I Shall (Will) Recover It All! (I Want It All Back!)

The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. –Matthew 11:12b KJV

 

And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].  –Matthew 11:12 AMP

 

Good Morning Friend!

 

Are you ready to get your stuff back?

 

You know I was thinking the other day about this the year 2008 being the symbolic year of "New Beginnings" (for we understand that 8 is the number of "New Beginnings").  And while I'm enjoying and grateful to God for being able to begin a new and to have fresh wind blow through every area in my life…I thought about the things I have lost over the years that still doesn't sit well within my spirit.  You see there are some areas where I once had joy present in my life and now those specific areas are desolate of joy.  There are some areas in my life that love once lived, but today there is no love present in those areas (going out or coming in).  (Oh not the preacher…YES baby the preacher!)  There are some areas in my life where great ministry used to take place and because of one reason or the other there is no ministry going on in those areas.  Furthermore, while I'm excited about the new and what God is constructing now in my life, I can't help but to think about the things I worked hard towards that yielded no fruit or the fruit was devastatingly cut off.  I can't help but to remember the nights that I would lay on my face crying before the Lord only to have who or what I was praying for ultimately die.  But I declare today in the face of the enemy that I'm getting my stuff back times ten!  I want it ALL back and I want it now!  (FLAT OUT!)  Watch this…and not only do I want it back with interest, I want it returned to me with more power flowing through it, I want it returned to me with more anointing on it and I want it back with greater focus and determination in Christ.

 

My friend, there comes a time when you get fed up of being fed up.  You get tired of being sick, tired, depressed, let down and discouraged.  There are some areas in my life and I'm quite sure in yours as well where you lost people and things and you were glad when you lost them (or when they got taken away or maybe even when they walked away) and you are still glad today that it's gone, over and done with.  Amen!  BUT, there are some areas in my life and I'm quite sure in yours as well where you say, hey, I went through too much hell, I went through too much pain, I gave too much, I sacrificed too much, I fasted and prayed, I even gave up sin to obtain or get to a certain level of peace, joy, spiritual and financial freedom, etc.  Only to get there and to lose it and just walk away like "well it was fun while it lasted."  NO!  NO!  NO baby!  I refuse to accept that prognosis!  I refuse to just watch my blessings, talents, callings, ideas and visions just lay there lifeless, collecting dust, becoming memories of what used to be or what could have been.  Rather today its time to pull out the spiritual and natural defibrillators and its time to jolt your dreams, visions, hopes, joy, excitement about life, love, family, peace, money, spiritual life…ALL THAT STUFF back to LIFE!  Somebody needs declare that right where you are and begin to call out those things which are laying dead and dormant in your life and command those dry bones to LIVE AGAIN!

 

Some may say, well I never actually saw my deliverance, victory, or blessings (in certain areas) because I aborted it, miscarried or maybe even had a still-born expectation (my Jesus…I feel you Lord!).  To you I speak the strength and courage to conceive again.  I know what it feels like to get to the edge of victory only to have it fall a part right before the breakthrough.  But you must understand that it was all a part of God's plan.  Yea we made some mistakes, we flat out messed up (and probably will again…hopefully not in the same area) but one of the awesome things about Christ is that you can never go too far or get too low where you cannot go to Him for restoration.  Its time for you to believe again (in Christ and in yourself!).  Its time for you to trust again, love again and to be strong again.  ITS YOUR TIME!  Its time to let go of the pain, let go of regret, let go of the shame and GET BACK IN THE GAME!  IT'S NOT OVER FOR YOU!  (Thank you Jesus!)  Let me declare that again so the devil in hell will know we are not playing with this thing….ITS NOT OVER FOR US! 

 

"For the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence," here Jesus' mentioning of violence is referring to the intensity of spiritual warfare (or the fight to maintain) Himself, His calling, message, ministry and purpose.  He goes on to conclude this statement to the multitude that gathered (that He was speaking to concerning John) by saying "and the violent take it by force!"  Watch this…the Kingdom will never be ascertained passively.  Meaning that we (as believers in Christ) will go through some stuff, there will be some pain and we will lose some things, but we must understand that the Kingdom of God is based on the foundation of God's work (and continual work) on our behalf.  But watch this…God's work will always produce a response within us.  Meaning that we go because of Christ, what we have is because of Christ and because of Christ making the perfect sacrifice for us we have the strength of the Holy Ghost within us that gives us power to come against the enemy when he, it, they, whatever, whoever comes against that which God has promised us!  A thief is always actively plotting on how they are going to possess your stuff.  While destiny killers are aggressively planning on how to destroy your hope and dreams.  So we must be actively planning on how we are going to maintain what God has given us and ultimately apply what the enemy hates to our hearts, minds and even our dreams; and that is LIFE, INCREASE & GROWTH!  John 10:10 KJV says it like this: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly."

 

There will be attacks, especially against anything that is Kingdom oriented, because Kingdom favor is wanted by many (wisdom, success, happiness, a quality life, peace, etc.) but many don't want to go about the Kingdom way to obtain Kingdom outcomes in their life.  But just because trials and attacks are inevitable, doesn't mean that every attack has to knock us out or push us off our square.  To be an over comer we must establish a powerful and consistent life of prayer and life application of the Word of God.  Meaning not just being a "reader" of the Word, but actually taking the Word and eating it, letting it apply nourishment to the areas most needed, thus building us up and giving us the strength and nourishment that we need to maintain where God is taking and restoring us to.  I want to encourage you to go after your healing, your victory and your destiny but this time around you will be armed and more dangerous from your past experiences!  One thing I realize now is that it is possible to take pain and devastation and turn it into purpose & promise!  Hence as God strengthens you to recover what is yours and what has already been promised to you in the Word of God take these three points with you as a stage for contemplation on how to KEEP the blessing once it is restored to you!

 

1. How did I lose "it" (you fill in the blank for what "it" is)?  Simply looking at what our involvement was in the losing process should be the first thing we do.  The solution or the key to getting our stuff back could simply be looking at self.  In most cases (to be honest) we could simply recover or be restored by retracing and undoing what we did (knowingly or unknowingly).  We can also evaluate what could have been done to defeat the enemy spiritually before He manifested his attack naturally?  What were the signs that the Lord kept trying to show me to prevent this?  Do I even listen to the Lord after I pray?
2. Why did I lose it?  What is the natural or tangible purpose behind this situation?  What is God trying to teach me, show me or get my attention to point towards?  What is the greater purpose that shall be revealed and ultimately come from this?
3. What am I going to do to maintain when I receive my restoration?  What am I going to change about me to ensure I continue strong once I get my stuff back?  What am I going to enhance to elevate or increase what has been restored?  Who am I going to help (or how will I help others) through what I learned through this situation?

