Reach for the Stars Ministries

I want to share with you the exact text I sent my son randomly this morning - "Forrest since U were 1 I could clearly C U were born for Greatness & Leadership. So say this affirmation aloud now as to put it into the universe so UR brain hears it".
His response was - "Thanks dad! I did that. I Love You".

When I felt my Spirit tugging me to send him that message I was conflicted to do so when I also heard the 'enemy' in my mind say, "He'll think you're corny, laugh at you, and will be too embarrassed to say that in front of his friends." Boy was the 'enemy' ever wrong about me and my son's relationship! God prevailed with His unction and the opposite response resulted.

I want to share a scripture that I want you parents (young, old, and future) to chew on - Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way that he/she should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. So how should we translate that? First, we all know what the word train means and that we should be teaching integrity, strong character, morals and values and being consistent so that good habits form. However, this Proverb is also talking about and puts major emphasis on your child's career. That word train in its original Greek form (chanak) means to instruct, which we spoke on above, inaugurate, imbue, and put something into one's mouth.

• Inaugurate -1. make a formal beginning of  2. to induct into office with formal ceremonies; install 3. to introduce into public use with some formal ceremony
• Imbue - to impregnate or inspire as with feelings, opinions
• Put somethings into one's mouth - (I'll explain this in the wrap up below)

Since the word inaugurate was used then we know we have to help our kids find their 'office' or 'work' in life. How do we do that? Well, from the beginning (or from this point) , start studying your children's tendencies, habits, and words like you're a scientist and they're lab rats. I assure you that you will pick up on their passions, talents, and what their heart is bent towards. When you notice it simply start directing them towards and facilitate a way that they can access activities that lend themselves to their talent. Next you imbue or inspire and impregnate them with your heartfelt opinions. Compliment their feats and tell them how wonderful they'll be in that office continually so they can get past the tribulations they'll face during the journey. 
Alas you want to Put somethings into one's mouth (your child) by speaking positive things to them and over them (not fabrications or wishes but true qualities) and have them speak them aloud so their brain registers it. They eventually start believing it, want to live up to it, and they will not depart from it.

If you hang around me for any length of time you'll not only hear me say I connect with the youth very well but you'll see it. I get along with all of my kids in an amazing way. I believe it's a God-given ability and insight to be the biggest encourager in the world. My heart is to help other parents bridge the vast gaps that can exist between them and there children. I promise you doing this not only betters your children's personal future but will better society's, the economy's, and relieve a boat load of stress on you.

Go back to my aforementioned text please - my son wants to go to a D1 college to play football and major in communications...We BOTH HAVE SAID he will from the beginning.

In Jesus Name... T~Rev, T~Rev

When your co-worker calls you over to the water cooler to tell you he got a raise, don’t be that person who retorts, “Well don’t get too happy ‘cause they gave me one and demoted me 3 months later…for nothin’.” No! You widen your eyes, hold your mouth agape, then ENCOURAGE and congratulate like it happened to you (EMPATHIZE).


When your girlfriend calls you over and she’s crying telling you how her man cheated, lied, and humiliated her, don’t be that person who retorts, “I told you, I told you, I told you he was a dog. I knew this was gonna happen to you but you didn’t want to listen. I mean I do feel for you but…” No (because you probably wanted him too at one point)! You get out the Kleenex and cry too in EMPATHY, have your arms wide open to comfort, and ENCOURAGE.

Let’s see what God says: Romans 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief].

There ya go! Avoid hefty fines by staying out of the “Hater Zones” with Empathy and Encouragement (E&E).

T~Rev T~Rev

The Slight Edge:
You want a Miracle?... Be the Miracle! You want a Quantum Leap (breakthrough) - Then YOU build it one small daily step at a time!....
"Someday" when I... "Someday" doesn't exist. Don't sign up for that class. "Someday" is TODAY! You are already great. You already have success. You already have the skills ect... You know that thing called FAITH - the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen?Well God gave us all a measure of IT. This means it's in your hands. Start doing, and don't take for granted, the minuscule activity that seems insignificant or produces invisible results. Every single step IS the "Someday" and is necessary.

