Look at God.....

Every so often in various cultures, there are tons of catch phrases that emerge and become so wildly popular and overused that you begin to cringe each time you hear them.  We have all become exhausted with phrases like "ratchet", "turn up", "have a seat (or several)", and "YOLO".  Even at church the catch phrases are there: we hear "But God", the elongated "yeeees", etc ... 

Over the last few months, the one I notice becoming most popular is "Look at God!! ...." and just like all the others, I see and hear it everywhere: hashtags, fb statuses, testimonies, etc and usually by this point the cringing would begin for me, but for some reason I can't get enough of that phrase ... I absolutely love it!

I love it in all the many ways I see see it referenced, whether it's:

A lighthearted praise: "Look there was one pack of strawberry waffles left on the shelf just for me .. Look at God!!" 

An appreciation for the other gender with your friends: "You see all that wagon she draggin?!  .. Look at God!!"

A testimony: "I had no money and didn't know how my bills would get paid, but I prayed and all of a sudden somehow the money was provided .... Look at God!!" 

I started to lend some thought as to why I haven't grown weary of this phrase and I think it's because it's a bit deeper for me ... 

I sometimes argue that one of the reasons Jesus was able to go sinless on earth was because he didn't really have to exercise faith, it was more an exercise of will power.  If he was just in Heaven chillin with God and witnessed all the times they bailed people out and came through for them, then while he's on earth, he KNOWS there's a God, because he's actually seen him... however, he may have still been tempted to turn stones to bread because he's hungry which makes it more willpower in my opinion (but anyway, I've digressed)

I have always been a natural skeptic and relied heavily on logic and sight to believe things.  I need to see it to believe it! ... and it holds firm in most aspects of my life.... and then there's my faith.

As a believer we are taught to rely most heavily on our faith.  This practice is always easiest when things are going extremely well in our lives.  We see the blessings pouring in and we credit God!   However, sometimes it's not as apparent because there are no mind blowing miracles occurring, or worse when things seem to be going "terribly awry" in our lives.  This is when our once unwavering faith starts to get weak and we begin to even doubt His existence... and this is probably because we've never actually physically seen Him.... 

For me personally, I feel like the expression "Look at God!!" is His way of saying, yes Greg, you have actually seen me and you have actually seen me often.... but let me make it a little more plain for you since you are a skeptic, I'm gonna make you see me a lot!  

So now everytime someone is blessed, whether it be major or minor and I see or hear them say "Look at God!!", I smile, and think "aiight God, you got it ... I see you Big Homie!" ..

but then again, what do I know

34 things about me ..... that you'll probably stop reading at 3 or 4

So I had this brilliant idea that I would write a blog that listed 34 things about me.. .. then I realized 34 sure is a lot. So I tried to condense it to 3 to 4 instead .. but that was too few.. lol

Anyway, I'm just gonna write some random stuff about me and stop when i run out or at #34 or when you stop reading .. whichever comes first.....

 I'll start with some of my favorite verses:

1) "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" - James ... I'm not exactly sure how a righteous man is defined, but I can attest to having some effectual fervent prayers answered

2) "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want" - David .. I have an entire blog dedicated to just this .. David's pen game was sick!

3) "... I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly"- God .. so dope

4) "..You have not because you ask not" - Somewhere in the Bible .. google it

5) "Remind yourself, nobody built like you, you design yourself..." - Jigga .. I never specifically said Bible verses

6) "The only man better than me, is embedded in me ... " - Chris Emdin

7) "Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds .." - The late Bob Marley .. pardon me yall .. the great Bob Marley

8)  "Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus does a man garner in the sweet and bitter fruitage of his own husbandry" - James Allen .. it all starts with a thought (both the good and bad)

9)  "..Your values is in disarray prioritizing horribly, unhappy with your riches cuz you're piss poor morally" - TI

10)  " Same sword they knight you they gon' good night you with/ ish, that only half if they like you. That aint even the half what they might do/ Dont believe me as Michael See Martin, see Malcolm See Biggie, See Pac, see success and it's outcome See Jesus, See Judas See Caesar, See Brutus See success is like suicide/ if you succeed prepare to be crucified..." - Jigga .. Dont worry about naysayers, it just comes with the territory .. keep grinding!


 Some wacky ideas i suscribe to:

 11) Love is a decision, not a feeling

 12) God only intended to save Noah and his family... he built that boat on the low...

 13) Women often encourage men to be cheaters 

Lol @ all the people that read those and was like "How you figure?!" or "what?! He's not even elaborating?!" ... nope, "aint nobody got time for that!!"

 Some goals for next year:

 14) At least 2 trips - at least one international and Jamaica doesn't count (neither does Canada .. lol).. I gotta get some stamps in my passport

15) Run a 5k .. maybe a 10k (that might be pushing it)

16) Become a Six Sigma Master Black Belt (A Professional Goal .. no its not martial arts)

17) Become a certified PMP (not to be confused with PIMP.. already certified ..LMAO)

18) A 20k pay raise (1 percenters here i come.. lol) - Yes that is realistic ..If your mind can conceive it...

