Are You Insane?

Ok, I'm not calling you crazy...LOL!  But check this out.  The great Physicist, Albert Einstein, said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.  Yet, how many of us, consciously or unconsciously, do the same thing day in and day out?

Whether it is destructive or unhealthy habits, relationships or even, words that we speak.  Sometimes they're things we've learned from our parents or picked up over time from the people that we associate with.  Or perhaps they're things that we've allowed to unconsciously influence us through the things that we watch or listen to.

I once heard Pastor Joel Osteen tell a story about a woman who would always cut the corners off of her ham, before putting it in the oven to prepare it.  Now, I'm not quoting this verbatim, so please forgive me if I miss a few details here.

One day when asked why she did this, she had to pause and think.  Her response was simply, "that is the way Momma always did it."  Well, as it turns out, her mother did it because she saw her mother do it.  She eventually came to learn that this all started because her grandmother's oven was too small to hold a pan large enough to fit the whole ham.  Therefore, she'd cut off the corners to make it fit into a smaller pan that would fit in the oven.

I know, in my own life, I've had to confront many sinful and destructive behaviors.  Some were from generational cycles, some from bad habits that I picked up over time.  What opened my eyes and began to make a difference in my life?  God working in my life through the Holy Spirit, illuminating His Word to me, tearing down the strongholds that once held me bound.

The Lord tells us, in Romans 12, not to be conformed to the things of this world, but, rather be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  How do we do this?  Through His holy Word.

2 Corinthians 10 tells us about pulling down strongholds and taking our thoughts captive, bringing them into obedience to Christ.  We must begin to see things the way God sees them.  We must begin to seek and understand His wisdom and instruction.

God is our creator and knows us better than we know ourselves.  As we spend time in His Word and in His presence, he will begin to reveal to us the sinful and destructive habits that we've allowed to invade our lives.  The things that have kept us from experiencing the abundant life He came to give us.  Sometimes its just a matter of gaining a different perspective.

Whether you're struggling with low self-esteem, debt, lust, depression, addiction...whatever it may be today, I believe a key to your deliverance is breaking the strongholds the enemy has established in your life, by beginning to renew your mind.  Search God's Word regarding whatever you struggle or challenge is, as someone searching for buried treasure.  Ask God to open your eyes and to give you understanding to begin to see the sinful and destructive patterns in your life and to give you the grace to begin to make a change.

Remember, we didn't become the way we are today overnight.  So, in much the same way, we cannot expect an instant change.  But, if we are persistent, continue to seek and trust in God and are willing to obey what He is leading us to do, we will begin to see change take place in our lives and begin to live the lives that He has ordained for us to.

How Quickly We've Forgotten!

I wrote this poem last year after listening to many of Dr. King's speeches and visiting the King Center a few months earlier.  I was inspired to write this after reflecting on many of the struggles and challenges that Dr. King and many others endured and fought, looking at many of the derogatory images, ideas and role models that are being celebrated and promoted in our society today. 

It is bad enough when we have interracial conflict to contend with, but what is even worse, is when we stand divided, amongst our own race.  Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

Dr. King and those that stood along side of him chose to take the path less traveled.  They chose a path of personal sacrifice, for a greater cause.  They chose a path that took them out of their comfort zones.  This was a path that often put them in harm's way, which even, eventually, cost Dr. King his life.

Selah.


How Quickly We've Forgotten
by Herbert Poole

Oh, how quickly we've forgotten
The struggle and the fight
Of those who bled and died
To end slavery's dark night.

How quickly we've forgotten
The weight of the oppression
Imposed by chains and shackles
And looming walls of segregation.

How quickly we've forgotten
The degradation and the shame
Felt by those who've gone before us
When called such condescending names.

How quickly we've forgotten
The need to love one another
As in a heartbeat, we can turn
And strike, shoot or kill our sister or brother.

How quickly we've forgotten
Our strength when we stand united
As we've allowed lust, greed and envy
To leave us blinded and divided.

How quickly we've forgotten
The pride of earning an honest wage
As we fight, cheat and steal
From one another in violence and rage.

How quickly we've forgotten
The doors of opportunity that once stood closed
As the imprisonment many now face
Is so often self imposed.

So, let us awaken from this nightmare
And remember, once again, the dream
That inspired so many before us
As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King!

Time to Arise from the Ashes!!!

Blessings to you, my friend!  I pray that you are encouraged by this word today, as I felt impressed to share this.

In 1 Samuel 30 we read the story of how King David and his men returned home to find that all they counted precious had been stolen.  The enemy had come in and taken their women, children and possessions.  Then to add insult to injury, they had burned what remained.

Returning to find this, David and his men were so distraught that they wept until they were exhausted.  Then David's own men began to turn against him, because of this.  But King David began to encourage himself in the Lord.  He began to remember God's goodness and mercy and how God had delivered him in times past.

David, before doing anything else, inquired of the Lord.  At the word of the Lord, David arose from the ashes and led his men to pursue the enemy.

He could have chosen to remain where he was and mourn the loss of everything.  He and his men could have allowed bitterness and sorrow to fill their hearts and leave them paralyzed, with no hope or desire to go on.  Even considering the hurt, rejection or discouragement David may have felt following the incident in the previous chapter.  This is when Achish informed him that he and his men could not go with them into battle because the Philistines did not trust him.  Therefore, he sent them home.

