A commitment

A couple of years ago I attended this event called, "The Silver Ring Thing" and it was about saving our virginity, being pure in thoughts and acts, and to about waiting for our one true love.

I really agreed with what they had said and believed. Still do.

Well, in the program it shown a clip of a man and woman. Each wrote a letter to their beloved despite the fact they had no clue as to who their spouse would be that God would bless them with.

I have decided I'm going to do the same. I will indicate what it is that I promise to do and be for them.
I'm going to take my time in writing this letter to that man, but all I know is that God will bless us both.
God surely has someone out there for each person and I do not doubt His love, works, and timing. God is God and is the best.

I hope God will guide my thoughts in writing down my thoughts to be pure, honest, and pleasing in His sight for this man.

I also know, I will continuously pray for this man whoever or wherever he may be. I just know that whoever it is, I'm sure he's awesome in the eyes of God. :)

This is my plan and I don't want to fail this goal.

Hopefully, one day, I'll get to read or hand it to that person and know it's a precious apart of me that I'm handing to him that I hope he can cherish forever in knowing what I promise for him.

Other than that, yeah...it's a program that happened to inspire me this many years later..and I'm glad I had the chance to attend.

:)

I hope God gives you that special person in your life and that you both are pleasing in God eyes and chose to love/work hard in the eyes of God.
May God be with those people and all of His children for that matter. :)

Love,
Mak

Nothing Left to Lose.

Have you ever wondered if there was all the more to gain rather than lose?
Questions arise and have you been one of the few to wonder what it is that you could gain in this life?

Lately,
I've been wondering what it is that I could have to gain.

Rather than thinking, what it is that I have to lose?

I realized, I have nothing left to lose, but so much more to gain in life.

Though, I may have days where I feel there is nothing to that could possibly be gained from a certain experience or what it is that God is telling me...
I realized that God has given so much to gain and nothing exactly is a loss because what we've learned is that what God has given is always a gain.

We gain courage, strength, wisdom, understanding, patience, compassion, kindness, love, and peace in the ways of our God. He wants nothing more for us than to gain understanding in what we experience and how we communicate with others.
God has wired us to be social and loving.

God will put us through experiences not to consider anything a loss, but a gain.

Realize this,
God loves you so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for you, me, and everyone else so that we may have life.
So that we may gain what is God's purpose for us, to love one another as He has loved us, compassion, wisdom, understanding, courage, strength, and, honestly this list could go on.

I can't stress enough to you that God wanted nothing more for you than to live and to gain so much out of life because it was meant to be.


My brothers and sisters,
believe that God is there for you and has never left your side. He has a plan to not harm, but to prosper you.
Through Christ Jesus, you gain what was meant for you.
Take a chance on Him and He'll give you so much more than you could have ever expected.

I say this because I know what He can do for you out of what He has done for me.

I hope that all of you don't find this too scattered as a thought (because I know it's really scattered and not organized well at all), but you would gain something out of this because really,
you have nothing left to lose.

In the journey of faith in light and dark,
-Mak

I asked. I was answered.

This is where I will be honest because I am not sure what else I could possibly do:

1. I've been selfish lately with God. I've wanted something greater than just a friendship with a person...


Yet, despite prayers, I've also asked in those prayers that God would teach me patience through experience rather than just giving it to me because a great friend/mentor to me; Leslie, said that God doesn't just hand over patience....He teaches it.

Well, with her wisdom, she was correct. God certainly teaches about patience through experience rather than just giving it so freely.

Nothing is given so freely...it's a learning experience and through the experiences we become not only just wise, but we gain so much understanding of who God is, why He does what He does, and His timing altogether. We learn of His great love and patience with us while we can learn to be that way with not just Him too, but others.

God is good. That's all I will say. He's good.
He's helped me to realize that I need to appreciate the people in my life and never want more than what I have right away just because I feel comfortable.
I need to be able to step outside of the comfort zone and be okay...
I haven't learned that with some places, but I'm still in training.

