15 Minutes

I planned to take a step away from my blog this week but something came up and I had to speak on it.

Men we have to realize the image we create to our children and others who watch us. And sometimes that means we have to redirect our peers to be better men to their/our children. Men help boys. Men help men. Boys help men. Simply put, iron sharpens iron.

We cannot allow our fellow man to fall and we see them getting ready to jump. Or they've fallen and we don't help pick them up. Being a family man my perception is more keen. My kids at home and the kids I teach are important to me. I have to raise the kids in my house and i have to raise the kids in my classroom. It's a duty I feel we all are called to; whether we like to want it or not.

I am involved in a blended family dynamic and work with kids involved in the same dynamic or worse. Men and women we must all work together to raise these beautiful human beings! Men we have to set the footing they'll stand in.

It takes 15 minutes of consistency for you to build a child up but a second to tear down the chance for a child to be all they can be. And before the child makes the decision of who they want to be let them see who they are made from and build off that. Whether they are in your house or not spend time shaping them, teaching them, and listening to them all the time!

Our boys and young men, our girls and young women, want their daddies to be fathers no matter their location. We don't realize not making a choice is worse than making a choice and choosing wrong. They just want us to make a choice; if we mess up we mess up. Being a man is living with a bad choice, learning from it, and moving forward. Deciding to do nothing is the worse thing we can do.

I say to every man with a child, no matter their location to you, take your 15 minutes of consistency. Show them you want them to be made in your image like God made you in His. Help shape them and not let them search for Eden in the wrong places, no matter their age.

All it takes is 15 minutes.

- Peace & Love

President of Your White House

Men: Becoming a man is a joy but such a huge responsibility. Sometimes we have to miss out on family fun so the family can move forward. So they can fully be taken care of. As I learned we are the foundation and we are the anchor. When we can't do God definitely does.

I'm in a place now where I see the decisions I make and how I carry myself are more important now because I am married and have a family. Note who's watching you.

And this is what I want to make clear to any man (or woman) reading this; be all you are through, by, for; be everything with the One Most High. Because your flesh is weak and gives in easily. You must practice to beat this fight before the bigger issues arise. Of course, God can do anything for you but the question is what are you willing to do for Him, your wife, and your children?

It's been a challenging, well deserving, and interesting year thus far in 2013. I have to acknowledge though you cannot trace God you should recognize Him. I am witnessing now the set-up to a great life of increase. Something I've been waiting on for a long time!!!

I'm moving in a place where I will be getting paid for doing what I love. And there are opportunities to do more and receive an overwhelmingly overflow of financies. But in doing so I have to work long hours and probably miss out on just a few things. But it's worth it because the next season I'll decide what hours I am working or they'll be fun hours I can work because I won't miss a thing. The sacrifice is worth the wait and your time. Again, our family takes note in what we sacrifice. 

Men we are the idea of a dream. We are the images our family wants to be encouraged by. The reason they love the other image is because we are not fully doing our part and making the necessary decisions or structuring the discipline that is needed. They want us to be their hero.

Be the man I know you can and want to be. Be a man, elevated.

What You Took-What You Can't Give

Do you feel you aren't good enough? Is it because someone made you feel like that? They took you for granted what you can and could do? Did they talk down to you? Did they dictate what you were good in, good at, and you believed it all? Did they cause you not to accomplish "your" goals? And now you realize you settled not for you but because of them.  Let's take it a step further; the few things you are "good for" are the only things you give in your close knit relationships? And what you also just realized your close knit people love "what your good for"; however, what they need is what you're not able to give?

I understand this topic may be the first time you've experienced such a simple but complex idea. And I'm sorry you have experienced this. I have too. Thus, why I have to bring it up.

I'll conclude this topic by saying, now that you have realized one of the many things that have brought down your relationships you must figure out how to LIFT UP these relationships. Sit with these ideas. Understand their effectiveness. Finally, speak with a voice of clarity so imperfections can be corrected.

Until next time!!

The Luxury of Dreams

So many times we feel because we are not rich yet or if everyone in our city doesn't know our name, brand, & business we aren't living our dream. Not true.

My dream is to create music with lasting power that will elevate every listener, to teach the wonderful things I've learned in my life, and be professional in doing so. I'm not asking to be a celebrity but aware being a celebrity can come with what I truly am asking for. But what's great is I do what I love every day. I live my passion. I get paid for my passion, I have the resources to create, and I am able to be available to the people to help them elevate. Now I'm not living a luxury life but my luxury is living a life with passion & purpose.

Recognize it will take time for you to reach where you want to be in your dream. But you can reach it. Enjoy what you are able to do now. You may not have the team, the building, or a Mac Book Pro; but what you have is a dream that can never die unless you allow it to. You are doing a great job!!

Just focus on what you can do, stay consistent, and stay in your lane.

Until next time.

- Peace & Love
Jastin Artis