 

Friend, I pray that this will be a great year of "New Beginnings" for you filled with expectation that the Lord will do just what He said He would do!  Its time to wake up and reposition yourself to go and do a repossession (or two)!  For you SHALL RECOVER it all!

 

Much Love,

Clyde L. Webster

All I Need

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. –Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

 

Good Morning Friend!

 

Is He All You Need?

 

You know as we go about our daily duties and as we go after our life goals it's important to remember who our source is.  I was walking and talking with a friend the other day about the news and happenings in the economy and such and in the middle of the discussion I felt something rise in me as I declared out of my mouth "I don't care how many recessions our economy hits, I don't care how scarce jobs and money gets—I'm going to be just fine because my source is the Lord!"  Friend, no matter what happens around us we must remember that we as believers in Christ have an assurance that the Dow and Wall Street don't even have.  We have the promise from and of the Lord all throughout scripture that He will never leave us nor forsake us…that he will be with us (and provide and sustain us) until the end.

 

One of the great things about the promises of the Lord is that it doesn't just end with the writing on the pages.  We can see in our everyday lives how the Lord protects, loves, carries, provides, heals, guides, gives us joy and I can go on and on.  THINK ABOUT IT!  God has been good to you!  And you don't have to even think back too far!  Sometimes our gratitude can get clouded, especially when we begin to dwell on what is not instead of what is.  But I want to challenge you to take a break and think of the goodness of the Lord and thank Him for what he HAS ALREADY done and been to you!

 

Friend I want to encourage you this week that if you need joy and even some strength He will be that for you (Joshua 1:5, Psalm 35:9).  If you need peace He's that (Philippians 4:7).  If you need love, provision and just need God to increase you He'll be that too (Deuteronomy 7:13).  Whatever you need…the Lord's got it just for you.  As you go about your week, stand in the "In-Christ Reality" (thanks for that word Pastor Val!) that "In Christ" we have some guarantees that can not be revoked!  In Him we have whatsoever we need and we desire.

 

So the next time you feel the urge to complain about what isn't just remind yourself "He's all I need!"  When your money starts getting a little funny just look at your pocket book or wallet and remind yourself "He's all I need!"  When times get hard instead of reaching for your old vices that gave you comfort before but leaves you feeling more lonely, down and depressed every time just remind yourself "HE'S ALL I NEED!"  I love my family and friends but if they decide they want to act a little funny—that's cool cause He's all I need!  It's only when we truly believe in our heart and have rest in our spirit that the Lord can actually go to work on our behalf.  Stop looking for the solution and the answers to come out of you all the time.  (You know my sleep got a lot better when I got this revelation within myself!)  When it seems impossible is when we must remember the reality that God's got this under control.  Remember that as you go about your week and remember He's all you need!

 

Much Love,

Clyde L. Webster

The Conversation of a Champion!

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. --Philippians 4:13

Good Morning Friend!

What type of conversation do you allow out of your mouth?

As human beings we are governed mainly by our 5 senses: touch, sight, smell, sound (hearing) and taste. We often times make many decisions and/or declarations based on what we feel (sensually and emotionally), through what we see, how it sounds, etc. But what do we do when what we touch crumbles and fails to produce what we first imagined and worked towards? How do we react when what we see and what we hear doesn't line up with what we were promised? And how do we bounce back when we've had a taste of disappointment and we have smelled defeat? What do we do? We put on the mind, heart, drive and the conversation of a Champion!

A champion is defined as one who has defeated all opponents or opposition in a competition or series of competitions and/or tests and trials (Webster's Dictionary /C.L. Webster's Dictionary...SMILE!). In order to be deemed a champion there are usually some excruciating and rough training that must take place in order to prepare one for championship status! There is some building and some tearing that takes place. You will face things such as resistance, road blocks, situations that seem impossible to tackle and overcome and so much more. But no matter the opposition, no matter the stress or the strain, one thing that you will never hear out of the mouth of a champion is defeat. No matter if defeat is close and it LOOKS like victory is unattainable, a champion will always have victory in their heart, mind and inevitably in their mouth.

I really enjoy looking into the lives of those who have left encouraging and inspiring literary works (especially within Holy writ) that are revelatory to the human experience and have also impacted countless numbers of lives. One of the writers within the bible who always seems to grip my heart and captivate me through their writings is the Apostle Paul. Paul who in my opinion is one of the greatest champions of the faith (besides Christ) traveled extensively, doing the work of the Lord, establishing and Pastoring churches and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was a "tell it like it is" kind of guy and this is evident within the 13 books (or letters and epistles) of the New Testament that he is believed to have authored. One of his most recited, exegeted, eisegeted and celebrated scriptures can be found in Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengths me. One would think while reading this text that Paul was on vacation writing back to his church body in Philippi while his feet were kicked up on the beach or while he was catching his connecting flight from one city to another. But a closer look into Paul's life and ministry will reveal that he wrote the entire book of Philippians while sitting behind bars. Actually, it was the forth and final book he wrote while in Caesarea under Roman imprisonment for three years (Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians). During the time he wrote the book of Philippians (in approximately 62 A.D.), Paul is balancing life and death, freedom and captivity. Nevertheless, his conversation remained that of one who was free and victorious. When all odds was against him and when many would have ran and hid from the pressures of the embarrassment, the persecution and even the attempts from others to take his life; Paul kept the conversation of a champion. Take a look at this scripture in the Message Bible Translation:

I'm glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you're again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my
troubles. --Philippians 10-14 (MSG)

Friend, we must decide whether we are going to live a life of defeat or victory. Many will say after reading this inspiration, "I chose to live a life of victory!" And that's great, I would hope everyone would choose victory over defeat. But just because you SAID you choose victory doesn't stop life and difficult times from happening. This is usually where we make some of our biggest mistakes in life. We make declarations and don't expect the enemy (or demonic forces) to challenge our confessions. Watch this...you have so much POWER in your tongue (Romans 18:20-21) that whenever you SPEAK something positive into the atmosphere, the rulers of darkness and principalities (sounds deep and scary huh? Just other terms for demons or beings and spirits who are under the control of the devil) are instantly released with one assignment and that is to kill the creative force that you released from manifesting into its full potential. Remember this, the enemy fights the hardest when you are the closest to your miracle!