God has blessed me with friendships that are so significant to me that I sometimes wonder why it is, why is it that very person, what does our relationship with one another mean? What does our faith mean with one another?

I've learned that faith comes first before. Christ first in everything.

God answered my prayers to this: patience....in what way? This way:
Story:
I've liked a person for awhile and decided to hint around the area of him knowing because I wanted to be honest with him, God, and my feelings.
A friend of mine who knew of the situation talked to him previously and found out he wanted a friendship because he cared too much about me that he didn't want to ruin that.
He told me this:
"You're my best friend...."
Me: "And you don't want to ruin that."
Him: "Exactly. You're my best friend...because I am able to be myself around you...geek out to the highest of degrees...I'm thankful for that."
Me: "I understand. I think that's why I like you, too, because I am able to nerd out with you...and everything...with complete confidence...and..."
We both stopped...and nodded...
Him: "Well this is awkward..."
Me: "yeah...a bit..."
We both went off to class saying see ya later..as we normally would...

He was shocked that I had seen him more than a friend...he didn't realize...certain things...

What can I do? I want a friendship more than nothing with him. He's a wonderful person with a great heart. I really admire the fact God has shown me that a friendship is better than anything that could possibly go to ruin.
He taught me...that patience in the area of "dating" is important. I shouldn't be searching. I need to be searching for understanding and greater things with God rather than a relationship and material things of this world.

All I can do is continuously thank God for the great friendships I've been blessed with and ask that He just blesses these people who are in my life.

I pray that the Lord will continue to show me what's in important in life and teach me to be the best friend that I can be to all people that are in my life.
That He would teach me patience through experience.
To be pure in my mind and heart, to not want things of this world, but to be all that He is.
I pray that the Lord does the very same for all of His people.
To have a friendship and relationship with the Lord is the best relationship ever and His love never ends.
He's the best.

May the Lord show you that the people in your life aren't a mistake, but rather a complete blessing no matter the type of relationship you have with them. To be patient with all kinds of relationships because we are all different and to love one another because He loved first.

Blessings on your day and weekend,

In the journey of faith in the light and dark,

-Mak

Doing Good to All. Be Thankful

Not too long ago, I had wrote a paper on how we had lived in a world that had consisted of, "Vitamins, Minerals and Diseases" due to the fact that is a metaphor on how I had forseen us as people living in this world that we were given to walk, and make ourselves a life on.

Frankly, we take ourselves and everything we have for granted. Look at what you have right now surrounding you. What do you see? A computer in front of your very face. A television? Food to fill your hunger. Water to quench your thirst. A book, for reading. School, for knowledge so that we may become something greater than what we would have thought...we'd never become, ever.
Then one may turn on the television to see; a child starving, with no home, no food, nothing compared to what you have been completely blessed with.
I constantly think to myself, what am I? I do not deserve one inch of this clothing that is clothed upon this very body of mine, nor do I deserve all this that is belonging to me in my very own home. What is it that I've become as a person? Who am I as a person, today? Who am I?
I want to challenge you as people, to think; Who have you become this Christmas. Who are you? I also want you to be VERY THANKFUL for what you have been blessed with because there are so many people out there unlike ourselves who do not possess a home, a family...not even a friend in the world to care about them. I think if we take the time to pray for those people out there, to volunteer at a local food bank, or anywhere to spare our Christmas to really see what it is like to get a taste of reality....I think we'd have a sense of being thankful for what we have in our lives.
I'm not sure of what I'd do without any of this...but a lot of this time in this very December I've really pondered the thought of; if these people out there who don't have what I have, are they maybe less selfish? Are they more thankful? Are they more faithful? Are they more forgiving? Are they more trusting in their God than we are, ourselves despite every single blessing we have, despite the more hardships they're facing?!
Think about it.
I just..really had come to ponder that. I believe those moments, had come for reality to strike me numerously in its own side by side moments.

