IT was ALL a DREAM (A Spiritual Minded Magazine Devotion)

It was all a dream, I used to read Word-Up! Magazine Salt-N-Pepa and Heavy D in the limousine – Notorious B.I.G (Juicy)

My pastor, Dr. George D. Crenshaw often says in his sermons that when God gives you a vision, he will give you the provisions to carry it out. When we are young we dream about being a lot of things when we grow up. These days many have dreams of being a hip-hop superstar, an actor or an athlete. (read on ) http://spiritualmindedradio.com/it-was-all-a-dream/

Spiritual Minded da daily devotion for the hip hop generation is now available on Amazon Kindle

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KICK OFF YA SHOES & RELAX YA FEET!

And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made;
And He rested on the seventh day from all
His work which he had made- Genesis 2:2

You every get in a bind, be it financial or just behind in work where there is so much that needs to be done? No matter how much you do it seems like you’re not even making a dent. You try and try, work day and night to accomplish your goal but somehow it just never seems to ever be enough. I know I have been guilty of this many times in my life and still find myself in that situation now to be honest. I never take time to rest.

Well let me tell you this, rest and relaxation is not a sin. Rest time is repair time, a time of renewing, restoration and recharging. It is also a time a receiving what we need from God to get through another day. We may look at it as a loss of productivity but it is really a time of renewing. Yes you could have gotten some more done if you stay up but you are not really effective when you are tired. Fatigue can be costly, financially or in time to redo what you did, when you weren’t at your best.

God created everything in 6 days, but after each day he didn’t complain about what He hadn’t done yet. The bible tells us he stood back, looked over what He had accomplished and said it is good. He set an example for us and Jesus did the same thing. That may be the reason He was able to accomplish so much in three and a half years. Jesus who healed the sick, fed the hungry, performed miracles and taught everyone He came in contact with, took time to rest.

Come ye yourself apart into a desert place and rest awhile. - Mark 6:31

Jesus often separated Himself from others to rest, mediate and pray and be alone with His Father, to recharge His spiritual battery so to speak. Like your car, you can only go so far before you run out of gas. Life is very demanding, people are too. The more you succeed the more people will demand or expect from you. The life as a believer is even more demanding. The enemy will attack you every chance he gets. When you don’t take time to rest and are weak, is one of his favorite times to attack.

That’s not say don’t work hard. Work hard but take time to play just as hard. And take time to kick off your shoes and relax your feet.

Father God please teach us how to rest.
Show us how we can turn to You and refresh and rejuvenate ourselves.
Without rest we can’t accomplish the goals and desires you have placed in us.
Thank you for Your rest
In Jesus’ name- AMEN

©2008 AJ (AJ ROK) WOODSON
DA PROFESSIONAL HIP-HOP JUNKIE!!!
Look out for my upcomin book
SPIRITUAL MINDED: da spiritual daily devotional for the hip-hop generation
and check out the SPIRITUAL MINDED MAGAZINE,
ONLINE RADIO SHOW and Social Networking Site!
http://spiritualminded.ning.com/

Rev Run's Words of Wisdom

Good morning. When you look at the word familiar it reminds me of the word family. Are you familiar with your family? Are you close to them? Or very busy? (Remember!) Be attentive to your family... There's a proverb that reads... "Listen to the whispers so you don't have to hear the screams
....

New book in stores today!
“Take back your family” ... A challenge to Americas parents! Where ever books are sold! By.. Rev Run and Justine Simmons...

God is Love
Rev Run

Read more at Run's Words of Wisdom at revrun.uber.com/wordsofwisdom.

REASONS, SEASONS & LIFETIME PEOPLE

Did you know that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime? When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.!

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you Father God for sending people to be a part of our lives, whether it is for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Help us to know which one they are. Thank you for surrounding us with angels to encourage us and give us just what we need to get through. Thank you for knowing what we need and meeting all of our needs. In the name of your son Jesus The Christ, we pray and praise your name.
AMEN,
AMEN,
AMEN!!!

©2008 AJ (AJ ROK) WOODSON
PROFESSIONAL HIP-HOP JUNKIE!!!

Look out for my upcomin book
SPIRITUAL MINDED:
da spiritual daily devotional for the hip-hop generation
http://www.lulu.com/content/2830182

STANDING ON FAITH

Now this is far from the first and I’m sure won’t be the last devotion/ testimony that I jot down dealing with Faith. I have share I was Steppin Out On Faith, but today God has lead me to share with someone out there that I am Standing On Faith.

Anyone who knows me, knows I have always been the type of cat that doesn’t really like to put his business out there, much less write about it for the world to see. A lot of people tell you, you need to have faith, when they themselves aren’t goin thru a storm or dealing with any particular trials and tribulations themselves at that very moment.

This morning I am lead to share my testimony about Standing On Faith while I am in the midst of it all. I won’t get into all the details of everything that is goin on in my life, but let’s just say the journey has been long. And I am in that place where all the bills are due, money due to me for services I have performed has not come in.

Two new clients I was suppose to do promotions for said all the right things in the meetings, accepted my terms right, and said they were onboard right up to the time when it came to cut the check. Even a rebate check I was suppose to receive on July 14th from my cell phone manufacturer, I am now being told is still being processed. With everything else not comin through, that was goin to be applied to my current cell bill. So long story short my cell has been off the last few days.

My PDA is like a portable laptop for me, so I use it for every aspect of everything I do. I can’t follow up with those who do owe me money too find out when they are coming thru with their payments without it. Its hard to set up and be reachable tp potential clients who are interested in my services. Emails are good but not the same as speaking directly to a person.