19) Cook more often - This has been my goal for the last 3 years .. smh

20) Participate in at least 3 charitable events - Greg loves da kids and seniors

21) Find at least one new business venture to try .. no I'm not investing in your new record company

Some things I am grateful for (here's where it starts to get mushy)....

22) My parents - These people have been my everything: My biggest fans, my harshest critics, my spiritual, professional, financial, and life role models .. You have always led by example and for that I am grateful

23) My bro - I guess I could have just included you in the above one but I'm tryna come up with 34 of these things and I'm running out.. lol You have always been the dude I have looked up to. You always looked out for me whether it was teaching me the easy way to do math, or beating someone up on my behalf, or even just there to hear all the stuff I could never talk to anyone else about .. 'love you for that no matter what bruh'

24) Friends - Those of you near and far - You have no idea how much I appreciate you guys. So many of you motivate me to keep grinding, keep me grounded, encourage me, laugh with me, and more importantly, laugh at me. (funny always wins) Many of you always tell me how good I am to you, in actuality I am just reflecting what you are to me ... and those of you that think I'm a jerk, the same thing applies ... lol

 25) Associates - Those of you whom I am not that close to, but whether its an online motivational post, or a funny status, or some informative information, or hilarious ignorance .. I am grateful for ya.

26) Opportunities - I am grateful for the many opportunities that have been extended to me. I am also grateful for the new ones I received and been able to take advantage of after the many I have squandered.

27) Life - #nuffsaid

28) Good measure of health - This one is especially important to me. ( I deleted and included this one several times) Many dont know this but in 2005 I was diagnosed with Lupus. I remember a pastor anointing and praying over me that year. I also remember determining in my mind that I wouldnt be defeated by it. Since that year, I have never had any major flare or set back ... I only put this out there to encourage anyone else that may be going through it, your healing starts with you ... if you need someone to chat with, feel free to reach out to me and we can laugh at it together .. somebody needed to hear that

29) God's Impact on my life - please reference all the above

Finally, my prayers:

30) For my family - I pray for continued guidance, continued blessings, and continued protection over you and your life daily

 31) For my friends - I pray for continued success, prosperity, and love (if you believe in it.. lol)

 32) For my haters (everybody always claims to have these) - I pray that whatever I've done (whether real or perceived) that you will forgive me and that we may be able to work through our differences and resolve it

33) For the generation coming up - I pray that you will be able to stay focused and avoid the many distractions.  I also pray that you will not allow your mistakes (cuz you will make several .. we all do) to define or defeat you .. Also know that I'm here if you need someone to talk to.. I got you .. for the low low price of ... lol.. j/k

34) For myself - I pray that I will be a better person daily and that my influences on others will only be positive ... my fortune cookie yesterday said "the nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be.." yup, that sums it up

*whew, I'm exhausted*

Peace,
Me

The Poetry of Psalm 23 - David got bars!

Often times I tell people that I believe the 23rd Psalm were some of the illest verses ever written.  The pictures painted within the poetry are so vivid... David had bars son!! lol  Anyway, I once read a blog Toure did where he broke down a Jay-Z verse that he appreciated line by line and explained his interpretation.  I decided to try something similar with the 23rd Psalm .... so here goes:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

- The Psalm starts off crazy! Usually when we think of God, we think of him supplying all our needs.. David takes it a step further still and says that even beyond his needs, God has supplied all his wants!  Clearly either David had a much closer connection to the Big Homie than I, or he didn't 'want' as much as I do.. Lol

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: 

- The picture painted here is so serene.  When I read this passage, I picture blue skies, the best manicured lawn, a refreshing still stream of water that it is easy to drink from without having to fight against rushing waves crashing into your face. David takes this picture to the next level by indicating that resting peacefully in the green pastures and drinking from the quiet stream, don't only satisfy his physical refreshment needs;  He lets us know the peaceful refreshment reaches into the deep recesses of his soul.  This leads me to believe the green pastures and quiet streams he speaks of are also metaphors for giving us a snapshot or foretaste of the scene in Heaven.

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

-Here David reminds us that if you follow the Shepherd closely, he will keep you on the right path because you represent him... Cool line but blah in comparison to the rest of the psalm.. But no less important

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

- At this point, David's swag is on 100 thousand trillion as he diddy bops through difficult times knowing that he is protected by The Big Homie, who is bigger and greater than any trial and tribulation he may endure

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: 

- This is easily my favorite line of the entire psalm ... A continuation of David's swag (he might be at 400 thousand trillion here) .. Here he in essence says 'you dont want it with the Lord's anointed ...  We will feast on you chumps' .. Dinner is served!

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

- David finishes up strong by writing words that reminds us 'who Jah bless no man curse'.  David has been ghostwriting for centuries!  A reminder that once you have been anointed and blessed by God, those blessings will follow you for life and those blessings continue even after when u are dwelling with Him in Heaven.. 

Amen - The End