Doing Good to All.
In this world, we really do have a hard time doing good to everyone we meet, even our enemies...our own friends, family members, you name it. It's difficult. I am guilty of it and so are you. Don't try to run from it, because you can not, so stop trying to..it really is pointless for you to try to. What is the point of trying to run from a burden that you carry on your heart when it'll just get heavier and heavier upon you? How can God forgive you when you can't forgive yourself or the other person in your sight? God is always a forgiving God, but seriously...how can He be forgiving when you can't forgive and forget. Shame. What a shame. Looks like that burden could be there awhile, yes? The right thing to do, atleast forgive the other person, instead of hold a grudge. I know that is hard, trust me I do. I've been there. Yet, the mature thing to do in this life we live is to forgive and forget...despite the forgetting will..take longer than forgiving; sadly.
"Love your enemies as you love yourself." Do it. It is immensely better than what you think. I have attempted this in several ways and it really has chisled me as a person in the heart...as much as the difficulty of the proccess was; God chisles the heart, mind and spirit. Fruit of the spirit is presented to you, sound great? It is, I suggest it to you, no...scratch that..GOD SUGGESTS IT. I'm simply someone who just...encourages you to attempt to get into God's word and reach for Him.
Listen to this:

Doing Good to All: Galatians 6:1-10
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share al good things with his instructor.
Do not be deceieved: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from the nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Now that's some powerful words of God, yes? I happened to open straight up to that very section in my Bible lastnight and it happened to really pierce my heart because I know I have struggled in an area of this, like so many others. I had felt compelled to share this in a note so that, we may as Brothers and Sisters in Christ, may share this lesson together to really learn from our mistakes in the world of sin to redeem from this, reach out to those who are struggling with the sinful nature of treating others unfairly, not with love, respect, nor doing good to others, or who are reaping a harvest that is leading to destruction rather than eternal life with our Savior.
Us as humans, face the struggle every where we go to do good unto others..we are constantly told throughout God's word to love one another, respect, do good unto others..you name it. Everything of Christ's actions of how He loved us...we are to show towards one another, yet we cease to do so! We are filthy sinners! Yet, we boast in Him when we are weak for that is when His power is sufficient. Awesome, right?

So, my next challenge for you to do in this life that we are ever so blessed AND given to...do good to others, share God's love...be kind. show the Spirit of the Fruit.
If you have that willing heart, mind and spirit, you would do it. It talks about hearts like ours that in the Bible, I know it does.
Let's be Transformers of this world, Transforming hearts, being a witness to not only a City of a Hill filled with believers, but non believers so that we may fulfill God's will, His loving ever so pleasing will.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness".-the Lord

Messenger of the Message

The city is brightened, alightened upon my face
to see a gleam in you; just could not save me.
The Earth is just as immense, and meticulous as I've heard across the seas.
I've been not only across the states of each mind, but across the states of mind
where I've seen beyond the very imaginable.

To look upon the shores, will I amend the boat I sail alone?
Ran across the lands where they've forbidden your name is where
I'll be the messenger of your message of the answer to tell
of your great healings. Yet, the impossible is possible.

To look upon the shores, will I amend the boat I sail alone?
Ran across the lands where they've forbidden your name
is where I'll manage the impossible.

The wave of storms may lose me upon sea, never will I cease the
existence of my duty.
Accomplished is the message of the impossible.

By: Makaya Hicks (me)

Change of Confidence-כאשר החיים מותירה אותנו עיוורים, אהבה שמחזיק אותנו סוג

As this year has progressed I am slowly noticing how I am just a person with seasons.

Each season has either some significant or unnoticed meaning behind it. Whether it'd be the fact of how much I've grown to see who I am and who I want to be, rather not what the world wants from me...
or
trying to find where I stand as a person when in the sea of faces.

