YOUR PLAN MEANS NOTHING WHEN GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU.

So I been practicing the drums and guitar all day long. hour here hour there but all day. What a day, it feels absolutely amazing to be playing these musical instruments and be able to call myself a musician. I know I have a heck of a lot more to learn before I can call myself a professional musician. My wife and I was just talking about the morning I woke up 7 months ago and I told her I want to start taking on some of the things I always wanted to do as a kid and growing up. The first one I told her I was going to take on was learning how to play the drums.

My first thought was finding some affordable drums lessons. Something one on one. Well I found out quick that was not going to happen. I never knew how expensive music lessons can be. So the next best thing was being self taught. So it was youtube and other free websites. I never thought things would go so well as they have been. Another thing that I never anticipated was the fact that I would be playing gospel music. what was on my mind was R&B, some old school rap and funk. Playing gospel music was never on my mind.

So people the moral of this short blog post is you never know what God has planned for you. Your plans mean nothing when God has a plan for you. So I have been running with it and doing what God has planned me to do. There is no way this was not God plans because of the way it actually happen. I have told the story before but you know what, I will make this post a little longer by telling the story again. I went to church one morning, actually to a church I did not plan on going to. I was going to go to my church at the time which was Greater St James in mims Florida and hear Keith Buckner put the word down. We was having car trouble that morning and my wife suggested I go to another church closer to our house that I attended a few times before. So I decided to do so. Well the pastors wife and I got into a short conversation just really trying to become better acquainted by letter her know more about who I am. She just so happen to ask a question out of the blue if I ever played an instrument. So I told her I just started taking drum lessons about a month ago. Funny thing was they were looking for a drummer. So she invited me to start practicing with them to become part of the praise team because they were looking for a back up drummer.

The way it all happen was just amazing and it had to be God taking me in that direction. Well I have not looked back since and have played with three praise teams all within 7 months. Its just been awesome and so much fun.

Once again people the message in this blog post is if you find yourself going in a totally different direction then you planned for your self out of no where. Stop and look up and thank God for using you to do his work in what ever area that might be.

God bless

THE BEST YEAR EVER SO FAR A MAN CAN ASK FOR.

This year has been one of the best years of my life thus far. I have been blessed beyond measures. If anyone would of told me this time last year that I would of been as blessed as I have been so far this year I would not believed them if they gave me a million dollars to do so. So I decided to put this blog together to capture some of the blessings I have received this year and share them with you all. Some of you might already know of most of them because I am a advocate Face Book user and I share a lot of material there. This will just be another way to share my blessings in hopes for motivation for a few that might not think their life can get better then what it is. Believe me I once believed that same thing but when I started to put my trust in God and started trying to do better in all areas of life things just started looking up for me. There is always light on the other side.

The first blessing I received this year was meeting my now wife Angel Williams right before the start of the new year. I met my wife in October of 2014 I was just coming off some hard falls in my life and was trying to pick myself back up. I was doing OK by working out almost everyday and staying in church but I knew something was still missing. My heart still had an empty space in it. It would be OK during my workouts and church sermons but something was always pulling at my heart like I knew something was there or coming but I did not know what it was yet. I would still hang out a lil to much indulging in things I should not be, hanging with people that were no good for me trying to keep my mind occupied from feeling that empty space. Still hurting from being involved with the devil him self that previous year. People when I say that, I really mean being involved with the devil. If you ever been involved with a person that you felt was one of or probably the most evilest person, most deceitful person, absolutely the most phoniest fake christian you ever met, then you know what I mean when I say being involved with the devil himself. Now when I look back at that time I can truly say that I needed to go through that experience. I learned a lot about fake christians and what to look for when encountering them. I also learned a lot about myself, ways I should change in my self as a man and how to deal with a woman the right way. It was a learning lesson that helped me to become the man I needed to become to prepare for the Angel the Lord was about to give to me. Like my pastor say, we sometime have to go through them bad times to get to the good times so we can appreciate them more and give God the glory for the lesson he taught us.

Now my next blessing this year was meeting my first grandchild. My daughter Kali Curkendall gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on February the 9th Jaxon. This lil fella is the beautifulest baby ever. My baby girl has done such a wonderful job with him. Every picture I see he has the biggest smile or the most adventures look on his face like he is saying,,"what is going on now" lol. I have been a proud grand father and have and will always do what I can do to play my part in his and my daughters life from this day forward.