Now watch this...if your positive words have that much power to cause demonic forces to be sent after them to kill them before they are created in the natural...guess how much power your NEGATIVE words have. Your negative words have just as much power and creative force behind them as your positive words. You know, words and phrases like "I'm so broke", "you make me sick", "I can't do it", "this is just too hard for me", "I'll never be able to afford that", "I'll never be able to graduate from the university" and even phrases like "you ain't going to be nothing, just like your good for nothing daddy" (WOW! A double curse); these are all simple words but pronounced through a mouth and tongue of defeat can release curses that can take generations to break. But I came to inspire you that the buck stops here! You are more than a conqueror. You are the head and not the tail. You are above only [exceptional and intelligent] and never beneath [subservient and overwhelmed]. You will BE ALL THAT God has created, invested and set-forth for you to be! You are beautiful (or handsome) inside and out. You will not just lay there and take defeat, but you will rise above every challenge, every road block, every nay-sayer and every doubter. You will take on the mind of Christ and believe that you can do all things through Him [Christ] who gives you strength to become and overcome whatsoever you desire.

In closing, I desire for us to stop just chasing after our dreams, but for us rather to start possessing our dreams!! This week, start carrying a notebook and tape recorder with you and start writing down your dreams and goals no matter how big, radical or ridiculous you may think they sound. Write down or record who you will meet, where you will go and where you will live, what you will overcome and what you will accomplish. Put down your wildest dreams and begin to pray that God will give you the insight necessary to know which dream(s) to go after and when, how to position yourself in order to birth your dream(s) out correctly, who are the right people to incorporate into your dream(s), etc., etc. He will give you the blueprints to follow in order to accomplish every goal that you put down. Then start confessing your dreams to yourself and God every morning and go to bed thinking positive about your goals so that your sleep can be filled with positive dreams of victory, rather than nightmares of defeat. Finally, STOP comparing yourself and your success to others. Be the best you that you can be, no matter if millions never call your name. If you can lay down at night and say I've given my best, that's all that matters. Because I would rather be a cheap original, than an expensive copy....ANY DAY! (But we know that we are original and we are priceless because of what Christ has placed down on the inside of us! HELLO TRUTH! SMILE!) My friends after while your lifestyle/quality of life, your speech and your confidence will rise to levels you never thought they would and before you know it you will begin to work your dreams and goals into fruition. After while, you will begin to see yourself free, liberated and filled with the joy of the Lord because you took the necessary steps (or went through the necessary processes) and kept The Conversation of a Champion while you were at your lowest states in life!

God is setting you up for a great premiere into your destiny! Let your speech always match up to where you're heading! I'm somewhere in my future right now...and its real bright in here!!!! (Laughing with joy!)

Much Love,
Clyde L. Webster

If I Can Make It Through That...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

From Minister Clyde L. Webster & C.L. Webster Ministries International!

 

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  --Matthew 19:26 | KJV

 

Jesus looked hard at them and said, "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it. --Matthew 19:26 | Message Bible Translation

 

Good Morning Friend!

 

Am I going to make it through this?

 

Have you ever been in the middle of a situation and felt like it was the worst thing that could ever happen to you?  Only to get to the other side of the trial and find out that you were not destroyed by what you went though (as you thought you would be) and that it really wasn't as bad as the enemy tried to make it seem.  But in fact, you were better because of the test or trial.  I want to encourage you to begin to see yourself victorious!  See yourself free!  See yourself excited about life and all the challenges that may come with it!  Because guess what...If we can make it through that...WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH ANYTHING!

 

We must be reminded at times that in order to get to it, we must go through it.  Sometimes it may seem like what we are trying to get to is not worth the anguish that we sometimes experience on the road to our destiny.  But with God you need to know that NOTHING absolutely positively NOTHING is impossible for you to reach and to conquer!!!  Now I never like to make light of any ones experiences in life.  I think its nothing worse than someone trying to discount someone elses trials as "feather-weight" because we all have individual boiling points, stress tolerances and levels of faith.  But what I do want to encourage us to do is to begin to face our challenges and battles in life as if they are already won.  As a matter of fact they are already won!  Jesus Christ declared in his word: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. -John 16:33.  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.  I John 4:4.  So no matter what you face, what mistakes you made (or make) or what traps and snares have been set for your demise....YOU HAVE ALREADY OVERCOME!

 

Now let me say this...although we know we already have the victory that doesn't mean that we can slack up and get lazy.  We must be ready for every attack and fiery dart that the enemy will throw at us to get us off balance and off target.  When I say we must begin to face our challenges and battles as if we have already won them simply means we must possess the CONFIDENCE that with God I'm going to make it through this and I'm going all the way.  Watch this...the word "overcome" means to get the better of in a struggle or conflict; conquer; defeat.  To gain the victory; win; conquer.  Here we see in order to overcome or to be considered an over comer we must be engaged in some sort of struggle or conflict.  But what makes us an over comer is the ability to get the better of or to conquer and defeat the struggle or the conflict.  (If I had a wireless mic and a Hammond B3 I would preach and scream right here...LOL!)  So how can we earn the right to call ourselves victorious IF we don't face our struggles, problems, addictions, hurts, fears, etc., HEAD ON!  WOW!  In this new year I have decided that I'm forging ahead, knocking down anything and/or anybody (if I have to) that stands in my way.  I'm showing God that I'm serious about reaching my destiny.  Friend, as you begin to build yourself up in God and actually start to carry out what is necessary to get to your next dimension...God will honor your inner fight and He will see you to your next dimension in Him.  Its time now to begin to strengthen yourself for the fight ahead.  Begin to weight train with the Word of God.  Begin to cut back on the fat and cholesterol of sin and doubt and begin to work the work of Him who has sent you.

 

Be encouraged, empowered and changed as we tackle this year as if it is already won!  And for those wondering "am I going to make it through this," the answer is YES!  Because if you made it through that.....well you already know!

 

Much Love,

Clyde L. Webster

 

P.S. Enjoy this little poem that I wrote!

 

If I Can Make It Through That

If I can make it through all sorts of abuse, neglect, seeing my mother at times strung out on drugs and living in a single parent home

I can make it through anything!

 

If I can make it through not having enough to eat, barely anywhere to sleep, clothes that didn't fit and the fact that we lived in the ghetto and I still made it to college

I can make it through anything!