I was having a down moment as I reflected on my career accomplishments while in Denver Traveling with Wheel Of Fortune in May of 2011. I was tempted to mope when I heard what the Bible refers to as "the still small voice" say in my heart, "Embrace every moment for every moment is part of your miracle."
Jeff Olson, who's book-The Slight Edge, I'm paraphrasing right now, said that luck isn't preparedness meeting opportunity. Luck is preparedness - period! I like that. 

I''ve had many encounters with affluent people who could help catapult my career. Because I've never been much of a "someday" guy and I've always seen myself as a super star in the NOW, with no material evidence, I've always carried myself and PREPARED myself for the "catapulters" (I know that's not a word but like Shakespeare, I make up my own). 
As a teenager everyone would say, "Travis, you guys (The School Boyz) are so lucky!" 
We weren't. It was Faith - the invisible, and Preparedness - daily small steps (practice, audible affirmations, sneaking into concerts that you'd never expect five black guys to be at, changing the company we were around- if you had nothing good to say about us we didn't want our brain to file your debilitating comments). These were just a few things we'd do. Now that I'm solo and a part owner in an entertainment company you better believe this advice applies to an even higher degree. One of my main slight egde small steps is reading a few bible verses daily and a few pages of a self development book daily. 
God clearly tells us in proverbs to seek skillful wisdom and Godly Wisdom. 
There You Go! Another one from your friend.... T~Rev T~Rev

"Every overnight success has been 10 years in the making!"

What ever happened to that dream, that grand plan you had for your life?
You see, at some point in your life you had what is called "Child Like Faith." God gave you a vision and a glimpse of what you could do in your life. You used to imagine it, daydream about it, you may have even written it down (this is important and we'll talk about it shortly), and you probably told people about it. So what happened? Well, there could be a number of reasons you quit or put that plan on a long pause: Friends and family gave you their "reality check" out of  "concern" and told you to QUIT DREAMING; An impoverished environment took its toll on you; A bad marriage hindered you; teenage pregnancy; molestation; depression; oppression; and so many more circumstances. I have experienced some of the hindrances I've mentioned so I empathize with all of you who have been victims as well.

I have good news for all of you though- It ain't over! According to 1 Corinthians 1:27 it says:  27 [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. So if you feel severely flawed or under qualified, you are the perfect person to shut up the naysayers and circumstances in your life that stole your dream.

So how do you get it back?  You get back to the basics. Go back to that youthful passion, that  impulse you had in your gut and do this simple thing that Habakkuk 2: 2-3 instructs: 2) Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets That he may run who reads it. 3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak and it will not lie. Though it tarries wait for it; Because it will surely come. It will not tarry.

No matter what line of faith you're in, this is applicable to your spiritual goals and business goals. When you don't literally write down your DREAM, you create traffic jams and grid-locks in your life, as well as the people who are attached to you. Notice that verse 2 says "write the vision down." The word write used here is the Hebrew word kathab which means to describe in writing, decree, engrave, and continue writing. So be descriptive with your vision (which translates to dreams in the Hebrew), engrave it on your heart so it can't be erased by doubt, then decree it, and most importantly CONTINUE to write it down. This gives you perspective, clarity, then something to focus on and be accountable for daily.

The next key phrase is: make it plain. In the Hebrew that means to make it clear, distinct, and to declare it. Why?... so that he may RUN who reads it. For example, did you ever experience looking for a particular house party late at night and the numbers aren't clear and the porch lights aren't on, and you have to creep real slow and even stop and get out and run up to wrong houses? Then you get frustrated, especially when the 3 cars behind you start honking and giving you fancy finger gestures. That eventually leads to you throwing your hands up and saying, "I just give up, forget it!" Then you watch the jerks behind you speed by you as they yell out obscenities. You also notice that the car is full and festive so you deduce that they are going to the party too so you follow them at FULL speed and freely straight to the destination. Wow! They knew the plan and they were able to RUN there and lead you.