I've learned that the deeper our experiences are with any type of event in time or the people around us shapes us to think the way we do, why we do what we do, and why we chose to share interests, philosophies, beliefs...etc. Or why we chose to talk to a certain person.

Given, I have always asked myself, "what is it about this person that makes them stand out from everyone else that causes me to want to build a relationship.
(Now, when I say relationship, I mean, friendship that will be fruitful and meaningful).
Why do I share certain aspects of my life with the people that I do?

I think the one reason why we share what we chose and the way we seek a relationship is rather complicated.
We all have our different reasons, whether they'd be random or completely for a reason.

If anything I've learned about my time in college, attending huge events, hanging with friends that cause me to meet other existing humans, I've learned that...I can be rather, outgoing opposed to shy now.
I used to be this really shy person who was afraid of opening up about anything.
I still am trying to figure out what has caused me to become so more outgoing or open about talking to others.

I speak about this because this year I attended Otakon 2011 on staff and there was a few people I had talked to from working with last year who had claimed, "you're more..open it seems. Last year you were a bit closed up."
I think being told that makes me realize how much not only myself as a person can change personality wise, but how others can altogether.
I have come to observe the fact we all can change in little time as a year. Surprising, isn't it?
Fascinating it is to know how certain people or events can make such a huge impact on you to the point where one will go from completely closed to open.

To be completely frank, I am not completely positive on how I feel about this all. Besides thankful in the fact I have opened up.
Now that I really ponder about it all...
I don't regret anything that has shaped me who I am today, nor do I regret the people that have gone in and out of my life because I know it was for all a reason for the each of us in order to make us stronger and grow.

Reflecting on just how I've presented myself at Otakon compared to last year and this year...
slightly...different.
Last year I wasn't as confident about talking to people and just saying, "hey! what's up? I'm Makaya!"
Now,
I can say that I am completely confident about talking to others and just approaching anyone giving them compliments, talking about whatever, and just be willing to develop a relationship with each person.

In my opinion, I really feel that no one should be afraid to just develop a relationship with anyone out there in the world because we all deserve someone significant in life whether that would be family, friends, a significant other, or just that one person to talk to about whatever.

My goal is in life is not only to help people with my talents, but to grow in relationships with everyone showing that I am willing to give it my all for them and for the betterment of the people/society around me.
I feel that if I can make a difference in one person's life, I could make their day better and that's what I want to do.

All I want to do is...to make someone laugh, smile, and feel great about who they are and where they are in life despite the bad or good in life that was given to them.

I say this because I made a new friend who just...really makes me want to make a difference in their life. He opened up to me about certain aspects in life that weren't completely great for him, but he attempts his best to do what he can in life to get by, be happy, and be there for everyone. That's really inspirational to me because it's not often one may come across such a person.
What if we were all to be caring for each other despite where we stood economically and religion wise? What could happen? Where would you stand?

Life makes us completely blind as to what we are truly blessed with; people, food, and for all that we have in life, the disruptions are at great numbers that I cannot even begin to fathom over.

When life makes us blind, we tend not to think for others, but only ourselves and whether or not we'd be willing to make a difference in not only our lives, but others around us.
Yet, when we first learn to love, appreciate, and respect all that we are and what we have we learn to not let the bad or good cause us to go blind with our kindness because love makes us kind.

My goal is to continue on with the confidence I have about life and love to where I may be able to impact other lives with such an outlook that causes us want to be more than just who we are thought to be, but to be something so significant that we love out of kindness without fear to fault of blindness to what we have in life and who a person may be and accept them for all that they are no matter what the differences may be.
(That sentence is such.......a long sentence..grammar/sentence structure fail)


All I can say is, live the life you have with confidence out of love and kindness...then you will see a difference in not only who you are, but how others see you, too.

-In the adventure of light and darkness
-Makaya

PS: Never think that change is a bad thing, it's only for the best to make one strong and wise.