 

If I can make it through low self esteem, self image issues, being confused, misjudged and even overlooked by my peers in the gospel

I can make it through anything!

 

If I can make it through the horrific robbery and murder of my eldest brother (January 2, 2005)

I can make it through anything!

 

If I can make it through times past when I felt like David and a few of my pastors became like the jealous Saul

I can make it through anything!

 

If I can make it through failed ventures, job instabilities, being broke and bad credit

I can make it through anything!

 

If I can make it through a bad economy, rising gas prices, the Bush Administration and the year 2007

I can make it though anything!  (Hello Truth!)

 

How do I know I can make it through anything?

The answer is quite simple and its because God is my everything!

 

If you can make it through the pain, suffering, sickness and even that divorce

You can make it through anything!

 

If you can make it through the rejection, the misconceptions, through the eviction, repossession and even the foreclosure

You can make it through anything!

 

If you can make it through the dark times, confusing times, the angry times and even the "bump God and the world" times

You can make it through anything!

 

If you can make it through the lies, gossip, backbiting and betrayal from those who you loved and trusted

You can make it through anything!

 

If you can face the world and smile when you felt like crying

You can make it through anything!

 

How can I make it through anything you may ask?

Make Jesus your everything, its not a big task.

 

And now as I sit in retrospect

I love God even the more!

Because what I thought was going to take me out of here

only made me soar!

 

So no more feeling sorry for myself

Or harboring anger against those who did me wrong.

Its because of what God allowed

That now I sing a new song.

 

Clyde L. Webster

(c) 2008

I Almost Let Go!

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  –Romans 5:3-5

 

Good Morning Friend!

 

Is Your Grip Firm?

 

In our developmental stages in life most of us are taught to be bold, courageous, full of hope and faith.  We are taught to be optimistic and to work hard towards our dreams and goals.  But what do you do when the experiences and the hell of life knocks the wind out of you?  As I drove through the inner city of Detroit the other day I was for some reason very observant of the people I saw; and it saddens me to even report this but many people have just lost hope.  They have just simply let go of their grip on life, on society, their families, jobs and some even God.  And I bet if we took the time to listen to these people's stories and maybe even some of our own stories we probably would be apt to have the same outlook on life.  But how we look at, process and handle what we go through in life is totally up to us.  We can endure the storms of life as a good soldier, giving God the glory all the way.  Thus, allowing our tribulations to work in us more patience, this will in return give us a wealth of experiences that we wouldn't have gotten without the trial, moreover giving us more hope.  Or we can just simply lay there and die.   Friend, I want to inspire you to go higher this week.  I want you to pick up your dream(s) and begin to do your first work over!  Whatever you let go of without God telling you to, its time to pick it up and get a firm grip onto that dream, that vision, that business idea.  Yeah, get a sure grip on it because God is about to breath into the nostrils of your dreams and bring them back to life!  Glory to God!

 

As I drove I couldn't help but thank God because if it were not for Him keeping me I would be just like a lot of the people I saw—aimlessly walking through life without any hope.  The Lord spoke to me at that time and said "the difference between you and them is that they let go and you didn't!"  But to be honest with you, I almost let go as well.  There have been times in my life where I forged ahead with my faith in full force—only to get knocked flat on my back by what I experienced.  I thought about how devastation after devastation latched hold of my life, which caused me to literally want to (on several occasions) abort my own destiny and just flat out give up on myself and life.  After all, if this was all that life was cracked up to be—I didn't think I would be able to handle it.

 

A few years ago the Lord gave me the opportunity to open an after-school performing arts program.  Housed within one of the community centers in Detroit , after much prayer, preparation, a lot of hard work and the generous donations of our ministry partners we opened the doors of our program to some of the best and brightest young performing artists in the city (all without any grant funding).  During the tenure of the program we worked hard to build our program and to secure grant funding in order to grow our program and ultimately purchase our own location to hold our classes and administrative offices.  As I went about carrying out this vision which had placed a great burden on me to see it through for several years by this point, I couldn't help but notice the great opposition that I received from my own community of people.  I was called to sit in several meetings with some of Detroit 's "greatest" Pastors, Bishops, Business people even the Mayor of our city contacted my offices to meet with me.  All of these people had the power to write one check or make one phone call in order to assist us in keeping our doors open.  Sadly, none of their intentions were to do so, but rather most of them only contacted me in order to profit off of my idea.  Many tried to get me to bring my program under their management before they would help me or they were trying to see how it would benefit them to have my program listed on their roster all without offering any assistance in the longevity of the program.  I had one Bishop who has a community center that was not (and is still not) being used at all try to change the curriculum of our program to exclude the dance program (because of their personal doctrinal convictions) and when I refused to do so they refused their help.  Even my own pastor (at the time) was sitting back and waiting for me and my venture to fall and fail as well as many that I had supported and encouraged through the years (honestly…it was the craziest thing to experience!).  And if all that wasn't enough, the community center where we housed our administrative offices and program evicted us from the building because our program's success and potential posed a potential threat to their summer program (so they thought).

 

After meeting with my board of directors at the time and having to make the decision to close our doors I can remember feeling the lowest I had ever felt in my life.  And to add insult to injury I had to deliver this news to my staff, students, parents and supporters.  Luckily, none of our financial supporters asked for their money back because of my reputation of integrity (I have to give special thanks to Bishop Gregory Foster and the Kadesh Baptist Church of Detroit who allowed us to use their facilities to wrap up the end of our program).  I remember packing up my office at the community center and carrying out our furniture, supplies, equiptment, etc., with my brother Kevin (with tears building up in my eyes) seeing 5 years of hard work, sleepless nights, countless hours of meetings, working on grant proposals, etc., even the tens of thousands of dollars that I had personally given to make this all a reality all lost in the matter of moments.  All this disappointment, stress and pain and all I was trying to do was keep some kids off the street while instilling quality academic and arts education as well as vital social and mental impartations to help enrich their lives.  At this point I felt like "I've lost everything anyway—I might as well let go," but friend there was something in me (and still is) that wouldn't allow me (and still wont allow me) to let go.  That something is the strength, power and love of God that activates especially during times like these.  Moreover, because of these experiences I can stand today and say I'm stronger!  I'm wiser!  I'm better (not bitter)!  Because of what I endured.

