Though You Looking Your Not Seeing

Dear Reader, 

It has been a busy few weeks. I want to share with you a poem that I had to write in High School. I don't remember the actual assignment per se, however, this poem was the result. The interesting thing about this poem is not the power of the words, but instead, hmmm well why don't you tell me? 

Though You Looking Your Not Seeing

A LOOK AT ME...

You stood there and asked me to write a page and let it come out of me.

Then you said that it will be true. 

But how true can I be? Who is me, really? 

Let's see how I can bring me to a reality,

For you to see me as I see myself at this point in time. 

So many changes have occurred that my mind is all blurred. 

But attempt do I, to clear this from mine eye. 

Insecure and afraid, mute by choice, 

Though at times I wish I was more invisible to their demeaning eye. 

Held back, not able to move forward, not even able to grow! 

A young boy slammed into himself, sheltered and confused. 

Dare he, no, I come out, rub my, his eye and see that reality, that I, us, and we are free? 

How free am I really that years passed and still feel the pain from when I was only in grade three? 

Having trusted and believed in a Man I can't see, I opened up my most deep inner part of me.

But to then after so long believing I was free, he came and captured me. Who is He you ask? 

Well, quite simply that same one that had me, him, us, in a box. 

Such a plan to keep me from knowing me, can this really be me, insecure, afraid, lost, and lonely? 

NO! 

By no means! 

I am not he and he truly isn't me. 

I am strong, secure, assured!

A product of time itself revealing true self. 

Through the abuse, hurt and pain I was able to rise and bloom! 

I stand here a new creation, a new form of self! 

A transformation, only capable of being made through His hands, His ways! 

Nonetheless, I am FREE!

Open your eyes and notice that I am not what you initially see, 

In order to really see me through mine eyes, come over to my side. 

I am more than just a product of your eyes!

  Osbert Maldonado

 

P.S.  I have my own MMCL apparel line, campaign ending soon, don't wait they will be sold out soon.

Be Still...Don't Stay Still

Dear Reader, 

Since my last post, I obviously had a lot of time on my hands. Time, that I could have used to be super productive or super lazy.  Having "free" time can be a good thing but also can turn out to be a bad thing. When you have free time, this is when the enemy likes to mess with you the most. This is where you have the opportunity to make a choice. 

Do I work on this or that? Do I not work and just lay around relaxing, I mean, I do deserve it right? I normally don't have "me" time. These are just some of the things that have crossed my mind since I have been on my involuntary vacation. 

Psalm 46:10 states: "Be still and know that I am God..." What does that even mean? Do I just do nothing all? NO definitely not. This verse has been with me for some time. 

Be still, but God how am I supposed to take care of my family? BE STILL!  How am I going to get out of this situation? BE STILL!  The deadline is coming up and I have no way of...BE STILL, BE STILL, BE STILL!!!

You see being still doesn't mean to stay still. Being still means to trust in God.  To know that whatever it is you are going through, you trust that He will see you through it. Being still means to not panic, to trust that God has the solution. 

Being still is about TRUST! 

We still should go and do what we can.  You need an income, apply for work.  You have a serious situation that needs solutions, ask for help.  All while being at peace with your knowing that He is God and you will be alright.

I want to encourage you today. Be still...Be at peace...know that you know...He is God.  He was with you for it, He will be with you during it, and He is there waiting for you after it. 

Food for thought: 

Proverbs 3:1-35 

My son, do not forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

I shared on Psalm 46:10 at a men's group. The video is uploaded to my youtube account.

 Osbert Maldonado

WELFARE

 

Dear Reader, 

I recently read this passage and it caused me to think about our current mindset. 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

As you can see I bolded "Welfare". What did I think about when I saw that one word?  Well first I thought about how if you are ON welfare, most of the time it is backed by a series of negative thoughts. Thoughts that are defeating.  

Allow me for one moment to change this thought. You see I looked up the word in the dictionary on my trusty phone. Take a look: 

Welfare: The health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group

You see, I was hit so strongly with how our society has changed this word. When you're on welfare it means that you are getting assistance from taxpayer's hard-earned money, which the government facilitates. 

However when you are trusting in God...He has "plans for welfare". Does this mean we should be on welfare?  😬  NO, obviously! It means that He cares for our well-being. 

Yes, now this sounds about right. How often are words taken out of context? Think about that last text argument you had. How did you feel when you read it? Was it taken to a whole different level? Did you read and re-read the text? (I've done that so many times) 

However, if we can just take a step back and think about it for a second. Welfare was intended to mean you care for someone other than yourself. You care for that person's well-being. You want the best for them. You want to see them happy. You want to see them achieve their full potential, to realize their dreams. 

God wants the same for us. He wants to see us free and to trust in Him. Why? Well, that's easy, He loves us. He can see the end of the road, while we can only see what is before us, and sadly what is behind us. 

Keep your focus on God. Just as Jeremiah 29:11 suggests, He has good things planned out for us, we just need to choose, if we are going to trust in His word and have faith or just take the easy way out and choose to stay with our negative welfare mindset. 

Food for thought: 

"So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest—the promised land] because of unbelief and an unwillingness to trust in God." Hebrews 3:19 (AMP) 

 Osbert Maldonado