Ten Principles To Get The Life You've Always Wanted, Present By Bishop T.D. Jakes

Sup everyone
Its ya boy AJ da professional hip-hop junkie comin to ya. 2008 has been a year of new beginnings, new starts a plethoria of new experiences, new growth, new (first) black president and new relationaships. I feel I have grown closer to God and he has elevated me and has been working on me all year.
With that said with 2008 coming to a close and we prepare ourselves for the year ahead I thought I would share with you something I stumbled upon for you to ponder.
Bishop T.D. Jakes put together a list of Ten Principles that should help you get the life you always wanted. Take a minute, check it out and holla back and let me know what you think. There are some very interesting points and we all can learn a thing or two.
Kick off 2009 with a open heart, mind, body & soul. Reach for new heights, goals and don't let anyone tell you that you can't succeed.



Ten Principles To Get The Life You've Always Wanted, Present By Bishop T.D. Jakes

LOVE YOURSELF

Loneliness is rooted in a lack of intimacy with yourself. Loneliness is also rooted in the myth-bought into by far too many women-that having someone ensures you'll never be lonely. It ensures no such thing. Mates leave, they die, they change. Even if you end up with a life partner, saddling one person with the responsibility for making you happy is a weight that can break that person's back. If you're in turmoil, and someone else enters that atmosphere, they join the turmoil. So we've got to stop indulging these false perceptions of happily ever after. Spend more time alone with yourself, being introspective, meditating, truly getting to know the woman you are. That's the only way out of loneliness into your very own joy. You don't have to be in a personal, intimate relationship with a man to have a significant life. Find fulfillment in giving to other people, serving the community, the environment, animals, God's creations. Get a life.

KNOW THAT YOU MATTER

Self-loathing is subtle, stealthy, evil. When we were children, someone may have told us, "You're dumb. You're stupid. Why aren't you more like your brother or your sister?" We were compared with someone's ex-girlfriend or ex-wife. As a result, we end up thinking everyone else is wonderful. You must stop fixating on yourself in this manner. Spend time on the inner woman, the woman God wants you to see. God will show you your unhealthiness, your mis-perceptions about yourself. You will begin giving yourself permission to think you're important too.

LEAVE THE PAST IN THE PAST

Do not make your healing from long-held insults and injury contingent upon someone acknowledging the harm she's done to you. That may never happen. If someone else's apology is a prerequisite for your healing, you may never get well. You can be healed, whether or not you get a formal apology. And that is your choice. Holding on to past hurts only eats up energy better spent elsewhere.

OWN YOUR FINANCIAL POWER

Many of us have not been taught commonsense investing. Too often we choose clothing, cars, food and fun over real estate, stocks, annuities and other goods that, in the long run, tend to accrue value. In this time when many women are primary breadwinners, it's essential to be savvy about money. Identify financial habits that are taking you down, see them as the enemy, and wipe them out. As the saying goes, "God bless the child that's got [her] own." Fund your future by investing regularly, even if it's in modest amounts.

HONOR YOUR 'ME' TIME

Busyness is sometimes born of arrogance: "Yes, I can be everything to everybody." Our lives, like plants, keep growing and growing. But one must exercise discretion. An exhausted, worn-out woman is no earthly good to herself or anyone else. You need time to recoup and regroup, or you will end up depleted, dysfunctional, moody, unhappy and hard to be around. We're finite resources. Learn to relax. Take some "me" time, without any guilt. All of nature teaches us that we need to recuperate. Leaves turn brown in the fall. Sap runs down the tree in the winter so that spring can come again.

PRIORITIZE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

When the liabilities in any relationship outnumber the assets, that relationship is bankrupt. And all relationships have liabilities. To determine whether you and the other person can possibly work things out, ask yourself whether remaining connected spiritually, emotionally and financially to that person is more fruitful than disconnecting. Just because you need to excise someone from your life is not a strike against you or the other party, only a sign that the two of you are a bad mix.

