Sunday, January 23, 2011

He's Pruning Me!


Family, God must be preparing me for something, because I've never had so many people take advantage of my kindness and attempt to push me to anger! I've had a couple of instances in the last few months (since God brought me out of the state of depression I was in for most of 2010) where either I got bad service at a restaraunt or got burned by someone taking advantage of my kindness.

We went to Chilli's on Lakeshore Pkwy in Birmingham/Homewood, AL tonight. I was with my wife Felicia, my God-sister Bridni Hunter and my best friend MC. We got to the table and our waiter said, "I'll be with yall in a minute." He came back about 5 minutes later and got our drink orders. He brought the drinks back and then walked off. He then came back about 5 more minutes and asked if we were ready to order. Before Felicia can get out two words of her order out, He left the table and didn't say what he was leaving for. Well, he went to get his tablet to write down the orders. (Should've had it anyway right, or said excuse me, let me get my tablet) I asked him about a different type of ranch that they had, and he looked puzzled and then just walked off without answering. So after he didn't come back for a while I saw a nice young man that works there named Patrick whom I had previously met. I asked Patrick about it, and he told me I was talking about the avacado ranch. I asked him if he could let our waiter know, and he said no problem. I had to go wash my hands. When I came back everyone at the table let me know that our waiter just sat the plate down and walked off. Well, the plate had 2 ranches, 1 blue cheese and a honey mustard. (none of which are avacado ranch) So we all thought that it bothered him a little that I asked him about something that was in his job description... CUSTOMER SERVICE. Oh yeah did I mention that MC and I's drink was still empty?... I politely went to the manager, and asked her if she would come to our table when she got the chance. She responded it'll be just a moment while I finish up something. Well that moment turned into about 15 minutes. I asked one of the other guys, who also had a bad attitude to go get her. So when she got to the table she started giving excuses as to what took her so long. Then when I went into why I wanted to talk to her, she kept interrupting me and trying to make light of the situation. She didn't really take to heart what I was saying until I mention 2 of her workers that I know. So then she says give me a minute while I rectify the situation. Guess what people... she never came back. While we were waiting on her, the waiter went and told all of his co-workers that we were complaining. So all of the co-workers started walking by our table looking down on us and stairing like we were a circus act or something. So by that time I can feel my temperature rising, and I suggested that we just leave. MC never got his to go box, so he had about 5 chicken fingers sitting on his plate along with 3 cheese sticks from Bridni's plate. So needless to say I will NEVER go back to Chilli's on Lakeshore Pkwy in Birmingham/Homewood, AL.

When MC and I got in the car, I begin to tell him that I think God is pruning me lately. Then on the way home I thought about Job. Job 1:8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." So as all these things are happening to me, I'm just thanking God for all He has, is and will do in my life. I know He is going to take me to a whole other level, so instead of getting sour... I will yet praise! The devil may keep trying to throw me curve balls, but guess what?.... God is my batting coach, so I know He will have me ready.

As always, I pray God will bless each and everyone of you spiritually, mentally, socially, physically and financially. I just ask that you pray the same for me. Jesus loves you and so do I!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

2 Seconds


So many times in life things come at us like a Mack truck from every direction. Sometimes it seems as though there is no stability in our lives. So in return we get trapped in the whole web of life. We're on top sometimes, and then there are more windings and links added to the web. So this entry is dedicated to the hardships of life. If allowed I would just like to take but 2 seconds of your time!

Second 1:
Psalms 150:1-6
Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his supassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
This chapter in Psalms to me is a parallel passage of 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
God clearly wants us to praise Him in all that we do, and in neither of those passages do I see a clause where you shouldn't. So even when people are taking advantage of your kindness, Praise! So even when you haven't got full grips on who you are in Christ, Praise! So even when you're a 25, 35 or 45 year old female and you just don't see "Mr. Right" ever coming, Praise! So even when you just can't seem to make that passing grade in school, Praise! So even when you are not where you want to be in life, Praise! So even when you think you are doing everything you can to be a good and no woman wants you, Praise! So even when you've been laid off or jobless and you think there is no way you will make it to tomorrow, Praise! So even when you think you've made it, but now life is even harder, Praise! Simply put you should always Praise God!

Second 2:
Now clearly I have taken more than 2 seconds of your time, but the title is just a metaphor to get you to understand the point that it doesn't take all day to just stop and say Lord please get me back on track. While you're moaning and complaining, that's 2 seconds that you could be giving to God! While you're changing your facebook status to negative things, that's 2 seconds that you could be giving to God! While you're out there giving up on life, that's 2 seconds that you could be giving to God! Also, this entry is in memory of my Father, the late, great Bishop Prince James Jr. My wife, Felicia would love when we went home and ate over my Father's house. He would ask Felicia or myself to put his food in the microwave for about 2 seconds. Now we knew it would take longer, but He was just telling us that it doesn't take long. So next time you feel down in the dumps, just look up and say Lord I thank you, and I Praise you for what you have done, what you are doing, and what you are going to do!

As I've told you before everything I write is as much for me as it is for you. As always I pray that God will bless you spiritually, mentally, socially, physically and financially. I just ask that you do the same for me. God bless you in Jesus Name!