 

My friend, even in the midst of adversity, mental and physical fatigue and anguish you have to have a dog-like determination that no matter what others may do to detour me, or how hard they push or pull me and try to knock me down, I'm not going to loose my grip—ESPECIALLY when you know what you are doing is God ordained.  I remember telling Kevin that I felt like I had failed.  I felt like I had failed my students & parents, my faithful supporters & staff (even though they still got their paychecks…see you still have to remain integral even through your storms) and I even felt like I had failed myself.  Kevin began to speak words of life into me that I will be ever grateful for (like he always does even when I don't want to hear it…I call him the African-American "Dr. Phil"..LOL!).  Now I speak life into you!  No matter what you are facing in life I guarantee if you hold on just a little while longer and don't give up—things will turn around for you. 

 

As I look back at that experience I can acknowledge how what I thought was a tragedy really ended up empowering my future.  It gave me great statistical data that I needed in order to construct a stronger grant proposal.  It set the pace as a great pilot program so that I could build an even stronger program the next go-around.  It even showed me that if I can withstand that situation with most of the odds stacked against me, then I could go through and withstand ANYTHIING life threw my way (and believe me, I've had to draw from that strength a few times since)!  Moreover, because I didn't let go, God sent someone from a totally opposite direction in which I was looking who came to me and said, "look I want to help you get some major funding for your program."  First thing I thought when they ran down their resume of all the millions of dollars they had gotten granted to so many organizations is "oh Lord, I wonder what she is going to charge me for all this".  Lo and behold the next words that came out of her mouth is "I believe in what you are doing and am going to give you my services free of charge."  Glory to God!

 

You see, because I gloried in my tribulations or chose to have a positive outlook on my situation God worked greater patience or endurance within me.  The patience eventually allowed me to have some experiences which caused me to have hope within my future that if He [Christ] did it before He will do it again.  The same goes for you!    Now, I'm not saying that it's always been this easy to choose to have this type of outlook on misfortune.  It comes as your faith increases and the more you decide that I'm going to keep going no matter what.  I wish I could take credit that I didn't give up because I just didn't want to…that would be so untrue.  But what is true is that I thank God because He wouldn't let me let go.  So what do you do when the experiences and the hell of life knocks the wind out of you?  You take another breath, get up, dust yourself off and never let go of your grip.  What do I hold onto when it seems like all hope is gone you may ask?  The Lord's hand, His Word and the promises He gave to us!  Expect God to make things better!

 

Much Love,

Clyde L. Webster

Alone But Not Alone Pt. II - There is Life after the Hurt! (Everything has changed!)

Good Morning Friend!

 

Are you ready to live again?

 

Often times in life we experience shifts, changes and downright disappointments.  Furthermore, there are times when it feels like everything that can go wrong in our life—does go wrong.  Life at times can seem very unfair and can leave us feeling as if we have gotten the "small end of the stick."  We experience let downs and become discontent through our families, friends, relationships, employment situations, our places of residence and the worst hurt (that I have experienced)…hurt right in the church!  Oh, and it's so easy to just shut down, give in and wallow in the hurts and pains of life, especially when what we face seems unjust and unfair compared to the service, faithfulness and love that we give to God and those around us.  But I want to encourage you this week that no matter what hurt you have faced in life, that THERE IS LIFE AFTER THE HURT!  Someone reading this now is facing what seems like an impossible situation, I speak to your inner giant and your spirit man to let you know that things are already turning around for you.  It's not too late, you're not too old, God has not forgotten about you!  He is going to turn that PAIN into PURPOSE!

 

I'm more confident now than ever to the fact that whenever we face life's vicissitudes (as a believer in Christ) its never to destroy us—but to always bring us closer to God, our destiny and even to make us more in tuned with ourselves.  Have you ever been in a place where you feel like "ok my footing is sure…I can breath….everything is ok" to only wake up and your whole world be turned upside down?  Well I have!  This year has been such a dynamic year for me filled with many ups and downs.  But within those ups and downs, I learned more about myself and my true purposes in life.  I learned the differences between "my will" and "God's will" and how to always tell the difference between the two (because you do know that there are times when our will doesn't line up with God's will!).  I learned more about the people who I called "friend" and honestly that list gets shorter and more refined by the week.  Nevertheless, I'm ok with that because I understand that although I can be cordial to everyone, all the same, everyone is not compatible with my purpose, thus everyone can't be my "friend".  Life gets a little easier when we acknowledge that everybody can't walk with us, be close with our inner being/spirit man or be inclusive within our inner circle.  I used to feel bad about thinking like that, but I see now when God starts to elevate us or even shake things up in our life—its also to shake those things, people and habits in our life that are not conducive or advantageous to the greater "you".  As I sat and contemplated some major changes that took place in my life this year (some welcomed and some not, however all are now embraced) as well as some major decisions I have to currently make, I thought to myself "everything has changed, nothing is the same" and I was for the first time in this season of my life ok with the shifts, changes and disappointments that I have or am currently facing.

 

In times past when I read 2^nd Corinthians 5:17, I always associated this scripture as speaking to new converts and babes in Christ.  As I was meditating in the word recently, this scripture dropped in my spirit and the Holy Spirit began to minister to me personally on this particular passage of scripture.  The Lord spoke to my spirit and said "my will and plans for your life were never designed to stay in the same place or to lay dormant month after month and year after year.  So since my plan and will for you matures day after day, so does everything about you, your mindset, your will and most importantly our relationship has to be elevated, renewed and strengthened."  At that moment I said within myself, "well I understand that Lord, but why the pain?"  He answered back to me "it was necessary (WOW…remember that?) for your growth, maturity and your relationship with me," (just like God to give you back what you have been preaching to others).  As I began to contemplate this, I began to see how my trials, hurt and pains have matured and moved me forward in so many areas of my life.  Not saying that it's easy going through, but there are some key points that I want to share with you that as I look back now, I have greater understanding and insight on.

 

1. Place your trust only in God!  So many times we get jacked up in life emotionally because we tie our trust and hopes into the wrong things and the wrong people!  Psalms 20:7 says it like this: "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."  You see, it's easy to want to place our trust in something that we can see and things that are physically tangible to us.  The true sign of maturity in a believer is when all hope is gone, all else fails, even in the lonely, confused and despairing times you can look to Christ and say "I'm trusting you all the way.  I trust you with my insufficiencies; I trust you with my emotions and feelings.  I trust you with my heart, my soul, my mind, my body, my life and my future!  I know things seem very dark right now, but God I'm placing my hand in yours and I trust you to lead me in the way I should go."

