Go The Distance.....

Hello Warriors,

It's been nearly a year since my last blog entry. And if you tried visiting the website, you may have noticed it was down. My apologies for the lack of attention that I've placed on stewarding the ministry. My Strength My Song has always and will always remain a priority. I believe that everyone deserves to hear the true gospel. But, I intentionally decided to take a break to complete an overdue passion project.

Have you ever had something in your life that you had to complete, or else you could not move forward? For me, that was my play "We Called Them Angels." It was a passion project that I had been developing for over a decade. I first had the idea of writing the play when I was a freshman in college. I had underestimated the task of completing a play and thought I would finish writing it within a couple of months. I brushed it aside, and months became years.

The thought of completing the play echoed in my mind year after year. As time passed, I felt like I was doing myself a disservice by not finishing it. There are many reasons why I wanted to write it. I initially thought of writing a play and creating a piece of art about planes. In addition, given my complex relationship with my biological father, I wanted to write a play about sons and fathers. I wanted to write a play about the value of a man, particularly an African American, using his talents and gifts to make the world a better place.

I've tried to teach motivational messages through the ministry. However, the play offered the opportunity for me to have a conversation with an audience through art. And so I decided at the start of this year that I would complete a production. By the grace of God, it's finished!

Recently, I've been trying to submit my play to various festivals and competitions to gain more support for a more significant production. My professional background is in education, and I've tried to develop a play that can inspire younger audiences to soar after their dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem. If you want to learn more about the production, you can visit the website at www.wecalledthemangels.com.

That said, I am grateful to be back and thrilled to announce that the website for My Strength My Song is up and running. Please be on the lookout for new updates and motivational messages. I will continue to do what I can to spread faith-based Christ-centered messages that empower you to believe in yourself.

If there is anything I want you to get from this post, you should take the time to work on your goals and bring your dreams to fruition, especially if you desire to share something with the world. One of the greatest gifts you can give to others is the gift of authenticity. Sometimes, we shy away from pursuing our goals because we think other people may view them as odd or ridiculous. But God doesn't care what others think when he gives you something to do. He wants to know if you will actually follow through. So my friend, wherever you are in this world, I encourage you to finish the task you have been putting aside. You'll be amazed at how much relief you feel for completing it. Also, when you thrive, you encourage others to thrive!

Until next time 

May the light remain in you,

Ryan

The Gift of Salvation

Examined Verses:

“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face Judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27-28

“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, And I will write them on their minds” Then he adds: "Their sin and Lawless acts I will remember no more” Hebrews 10:14-17

Good afternoon warriors,

Here are some reflections I have gained from meditating on chapters nine and ten of the book of Hebrews for today's devotional. The purpose of these chapters is to explain the gift of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Additionally, they discuss the covenant made through the blood of Jesus Christ.

In my walk with God, there have been times when I felt I couldn't add up to the man God wants me to be. My vision of a perfect Christian would be a monk living on an island in a temple. But that is far removed from what God expects of us. Some Christians were called to be monks, and some were called to be doctors, community activists, or lawyers. All of us are uniquely designed with the personality traits, skillsets, gifts, and talents necessary for God's plan in our lives.

God is our heavenly father, and "As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him." (Psalm 103) That said, there is room for grace and forgiveness. God knows that we are not perfect and desires that we remain honest with him about our faults and flaws. That is why we can all confess and repent of our sins. It is not God's desire that we walk through life feeling condemned.

Self-condemnation and guilt are things that we all struggle with to various degrees. One of the primary sources of this kind of guilt stems from comparison. Comparison can also complicate our individual journeys. However, when you intentionally decide to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are no longer held accountable for the sins you've been forgiven for. It is critical to change as a Christian, but sometimes we get caught up in thinking that God wants us to be chained to our past. In addition, many of the changes we need to make are specific to God's calling and plan for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I love returning to these passages because they are beautiful reminders that Jesus Christ's sacrifice on Calvary has made us victors over the enemy once and for all. The reality is that no one is perfect. That is why Jesus Christ, pure and blameless, offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Thank you Jesus!

Finally, I would like to look at verse 14, which reads, "For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." It is intentional that the verse reads those who are being made holy because we strive every day to become better people. But as we mature and strengthen in our walk we can stand behind the finished work of the cross and repent of sins for salvation.

Until next time

May the Light Remain within you,

Ryan

Free Fallin'/ Faith over Fear

Me Skydiving With a Pro Diver

You see that image? That’s me with a massive smile while jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet on my 29th birthday. I didn’t know what to expect. But I decided to go skydiving to overcome a childhood fear of heights. In many ways, overcoming fear and anxiety is similar to jumping out of a plane. It takes faith. It takes courage. But when you actually do it, I mean, when you are out of the plane floating midair with nothing but the wind carrying you, it is the most exhilarating feeling. You don’t feel that pit in the stomach sensation one feels during the drop of a rollercoaster. Instead, you feel weightless. You feel like an eagle soaring with invisible wings. I imagine it’s the closest thing to the feeling of flight.

Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" is one of my favorite songs to jam out to when lifting weights at the gym. The title paints the portrait of Tom Petty jumping from a plane with a guitar strapped on his shoulders. As it turns out, the song is about gaining freedom after leaving a relationship. That said, the listener doesn't have to be in a romantic relationship to enjoy the song. Sometimes we form relationships with routines, with ways of doing things that may be comfortable but not the most beneficial. Life can feel secure when we live in the mundane. Life can feel safe when you choose to play small. But then the real question you have to ask yourself is, are you thriving? Do you wake up every morning with the buzz and rush of living out your dreams? Or do you roll out of bed dreading the hours ahead because life is not as exciting as you’d like it to be? Only you have the answer to that question.

To thrive: means to prosper, to flourish. In the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 29 verse 11, Jeremiah writes, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” This passage from the bible lets the reader know that God wants you to thrive. Regardless of what anyone tells you, you have permission from God to thrive in life. In fact, it is God’s plan for all of us to thrive in our own way. If your life is not prospering or thriving you should take time to do a personal inventory of your life and circumstances to see what is lacking.

As a Christian, the very thought of living out your dreams can feel selfish. Many of us are led to believe from a young age that life should be self-sacrificing. But when you view life through a larger lens, you can see that God has gifted everyone with particular talents and skills to serve the world at large. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17. Pursuing your dreams creates space for more meaningful relationships and opportunities that add value. It is possible to serve and sacrifice while pursuing your dreams.

Although I would highly recommend skydiving. Jumping out of a plane is not the only way to pursue a fulfilling life. Perhaps it’s learning a new language you have always been curious about or asking that beloved out on a date.

One lesson I will treasure from the skydiving episode is that fear is generated in the mind. The most terrifying part about skydiving is having to confront the thoughts that float through your head while you are seated on the plane and ascending to the drop at 14,000 feet. All of that fear dissipates when you jump off the plane, and you are overcome by the thrill of being carried by the wind.

In most cases, on the other side of fear is #life. On the other side of comfort is #thriving. On the other side of familiar and predictable is #freefallin’.

Until next time,

Ryan

#faith #thrive #live #freefallin #tompetty #gifts #jeremiah2911 #James117