Kirk Franklin Debuts New Video For “Strong GOD”

Gospel Artist, Songwriter and Producer Kirk Franklin recently unveiled the powerful video for his song “Strong God”. The song is the latest single from Franklin’s GRAMMY^®-winning, critically acclaimed album LONG LIVE LOVE, which was released in 2019.

The video directed by Joey Papa shines a light on some of the most serious issues that the world is facing including, poverty, racism, drug addiction, domestic violence and the covid-19 pandemic. 

Portions of the thought-provoking video were inspired by a recent trip to the Dominican Republic that Franklin took with the non-profit organization, *Compassion International*. He serves as a music artist ambassador for the charity, which provides holistic child development to children and families in impoverished communities all over the world through local churches. 

Franklin is using this song as an opportunity to raise funds for the charity’s Covid-19 Disaster Relief. The “Strong God” video premiered on Franklin’s YouTube / Vevo channel and BET Soul.

Check out the official video below:

Additionally, “Just For Me,” another track from LONG LIVE LOVE, reached #1 at Gospel radio this week. This past Sunday, May 31^st Franklin joined fellow Gospel artist Fred Hammond and Bishop T.D. Jakes for Verzuz – The Healing, a special edition of the extremely popular Instagram live series produced by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland. With so much pain and devastation being experienced in the United States and across the globe right now, Franklin and Hammond came together to provide inspiration and encouragement through Gospel music. 

The two welcomed fellow gospel artists Tamela Mann and Marvin Sapp who blessed the live audience, which reached as many as 275,000 people, with surprise performances. They also took time during the event to acknowledge victims of police violence and racially motivated murder including Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Trayvon Martin and to offer their support to Arbery’s mother Wanda Cooper-Jones via phone.

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#DontRush Challenge Yourself To Be Excellent

A lot of these #DontRushChallenge videos are coming through on social media. The concept of the video is to make an instant change from busted to beautiful, or from simple to suave quickly, based on the videos I've seen.

The irony is that the transition time is actually "rushed", but the lyrics say otherwise. Sometimes, I find myself in an anxious mindset that resembles this concept. I don't think I'm alone. It's so easy to see awesome things people are doing or even have our own ideas, and want a quick fix to get to them done, or to think we should be in a certain place, at a certain time according to our own plans.  

I had to remind myself today as a writer, that although I want to get books out, I just can't rush the process for the sake of getting them out quick, while the digital rat race is at an all time high! I was reminded by spirit to be excellent in anything that I do. 

If that takes time then that's fine as long as I'm happy with the work I've done, it's quality, and it's impactful to somebody else. At the end of the day if I've manifested that thing/idea which I set my mind to with the excellence I received when it was given to me, then I would be providing the best service to myself and others who partake of whatever that thing is.

I posted a tweet the other day similar to the concept of not rushing, but reaching for excellence. 

Be BRAVE enough to do the hard things! They show you just you how
strong,
creative,
and brilliant you are!

— April D. Byrd (@aprilinspired) March 30, 2020

Most often the hard thing is to avoid the quick fix, it's to avoid settling for mediocre results for what you dream of. It's bypassing the beaten path. Don't rush your process. Trust and wait on GOD's timing while you work in excellence, that's what I plan to do.

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It's Time To Use Your Talents

As a Media Producer and Host of multiple Gospel influenced platforms, I was excited to potentially be hosting the Red Carpet for the Stellar Awards event, as it is one of the Biggest nights for gospel music. 

I'm not gonna lie I was actually distraught that they hadn't reached back out to me yet, as it was getting to be closer and closer to the show date. However, like I was saying in BOLD podcast "Light In The Darkness" I'm very resilient and I was gonna make the absolute best of that situation regardless of that outcome with the credentials. 

I was still preparing and making sure I reached out to them directly. Anyways, I feel like I was on their radar, because I did receive the email that they had postponed due to the coronavirus news that's circulating. I actually wasn't expecting them to cancel, but I do understand why they did with it being an event of such a huge magnitude.

As much as I felt a little crushed, I was very encouraged by a lot of the social media posts that I saw young christian influencers make in response to the coronavirus news. I really appreciate them, and I'm also even more inspired now. I'm fired up.

I initially came across Krystal Lee's post on Instagram. She's a radio personality on the gospel station here in Atlanta, Praise 102.5 She also has a brand Girl+God, so she's a CEO. she posted a picture of an article with a headline that said "Coronavirus will bankrupt more people than it kills and that's the real global emergency".

Then she goes on to caption the post "The Media Wants You In A Frenzy, but I want you to get to work". She continued in the post about the gifts and talents that GOD has given us and why they're so important for such a time as this!

View this post on Instagram

These are the headlines. The media wants you in a frenzy. I want you to get to work. Every single one of you has gifts and talents from God that can produce multiple streams of income. • Last year the government shut down. This year it’s Corona. • It’s time for us to push past the fears, the bs, the “what will people think” and start using our God given gifts to build wealth for the safety and security of our families and future generations! • God created you for a time such as this. Stop watching TV and start praying and creating! 🙏🏽

A post shared by Krystal Lee 🤍 (@iamkrystallee) on Mar 12, 2020 at 10:44am PDT

I love her post and honestly the very thing she's saying is truly what I begin to realize after initially being in reaction mode about the Stellars, and then talking to my mentor/friend Kim.

