April 2010
Refuse to Worry
Refuse to Worry
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life"
(Matthew 6:27, NIV)
TODAY'S WORD
Are you worrying about something today? To worry means to allow something to revolve in your mind over and over again. God doesn't want you to live worried or anxious about anything. He knows that worry steals your peace and joy. It affects every area of your life. Have you heard the saying, "Don't worry yourself sick?" That's because worrying affects your physical body. It affects your sleep. You won't ever gain anything by worrying; in fact, you'll lose precious moments that you can never get back again. The good news is that God has promised that you can have victory over worry. It starts by making the choice to trust in Him. When you cast your cares on Him, He will give you His peace.
Decide today to put an end to worry in your life. Choose to feed your faith and fill your mind with God's promises. As you focus on God's Word, you'll drive out worry and fill your heart with faith and expectancy; and you'll be empowered to move forward into the life of blessing He has in store for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, today I choose to put an end to worry in my life. I choose to feed my faith by studying Your promises and declaring Your Word over my life. Help me to totally trust in You today and every day. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
P.U.S.H.
Pray Until Something Happens!!!
Have a blessed and safe weekend.
A Mark of Honor
A Mark of Honor
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"It is an honor for a man to cease from strife…"
(Proverbs 20:3, AMP)
TODAY'S WORD
Oftentimes, challenges are merely distractions meant to keep us from pursuing our destiny. Maybe someone in the office isn't as friendly to you as you'd like. Maybe you have a neighbor who always parks in front of your house and blocks your mailbox. Those things may be frustrating, but they have little significance when you look at the big picture. You can't allow the little things to open the door to strife in your life.
In the Bible, just before David fought the giant Goliath, his brother Iliab tried to confront him. David knew that arguing with Iliab wasn't even worth his time and strength. He knew his real battle was with Goliath, and he didn't want to be distracted. He simply "turned away" from Iliab and kept his focus on what he was called to do. In our own lives today, most frustrations aren't worth our energy. When we avoid strife, it is a mark of honor.
Today, I encourage you to turn away from strife. Keep your focus on what God has called you to do. As you do, you will live in honor, and you'll move forward in the destiny He has in store for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for Your hand of victory in my life. Give me the wisdom and courage I need to walk away from strife so I can focus on the destiny You have prepared for me. I love You and bless You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
P.U.S.H.
Pray Until Something Happens!!!
LUPE SURPISES B.o.B
Stay above Strife
Stay above Strife
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out"
(Proverbs 17:14, NIV)
TODAY'S WORD
Too often, people fall into the trap of strife. Someone says something that rubs you the wrong way, and before you know it, there is tension, quarreling, and division. The Bible tells us that strife opens the door to "every evil work." It's the enemy's greatest trap to keep people from living in victory. But you don't have to fall into the trap of strife, you can rise above it. Like today's verse says, you can simply drop the matter before it turns into something bigger than it needs to. You don't have to sink down to somebody's level and argue with them and try to prove that you're right. You weren't put on this earth to correct everybody around you.
If you are going to be all that God's called you to be, you have to learn to stay above strife. Instead of letting disagreements pull your relationships apart, look for common ground to draw you closer to the people in your life. Look for peace. Look for ways to be a blessing. Stay above strife so you can enjoy your relationships and experience the blessing He has for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, I choose to stay above strife. I choose to honor You by seeking peace in my relationships. Empower me to walk in love and be a blessing everywhere I go. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
P.U.S.H.
Pray Until Something Happens!!!
Buy B.o.Bs album right now on I Tunes here is the link!!
B.o.B - The Adventures of Bobby Ray - Episode 4
He's Working in You
He's Working in You
Today's Scripture:
"…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 1:6, NIV).Today's Word:
Sometimes when God is doing a work in our lives, things can get a little uncomfortable. We may encounter people who are hard to get along with or have circumstances that seem beyond our control. When this happens, instead of complaining, getting sour, or trying to change everything around you, why don't you look deep inside and say, "Lord, thank You for doing a work in me." See, I've learned that God is more interested in changing me than He is in changing my circumstances. If I choose to stay sour because I'm not getting my way or discouraged because things aren't happening on my time table, that's going to keep me right where I am.
