Why is it the so many so called followers of Christ, spend so much time in social media and so little time in prayer and meditation? Why do we as Christians make time for everything else in are day, except to help someone or give a word of encouragement. Time is something we all need to be mindful of. Because how is it going to feel if you get to the gates and the seals of the book of life are opened and Jesus says. I see you have had no time for me, or for anyone in need. I now have no time for you. Just think about it.

Why is it that people that grow up in homes full of disfunction. Find it so difficult to be happy without it? Unknowingly looking for ways to sabotage there success. That they can find no happiness in it? Why is it, that the lack of disfunction in a persons life causes such a since of insecurity. The answer to that question is this. The lack of faith and self worth and not fully understanding the gravity and depth of the trauma they have been exposed to. The reason I say this is because for years I lived that way. Always unknowingly looking for ways to destroy my happiness. I just didn’t like the uncomfortable feeling of living a life that was normal. Lack of drama was boring. It has taken years for me to see the insanity in my thoughts back then. I also understand just how hard it is to change that mind set. Being addicted to the drama is just as addictive as any drug. And just a hard to recover from. If you don’t renew your spirit and seek God everyday. Continue to do the next right thing. You will never recover to a place where your able to enjoy life in a realistic point of view. The one most people say. Living life on life’s terms. Let me tell you this it is a long hard process one that requires a strong belief in God and his forgiveness. As well as a willingness to change. By being open to suggestions learning what it means to be humble. Anyway. Just a thought.

While in recovery you find out a lot about the people around you. The same ones that when you were doing not so well in your actions always had something to say. About what you should be doing and how disappointed they are in you. But when life is back on track and they can no longer use you as a excuse too be in the position they are in as far as not being happy. They find no joy in watching you succeed. It’s almost like they wished that you never overcame your defects of your mental condition so they would always have someone to look down soon and to disrespect. The sad thing is that the people I’m talking about are usually family. Be it parents, siblings, children. The list goes on and on. So to everyone that is in recovery. That deal in life without the support of loved ones. I commend you strength through the adversity you face not only from the fight you have the have with addiction or mental illness. No that you are not alone. We all have those same struggles. But let me say this. If nobody told you they love you today know that I do. I would also hope that anti that reads this that has a family member that is struggling with something of this nature. Remember this. All that person my need to continue to progress and get stronger in their recovery is a kind word or a chance to talk about their struggles without being criticized for having the addiction or shortcomings in the first place. Anyway. God bless and enjoy the day😎

I Thank God for this day and the revaluation that he gave me last night. That reviled it self this morning. I was working on my video podcast last night and it just wasn’t coming out the way I envisioned it. I was attempting to make it more like a church feel, if that makes since. Instead of speaking about something I know about for a perspective of my communication style. Bring God to the people not as a religion but as working model. That includes all people. By being free to be myself. God had to remind me that I have a purpose. That only I can fill and in order for it too work I have to be myself. It funny sometimes how God works. Because i had the episode ready to publish. But God made it so I couldn’t transfer the video to my computer. I’m grateful today because. I have working understanding of my purpose for Gods people. I am really excited and ready to put in the work. So with that being said. Get ready here comes a man of God. To GOD BE THE GLORY.

The reason so many people fear black men in hoodies or any one else for that matter is because there are so many crimes committed by people wearing hoodies. I too as a 6’5” black male also get uncomfortable when I see someone with a hoodie on approaching me at night. It puts me on guard because I have had some experience growing up in a environment where many people carry guns while wearing them. So when our young men and women run around wearing hoodies and their pants hanging around their ankles there asking to be labeled. There was a time when self respect was very important. Where parents would not allow our children to go out in public looking like they this generation. The easiest way to stop the stereotype is to change the song that is playing. Wake up. Let’s us instill a higher since of self worth in our children. To keep them safe in a environment that labels them. If our youth want to express themselves. Let the do it through education. By uplifting our communities. By not buying into this fantasy world that is promoted by record labels mixed in with gang a penitentiary culture. So let’s work on changing our own perspective to change the narrative.

Psalm 33:1b. Praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright in heart.

