Kenneth Davis

     Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death. I have called you by name, you are mine... you are precious in my sight. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

~Isaiah~

Kenneth Davis

     Lord, I lean on You alone for strength. Give me your arm to support me, your shoulders to carry me, your breast on which to lay my head, your Cross to uphold me, your Eucharist to nourish me. On you Lord, I shall sleep and rest in peace.

~Rose Philippine Duchesne~

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

The funeral of Mr. Alonzo Thomas, the husband of Marzie Gates Thomas and the brother of John Thomas, has been rescheduled due to inclement weather. See details below.

Wake
Sunday, January 21, 2024
3 - 6:00 p.m.
R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Homes
374 Vance Avenue Memphis, TN 38126
 
Funeral
Monday, January 22, 2024
Noon
East Trigg Baptist Church
1315 S. Bellevue Boulevard Memphis, TN 38106

Kenneth Davis

    T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAYS WORDS - TROUBLING TIMES

     I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it. Life is too short to be miserable. Possession of a secret is no guarantee of its truth. Happiness is pretty simple: someone to love, something to do, something to look forward to. The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself. So much of life is happenstance. It makes me laugh when I go to a bookstore and see all those titles about controlling your life. You're lucky if you can control your bladder. Life is unjust, people can be cruel, and yet if you harden your heart, you will lose what little love there is in this world.
     Today we live in a society suffering from ethical rickets. The only merciful thing about drug abuse is the speed with which it devastates you. Alcoholics can take decades to destroy themselves and everyone they touch. The drug addict can accomplish this in a year or two. Morals are private. Decency is public. You can't be truly rude until you understand good manners. Oppression works in such a way that it holds every person responsible for the acts of any wrongdoer of the oppressed group. Every action is either strong or weak, and when every action is strong we are successful. For you to be successful, sacrifices must be made. It's better that they are made by others but failing that, you'll have to make them yourself.
     People are like tea bags; you never know how strong they'll be until they're in hot water. In times of trouble, you not only discover what you truly believe but whether or not you can act on your beliefs. About all you can do in life is be who you are. Some people will love you for you. Most will love you for what you can do for them, and some won't like you at all. To love without role, without power plays, is revolution. The reason for revolution is so the good things in life circulate. A peacefulness follows any decision, even the wrong one. Love is the wild card of existence. I still miss those I loved who are no longer with me but I find I am grateful for having loved them. The gratitude has finally conquered the loss. Sorrow is how we learn to love. Your heart isn't breaking. It hurts because it's getting larger. The larger it gets, the more love it holds. Every day you're alive and someone loves you is a miracle. People who care for you inevitably become beautiful. Oh well, maybe the only beauty left in cities is in the oil slicks on the road and maybe there isn't any beauty left in the people who live in these places. 

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

January Warriors have an innate sense of leadership. Being born in the first month of the year makes them the first in everything. The quality of leadership is often seen in from a very early age, from leading the team in group projects to being the most reliable person among friends.

They tend to be shier than others, which creates an impression that they are secret keepers. Even if they don’t have any, they are often misinterpreted as being reserved and holding on to a deep secret.

These Warriors are passionate about romance and the endearing emotion. But they are very shy in expressing their emotions. They dislike public display of affection and hence can be misunderstood by their partners.

When it comes to sense of humor, January born Warriors have the best one! They are amazingly skilled in putting together the words at the right moment.  You might have a friend who is born in January who gives you a daily dose of laughter.

Our January Warriors are amazingly creative. Their imagination skills are the best. They excel in fields where creativity is required such as writing and graphic designing.

They are very humble by nature. As a colleague, they are mostly loved by fellow team mates and make an impression wherever they go.

Although humble, shy and creative, Warriors born in January are very adept in handling crises. They can quickly weigh the pros and cons of a situation and work on it accordingly. During a crisis their quick calculative nature helps to avert a major mishap.

These Warriors are self-motivated and hardly rely on anyone for validation. From academics to personal life they have their own strategy and learn from their mistakes. They rarely seek anyone else’s suggestions and feedbacks.

January has a fiery birthstone, the garnet. While this birth month is all things snow and ice, the garnet, is a deep, fiery red. This stone is said to symbolize friendship and trust.