FOCUS ON YOUR PURPOSE

All of us are affected by what other people think, say and do in response to who we are. Yet if pleasing other people becomes the goal, you will spend the rest of your life chasing down your critics. And if satisfying the critics becomes your goal, you'll never have peace. Finding peace requires zeroing in on your singular, divinely ordained purpose, the task or tasks that God has assigned especially to you. Other people cannot define that. God has a role for you to play that may be quite distinct-no better or worse-from what's designated for the next person.

REVEL IN YOUR SUCCESSES

Often we don't give ourselves permission to succeed. Nor do we appreciate people who look like us and are successful. Surround yourself with those who won't compete with you but will revel in your success and somehow see your ascent as a reflection of their own possibilities. And don't forget that success is not just cash in the bank or degrees on the wall; it is living out your life's purpose. It is being all you can be.

MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR FAMILY

Some of us are under the misconception that our kinfolks are the only folks with deep, dark secrets. But I've got 12,000 families in my church, all with some drama. Puberty, marriage, divorce, midlife, menopause-just plain living-bring out drama. What matters is how we manage the drama. If, for example, as the current wife, you've got anxieties about your husband picking up your stepchildren from his ex-wife's home, arrange to help him ferry the kids back and forth. Try to establish a rapport with both the kids and the ex-wife. If, as another example, you think your sister is crazy and apt to fly off the handle in your presence, don't deal with her when you're tired or irritable. Family drama is not the same as workplace drama: You can change jobs; you cannot fully detach from the people you are committed to loving. Manage family relationships in a way that gives you the greatest peace, which might demand putting up some boundaries-and examining the role you play in the buildup of that drama.

CELEBRATE YOUR LIFE

Jealousy is an outgrowth of not realizing who you are and what you possess. It's born of fear that someone has a better life than yours, even though the people you envy are not without their own insecurities, pains and unrequited dreams and hopes. Focus on your accomplishments, not your failures. Count your blessings. Celebrate the life you've been given.

Have A Blessed Day!!!!!
A.J. Woodson
Freelance Hip hop Journalist
and Professional Hip-Hop Junkie
official myspace page http://www.myspace.com/daprofessionalhiphopjunky

check out for my new book
SPIRITUAL MINDED: da daily devotion for da hip-hop generation
http://www.lulu.com/content/2830182
SPIRITUAL MINDED II comin soon, I'm writing it as we speak!!!

SPIRITUAL MINDED Da Movement, Da Magazine, Da Online Radio Show and Da Social Network For The Spiritually Minded! http://spiritualminded.ning.com

UNFAITHFUL by Justin 'Juz' Cooper

written by a good friend of mine I just wanted to share with all of you, enjoy....

I made a commitment to you ... to love you
You love me so much and it kills you each time I ...
Repeatedly cheat on you

In the morning you kiss me
I roll out of bed - no good morning uttered from my lips
As I look at myself in the mirror I complain about my flaws
You whisper "Your beautiful to me, flaws and all."

I rush to start my day forgetting to take time to tell you my plans for the day

We carpool

You try to speak to me
I turn up the radio louder...

You give me the sun, the moon, and the stars
I, so disenchantedly ungrateful look for the affection of others when love should have brought me home last night.

As I stumble in the morning after
Smelling like where I've been ... who I've been with
You are waiting for me ... I know, you know ... I've cheated again

What I deserve you don't give
I come clean and you forgive

No matter where I go
I can't escape you
I always come running back to you
It's foolish of me to think that there's anything better when you have shown me your all I need.

You made a commitment to me, to never leave me, or forsake me
Yet I kill you afresh everytime I cheat on you
Lord I am sorry for being unfaithful to you


###

(c) 2008 - Justin "Juz" Cooper

ASHTON Was A Rocket Launcher

I wanted to take a minute to honor someone I have truly come to call my friend. Ashton J. Bridges.
I have posted everyone else's comments, we just came back from New Orleans from Ashton's homegoing and burial services. My church Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church is goin to have a celebration of his life on next Wednesday, Dec 10th, but I just wanted to take a minute to share a few words about my friend.
Everyone speaks about his smile, how he loved the Lord, how he moved us when he played the Organ or the keyboard and the most common response was he was only 24 years old, he was too young to die, and too young to die from a massive heart attack.

While all of that is true, if you allow me I would like to share a different perspective.

ASHTON J BRIDGES was a Rocket Launcher!

