Refreshed Thoughts

This th0tful journey has some real bumpy roads.

Sometimes it rains more often than I'd like it to, but they say that after the storm comes the sunshine. And in this case, the Son's shine.

I have recently gone through a path in this journey that many experience walking with God, especially the saints. A test of Faith; entering the classroom of silence where the Teacher does not speak.

Dry studies, night school (dark nights), late night studying and even the occasional F's. Many times I felt as if I was a lonely student in this classroom. Also, believing that the Teacher wasn't even present at all. What felt like forever must have been a mere couple of minutes for this Divine Teacher.

Suddenly, the Teacher began going over the syllabus. "If any man desires to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel's will save it." [Mk: 34-35]

"My pupil, I have always been here. Why must you fret? When you went to look elsewhere for My Presence, in promiscuous acts, materialistic properties, and many other things, I accompanied you and made sure you were safe and taken care of. Recognize that I Love You unconditionally. Cease being prideful and blind. I desire for you to be filled with My love, grace and mercy that you so earnestly yearn for. Rest in Me!"

This began the process of this project I've been working on. My spirit and my thoughts were refreshed by His Love, Grace and Mercy. Everything I ever felt during this spiritual desolation, I wrote it down, kind of like my spiritual journal, but in music. I felt moved to do it for those who are going through it as well, so they may be filled with hope. As well as for those who might stumble upon this experience and remember my words and may recognize that God IS there ALWAYS. If you are reading this and experiencing what might be the silence of God, recognize that He's right there and you are in my prayers.

Satan likes to use our emotions and frailty to tempt us to believe that God isn't there. I believe this must be the reason why many abandoned their faith. It isn't that they failed the test, what they fell under was the temptation of believing that God is not there at all.

This walk isn't for the faint of heart, but it also isn't for those who believe themselves strong and courageous. That's another deceiving trick of Satan himself. He likes to make us believe that "we got this" and then when we least expect it, he hits us and we go down hard.

But like the saying goes, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies those He calls."

This mixtape is also a sort of closing the door to a past me and praying to open a door where I can embrace His presence ever more closely and intimately. 

This album consists of collaborations with a few other Catholic emcees, my growth as an artist, and a man of God. I pray you all be filled with His love, grace and mercy as well as with the hope in Jesus Christ that is everlasting.

The cover reads like this,

• Refreshed Thoughts means the refreshing of my spirit and thoughts after this dry period of my journey as well as my praying for the refreshing of many lives.

• The drop of water is a reminder and a renewal of my baptismal promises. 

• The pavement is my ever continuing th0tful journey with God.

• "An AMDG mixtape" AMDG is a Latin acronym "Ad Majorem Dei Glorium" meaning For God's Greater Glory. A quote my brother emcees and I constantly use as a reminder that everything we do and say is for God's greater glory. (Colossians 3:17)

• The picture of me holding my headphones represents listening to God's Word and the cross on my chest, Christ close to my heart. Also, a sort of prayer stance for His Holy Spirit.

• The typography cross, if you can see closely, is the Ave Maria prayer. My take of "Ad Jesum Per Mariam." "To Jesus through Mary." Mary was/is the closest to Jesus (she was His mother) I keep her close to my heart as well; the reason I still walk on this th0tful journey. I love you, Momma Mary!

• The water tower is the icon in my city. Where I've grown up most of my life, where I strayed on a weary path and began my th0tful journey with God.

• The city in the background represents where I live as well and praying that through the power of the Holy Spirit, may my music and the whole movement reach many hearts and souls. (AMDG!)

Recently, I had to push back the date the same day our Holy Father had mentioned his resignation as pope. The new date of release will be the: 

• 26th of March, 2013. Please mark your calendars ;)

TRACK LIST COMING SOON!!!

You can find some of my music and productions at

http://www.facebook.com/iTh0t

http://www.youtube.com/rudeknuckles

ALSO Follow me!

Instagram: @th0t

Twitter: @iTh0t

Here comes the hardest part for me,

DONATIONS ARE WELCOME! Seeing as this project has come out of the few dollars I make.

If you would like to donate or are interested in purchasing/leasing instrumentals, please feel free to inbox me, e-mail me at fonzie2scorpion@yahoo.com or send me a tweet.

Thank you for your support and more importantly your prayers!!

PAX