The garnet has ties to Greek mythology. When Hades, the god of the underworld, took Persephone from the surface world, she was told not to eat any food in the dark realm. However, she ate six pomegranate seeds and therefore had to remain in the underworld for six months every year. The change from winter to spring was explained as Persephone's return to the surface. This is also why the garnet stands for the return of a loved one.

January has two flowers, the carnation and snowdrop. The carnation is a bright spot in an otherwise dreary time of year. The delicate, white snowdrop—one of the first buds to poke its petals through the ground in the spring—seems like an apt pick for January.

Mary J. Blige, Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Etta James, Steve Harvey,  Alicia Keys, Regina King, L.L. Cool J, Issa Rae, Kerry Washington and  Charlie Wilson are only a few of the celebrities born in January.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WORD - DISCERNMENT

     Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic selves. We must learn to respect them. We must learn to listen. The authentic self is the soul made visible. Usually, when the distractions of daily life deplete our energy, the first thing we eliminate is the thing we need the most: quiet, reflective time. Time to dream, time to contemplate what's working and what's not, so that we can make changes for the better.
     Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend... when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present - love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure - the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth. We can stop waiting for life to become perfect and start working with what we’ve got to make it as satisfying as we can. We can accept, bless, give thanks, and get going. Today, we can begin to call forth the riches from our everyday life. Today we can move from lack to abundance.
     Turn away from the world this year and begin to listen. Listen to the whispers of your heart. Look within. Your silent companion has lit lanterns of love to illuminate the path to Wholeness. At long last, the journey you were destined to take has begun. Become aware that you already possess all the inner wisdom, strength, and creativity needed to make your dreams come true.
     Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy. When you learn what you can live without, you are able to ask life for the very best because you possess the gift of discernment. You are able to create an authentic life because you are able to make conscious choices. Today expect something good to happen to you no matter what occurred yesterday. Always remember, it's simply not an adventure worth telling if there aren't any dragons.

WELCOME TO 
SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

What makes jazz different is that you can't predict it, it's all about freedom. Just when you think you know what you're going to hear there'll be a left turn, a jazz musician will change it up. 
~Gregory Porter~

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Kenneth,

Thank you for today’s T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N. Being confined due to the weather conditions allowed me to look within.

I was able to listen to the voice within while sitting by the fire and gazing out the window at the beautiful snow. The whispers of my heart assured me that I am enough. The riches of life are not possessions but the love of self and the love received from family and friend. I am so blessed.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WORD - FRUSTRATION
 

     Success is buried on the other side of rejection. The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you're in control of your life. If you don't, life controls you. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn't trying. If you talk about it, it's a dream, if you envision it, it's possible, but if you schedule it, it's real. The only impossible journey is the one you never begin. Every problem is a gift - without problems we would not grow. It's not about the goal. It's about growing to become the person that can accomplish that goal. Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.
     The quality of your life is the quality of where you live emotionally. Life is about the moments: Don't wait for them, create them! In order to take our lives to the next level, we must realize that the same pattern of thinking that has gotten us to where we are now will not get us to where we want to go. The only thing keeping you from what you want is your story about why you can't have it. Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfillment.
     It's not what's happening to you now or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it's your decisions about what to focus on, what things mean to you, and what you're going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny. Ten years from now you'll laugh at whatever's stressing you out today. So why not laugh now? As soon as you truly commit to making something happen, the 'how' will reveal itself.
     Sometimes, not getting what you want can be the most valuable experience of your entire life. The real joy in life comes from finding your true purpose and aligning it with what you do every single day. All successful people learn that success is buried on the other side of frustration. Unfortunately, some people don't get to the other side... They allow frustration to keep them from taking the necessary actions that would support them in achieving their desire. You get through this roadblock by plowing through frustration, taking each setback as feedback you can learn from, and pushing ahead. Nothing can drag you down if you're not holding on to it. Keep your goals in front of you, and your fears behind you. Your story is where you take it to, not where you start. Begin to live as though your prayers are already answered.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

Kenneth Davis

  SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     January 21, 2024: You are about to enter a new phase of existence, but there are things that need to be finished before you can forge ahead. Make the best use of your time and opportunities to deal with issues that would hinder you in the future, says the Lord. I will give you discernment, wisdom and guidance to do all that is necessary. Isaiah 45:2 I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WORD - OPPORTUNITIES