He has called us out of darkness.

As I sit here contemplating about my faith in Jesus Christ, I really do adore Him.
Yet, I struggle with sin daily and it's been awhile since I've really come back around to my faith and disciplining my self.

For awhile here in MI, I've been really struggling to pray to God, praise Him, go to church, and focus on what is really the true prize in life, our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
Yes, I have felt completely guilty and did nothing about it. The longer it stayed, I really just ignored God and the fact He's trying to lead my pathways.
I wonder...why? Why did I do that? I don't understand why I would have ever wanted to leave God, what He has called me to do, and ministry all together.

It is so often that we are called by God to do great things in His kingdom and we end up leaving that calling, pursuing what we like to do or we get impatient with what He has called us for! I have seen this happen before my eyes and it's so sad.
You know why this happens? Satan. Satan will do anything to be sure that we are not serving our God and gloryfying Him and pursuing His will! Satan will put any option out there in front of us, glamorizing it, which calls us to think, "Oh, this is cool. Maybe...God would want me there instead?" If God wanted you in a certain place in your life, He'll take you there...and place you in that location.

I think that's what we often...get confused about with God. We are so blinded by sin that we think it's actually God calling us to that certain aspect in life that calls us to believe, "Yes, God has sent me here." When really...are you leaving God's placement when -you- decide, "I want to pursue, (insert whatever here)and God gave me this talent, so I should go for it."
God KNOWS you better than anyone else and KNOWS your greatest talents...He will place you a section of your life for you to realize your greatest talents that He has given you so that you may lead a life according to Him and pursuing His will, that will protect and provide for you! If you leave that...wouldn't it cause some type of complication?
Frankly, I am not sure what it will cause, but what we can know and trust in is the fact our God provides, protects, loves us...and will never leave our side no matter what we endure in life because He loves us that much.

We are a chosen generation that was called according to HIS will, not ours. Sometimes, I face and have faced sections in this past year where I have felt completely worthless about ministry and God's will. Confusion and frustration has surrounded me, blinding me what the beauty of pain could really be.
Now that everything just keeps tying together, the realization of pain can be pure beauty in God's eyes because...everything always works out with God and the life we live for Him. He redeems us from all of the confusion and frustrations we face, calling us out of that darkness, reassuring His promise for us. He also reassures that He will provide wisdom and things that are so much greater in life rather than the materialistic aspects that blind us.

I have faced this section of my life enduring the fact of Sam not returning to Concordia to continue his LTD, which leaves me here. I have faced a part me feeling, I couldn't make it through college without him by my side because he is an important person in my life that I was always around. The fact he just had to leave and everything changed.
Yet, this change made me realize...I don't need to be just hanging out with Sam. I have all these friends; brothers/sisters in Christ that love me, I love them, and God has provided me these people in my life to learn from and to provide for them, share the faith, fight the good fight, and continue on with where God has placed me.
I felt that, Sam gone, I would be so lonely, and I had my days where I did indeed, feel that way.
What I learned is...the more I got out of my room, pursued school work, working 3 jobs, and tried my best to be there for Sam, others, while balancing everything, God was there the whole time.
I was praying that God would give me wisdom to help Sam and patience. Oh, He definitely has.
He also made me realize that...I can't help everyone and I need to let HIM do the healing. He has taught me more patience than I could imagine and the fact...I can be around all kinds of people and not 'break.'
What I've gone through, has just opened my eyes so much today. Why would God exactly have me endure what I have?
To make me perservere, grow in the faith, accept what I can and can't do, patience, what it means to love, grow in wisdom and knowledge of not only Him, but the 'real' important factors in life around me.
He has taught me, "You are here because of my calling for you, out of darkness, into the beauty of my kingdom, and for you to live in the will I have for you."

