My favorite book by Bishop T.D. Jakes is titled, Before You Do. This book is a prelude to all of the most IMPORTANT decision making topics and areas in one's life. Topics on before you make business decisions, engagement to marital decisions, having children, spiritual decisions, buy a house, divorce, settle for less, etc. I decided to reread this book for the 50-11th time because I am in gear for a lot of NEW things in my personal and professional life, that I need a refresher on and wanted to share my thoughts, with you.
There are high and low peaks in my life, mostly like others. Some moments my business is booming but my personal life is suffering or lack there of. At other times, my personal life soars and my business is suffering seeds being planted so what do I do? GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND REFLECT ON THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS I'VE MADE, AND ASK MYSELF WHY DID I MAKE THOSE DECISIONS?
I love this book because even if you scheme through it to only read the parts that is beneficial to you and your life, you will still walk away and be blessed beyond measures (though I suggest you read the entire book). I'm often challenging my self to go further than what has been done myself and by others. For example, we have plenty of domestic violence shelters in this country so I don't work hard as I do to simply open up another one to be like the other shelters. I work very hard to NEVER have to open up a shelter for victims of domestic violence. That is my ultimate goal, no more shelters will be needed to be of service because violence against women and their children will END! PERIOD! Now, I am greatly appreciative of the services that the shelters provide for this population currently. I network with them often and support them in all that I can do in their communities. ANMF is a foundation to HELP OTHERS, that is a part of our mission that we carry out DAILY.
My favorite part of this book by the Bishop is:
The Art of Fighting
"God gave us the gift of anger and the fuel of adrenaline......You have to fight to walk, to improve, to graduate, to love, to live, to SURVIVE (emphasis mine). But before you fight, you must think deeply to understand whether the spoils of the war justify the fight. If yes, stand up to the pain, not just your own but the pain of all those involved, the innocent who may be hurt in the fight, and those against you. Because, try all you want, if you truly want to escape the hold your enemies have on you, you must understand their pain..... As you think through which fights to engage and which to avoid, realize that some people are not as interested in results as they are in conflict."
I love this in particular as it relates to my current position as a Violence Prevention Specialist that pours into me being the Founder of ANMF. Before, I make decisions whether I'm angry and/or happy I TRY MY BEST to process it first and then go through with it. Some people think that once they pray over something, they'll wait on God to "bless" them with it........ THAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU CAN MAKE. It does no good to have faith in God without works, y'all know the scripture. I've done this many of times and honestly got tired of hearing myself pray and nothing else.
So remember BEFORE YOU DO anything, PRAY, RESEARCH, WORK, BE STILL & LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD & COMMON SENSE, just to name a few things to do.
BREAK THE SILENCE & SPREAD YOUR KNOWLEDGE!
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