It's Been Awhile....

Hello world. A lot has changed since I last posted a kidneykronicles blog. A few people asked me off and on why I stopped blogging, that my blogs were a big help to them. So I knew that I had to get back to the basics of expressing myself and helping as many people as possible.

I was able to complete my first book "A Fighting Chance". It is now available on Amazon, Kindle, and Nook. The goal is to secure a book deal soon. So I have a lot of work ahead of me. Pray for me on that book deal. I'm still learning the ropes of being an author and how to present my project to the masses. But the journey has been fun thus far. I've been blessed with opportunities to talk to soon to be adoptive parents at the Catholic Charities of Dallas. They are a great organization. I've had a few radio and blog radio interviews over the book as well.

During the month of October, which is a ways off,  I'll be at the National Black Book Festival in Houston, TX. So things are coming together slowly but surely. I thank you all for your support. I know I've been gone for awhile, but now I am back. Posted below are a few links, check them out. Let me know what you think.

And remember, make some body's day by being a blessing to them, not a hindrance. We all need each other to make it.

"A Fighting Chance" Book trailer

http://youtu.be/BVvaJg9Bvyk

Amazon book link

http://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Chance-Jonathan-C-Johnson/dp/1482311224/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1364313924&sr=1-1&keywords=a+fighting+chance+by+jonathan+c+johnson

Catholic Charities of Dallas

http://www.catholiccharitiesdallas.org/

God won't let your PAST cancel out your FUTURE.....

God gives you wisdom from your wounds....

Don't be Incarcerated by past Insecurities.....

Remain FAITHFUL, even when life is UNFAIR...


There comes a time when you have to leave the past in the past. Sure all of us have something in our pasts that we would love to forget ever happened. And even the though the past might hurt, we have to learn from past mistakes, otherwise we will continue to make the same mistakes that we have always made. God gives you wisdom from your wounds because most wounds leave a scar. For the most part, nobody likes how a scar looks after the wound has healed. But that wound is there as a reminder of what happened to you.

The beauty in it all is that we all have been blessed with a second chance to get things right. There have been things that we have done that should have clearly taken us out. But due to God's grace and mercy, we lived through it all. When it comes to dealing with our past, often times we have many insecurities about ourselves; such as what people will think of us and how we will just go on with our daily lives. If you are not careful, you can easily doubt your way out of a blessing that was meant for you! So when in doubt, just know that everything will workout in your favor if you just believe and remain faithful. Everything won't fall your way or in your favor....but if you remain faithful during your STORM just know there is a BRIGHTER day ahead! Word 2 the wise...you don't want anybody in your corner that's ONLY there when things are going well..if they can't be there while you are in your VALLEY, they don't deserve to be with you on your MOUNTAIN.

Your PAST can't DEFINE you nor DECLINE you...often times God will let somethings DIE in your life in order to SAVE your life! A lot of times it's the ones that are closet to us that can't handle where God is taking you! Point of this post...in order to get to where you are going, you have to get rid of certain people...the wrong people in you ear can easily cause you to miss out on your BLESSINGS! God will not take you through anything that He can't bring you out of! Just because things seem to be bad now doesn't mean they will stay that way...you gotta have FAITH! Besides, things could always be worse...be GRATEFUL for where you are at...and where He is about 2 take you.

Novemeber 23rd, 2001....TEN years and counting....

God will never take you through anything that He can't bring you out of....

Your TRAGEDY will become your TESTIMONY....

Give yourself a chance at life...NEVER give up!


As Langston Hughes said; "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." Being the truest line of poetry that I've ever read, I realize that even though life hasn't been the easiest; I'm still here. The things that the devil planned for my DESTRUCTION, God turned it into a VICTORY for me. Back in May, 2000, I was diagnosed with kidney failure after my whole body went numb from head to toe during basketball practice during my freshman year of high school. My past medical history had shown no signs of any medical conditions outside of a heart murmur that I was born with. In the beginning, things didn't look so bright as my mother took me to a 24-hour clinic to see if we could find out what was going on with my body. At the time my blood pressure was 155/100, which caused the doctor to worry if there had been any internal damage to my body due to my pressure being so high. After going back to the clinic, the doctor told me that he felt it was something wrong with my kidneys.

I knew that I was in for the fight of my life as I was faced with a new battle that I had to fight. Funny, we have a habit of trying to take on things ourselves when God already has it worked out for us. My situation was no different. After the clinic doctor gave me some blood pressure pills that didn't work, my mother then called Children's Medical Center's Renal Division, just to find out that I couldn't get in for atleast two months as they were fully booked. My first blessing came from actually not getting into the renal division the first time around. Because of my heart murmur, I had a cardiologist at Children's that had been following my heart health from the time that I was small. My mother called my cardiologist and told him everything that was going on. The next day, I was in his office having tests ran. Once the results came back, it was confirmed that my kidneys were not only failing, but also they were the size of a baby's kidneys.

