HeartSounds

Since I started this blog, there is one thing I've endeavored to do, share what I call my heartsounds. At some point I realized, though I shared honestly, I may have held back a bit. No, I held back a lot. It's a frightening thing to lay your heart bare. I've admired those brave enough to do this, envied them even, but when it was my turn courage failed.

By nature, I am private. Couple that with a creative's apprehension at rolling out a new canvas of any kind, whether musically, by written word, a first sketch - well, you get the picture. It's not a pretty picture. I am shaking my head as I type, because fear has gripped. That's hard to admit, but it's the truth.

I, however, made a decision that 2018 is the year where I will finally do many things I've wanted to, things that are part of my destiny. It requires a massive push at the mountain of fear that rises every time I purpose to share without reservation. This entry is the first push, and it is major. I commit to write without holding back. Okay, I've put it out there, now I have to follow through.

What I choose to write about will be thoughtfully selected with you in mind. Expect more firsts from me this year. I look forward to the journey of shifting into greater in 2018. Limiting mindsets have been kicked aside, and I am ready. Are you? Let's do this together.

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

When Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream" he was not just daydreaming about something he wanted to see happen. Dr. King was living on purpose, taking every step in his power to move toward a difficult goal. His mindset; I will try until I die. He knew that achieving the dream would come at great cost. There is a price to finally realize what you may have been longing for your whole life. You have got to maintain sold out resolve, and unbroken focus.

Dr. King referred to many believing and working alongside him as, "veterans of creative suffering."  Wow! Think about that for a minute - "veterans." They had been in the struggle for a long while, but giving up was never an option. Jail, pain, pressure, the sight and stench of death; none of these things stopped the advancement of a people who believed.

It takes inner fortitude to keep moving when you can't even see a light -- when there seems to be no end to the journey. It takes some kind of spiritual power to continue moving forward when the path to the destination is obscured, or barred. That spiritual power is birthed at the same time you are - your purpose comes to life in that wail, as air fills your lungs for the first time.

That purpose propels you when others say it cannot be done. It keeps you working in the midst of snickers and criticisms that would discourage even the strongest. Purpose becomes a steel rod in your backbone. It is like a Kevlar vest, blocking verbal ammunition from penetrating; a helmet that shields the mind when projectiles are launched.

The only one who can stop purpose from being fulfilled is you. I dreamed of walking across a stage in cap and gown with my degree in hand. I dreamed of singing, and writing. There were many detours on the path, but purpose never died.

What is your dream? Are you going to give up because of something someone said or might have done to discourage you? Don't do that. Live on purpose. It will safeguard you as you navigate the process to destiny. Hold on -- You have what it takes. Be strong -- You are going to make it.

What are you doing the rest of your life? Living on purpose? Okay, that's what I want to hear. I am rooting for you.

That's Nonsense!

You are a singer/songwriter. Now you tell me you are writing a book, but I don't hear any new music - that's nonsense. I don't understand what you are doing.

Why don't you focus on one thing? You run the risk of not doing well at either because neither has your full attention. That's nonsense. You will fail. 

What have you achieved musically? You have some songs out there but you are not charting. You have not achieved success in that area, so what on earth could you be writing about. I - don't - get - you!

I chuckle as I write this, because you are absolutely right. It is non-sense. If I only marched to the beat of my drum, the tale may be different.

Have you ever been driven by something - a dream, a goal, a desire. It is there every waking minute, compelling you to act. It remains unsatisfied until you do something. There is an unshakable urge. It is not just in your thoughts, but your entire being carries it - or rather, it carries your entire being. You cannot get away from it. It multiplies exponentially when the act is driven by purpose and fueled by the Holy Spirit. There is no way of escaping (I don't want to).

The truth of the matter is, they are directly related; my singing and the book. The subject matter I have written about came from burning questions about one thing. Each time I am at an event singing/ministering -there are questions about the Anointing.  Another truth? The revelations in this book are transforming me. They are preparing me for the next phase of ministry, and that includes my music.

In a few weeks the final editing process will be completed, and the manuscript shopped. I realize that God-sized assignments are not given unless He has a grand plan. It will all come together and the outcome will be non-sense - not based on what I can see, touch, feel or hear. It will be based solely on what God is saying and doing. When He does it, it may not always make sense to us, but it is always right. So, until he says otherwise, non-sense it is ... and I am happy to indulge. #pourtheoil