 

2. Don't seek comfort in man or things!  We also mess ourselves up and often times right in the middle of our deliverance process when we try to fill our voids through people and material things.  The Word of God promises in Matthew 6:33 that if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (or his will, plan and way for us) then all of these things (the material and HEALTHY relationships) will be added or given to us.  If we just be honest, going through at times can be very lonely.  You can be in a room full of people, everybody smiling, talking to you, etc., and still feel so void and alone.  This is a trick the enemy will play with your mind because he knows if he can get you by yourself then more than likely he can get you to fall for his tricks.  Next thing you know, you are desiring people and things that you didn't even want before.  Can we talk for real for a min?  When you are going through a trial or hurt the best thing to do is to get into the presence of God, not the bed of another man or woman, not go and spend till you feel better or even eat, smoke or drink until you feel better.  This is the time to lay before God and let him fill those insufficiencies!  Because after you reach whatever point of ecstasy within whatever vice you choose, the void is still going to be there.  But if you let God fill those empty spaces and make your down time productive then there will be no room for depression or sadness.

 

3. Don't blame or get angry with God because of the process you are doing through!  Man, it's so easy to do this.  I remember there was a situation that I was faced with for the first time ever in my life earlier this year and I tell you I had a fit on God.  I told him things like "how could you let this happen to me," "God if you loved me then this wouldn't have happened," "and since you let this happen I'm not doing what you called me to do."  BIG MISTAKE!  Although God knows me and my heart and knows that I will love and serve Him forever, we have to be careful not to become angry with God during the times when He is trying to ultimately empower us.  Furthermore, if God was to ever really remove His spirit, gifts and anointing from us…we would surely take ourselves out of here.  Because even when we go through hell, He's there keeping our mind from destruction.  Where would we be without Him?  I don't even want to think about it.

 

4. When you are feeling down and heavy, put praise on your lips!  Nothing (I'm my opinion) solves depression better than a true and intimate time of praise & worship unto God.  I have literally been at my lowest lows emotionally and began to just thank the Lord from the fruit of my spirit and before I knew it I was lost in His presence and had forgotten what I was so down over.  If we honestly step back and re-evaluate things, we will find that we have more to be thankful for than to be sad over.  Yes, sadness is a natural emotion and its necessary in its time, but you cannot stay there!  When you feel the spirit of heaviness put on that garment of praise!  You have to make a decision, am I going to stay down like this or am I going to take on the oil of joy and lay down this cup of sadness and bitterness.  Which leads me to the last point that I'm going to share at this time concerning this subject matter (maybe we will finish it in a future installment!)…

 

5. Move on from there!  There is LIFE waiting for you after the stage of hurt.  The enemy gets great joy when they knock you down and you stay there.  What gets me up out of little periods of sadness or depression the quickest is when I get a visual of the devil (or my physical enemies) laughing at me and this is exactly what we allow when we stay down and allow ourselves to get entrenched in what we feel at the time.  Get up from there, dust yourself off and declare your freedom!  Never allow the enemy to see you sweat (THANKS FOR THAT WORD ROYALE!).  But on the flip side, don't try to go after the enemy through violent releases or ill words.  Better yet, the best revenge that we can have toward our enemies and those who cause us hurt or pain is to SUCCEED!  Get up and turn that test into a testimony!  God will give us the strength to turn the tables and produce ministry out of our misery (and sometimes He will have us to minister to other through what we are currently facing in life).  What have you gone through or are currently going through that could help someone else through their situation?  Never in a million years would I have believed that I could so candidly talk about the things that gave me many sleepless nights.  But I'm resting easier now because I understand that what I go through is bigger than me and for a far greater purpose!

 

Friend, its time to live!  This week encourage and remind yourself that you will no longer allow anything or anyone to take the joy of life from you.  As long as we are alive, we will face hurt and pain as well as the shifts, changes and disappointments of life—it's inevitable.  But what we can do is change and elevate our outlook on these situations, how we react to them and how they impact us.  Until we leave this terra firma we will be faced with adversity and will have something to work out or to work on within ourselves.  Just breathe and take it one day at a time.  You have the power to make the best out of any circumstance you face.  Most importantly, if you know Christ and have relationship with him you have the greatest power available to make it through.  And because God is the Greatest Power—We Shall Not Be Defeated!

 

With Much Love,

Clyde L. Webster

Every Round Goes Higher & Higher!

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  --Luke 12:48

 

Good Morning Friend!

 

Are you ready for the next round?

 

Have you ever been in a place where you've said to yourself "I've been here before?"  There are times in life when you will feel like you keep experiencing the same situations, problems, circumstances, etc.  It may even seem like you could close your eyes and walk through it blind folded because you have been in this particular place or juncture so many times before.  I don't know about you but it frustrates me to all ends when I have to constantly repeat myself to someone and it definitely irritates me when I have to repeat test and trials…especially when I felt like I got the lesson from the last test.  Whenever we find ourselves on the "merry-go-round" of life it's usually because there is something more for us to learn out of the current situation or it could simply mean that we ourselves are being defiant or "hard-headed" about the will of God concerning our life.  Either way, to those who God has given great giftings, promises and anointings, i've come to realize that he expects more out of us no matter what situations we find ourselves in.  He expects more praise, more worship, more prayer, more fasting, more studying and living out of His word and more giving of ourselves.  The same goes for every situation or facet within the life of the believer.  Usually the proceeding stages in our lives causes for greater commitment, determination, and long-suffering than the stages before because they ultimately will yield greater returns and results in our lives.  Are you willing to go through the processes necessary in order to reach your greater levels and dimensions in life?

 

I remember hearing this catchy phrase so many times growing up in church as a child and you can still hear these words emanating throughout sanctuaries, conferences, etc., today.  It wasn't until I heard these words sung by a dear friend of mine about a week or two ago that the revelation of EVERY ROUND GOES HIGHER AND HIGHER really hit me.  You see we should learn lessons from whatsoever we face in life.  There should not be one event that happens to us and we just let it fly by like "oh well that's life" or "oh well everybody else is going through it too."  Whatever we face in life there are nuggets waiting to unfold to teach us something in order for us to ascertain to greater levels in life with an experience and some knowledge.  There will be times as I stated earlier that you will see similar landscaping throughout life that will resemble past experiences, hardships, etc.  Its at that time where our experiences should place our thinking on higher levels so when we experience situations that we may have in the past, we can experience them with GREATER understanding and knowledge.  This is what makes every round really go higher and higher!  You see, if I can look at trouble that I've faced before with just a little more faith than I did the last time, that shows growth and maturity.  When we face familiar trials with an elevated and renewed mindset is when God can truly open greater doors and raise us to greater levels because he sees that we are ready to go a little higher in Him.

