G.R.O.W. towards your greatness! (a poem)

By Omekongo

They say greatness is a choice so what have you chosen?

You’ve been frozen in time and broken in mind

For too long the same song playing in your head

Living in breath but better off dead

But who said you didn’t have the power?

Who said this is not your hour?

You’ve been showered with a steady stream of words that kill your dreams

But it seems that since you’re still living that someone done lied to you

Tried to deny you of your own potential inside you

If you’d just decide to let no one deride you

Don’t even let them get beside you as you unearth the new you

Stop listening to naysayers and decide to do you

No more pity parties, sobbing and boohoos

If no one told you you’re great then let me be the first to

If you have the thirst to drink from faith’s fountain

You’ll develop the might to move mountains

We move tons of dirt to find an ounce of gold

So I ask you to move tons of hurt and find just one ounce of your soul

You’ll be on the path to control your own destiny

Getting out of your own passenger seat and driving your own car

Reaching for the moon but maybe landing among the stars

You have greatness inside you but you must choose to be great

Blaze a path of excellence, leave fear in your wake

All you need is already inside you

Just believe in yourself

G.R.O.W. towards your greatness and discover your true wealth

http://ChristophJenkins.blogspot.com

Am I Awkward?

When I lived in Korea for a year in 2008, one of my co-workers from th US, who became one of my friends, shared a video of him performing a poem he wrote while attending his church in Korea. He entitled this piece, "Akward." When I heard it, right then and there, I could relate to it. Amazing!

Marcus and I taught at the same "Hagwon." Hagwon is Korean for a private school that teaches English. We could relate to each other because we were the only black people in the entire school. Interesting situation...but I digress!

Enjoy!

Link to video!

Marcus Corpening

Patience Is A Virtue!

A few of you may know that I recently started blogging again. Before, when I was living in Seoul, South Korea, where I started blogging, I frequented many popular blogs. One of my favorite blogs was and still is my blogging friend, Don's poetry blog, "Deeper & Deeper-My Poetry Blog." So when I got back to the world of blogging, I figured I'd visit his blog to see how he was doing. Coincidentally, he had been gone from blogging as well. I read his first poem since he'd been back and it was like he'd never left. That piece was right on time! So I commented on it, asking if I could re-post it and he gave me permission to re-post any poem that I'd like and so I did...hence the piece below!

i never would have made it
had i not believed
had i not fallen to my knees
and prayed,
in a position of forced humility
amidst undying decisions of bad choices
and obvious futility,
all that which i quickly admit
only plagued me in the first place,
with a look of sadness upon my face
i desired forgiveness, repentance

my sins are countless, endless
well documented
but certainly not invented
the opposite of what i was created for
i have an ideal of what death has in store
so, i fell to the floor
then prayed and prayed

and prayed even more
i seemingly stayed on bended knees
every night and day, day and night
remaining thankful
to have been chosen
for this particular plight,
when He could have chosen a much different route

He never fails to prove what He is undoubtedly about
so listen,
what i am about to tell you is true,
we are not worthy
we, meaning me and you

although in my heart
i always knew His uplifting spirit
would carry me through,
even when others around me
fell apart, and failed to do
what i know they knew
they should most definitely do

it's true when they speak of
pride being one of the deadly few,
or maybe it's due to a lack of patience
them wanting a blessing to happen yesterday
when it doesn't quite happen that way,
so all i could ever say,
to perhaps help strengthen their faith

patience is a virtue

Deeper & Deeper-My Poetry Blog

Humble Prayer

Heavenly father, I pray to thee,

help me to love others,

the way that you love me.

Help me Lord, in all that I do,

to always be a reflection of you.

Walk with me closely, night and day,

so I shall never go astray.

Live in my heart, and give me your light,

that someday I may become pleasing in your sight.

Make me your vessel, that others may see,

your spiritual presence dwelling within me.

Walk with me Father, till my journey is through,

then by your grace, bring me home to you.

Reason, Season, Lifetime?

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you know which one it is, you will know what to do fo r that person.
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,
to provide you with guidance and support,
To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met,
our desire fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share,
grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbeli evable amoun t of joy.

Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.


LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime le ssons,
Things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson,
Love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant

"Akward"

When I lived in Korea for a year in 2008, one of my co-workers from th US, who became one of my friends, shared a video of him performing a poem he wrote while attending his church in Korea. He entitled this piece, "Akward." When I heard it, right then and there, I could relate to it. Amazing!

Marcus and I taught at the same "Hagwon." Hagwon is Korean for a private school that teaches English. We could relate to each other because we were the only black people in the entire school. Interesting situation...but I digress!

Enjoy!

Marcus Corpening

http://www.myspace.com/themightytestimony

http://amightyservice.blogspot.com/

How Could You?

by Natarsha N. Wright

How could you love someone like me?

