For many weeks now the field that's connected to the track I walk around every morning has been closed. Likewise, every morning there's a man out there spraying the field and performing maintenance on it. I assumed it was closed for repair and that once the repairs were done it would reopen to resume normal activity. Well, when I drove up today I saw huge tents, carnival rides, games, a ferris wheel, a petting zoo, water slides, food trucks, a carousel, etc. To my surprise, the field wasn't closed simply to be REPAIRED from the normal activities hosted there. But, it was also being PREPARED to host something much greater! I didn't care who saw me as I lifted my hands and thanked God for the current closures and setbacks in my life. I realized more today how He's so loving that He'll only close your field to prepare you to host something greater than what took place in your life previously. Today, I yield to His correction and allow Him to perform maintenance on my life. I agree with Romans 8:18 ...what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal in us later! I never thought I'd hear myself say this but when I saw what the man was preparing the ground for, my response to God was, "Treat me like DIRT!!!"

I've lost track of exactly how long its been, but I've been exercising and gradually changing my diet as I endeavor to live a healthier and more disciplined lifestyle. Part of my new routine includes a daily walk around a local track. I typically use this time to focus my thoughts and have conversations with God. Even though I try to remain conscious of His presence all day long, it's during my early morning "walk with God" that my soul seems quiet enough for me to sense His Spirit more keenly. I know Him well enough these days to believe that He has no evil-intent towards me, but what I perceived Him saying to me today during our walk this morning kind of made me feel like an idiot...

If you follow me on Instagram you probably already know that I decided to go to Vegas for my birthday this year. However, what was supposed to be a weekend excursion turned into a TEN DAY extravaganza. It didn't take me but a few days in that atmosphere to realize that I wasn't ready to leave and that I needed more time to explore SIN CITY! And OH BOY did it live up to its name. I'll share as much as I can to set up my point for this blog entry. But, some stuff I simply can't/won't share because... well, you know the saying... what happens in Vegas, STAYS in Vegas...

Most Saturdays I allow my mother to pick up my 2 year old daughter so they can spend a few quality hours together. Somehow, those few hours end up being ALL DAY the majority of the time, but that's a story for another time. Let's talk about the incident that occurred between them this past weekend. About twenty minutes after my mother picked her up she called me and I could sense something different in her voice. She proceeded to ask me, "How do y'all discipline Quinn, since you don't whip/spank her?" I chuckled and asked, "What did she do?" My mother replied, "She keeps telling me NO and STOP!" I continued to chuckle and simply told her, "You better not HIT my child!"

Hopefully by now many of you know that I've started an accessories line in honor of my daughter, Quinn: www.QuinnOnline.com. She used to cry and whine all of the time for her mother's bangles, so I decided I'd just buy her some in her size. I quickly discovered that they were virtually impossible to find! Of course, I couldn't just let her go without so I commissioned local artisans to make some in her size. Little did I know, God had a plan all along that was set in motion the first time I saw her cry for her mother's bangles. Without Quinn's prompting and people's inquiries, I NEVER would have considered starting a line for children. But, that's not completely what this post is about...

Today's post is just an attempt to get my feet wet and start blogging again. I've been quiet but God's Spirit within me sure hasn't been. Over the last few months there has been a major shift in my life that is probably unseen to most people, but I'm sure it will eventually spill outward and become more apparent. Contrary to judgmental belief systems, I've had a relationship with God for a long time. However, like many, I've struggled to keep up with the lofty things He says about me. I often feel like I'm so far from the man that He sees when He views me through the lens of His intention. I continue to be baffled by how He treats me like the man He wants me to be, instead of the guy I act like I am. Somehow in the madness of that kind of love, I find myself drawn to Him and mysteriously becoming the very person He told me I was. There is so much in my heart that I can't type in this entry but in 2013 everyone will hopefully see more glimpses of that guy who looks and loves like God.

Father, today I ANTicipate that nothing can pluck me from Your hand or separate me from Your love because I fully acknowledge that I belong to You!

Side Note: I'm returning to my musical roots this year and some people are gonna be SHOCKED by what a few church runs and some studio effects can do! lol Soul.Search.Sing will take on many forms and I hope you'll join me for one of them! 

  Well I thought the blog was over but Quinn walked into my office, heard the song, and said she wanted to sing too. I turned the mic on and in ONE TAKE she HARMONIZED! World, get ready for whatever she plans to do!