Confusion, arose about His will for me so many times this past year. I had sat here, thinking, "God, what do you want out of me? What do you want from me? What is it that, You are calling me to do?! I'm so lost. I need Your guidance!"
My eyes have filled with tears and fear filled me...
God wants me here, taking one step at a time, living for Him, living as if today were the day He was coming back, pursuing every little bit of my life all for the glory of Him and the promise He has told us about.
He doesn't want me to think of all these thoughts of where my life is going to go, how I'm going to provide for myself and my family, how I'm going to survive college, etc.
God provides everything, why should I worry? What is it that I should worry about whenever I have a God who does such as that. Reassuring His love and guidance to me. Him, being the lamp to my pathways...

God has spoken to us, telling us, "I'll be by your side." "I will provide for you." "I'll be the lamp to your pathways." "Do not worry, I will provide everything you will ever need."
I mean, those are just summaries...though, that doesn't defeat the purpose of what I am saying to you from our God.
God...holds us up in the palm of His right hand, when we need Him the most. In the times of all darkness, He leads us back into the light, giving us life!

How awesome is He? I feel a bit bad that I've ever ran from God, but what I can reassure all of you on, in my own relationship/faith with Him, is that...there wasn't a moment He has forsaken me, because He won't do that. He loves me too much, just as much as He loves you!
You follow him, you'll live your life in the light that He shines on you.
There wasn't a moment that He did not lead me back.
God has this funny way of leading me back into the light of Him and I'll sit here thinking, "God, you are so cool. You...are sometimes..shocking, but You're the best."
Such as today,
this morning, after a bit, I had made myself breakfast, thanking Him for the food, and asking for a blessing, "The Chronicles of Narnia" was on.
It had come to the section where Aslan was sacrificed on the stone table, that whole entire section of ridicule, and being killed by the witch.
That made me become teary eyed, and it reminds me of what Jesus has gone through. Given, I'm sure it was an allegory written by C.S. Lewis to reflect Jesus's ridicule, and sacrifice on the cross.
Then, Aslan's resurrection being an allegory of Jesus's resurrection, is so cool!
I felt, happy. I thought of Jesus in that way, and watched the battle of the fight for Narnia.
That scene made me think of the fight we are giving out for God. Fighting the darkness of Satan and sin, rescuing all those out of darkness into the light of Jesus, so that they may have life and salvation in Him.

Those few scenes, I feel God has used to make me realize and remind me of what His calling is for me as a disciple. Especially giving me the reassurance of how He rose from the dead, conquering death and sin, letting me know, I can conquer sin because I am more than that with God by my side.

I prayed for forgiveness, wisdom, and guidance on how I could live a better life for Him, not fearing what could come in my pathway leading me to believe what I do believe of our God. He lead me to His word, giving me serenity in my heart, clearing my mind to focus on Him and how I could really reach out to all of You.

My brothers and sisters, we are more than what we've done, we are so much more in God's eyes. With God our on side, we can fight this battle between light and dark, learning what we need to do to live our lives all out for the glory of Him.

We all endure similar experiences, but through these experiences, we grow immensely in God.
We can grow with each other, guiding, praying, loving, and being that mere reflection of Christ for each other and for Him because He has called us out the darkness to do so.
We are called out of darkness, to have His eyes for humanity..to love and care for.

Together, we can defeat the darkness in this battle with God on our side.
Look at it as if we were the citizens of Narnia, fighting for what we believe and doing this all for Aslan and all the others living in the world of Narnia.

We are human who do have the strength to fight for the creation of God, what God has promised us, and with the Almighty God on our side, we can do this.

Continue on, brothers and sisters, fighting for what we believe and for the God who has saved you from yourself.
We have the eyes and heart of Him, with these, we can rescue the lost.
Don't give up. He has called you for this and the fear you feel is only from Satan, not your God. God provides you with peace and serenity. Let Him fill you with His Spirit filling you with strength and endurance.
You can do this.
I can do this.
WE can conquer this.

Praises to the God who has rescued us and promised us life!

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9