If you want to see change, if you want to see God open up new doors, the key is to bloom right where you're planted. You can't wait until everything gets better before you decide to have a good attitude. You have to be the best that you can be right where you are. When you bloom where you're planted, you're allowing God to work in you, and He will be faithful to complete what He's started in you!
Prayer for Today:
Father God, thank You for doing a work in me. I choose to align myself with Your plan by blooming where I'm planted. Help me, by Your Spirit, to be an example of Your love and life everywhere I go. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
P.U.S.H.
Pray Until Something Happens!!!
The Daily Cardinal - B.o.B takes listener on exciting Adventures
B.o.B takes listener on exciting Adventures
Published: Sunday, April 25, 2010
Updated: Sunday, April 25, 2010
Photo Courtesy Atlantic Recording
B.o.B.’s latest album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray, though suffering from its fair share of missteps, is a great record, possibly one of the best to be released this year.
We’re only four months into 2010, but one of the best hip-hop albums of the year may already be on our hands. Delivered by 21-year-old Bobby Ray Simmons, better known as B.o.B., The Adventures of Bobby Ray is a refreshing and momentous change of pace in a genre that can often get redundant. On his first LP, B.o.B. went all in, proving his ability to effortlessly stretch the limits of the rap genre. Ranging from rap to borderline punk, The Adventures of Bobby Ray now showcases the abilities of a new face in hip-hop.
The adventures begin with the piano- and electric guitar-driven “Don’t Let Me Fall,” which gives the listener a preview of what’s to come. Characterized by B.o.B’s swift cadence and an indelible chorus, “Don’t Let Me Fall” is an immediate indication The Adventures of Bobby Ray is not a typical rap album, but an evolution of the pop-rap Kid Cudi most recently pioneered.
Perhaps the best example of B.o.B.’s ability to tailor hip-hop to his creative strengths is the track “The Kids.” Sampling Vampire Weekend’s “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance,” B.o.B. delves into the self-produced beat to tell the tale of his childhood and the difficulties children face today. He creates the perfect platform for the mixture of singing and rapping that he does best. Additionally, Janelle Monae’s contributions to the second verse make it one of the strongest tracks.
“Magic” is an outlier from the rest of the record, and is, for better or worse, the most radio-ready song. Produced by Dr. Luke, the chorus and beat of “Magic” sound like a pump-up song that could unfortunately be featured on things as peppy as “High School Musical.” Thankfully, B.o.B. salvages “Magic” from the damage of sub-par producing by succeeding lyrically.
Bobby Ray’s versatility is also evident with the songs “Nothin’ on You” and “Lovelier Than You,” with both showing his sentimental side. Completing the adventure is “Airplanes Pt. 2,” a highly anticipated track due to B.o.B.’s recruiting of Eminem to contribute a verse. B.o.B. uses the track to reflect on his journey from dreaming of being a musician to being a force in the music industry, while Eminem’s verse considers what it would have been like if the famed rapper never pursued music. Eminem’s contribution pushes B.o.B. to be his best, and “Airplanes Pt. 2” rounds The Adventures of Bobby Ray off with an unforgettable track.
One thing the album does fall short on is measuring up comedically with his previous mixtapes. On these past releases, Bobby Ray incorporated humor by using skits within the songs. Often seen as the pariahs of music, such skits gave B.o.B. a way to exhibit his personality to the listener, an element that The Adventures of Bobby Ray severely lacks.
But overall, The Adventures of Bobby Ray is a heavy-hitting album that places B.o.B. far above most of his peers. However, it still has its weaknesses. There is no question that B.o.B. excels in innovation, but the lack of cohesiveness on his debut may be viewed as detrimental to the project as a whole. There is also no obvious link or theme connecting the songs: It’s more like a collection of singles than a cohesive album.
But when critiqued with the knowledge that this is his debut album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray is collectively an excellent effort. Such shortcomings are merely minor complaints. B.o.B. explores a more pop version of his previous music, without compromising substance or talent. The album will surely hook first-time listeners as well as those who have been following B.o.B. since the start of his career. Devoid of fillers, full of high-quality production and completed with an abundance of B.o.B.’s slick lyrics, few will be disappointed with The Adventures of Bobby Ray.
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