Are you a Game-Changer or a Game-Player?

     Are you a game-changer or game-player?  Game-changers, as their title personifies “change the game."  The game is not dictated to them, they dictate the game.  So, what makes these standout people?  They can see the future.  No they aren’t fortune tellers nor are they psychics; they pay attention!  They are the ones most aware of their surroundings and who surrounds them.  I know it sounds like I just said the same thing but I didn’t.  Listen/read closely.  Being aware of your surroundings is more about your physical presence or your tangible surroundings.  For example, what is the current price of gas, current price of milk, was that building there last week, what shifts are you seeing in various industries, what companies are hiring vs. those that are laying off, what shifts are you seeing on wall street, main street and your street?  Being aware of who’s around you is simply just that.  We’ve all heard the saying, "Those who start with you may not end with you."  This is truer than you can possibly imagine at this point in your life.  But perhaps more important is the fact that even while you are midstream – you haven’t even made it or arrived yet those whose started with you, your ride-or-die people are nowhere to be found.  Game-changers do not always foresee this change in the game because it is not necessarily a game-change but a change in the players of the game.  You see game-changers follow a cloud whereas game-players follower the crowd. A word to the WISE, every now an again you have to get your head out of the clouds to check the status of those around you.  Everyone saying I got your back, DOESN'T!

     Don’t get me wrong, both groups are needed.  There’s even a difference between game-changers and leaders just like there is a difference between game-players and followers; but that’s another blog.  But now, onto game-players.

     Game-players, as I alluded to earlier follow the crowd.  The good thing about game-players is that they go hard for whatever crowd they are following.  When they are supporting you, mind you their support of you is limited to how well you play the game, they’re all in; but oh!!!  When they are no longer supporting you, they are definitely ALL OUT!!  Ouch if this is YOU!!!  Here’s the negative about game-players, they lack vision. Remember, God already warned us in His word what happens to people without a vision:  "They perish." (Proverbs 29:18).  They can never truly support your vision because they do not have one for their own lives.  This is another defining moment in the life of a game-changer and somewhat of a downfall.  A game-changer not only has to know how to play the game and play it to win, but understand the balance of being a leader alongside being a game-changer so that those who are following you know why they are following.  Again, this comes back to the point that game-players have to have a REVELATION (vision) for their own lives.  How can they subscribe to yours if they don't have one for themselves?  This is why they follow the CROWD and not the CLOUD.  Beware, if it looks like you are losing they will drop you like a sack of hot potatoes.

     So, what’s the moral of this story?  The Rules of Engagement are about balance.  You need to be both a game-changer and a leader; hint, hint you have to catch my next blog about Leaders and Followers.  Always be aware of your surroundings and who's surrounding YOU!!

© Yvette L. Allen-Tatum, October 29, 2012

Beware of Manipulators

"You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn't come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don't toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment."

 The Message Bible Galatians 5:7-10

What does this Scripture mean and where do I begin with my thoughts as they relate to this Scripture?  I was seeking out a Scripture to describe what happened to me and what can easily happen to any of us.  You can be well on your way, your planned course of DESTINY, and someone will come, cut in on you and throw you of course.  How does this happen?  It can happen in many different ways and there are many different people who will cut in on you.  The BEST way to keep this from happening is to keep yourself COVERED in PRAYER.  YOU, ME, WE have to literally BATHE ourselves in PRAYER.

So, who is this person that cuts in on us?  It's someone with a "Manipulative Spirit".  Not that I have experienced everything in life that there is or ever will be to experience, nor have I attained all the knowledge that there is to attain; but after careful reflection this is who I found the perpetrator to be - a manipulative spirit.  Then, as I begin to share my experience with others, people began to open up and share similar experiences with me.  The common theme in all our stories was the same; we all had someone with a manipulative spirit to cross our paths.

People with a manipulative spirit are very sharp and cunning; they are literally wolves in sheep clothing. 

 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. ¹⁶ You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. ¹⁹ So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.  

Matthew 7:15-20 NLT

But Fear Not!!  "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind," 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV.  There's no need to walk in fear.  The key is PRAYER.  Prayer opens up the door, the spiritual door for us to be keenly aware of our surroundings.  Prayer builds up our spiritual muscles too.  The more we pray, the greater level of discernment we're able to walk in; which means a greater measure of VICTORY!!  The enemy is already a defeated foe, we just have to walk in it.

Be not discouraged and be not dismayed!  Jesus the Lover of Your Soul has sent you The One, The Comforter, The Holy Spirit to guide and lead us into ALL TRUTH!!!

So what is the purpose of this post?  Well, besides giving myself the opportunity share my thoughts in a public forum; the purpose of this post is to not only warn you but to encourage you, as well.  Although these things can happen, "Fear Not!"  God will not be mocked.  His purpose and His plan and the DESTINY He put in you will be fulfilled.  Remember, The Call of God on your life is greater than any outside force trying to maneuver against you. "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. ⁵ Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. ⁶ But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception." - 1 John 4:4-6 NLT.

Check your PRAYER barometer!!  If it's running on low pull-in for a fill-up.  It will be worth your while.

Yvette

What Is It?

What Is It? Is it the fact that I am a woman?  Is it because I am black?  Is it because I'm not skinny? Or, is it actually a combination of all these and more?  I just don't get it!  Why do people feel they have the right to just blatantly disrespect you as a person?!?