Like I said every bill I have it due, (one or two or over due if I can be totally honest with you) and I do mean every bill. My daughter is about to starting her second year of college in less than a week and I don’t have to tell most of you financially what that means. I havent even begin to think where that money is comin from yet. And I just found out my book may be delayed atleast a week or two and I am moving over the weekend. It could be considered what they call a very dark day/ week if I was to look at it that way like I usually do.

This is a time when I in the past would lose it, panic, complain and lose site of the blessings I do have. This is the times where I usually do something, get in Gods way of what He is trying to do and eventually block my blessing. But instead I have choose to be thankful for what I do have and use the quiet time to reflect a little, read my bible and pray more and oh have I been praying, wearing out a few sets of knee pads. Today I choose to do what God really wants me to do, use my gift of writing to inspire others.

So this morning before God I tell all of you, today I am standing on faith. Standing on His promise, Standing on the Rock, the rock of my salvation. I am thankful that I have a roof over my head another day, that God has blessed me to see another day, thankful I am in a reasonable portion of my right mind, body and health.

Instead of complaining I choose to Praise His name right here right now and stand on faith. I know I am at the part of the story where just before the major breakthrough, the person was about to lose everything or lost everything one by one. I can finally see the actually light at the end of the tunnel this time. Previously I thought I saw it by it was the lights of an oncoming train, so have to run back out the way you came, let the train past and then start back thru the tunnel, this time I actually see the daylight. I am hear to tell you it is darkest just before the dawn.

I know that God has not brought me this far to leave me now. And by the response and emails I have received from the last devotions from people saying they needed that today, and thanking me for sharing my testimony, that this is truly what I am suppose to be doin. So I stand on faith today and be obedient to what He is leading me to do.

I don’t know what you may be goin thru, I don’t know what you may be facing and what you have to deal with. But I was lead today to share with someone, from a personal perspective, of someone going thru what is considered a major storm in my personal life, don’t give up. I only shared a portion of what I was facing, but believe me its gets harder and harder each day to stand strong.

But I am here to tell you this too will past. Instead of complaining to a friend or family member who can’t really help you, talk to your Father, who art in Heaven. Pray, Praise His Name, Give Thanx and Stand on Faith.

Have a bless day!
©2008 AJ (AJ ROK) WOODSON
PROFESSIONAL HIP-HOP JUNKIE!!!

Look out for my upcomin book
SPIRITUAL MINDED:
da spiritual daily devotional for the hip-hop generation

SPIRITUAL MINDED da daily devotion for the hip-hop generation by AJ Woodson

VISION AND PROVISION

“Be confident of this. He who began a good work in you will continue to perform it until it’s perfectly complete” (Philippians 1:6).

Do you have dreams that just haven’t fully manifested themselves yet? Are there promises that you are standing on in your health, finances, career or relationships? Know this: God is a God of completion.

He wants to finish what He’s started in your life. No matter how long you’ve been praying, don’t let the enemy tempt you into thinking that it’s never going to happen. Be encouraged today because God is called the Author and the Finisher of your faith.

That means He’s working behind the scenes on your behalf. Anything He begins, any dream He puts in your heart, He is well-able to finish. Stand strong on this promise. Be confident even when it looks like it’s not going to happen. No matter how long it takes, stay in faith and keep your hopes up because God has promised to finish the good work He’s started in your life!

My pastor often says, “Who are you that God is going to break His word or blow His perfect record on you?” I rest assured that even when I don’t know when it going to come to past, if God has given me the dreams, if I do my part He will always do his. If He has given me the vision, He will give me the provision.

What are the gifts that God has placed in your heart? Are there dreams inside lying dormant? Are there gifts and abilities that He’s given to you that have been buried deep inside? I encourage you today to stir it up! It’s easy for the everyday struggles of life, the trials and tribulations you face and the cares of this world, to distract you and take you off course. But you have to make the choice to encourage yourself and stir up the gift inside. You can do this by talking about it with a friend, or being around others who are doing what’s in your heart to do.

I too have given in the temptation. I too have given up. I know what you are facing because I still deal with it everyday and even while writing these very word. But once I let God lead me, He has blessed me with all I need to accomplish my dreams and carry out the work He has for me. In a few days my first book will be published and thats just the beginning of what He is doin in my life. I share that with you today to let you know He is able!

Find something that represents that dream in your heart and focus on it every day. Find that determination inside to hold on to everything that God has placed in your heart. It doesn’t matter if it’s been ten years, twenty years, or even thirty years, God can still bring it to pass. Maybe you gave up yesterday, but today is a new day. Today you can stir it up again. Go out filled with faith and expectancy, believing that every promise God has placed in your heart will come to pass!

What are your dreams, don't run from them and question your ability to do them. Embrace them and let God has His way in your life!

Heavenly Father, thank you for placing gifts and dreams inside of me. I choose today to focus on what you are doing in my life. Give me the determination to hold on to your promises so I can walk in faith and victory with you today.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.

©2008 AJ (AJ ROK) WOODSON
PROFESSIONAL HIP-HOP JUNKIE!!!

Look out for my upcomin book
SPIRITUAL MINDED:
da spiritual daily devotional for the hip-hop generation

SPIRITUAL MINDED da daily devotion for the hip-hop generation by AJ Woodson

THIS IS THE DAY!