     I live a very joyful life, with a lot of laughter and good times. I'm very free with all my emotions, whether it's happy, sad, mad, glad, whatever. I like movies that resonate, that give voice to the voiceless. Hollywood is so governed by the ego, and I never wanted to fall into that trap. We need happy, productive citizens on our planet for us to survive. I don't want kids to be distracted by pipe dreams. I believe in getting a good education to be able to go out into the world and make a difference. I grew up an athlete. Track and field and dance. In track, I actually went to the Junior Olympics. I've always been very athletic.
     Whatever it is that I feel, I express it! I am free with my joy, my laughter, my pleasure, my pain, and I am blessed in that way as an actress that I can access those feelings within myself and not be ashamed to show whatever that is that's appropriate for the character. I don't have to be glamorous all the time. It's funny because I never studied, I never took a class. So, everything I do is very innate and organic; I don't really have words for it. It is a communion with spirit. I don't get in my own way and allow the character to do what it's going to do. I'm definitely in a place where I'm looking for different than what I've done in the past, just so I can go to work and do something I haven't done before.
     I have a lot of compassion for human beings in life experiences, so I allow myself to feel what these characters are feeling and don't have a problem accepting that. I decided to start embracing and wearing my natural hair, but there was only one problem; I didn't know what to do with it or how to style it. Growing up, all I knew was my relaxed, processed hair, so I had to go through this learning phase. I love seeing my mom and my daughter embrace their natural hair. I'm glad I've embraced it, too.
     Believe it or not, I loved my Jheri curl and thought it was beautiful on me. It actually made my hair grow like crazy. What they didn't tell you back then was that once you get the Jheri curl, there's no way of getting rid of it, so when I was over it, I ended up having to cut off all my hair and start all over again. I always look at things half full and definitely see a change in how things are going as far as black actresses and their opportunities. Thankfully, I was given a strong base by my parents, an understanding of who I was and my strength. I have the right to shine my light! That's what all women have. Once you own that, you can almost always shine your light.

Larry Milligan

Hello classmates,

Happy New Year and I hope everyone is doing well and that you are enjoying life. I would like to address a piece my old girlfriend posted. January Warriors, this piece was so spot on. I am taking her name off the message and replacing it with mine. Estella, I hope you don't mind. I want to put you back in the spotlight  where you have always been and belong. I want to say two of my favorite people, my wife Faye, and You were born in January and that peice decribes you both to the fullest. I want to say Happy Belated Birthday to you and to stay in good grace with my loving, sweet, understanding wife ( that last statement was to get me out of trouble because I put you in this message) . And to say Happy Early Birthday (1/29) to the love of my life Mrs. Faye.

Thanks for the January post, Estella!

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

“The first general rule of friendship is to be a friend, to be open, natural, interested; the second rule is to take time for friendship. Friendship, after all, is what life is finally about.” –Nels F. S. Ferre’

Larry,

Thank you for the belated birthday wish. I, too, want to wish Faye an early Happy Birthday.

There is no way you will get in trouble with Faye because she knows she means as much to me as you. The two of you have always blessed me with your presence during important life milestones. I am so grateful our loving friendship has survived the test of time.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAYS WORDS - BEHIND THE SCENES

     Life is a conspiracy to shower you with a nonstop feast of interesting experiences, all of which are designed to help you grow your intelligence, shed your pretensions, and master the art of ingenious love. To be loved is a privilege and prize equivalent to being born. Even now, thousands of secret helpers are conspiring to turn you into the beautiful curiosity you were born to be. If you're smart, you pause regularly to bask in the astonishing knowledge that there are many people out there who care for you and want you to thrive and hold you in their thoughts with fondness.
     Life always delivers the creative energy you need to change into the new thing you must become. Break open the forbidden happiness. It's about time you admitted that you are a miraculous work of art. You came into this world as a radiant bundle of exuberant riddles. You slipped into this dimension as a shimmering burst of spiral hallelujahs. You blasted into this realm as a lush explosion of ecstatic gratitude. And it is your birthright to fulfill those promises.
     Push hard to get better, become smarter, grow your devotion to the truth, fuel your commitment to beauty. Refine your emotional intelligence, hone your dreams, negotiate with your shadow. Cure your ignorance, shed your pettiness, heighten your drive to look for the best in people, and soften your heart -- even as you always accept yourself for exactly who you are with all of your so-called imperfections.
     Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes to assist you in turning into the gorgeous masterpiece you were born to be. Join the conspiracy to shower all of creation with blessings. All of us need to be in touch with a mysterious, tantalizing source of inspiration that teases our sense of wonder and goads us on to life’s next adventure. The world is crazily in love with you, wildly and innocently in love. 