My second blessing came through my cardiologist, as he walked my mo ther and I over to the renal division. Shows you how fast God can work. Just two months ago, I was told that I had to be put on the waiting list...but God moved me to VIP status. To make a long story short, I had to endure several medication changes, a change in my diet, skin tone, and life, as well as a failed attempt at a kidney transplant on July, 4, 2000. We got a call saying that a kidney was available for me. I get prepped for surgery, get a dose of the "sleepy juice" as I call it, next thing I know, I wake up in a hospital room, and not ICU..so I knew something was wrong. It turned out that the nurses put the kidney in the refrigerator versus the freezer where it was suppose to go! Needless to say, my surgeon aborting my surgery was a blessing.

But on November 22, 2001, Thanksgiving Day, I received a call from my doctor saying that another kidney was available. This time around, I had a positive feeling that the surgery would go through. I went through the same routine as I did back in July, except for when I woke up this time....I knew that I had surgery. I woke up in ICU in the worst pain in my life. And as funny as it sounds, I wouldn't trade that pain for the world....My pain, tears, hurt, struggle, and victories have molded me into the person that I am today. God never takes you through anything that He can't bring you out of...I'm living proof! I've been beating the odds placed in front of me since 1984; the year of my birth. Being adopted, told I wouldn't graduate high school, and kidney failure made me the fighter that I am now! I thank God for blessing me with the gift that is a kidney for the last TEN years...And I'm thankful for you taking time out of your day to read this blog...remember to never give up! Fight for life, because there is somebody depending on you!

YOU ARE A PRIZED POSSESSION….NOT EVERYBODY’S WORTHY…

Do you really know you’re WORTH???

 

You are more EXPENSIVE than money, more valuable than anything…

 

Put your HEART and SOUL into everything that you do…

 

 

 

 

In today’s society, it seems as if a lot of people put a person’s value on how much they are worth. For the record, there is more than one type of worth. Sure, most times we think of worth as money, power, and respect, but then there’s the worth of a person’s heart, time, and motives. Often times we get caught up in what other’s have, what other people’s bank accounts look like, and what other’s relationships are like. The worst mistake that you can make is comparing your SITUATION to somebody else’s simply because everybody’s situations aren’t the same. Or as we say, you live the cards that you are dealt. Never desire to be like the next man, because you don’t know what hell they have been through to get to where their at currently in their lives. Your CARELESSNESS can easily cause unnecessary STRESS, WORK, and EXPENSE; at times we dig ourselves in a hole trying to be like others when we don’t even have a blueprint of our own.

 

 

In everything that you do, do not put yourself in the position to be BOUGHT! You have to recognize when a person is stringing you along based on what they have. You are more expensive than money, and more valuable than anything. Your mate should treat you as if no other person in the world matters…if they can’t give you that, then it’s time for you to leave! Love is designed to be a beautiful thing. When it is treated right by both parties, the possibilities are endless. On the same token, if you have to buy a person to keep them around, they aren’t for you. We have all seen this at some point, or maybe it was us who went through it. Love doesn’t cost a thing, besides; it’s the person’s heart and actions that speaks volumes; not their purse or wallet. Not everybody is worthy of your love, time, and money. Be careful who you give access into your life. People can easily overstay their welcome and eventually drain you of your worth.

 

 

As you live your life, there will be bumps and bruises along the road to success. Everybody’s vision of success is and will forever be different. But whatever drives you, be sure to do it for the right reasons, and be sure to pour your heart and soul into your craft. They say money makes the world go round and is the most powerful tool a person can have. Although money can sometimes make life a little easier, it’s your SERVICE towards other people that makes all the difference in the world. Putting a smile on somebody’s face is priceless, spending time with your family is priceless, and making YOURSELF happy with the life you live is…..priceless!  

WHAT YOU WON’T DO 4 LOVE.....

LOVE is more than just a 4 letter word…

 

Talking only gets you so far….

 

You tried EVERYTHING but you won’t give up….

 

 

When it comes to love, there is more than one type of love. There’s the love of a family member, spouse, or child. Then there’s the love for money, the love for power, and the love for respect, just to name a few. Love is more than just a four letter word. When you say you love somebody, there is normally some action behind the words. To show a person that you truly love them doesn’t always require the spending of money. A lot of time you’re TIME and PRESENCE is just what the doctor ordered.

