Throwback Message: Desiring The World With No Passport

Every Eye That's Closed Isn't Sleep

Excuse the language, but the sentiment is true. Some people think you're Boo Boo The Fool; want you to tell your life story and the moment you and him/her fall out, your business is on the freeway. Even if you're on good terms with someone, keep your eyes open because people flip on you like a switch.

Smiling In The Face Of Adversity

Throwback encouragement from one of my FB friends.

Thought For Today: Setting The Right Example

Pro-Blacks: Enablers of Wrongdoing?

You can be pro-black and tell the truth about your own. Some blacks are enablers of wrongdoing within the black community. Any black person who criticizes another black person is what's wrong with the black community. Other races can give each other constructive criticism, but some of US (blacks) act like we're above accountability. Don't be another black person who calls out the ills of other blacks or you'll be labeled as coon, Uncle Tom, Sambo or here's a good one: You hate your people or you're a closet white person.

Being Nice: Strength Or Weakness?

Ask Mel❓

Is being a nice person a sign of strength or a sign of weakness❓

— Mel Mann, MBA, M.Ed. 🎗 (@MelDMann) October 23, 2019

It used to be a strength sign, but in today's world, it can be a weakness sign because some people will try and play you.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) October 24, 2019

It's sad that some people think nice folks are Booboo The Fool; like nice people are doormats to be walked over. I've learned that you can't be nice always; you have to let folks know what time it is early on so they won't get the notion to play you. I'm a nice person, but I watch how you treat others because if you do someone dirty, you'll try me like that & that's a problem you don't want.

Everybody Can't Handle Fame

If you're famous, you have a target on your back. All eyes are on you, waiting for you to slip. Knowing this, why can't some famous people stay out of trouble? You're blessed with a major platform and you abuse it by getting yourself in compromising situations. I feel if someone's prone to trouble, either they need to take a different path or lay low.

Know When To Wait, Know When To Keep Moving

Some things aren't worth the wait. In situations like these, you have to keep moving. Wait long, wait wrong.

Bishop Jakes: The Purpose Of God Is Stronger Than Men's Problems

Bishop Jakes: God's Purpose

“Don’t covet someone’s blessing because you don’t know what comes with it.”. He said that!🙏🏾I want MY blessing, not yours or anyone else’s.

God has enough blessings for everyone, so it's beyond me as to why I or anyone else would want someone else's shine. Like the old school song says, What God Has For Me, It Is For Me. I don't want your blessing, and you shouldn't want mine. You enjoy your blessing, I enjoy mine, that's it.

The Devil Is A Crutch

Sometimes, believers give the enemy too much credit. Every time a Christian gets into it with somebody, the first thing they say is "the enemy is working through that person" The enemy cannot work through willing participants. People allow themselves to be used by Satan. Is Satan putting a gun to your head to make you act stupid? No, you did that yourself. Christians need to stop giving the devil credit.

Throwback Thursday: Fake Love

That's called fake love, and people can smell fakery from miles away. I hear & read about people boohooing at funerals over someone's death and when others point out the fakery, I think to myself "You love them now, but didn't show love while they were alive."

Wednesday Gospel

If folks will lie for you, they’ll lie on you.

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) October 16, 2019

Bible Inspiration

https://t.co/o6CYu795aj via @pinterest

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) October 15, 2019

Relationship Advice By Madea

In the below clip, Madea (Tyler Perry) gives the best relationship advice ever. I've been a TP/Madea fan for years, and each play/movie he does, there's a message behind it; that's why I will continue following Tyler.

Relationship Advice

Living For Jesus vs. Living For Satan

I pulled this out of the archives because it's a good topic to discuss. I'm talking to believers because every Christian has felt this way at times, myself included. You go through persecution as a believer; at times you feel like foolishness is coming at you from all directions, so you get to a point and wonder if it's worth going through all this just to be called God's child. Then God shows himself faithful over and over and you realize that it's worth going through hell to get to heaven. It may be easier living for Satan, but living for him will lead to your demise. I remember whenever I did something wrong and got in trouble for it, my mom would tell me the devil is sitting back laughing at you. The devil blesses his people just like God does, but the devil's "blessings" come at a cost, your soul. When you get saved, you've got a target on your back. The people you ran with may see you differently, and probably walk out of your life, your standing may be affected, etc. It may cost to live for Jesus, but it costs more to live for Satan.