“This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” - (Psalm 118:24)


Every day you are blessed to open your eyes to see another day is a precious gift from Almighty God. Another day you have never seen before, another day to get it right, to be a blessing to someone else. Another day that is full of faith, full of expectancy what the Lord has in store for you. I mean we all face the every day struggles and challenges that life as a believer has to offer, things may not working out the way you planned, but remember each new day is a chance to stand strong in da midst of adversity and see the faithfulness of God.
Every day you are blessed to open ya eyes to see, is an opportunity to praise His name and give thanx. Another opportunity to magnify God instead of magnifying your problems.
This is da day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Another day to remember God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Another day to be thankful we are in a reasonable portion of our right mind, body and health.
Another day to rejoice that He is making a way when there seems to be no way! It is when we focus on the gift of every day and rejoice in what God has done in our lives, that we begin to experience His increase and His blessings. He will never bless you with more if you are not thankful for the little. Its then we rise up higher and set the course to live in victory all the days of our lives.
This is the day!

REJOICE
GIVE THANX
PRAISE HIS NAME
FOR, THIS IS THE DAY!

Rev Run's Word of Wisdom 7-24

Good morning. In our feverency, passion and enthusiasm for a goal, it is easy to fall into the trap of hurrying. I am not commending laziness. Nobody admires slow-moving. But, your energy, enthusiasm and excitement must wear the harness of accuracy. Punctuality is a great success trait! Moving steadily methodically, and even swiftly is admirable. (But remember!) Hurrying can produce costly mistakes.... Slow down, Think, THEN react! Have a excellent day!

God is Love
Rev Run

SPIRITUAL MINDED- sneak peak preview of my new book

Snippet of the Intro.....
Hip-Hop has been around for well over 30 years now. We have doctors, lawyers, teachers and preachers who are hip-hop heads. We have generations who grew up on nuthin but hip-hop. I am a hip-hop head, a grown-up hip-hop head, but a hip-hop head all the same. A professional hip-hop junkie and I am also a Christian, who has given his life to Christ and is thankful God gave his only Son, so my sins are forgiven and I may have eternal life. Like Deitrick Haddon, I so thankful God still hears a sinner’s prayer.


EVERYTHING I AM

Man, here we go again.
everybody sayin' what's not for him
everything I'm not, made me everything I am…
people talk trash, but when it hits the fan
everything I'm not, made me everything I am
Everything I Am - Kanye West

You ever doubt yourself because of your shortcomings? This is a common thing. Are you constantly reliving the mistakes of your past and preventing yourself from success in the future? Maybe you have a limited education, you have a jail record, your family is poor, and people have messed over you all your life? Now that the economy is slow and everything you used to do as a side hustle has dried up it hard to eat these days.

Whatever has held you back in the past doesn’t have to limit where you go from this point on. The good news is you can move past the scars of yesterday. God never consults your past to determine your future. So stop looking at where you have been and start looking at where you are going. Stop advertising your pain. Stop concentrating on your short comings. There isn’t a person walking God’s green Earth that doesn’t have some sort of limitations.

We all have handicaps so to speak one way or another. Some are financial, some are emotional or mental, and some are physical. But the bottom line is we all have short comings. Trust His power and hold on. He will give you the strength to keep from falling - Isaiah 40:31.

Success is to be measured not so much by the position
that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
Booker T. Washington- Up From Slavery (1901)

The smart person builds on their strengths and works with what they have instead of letting their weaker aspects prevent them from reaching their goals. A questionable background, a jail record, a limited education and being born on the wrong side of the tracks shouldn’t be an excuse from charting your own course.

Is your past preventing you from moving forward in your present and succeeding in your future? It’s important to remember the past is over and concentrate on your future. Let God pull you up by His power (Ps. 54:1-4). Then, hold on to His hand. Cling to Him and “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” -Ephesians. 6:10.
The best thing about the future
is that it comes only one day at a time. - Abraham Lincoln

©2008 AJ (AJ ROK) WOODSON
PROFESSIONAL HIP-HOP JUNKIE!!!

Look out for my upcomin book
SPIRITUAL MINDED:
da spiritual daily devotional for the hip-hop generation
available online real soon

Rev. Run's Words Of Wisdom 07/15/08

Good morning. Slow and steady wins the race. This is a time when many people will be running out of steam... SO BE PATIENT! Don't lose heart... PRESERVE your energy! The scripture says.... “Be not weary in well doing for you will reap in DUE SEASON if you faint not.

God is Love
Rev Run

WHAT ARE YOU DOIN TO REACH THE YOUTH?

I believe that children are our future
Teach them well and let them
Lead the way
show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense
Of pride
To make it easier
Let the children’s laughter
Remind us how we used
To be…..
The Greatest Love Of All- George Benson

Today’s entry is more a random rant, than a daily devotion, but after this past weekend- Block Party event I attended at New Life AME Zion Church in College Park, GA. It was on my heart to share this with all of you reading this. It was great to see some using hip-hop to reach the youth. It was great to see the youth have an outlet to express themselves and a place for them to invite their friends. Where are all the activities for the youth that were in place when we were young?

An idle mind is the playground for the devil…

I have often talked about how it was cats on the block, outside of my family that may have been as important as the words of encouragement I received from my family that saved me from being another statistic, saved me, the fact I’m not dead or in jail is because God blessed these individuals to get at me and let me know where I was headed if I didn’t change my ways.

We say the youth is outta control but it’s us who are failing them and not the other way around. We need to reach out to the youth, teach them, show them a better way to express themselves. We need to volunteer our time and mentor our younger brothers and sisters and we must never forget how we felt when we were their age.

I challenge all reading this to do more, to get more involved, make it our business to try to understand what the youth is facing. Instead of telling them what is wrong with what they are doin, show them a better way. Expose them to other experiences and cultures. Share your love for Jazz or whatever it is you are into. But whatever you do, get involved. Like the opening lyrics, the children are our future. The enemy attacks our youth before they get a chance to find their way to kill off our future leaders before they have a chance to grow into their roles God created for them.