Praise and worship have to be one of the hardest things for most of us to display. It is either because we are fearful of that way others my view are actions. Or because we are to prideful. Or because we really don’t believe in praise and worship to someone that we cannot see. I to have found it difficult. Because the man inside of me had not been humbled enough. But when I learned what real humility really was. Things in my life began to change for the better. I thank God for giving me the chance to learn humility before my blessings and true happiness pasted me by. 😇

The last couple of days has been a very eye opening experience for me. I attended a lecture on education and doing what it takes to make sure that are youth are supported in the quest for a better understanding of life. The lecture was based on the writings of Dr. Howard Thurman. Thurman was one of the most influential pastors of his time and ours. Being at this lecture gave me a since of belonging. But it also helped me to see that the vision I had for my ministry was to narrow in its scope. I also came to the understanding that I needed to educate myself further. In order to really be able to reach those that God has placed on my path to give sight and healing too. Through his word. Love and understanding. There’s nothing like the pursuit of God though his son Jesus Christ. But coming to the understanding that we as Christian are no longer stepping out to do the work of God. By providing an education that is effective and efficient for ourselves and the children’s of my fellow man. We rely too much on a system that had no love for the work of furthering the education of our children. The children that will someday be the back bone of our country. Where is the leadership that the church is meant to provide. Where are the children that should be in the churches not in the streets. Where are the men and women of God? Where is the passion? I’ll say this. This book by Dr Howard Thurman is a powerful peace of reading. I’m starting of with ( Jesus and the disinherited ) and all I can say is WOW!! I have never read something so moving when it comes to the understanding of spirituality and the use there of, for the improvement of lives based on the word of God. I would have loved to have had the chance to see and hear him in person. But since I can’t. I’ll read what he left to add a better foundation to my efforts to help Gods people and myself. 😇

This has always seemed strange to me. Why is it, most Christian have faith only when things are going well and there life’s struggles seem to be easy for a time. But as soon as adversity strikes that faith we claim to have goes right out the window. Without a second thought. I have been through enough adversity and bad decision making to fully understand that God is real and if you Place you hope in the father things will turn out the way God would have it. Not to say that you will not have pain and disappointment. It’s just that you can’t stay there long. You have to keep moving forward and endure the hardships. Never losing sight is the father. Guided by the Holy Spirit that lives with In. So don’t be of little faith. Stand strong and believe in the promises. Because they are true and available to all. Keep Putting God First.

Dante Craig Sr.

2manyfaces.home.blog

How many times in a day do you take, the time to look up? Not into the sun but everything around it. Every day brings its own set of challenges, taking the time to look up often help put things into perspective, The beauty of the place we all call home, is magnificent in its design. The abundance of life in all its forms,should be appreciated. To look at the blue clouded sky during the day. The star filled sky at night is just all inspiring, if you just take the time to look up. Slow down sometimes. Spend sometime with yourself. No cellphone. No television. No kids. Just take some time to spend with the most dominant thing in our lives. The planet 🌎 we live on. The one God gave us to live on. Bask in it spender, and at the end of the day. Remember, Putting God First, is the first commandment. Enjoy the day and keep looking up!!😁😇

Dante Craig Sr.

2manyfaces.net

Communication in Recovery

The journey of recovery is not an easy process. It requires a great deal of understanding. One of the most difficult things to work through is learning how to communicate effectively. Being in recovery I often find myself, dealing with how I view myself. The things I have done, not only to myself but, to my wife and children. Understanding the trauma that I have inflicted on my family is not as clear as it might seem. I recently had a conversation with one of my daughters. I was wondering if she knew I loved her. She told me she knew that I loved her and she let me know that she loved me. However, this is when I began to brace myself for the onslaught that I was sure was coming. But it didn’t come this time. She let me know that there are some issues that really need to be addressed. But she thought that it would be better to have someone mediate the conversation. She felt that I was not prepared to hear what was on her heart about the pain I had inflicted on her and her siblings. I suggested that we seek some therapy as a family. But I thought it was better to tackle these conversations one at a time. Looking at my daughter as she was talking to me helped bring one thing into clear view. I had lost a lot of time, running around in my drug and alcohol induced insanity. Never truly being present in their lives. The lies, all the verbal and mental abuse that I have inflicted on them. All I can say is forgive my language is “Damn” look what I’ve done. Even though I have received the help I needed and still do. My family has never had the chance to deal with their pain and anger. I carried all the pain I had from being molested as a child. The abuse I received at the hands of family members. Never feeling like I belonged. I am now seeing those things in my children. The same things I tried to keep inside for most of my life I was now seeing a reflection of that in my children. I continue to pray and ask God to help them and myself to overcome our fears of finally dealing with this issue. It all starts with bringing God into the conversation. Learning to get passed the negative communication we have developed towards one another. Build the trust that we will honor and respect each other’s feelings. And admit our wrongs that we have inflicted on one another. Because contrary to most people’s opinion. There has been hurt caused on both sides. So that being said it’s going to take everyone being open and willing to change our situation. Because without that commitment. The healing process can never begin. Many of us go through life with no place to find comfort. Carrying or burdens from one place to another. I found this passage in the life recovery bible. “It is essential that we drive out our family’s enemies so future generations won’t have to battle them. Whether our enemies take the form of alcoholism, drug use, sexual abuse, or other problems, we must resolve them rather than hand the legacy down to our children and grandchildren” that pretty much sums it up.

Putting God First 

Dante Craig Sr.