The Valley Low

Good evening all, I am not sure but I think Happy New Years is in order as I have been very busy. Thank you to all my loyal readers and followers, now that the hardest classes are behind me I can get back to my blog. Today, I want to talk about the valley experience, I am sure you all have been there and if you haven’t hold on your time is coming. The valley experience is much like the storms of life at some point we all experience each one. Some of us are so blessed that we are in the valley with the storm going on at the same time. Count it all joy, it’s not as bad as it seems. One of my adopted daughters and my spiritual mom sing this song together, “The Safest Place”. I love this song because it says the safest place is in the will of God, even in the valley low, who would think that God came down to the valley. Another psalmist pens these words: My God is Awesome/He can move mountains/Keep me in the valley/Hide me from the rain My God is Awesome/Heals me when I'm broken/Strength where I've been weakened/ Forever He will reign More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/p/pastor_charles_jenkins/ While we are all familiar with the 23rd Psalms, I question how many of us know, I mean know in an intimate way the Shepard that David was speaking of. Today in church my pastor pointed out that we always think of the valley as a bad place but when we realize it’s a growing place we should look at it different. Look at this, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” (Psalm 23:4). What we need to look at here you are moving in that valley no one especially the Shepard expects you to lay down and die, in fact another point made today is the it’s the shadow of death, it’s not even real. This experience as bad as it feels is not designed to kill you, but to grow you. I am sure you are thinking that’s easy to say when you don’t know all I am facing. Well as always, I will only talk about Shon, I have had numerous valley experiences, and there were times that even though I knew God was there I screamed out to him in anger, because I couldn’t feel him. One day everything was fine and then all of a sudden the bottom falls out and I am in the valley, wondering what, why, how, when. I have discovered that as parents it seems as our kids grow up so fast but, you know that we never let them go and even when they are supposedly grown and on their own we still want to teach them. God is no different where do you think that quality came from? God is awesome and yes he can move mountains or he can keep us in the valley where we grow, where no one else can help us out BUT GOD. So, if right now you are in the valley understand it’s a location on your path to destiny. Don’t stress about that child that seems lost, he’s not after all you once were lost but now you are found, the husband that you gave your love and life too, that walked out, it’s okay, the fact that once again cancer decided to knock on the door of your family, your finances are so screwed up, you couldn’t pay attention if you really needed too. Yes, I am saying to you it’s all a part of the plan. Two years ago, I was coasting along finally; I was blessed to leave a job that made me sick. I was happy feeling good and then my marriage started falling apart, valley experience. I look to and say, God you can fix this if you desire too and if not, then Praise God anyway. I kept right on praising right on, thanking him, because though this looked bad, and not only was my marriage a mess, fake friends were exposed, so now I had no choice but to stay right there and talk to the Shepard. Well, he’s a way maker; he kept me in that valley because soon debris from all this would be flying and his plan all along was that I come out unscaved making him look like who he is GOD. So, today if you are in that valley don’t be discouraged keep moving, the scripture says though I walk, walk is an action, you’re not laying there saying why me, whoa is me, NO you should be moving. Not encouraged that I made it, I didn’t die in the valley, well don’t take my word look at this as I leave you: 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalms) This should be enough to make you shout, he doesn’t say they get to sit and eat, but they do see you blessed, better so much better than you were. So don’t try to find a detour, stay on course, you’re closer than you think. Blessings, Shon Garner Cole

Real Talk with Shon: It Ain't Over

Real Talk with Shon: It Ain't Over: I am not sure who this is for but, I want to encourage you to hold on. I know right now it may not look good, even worse it may not feel goo...

It Ain't Over

I am not sure who this is for but, I want to encourage you to hold on. I know right now it may not look good, even worse it may not feel good but it's not over. On Friday,12-14-12, I thought at about 2pm this day can't get worst than this and it did. Nothing personal happened to me, but it felt like it. As a parent, just the thought of that call that your baby is gone is heart wrenching. While many are pondering and stressing over what to buy for Christmas, my heart is heavy for all the Christmas trees that are up with gifts under them that someone won't ever get to open. This was far reaching and the madness didn't stop in Conneticut and China there were so many incidents of death and lost that didn't make the news. Looking at that, I could see folks buying into this theory that Friday, 12-21-12 the world will end. Well let me remind you no man knows the day or the hour. I do know this, "It ain't over until God says it's over." So, whatever it is that may have you thinking all hope is gone, look at this and believe this, "IT AIN'T OVER", God can and will turn things around in a moments notice without a word to you, why, He doesn't need your help or permission. I thought they were going to be home by Christmas, well if they are still amongst the living if they aren't home this Christmas maybe it'll be next Christmas. I thought by now we'd be married, wait on God if its delayed He has a reason. I thought this pain would have ended it will in time it's really strengthing you. So tonight when you've prayed that prayer and all is quiet and the enemy tries to plant that seed of doubt, you tell him this you are a liar, and I rebuke you and that thought. GOD IS, and until He says it's over. IT AIN'T OVER. Blessed to Be a Blessing Shon Garner Cole