They can not do it by themselves. And if you don’t like where you see our youth headed, my questions for you today is what are you doing about it? If you can not answer that question you need to get up, get out and do something. Learn what the youth are into and use those avenues to get their attention and teach them. Our youth are reaching out to us, are you answering the call or just slamming another door in their face!

If you don’t know where to start reach out to your local church, your local schools, the Boy and Girls Scouts or Boys and Girls Clubs of America, your local law enforcement, a lot of them have youth programs. Google youth groups in your area, look in the phone book. There are already many organizations and groups in place but they all NEED volunteers and donations to take things to the next level and be able to do more. Get with local businesses and work with them to start more groups and programs. Set up internships to teach youngsters new skills. Bottom-line you must do something if you want things to get better.

©2008 AJ (AJ ROK) WOODSON

HIP HOP JUNKIE 4 LIFE

Look out for my upcomin book

SPIRITUAL MINDED

da spiritual daily devotional for the hip-hop generation

available online real soon

KEEP HUSTLIN: IT AINT OVER FOR ME

Look this is my life, and it's a battle within
I gotta survive, even if I'm sinnin to win
And if I show no remorse I reap the devil's reward
He said he'd, give me riches but I'm lookin for more…
(Keep hustlin) It ain't over for me, no it ain't over for me
(Keep, flowin) I'ma step my game up and get what's comin to me
Terrence Howard (DJay) - Hustle And Flow (It Ain't Over)


One of my favorite films to watch, when I need some inspiration to keep hustling, to keep focused and stay steading grindin is Hustle and Flow. I watch Terrance Howard’s character DJay dealing with the battle with in, tryna survive like the lyrics say even if he’s sinnin to win. You don’t wanna do wrong but you tryna eat by any means necessary. You wanna do right but no one will give you a shot. You know what you doin is wrong but dem bills keep comin in, faster and faster and it seems like you just sinking and need a break from the everyday struggles of life.

There is this one part in the movie where DJay and Anthony Anderson’s character Keyes is kickin it in the car and Keyes talks about all the dreams he had when he was younger. Owning his own studio and having his own label and now its like he is doin what he doin just to pays bills. He questions if he was just talking a good game when he was younger.

Well that’s exactly where I am, that’s exactly what I have been goin thru the last few years. I had madd dreams off where I would be by now. And instead I have been working every odd job I can find. I mean I wasn’t exactly workin women on the streets or selling drugs but still the same I knew everything I was doin wasn’t what I was suppose to be doin and not always right. The closer I got in my Christian walk the worst my financial situation got. I didn’t feel right doin some of the hustles I used to, but I was torn cause what to do cause I keep feelin that temptation to go out there and get that money so I would have to struggle so hard. While I know that money was out there I did feel like God had bigger plans for me.

Then the line that I felt the most in the movie was when Keyes says, this right here gotta work, cause it aint over for me. There was also a line in Eminem’s semi-autobiographical joint 8 Mile, where he says if its gonna happen it needs to happen now. Now I know Gods time frame isn’t the same as mine and He can see the bigger picture. Sees the dangers ahead and where I will be even though I can’t. We want what we want now. We feel we been thru enuf and just about ready to do whatever is necessary.

Well that’s what I have always done and more times than not it ended up not necessarily being the best look for me. I couldn’t wait for God, I had to make it happen on my own. The fact of the matter a good part of the reason it was takin so long was that I was too busy tryna make moves and getting in God’s way. I was too busy tryna do it my way. I wasn’t being obedient to what God wanted me to do but wanted Him to bless me with what I wanted. Knowing that is half the battle but it doesn’t make it any easier. It doesn’t make the struggle any less hard. But when I took time to actually look at the situation in hindsight, what I was goin thru more times than not was the best thing for me. Was what I needed to go thru to prepare me for what was ahead.

Before given my life to Christ and I didn’t necessarily know any better, I just did what I had to do. But now I have that battle within, the battle of what I know I am suppose to do and what I have always done and what’s readily available for me to pay the bills, (even if I’m sinning to win.)

Today is one of those days, this is one of those weeks. I know what I should do but I know where I am and it gets harder and harder to do right. But I try to do what God has for me to do. Today instead of getting on the phone or hittin dem streets getting my hustle on, today I do what God wants me to do. That’s share this testimony with those of you out there goin thru the same thing. For me to tell my story so others that’s goin thru it can feel me cause they know I feel what they are goin thru. To share my God given gift of writing to inspire, uplift or encourage someone out there today.

Even this very minute while I write these words, God has my preaching to myself. So I walk that tightrope or doin His will and keep hustling man, cause I know like the chorus to that song, I gotta…
(Keep hustlin) It ain't over for me, no it ain't over for me
(Keep, flowin) I'ma step my game up and get what's comin to me

I didn’t survive all I went thru for nuthin, God has spared my life for a reason. I hope someone out there reading this is inspired to keep living their dream, to keep hustling and grinding for what it is there are tryna do. But in doin so know that God hasn’t brought you this far, too leave you now.


In closing I say to all reading this
Keep Hustlin, Keep Flowin, Keep Dreamin
and most important , Keep The Faith.
Cause It Aint Over For You, It Aint Over For You
Know God has plans for each and everyone of us.
And he gives us dreams and visions
And if you can see it you can achieve it.
No matter what’s goin on in ya life don’t ever lose the fight in you
Don’t every give up your dream or lose sight of your goal.

