As my co-workers and I were conversing one morning, I jokingly said, “Mark, we could have hung out together in a former life.” He chuckled and responded, “Oh we can still hang out but you would have to take a couple of steps back from Heaven (paraphrased). Immediately, I thought about going back to my old lifestyle to “hang” out again. It seemed as if for almost a split second, I missed the fun I used to have. The night clubs, the parties; the no-end drinking; the drugs, and smoking cigarettes. The secular music of rap, dance and r&b; the clothes that showed everything! Oh yea! The bounty of boyfriends and companionship (that’s what I’ll call it!)! Oh yea! Woo-hooo! Tattoos of whatever I wanted! Spending my paycheck as soon as I got it; buying the luxuries of life! YEA BABY! No-holds barred with my tongue, saying whatever I felt like when I felt like it! Come on! Lettin’ ‘em all no that I ain’t playin’ and I don’t take no stuff! The feeling of freedom to do whatever the heck I wanted to ‘cause I lived in the land of plenty- the USA baby! I’mma’ do me! That’s whatz’ up! The…..
Right as I was on “the roll of fun” the Holy Spirit stopped me dead in my thoughts. “Dolores, must I remind you of the consequences of your “fun”? Immediately my heart sank and it was as if for another split second I was in the movie “Scrooge” and an Angel was taking me back through my life.
Right as I was on “the roll of fun” the Holy Spirit stopped me dead in my thoughts. “Dolores, must I remind you of the consequences of your “fun”? Immediately my heart sank and it was as if for another split second I was in the movie “Scrooge” and an Angel was taking me back through my life.
…..the night clubs and parties: in which drinks were spilled all over my new clothes and shoes…the music that put me in a certain mood (rap= fighting; r/b= sexing; dance=body pain) the feeling of someone groping me all over my body and the sleazy cheap feeling that I had afterwards…. The running from fights and/or shooting…
…..the no-end drinking…that started before I went to class, yet while in class the burning smell from the curling iron with hair wrapped around it…not on the clients’ head…. The vomiting in a car or on the side of the road; the dizzy spells that lasted for days and the missing work because of my hangovers. The “don’t remember how I got home days…” The drugs that made my heart beat so fast …..that made my heart beat so fast (sorry, I forgot what I was talking about)…..with damaging memory loss. The feeling that I was so high that I was going to die! The smoking cigarettes until I almost died from pneumonia more than once….the coughing and hacking so hard until I was sure the lining of my lungs was in the sink…. The blowing of second hand smoke into my daughter’s face who suffered from allergies and asthmatic bronchitis.
….The wearing of clothes that got the “bad-boy’s” attention as they called me out of my name….calling my body parts the vile names of the world….The friends that really weren’t friends at all…. Illegal activities with jail along for the ride…the run-on sentences and bad grammar and punctuation! Ahh, you’re paying attention! …. The abusive boyfriends …. The tears, hurt and pain until I thought I didn’t need to live….. And do it all over again the next day, week, or whatever….Is this what I considered “fun”? And yes, at the end of a day, going to Hell in a hand basket because I knew not Jesus Christ. But yes, I called it “fun” and “freedom”!
The Holy Spirit spoke once again, “Is it worth taking a couple of steps back from “Heaven”? NEVER! - I shook my head vigorously! Within all but seconds, I realized that “Heaven” is right here, right now on Earth through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior! First through Salvation! No Hell for me! But there’s more to just not going to Hell, there's more to Salvation….No more shackles of demonic bondages of drugs, alcohol, or smoking! No more abusive relationships, no more anger or depression! Take a couple of steps back from: Deliverance, Restoration, Love, Joy, Hope, Peace, Wisdom, Favor, Insight, Revelation, Supernatural Blessings, Protection and His constant care and Guidance with kept Promise after Promise… along with answered prayer! I don’t think so! Let’s go bowling instead! Sunday after church football, what?! (Without gambling of course!)
….So wouldn’t you rather take a couple of steps TOWARDS Heaven? Are you headed in the wrong direction? Free is me, but it ain't cool if it comes with drama + despair! I encourage you today to take the first step towards Heaven and receive salvation through JC! Whatever “fun” is to you right now, serving God is whatz’ up! Or whatever “slang” you decide you want to use, but taking steps backwards is never a good idea - in plain ‘ol English!
Scripture References: The Bible
With God’s Love, Dee-Dee McDuffie
**To my readers: - All jokes aside, it’s ok to have “fun” in life (as with the above passage with slang,, etc]…but have “fun” with Jesus. Everywhere. Everyday and Every way. Sincerely, Dee-Dee. Scripture References: John 3:16; See Mt/Mk/Lk for Jesus’ teachings; Ps 91; Ps 23; Ps 31; Pr 2, 3**
Look for my new book coming soon! I'm excited to share my testimony with you! It's not a secret, It's sharing! With Love, Transparency Shares (Dee-Dee McDuffie) .....To God Be the Glory!