Let me explain what I'm talking about. Some people are put in our lives for just a season or two. Some people are placed in our lives for a particular purpose. When that purpose is done God separates them from us.

By now we have all seen Rockets shoot off into space, traveling to the moon or some predetermined place in space for one reason for another. The rocket stands over 20 feet tall, but when it returns to Earth its just a capsule.

The first portion at the bottom of the rocket is the rocket launcher. It purpose is to launch the rocket to a certain height and then its drops off. There is nothing wrong with the launcher, it has done it job and then its detached or separated so the rocket can continue on. Its the launcher doesn't detach at that time when its job or purpose is done the weight of the launcher will bring the rocket ship back done.

Ashton J Bridges was a rocket launcher, he came to Shaw Temple and brought another level to the worship services, inspired the musicians to play harder, the choir to sings louder the preacher to deliver his message with even more zeal than before. Ashton lead others to Christ, inspired and touched practically everyone he came in contact with.

He sowed seeds into all of our lives and now its up to us to water those seeds and see that they grow. God is doing something in all of our lives right now. And for where God is taking us, everyone can not go with us.

One more thing about the rocket launcher, if you ever see a rocket launch fail, go up a little and come right back down, the rocket always goes back up at at later time. But the rocket will have a new launcher. God will give you all the launchers you need in your life. So while Ashton's work was done, he won't be the last launcher God blesses you with. But God had to detach Ashton from us because he did his job and took us to the height he was suppose to and had to detach so we can go on. Now we must honor Ashton memory by going on.

So we need to rejoice and honor his memory but continue on, water the seeds he sowed in us and continue to climb higher after he helped us reach that height he was suppose to.

ASHTON J BRIDGES was a ROCKET LAUNCHER!!!!!!

THANK YOU LORD!

I wanted to start my day off today and just say Thank You Lord
Thank you for allowing me to see another day
a beautiful day that I have never seen before
Thank You for keeping me in a reasonable portion of my right mind, body and health
Thank You for allowing me to have a roof over my head another day
Thank You for clothes on my back and food on my table yet another day
Thank You for the ultimate gift of dying for my sins so I may have eternal life
Thank You for the trials and tribulations and the lessons and blessings that follow

Not because I`ve been so faithful
Not Because I`ve always obeyed
It`s not because I trust him
To be with me all of the way
But it`s because You love me so dearly
You are always there to answer my call
There always to protect me
and keep me in the midst of it all

I know I can never thank you enuf for all you have done for me
but no matter what the enemy throws at me
I will never stop singing your Praise

and I may not be where I want to
and I may not be who I want to
but I am so very grateful to you LORD
that I am no where near where I used to be
and no where near who I used to be

I usually speak to you privately and thank you
but I wanted to Praise your name this morning and say thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do in my life for all to see!
For all my blessings seen and unseen, known and unknown
For always having my back even when I didn't have yours
For never turning your back on me
For letting my past dictate how you bless me in the present and the future

Even if you never do another thing for me from this moment on
I will continue to say Thank You and Praise Your Name

THANK YOU LORD!
THANK YOU LORD!
THANK YOU LORD!

BACK TO THE LAB: a word to my friends and fam!

This one goes out to my family friends. Recently many people have been reaching out to me and complaining I have been unreachable. My cell is off (partially financially but I haven't rushed to get it back on either) and even those who email me haven't always gotten a reply right back or at all lately. When I have answered emails, some have commented I didn't reply to every email. Since I received so many emails and have been told by friends and loved ones what other friends and loved ones have said, I decided to attempt to address everyone at one time with this post! Through out my life I have always had times I have gone back to the lab so to speak, to regroup, think, strategize and plan out my next move.

But these past few months I have had to shut out the world so that I could finish my newly released book and work on the follow up. I had to plan and promote it so I could let the world know it was available. I needed some quiet time alone with just me and GOD! Some time to just get intimate with GOD! I believe GOD is makin some major moves in my life and there is a lot of preparation on my part. He is preparing me, molding me, taking many out of my inner circle, from the front row of my life and kicking them up to the nosebleed seats.