Then after that I find out that my other baby girl is pregnant with my second grandson. My daughter Shanice Williams is having her first child. this is truly a blessing for me because I believe in my heart that is a way of God slowing her down a little and helping her grow up. My baby has not had the easiest time in life so far. Like all of us she has made some pretty terrible choices when it comes to the people and events in life that she has decided to take part of, but she is making it by the grace of God. I always pray for her and ask God to give her the strength she needs to continue to go on making better choice day by day. My baby and I are pretty close and have shared some really trying and emotional times together. I love her with all my heart and will do what I can emotionally, spiritually and mentally to help her go on to be a beautiful mother and a wonderful woman. I love you baby girl.

Now the biggest blessing of all was being able to marry my best friend, my soul mate, the Angel God gave me. May 9th was the day my beautiful friend and lady became Mrs Maurice Williams. I love my Angel with all my heart and the day I married her was the happiest day ever. Everything, every plan we made up to the day we married worked out to the T. Every I was dotted and every T was crossed up until that day we said I do to each other. We were married at my local church Greater St James Baptist in mims Florida, by my pastor Keith Buckner.

Every moment was wonderful. All my friends and family was there. The ones that were meant to be there. some very important people came together with us to make that day happen. First of all my mother who went out her way to do everything she could to help. I love my mother with all my heart and she was happy as can be. Seeing her that happy was priceless.

My cousin Dorthy McGriff who came from Atlanta to lend a helping hand with cooking and decorations and everything else she could help with. She was awesome and did not sit down until something she was doing was done. I thank her so much and will never forget all her help. I love you cuz to the moon and back. We did not get a good picture of her because she is camera shy.

My sister was awesome as well. she did all the decorations with the help of mom and faye but the idea was all hers. I thank you so much sis. You did a wonderful job. without you I don't know how them decorations would of turned out because the idea I had would of be plain as I don't know what. Thanks again sis and I love you dearly.

To all my helpers who came out and helped without expecting anything in return. I thank you so much, you were all needed and things would not have went as smooth as they did without you three. Thanks so much again and God bless you all. Terry Wilson, Chevelle Woods and Laura Highsmith you were all wonderful. Don't ever forget girls I have a way of showing my appreciate to you all soon. My wife and I will play a part in that.

To my best man,, boy I cant say enough about my home boy. He has been there for me from day one. We have had some good times together and have shared some hurtful times together as well. I cant ask for a better friend then Kevin M Williams. I thank you so much home boy,, you and your fiancee have been the best friends ever. I thank Carmon Ramos soon to be Mrs Carmon Williams for also being a great friend first of all for excepting me into her life when meeting me as Kevin's friend and then excepting my wife as a friend and excepting her like you knew each other for ever. You guys are awesome and I look forward to many more years of friend ship with you both.

https://www.facebook.com/reese1bear/videos/10206793999034256/?l=4898933220902395758 click on this link and you can view one of the best speeches a best man can give. Thanks again for everything homie.

I cant forget my lil brother, Cory Jamel Lockhart. who also stood by my side. Thanks for showing your love bro on my special day and also your lil ones Maliek and Mylashia. you all were so beautiful and I loved every moment of having you three be apart of my wedding. I love you all with all my heart and cant wait to see you all again. Also to your wife who lent a helping hand as well. love you guys.

Last but definitely not least. My wife's guardian angel. The one that made some of the most important parts of the our special day come together. We can not thank you enough. Thanking you would be a different blog within itself. You are an awesome friend and I am thankful for you being apart of my wife's life. I am grateful and thankful for meeting you and the Lord allowing you to be my friend through my wife. love you my new friend Amanda Schafer Brainerd.

So I say to all of you that view this blog, this is in no way to boast or brag about the events that have taken place in my life. Its not to say that my life is better then anyone else's. Its just to share my happy moments and to let everyone know that my life has had struggles just as well as the average person. I have had bad times, I have lost loved ones, I have been in situations that I thought I would not be able to make it out of. I think back to some of them and say to myself, "wow, how in the hell did I make it out of that" but the more and more I think about it, I know that it was the grace of God. God has his hands on me and carried me when I needed to be carried and walked beside me the whole way. I hope that you all can look at my life my story and have hope and know that better days are ahead. Just keep the faith, pray, correct your mistakes as best you can. None of us are perfect, but all the Lord ask of us is that we trust in him, ask for his forgiveness and glorify him in every way we can. People we all need God in our life no matter whats going on in your life and the mistakes you make, you need God people.. So God bless and have a bless rest of the year. Love you all.