How could you accept me for who I am?

For the person I was

For that time I put my ways before yours

For that time I followed the crowd

For that time I lied

For that time I stole

For that time I cheated

For that time I slipped into depression

For that time I tried to commit suicide

For that time I let him have his way with me

For that time I had an abortion

For that time I believed that I would be nothing without him

For that time I cursed you and mocked your name

For that time I put my job before you

For that time I put my money before you

For that time I couldn’t have my way

For that time I said, I’d never and I did

For that time I didn’t trust you

For that time I didn’t believe

For that time I didn’t have hope

For that time I didn’t have faith

For that time I told you, if you do this one thing for me, I will…

For that time I didn’t believe you would make a way out of no way

For that time I didn’t forgive myself when you had already forgiven me

For that time, and this time, and…

HOW COULD YOU? GOD, GOD do you hear me, do you even see me, according to James 4:7, I submit myself to you O, God, I resist the devil and HE MUST FLEE! He only came to dominate and have his way with me, manipulate and torment me, say it with me, "THE DEVIL MUST FLEE", "I am strong and of good courage, I do not fear nor am I afraid, for the Lord my God, He is the one who goes with me. He will not leave me nor forsake me."~Deuteronomy 31:6

Self Realization

by Ms. Twitty

Oh happy day

When someone can show me that they don't love me enough
But through the pain my spirit strengthens my mind so that I love me more that enough
So it doesn't matter what others show
Or don't
Praying to God
Asking for guidance and relief from this pain
He whispers into my ear
It's only temporary
You deserve better
You deserve the best
Put NO man before me
You will be bountifully blessed
Don't worry about the future
Just do My will
Give up control

This is not your will, but Mine
Give up your pride
Or your circle of struggles and confusion will continue
Follow Me and I will not lead you astray
Do not worry about the small things in life
I will handle it all
I will take care of you

As I always have
Take my hand my child
For I have always been reaching for you...

Prayer for Inner Peace

by Don Smith

Dear Lord,

you know of my heartaches
my pains
you know of my concerns
my aims
you know of my faults
my strength
you know of my bad judgement
my common sense
you know of my future
my past
and I know troubled times won't last forever
so I ask that you grant me peace
during these unpeaceful times
I ask, that you free my mind
of any worry
stress
I feel I can serve you best
with a peaceful mind
Lord,
I ask that you grant me an inner peace
this is what I ask
it is what I seek
In Jesus Christ name, I pray
Amen

YOU

I failed to understand the privilege and prosperity I had in you. There were blessings that were available to me (and those like me) and only available from you.

But you see, past memories often overshadow present circumstances. Like a dog that returns to his vomit, a clean pig to her mud, the comfortable, delicious, delightful, warm and fuzzy past often seeks agency to gain entrance to the present and future...over stepping its bounds.

And I open the door to that past by welcoming it into the...now, by stepping outside of your safety and security to walk on the wild side. Your comforter warned me, encouraged me to stay, but did not stop me because you gave ME the choice. Even my body rebelled against my mind: pit in my stomach, heart in my throat. But I packed up my blessings in the knapsack you gave me and walked out...and I didn't look back.

How easily I slipped back into the groove, into the rhythm. All my friends were waiting there, celebrating there, partying there, happy for my triumphant return there. They opened up my knapsack of blessings and helped themselves, bringing new friends that began to love me and adore me and it seemed that I was on top of the world. I celebrated my decision. I know you knew, but I knew better, because nothing felt like thiiiiissssssss.

But after awhile it seemed that my new friends didn't love me at all. Their presence and adoration was directly proportional to the contents of the knapsack and as the supply began to dwindle, they began to dwindle. When the knapsack was empty, so was I. I tried to get the party started but all of them were nowhere to be found. The comfort became asphalt hard, deliciousness soured, delight became sickening, warm and fuzzy became cold and brittle. For the first time ever, I heard the echo of my heartbeat.

It was then that I realized that it was you that knew better. The desolation of humiliation, the utterness of loneliness, the fat swollen tears of fears were my only companions, constant in their vigil, like vultures circling the cruelly sunlit sky waiting for me to die. And die I did, slow death to myself, velvet blackness, not allowing me to see the hand you gave me in front of the face you gave me, so I couldn't see you...save me.

The legs you gave me dropped to the knees in slavery and crawled back to you...waiting you, seeking you, weeping you, really loving you, everlasting you, wonderful, amazing, awesome you, arms outstretched.

And you said not a word,
and suffered none from me.
"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh"
As you slipped a golden ring on my finger and a robe around my shoulders...