Isn't it amazing that while all this was transpiring, they had no idea that the enemy had come in and raided their home.  What would have become of their wives, children and possessions had they continued on into battle with the Philistines?  But what looked like a great disappointment and defeat, God turned into one of their greatest victories!

Regardless of where you are today or what your situation may be, it is time for us to arise from the ashes of defeat to reclaim everything God has given us.  It is time for us to pursue and overtake the enemy of our souls.  It is time for us to arise and press the battle to the gate...time for us to stand in the power and authority given to us through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Remember, stay strong, be encouraged and know that you are blessed!!!

You Might Want to Stop and Think Bout What You're Gettin' Ready to Say!

by Herbert Poole

You might want to stop and think
Bout what you're gettin' ready to say,
Will it really make a difference
At the end of the day?

You might want to stop and think
Bout what you're gettin' ready to say,
Cause the words you choose to speak
May be filled with death and decay.

You might want to stop and think
Bout what you're gettin' ready to say,
As the lies that you tell
Might lead some poor soul astray.

You might want to stop and think
Bout what you're gettin' ready to say,
As the wounds your words may cause
Cannot simply be wiped away.

You might want to stop and think
Bout what you're gettin' ready to say,
Cause you'll soon find for broken promises
There's always a price to pay.

You might want to stop and think
Bout what you're gettin' ready to say,
And just pause for a minute
And take the time to pray.

Why "Herbisms"

[Updated 6/28/2013]

I thought it might be appropriate to mention, obviously the name of my blog has changed.  As a result, I've considered removing this post.  However, I felt that it adds a bit of history and context to it's evolution.

Just in case you were wondering...

---

So, you may be wondering...why in the heck did he decide to call his blog "Herbisms to Inspire."  Well, I'm glad you asked.

A while ago, for a good period of time, I used to send out inspirational text messages.  It was always a bit challenging sending them out.  I always had to copy and paste the message multiple times just to get it out to everyone that I wanted to send it to.  This was due to the limitation on the number of recipients my phone would allow me to send the message to at one time.

When I finally upgraded to another mobile phone, low and behold, it became even more difficult to send out the texts.  I eventually gave up this ministry out of sheer frustration.  I know that sounds pretty lame on my part, but just keepin it real.

I would often hear from others, days, weeks or even months later, about how much they were blessed by those messages.  There were so many accounts of how God used those messages to bless someone with a word that they needed, just at the right time.

So, I recently spoke with a dear brother that I used to sing with in the Lakewood Church Choir.  He was one of the folks that used to receive the texts that I'd send out.  Can you guess what he told me?  "I miss those Herbisms!"

And thus the inspiration for the name of my blog.

"The Thing Of Which I Am A Part Is Bigger Than The Part That I Play!"

You may have heard this statement before.  This is something Israel Houghton used to share with us, when I sang with the Lakewood Church Choir.  Good times!!!

Israel is one of the worship leaders at Lakewood Church.  Each week either him, Dakri Brown (our Choir Director) or Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff would drop a few pearls of wisdom on us, in an effort to lead us to a deeper place in our walk with God.  As they say, you cannot lead where you have not been.  And we, as a group, were given the privilege of leading the congregation into God's presence each week.

Anyway, this statement is one of those things that you've got think on for a while before you are able to fully appreciate the value of what is being said.  Kind of like a dish that has to marinate for a while before the true flavor is brought out.

When we really stop and think about it, it's multidimensional.  You have to look at it from at least a couple of different perspectives.

First, I have to realize that there is something bigger than me, a big picture that I cannot possibly be fully aware of.  God's plans and ways are far beyond anything we could imagine, let alone comprehend.  I am one, among millions of believers all over the world.  God is the Divine Orchestrator and Architect, the Master Planner of it all.  Even when it looks like one big mass of chaos, He's still in control, causing all things to work together to accomplish His plans and purposes.

It's like being a part of the Lakewood Church Choir.  We were all a part of something much bigger.  Something much bigger than most of us even realized.  One voice in the midst of hundreds of others, singing at one of the largest churches in the U.S.  Part of a ministry that was and is touching and changing lives all over the world.

Secondly, I have to realize that I also have a part to play.  Yes, each of us, regardless how insignificant that it may seem, have an individual role to play.  Just like the actors in a play or the pieces of a puzzle, we all have a place, something to contribute, whether large or small.  Each of us, with our unique personalities, gifts and talents all come together to create a beautiful tapestry.  All a part of God's great plan.

When we come to this realization and begin to seek God for His wisdom, guidance and direction to help us find our place in the big scheme of things, it is then that we begin to find true fulfillment in life.  Until then, we are like a fish out of water.  We're like someone groping for something in the dark or a leaf being carried aimlessly in the wind, with no direction or purpose.

As we start this new year and new decade, I challenge you to seek God for His purpose and direction for your life.  If you've been feeling discouraged, frustrated and unfulfilled, perhaps it's because you have not yet found the part that you play in the big picture of life.  Or perhaps you know what it is, but you've been too afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  Or maybe you have stepped out and like Peter, when he stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water, but lost your focus and began to sink.

Wherever you are, I pray right now that God would encourage and strengthen you.  I pray that He will grant you the wisdom, guidance and direction that you need to realize His calling and purpose for your life.  And I also pray that He would grant you the grace and provision to fulfill that call.  I pray He surrounds with others that will encourage, inspire and challenge you to keep moving forward and to help you get back up when you fall or want to give up.  In the blessed name of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Happy 2011, my friend!  Remember, you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you.