatter behind your back
Have you ever experienced defamation of character to pull you off track
Or have you been the cause of destruction in someone's life
You added nothing to it except to give stress and strife
Are you the center of drama critiquing everything
Do you cause confusion about each and everything
Do you use manipulation to get what you want
And when you get it you go out to flaunt
Have you ever cheated our had someone on the side
Do you keep away secrets that you try hard to hide
Well I say that no one is perfect because you walked in the flesh
That doesn't take away that your are one of God's best
Creations that HE put on this earth
That many won't see your junk but see your value and worth
So, it doesn't matter what you or I are going through
You still shouldn't be judging me because I'm NOT judging you.


Originally Written: July 19, 2013

IT USED TO BE YOU

I couldn't wait for the phone to ring.
Endless hours of conversations
Breaking records I never knew were possible
Never a dull moment just chattering away
In silence thoughts of you swirl in my mind
But now it seems like a memory because life moves on
And after all we've been through
I'm so amazed that it used to be you

Spending time doing many things
Laughing crying talking
no judgement
Truth reigns
Sarcasm at its best
whack raps and mad cracks
Or just watching you be you
In your space you shared with me
Your life
Talks of the future
What you desire most
Support beyond measure
And you're still my friend
Still after all we've been through
I'm so amazed it used to be you

Looking in your eyes brown I see
Hear that cornball laugh at your own jokes
And the way you take your time
3 hours to get ready and counting
Time ticks away
But still i watch you
Carefully loving
Gently tending to and
Nurturing without criticism
Speaking your mind
Appreciating your thoughts
Sharing nights and days
Seemed to quickly go by
Then until next time
I'd be so amaze at the love we shared...
It used to be you!!!

Originally Written: July 20, 2013

MY WALK

I strut with a stride given to be my own
You may see me by myself but I'm never alone
You may only see one person but there's more than one
Because the spirit is with me and you can't handle it son... Or daughter
Whoever you are
I never claim to be perfect but I'm one of Gods stars
Shining bright always ,even in my darkest days
People still see His light through me sometimes I'm amazed
I will never take for granted that I may stumble and fall
But you too stumble and that's not all
We all have done wrong and have our crosses to bear
I'm just not hidden with mine... I put it in the air
I am a positive motivator and I speak the truth
I've been this way since I was in my youth
I used to try to be different but this is who she is
I'm the real thing not some artificial cheez whiz
Artificial never that I'm real to the core
I've never panhandled myself and I've never been a slore
I think I understand sometimes what gets under peoples skin
It's not whats happening on the outside but what's going on within
I stand by the word that even a just man falls
Jesus even took persecutors... They answered to His call
They were imperfect and slayers of the Holy Son
But God used them for the good of everyone
Transformed now their old skin is shed
And then they quoted scriptures for salvation instead
Of walking in their old ways for they were made brand new
This is also the path for me like it should be the path for you.
So think wisely before you cast your stone
For you can't say you've never sinned... So leave people alone
No one is perfect we have done things wrong
But pouring judgments never belong
When you judge your being judged too
For everything you have done or are about to do.


Originally Written: July 23, 2013

I WILL NOT BE A PILLAR OF SALT!

I AM NOT WRITING THIS TO GET SNAPS OR CLAPS

NO LIGHTERS, NO STANDING, IM NOT WRITING FOR THAT

BUT I AM MOVING FORWARD... NO LONGER LOOKING BACK

BECAUSE I WONT BE A PILLAR OF SALT

NO LONGER LOOKING BACK

I AM NOT LOOKING AT THE PAST… IM NOT TURNING BACK

GOING BACK TO WHERE I HAVE BEEN BURN MORE TIMES THAN A PROSTITUTE WITH THE CLAP

LIKE A MAMA WOULD SAY IVE NOT HAVING NONE OF THAT

BECAUSE I WONT BE A PILLAR OF SALT

IVE BEEN BURNED MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO MENTION

SHALL I CAREFULLY AGAIN MENTION THAT IM NOT WRITING THIS FOR ATTENTION

IM NOT LIKE AN ADDICT ATTENDING TO HIS LIFE IN A PIPE FOR A NEW HIGH OR AN ASCENSION

BUT IM WEAVING OUT MY VOICE... YOU KNOW WEAVE… ITS JUST AS AN EXTENSION... TO YOU VERBALLY

VERBALLY PROCLAIMING THAT I WILL NOT BE A PILLAR OF SALT!