'for this is my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and found.' And they began to be merry. Luke 15:24

©SojournerG 2008 All rights reserved

I've Diluted Myself

by Diana Ramsey (Northern Virginia)

Turn up the music so I can fade out the loud banging of my conscience hitting my heart. Roll down the window so the tears that fall out my eyes can be brushed away quickly before anyone recognizes my pain. Let me close my eyes so I won’t see the person I have become. Pour me one more shot of whatever this is that is making my body feel tingly with sin and temptation. I want to dilute myself of the purity I was born into, cause if I do I won’t have to hear my conscience, feel my tears, deal with this pain, see myself going to hell, or even be conscience enough to care. I’ve diluted so much of my soul that not even the holiest of prayers can drag me out. If I could take out all the bad I’ve diluted myself with, would I be clean again? Probably not, cause I would still walk around bearing the scars of a sinner. I was born into sin and with my help I will die just the same. I sit in church wanting to feel the Holy Ghost but I’m left in shame. The woman beside me was more worthy of this righteous takeover. Holy Ghost probably could get past all of my many distractions to whisper God’s love for me in my ear. See we all have diluted ourselves in one way or another. You read this poem from the outside in, now read it from the inside out, replacing the I’s with Me’s because you see yourself in between these words somehow. Dilution is the pollution of the soul, and like I said before…I’ve diluted myself………….

The ONE

by Natarsha N. Wright

You have been feeling me for a while now, but I couldn't see with all the distractions surrounding me
I couldn't see that all I wanted and needed was right here in front of me
You love me in spite of my flaws and all for who I was, who I am, and who I will become
You make me strong when I am weak
You always want what's best for me
You never give up on me
The more I get intimate with you, you help me see the real me
The me that longs for you, to taste and see, to hear your voice, to feel your touch, to feel you inside of me, I crave you, thirst for you
Shoot, honestly, I must admit that I am feeling you, too
They say some people search a lifetime and never find what we have, but once I stopped searching, THE ONE I was looking for was standing right here in front of me

If I Get 1 More Chance...

by Diana Ramsey


Today, I woke up feeling like I shouldn’t. 'Cause yesterday I still didn’t give all of myself to the "Most High". God, I know I disappoint you. The way I pray before I go to sleep and when I wake up, means less and less because I continue to do the things I know, from your mouth to my ear, what is wrong. I fornicate, curse, drink, and have not fully committed my life to you. I find myself being angry at the person in the mirror. The more scriptures I read, the more evident the presence of you should be in my life. If I get 1 more chance, I will praise you to those who won’t listen. But I'm laying here praying for that chance, God. So now, I lay down to sleep and if I get another chance, I’ll keep trying harder and harder each day to walk in your steps, God; for you wake me up everyday for one...more...chance.

After the "Love"

by Sojourner G

So there we sat on the edge of the bed...
afterwards...
on opposite sides.

She was looking at the wall. I was looking at the sink.

I kept wanting to be concerned about what was going through her mind, but everything in my upbringing screamed so loudly in my ear.

"What have you done?!"
"Boy you in trouble now!"
"Ima ttttteeellllllll!"
"You gonna git it!"

Why was I back in my childhood?

But through all of this,

God was silent.

I knew what I was doing. I turned heaven's volume down. Who am I kidding? I put Jesus on mute.

"I put Jesus on mute," I think I said aloud.

She was lost in her own thoughts.

I tried to think about the fleshly pleasures so recently experienced, but the three man gang of Grief, Guilt and Fear, leaned on me like the oppressing heat of the Saharan sun.

Grief reminded me that I was not who I thought I was nor who I claimed to be. He caused me to mourn the loss of my character and integrity. Said he talked to God and that He was hurt. I knew Grief was lying...and telling the truth. He convinced me that I no longer deserved life so I gave my joy to him.

Guilt went to work on my heart, causing it to thud sickly in my chest. "You're always telling other people how to live their lives, always giving advice on how to straighten up and fly right. Now you're just like the rest. Hypocrite!" The word stung like a slap in the face with a cold hand. He stabbed my mind with the knife of unworthiness, the ice pick of unrighteousness, and dug into my anemic heart with the dull jagged spoon of uncleaness. He convinced me that I was no longer worthy so I gave my confidence to him.

Fear said nothing at all, but settled in my stomach like a hot metallic ball of grease that would not allow itself to be vomited out...but made me wretch over and over. He fed the thoughts of panic about discovery and started a forest fire of humiliation and embarassment. My whole body trembled at the thought of what could be... because of what was. Without lifting my eyes, I reached deep inwardly and placed my security into his hands.

And there I sat as they circled around me, whispering to me, taunting me, assuring me that they were going nowhere.

Still there I sat, ready to be poured out onto the floor.
No form.
No substance.
No more.

Then the phone rang.

Out of habit, I picked it up, connected the call and said,

"H'lo?"

"Hi Honey! Dinner will be ready when you get home and don't forget you're taking the kids to bible study tonight, 'kay?"

"OK."

"But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
~James 1:14-15

©SojournerG 2008 All rights reserved