Cause it may be hard out there for a Pimp
But it’s even harder out there for a Christian! You aint know!!!
©2008 AJ (AJ ROK) WOODSON
HIP HOP JUNKIE 4 LIFE

Look out for my upcomin book
SPIRITUAL MINDED
da spiritual daily devotional for the hip-hop generation
available online real soon

I’M STILL STANDING: CAUSE HE KEEPS ON LOOKING OUT FOR ME

I’M STILL STANDING
CAUSE HE KEEPS ON LOOKIN’ OUT FOR ME

Every time I look back
And every time I think back
On all the stuff I've been through
I've prayed through I cried through
And then I tried you and just
When I was about to fall
Your love caught me when your name I called
Jesus you keep on lookin' out for me
Lookin’ Out For Me - Kirk Franklin

This past 12-18 months, maybe even longer, have been rough. I recently got divorced from the women I just knew God blessed me with to spend the rest of my days, and thought it was the end of the world. I was goin through a mid-life crisis, both professionally and personally. I am 42 years old and have been in the music business doin one thing or another for about 22 years.
I have seen my peers go on to be Editor-In-Chiefs of some of the biggest music publications out there and could get a return phone call. Get major jobs at some of the biggest record companies and a few went on to start their own thing and become successful. Most I was there and helped them when they were getting started. I'm not talking about someone you knew who they were because you have seen them a few times, I’m talking about people I came up with, helped or put some on and called my friends and more importantly, people who thought of me as a friend. I have seen artists I helped in the beginnings of their career, or came up with blow up, a few went on to make it big in the acting game as well. Both situations they became household names that you all know. No I am not goin to name them here, thats not important, so don't ask me, but yes artists and power brokers that you know by name.
When I was younger I had life mapped out and thought I was going to be owning my own company and be a major power broker in this business well before the age of 30. Now you like back and ask was I just talking, was I just dreaming, this isnt how its suppose to be. This isnt where I am suppose to be. It plays tricks on your mind and gets you to second guess yourself and God. You get the picture, anyway I sunk into sort of a deep depression, not one where you walk around with your head down and complain to everyone who will hear you, but one way worst. The kind you don’t even know you are going through. the kind where you are still operating like everything is okay, you know its not, but you just think it's just a matter of time before you are back. But the kind of depression where you don't even know that you are depressed. Needless to say things weren’t going so great. My career as a freelance writer was getting slower and slower and the publicity and promotions jobs were getting fewer and fewer. All my well-laid plans were falling thru one at a time like a stack of dominoes, which led to a series of dead-end temporary and part time jobs in factories, warehouses and supermarkets, which made me more miserable and I was constantly getting hurt on the job because I this wasn’t what I was meant to do and to be honest I was getting too old to do some of them, atleast starting at the bottom. Takin orders at a few of them from people 4-5 years older then my daughter who will 19 this year and is a freshman in college.
Add that to the fact there was truly no one I could talk to, no one. A few people tried to get it out of me but I might as well have been speaking another language because it became painfully obvious that couldn't feel me on it or didn't truly know where I was coming from. But then again that might be because I didn't truly understand what I was goin through myself so I guess it was hard for anyone else to comprehend. So I kept it to myself, kept it all inside and it was building inside of me til I felt I was goin to explode. Writing was always my way to get it out or expressing myself, it was therapeutic and up to this very minute I had the craziest writer's block. I would stare at the blinkin curser haunting me almost taunting me on my computer screen for hours and nothing would come out. Not a word! So now I'm having trouble doin what I do best. To sum it all up, basically it got so bad I was fighting for my very sanity and that's a place I have never been, didn't know how I got there, much less how to get out of it!
But with all that, with all I was goin thru, being depressed, getting divorced, having to start over again, through it all I find myself still standing. No matter what was thrown out me, no matter what self-inflicted situation I found myself in, I was still standing cause God kept lookin out for me. Lookin out for me when I wasnt lookin out for myself.
After hours of searchin for an apartment in downtown Atlanta and searching for any paying writing gigs I could get, sending at proposal to potential clients that showed some interest or were referred to me but someone else, I needed a computer break and went for a nice long 2-3 mile walk around 12:30am. I put on my Zune MP3 player and clicked on my gospel playlist I created and got to stepping. It full of all my favorite gospel songs that have helped me get thru certain situations in the past. Kurt Carr’s ‘God Blocked It,’ ‘Seasons’ and ‘Get Your Life Back’ by Donald Lawrence, ‘I Need You Now,’ by Smokie Noeful and my all-time favorite Yolanda Adams ‘In The Midst Of It All,’ hust to name a few. Yolanda's joint just does it for me I usually go and play it over and over a few times. I stepped in the local all night gas station, got something to drink and kept walking and this time I didn’t keep rewinding the Yolanda Adams song like I always do, but I did plan to cause the words were so fitting for what I was going thru.

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 He loves me so dearly
He was there to answer my call
There always to protect me
For He's kept me in the midst of it all

Man that’s describes my situation now more than ever, not because I’ve been faithful, not because I’ve always obeyed. Not even because I trusted him…

but because He loves me so dearly.
Well as I was walking back to my cousin's house I’m staying at for the time being, which was suppose to be a few weeks and has turned into a few months, just one more thing to that was bothering me, I should of had a place of my own by now, but... I heard a few more songs and was just about to go back to, 'In The Midst Of It All'

when I heard the words...