IT'S TIME FOR 
JUST JOKING MONDAYS

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Curtis Farmer

Love the newsletters with a wealth of information. The music is phenomenal! Thank each of you so much for standing by us. 

Kenneth Davis

  SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns

     January 23, 2024: Find and maintain that place in you that is innocent and pure, and do not step out beyond the boundaries of holiness. Your physical and spiritual well being depends on what you decide in every situation. Give careful consideration to your thoughts and intentions, and choose righteousness, says the Lord. Proverbs 14:15 The simple believes every word, but the prudent considers well his steps.

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WORD - INNOCENT AND PURE

     Life is going to be a constant peeling back of layers, a constant unlearning of what we've been taught or believe to be true. I think that I've come to terms with the fact that that's just going to happen for the whole duration of my life. I feel really good about being able to look myself in the face and say, "Oh, who are you now?" And that might change. Everybody goes through their life in different ways. I definitely am having my journey. It evolves and changes. At some moments, I feel totally off center and trying to find my way back. It's the unknown that makes me feel the most vulnerable. No one will take care of you if you don't take care of yourself. How far you go depends on what you want for yourself, how much you're willing to leave on the floor, and how much you wanna face the fears you have inside of you. It's everything we're all dealing with every day.

     There's too much darkness in the world. Everywhere you turn, someone is tryin' to tear someone down in some way; everywhere you go, there's a feeling of inadequacy, or a feeling that you're not good enough. I want to bring a certain light to the world. I've seen so many lives turnaround from the impossible. I have come to embrace the idea that even the simplest act of understanding, love and attention can produce the biggest results. Everything you want to be, you already are. You're simply on the path to discovering it. I pray to give thanks and to recognize all the good things that are in my life even during times of great change, confusion, or frustration. Prayer keeps me centered. I always want to stay focused on who I am, even as I'm discovering who I am. Risk the fall to know how it feels to fly. Sometimes you need to start again, in order to fly. Moments are so fleeting; I want to hold on to the good ones.

     The more you know the stronger you become, the closer you feel to yourself and the farther you can go. Be driven, be focused, but enjoy every moment, because it only happens once. Create the world you want and fill it with the opportunities that matter to you. You have to identify what you care about and why you care about it. It has to be personal. It has to be something that fires you up or means something to you, or it's not going to drive you. You're at your most purest, most innocent, pure state when you're doing something you've never done before. You're scared a little, you're a little vulnerable, you're kind of trying, and then you're also better, because you're trying harder than you maybe would try. I believe in the limitlessness of humans. We're capable of incredible things. At times, that realization is frightening. You can't really compare people. That's one of the biggest lessons I've learned, because comparing yourself to someone else really stops you from being who you are. I've learned that being different is what makes you stand out. It makes everything so much more intriguing.