Love from Mr and Mrs Williams.

The Message of Hope, Reverend Kevin Knowles.

The Greater saint James Baptist Church is honored to have another blessed and anointed pastor. Pastor Kevin Knowles. He has become a very important part of Greater Saint James. He preached about hope a few Sundays ago and his word was very informative and spiritual. I can feel every word flowing through my spirit.

IF YOU HAVE A HOPE IN JESUS YOU HAVE A HOPE THAT BRINGS TRANSFORMATION.

Unfortunately Reverend Knowles lost if mother recently. The Lord called her to come home. Services will be held this Saturday at the church, Greater Saint James at 2pm. Coming out to show your support would be greatly appreciated. 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

HAPPY EASTER

Pastor Buckner gave a wonderful sermon on this Easter Sunday. His teachings and preaching came from Colossians 1:14-22. The part of it that really stuck out for me is when he spoke about how we should not let our past prevent us from moving forward. Not letting anyone who might want to slander our name because of our past get in the way of our growth because that person did not pay the ultimate price for us. We should only be concerned about the one who paid the ultimate price for all the sins you committed in the past and all your short comings in the future. And that is Jesus Christ our Lord. He paid the price for our sins and he is the only one I'm concerned about knowing how I lived my life then and how I will continue to live my life. Hear is a short clip of the pastors sermon for this Easter. 

To be under the guidance of pastor Keith Buckner during all this is a blessing. The pastor is such a important influence in my life. I joined the Greater St James church due to the pastor's wonderful, spiritual teachings and preaching. When the pastor speaks you know that what he is saying comes from the anointing the Lord has blessed him with.  I have experienced thus far being a part of Pastor Buckner's congregation that when you find a church and preacher that you can tell really cares for you and his members, its hard to listen to any other teachings and preaching. Now I know the word of god can come from any where weather the source be bad or good, fake or real. God will reveal what we need to get from them sources and what we need to ignore but with pastor Buckner nothing seems fake. Everything comes from the heart with him. when listening to him preach you just know. Also the first lady, Mrs Buckner. What a wonderful god fearing and caring lady. She gave me one of the best talks I have ever heard. Truly insightful and loving. Nothing but care and love came from that talk. And I surely do appreciate every word of it.

Also I would like to say that our Choir did a pretty good job this Easter Sunday. There were some new faces there this time and it was good to see some of the young people join in and share there beautiful voices bringing forth the spirit of the lord through song. Hear is one of their selections.

What a great time we had this Easter. This was the first Easter Sunday I spent in church in a long time. Becoming saved has allowed me to enjoy some experiences I never had in my life. Enjoying today without street partying for Easter was great. I felt the spirit of the lord today on the day of his resurrection and I would not change this new life for nothing. God is Good.

So if your ever in the area of Mims Florida on a bright Sunday day and want to receive some good teaching and preaching, stop by and visit The Greater St James Baptist Church and fellowship with my Pastor,  Keith Buckner my church family. We would love to have you. God Bless you..

Pastor Keith Buckner preach the word of God,

Church was great this past Sunday. 2/24/2013, The preacher preached a very hit home sermon. If you have been born again in Christ then you know how hard it can be to be saved. Everyday there is temptation all around you. Old friends, old places you used to hang out, old habits. These things can creep up on you at anytime and many times as you walk with Christ.

I have to admit, I was tested this weekend. I was around an old crowd of people and some old thoughts and habits steered up. When I woke up this morning, I was really upset with myself. I prayed all morning for god to forgive me and don't give up on me. Then at church this morning Pastor Buckner Preached this sermon. I was so glad I went to church. I was reminded that the lord will never give up on you, no matter what.

Pastor Keith Buckner is a very intelligent man. I love the way he preaches and teaches because everything he say is backed up and referred front he bible. I'm really happy I became a member of this church and will be, in gods will, a member of this church as long as I or it exist.

So if your ever in the mims area on a wonderful Sunday morning, come out and listen to Pastor Keith Buckner preach the word of God,

God bless you all.