 

We see it so many times within Holy writ.  We see Abram go through his processes until he becomes Abraham the father of many nations.  We see David go from being a sheep herder to being anointed [while he is still a child] to be the next King of Israel by Samuel and then he is sent back to work with the sheep.  He's called to live with and serve the King Saul and slew a great giant by the name of Goliath.  He then has to run for his life because of the anger and jealousy of his leader.  Years later having made it to where he was anointed years prior to be his problems don't stop there.  David had many trails and situations to go through but just like Abraham, within every test he faced he seemed to sit a little higher and have a little more wisdom than he did within previous tests.

 

One thing that this year has taught me is that EVERYBODY AND EVERYTHING has to go through a PROCESS!  So often we are anointed, prophesied to and even see glimpses of our own future only to have to start back at the beginning after seeing a preview of our promise.  This can be very disheartening, especially when the processes that we have to go through look nothing like the future we are to ultimately have.  I want to encourage you this week, that no matter how hard it gets to remember the promise!  No matter how long it seems like you have been in the same place—remember what the Lord spoke to you to do!  If you keep your mind stayed on these things while experiencing your process, it makes everything a whole lot easier.  Take it from me, I know it can be easy to want to quit in the middle of the process but you have to remember the promise.  You have to remember all of what you have gone through thus far just to get to this place.  You have to remember the countless numbers of people who are waiting for you to come out so that you can be an inspiration to them that its possible to make it through struggle and/or hard times.

 

So take off your blind fold, open your eyes and embrace this next round—because there is a blessing in the experience.  I see God raising you up right in the midst of your adversities!  I see him lifting you to greater dimensions in your business, ministry and marriage.  I can see God raising some single mother up off of welfare!  Get ready because you are about to tell welfare FAREWELL!  I can feel God breaking chains and setting the captives free!  Stand strong!  Don't give up and don't give in!  I know its hard right now but we can make it!  And we will make it!  In closing there is an old song that goes "nobody told me, that the road would be easy and I don't believe He's brought me this far to leave me."  Don't give up now—your next round just may be the round that you have been waiting for!

 

God Bless,

Clyde L. Webster

 

Song of Encouragement for the Week

"Don't Give Up!" by Kevin Hobson (The Overcomer's Project)

www.myspace.com/KevinHobson

 

"Expectancy" by Stephanie Pride & Ernest J. Lee

"Take Me Higher" by Stephanie Pride & James Shelton

(Incredible Worship: The Project...COMING SOON!)

www.myspace.com/SPrideRocks

Im Still Alive! (& He's right there!)

Psalms 116:1-13

¹I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

   ²Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.

   ³The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

   ⁴Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

   ⁵Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

   ⁶The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.

   ⁷Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.

   ⁸For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

   ⁹I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

   ¹⁰I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:

   ¹¹I said in my haste, All men are liars.

   ¹²What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

   ¹³I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

 

II Corinthians 4:3-9

 ³But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

   ⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

   ⁵For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

   ⁶For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

   ⁷But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

   ⁸We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

   ⁹Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

 

Good Morning Friend!

 

Are you thankful?

 

You know there are times in our lives when we hit road bumps which seems to flatten our tires.  There are times when we fall and it seems like we cant get up (or maybe we get tired and don't want to get back up).  There are even times when we look up to heaven and say "Lord what is going on here!"  Today my friend I want to encourage you to hold on because YOU ARE STILL ALIVE!  No matter what comes (or goes)…no matter what, I need you to remember that Christ loves you.  No matter the situations, circumstances or problems you face, you were born "more than a conqueror!"  No matter how far you have gone, how low you have fallen or what you have done there is a man who loves you and will pick you up, dust you off and love you into restoration!  If you don't know Him let me introduce you to Jesus!  He's always there!  Always around even when we push Him away at times!  He is such a gracious, loving and understanding God.  He can hear your cry, my requests and heal/deliver someone else all at the same time and He is never slack concerning His promises!  At times He will be quiet so that you can understand the season you are in or learn the lesson that needs to be heeded...but he's always right there.  He loves you so much that He has counted and keeps record of the number of hairs on your head.  When you are lonely and down in desolation and think no one is there...this man named Jesus...He's right there collecting every tear and protecting you even from yourself at times (WOW!).  When you call on friends or loved ones or even when you silently cry out for help to those around you...all to no avail--all you have to do is call Him and He'll be right there!

 

So when the storms of life seem to beat harshly against the window panes of your soul...be grateful that you can feel that pain...that means you are still alive.  And if you are still alive there is another chance that things can get better.  Thank God for life this week because it could be worse.  And when it seems like there's more on you than you can bear...remember HE'S RIGHT THERE!

 

Much Love,

Clyde L. Webster

 

P.S. We will finish the "Alone But Not Alone (There is Life after the Hurt)" installment next week (hopefully!).

Alone But Not Alone. (I'll Be Around!)

Let me start by saying that today's inspiration may be a little "raw" and "uncut" for the religious reader.  Most of the time I write these inspirations based on things I have faced in my past, but today's is a little different as I am right in the middle of dealing with this subject matter.  (So as a warning, some of my language, thoughts and opinions may not be as polished and complete as you are used to.)  But this is something that over the next couple of weeks (or until I'm instructed to move on by the Lord) we will deal with together because I believe that God wants us whole not just spiritually but in EVERY area and aspect in life that we face.  So look at these next couple of inspirations as "works in progress" as we tackle some real-life situations, feelings, emotions, etc.  There may be thoughts that I come back and correct or add to in future inspirations but I feel that even in that someone will see that sometimes improvement or progress is nasty and not "clean cut."  Sometimes you have to just grab your hammer and go to swinging in order to get the wall down.  So join me on this journey that will prayerfully end in release, forgiveness and dealing with the issue head on.
With a heart of love,
~CLW

 

...and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  -Matthew 28:20b

Good Morning Friend,

Have you ever felt like not facing the world?