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAYS WORD - DIVISIONS

     One man's trash is another man's treasure, and the by-product from one food can be perfect for making another. There is nothing like a good old recipe. If it has lasted, then it is good. I can't stand recipes that don't have background. Like parents, cooks shouldn't have favorites, but some recipes inevitably shine more than others. My maternal grandmother made fantastic ox tongue with velvety roasted potatoes. She cooked sweet red cabbage and lovely cauliflower with butter and breadcrumbs. If I am honest, my food is actually quite far removed from both the food of my mother and my father.
     The kitchen is tough. It's one of the last bastions in civilized culture that sets out to crush the spirit. Even in the busiest kitchen, there's always a point at the end of the day when you go home. The range of ingredients available to home cooks has expanded dramatically.  Almost every culture has its own variation on chicken soup, and rightly so - it's one of the most gratifying dishes on the face of the Earth. People are incorporating herbs and spices like lemongrass, smoked Mexican chili, sumac, and za'atar mix. Celery leaves are an underused ingredient, most likely because supermarkets sell mostly leafless stalks. Brussels sprouts are really quite versatile. Most of my recipes start life in the domestic kitchen, and even those that start out in the restaurant kitchen have to go through the domestic kitchen. I have a terrible tendency to lick my fingers when I cook. So much so that I got a telling off from my pastry teacher years ago, who said it would hinder my prospects.
     Too many books are full of recipes that aren't doable at home. They are purely aspirational. They are quite frightening, even for me. If the first bite is with the eye and the second with the nose, some people will never take that third, actual bite if the food in question smells too fishy, fermented or cheesy. Raw fish suppers admittedly require a little planning, not least in the acquisition of the main ingredient. Eating ready-made meals is about being very passive, and actively cooking is something that nothing compares to. The way to entice people into cooking is to cook delicious things. If you can't taste an ingredient, you have to ask yourself why it is there.
     Food can bring people together in a way nothing else could. The combination of olive oil, garlic and lemon juice lifts the spirits in winter. Herbs deserve to be used much more liberally. I like to add something unusual to a dish. Agave nectar is a good substitute for refined sugars. It has a relatively low glycemic index, which means it doesn't cause quick rises in blood sugar levels. It also has a nice, mild flavor. I enjoy meat, but I can do without it. I do support people eating more vegetables. It's a good thing to do. Vegetarians in general don't like me. There used to be a time - it isn't so much the case now - that vegetarianism was some kind of religion, and either you belong, or you don't belong. You can be vegetarian and eat fish. It's your choice, just say: 'I am what I am.' There are no hardcore divisions anymore. Conflict is very much a state of mind. If you're not in that state of mind, it doesn't bother you.

WELLNESS WEDNESDAY

The Weird Side Effect of Sleeping 6 Hours (or Less) a Night
Emily CappielloEmily Cappiello
Medically reviewed by Catherine Uram, MD

The Healthy @Reader's Digest: Healthy Living with Expert-Backed Insight
Six hours never feels like enough sleep. Turns out, it’s not.

     There’s plenty of research out there underscoring how crucial sleep is for maintaining your weight, focus, stamina, healing powers, and general health. Now there’s another reason to get your beauty sleep: Six hours or less of slumber a night can leave you dehydrated. In a study from Penn State, published in the journal Sleep in 2019, researchers analyzed sleeping habits and urine samples in more than 20,000 adults in the United States and China. They found that people who slept six hours on average were up to 59 percent more likely to be dehydrated than adults who slept eight hours on a regular basis at night. This suggests that feeling awful after a poor night of sleep may also be attributed to this resulting dehydration, not just to a lack of sleep. 
     The study noticed that vasopressin, a hormone that regulates the body’s hydration status, is released toward the end of a sleep cycle. “Vasopressin is released both more quickly and later on in the sleep cycle,” said lead author Asher Rosinger, PhD, assistant professor of biobehavioral health and anthropology at Penn State, in a press release. “So if you’re waking up earlier, you might miss that window in which more of the hormone is released, causing a disruption in the body’s hydration.” Michelle Drerup, PsyD, Director of Behavioral Sleep Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, who is not associated with this study, says that these findings are in line with other research on hormones and sleep. “Our hormones have a circadian rhythm as well,” she explains. “We think of the sleep/wake cycle as being a circadian rhythm, but our temperature varies on a circadian pattern and our hormone levels, including our appetite hormones, are on a circadian pattern as well, so this finding about vasopressin makes sense.” 
     To combat this problem, getting more sleep is obviously a good idea. Furthermore, Rosinger says, drinking water throughout the day is important—and it’s even more critical the morning after a poor night of sleep. “If you are only getting six hours of sleep a night, it can affect your hydration status,” he explains. “This study suggests that if you’re not getting enough sleep and you feel bad or tired the next day, drink extra water.” And it’s not only important to keep yourself sufficiently hydrated to feel better. In a review of numerous studies on dehydration published in the Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism, researchers found that dehydration has a consistent, worsening effect on mood and that it can also impact cognitive performance, particularly in children and the elderly. In the long term, if you’re experiencing dehydration on a regular basis, it can lead to kidney stones or urinary tract infections. 

