Clean Up!

First, if you don't know...one of my favorite things to do is use things of this world to glorify God and turn everything into a spiritual event. Some of you will even write to me "condemning me" for using this example. Yet, you may not even know me or where I come from. You may only know the "New Me" the one who is born-again. I am a new creature, changing into His image BUT my past is what made me who I am. I am going to continuing being who HE created, in hopes to reach some. I am about to reveal things that some of you may find appalling but you haven't lived my life and you don't know what the "world" really is and what it's like out there. I am going to share some things that I have experienced that have caused me to repent--to turn from my sin and my old lifestyle---and turn towards God and become one of His forgiven children. You may not forgive me, because you are made in the image of man (Adam) but He does. The story He wrote of my life--is for learning and I'm gonna tell it in hopes that someone truly learns and changes for His Glory. Maybe someone will be led to this post and see that they too can be forgiven.

I have been in more physical fist fights than an average "girl". I have been been stabbed in the head. Blocks of welfare cheese, pork-in-the-can, and peanut butter w/a layer of oil on the top was a monthly treat for us! Walking miles to schools in another district for a safer education and walking EVERYWHERE were a part of my daily life for a LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGG time. I have been shot at on more than one or two and even three occasions. I have driven get away cars. I rolled on the streets and played dice on the corner like a thug. I have "ganked" people. (LOL--u probably have no idea what that even means--even funnier!)

If you only pay attention to what goes on "in your own world" you probably will have no clue about who or what I am talking about. So, allow me to fill you in. Rapper "T.I" (also known as Clifford Harris) has recently been convicted of possession of illegal weapons.... long story short--he did in fact do this and is not disputing it or the situation that led him to do such a thing. In his world, it's a part of everyday living. Here are some of the "world's rules": Wear the "right colors", keep your mouth shut, don't snitch, mind your business, it's all about you and yours, don't get caught and do whatcha gotta do to "get yours."

In order to get a "lighter sentence" and be a role model to others, he has made a campaign of ads against what he did and even a t.v. show called "T.I's road to redemption."Nevertheless, he has also come out w/a song with "J.T" (Justin Timberlake) called "Dead and Gone." The lyrics are filled with cussing, explain violence and choices. I will spare you the words to that but want to focus on the chorus. It goes like this:

"I turn my head to the east
I don't see nobody by my side
I turn my head to the west
still nobody in sight
So I turn my head to the north,
swallow that pill
that they call pride
The old me is dead and gone,
the new me will be alright"

The point that I'm trying to get at is that when I first heard these lyrics I thought about a lot of parallels that this song really could represent for "The Road to Redemption." Now, put aside the fact that the rapper got busted doing something wrong and is trying to do "good" for the community so he can have a lighter sentence. And read how the lyrics could be used to reach others--those that had "gangster" lifestyles or those that grew up in the "less fortunate areas" that are taught the "worlds way of survival".

When someone gets "caught up" in the wrong crowd or is at the wrong place at the wrong time, or when they make bad decisions that affect the rest of their lives, generally they find themselves alone. All those people they hung out with, all those friends they "ran with," all those people who showed them "this way of life" bail on them as they have to serve their time or only continue to "plot" with them the next scheme to get more money or how to continue their life of crime behind bars.

So I suggest, we use this chorus to say--you turn to both sides and find yourself alone, correct? If you turn your head to the north, and swallow that pill called pride you too could find Jesus as your Savior and the "The old me (you) is dead and gone, the new me (you) will be alright." Coming to Jesus and repenting of your sins is a very difficult thing for many to do because of a thing called PRIDE! So, if one can "swallow the pill called pride" (and accept Him) then the old self will be dead and gone and the new self will be alright.

I find it very interesting that his show is called the Road to Redemption and that the lyrics of his song can point those to the REAL road to redemption. I don't know much, but I do know this: I am a new creature. Old things are passed away. All things are created new. And this includes me. Instead of running from the world, I've decided that it's time for me to run back to it with all the new things I've learned and continue to share my story as it is! I have a lot of things that if I could do over again differently I would but that's not how my story was written! I will continue daily to struggle-but I will continue to know how FORGIVEN I am and let others know how they too can be forgiven PLUS still keep making mistakes~~because after all, we will always be sinners. I want others to know that Jesus doesn't forgive us just once---he forgives us completely. I want others to know that people are unforgiving--not Him.