S3 Episode #12- Michael Arterberry
THE ONE WITH MICHAEL ARTERBERRY
Michael is the founder of Youth Voices Center, Inc.
This week we are excited to welcome Michael Arterberry to the podcast! Michael is the founder of Youth Voices Center, Inc. a non-profit with the mission of helping young people to become active, productive members of society by overcoming their obstacles, their history, stereotypes and even their own self-image and limiting beliefs. In this episode, Michael shares his powerful testimony of how the struggles in his life were used by God to launch him into things he would never have imagined on his own. From his tumultuous childhood with a distant, complicated father to the day in 2001 when he accepted Christ as his Savior — and every day since — Michael shows how he came to put his faith in God and accept God's plan for his life.
As a teenager, Michael was fortunate to receive guidance from positive adult role models who helped him overcome adversities and set high expectations for his future. Grateful for the role these mentors played in his own development, Michael decided to dedicate his professional life to helping people navigate the difficulties of life and launch their future into motion. For more than 25 years, he has been helping teens and adults to use what they have gone through as a catalyst for success rather than an obstacle for failure.
Michael received the 2010 USA Network’s Characters Unite Award for exceptional commitment to combating prejudice and discrimination while increasing tolerance and acceptance within the community. He is also the recipient of the 2014 100 Men of Color Award for leadership in education, government, mentorship, entrepreneurial success and community service.
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The things that are trying to bury you, might be the stepping stones that God uses to take you to a new place with Him.
Sometimes God places things on our hearts that seem crazy in the eyes of the world, but when we are obedient, and give God our yes, He can take us to places we would never have imagined on our own!
The enemy will do everything he can to keep us from going to new places with The Lord.
A word for the discouraged: Planted and Buried
Planted seeds are destiny-concealed and as they are watered they begin to grow. The growth is destiny-revealed.
Buried seeds are put to the side, they are in the dark. In our lives there will be seasons where we are in the dark, but this is not a time of being “stuck”, it is a time of growth! We are growing in the darkness, we are developing deeper roots.
Water yourself in the proper places, so that when you blossom and come out, you are ready for the next season.
When we are born, God planted unique gifts in each of us. However, along the way we may try to hide them because we are bullied or made to feel “less-than”.
Potential Next Step: Self-Reflection
What keeps you up at night?
What makes you come alive?
What things do you love to do?
These things are unique to YOU! God placed those things in YOU for a Kingdom-Purpose.
Don’t allow fear to keep you from moving forward.
It’s not only about you. Giving God your “yes” will impact the Kingdom. Other people need your “yes” too!
Staying Rooted
Talk to God all throughout the day-- during your workouts, in the car, grocery shopping …
Have worship music on in the background.
Learning to pause to hear from the Holy Spirit and be obedient to His promptings.
Final Thoughts
Short-term thinkers plant gardens.
Long-term thinkers plant trees.
Eternity-minded thinkers plant themselves in the souls of others.
As believes we don’t want to become “Bible-beaters”, rather we need to carry ourselves in a way that people see something different in us-- even if we never say we are Christians.
Let’s be deliberate in our conversations so that once we leave them, they feel they are touched by something outside of themselves… This is conscious living. God can use every little thing for His good and the glory of His Kingdom!
A Word From Jes
Lately it feels like there is pain, suffering and division everywhere I look. After losing my grandma a few weeks ago,, I took great comfort in Isaiah 41:10—
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
While this specific promise was for the people of Israel as they faced the rise of Cyrus the Great, I believe it shows the character of God that can give us hope for today. Since the time that this was written, we have received the power and constant presence of the Holy Spirit. “For I am with you” is a very real statement that holds great power for us today. We do not need to fear, for the strength of The Lord is at our disposal. The presence of God— the one thing that matters most— is the one thing that this world cannot take away. So live today boldly without fear, for God is with you. He will uphold you as you pass through heartbreak, anxiety, or distress.
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Due to technical difficulties, we do not have a video this week. We’re so sorry! We should be back up and running with the next episode.
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