Every time I look back
And every time I think back
On all the stuff I've been through
I've prayed through I cried through
And then I tried you and just
When I was about to fall
Your love caught me when your name I called
Jesus you keep on lookin' out for me

Tears almost came to my eyes while I walked the dark suburban streets (not many street lights in this area) to get back home. Everything I have been through, everything I have prayed through and cried through…. When I was about to fall, His love caught me when His name I called, cause Jesus keeps lookin’ out for me. And not it not cause I’m worthy but to quote my other favorite jam, cause He still hears 'A Sinner’s Prayer'.
Now I haven’t written in my daily devotional blog or my personal journal in more than three months, maybe longer i lost track, I haven’t been doin what I was suppose to be doin, I haven’t been reading the His word much and Lord knows I haven’t been making time for him, but God still has my back, and I am still standing cause He keeps looking out for me.
I wanted to scream and shout at the top of my lungs, now being its well after 1:30 at this time I couldn’t shout like I wanted to in this residential area, cause I’m sure that cops would have met me at the end of the long street before I got home, they call cops quick around here. Forget the cops they shoot first around here. So I ran home quietly, washed up, poured myself something to drink and jumped on my laptap and banged this out for my blog entry. I know I am suppose to share my testimonies and my previous entries have encouraged and inspired other. God has given me this gift of expression. But I haven't been using it, atleast not for what he intended.
I just had to jot down how blessed I am, even if I have lost my soulmate, a lot of my material things, even if I have less money than I ever had at any point of my life. I am no where near where I want to be or think I should be but I am more blessed and spiritually richer than I have ever been. I have grown more in my spiritual walk in the past 6 months than I have in teh past 6 years. And I need to remind myself of that sometimes. While I am not where I want to be, I thank God that I am also no where near where I used to be. Once I looked at the fact that I am still standing instead of thinking of all that was wrong, all I don't have and what I havent accomplished compared to others, I realized how blessed I truly am. How God must have a plan for me because Im still here. And how He keeps on lookin’ out for me and I had to share it with all of you. This is my testimony!

I shouldn't be here today
And when I look back on all my mistakes
If it hadn't been for your grace
I don't know where I'd be where I'd go
Who can love me like you do
And who can hold me when I'm going through
Jesus you keep on lookin' out for me

Father God thank you for always having my back, for always lookin out for me. Even when I don’t deserve it, even when I don’t always obey and when I am not always faithful. Lord you still come when I call. You never turn your back. Father God thank you for another chance to get it right. Father God thank you for allowing me to see another day a beautiful day I have never seen before. Thank you for another day to be a blessing for someone else. For allowing me being in a reasonable portion of my right mind, body and health, even though I currently have no health care benefits and can't afford to spell doctor much less see one. Thank you Lord for allowing me to have a roof over my head another night Lord. Father God I just wanna say thank you because I am nuthin without you but with you I can do anything.
In the name of your Son
Jesus the Christ, Lord and Master
I pray, I praise your name and I give thanx.
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN!!!!!

My new Gospel Radio Show

Greetings
First let me say, thank you all who come through this blog and say welcome to those who are reading it for the first time. And thank you to those who email and call me or leave a little something in the comment section to let me know what you think and to continue to uplift me and encourage me.
I pray this finds all of you in great health and spirit.

I wanted to take a minute before I start my day to give thanx to God for all He is doin' in my life. Thank you for the trial and tribulations and the lessons and blessings that follow. I wanted to share with all of you one of the many things He is doing.

God has blessed me with the opportunity to be involved and help develop a brand new 24 hour Gospel Internet Radio Station. And on that station allowed me to have a show or two and further help reach uplift and encourage His people through it. There is even a possibility of creating an opportunity for my church to be broadcasted weekly on there.

The station is www.TheBestJams.com/gospel

The station The Best Jams- www.thebestjams.com was started a little more than 4 years ago by Brother John. It is a 24-hour Hip Hop and R&B internet radio station, which is how I first got involved.

I will be doin’ a hip-hop radio show as well. But in our initial conversation when we were introduced by my longtime partner and friend, (someone who has been very instrumental in keeping this old school hip-hop head relevant today,) DJ Reality, Brother John informed me on his plans to also expand and have a 24-hour Gospel station as well. I immediately knew this was where I needed to be. That was 2 weeks ago, well late last Saturday night, Brother John got the inspiration to I guess step up his plans for the gospel station because of our conversations and He stayed up all night and put his vision into action.

I helped where I could, providing music and such, mostly encouragement while he did all the work. The result is a new 24-hour Gospel station. DJ Realty gave me some editing software and brief this-is-how-this works and this-is-how-that-works tutorial and then said go have fun and play with it.

I did just that, all the way to just before it was time to go to 8am service Sunday to hear my cousin Robin Joseph preach a powerful sermon. I came home and totally put together, from beginning to end a 2-hour sample show if you will, which will be called AJ's Gospel Vibes and long story short it aired last night from 5-7pm EST and got a decent response. Thank you all who listened, told others about it and let me know what you thought.

I share all these details with you to show how good God is and how He is moving in my life. He is giving me an opportunity to use my passion and all the talents and gifts He has blessed me with to do His work. I am very excited and wanted to take this opportunity to share with all of you, who have supported me and continue to uplift me. And once again say Thank You Lord!

Please continue to pray for me and the station. There is a lot of work to do, but I know all things are possible through God. I will get into more about the station and it's content in more detail real soon. But the bottom-line is I will be doing a show called AJ's Gospel Vibes, where you will have a variety of inspirational music, talk and interviews (will give you times and days as I have them). And on Wednesdays between Noon and 2pm I will be doin’ a show called The Spiritual Vitamin, where you may hear a short sermon, (the first will be one my cousin Robin preached titled 'I'd Rather Fight Than Quit') you don’t wanna miss that, in addition to me reading a daily devotional written by me or one that has inspired me, you will hear music and may hear an interview from time to time with a gospel artist. Prayerfully it will be something that will help folks get thru the rest of the week ‘til the next Sunday and will praise God!

