Michael David Watson

With only a bench holding the weight of our curiosity, we glared at a painting that took the center of the room at the museum of art in Cleveland . My art teacher adimately instructed us to focus on the Black and Gray canvas for Just a little bit longer... it was then that something happened to me that changed the way I would look at art for the rest of my Life! It was then that the very simple black and gray colors began to blend before my eyes, I noticed the students around me grew silent, as the dark colors of the piece seemed to surround me. As my countenance fell I felt a weight on my shoulders and the presence of a darkness that went much deeper than the black and grey oil colors on that Canvas. I was a Freshman in art school when I experienced that painting in one of my studio art classes. The Artist Name was  Mark Rothco  and the painting was - Untitled in His last series Called  The Black Series  as my art Teacher went on to tell the story behind the ...

Its amazing what happens when we actually die to ourselves and God takes over! Seemed to be the message last night at  Church On the North Coast Wickliffe , Ohio at the  Lions in the War Room Meeting . What a night as I was able to share some of my heart, my testimony and some of my  Artwork, Paintings and Prints  as well! As ministers often when going into a meeting we tend to have our own idea of what is going to happen or what God is going to do. However, what I have learned about prophetic ministry is that it tends to pull apart our picture, our plans, and even ourselves as God contends for our will and pulls us apart before the people. I believe he does this because he wants people to see him, yet also he wants people to see us. He wants people to see him because its him that is going to do the work, its his Holy Spirit that is going to make a real mark. When we have church and we reach each-other on one level, there is a God level that makes church Kingdo...

God you have Given me much! I am rich! Yet my prosperity is not on paper. I'm wealthy but only in gifting, faith, and love. If only i were a hero, yet my sacrifices are spiritual and unseen! My faith is abounding yet only still a seed underground not having shown any green. Who sees this real me? Who acknowledges my strengths? Who is witness to my true heart? And no advocate to my flaws. Who recognizes me & values my Gifts? Lord if you stand behind me then uncover me. My strength is in secret, while my weaknesses are in the open for all to see! My Child... The world can only see you in your humble place, and the proud will not even recognize you in honor. But I uncover hidden Glory, and I reveal beauty in the secret places. And I release the gifting in the hands, and I am he who unloosens the tongue! I unlock the power in a word, and only I can interpret the true wisdom in a proverb. All of mine will be seen and come to be known when Christ has risen upon them. This is my ...

I despondently watched a drop of water roll all the way down the window as I laid prostrate across my fully reclined seat in my car over a lake early in the morning. I had been at the lake in my car all night trying to stay warm as the tears streamlined down my face like the same streaming rain that was soaking my windshield. An unfavorable fire kindled and burned so deep within me, a pain that was almost hard to endure sunk deeper and deeper into the pit my soul, "it was an egregious rejection" My eyes glazed over as if to be amiss  to all reality... I had lost everything! I lost all that I built up over the years, all that I aspired to be! My life as I knew it was destroyed, with what seemed to be no hope of restoration... Failure rung in my ears and disappointment seemed to become permanently branded on my forehead. I died that day like so many other days before it... and began getting to a point where I questioned how much more I had to suffer and how much more di...

I heard the lyrics as Daniel played worship, the sound was "We want to know you Lord!" What an amazing cry & heart of true worship... I could picture thousands of people today who have a heart to truly want to know God like no other generation before us. Then in the midst of the song - the Lord began to speak to me. "Yes, to truly know me... but we still have yet to even REALLY get to know each-other." I was surprise at what I heard, and then I realized the heart of God. I realized that the purpose and pursuit to get to know God is not fulfilled in us knowing him better, yet not better knowing each-other, they go hand in hand.  What an amazing time, and refreshing worship last night as we gathered for the second time this year. The purpose of these gatherings are clear, that God has a heart for the city, and a heart for prayer, and he also has a heart to see us step into something greater than ourselves - overcoming the limitations we put ourselves into and...

"Opposed to that familiar place that you could always control, predict, and master - God put you somewhere uncomfortable - a place that you could not control or master - a place that would not enable you to stay the same - a place that would press shape and mold you - drawing out all your hidden strengths - a place of uncomfortable transformation and a permanent realization of who God meant for you to be!" RESIDUAL SELF IMAGING - Cognitive Dissonance "Cognitive Dissonance" a term used in psychology that describes the deception of how people may perceive themselves versus how the actually are. "We MUST Go through Gods process & we must walk out the deliverance of our soul - to eventually become the projection of our perceived best self." I first heard the Phrase "Residual Self Imaging" on the 1999 blockbuster hit "The Matrix". Where one of the main characters Morpheus is describing how the computer projects Neo...

"Are you starving your spirit, At the expense of your soul? you may be feeding on the wrong stuff... Your spirit just might be crying out for a home cooked meal!" The urban term soul food, is refering to a type of food that apeals to a particular culture... mainly the African American culture in this sence. Yet every culture can be known by many different types of cooking that has been shaped by the history of that people. I can remember growing up and going to Grandmas and getting some of those ole greens, mashed potatoes, chicken, yams, stuffing, pigs feet chiterlings and so much more. it definately fashioned the cultural tastes i was to enjoy for even years to come. But just as this article is not about food, We need to be reminded that we are being fed on a continual day to day basis. And not necesarily all foods by choice. Everything we are exposed to in our surroundings is ultimately fashioning and shaping us. Without our efforts to push back, we are being cult...