“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” – Psalms 23:5 (New King James Version)
Greetings IsaiahDavidPaul dot com and CQ Undercover Readers:
Over the next few weeks leading to the launching of my new multi-media entertainment company, I want to talk to you guys about a topic that has been laid on my heart for some time.
In Psalms 23:5, I have discovered that as I return to my literary ministry, you will get a chance to witness the table being prepared for me. A couple of weeks ago on my personal Facebook page, you guys heard me say that the first leg of the table was up. The timing of the announcement coincided with me finishing the rough draft of BROKEN BUT I’M HEALED, the third completed Isaiah David Paul novel.
As my friends and staunchest of supporters, I want you guys to be able to witness the work God is doing in my life as He not only gives me back everything Satan stole from me in 2010 and 2011—but He fulfills a restoration in me that is similar to the double He gave Job for his troubles. (Read the Book of Job – my reference comes from Job 42:10)
My table will have four legs that are sound, solid and reliable. When my cup runs over, as the Psalmist says, then I will depend on these legs to hold everything up so that not only a big feast can be prepared, but so that I can please God and continue serving all of you throughout the various gifts He’s entrusted me with.
My table will also have a table top. The top is not to stand on its own; it will be supported by legs so that whatever is placed on it will be seen high and not fall. When I think of my table top—I see something flat and not curvy—I see something that will be beautiful on its own, not just part of something. The table top will have its own job, but like those of us in the Body, it will work with the legs and the table cloth to make sure the mission is completed.
My table will have a table cloth. I know I just said that my table would be beautiful, so why cover it? For starters, when the cup overflows and the food spills, I don’t want it messing up my beautiful table. I say that to say that if you are choosing to follow Isaiah David Paul and by next year for my romance readers, Courtney Isa Goodman as well as the new pseudonym that I will write young adult fiction under, please do not expect me to be perfect. I will fall short many times before the table is built and I will fall short even after the table has been set and the food and drinks are served. I see my enemies trying to start battles and wars with me and trying to destroy the table God is building for me. But you see, the good thing about a good table cloth—whether you are using clean white linen or if you are the most expensive threads money can buy—is that a good table cloth can be washed and reused again. So when I fall short, or when the food and drinks spill, or when the enemy hurls it’s weapons against me as well as when my blessings overflow, expect the table cloth to be washed and used again.
Last but definitely not least, my table will not only be decorated but will be the structure used to display what I’m serving you. The books will be a small portion of what my new entertainment ministry will entail. I’m being mum about the other projects I’m working on for a reason. When I invite you all to the party, I want you to be shocked at not only what I serve, but amazed at how good the food is. This is about God—not me, I’m just the vessel. For the new believers who will be following—I want you taste how good the food is—how good our God is. Also, I want all of you to be open to the fact that my ministry will not be rigid. Like one of the main characters in my books, Rahliem, I will follow Jesus’ command in Luke 16:14-18 as well as Matthew 28:16-20 to go out into the world and preach the Gospel, make disciples and encourage them to be followers and disciples of Christ.
While I’m happy to be the recipient of the table and all that will be bestowed upon me—I also want to be a gracious host and do what the Lord has commanded me to do—serve you. I want the lost, the runaways and all of the world’s most “undesirable peoples” to see the change in me and watch me persevere as I journey to complete the mission.
So in closing, I want to take the time to acknowledge with respect and gratitude my older Cedric Quincy and Donte Sweat readers. Many of these guys were with me when I was backsliding into other genres for all of the world’s people—and now they are here to see and witness the transformation of the brands that will be now used to show my walk in Christ that will be evidenced in my works. Many of the readers have been waiting on the new books so they can see how some of their favorite characters will be transformed.
For my new Isaiah David Paul readers—whether you heard about me from the Jarold Imes young adult postings or you met me as Cedric Quincy or Donte Sweat or if you follow me on my private Facebook page which is accessible to family and people whom I’ve grown up with and select literary authors—I want to thank you for sticking with me now. I want you to know that I know not to expect immediate success or acceptance. Building Isaiah David Paul will not be an overnight project—it will take years to complete and will always be a work in progress. But I encourage you to be like Job and stick with me through the trials and tribulations so that we can do the work Jesus commissioned us to do and to save souls.
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