The shows will be archived and available for podcasting. This blog will also now be seen on the stations web site and reach more people as well, thanx to Brother John. God is awesome!

There is much more but I will save that for later.
Please pray for me, for the strength and wisdom to do all God is calling me to do. I will need your prayers even more now as He makes this transformation in my life and the enemy attempt to beat up on me more. The closer I get the more the enemy attempts to do everything he can to move me out of position and take my eyes off Jesus. But this is my way of giving Praise, my way of saying Thank You Lord and shutting the enemy down.

Thank you for stopping by, have a blessed day!!!
Ya friend and brother
AJ Woodson

Check out the station www.thebestjams.com/gospel
http://s5.viastreaming.net/7130/listen.asx windows media
http://s5.viastreaming.net:7130/listen.pls itunes winamp

LOVE

How beautiful love can be

On the streets love is hard to see

It's a place I got to be

Loving you is loving me

How beautiful love can be

On the streets love is hard to see

Gotta reach that frequency

Loving you is loving me
Common- Love Is…

In a world where everyone feels they have to be so hard and where a real man can’t show any emotions for fear of being considered soft or worst, I chose to express my love. I wrote awhile back my I almost lost my dad twice in a 5 year period. Most of my life since his dad never verbally expressed his love for my dad; my dad didn’t exactly know how to do that for me. After the car accident that almost claimed my dad’s life, we have made a commitment to tell each other we love the other at the end of every phone conversation.

Love, So many people use your name in vain

Love, Those have faith in you sometimes go astray

Love, Through all the ups and downs the joy and hurt

Love, For better or worse I still will choose you first
Love- Music Soulchild

We need to get back to a time to tell those close to us how we feel. Your parents, your siblings, your spouse, a relative, a close personal friend and especially our children. Men there is nothing soft or gay about express your love for your brother. This is something we take for granted that the other person knows, but when you never expressed it verbally and then that person is gone you don’t want to have that I wish I would have told them… conversation.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is nor irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

- I Corinthians 13: 4-7

Far too often we confuse love with lust. Unlike lust, God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourself. It’s utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against the natural inclinationations. It is possible to practice this kind of love only if God helps us to set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting none in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show others.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

So does this mean that if you dislike someone you aren’t a Christian? There will always be people we will not like as well as others. But John’s words in I John 2: 7-8 focus on the attitude that causes us to ignore or despise others. Christian love is not a feeling, but a choice. We can choose to be concerned with people’s well being and treat them with respect, whether or not we feel affection toward them. If we choose to love others, God will help us express our love.

Thought of the day:

Love is not only a commandment but a choice. Call a loved one, you mom, dad, child, a best friend, relative, spouse, whoever it is for you and tell them you love them, today.

To all my friends and family and all of you reading this, remember Jesus Loves you and so do I!

24 Hours To Live- an excerpt from my forthcoming book

Sup peoples,
it's been a minute since my last post
I have been busy working on a new book

I usually don't like to share stuff like this until I am finished but I decided to get some feedback and share my vision with the world.

The book is called

AJ's DAILY DEVOTION:

THE SPIRITUAL DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR THE HIP-HOP GENERATION!

it's something God put on my heart to use my gift of writing that God has blessed me with to reach the youth out there, that are not reading the bible and attending anyone's church.

It's a daily devotion that blends elements of hip-hop, biblical literture, famous African-American quotes, to inspire, uplift and encourage our youth. please take a minute and look over an excerpt of the book and hit my back in the comment section with your feedback, thank you in advance for your input.

24 HOURS TO LIVE
If you had twenty four hours to live just think
Where would you go?
What would you do?
Who would you do?
And who would you wanna notify?
Or would you deny that you was about to die?
Ma$e (24 Hours To Live)

Sometimes I get frustrated with the current state of hip-hop and wanna listen to some older joints. I went for a long walk to clear my head one night and was listening to Mase’s ‘24 Hours To Live’ featuring The Lox, Black Rob and DMX. Where as you could imagine they all discussed all the various things they would do if they knew they were going to die in 24 hours. I started thinking what I would do. Do you know what you would do?
While it was a hot track, the reality is most people never know when they only have hours, days or weeks to live. The news has been full of stories of school shootings, disgruntle employees coming back to kill the boss, multiple fatalities on the highways, plane crashes, 911, Katrina, deadly wild fires in Cali, etc.
None of those people knew they were going to die that day. I’m sure many would try to get right with the Lord if they did. Do you have a personal relationship with God? In the bible in John 14:6 Jesus tells us, “I am they way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Most people think they have plenty of time to get right with God, cause we all think we are going to live a long life. But the truth is no one is promised tomorrow. My former pastor, Rev. Michael Rouse had a favorite saying. He would say every Sunday after his sermon, ‘Don’t let hesitation cancel your reservation.’ If you die tomorrow, do you know if you would go to heaven? Good deeds, obeying lots of rules and helping your fellow man won’t get you through the final checkpoint.

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake
I pray my soul the Lord to take

These words are what we teach our children to say before they go to bed but do we teach them what they really mean. If you don’t know Christ for yourself and haven’t put your faith in Jesus as your savior, none of the other stuff will matter. While the song will go down as one of those classic hip-hop joints, not even the artists on the track know when they only have 24 hours to live. Don’t let your time run out!