I TOOK IT TO THE WATER,

Today was my baptism day at my church, Greater Saint James Missionary Baptist Church, , I took it to the water. All the family came out to support me and it felt good to spend some time with the family. My little brother and his wife came to visit and it felt good to spend time with my little brother. Its always good to see him.

I used to think about getting baptized all the time in the past. I was just always hesitant about doing it because I wanted to stay running the streets. Thinking I was going to miss something. Boy how stupid was I. I should of gave my life to Christ long time ago. When I look back at my life I understand why I went through the things I went through. Like the sermon today when Pastor Buckner was talking about how god prepares us for the time when we answer his call.

The pastor also was talking about how when you call on Jesus or except his invitation, we become different people. We start to walk, talk, think, and see things in a different light. I can really relate to that because before I became saved I used to see  the world in a really distorted way. Its like everything I thought about had some type of corruption to it. I mean I was not a bad person but I did some really un godly things. I use to say to myself. I need to stop drinking or doing drugs or being sexually immoral. I could not understand why I could not stop doing them things. I wanted to stop but the urge was so strong to continue to do these ungodly acts and speak in such an ungodly way.

Now that I'm saved and I look back at why it was so hard to stop them things, I understand why, because of that one letter word, I. I was always saying I need to do this and that. I I I. But when I stopping saying I and said JESUS...and really said that name with sensitivity and conviction, the taste for all them ungodly acts were gone,, It was really amazing to me how the taste for drugs, and everything else I was doing to corrupt my mind, body and soul disappeared. I could not see an end to my cravings,,So now for me not to even feel none of that in my head,,it feels so good.

Being baptized today was another awesome feeling. A funny situation about it though is when I was in the water it was so cold I could not catch my breath, so when the time came for me to get dunked, I was so short of breath that I really could not hold my breath to go under water so I was like in panic mode but the pastor took care of me and let me back up just in time for me to catch my breath..Lol,,it was kind of funny and we joked about it for a few min or so..

God is good, I really am a new person. It feels really good to be following the lord and really truly believe in my heart and soul that my life is saved through the blood of Christ. I truly truly thank my lord and savoir for not giving up on me while I was living that UN-godly life. There was many times I could of been gone, hurt real bad or something, but the lord kept walking with me knowing that he had a plan for my life,, so hear I am still standing and walking with Jesus Christ and I love it..

~God bless you all~

God is Good

So today 1/7/13 started a very new and exciting chapter in my life. I really was not planning today's events and it turned out to be the most exciting day of my life without a mind altering substance. It all started last night while talking to a very good friend on the phone. Her name is Tammy. Tammy has always been a very important person in my life despite the fact that there has been periods of our life where we have went long periods of time without communicating. You see, she is one of them people that fall under the category, "life time" of the quote "people come in your life for a reason, season, or a life time."

OK....So this is how it all started!!

I have had family hear visiting in Florida for the new York for the past week. Well me and Tammy were talking about all of us going to church while there hear. Well, during the day on sat I was thinking to my self, maybe I will get up and go to church tomorrow but I kept saying to myself, I don't really have church shoes to look presentable enough to attend church, in my eyes anyway. Well, a few years ago I moved to Jacksonville Florida for a really short period of time. At the time I moved to Jacksonville, I could not take all of my belongings with me so I decided to leave a box of shoes behind for a later date to return and get them.

Well I did not stay in Jacksonville a very long time because it did not work out the way I thought it would so I had to return to my home hear in Mims Florida  So I totally forgot about the box of shoes that I left behind which sat in storage for two longs years. All this time I never remembered that I had that box of shoes in storage for that entire time. I figure I just did not have the proper shoes to ware to church and during this period I never bought any proper church shoes thinking I just would not need to ware that type of shoe because I didn't attend church or any other events that called for that type of attire.

So this is where it starts to get a little freaky!!

Saturday me and my mother was in the kitchen talking and the conversation comes up about me thinking about going to church but me not having any proper shoes to ware. Well as we are talking and making food to eat, all of a sudden it pops in my head that I had that box of shoes in storage. After two years of forgetting that box of shoes was in storage, It suddenly comes to me that I have that box of shoes in storage. So I say to my mom in an exciting voice, "mom, don't I still have that box of shoes in storage?" and she even forgot her self that they were there, so we both rush to the storage to make sure they were there and lo-and-behold there is my box of shoes sitting there all dusty from being in storage for two years.