People come and people go, and the colors that they bring.  You're [God] still here and we both know, you'll remain through sunshine and rain.  (Marvin L. Winans, "Alone But Not Alone")

Loss never really seems like a good thing.  Especially when you have gravely invested yourself, your emotions, your love, your finances, your time, your efforts, etc., into that which ends up seemingly coming to nothing.  Often time it can hurt to the core especially when you look back at all you have given and it seems like you have wasted your time and that you will never regain parts of you that you had so freely given in the name of the Lord, in the name of love, or even the possibility of love, etc.  Yes, and if we all will be quite honest at times it hurts like...(well you know) when you lose something or someone.  Honestly, it took all I had within me to get out and to face the world today because I am facing loss.  And to be even more honest it feels like a part of me died through this loss.  Moreover, sometimes it's not just the fact that you just had a loss but its how it all goes down that can be even more hurtful.  Nevertheless, as I laid in bed this morning trying to decide if I should just lay there or should I get up with all this hurt and pain running through me, my mind and my soul...I was reminded that Christ got up for me one day.  With the worst pains possible (both physical and emotional) Christ got up from the grave that people who "loved and cared" about Him put Him in.  It was the ones who were just throwing palms at His feet and crying "Hosanna!  Hosanna!" that put Him there.  You know its usually always the ones that say I love you, I will never hurt you, I got your back, I'm not going anywhere, that usually places the dagger right through your heart—sometimes right as they are embracing you.   So I thought this morning, surely if my heavenly father, my light, my example could face the world after what happened to Him, then so can I.  Yea, it hurts, the tears wont seem to stop and my heart feels like it wont stop bleeding--but I couldn't let my problems affect my purpose!  Furthermore, just like Jesus did from the cross, I must forgive and pray for my transgressors because vengeance shall be mine says the Lord!  So you can rest to sure that the Lord will repay and that those who do you harm will be dealt with!  (I've seen it happen so many times over again!)

Let me encourage you this morning through my pain and let you know that it is possible to get up from a great fall or loss.  People will sometimes try to make you feel better by telling you to get over it, don't let them see you crying, etc., etc.  But it's always good just to release so that God can begin the healing process within you.  This morning I was going to write about something else but it just wouldn't come out right.  So the Lord reminded me of why He gave me such a platform and that is because I promised Him that I would never be ashamed to speak and tackle that which He tells me, no matter what it costs me in the process (which usually I gain strength and deliverance myself by sharing within these inspirations).  My prayer has been since I started writing these weekly inspirations that people will be healed, strengthened, delivered, inspired and encouraged and made overcomers and more than conquerors through whatever they face in life.  But in the process I never want to be made into this larger than life figure who never bleeds, hurts or needs inspiration or encouragement themselves.  So the Lord told me to share my experiences in order to help others as well to keep myself and my views humble.

So it's another day, another week and another chance for the Lord to prove Himself mighty and strong in our lives.  [And if you are up and reading this inspiration] we have gotten through the hardest part--which is the getting up part.  It's easy to just lay there and wallow in the pain, but what will we gain from that?  Sometimes we have to have a talk with self and say--get up from here, go brush your teeth, wash your face, get in the shower, put on some fresh clothes and get yourself together.  Sometimes it doesn't even take all the spiritual jargon, oftentimes to get the enemy off of you and your emotions all you gotta do is just GET UP!  Throughout the day you may have a memory of the loss that will probably bring the tears and stir up the hurt but we have to allow God in at those very moments and as we release, allow Him to collect the refuse and allow Him to do surgery on our heart.  Look at it like this (especially when you know you did nothing wrong in the situation), maybe it could be that you were too good for that person or thing.  You see, I know my value and worth—maybe God wants to send me someone or something that deserves me and what I have to offer and who can bring something greater to the table and/or to enrich my life.  Now, I know that may have ruffled some of your feathers because we are taught sometime to just over-spiritualize certain things rather than deal with certain realities.  We know sometimes when we get involved with certain things that it's not right for us.  (WOW…the minister is being blunt today!)  So in order to undo the messes that we oftentimes get ourselves into, we must be as HONEST with ourselves (and others) as possible.  Sometimes you just have to speak to the situation and tell it like it is.  If they were bold enough to hurt you—then be bold enough to tell them the truth—you were better because of me boo!  Without any arrogance or pretensions—just be honest!  You know you have faced people who forget that it was you that had their back when they didn't even believe in themselves and with as much love as possible you have to be honest and frank so that your healing can begin.

So as you go throughout this week, know that it is possible to get up after the pain.  When you feel like you cant make it another step, another minute or another hour--square your shoulders, hold your head up and know that BETTER is on the way.  There is a better friendship, opportunity, relationship, job, etc., etc., on the way.  Know that there is nothing that happens that God doesn't allow.  So if He allowed you to loose it--let it go!  Because when He takes one thing away, my experiences have taught me that He sends you something so good till you will forget that which you loss.  Yes it hurts like...(well you know) right now, but there will be a day that your heart will heal and the pain will stop.  And when God sends the better--you will be like "I cried over that" or if someone mentions their name you will be like "who...." (SMILE!) and really be free from the situation.  So go on with life and know that God is there to comfort, hold and love you through this pain.  And in the words of my girl Fantasia "if you don't want me then don't talk to me, go ahead and free yourself!"  Let those know who walk out from now on, if you don't want to see me happy, if you don't want to see me free, prosperous, etc., then don't talk to me....FREE YOURSELF.  Cause guess what...I'll be alright!  And you better believe the next time they see me they will kick themselves for walking away from this "good thing."  (Amen somebody!)

Keep ya head up...its going to get better!  Keep me lifted in your prayers as well.

Much Love,
Clyde L. Webster

P.S.  Tune in to next week's inspiration when we will talk on the subject: "There is Life after the Hurt!"  Also, here is a poem that I came across that helped me out this weekend.  Enjoy it and feel free to share it with others!
 

"I'll Be Around"

Whenever you need someone who deeply cares,
whether things are going good or bad in your life,
one to give a strong helping hand, I'll be around.

When perhaps you are alone in the midst of difficult times
and no one is there to encourage you,
look my way, for I am available.

Whenever you are going through the storms of life,
hope seems thin and anguish is heavy,
just give me a ring and I'll be around.

You may not have been realizing it as you should
because of your busy schedule,
but im always around,
im as close as the fresh air you breathe every single day
or the comforting gentle breeze flowing all about you.

So give me a call and I'll be there for you in a few.
My phone number is toll-free, long distance.
Just simply dial: JESUS!

-Richard B. Glenn