Author Conversations with D’Marcus Glasper #KontrolReads

Author Conversations with D’Marcus Glasper #KontrolReads

Real Talk with Shon: When Reality Steps on the Scene

Real Talk with Shon: When Reality Steps on the Scene: I knew the day was coming, this was something, that I mentally, physically, spiritually and financially tried to prepare for, but a text mes...

When Reality Steps on the Scene

I knew the day was coming, this was something, that I mentally, physically, spiritually and financially tried to prepare for, but a text message brought reality on the scene and I have found with death there is no such thing as preparation. No, no such thing. Experience has tried to teach me this lesson over and over again. It was a Wednesday, when I got the call that my granny had fallen asleep and they couldn't get her to wake up. When I got to the hospital, I looked in my Tee Tee's face and said is she dead? She said no, she just won't wake up, I said, I am not a child I graduate in a week is she dead, the doctor said dear she is not dead she is breathing her heart is beating but she has decided that she wants to sleep, my Uncle asked, will she wake up? The doctor said I don't know. I got my things went into the suite outside the room we had adjoining rooms my granny had 13 living kids at the time and numerous adult grandchildren we were all there. As I was taking food orders, I heard in one week she will leave you, go back in and tell her it's okay. I turned walked in the room rubbed her white hair and said well I took one day off and you decided to go to sleep, but it's okay I know you are tired, I love you, sorry it took us so long to get here. My Tee Tee said what are you saying I said she will die next Wednesday, they all wanted to know why I was saying that. My, Nanny looked at me and I said God told me, now what do you all want to eat. I was 18 and graduating in a week, it made no sense to me that God was talking to me. On that day May 18, 1988, I was refusing to go to graduation because while I was sleeping I saw her at my graduation and that was not possible the only way she could be there was as an angel. I couldn't express it to my family they were already looking at me crazy. Well, I got to graduation, my diploma was placed in my hand and she took her last breath. I knew she was leaving but there was no preparing for that. Here I am again preparing for death, a death I planned and now I feel like Jesus in the garden saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 Reality has stepped on the scene and made this thing really real. Even though it's at my hands it wasn't my will but what needed to be done. When this all began, I kept getting, "Be Still" and I have to get really real, there were times when those words pissed me off, and I was one "Be Still" from going slam off, but I didn't why cuz it was then that God would say, oh I can use you, but no hard stuff, sit down, folks are watching you. Again, I would come into submission deal with my issues, and think I am good. Really, I am good, because God has a plan for me. You see, this was supposed to take me out, in fact I am sure they are still sitting around going what the what, she still kicking, bills paid, she still making it, YES I AM, but I gotta tell you reality has gotten my attention. Now, don't go getting all sad for me, because I am good, like Jesus, I am going to do what is in the plan for me to do. Right now it's a feeling I can't explain, but I can tell you I feel God's arm's around me saying, loving me and serving me is ones personal choice you did what I required; you introduced, shared and prayed, you can only accept Me for you. So at this juncture, I have but one regret that so many years are over in basically a few minutes. Strangely though if I could turn back the hands of time, I don't believe I would change one thing. There were plenty of times I could have given in and gave up, but I didn't and for me an end done decent and in order is acceptable. So no matter how much you prepare for a thing, understand things change for you when REALITY STEPS ON THE SCENE, true friends are found out, fake ones are exposed, you find out that family ain't always the people who share your name and have the same blood running through their veins. You find out just who was saying what about you, all along. Now don't think that the fakers won't be bold enough to still try and pose as friends, but hey smile, nod and say thanks, because they were a part of the plan and now that you are that much closer to your destiny, they are in the right position to you blessed beyond measure. So as I close this, I have so much more to share, but I can't tell you just how the story ends, He won't allow it so He hasn't even shown me. I have my ideas, but hey, He alone is God. Don't go getting crazy, because I have totally accepted that His will, not Shon Garner Cole's is being done, and tell you the truth if He changes things, I am sure I will be mad, cuz, well I have made up my mind I am okay with this way. Again I say though when reality gets on the scene well things change. Blessed to Be A Blessing, Shon Garner Cole http://realtalkwithshon.blogspot.com/