 

What’s TRULY in your HEART will eventually migrate to your MOUTH and eventually come out. A lot of times it’s not hard to figure out if a person has true love for us. Just watch their actions. Besides, love shouldn’t hurt in any shape, form, or fashion. When it comes to relationships, be it a marriage or friendship, if you aren’t careful, a person can easily OVERSTAY their welcome in your life. Certain people have certain seasons in your life, be sure to recognize when it’s time to let certain people go. You can’t expect true happiness when you’re with a person that still acts if they are in high school. If that person is not equally YOLKED with you, get rid of them. Don’t become CRIPPLED by their lack of COMMITEMENT.

 

As I bring this blog to a close, I want you to understand that you can’t buy love. You can’t protect TREASURES when it’s in a glass house. Moral of the story is that your significant other needs love, you gotta try love, cause you can’t buy love…and if you have to BUY that person to KEEP them, then he or she isn’t the one for you. In all you do, be sure to love as if it’s your last chance…afterall, we serve a God that loves us despite the lack of love that we show Him at times…..  

Lord give Me a SIGN....FAITH without WORKS is dead....

 As long as the Lord is in my LIFE...I will have no fear...

We struggle 4 a PURPOSE that's GREATER than us....

He feels your pain.....


When the doors are closed in your face and your HATERS are thick...FAITH enough in Jesus is all you need to succeed...the POWER of PRAYER changes things. If you aren't careful, u can easily DOUBT your way out of a BLESSING! Sure we get an anxious at time when we feel our BREAKTHROUGH is near...but just because it doesn't happen when you think it's suppose to doesn't mean it won't happen..afterall God works on His time, not ours. This causes our faith to be tested. Often times we wonder what is taking God so long to work in our favor. The thing is, He is always working in our favor...it just all comes in time.

Alot of times we treat God like a towel rack...we leave Him hanging out to dry. We only call on Him when we find ourselves in a tough spot. When things are going our way, we have a tendency 2 take full credit like it was us who did it! Imagine if He treated us the same way that we sometimes treat Him...where would we really be? Sure, we are human and we fall short daily, but you gotta give thanks in advance for what's about to happen. At the same time, we sometimes put ourselves in situations that makes it a little harder for God to bless us the way that He wants to. If you aren't careful, some people can easily OVERSTAY their welcome in your life. Everything and everybody has a season in your life. Recognize when it's time to let certain people and things go...you can't expect to grow and u are still doing the same things you did in high school. If the people around you aren't striving to do BIGGER and BETTER, get rid of em, don't you become CRIPPLED by their lack of PROGRESS.

In this life, there is more than ONE type of robber...there's the type that rob others of their POSSESSIONS, there are robbers who steal DREAMS and WISHES, while other robbers steal JOY and HAPPINESS... point of this post..don't let this be you! the devil is as busy as ever..and whatever YOU let him take, he will destroy, watch the company that you keep, afterall, they might be the ones robbing you...stay PRAYERFUL, PEACEFUL, and JOYFUL, it all gets better. The devil is out to seek, kill, and destroy. Sometimes we fall off the "good" path in life, and that's fine for the simple fact that God still has His hands on us, even when we are at our worse...in all you do, remember that you CAN and WILL make it through your DARKEST night...Joy comes in the morning, and you are closer to YOUR Joy than what you know!

Gotta go THROUGH it 2 get to IT.....Nothing comes FREE....

There are no REAL shortcuts in life....

Getting nicked, bruised, and hurt is NECESSARY....

Stay grounded, focused, and prayerful....the rest will fall in place...


In the journey of life, it's safe to say that we all want to prosper and live the greatest life. The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family and You will have flats called Jobs. A lot of times, that's just the way life goes. As stated before, there are no shortcuts in life, we all must pay some type of dues. Sure, we don't want to go through certain things, but we have to in order to become stronger.

We often times wonder why we have to struggle, hurt, and even go broke before we get to where we want to be. The answer to that is pretty simple...If we didn't have to work for anything, we wouldn't know how to appreciate what we have in front of us. Sometimes it takes us struggling for years to final understand that we have to be grateful for the good and bad times in our lives. If we are grateful over a few things, He will make us ruler over many...just think about that.

As I end this blog, remember that hard work does pay off. Sure, it might take awhile to REAP your HARVEST...but when you do reap, just imagine how sweet it will be. Never forget the path that you had to travel to reach success, for success does not come over night...it takes time, dedication, and of course patience. Be safe, love one another, and of course support each other...all of those things are....PRICELESS!