Prayers

some of us entered the 26th with tears in our eyes, mourning our losses (home, money, family, etc.)
some of us forget yesterday is the one day we set aside to truly love EVERYONE - or try to.
but we can't.

let us use the 26th to learn a lesson about the bags we tend to pack and carry around like state i.d.
p. diddy once said: i knew i was successful the first time i flew with no luggage.

we must learn to enter these new endeavors (days, relationships, jobs, etc.) new.
the bags we began packing at the beginning of the old should be discarded at the end and we must use the time between to shop for bigger, better bags.
let us enter the new with empty luggage.

to play around with a few lines from shug: it must piss God off for someone to possess the ability to progress/move on/start new and not use it properly.

let us move on and get closer to our dreams.
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a friend contacted me a little after midnight to ask me to pray for his family because they just lost an elder (grandmother).
so to him - and whoever else needs it:

let us pray:

dear God:
if i can survive the day i can survive tomorrow.
i will live this day and those to come knowing that it is and was you who created it & because of that i will find something to admire and love. i will drop my bags off at the exit of yesterday and fill the new ones with what you've brought me.

i will keep my smile always to the sunshine so the shadows will always fall behind me.

amen.
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peace.

prayer request from:

christopher butler-steward
@thebrownbarbie
@roroatl
@thekaptainkirk
eron riley
andrea smith
ms. michele
@lovelustme

this holiday has come & so many are ready for it to leave already.
whether we celebrate it or not - it's still a day to hold very close.
not because many believe it's the birth of a savior or because gifts are a-comin' - but because it's a moment in time that we will not get back. at least not until the government grants me my wish for plutonium and i can finish my time machine.

so hold these moments of family - love - happiness - thanksgiving - beauty so very very close to you.

i'd love to find a dock to love. create a moment in time.

i got a message from a friend last night telling me that the holiday will no longer bring memories of receiving barbie dream houses years ago. it will bring memories of her god mother lying on her death bed. memories of folks crying.
i asked why was she sad. and i understood the question seemed ridiculous. but seriously:
there's a woman spending her last moments in this realm - i'm sure the last thing she wants her eyes to see is a bunch of sad folks. and in the same respect - i'm sure she doesn't want to leave behind a bunch of teary eyed folks who drop water every december 25th.

hold these moments so very close to you.
celebrate that!

and this is my prayer for the day:

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dear god:

strengthen my mind so that my memory is as strong as my faith.
i want to remember every happy moment you have allowed me to live with my family and friends.

amen.
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peace.

today is one of those days when too many people get lost in the the thought of what's coming for them tomorrow.
lost in their stories and boastings about how much money they've spent and how they wish they hadn't brought so much. this prayer is not for those folks, then.

this prayer, sadly enough, is for those who probably won't read it. those who lay their heads on slabs of concrete or cardboard boxes, contemplating what soup kitchen to attend tomorrow. those who feel abandoned by any holiday's spirit.
the forgotten ones.

because they may not get to a computer, how about you tell them this story for me.
the story of a little girl:

there was an article in a newspaper a few years back about a little girl that went fishing with her father.
they went down a few hills to the river because that's where the best fish were, her father told her.

not too long after casting his line into the water, his pole broke. realizing he left his tool box in the car, he told his daughter to wait there for him. "do not go anywhere, baby. okay? I'll be back," he said.

"you promise," she asked in her 7-year-old voice.
"i promise."

he fetched his toolbox.
the problem is: when he returned to the river, his daughter was gone. but where?
she hadn't come up the hill because he would have seen her.

oh my god, she must have gone into the water.
search and rescue was called.
after a 4 hour search, the team spotted the little girl in the water, holding tightly to a branch, whistling as though there was nothing to worry about.

they grabbed her!
it was a miracle, they said.
a 7-year-old girl getting swept away by a strong current, found alive a mile down stream doesn't happen, they said.
so they asked her: how did you know to hold on to that branch? weren't you scared when you got taken away by that water?

she replied:
no. my father promised me he was coming back for me, and when he makes a promise, he means it.