It’s not what you achieve that qualifies
Its matters not if I gain wealth or fame
The only thing I must be certain of
Is ‘have I put my trust in His Son’s name’ - Hess

Walk The Line

I was up late Sunday night watching cable after running around all weekend at one industry event after another and a full day of church on Sunday. I came home ate and passed out for a few hours and now I was up for the night. I caught up on all the football scores watched the second half of the Patriots- Chargers game and eventually ended up watching a movie on HBO called, ‘Walk The Line.’ It was a movie on the life of singer Johnny Cash.
Watching the movie especially about the early part of his career, driving from city to city with other stars of the era, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and June Carter, reminded me of when I first got in the game.
Doin shows in all kinds of small joints, goin from city to city with other new artists. Even when Johnny Cash performed at Folsom maximum security prison reminded me when we performed in the Brooklyn House Of Detention. It was part of new a new trial program of bringing entertainment to the jails.
At first I started to reminisce about the days on the road, the shows, the stage, the crowd screaming your name and rapping along with you word for word, every word of your song. I saw groups who came after us and even a few we helped get started go on to make much more news and become much more famous and I used to try to figure out why.
While watching Walk The Line seeing Johnny Cash trouble with drugs, how he almost died a few times, how he lost his family made me realize a lot of things. There was a good chance that had we actually blew up to the real big star, while I would be loved by millions, what my life could have been.
I really didn’t have much stability in my life and was running wild. I kinda rebelled from the church. And there is a real good chance I could have been one of the young stars with more money than sense.
It made me realize how God had other plans for me, how God was protecting me from myself, because had He let me have what I was really after, I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today and be just another black celebrity we read about in trouble with drugs, alcohol and much more. Before I gave my life to Christ as an adult like 7-8 years ago, God was watching over me and protecting me. It reminded me of something I heard years before, that God watches over babies and fools. Well I was way too old to be considered a baby but was most certainly a fool. Like I have written many times I am so glad God’s still hears a sinner’s prayers.
How many times does God not give us what we want for our own good.

Father God, thank you for doing what it best in my life when I don’t always agree. Thank you for not putting more on me than I can handle. Thank you for still hearing a sinner’s pray, and please continue to order my step and guide my path in your words!
In the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ, the savior.
AMEN!

Hearing The Sermon Again- part 2

A few months ago I wrote about Hearing The Sermon Again, see: http://ajsdailydevotions.blogspot.com/2007/04/hearing-sermon-again.html
I’m reminded of this entry after goin to Decatur AME Zion Church, this past Friday night to support my pastor who was preaching the opening service of the District Conference. My pastor, Dr. George D. Crenshaw, preached on the topic, God Is Up To Something, the supporting scripture was Jeremiah 29:4-11(read it at your leisure, when you get a chance). He preached this very sermon on Sunday, July 8th at our church, Shaw Temple AME Zion Church. I heard the sermon twice that day, both at the 8 and 11am services, took the CD home to listen to it, to check the quality of the CD and determine what we could do to continue to make the CDs better.
I listened to the service at least 2 more times because I loved the message but it wasn’t until this past Friday night when pastor preached it again, at the District Conference did I really hear the message in the sermon. I don’t know if he preached it any different, if the spirit was moving through him more that evening or what, but Friday evening the message moved me in a way it hadn’t the previous 5 times or so I had listened to it.
While Gods words were coming out my pastors mouth, all I could do was look up and say, “God, I hear you,” because I knew He was talking directly to me. The message moved me so much that if I hadn’t already given my life to Christ I would have that night. After the service I went up to the alter during the pray and just thanked God for hitting me with the word again and that I didn’t have to go years before hearing it again and for it to sink in.
I discussed this with a few family members and friends from church and saw that I am not alone. Some of them shared with me they often need to hear the sermon again and again before they really get it fully or to hear something important the missed the first few times. I felt better that it wasn’t just me and had to share it with you all on this blog, today.
My question to you is how many times does God give you a word that you don’t fully receive or fully hear the first time? How many times do you have to “Hear The Sermon Again,” before you get the message.
Isn’t it amazing how God works and how he will feed you in repetition to make sure His word for you is received?

Thank you Lord for not holding it against me for not getting it the first few time and giving me another opportunity to
Hear The Sermon Again.
Please continue to guide my path and order my steps in your word.
In the name of you Son,
Jesus Christ,
AMEN!

Dreams and Visions

“Be confident of this. He who began a good work in you will continue to perform it until it’s perfectly complete” (Philippians 1:6)

Do you have dreams that just haven’t fully manifested themselves yet? Is there something you can see yourself doing but are not sure you have what it takes? Do you wonder what your purpose is or is there a something God is calling you to do, that you are unsure of?

For me, the gift God has given me with the gift of encouraging, uplifting and inspiring others thru writing. Its more than just a gift but a calling. God has been calling me to do this for years but I have been running from it. As soon as I started God has given me the vision of inspirational books, movies and screenplays mixing my love for hip-hop and biblical elements and scripture to reach our youth who are not in church. I hesitated saying I don’t know any publishers or literary agents, so I passed it off as just a dream. Well know your dreams are vision from God. If he has given you the vision He will give you the provision.

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7)

Your imagination is extremely powerful. God created you as a visual being. Choosing the right images in your mind's eye is important because your life will move in the direction of your thoughts. The way you see yourself in your mind's eye, over time, will drop down into your heart and become your reality. If you can see it you can achieve it.
What is it that you are dreaming of? Is God calling you to do something but you are uncertain of it or if you have what it takes to do it? Know this: God is a God of completion.
He wants to finish what He’s started in your life. No matter how long you’ve been praying, don’t let the enemy tempt you into thinking that it’s never going to happen. Be encouraged today because God is called the Author and the Finisher of your faith.

Father God, I come to You today and submit every area of my mind and heart to You. Search my heart and show me what images I need to change in my mind. Thank You for equipping me with everything I need to live a life pleasing to You. Thank you Father God for blessing me with vision, and the provision to make it happen.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen.