Living to be Known: What Have Others Done - 4WORDS Monday 21

What Have Others Done? #livingtobeknown #4WORDSMnday

Living to be Known: Are You? 4WORDS Monday #3 (video)

We're all known for something, by someone, in some way. It's not always what we think. But if it could be, how?

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Living to be Known: Belief, Knowledge, Practice - 4WORDS Monday (Video 1)

Checking Yourself - Valet Del Roy

Are you trying to figure me out? (uh-un)

Call it Eerie
I enjoy staring
Watching
Stealthily going about
As if undetected
Knowing they notice but don't see
Ignoring your thoughts
I'm sure you wonder
... Just call it Eerie

Say it's Diametric
Critically thinking
Actually listening
Loyal to the core
Wanting to love
Formally understanding
No, I'm not balanced
I'm living
... Just say it's Diametric

Think of it as Elicit
Let's empathize
Loving truth and honesty
Guards and strategically placed
I love eye contact
Come close and feel these words
Trust me, I see you
My smile and hug are genuine
... Just think of it as Elicit

It'll help.

Behind His Eyes pt.1

I was on my way downtown from the house; my train stop: Kedzie-Holman. I see a man who I would call a regular. That means, regular people I see who peddle, sell loose cigarettes or choose to politely ask each and any person who might notice them, for money. I don't often bet on those who do to remember me as much as I remember them. So if he did, he acted like he didn't, which is a reasonable act, I think, at least if I had to fathom being in the same position. It's hard to be fortunate, don't you think. We who not only have Christ, but life, and are privileged with loose cash (though most of us would claim that we have none) seem to often be in a dilemma. One that is hard. Some days we empathize, some days we sympathize, some days we just simply despise these people who we may think(though not all) have chosen to get themselves in such a situation, that is, if the situation had not gotten them. But that's not the focus here.

There are sometimes things I admire about the homeless or those who don't have enough and are forced into the humble position of asking (even peddling or begging). Some have intricately crafted stories of their situation and the base root of why they need that change or dollar. Some of these folks have to lie because they don't remember or have been on drugs to long to care how they get it, but just know they need to. Some have real issues, like mental illnesses or other medical problems. Some are just in a hurry to not have to go back to where they slept the night before, because many who are on the street are often beat up, raped, pushed around, stolen from, deceived and more. Anyone who is not intrigued about these lives, i hope you will come to meet and learn more of people who fall into this category.

So this man approaches me, I recognize him. He walks up and says "hey brotha, I don't mean to waste your time, I'm going through a rough time and I know it's not your problem it's mine but..." And at that moment I cut him off, extending my hand with the three one dollar bills I had in my pocket and said, "here bruh, it's alright, I recognize you, I remember your story." "Thank you bruh." he said while I shook with approval. "Naw thank you. Man last year was ok for us until my girl got locked up. now i gotta take care of my two lil girls and i aint got enough. i work for this catering company, and last year..." he was swiping his hands as if he was filtering through dolla bills, "...during the summer, good, the money was flowing. Birthdays, weddings, bar-mitzvah and such. But in the winter, ain't enough goin on, and now I'm out here, gotta ask people for money."

But this wasn't all he said. What he said next actually shocked me.

I Wish God Would Make More Men Like Me

I wish God would make more men like me
So every woman I meet could be loved
But, the new me
Not the old me
The kind me, not the blind me
To arrogant to see you as more than another  throphy
The letters you wrote me as more than mere openings
But the brokenness

To notice that you had wounds that needed treatment
Did I mention that I know a physician
I'll lift you
I see you; Here
Ride on my donkey, my mentor was a good Samaritan parable
he paid for you sweetheart, I
I just work for Him

Oh Lord! How I wish God would make more men like me!
So that every woman I meet could be loved
The new me, not the old me of course
The converted me
Not the perverted me
The patient me
Not the me, impatiently waiting to tame thee
To BREAK thee
Feeding sweet treats at your accomplishments to let me ride you
Right into the sunset, and then
All night upon even the sunrise
The me that, BROKE you, rode you, and after told you how great you are
Tying you to a post and moving on, but never too far
Not far enough that I can't come back to see you still tied there, broken.
Waiting for me to ride you again; needing me to; wanting me to; because you've been......broken
Thinking that now if you're not worth riding, then what are you good for then

Oh, how i wish God would make more men like me
The me that speaks
Not the me that winked
My flattering speech patterns
My smiles a nd sly eyes
Yes! I was always faded
But, I trained my responses so you couldn't detect
That I, actually, came, to rob you
Ha! I could've been a con artist
But I was never to good at faking it
I was better at making it so that I wouldn't have to take it but rather let you give it to me
The old me that is

I wish God would make more men like me
I know you don't know this me
But I often whisper "I Love You"
As you pass
Hoping you unknowingly heard me

Thinking that maybe
Just maybe, one day, when you feel alone
You'll somehow remember subconciously

I wish god would make more men like me
To forever remind you of worth
That my confidence outweigh your worry
My hug bring comfort
My smile contagiously is caught

To notice those little things that show you how special you are

I wish God would make more men like me
To see you
Know you
Love you
Help you
Encourage and lead you well
To be the kind of man that you need and have never known
At least for those of you who need to see one

the only problem is: I'm not that man, nor can I be
And God doesn't need more men like me
That's the whole point
He wants more men like Himself
Conformed into the image of His Son Jesus Christ

So I pray, God, Make more of us men like you
Because you love and always have loved every woman that has been
And you show us men, how we should be
Sacrificing ourselves
To Love you, so that you, through we, could love she

I don't understand Love

A conversation that almost turned argument got me to thinking: why can't we agree that we do not understand "Love." It really does not matter which type of love that may be because it is the essence of "love: that we truly cannot grasp. Before you get ideas about what I'm saying or how you feel, let me add some context to how my conversation with a good friend brought us both to ending it on this idea (not understanding).

This is simple, I stand  behind my point that "love is a choice." My friend says that though love "might" be a choice, love is actually more than that.

Now I could but I will not elaborate much on all that my friend said so I'll try to stick to my own argument, which will probably be sporadic, and I'm sorry if it becomes hard to follow, but I'm kinda thinking on a blank page right now. The truth is that i DO NOT understand love. try to examine with me. maybe a study will come and Ill add all my biblical references. but for now lets just - vent.

God chose to love us

God chose to create us and love us all the same

God is love but love is not God? (God shows us perfect love, we understand it through Him, so when we look at God we should see love even though we don't understand. But, because we don't fully understand love when we look at love we may not see God.)(God = love, but does love = God?)

I can choose to show you love or not to. Even if I felt like I did not chose to love you, if I do not act upon it than is it still love.

Love is not a feeling but with love comes feeling.

If you loved me then why can I chose to reject it. being that

Love is not insane or illogical and Love is not unfair. (we see love through broken lenses and
sometimes through broken hearts and hurt feelings and seemingly shattered dreams we conclude that love is or can be cruel, but if we look to things Biblical, God has been restoring and piecing together the picture as a complete thing. A perfect view that can only be understood by seeing the love of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit.)(and if God is the standard of love and has done it perfectly then love is logical and fair and very sane.)(His thought and ways are beyond ours or our understanding.)

Jesus commanded us to love, doesn't that signify that he wants us to chose to obey him and isn't loving God being obedient to him and it says that there is no fear in love because perfect love cast out fear. (so why are we afraid to love.)

We distort love and use it falsely which in reality is not love at all.

What I do know is that through Christ and the cross and the Resurrection that I came to understand just a little of what it means for God to love us, and having loved me in such a way that I should love the same, although my ability to love perfectly is not possible in this flesh.

Can unbelievers love? how about if they marry under the covenant of God, which is obedient, and never cheat or divorce? have they loved each other or even God?; even if unknowingly?

Being made in Gods image gives us the capacity to do certain things, how great may depend on whether or not you are "in him."

Originally we were made in his image and likeness. with sin we lost the likeness. in Christ we are conformed back to his likeness and able to love like he does, to some capacity. maybe?

So did God have to love us? Some say yes! others say no!
All I know is that God is in control and that He chooses what's happening and if all we know about the beginning is that God created (faring that he chose to) then all I can understand is that he also chose to love his creation; and that in every act, whether we understand or not, he continually is expressing his love which was complete in Christ. And that Is a love I do not understand. (As far as i can understand God, that is.) but as for myself, I did not use to love, i thought I had but truly had not, now I strive to truly love in a way that was only exemplified by my Lord. Choosing to to Love God and others through sacrifice and death to self for the sake of Christ name and the edification of the Body. Pointing you to the love i only know being that GOD LOVES YOU! if only you would chose to receive it and then [chose to follow], and thus love in the same.

but i don't know. If you do, I'd appreciate some help on this. or at least some thoughts. because at the end of the day I have to throw up my hand and confess. Maybe I just don't understand love. But i still think it is a choice.

Two Verses

18 For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the Lord,” he says, “and there is no other.19 I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.
Isaiah 45:18-19 (NLT)


I read this a few times and I still don't feel as if I've had a reaction to it. All I feel is an empty pit in my stomach. I do see such encouragement in this. How did you react when you read this? I don't think my emotions know what to do with this. Gonna meditate on this until it clicks! Pray for it.

VISIONS

Visions

In the scheme of modern things

I stand amongst the screams

If you freeze em like a snap shot

Then you would see a dream

They’re reaching after me

To catch me off my guard

If I give ear to one lie

Then the road to destruction starts

Standing on the stage loud speaking

Then behind the scenes

The secrets of internet seekings

We are not the weaklings

Impacting like bee stings

Changing lives

When we arise from these dreams