WE SAY WE ARE TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED

BUT WE PUT UP WITH MESS

THAT WAS NOT A PART OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN… WE OFTEN SETTLE FOR LESS

THEN WHEN WE TRAVEL DOWN THE UNDESIRED ROAD KNOWING THAT TOWARD GOD YOU WERE SELFISH AND NOT SELF…LESS

AND THEN YOU CRY OUT TO HIM BECAUSE OF YOUR DISOBEDIENCE TO GET YOU OUT OF THE MESS

YOU GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS CONFESS, CONTEST AND PROFESS

WHEN GOD WAS LOOKING FOR YOUR FIRST TIME OBEDIENCE… NO MORE… NO LESS

BUT YOU TURNED A BLIND EYE AND WORKED OUT OF YOUR FLESH

AND THOUGHTS SWIRLED WITHIN THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN SCREAMING “DON’T GET IN THIS! IT’S A MESS!”

BUT YOUR PRIDE WAS IN THE WAY… YET YOU STILL WANTED TO BE BLESSED

CRAZY DECISIONS NOT TO MENTION THAT YOU ARE DISSING THE ONE WHO IS DOING THE BLESS…ING

I WILL LET THE PAST BE THE PAST… NO LONGER STRESSING

BECAUSE I WONT BE A PILLAR OF SALT

SEE ME LOOKING BACK MEANS I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PAST

NO MEANING, FOUNDATION OR DEFINITION LONG ENOUGH TO LAST

ONE MINUTE YOU'RE HERE AND THE NEXT YOU'RE GONE… LIKE A HIGH… QUICK BLAST

THOUGHTS OF HOW MY HEART WAS IN BONDAGE… CLOTH BOUND, PAPER MACHE, ALL UP IN A CAST… NOT FREE

SMOKEY HAZE, CLOUDY DAYZ, WALKING THROUGH LIFE WITH MISTY… EYES BUT IM NOT HIGH… JUST LIVING A LIE

I SAY I AM WALKING IN THE TRUTH BUT IM TELLING EVERYONE LIES

PROCLAIMING THAT MY RELATIONSHIP WAS GREAT BUT IT WAS EATING ME ALIVE INSIDE

THE RELATIONSHIP WAS A WOLF WITHOUT A DISGUISE

IT DIDN’T EVEN TRY TO HIDE

NO TRUST, NO SUPPORT, NO ONE STANDING BY MY SIDE

PERPETRATING THE FRAUD LIKE I WAS BONNIE AND HE WAS MY CLYDE

BUT THROUGH ALL THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS IT WAS DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE

NO ONE TO HOLD ME ON THE MANY NIGHTS I CRIED… IN THE FLESH THAT IS

NO TURNING BACK FOR ME THANKS I PUSH BACK THE PLATE

THAT CONTAINED DISMAY, UNBELIEF, DISTRESS AND HEARTACHE

HOW COULD SOMEONE DO THIS TO ME… FOR THEIR OWN SAKE

I WONT BE A PILLAR OF SALT

REMEMBER LOTS WIFE LUKE CHAPTER 17 VERSE 32

THE ANGELS OF THE LORD GAVE LOT A COMMAND AND TOLD HIM WHAT TO DO

THEY SAID TAKE YOUR DAUGHTERS AND WIFE GO NOW YOU MUST FLEE

GO TO THE MOUNTAIN FAR AWAY FROM S AND G… YOU KNOW SODOM AND GOMORRAH

KEEP LOOKING FORWARD, PRESS TOWARD THE MARK AND DO NOT LOOK BACK

LOT ASK TO TAKE HIS FAMILY TO ZORA INSTEAD BEFORE THEY BEGIN THEIR ATTACK

THEY GAVE HIM PERMISSION WITH THE REMINDER DON’T LOOK BACK MOVE WITH HASTE

LOT TOOK HIS FAMILY AND THEY SET OFF QUICKLY TO HEAD TO THE SAFE PLACE

THE ANGELS WERE WAITING UNTIL THEY GOT THERE BEFORE THEY BEGAN TO WIPE S AND G OFF THE FACE… OF THE EARTH

BECAUSE GOD REMEMBERED ABRAHAM AND SAW LOTS WORTH

BUT ON THEIR TRAVELS HIS WIFE DISOBEDIENCE RETURNED HER BACK TO THE EARTH

SHE TURNED AND LOOKED BACK AND A PILLAR SHE BECAME

A SALT FORMATION …A STATUE… THE PAST WAS TO BLAME

HER ATTACHMENTS TO HER PAST LIFE AND WHAT SHE WAS LEAVING BEHIND

CAUSED HER TO TAKE ONE MORE GLANCE ANOTHER LOOK BACK…REMINISCING OF OLD TIMES

THAT SHE HAD IN S AND G REGRETTING WHAT SHE WAS LEAVING NOW THAT SHES GOING AWAY

BUT SHE STUNTED HER LIFE'S FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE CHOICE THAT SHE MADE

WHAT A COSTLY PRICE JUST LOOKING BACK AT WHAT ONCE WAS

KNOWING IT IS NO LONGER BUT LOOKING BACK JUST BECAUSE

YOU COULDN’T IMAGINE NOT HAVING IT BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID OF WHATS AHEAD

WHAT A GREAT COST FROM LOOKING BACK… I CHOOSE TO LOOK FORWARD INSTEAD

SO I WONT BE A PILLAR OF SALT

NO THANKS NO PAST FOR ME

WHEN I THINK OF ALL OF THE HURT, PAIN, REJECTION AND MISERY…

THE COST OR THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH FOR ME

I WILL NOT BE A PILLAR OF SALT.

Your Identity in Christ, Part 1

      Since earlier this week, I have been faced with seeing just how lost our teens and young adults are.  Maybe it started off as missing links in your lives.  For example, maybe your mother and father was present but were still absent in your lives because they weren't as active as they should've been.  Maybe there was no mother or father while you were being raised.  Or maybe they were both absent and you were raised by your grandparents or in a foster home.  Regardless of what is said, there was still a hole that has been left in you that you try to avoid by doing things that only will cover the hole but not fill it.

      I am here today because there are many things that God has pressed upon my heart this week as He has shown me even through my own children just how lost this generation of young teens and adults are and how you must reclaim yourself and walk in your own identity.  Last week the Lord showed me Proverbs 1.  It speaks totally about getting the instruction from the father and following the laws of the mother.  The purpose of getting and following these things is so that you may be able to obtain and walk in "wisdom, justice, judgement, equity".  We also learn to be prudent, gain knowledge and discretion, and understanding.

      In this section, I want to focus on is Proverbs 1:20-22 which says, "20Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?" (KJV)

      God has laid down a foundation of what He desires each of us to gain and obtain.  It is for us to be used by Him uniquely; for us not to imitate others or man, but to be used because we have been created in His image. (Genesis 1:26-27)  The problem is this world is so enticing that our young adults and teens have issues with knowing who they are in this world and in the eyes of Jesus.  We often find our own identities in the faces of others because it is based on what we see with our eyes and not because we believe in the invisible God.  We often want to belong and thus we conform to what others (man) are doing and the pressures of wanting to be accepted, that we, as the young, often tend to lose our way.  We find ourselves doing things that often times goes against what we truly agree with because we want to belong.  What does that mean?  If we are able to easily change our ways for the sake of belonging, we are compensating or trying to cover a hole that is within us that truly needs to be filled instead of just being covered.

     I want to look at the three types of people that God describes in the above verses.  In verse 22, God has asked how much longer will the "simple love simplicity", will "scorners scorn", and will "fools hate knowledge".  We will look at the character of each type of person.  while you are reading this, think about where you fit.  So, lets look at the simple person first.  Simple means, presenting no difficulty; naive; open, will easily fall for anything.