Again after two years I suddenly thought of these shoes after contemplation should I go to church because of not having proper shoes to attend. So I dust of my shoes off and put them aside to make plans to go to church.

But!!!

Remember me and Tammy was talking about how I should get up and go to church with the family while there in town for their visit. So I get back on the phone with Tammy and tell her about me finding my shoes after two years. So now she is saying she was thinking about the whole thing of me going to church before we even started the conversation and something was telling her that I really needed to attend church with my family while they were here. Tammy has really been living the holy life for the past year or so now so she gets these premonitions about certain things she is getting from god, the holy spirit you know, having her feel something heavy on her heart. So this was one of them for her. It was heavy on her heart that I should attend church with my family while they were hear. She said she did not know exactly why but the spirit was telling her something was in store for me at church this time and I should really go.

My thinking was,,OK, I found the shoes after two years suddenly while thinking of going to church, now Tammy is telling me the spirit is telling her I should go to church. But I still put a stipulation on weather to go or not only if I could get in touch with the members of my family to make sure they were going so I would not have to go alone., but that night for some reason my family was not answering their phones. I mean none of them and I had been calling them since they been hear and they always answered, but not this night.

So,,I told Tammy that I will keep trying but if I don't get in touch with them I probably would not go. Tammy is in my ear, No hon,,(that's what we call each other for the last 20 years no matter who we were with, what was going on in our life or how long we went without talking to each other, we still call each other hon this very day,,lol) well she's like no, just go even if you don't get in touch with them go,,get up and go by yourself.  So before we get off the phone for the night, I tell her I will keep trying to get in touch with my family, I still might go if I don't. We hang up and I lay down for the night.

I wake up the next morning about 8:30am and sit at the corner of my bed and get back on the phone and try and get in touch with my family. What-to-ya-know, I still cant get anyone to answer the phone, so I'm like wow!! wth, I try for like an hour, and nothing. So for about 15 min, I sit on the corner of my bed and just think. silence, I say nothing, like I'm meditating or something. I did not want to go to church alone. It kept eating at me though to get up and go, in my heart I felt I should just go. Especially after the two signs of the finding of the shoes and Tammy in my ear about her premonitions.  So I make the decision to go, get up take my shower, get dress and go.

Now I'm sitting in church pretty relaxed and satisfied after having to walk in by my self and being nervous. Right from the beginning I'm feeling great that I'm there. The mood is so comfortable and beautiful from the choir singing, the praying going on. It just felt so right. So after about 15 to 20 min things quite down for a min and the choir starts singing this beautiful song that really touched me. The ladies voice was so strong beautiful and piercing. I could not only hear that song but I could feel that song deep inside my soul. It was one of the most touching moments of my life. And I soon realized that I was feeling the spirit of the lord. I start to shed a tear but I'm trying to hold it because I don't want anyone to see me crying. don't know why I was thinking like that because as I looked around everyone was crying. That's how powerful that song was and how strong the spirit was present. At that moment, that very moment I knew why the days events occurred the way they did. The lord was trying to tell me that it was time to let go and let god.

The preacher starts to preach and preaches one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard from a preacher. His message seemed like it was directly completely geared at me. I felt like I was the only one in that church and he was preaching only to me. I knew that my life as I knew it was over. I knew my life was about to change for the better. I knew I had to start walking in the faith of the lord. I know that it is surely time for a change.

After the church service was over, I became a member of the church. I was accompanied by a lady of the church to meet the preacher. We talked and I became a member of The Greater Saint James Church under the guidance of paster Keith.  I also have plans to be baptized in a few weeks.

I have been living my life on the edge with all the things I have done in my life. I always said why this and why that. Why does this not work or that not work. Why have I had to struggle all my life. I always tried to answer these questions with acts of rebellion or acts of doing something I think would change my situation. why, why, why all my life. Now its time to do something different. Actually do what I knew was right all my life and did not want to because I wanted to continue to have fun in ways I knew was wrong.

I'm done with that now and I'm ready to give my life to the lord and let him guide me for the rest of my life and I'm so excited about it.

Today's events were the beginning of a new life, my new life. and it feels so, so, good...

~God Bless you all~