Chain Reaction

In the Bible, Genesis 3:1-24 is a good example of how one person can mess up for everyone. Adam & Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. God told them they could eat from every tree except the Tree of Knowledge Of Good & Evil. Adam tried to put it on Eve by saying, "This woman you gave me; she made me eat this fruit." Adam and Eve had dominion over the entire garden so it was Adam's job to remember God's order and heed it. Eve allowed the serpent to deceive her into thinking they would become like Jesus if they ate the fruit. Eve deceived Adam into disobedience, and when God found out, he punished both. The evidence of their disobedience to God is what's going on today. Moral of the story: Like it or not, your actions have an indirect/direct effect on others.

God's Goodness

Knowing God will bring me out with double, keeps my faith strong. Is it easy? No, but neither are most things in life worth fighting for.

Positive Black Imagery

Some black people complain (I've been guilty of this myself) about the lack of positive black imagery in the media, but I've had to catch myself and realize that positive black imagery doesn't generate ratings. The media's job is to generate ratings through negativity, sad but true. For every positive story about blacks, it's overshadowed by 5 images of negativity. I wish that weren't the case, but it's true.

Are Black Churches In The Hood Making A Difference?

Forgiveness & Race

This Amber Guyger trial has social media on fire. Everyone is speaking their minds on the trial, and it's good because some issues need to be talked about, such as forgiveness and race. If there's anything good that came out of this trial, it's the power of forgiveness. Botham Jean's brother forgave Amber Guyger for killing his older brother, then went as far as to give her a hug. Some people are slighted by that show of forgiveness because this lady took the life of his brother, and for him to extend grace on that level, it was almost like Jean's family gave her a pass. I can see how some people would be outraged. I see things from a Biblical and secular standpoint. From a Christian standpoint, the Jean family was following God's mandate of forgiveness. When someone sins against you, you are required to forgive them even if they don't ask or show no remorse. That brings me to this topic of race and forgiveness. It's no secret of the atrocities that blacks endured during slavery. Yes, blacks have gone through hell related to slavery, but why are we expected to overlook White America's sins against us? It's like blacks are supposed to be doormats for others to walk on. The moment blacks start fighting back, here come the titles of Angry Black Woman or Angry Black Man. Considering what blacks have gone through, they have every right and then some to be angry. Black people always have to be the ones to turn the other cheek, we have to be the ones to extend the olive branch, etc. I feel like this: Forgiveness is tough because some offenses are so grave that you can't let slide that easy. 

Considering all that blacks have been through, I think we're a forgiving people. Are we too forgiving? Sometimes, but I believe it's because some blacks understand that holding a grudge doesn't do any good in the long run. It doesn't hurt the offender, it hurts the victim because they're carrying around all that animosity towards someone who doesn't have one care of how they hurt them.

Something Is Seriously Wrong

It's Coming

Help me stay ready, so I don't have to get ready.

https://t.co/A1eYJF5n7G via @pinterest

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) October 2, 2019

Giving Pearls To Pigs

Matt 7:6 CEB—Don’t give holy things to dogs, and don’t throw your pearls in front of pigs. They… https://t.co/J08FMz1u5y via @biblegateway

— Florida Made (@RichardMIATL) October 1, 2019

There's two ways I look at this verse: One, is when a believer repeatedly shares Jesus with those who continually ridicule Jesus. Even the Bible says to shake the dust off your feet and keep moving, meaning you have a responsibility to share the Gospel with unbelievers, and if they don't listen, you've done your part. The other way I look at this verse is giving something sacred to unappreciative people. If you give something of precious value to someone who's going to take advantage of that gift, what good is that? To me, it's common sense thinking to share valuable things with people who will appreciate what you're offering. You're more likely to be satisfied with giving if you give to those who value what you're bringing to the table. How people become selfish is they give to everyone and don't use discernment in their giving. They get tired of being burned so they become selfish and either give sporadically, or not at all. Had they used discernment in giving, they would study Matthew 7:6 which says, don't give holy things to dogs or throw pearls in front of pigs.

You can't get mad at the dog or pig for trampling over your pearls because they're animals, that's what they do. I've had to learn this lesson many times before I finally got it, and now that I've got it: It's game over. I'm generous, to a fault. If I think you're not going to appreciate the gift (be it spiritual or physical), then expect 0 from me. You're not supposed to be giving to everyone because not everyone will appreciate the blessing you give them.