A lot of the posts by young Christian influencers were uplifting throughout the day. P4CM "Passion For Christ Movement", a spoken word event for creatives that's similar to The InterSession posted a scripture of consolation on it's platform. Psalms 91: 10-11

"No evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go."

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A post shared by P4CM (@p4cm) on Mar 12, 2020 at 3:19pm PDT

Christian Hip Hop Artist Lecrae shared a very beneficial Infographic on his Instagram page. The post shared specific news about the details of COVID-19. This allowed a lot of people, including myself to have greater clarity about what's going on with this virus.

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Knowledge is power. Be powerful today.

A post shared by lecrae (@lecrae) on Mar 12, 2020 at 10:39am PDT

Another Influencer Pastor Jonathan Richardson shared a pretty powerful LIVE broadcast on his Facebook page how sometimes fear can be disguised as wisdom.

Truthfully in another social media space that I'm in somebody said 2020 has really been agressive so far, and I would have to agree with that. The thing is there is good potential that things will only get worse as the world continues. 

I don't say that to be the bearer of bad news but to be the bearer of light. NOW is the time to build your ark. Now is the time to strengthen your arsenal. Talking about preparation, I was reminded about Noah who was obedient in faith and used the insight GOD gave him when things got shady in his community, kinda like things are right now in the U.S. Genesis 6 says Noah had a good relationship with GOD. 

The chapter says Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. So as we know the Lord instructed Noah on how to prepare in that season. Noah used his skill and what he had to work with. What special gift or talent has GOD given you that you can use? Be encouraged. Whatever that vehicle is for you, If you haven't already build it. you can build it. So, What are you putting in your ark, what's in your arsenal?

I also thought about another influencer who did some preparing in a time when things weren't looking so good, Joseph! Joseph went from being a Prisoner to a President. He was basically in charge of everything there was to be in charge of. Joseph had spiritual gifts and insight, He had bomb administrative skills. 

So, we could say he had special talents. His talents were so prominent, and he used his talents so well in service to GOD, that Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” That's what your gift making room for you and bringing you before great men looks like, in action.

So prepare and build now! Right Now! Now is definitely the time to walk by faith and not by sight.

If you're scared and feeling any fear about this virus news, redirect your thoughts to GOD's word and pray. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says: "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Nothing, not even coronavirus formed against you can prosper. If you are feeling any type of symptoms and fearful about that, go get checked out. It's better to be prepared than sorry.

Prepare yourself by strengthening your immune system. I have green smoothies like almost everyday now. Get into your greens, they help! Protect yourself. Do be precautious since the warning is out.  All the hygiene stuff that you already do, do more of it.

Scripture says theres a time for everything. Lecrae posted a meme the other day that said "but have you prayed about it?" Pray to see what GOD's report is for you concerning the matter. When we cultivate and maintain a good relationship with GOD we're allowing GOD to prepare us. I honestly have been in this process of having a more active, intentional relationship with the Creator. This is after being in natural relationships and not seeing my worth.

I'm so grateful that I'm getting to a place where I'm seeing the gifts GOD has given me and I'm not trying to be anybody else or getting in anybody else's lane.

By insight from the spirit to maintain a relationship with GOD better, more intentionally, I was able to see my worth and my value better and the more my self-worth increased and I stopped settling for whatever isn't in line with GOD's will for me, the better off I'm becoming and I recognize that and I'm grateful for it and it is a process. 

Submit yourself to the voice and will of GOD so that you can be prepared. How do you know the voice of GOD, it's a voice that's always for your greatest good, so far beyond your temporary satisfaction. Get wisdom. Get in the word and get in relationship with the Creator.

Since I've submitted to the processing and preparation Now I'm in a place where I'm learning where my personal strengths are, what I'm good at. I've done Writing, Social Media Content Creation and Curation for so long. I'm really seeing where I can help other people and put that gift to good use. I've launched BOLD Expressions Co. I have guides and webinars. Now that demand is being met. I can help Entrpreneurs, I can help Gospel Artists and brands, because I've been prepared GOD is showing me the gift and the avenue. 

I'm actually offering a 30% off special for the First E-guide. 5 Mandatory Tools To Level Up Your Social Media Marketing and there will be more to come because people will be on Social Media a lot more, since more people are staying home.

I'm not only sharing this information as a shameless plug, I'm sharing it to say that in seeking GOD's will. I see the vacuum that was created, now I'm in demand, now I'm an asset with the gift GOD has prepared in me. 

Will I be going to Vegas for The Stellars this month? No. but will I be taking advantage of some of these discounted airfare rates for some business meetings? Most probably. Tis the season to use your talents and meet great life-changing opportunities!

How is this coronavirus news affecting you? What are your thoughts on it, and more importantly what are you gonna do in this season to prepare? 

Jada Pinkett-Smith Addresses Holiday Triggers [Video]

Jada Pinkett-Smith, Actress and Host of the discussion series Red Table Talk recently posted a video on her social media pages to address triggers. Smith shared the importance of acknowledging them in order to overcome them.

After providing a few examples of potential triggers and what they look like, she ended with a holiday wish of happiness, as great as that is, the statement about Peace was the main hitter in the powerful message that holds true year round.

Our Peace is the main priority! If you're experiencing any type of triggers during this holiday season remember it is possible to overcome them. Watch the FULL video below:

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A post shared by Breath Of Life Daily (@boldjournal) on Dec 24, 2019 at 11:28am PST

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