Transitioning To the Promise

While you are in the process of transitioning to your promise, your purpose, I need to inform you there will be transition and that transition can be swift or it can be steady, however it comes there will be transition. Transition is the journey, from the old person and place to the new person and place. A songwriter penned these words, “time is filled with swift transition,” notice the words time is filled which indicates there is not much more in time because transition has it filled. So, how do we deal with transition, well in Joshua 1, by the time we arrive at verse 7, God, have spoken to Joshua and told him to be strong and courageous. I beseech you who are reading this to do the same. You see, the transition is a part of the process and the process is the journey that we must experience to get to the promise, the purpose. I have to remind you that anything that you are set to conquer and possess there will be an enemy already sitting on it. Don’t get scared or discouraged instead be strong and courageous, remembering that in Joshua 1:3 it states, “I am giving you every place where you set foot, exactly as I promised…” There may be times where you have to go ahead and peep out the situation, but whatever you do don’t take folks with you that make problems, things, and man bigger than God. How will you know, when the person walking with you starts naming your obstacles rather than devising the plan then they have made the obstacles bigger than God, please know they have come to the end of the journey with you. Don’t be so concerned about them taking it personal because in fact it is, they don’t fit into your plan because they don’t support your vision for the purpose. When you are on a journey though it can be swift it can be long, so in being prepared that means you have to eat for where you are going, eat even when you aren’t hungry because the journey is long. If you don’t eat, you will get weak, and wear in well doing. Don’t make this journey a race to get there fast remembering that the race is not given to the swift but to the one that endures to the end. So when in the middle of the journey you lose a job, a love one dies, a child has to reigned back in, you have divorce papers sitting on the table, your bank account has gone from overflow to overdraft, it’s all transition. I need you to stay focused and don’t make those things giants, don’t allow them to become bigger than God. Most importantly, I need you to remember that God has already said to you, He would give you exactly what He has promised. Now this is for me, but I am sharing because, I know many are in the same place that I am in; you know that God has called you to a thing and a place, a purpose. Some of you are still trying to figure what it is, let me help you a call doesn’t necessarily mean to preach. You can be called to sing, write, teach, act, parent and the list goes on. You can minister more people every day walking around than you ever could in a pulpit. You see everyone likes to glamourize the pulpit and I am taking nothing from it, but know that it comes with great responsibility and a big microscope. That even when the people don’t see, they are listening to see that you are living how they think you should be, many have even made you God. Yes, that why they leave the church and are so disturbed when the pastors human struggles raises its ugly head. Truth is even when you are chosen, you can still face, lust, depression, you can still get angry and let your mouth get you in words get you in trouble. There will be times that you want to tell God, just how you feel about this transition, because He called you, so why not just make this easy. I leave you now, but I do want to share that when transition kicked my door in, it shook me, BUT GOD. It’s only because I have hidden HIS WORD in my mouth and I meditate on it day and night that I have not succumb to what I felt was a complete violation of my life. I don’t mind being transparent, I told God this is not a part of what I signed on for, why would people want to serve you watching my story? Well, let me tell, all I got was why not you Shon Garner Cole? Did, I ever promise you that you would never suffer? Am I not God because you are hurting and don’t like where you are? You see He didn’t give me an answer or a word; He gave me questions that forced me to call on the word that is hidden in my heart. That word that says, I should count it all joy when I fall into various trials and temptations, that word that says all things work together for good to those who love God. The word that told me that Jesus was in the Garden and said not my will but your will. So, now I say thank you for all who left, thank you for the financial storms, thank you for the sleepless nights, because in the midst of those storms I stood, of course I bent, but I didn’t break, NO, I stood and I am still standing. The winds still blow sometimes not as hard, but they still blow and then there are times when hurricane winds blow, but I stand, why because I remember this, no one will be able to stand up against me, that He will always be with me and because of this I have accepted that I have to transition to the promise. Blessed to be a Blessing, Shon Garner Cole