For instance, this morning I was in line at Starbuck's and this lady walks up with four bags of coffee and lays them down on the counter and almost pushes me out the way.  Now she didn't touch me or anything nor did she speak a word.  In fact, she was so tight lipped that you would have needed a crow bar to open her mouth.  Her demeanor just let me know that she was coming to the counter whether I moved or not.  Her stance was as if she was saying, "I belong here; so move over!"   But I am thinking to myself, "I was at the counter first!  My order has already been placed!  What in the world?!?" 

And no, I didn't place a coffee order.  Otherwise I would have moved to the side of the counter where you are supposed to pick up coffee orders. 

Perhaps this whole encounter wasn't even about me.  Maybe it was more about her than it was about me. But what does this tell us about people and thus, about ourselves?  That is still one for me to ponder because I have to admit, more often then not, when I encounter people of different cultures and/or ethnic backgrounds I often wonder if they a treating me or attempting to treat me in a disrespectful manner because I am a woman, a black woman or a healthy black woman. 

So, what is it?

© Yvette L. Allen-Tatum

Be Ye Imitators of God

^1-2Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (Ephesians 5 The Message Bible).

I was meditating this morning on this Scripture and I started thinking about how people always want to copy other people.  Many times they copy or desire to copy other people because they want to be like them.  They want something they have which is usually fame/fortune/popularity and the alike.  Often, I have found that many people who think they have made it won't give you (me/us) the time of day.  They want you to get it on your own.  Their attitude speaks, "I started at the bottom and I don't see any reason why you shouldn't have to start at the bottom as well."  What a lousy attitude!  

But remember, I said that these are people who "think they've made it".  This usually is not the case.  When you examine them more closely, they really have not had the measure of success they would like for you to believe and that is one of the very reasons why they cannot afford to let you get but so close.  Moreover, the little success that they have achieved they don't know how they got there so they cannot tell you what they did anyway.  It was all shear luck.  Besides, who wants to follow a person who cannot replicate their own success?!?!

Yet copying someone who has a proven method or a proven practice/tract record is far better than copying the people noted above.  In fact these people are so confident/proud of their accomplishments they have no problem sharing their highs and their lows.  These are the people we want to follow!

The next two points I want to emphasize won't take up much space on the page and that's because I don't think it will take much to convince you that these words are true.  Check your motives.  If our motives are in the right place then we can't go wrong.  Reflect on the Scripture noted above; God's motive was LOVE!!

What motivates you today?  For me, it is seeing God's people achieve success in every area of their lives.  And though I am still working on mine, I have no problem helping you and encouraging you in yours.

Be an imitator of God!  His success record is phenomenal and His life is an open book, The Bible!

Yvette L.Allen-Tatum
A.K.A Jesus Girl

© Yvette L. Allen-Tatum

Jesus Girl

I am finding as I draw closer to Christ I am developing into a Jesus Girl!  I could say Jesus Woman but that sounds so mature, controlled and wound up kind of tight.  In fact, God spoke the word to me "Jesus Girl!"  I believe Jesus Girl is appropriate because of the giddy-childlike love I have for Him.  I don't ever want to outgrow climbing up in His lap or sitting at His feet.  Moreover, I don't want to ever outgrow Him.  I have a yearning and a longing in my heart for Him just like a little girl has for her Father.  I treasure the fact that I need Him and He actually enjoys my dependence upon Him.  It is through my relationship with Him that I find independence from people and that it is sooooo liberating!!

Today in my quiet time He so invitingly invaded my space.  I treasure these times.  I pray that I always posture myself so that He always feels welcome and invited.  You know there are times we attempt to set the atmosphere for Him to come in but for whatever the reason, nothing to do with Him but everything to do with us, He cannot come in and be with us.  I pray today for you and for me that the Lord is always, always welcome into our space (our lives) and that we take full advantage of that opportunity.  When He comes, stay long enough to allow Him to touch you.  Don't get so excited and overwhelmed by His presence that you don't get (receive) what He came for...YOU!  Stay in His presence long enough to allow Him to speak to you, to touch you, to pamper you, to love on you, to spend time with YOU...

Don't you want to be a Jesus Girl with me?  We could actually start a movement!!

Selfish

How many times does a person have to call you selfish before you begin to believe what they are saying about you?  I know, I'm a big girl and a bright girl; I should be smart enough to know that the only things I need to believe about me are what God say about me.  But it's not easy when you hear it all the time; or at least it feels like all the time and you just can't seem to get away from it.


Yet somehow, I'm actually a little more convinced that the problem is with the person and not with me.  Oh don't get me wrong, it does throw me for a loop sometimes, but I am usually able to bounce back and think.  I'll have me a Selah moment.  I ask myself, "What's wrong with you?  What insecurities or imperfections are you dealing with today about you that is causing you to lash out at me?"  


Well, this will be one of those things to ponder and one of those things to grow from because I refuse to let anyone stop me from getting to the place that God would have me to be.  No, I won't run over you, I won't abuse you, I won't lie on you, I won't lie to you, I won't cheat you, etc., but I will drop you like "Hot Fries" before I allow you to bring me down!


Now run and tell dat'!