so this is my prayer for the day: (say it silently or aloud)
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dear God:
i will not allow the rivers that attempt to drown me to become stronger than your love for me.
i know i have not been forgotten. when the currents get too strong, i will find the closest branch - and hold on tight, and wait.
i will see you soon.

amen.
-----

peace.

prayer requests made by:
@thebrownbarbie
@chuckmethiz
@labellerochelle
@jefro5
@abednego_jones
@jdantv
@apuje
@thekaptainkirk
@roroatl
@mentalorgasm

i spent most of the day searching for a flight here & there - not really sure where to go.
my original plan was to be sitting on south beach this weekend, cracking crabs and drinking ruby red grapefruit juice with beautiful people.
but that didn't happen.
i'll find myself in fur-lined hoodies - mobbing the streets of new york.
no big deal.

but my friends are all flying across countries, peeking out of windows at the something much bigger than them.
and i find myself telling them to be the passenger & the pilot.

then the confused look.
"the pilot? why should i be the pilot."

and i tell them they need to be in control at all times.
they need to know what turbulence to expect & when it's safe to move about.
it's the pilot that knows when it's safe to come down for a while and refuel.
and my friends all smile and continue packing.

fresh underwear: √
toothbrush: √
fruit roll-ups: √
condoms (just in case): √
mom's christmas gift: √

and i neglect to tell them the most important part of being a pilot.
but they already know:

always always always stay in touch with the control tower!


so i say this prayer (say it aloud or silently):

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dear God:

it is the turbulence in my life that allows me to appreciate the perfect flights.
i do not love you simply because you have lightened my loads and answered my prayers.
i love you because when i need to get in touch with the control tower - the control tower is always there.
clear skies.
today is going to be a perfect flight.

amen.
-----

peace.


prayer requests made by:

@thebrownbarbie
@sunyblack
@pnoty
Dante
@dontejahmar
@iConicPres
serenewoods

2009 is leaving & taking with it a bunch of names - those who left this foundation for a greater one.
and it's leaving so many of us questioning our health - our happiness - our goals & definitely our paths.
and here i am telling the masses: death is not to be feared. what we should fear is dying but leaving nothing behind.

what do we do now that we know for certain that death can come at anytime?
we don't FOCUS on death. we FOCUS on life!
we focus on what we need to do to make sure that dash between birth and death means something to all those who will share stories about us in barbershops and beauty salons - in classrooms and family reunions.

so what do we pray for?
we pray for an eagle eye.
we need to focus on what it is we really want to say (verbally, physically, with our hearts) - then we attack (we SAY it)!
we pray for discipline so that once our eyes are set - we are able to walk that straight path to our goal.
we pray that the path is not too easy because we know that without struggle there is no progress.

we pray to God and tell him 'thank you' for answering these prayers.

and so today i pray: (say it loudly or to yourself):

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dear God:

it is was good intentions that i ask for the following:
i ask for focus on this path you've made that i've been paving.
i ask for discipline that my vision does not dim and my intentions do not weaken.
i pray that you remain by my side until all goals are complete, believing in me like i believe in you.

amen.
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prayer requests received from:
@beesaun
@ladymystiq
@areee (ari)
poetik badu
D.K.B.
@blacktiepro
@echi_bon

peace.

Dear God:

today - more than ever - i found myself staring at a clear sign that I AM WHERE I AM BECAUSE MY THOUGHTS HAVE BROUGHT ME HERE.

so i am now going to change my thoughts.
i am going to change my thoughts because i know my actions are a result of those thoughts and my situation is a direct result of those actions. it's a three point circle for me now.

everything we achieve and everything we fail to achieve are directly linked to out thoughts.

so i'm starting today.
i'm achieving now.

so my prayer today is (repeat silently or aloud):

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dear God -
i am fully aware that the heart and mind are not completely separated
and today i will remove the trash from mind so that what remains is in tune with what's always been in my heart.
i will remove the rearview mirrors and drop the negativity and pointless thoughts some place and never look back.

amen.
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peace.