While I have been thru this before, usually the non stop ringing of my cell phone and or 2-way, would at some point be a major distraction even with my best laid efforts. It became evident and still is necessary for me to meditate and persistently reflect on HIS Word! Even Jesus pulled Himself away from the people to be alone with His Father!

Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer (Luke 5:16). Jesus made sure he often withdrew to quiet, solitary places to pray. It was a habit. Many things demand our attention these days and we often run ourselves ragged attending to them. But like Jesus I am learning to take time to withdraw to a quiet and deserted place to pray. I am learning to go back to the lab and shut the world off. Strength comes from GOD and we can be strengthened only by spending time with HIM!

I was one that heard others talk about meditation and didn't really know what that was. I thought it was sitting somewhere on the floor with my legs crossed, humming in a low tone or something. I tried to meditate in that way and would fall asleep. I have learned meditating means spending time with GOD! Reading the Bible and thinking about what you've just read. Asking yourself how you should change so you're living as GOD wants. Knowing and meditating on GOD's Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If I want to truly follow GOD more closely I have to know what He says! So I have gone back to the lab to begin these first steps. Many may not understand or be pleased, but as long as GOD is pleased, it's all good! Cause unlike my friends and family and loved ones, His opinion lasts forever.

Think about what I am saying. the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
- II Timothy 2:7

Paul told Timothy to reflect on his words and GOD would give him insight. God speaks through the Bible and His Word, but we need to be open and be receptive to Him! I ask all my friends, family members and loved ones who are reading these words to pray for me. I am embarking on a new journey to the unknown. This is new to me, but I know GOD is calling me and I am answering, submitting to His will. But now I need to shut out the world for periods of a time to get intimate with GOD to go back to the lab and let God reinvent me!

You know all my life I have tried to continually reinvent myself, but I now realize only GOD can do that! It is GOD where I will get my strength. It is GOD who will give me understanding. It is thru GOD that all things are possible. So I am goin' off into the wilderness, withdrawing myself from the world to pray and meditate... so to speak. Many people think and like others I have been taught that prosperity and success comes from having power. A relentless desire to get ahead and influentual personal contact. Its not what you know but who you know! That last sentence is so true, but while it has taken me a long time to learn, even those who are powerful and wealthy, the movers and the shakers, are nothing without GOD!

Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.- Joshua 1:8

The strategy for gaining prosperity that GOD taught Joshua goes against what the world teaches as the secret to success. God said to succeed, Joshua must be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy. Obey God's laws and constantly read and study the Book of the Law, GOD's Word! To truly be successful we must follow GOD's words to Joshua. Even if it doesn't seem like succcess by the world's standards. Then and only then will you be a success in GOD's eyes and like I wrote earlier His opinion lasts forever!

Like Joshua God has let me know HE has a great work to do thru me and it's not goin' to be easy, so I must constantly read and study GOD's Word and then like Jesus, go off into the wilderness find a quiet and deserted place to pray! So when you don't hear from me, when I don't immediately return or reply to an email. When you don't have a phone number to reach me or haven't seen me for awhile, don't take it personal but pray for me. Don't worry but rejoice in the fact I am getting intimate with GOD. I have gone back to the lab so HE can rebuild me, reinvent me, prepare me for all I need for the battle and task(s) ahead! PRAISE GOD for all He has done, is doing and will do to me and thru me.

In closing I may not be what or where I wanna be, but I am so glad and thank GOD so much that I am not where or what I used to be! I may have done what they said but I am not who they say I am! Say a pray fro the SPIRITUAL MINDED movement and all God is doin', cause even if I don't alwasy understand at that very moment, HE is up to something, in my life, that I know for sure!

Have A Blessed Day!!!!!
A.J. Woodson
Freelance Hip hop Journalist
and Professional Hip-Hop Junkie
official myspace page http://www.myspace.com/daprofessionalhiphopjunky

check out for my new book
SPIRITUAL MINDED: da daily devotion for da hip-hop generation http://www.lulu.com/content/2830182
SPIRITUAL MINDED II comin soon, I'm writing it as we speak!!!

SPIRITUAL MINDED Da Movement, Da Magazine, Da Online Radio Show and Da Social Network For The Spiritually Minded! http://spiritualminded.ning.com/