This is for information purpose only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. These are opinions from an external panel of individual doctors, and not to be considered as opinion of Microsoft. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns.

Gerald Best

Hello Warriors,

I just wanted to thank you for your words of encouragement, your cards, and phone calls with the passing of my mother. I truly appreciate everyone’s concern, and my family thanks you also. Keep us in your prayers.

Estella Wright (Mayhue-Greer)

My dear classmates, I often provide Blues on Saturdays but today I am presenting Luther Vandross singing I'd Rather. Listen closely, he is basically asking the same question asked by Tyrone Davis, my favorite Blues entertainer, “Baby Can I Change My Mind?”

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N  
TODAYS WORDS - GOODNESS AND MERCY 

     Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy. What you believe about Life will be your experience of Life. The struggle ends when gratitude begins. It is okay to be at a place of struggle. Struggle is just another word for growth. Even the most evolved beings find themselves in a place of struggle now and then. In fact, struggle is a sure sign to them that they are expanding; it is their indication of real and important progress. The only one who doesn't struggle is the one who doesn't grow. So, if you are struggling right now, see it as a terrific sign - celebrate your struggle. Consider the possibility that the little obstacles in life are not obstacles at all, but steppingstones.
     What is important in your life is what you decide is important -- and this decision will indelibly create who you are. The deepest secret is that life is not a process of discovery, but a process of creation. You are not discovering yourself but creating yourself anew. Seek therefore, not to find out Who You Are, but seek to determine Who You Want to Be. There is a divine purpose behind everything - and therefore a divine presence in everything. There is a light which cannot ever be extinguished. It is inside of you... It is you.
     Your light is seen, your heart is known, your soul is cherished by more people than you might imagine. If you knew how many others have been touched in wonderful ways by you, you would be astonished. If you knew how many people feel so much for you, you would be shocked. You are far more wonderful than you think you are. Rest with that. Rest easy with that. Breathe again. You are doing fine. More than fine. Better than fine. You’re doin’ great. So, relax. And love yourself today. Life begins now -- right now -- not tomorrow or the next day or the next. Every minute of every hour of every day, life begins anew. That means everything can change in an instant. It also means you can have a new beginning whenever you want.
     Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. You won't find glory at the center of safety, but at its edge. You won't find love at a place where you are covered, but in the space where you are exposed. You gotta take some risks. You have to not only pick up the dice, but roll'em. So go ahead, take the gamble. You have nothing to lose except the chance to win. Life is not long enough to spend it on the sidelines. So long as you are still worried about what others think of you, you are owned by them. Only when you require no approval from outside yourself can you own yourself.
     Give everyone whose life you touch a sense of their own worthiness as a person, a sense of the true wonder of who they are. Give this gift and you will heal the world. You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth, the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life, you have known yourself to be these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.

IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER

Kenneth Davis

  T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WORD - PRIORITIZE

     We live in a world full of people who are ready to be uplifted. Being a pastor is pressure because we have to counsel people. My assignment is to take my situation and to use it to help others who feel hopeless and/or helpless because of loss. We as preachers/teachers/pastors have to figure out things to do in order to garner the attention of individuals and also keep them at our churches by making sure that we reinvent ourselves on a consistent basis. In the African American community, we struggle with a lot of health problems that have a lot to do with our diet. My church has a health and fitness ministry to encourage our members to take care of spiritually and physically; how could I not?
     Entertainment and information work well together. When my wife got sick, I didn't understand why God was doing what he was doing. Marvin's Motivational Moments actually started as something that was actually therapeutic for me. I would sit up late at night after my wife passed trying to adjust to being alone. My wife was a licensed psychologist by profession and a college professor of psychology. I want people to understand that tragedy and trial does not necessarily mean that you are a victim. The best way to honor someone who has passed is to live. The worst thing in the world is for an individual to live, breath and exist and leave this earth, die, and not make impact. A friend of mine said something powerful at his grandfather's funeral. He said that the greatest lesson from his grandfather's life was that he died empty, because he accomplished everything he wanted, with no regrets. I think that, along with leaving a legacy, would be the greatest sign of success. Success is difficult to define.
     I'm just a hometown boy from Grand Rapids, Michigan - where I still live - who is trying do what he feels that he's been called to do. Our job in gospel is not going away. It's a sustainable genre. It sells - without question. Sometimes I still wonder what my fans look like, but if I had to describe them, I'd say that they are everyday people with everyday needs who need a supernatural message to help them though their natural walk. Gospel music allows us to become closer to God and closer to each other. I chose to sing in the church and have never regretted it. I have been singing gospel music since I was four years old. My father was a singer. So, it just kind of happened that one Sunday while my dad was singing, I just walked out and stood next to him, and I started singing the song that he was leading, and I sang it in perfect pitch.
     Some men don't have the opportunity to be the type of father they need to be, and I hope my example teaches them to step up. I understand now that God trusts me enough to give me three kids - Marvin Jr., Mikaila and Madisson - who totally depend on me. They know I'm going to be there for them no matter what. The Bible tells us that we're supposed to leave an inheritance for children. I have to prioritize father first, and then a pastor and a recording artist and entrepreneur. I try to put everything in proper perspective, and then the proper priority. I tell people all the time, "As long as my kids are doing good, I'm gonna be alright." Just know He has His hands on You.

WELCOME TO 

SMOOTH
 CONTEMPORARY JAZZ 
FRIDAYS

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)

Kenneth Davis

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS 
TO 
CLAUDIA GRANT SHIELDS

     You must remain focused on your journey to greatness. Our ability to handle life's challenges is a measure of our strength of character. You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. You have something special. You have greatness in you. You have the ability to do more than you can ever begin to imagine.

~Les Brown~

Kenneth Davis

   T H O U G H T   F O R   C O N S I D E R A T I O N   
TODAYS WORD - RENEWED

     Life's supposed to be about making the path a little gentler for those traveling behind you. You don't waste your entire life waiting to go back to dust. Anything worth doing, is worth doing all the way. Just know you'll have to live with all the choices that you make. No matter what you achieve in life, you're always wondering, 'Is there something I should be doing? Is there something I'm missing? The upside to anger? Getting it out of your system. You got to express your anger. Then you have room for more positive things. If I hold something in a long time, and then I speak it, it's amazing how the light shines so much brighter. Get as much out of life as you possibly can with all the passion that goes with it. Then give it back with all the love and respect it deserves. Make sure you're always giving, way more than you're taking.
     Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking. Loving might be a mistake, but it's worth making. I don’t think there's ever been a point in my career where I've said, 'I've made it.' What does that mean, 'I've made it?' Made it to what? If you say, 'I've made it.' then are you finished? I don't want to be finished. I don't want to quit.  To me, being popular means I've got more friends. You've got to watch who your friends are, if you want to get close to them, but I've got a lot of acquaintances. And then, you've got to be real careful who your friends are, because you never know why they're your friend. If dreams give you power, then I'm strong enough to walk through my heart till you love me.
     I have a lot to be thankful for. I am healthy, happy and I am loved. I might have been born just plain white trash / but Fancy was my name. I love to wear boots - and shoes, I don't like at all. I grew up in southeastern Oklahoma on a working cattle ranch, and it was always very romantic to me: The West, the cowboy, the Western way of life. When onstage, I always try to take my audience through as many emotions as I possibly can. I want them to go from laughter to tears, be shocked and surprised and walk out the door with a renewed sense of themselves - and maybe a smile. You've got to stay current and up with the competition. The main thing, though, is finding the greatest songs you can possibly find. I'm open to any kind of situation in a song as long as it touches my heart. When I got into the music business in 1976, there weren't many women on the roster. As a woman, you don't complain; you work twice as hard, and you do your job.
 

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS 
TO 
GWEN DAVIS WHITE
& 
VICKIE MARSHALL RILEY-HOLLIS

     Times may be hard, and people may be demanding, but never forget that life is special. Every single day is a special day. Don't seek more days in your life but more life in your days. Don't get older; get better: Live realistically. Give generously. Adapt willingly. Trust fearlessly. Rejoice daily. God is at work in you!
~Charles R. Swindoll~

Joycelyn Lacy (Somerville)