      Therefore, if you walk in the character of a simple person, you are easily led by others, you absorb anything that is presented before you and will easily adopt that as true.  You are easily led astray.  One of the most profound examples that I can think of is when gang members prey on the weak, (a person who has no family, who feels alone, or lacks self-esteem, or is looking for love or to be accepted) by telling them that no one will love, accept them, or consider them to be family like their gang family.  They will insist that they will not find anyone who will have their "back" like they will.  They usually finalize it more often than not by stating that they will "lay their lives down" for their gang family.  How enticing does this sound to a person who has come from a broken, loveless home? or who has no understanding of their own value or self worth? or has no real relationship with their father, mother or both? A simple person will hear all of this and believe it without thinking.  Why because it feeds into what they are already feeling.  So, they instantly think that this must be the answer...but, it is not.

      The second type of person that is described in verse 22 is the scorner.  A scorner is a person who: dislikes and disrespects often mixed with indignation; a person who expresses contempt by remarks or facial expression; and a despiser.  This person takes pleasure is causing anguish.  I also see these types of persons in our schools more often than not.  These children comes in the form of that child who acts out or disrupts the class purposely to gain attention and to disturb the classroom setting.  This is also a person who wants to be the center of attention and will not listen to any type of rebuke or correction.  They will constantly defy rules, expectations, and laws for the purpose of gaining recognition.  They often are satisfied when they have the ability to cause things to lose its balance, structure, or peace.  

      This is the student in class who will respond to you in very disrespectful ways, throw things on the floor, turn over chairs, slam doors while taking pleasure in it all.  You will often find them smiling or laughing when they have felt they they have done a job "well done".  This is also the student who will brag about the things that they have done to show themselves to be a menace.  This person could have been a simple person who has now absorbed so much that they have adopted their actions as way of life.  They think that what they are doing and how they are behaving is correct, when it is not.  Why do they think this?  Because, it is ALL they know based on what they have seen or what have been taught.

     The last type of person we will look at is the fool.  A fool  is a person who: acts unwisely or imprudently; a simpleton; a deceiver; trickster; and a cheat.  In other words, a fool is a person who is has mastered ALL of the things that they have learned and now has a great loss of scruples, morals, and acts on impulse.  They have absorbed much in their life as being a standard way of life and has considered that all to be true. So, what am I saying?  A fool was once a simple person who was open and learned and absorbed many things that were not always morally correct.  They began to practice these things by putting them to use in various setting such as: being defiant at home and in school; causing issues and problems in their neighborhoods and so on as the scorner would behave.  Now they have mastered many of those practiced behaviors and puts them all to use for the purpose of doing evil  or to served one's own selfish purpose.

      When I looked at these characteristics of each type of person, I now able to understand that many of our teens and young adults (more than I would care to believe) walk in these categories.  I am also brought to believe that they range in age levels which also doubles as a cycle.  What does that mean?  What I am saying is that when you are a child, meaning preteen, you see things and begin to "suck it up" or absorb them.  Your mind is being shaped to see and believe these things to be true until they are corrected. If it is never corrected, then you will begin to believe that what you have learned to IS true.  For example, if a teen/adult racist is a racist, there had to be a foundation of learning when they were younger based on what they had seen, been taught, and or heard. Because nothing was corrected to say, "You should love all people not matter what color, creed, or race", they will continue to walk in and grow deeper in what they have learned and believe it as the truth. 

      The other thing that I spoke of is that these three types of persons can be a cycle.  As we grow, we learn things from our home life and those who are in our immediate family circle.  Then, when we get into the school, we begin to absorb things from our peers.  Finally, when we develop relationships in our neighborhoods and communities, we also learn things from that atmosphere as well.  Many of those things will influence our behaviors.  Considering that there are many things that our teens/young adults must face we have to consider that the cycle goes round and round with each marking period or experience that they will encounter in their lives.  If, there is a hole in the teen/young adult, their behaviors will continue if nothing is done about it.

So, to end Part 1, I have a few questions for you.  If you are a parent, how active are you in your child's life?  Which category does your child operate in most?  What can you do, as a parent, to redirect that path that they are on?  What can you do to prevent your child from being on that any of those paths?

To the teen and young adult: Which category do you see yourself in?  Be honest with yourself!  Why do you feel that you are in that category?  What can you do to get out of this category?  Do you feel that you are in just one? or do you believe or know that you operate in all three?  What can you do to get off of the cycle so that you can be used properly by God?