When your dream/goal is written down and clear you can finally RUN towards it and obtain it FASTER than you would have normally done - no more traffic jams! Don't slow yourself and the people behind you down by giving up. You have children, peers, friends, family, and even strangers attached to your destiny. I think they all wanna get to the party too, ya feelin' me?

It may take a moment to get there but it will surely come according to God.... if you don't quit.

One thing that I've been guilty of, along w/ many other Christians and ALL religious people who pray, is throwing up "wishes," and prayers motivated by fear, selfishness, vengeance, and greed- all of which none of get answered. In turn, we then get mad at God, or worst, choose to doubt the existence of God. We need to pause, assess a few things, then... chill with that. I'll explain why after a brief story.

When one of my nephews was 3 years-old he was acting a tad bit spoiled in my mind. At that time his mother told me a story that made me cringe and sparked me to write this message for adults. 


One typical morning she made him a bowl of Life cereal, which he enjoyed mind you, to fulfill his needs like a good parent. He then, in a pretentious, bratty, and whiny manner refused it and demanded Cocoa Puffs. Are you ready to cringe??? She then succumbed to his demands, dumped the Life cereal and milk and exacerbated his spoiled behavior by preparing the Cocoa Puffs. Guess what happened next? ...He became even more indignant by yelling, screaming, and demanding Life cereal, AGAIN and defiantly pushed the freshly made Cocoa Puffs away. Needless to say, she wisely ignored his demands and he went to daycare with out breakfast or a so-called "need."

Are you starting to see the parallel I'm trying to make? God is our parent and won't succumb to even our needs if we ask with a bad heart or improper motives. God is not moved by our needs, crying, yelling, and anger. He is moved by OUR FAITH and confident bold (yet reverent), prayers which are in line with His Word. 


I write this to ALL, with emphasis to: "big" stars, stars on the rise, and aspiring stars particularly. We pray intently to "make-it" and for more money but we must question our approach, our motives, and our heart when our prayers go unanswered. If any of your motives are of the following or similar then it's time for a heart change: To rub success in some one's face; Money and fame will solve all my problems; I want people to serve and cater to me; I need to keep up with the "Jones"; I want certain people to fail or get hurt because they hurt me; Someone else's spouse "needs" to be w/me. The list goes on and on and God doesn't answer those prayers!

In conclusion, I'll back all of my counsel with Gods' own Words, not that of my own:
James 4:2,3 (Amplified Version) (2) You are jealous and covet what others have and your desires go unfulfilled; so you become murderers (to hate is to murder as far as the "heart" is concerned). You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain the gratification and happiness that you seek so you fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask. (I love this next part!)- (3) Or you do ask God for them and yet fail to receive, because YOU ASK WITH WRONG PURPOSE AND EVIL, SELFISH MOTIVES. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures...

Hello! That says it all! 
Can I get a "SO BE IT?"
I love you all. Just take time to pause, assess your heart, then pray...or not. LOL, You may need to forgive someone or get some things straight with "you" first. Ya' feelin' me?
Be Blessed
- T~Rev

Have you come to the point in life where you feel you have this special "something" or gifting on the inside but have no outlet to convey it or see no way in sight to profit from it? 

It is an exasperating feeling to work an unfulfilling job that you hate or to have arrested development. What's worse is when people feel they have no special "something" about them at all.

8. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
     neither are your ways my ways,"
     declares the LORD.
9. As the heavens are higher than the earth,
     so are my ways higher than your ways
     and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
      and do not return to it without watering the earth
      and making it bud and flourish,
      so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11. so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
      It will not return to me empty,
      but will accomplish what I desire
      and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
    

Verse 8 in layman's terms is: Get out of your own head! Your common logic will hinder you from seeing the impossible as possible. Your way of doing things has caused you to grow weary and stagnate. Try God's way! It just may require you to use a small stone and a sling to kill a fully armored 10ft giant that figuratively represents the impedance to you utilizing your gift and achieving your dreams.