Tuesday, November 15, 2011
That's Love!
The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well. ~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Scripture:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Saints, recently a friend and I were talking about the first time we fell in love. We reminisced about how there was no other feeling like it. You couldn't stop thinking about the person you were in love with and you only wanted to be with that one person and no one else.
You trusted that person completely with everything, including your heart. There was nothing that you wouldn't do for that person. how many of you remember the first time you fell in love? Some of may be lucky enough to still be with your first love, but for those of us who aren't, do you remember what if felt like when you lost that love? If felt like your heart would never stop breaking. There was nothing that you or anyone could do or say to make it better.
That's how much God loves us and more! God loves us so much that he can't stop thinking about us. There is nothing that he won't do for us. He wants us to trust him completely. He wants to be with us all the time. God loves us so much that he gave His one and only son so that we wouldn't leave Him.
It breaks God's heart every time one of His children leaves him. But the difference is there is something that we can do and say to make it better. Father, forgive me. I want to come back home to You.
Daddy is waiting there with open arms and He wants to be our first love all over again. Now that's LOVE!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that I've done wrong through my thoughts, my actions, and the things that I've said, sometimes by mistake and sometimes on purpose. I have gone my own way and not put You at the center of my life. I am very sorry and ask that You please forgive me. I thank You that I can ask You this because I truly believe that Your Son, Jesus, died in my place and, through Him, I have access to You. Please help me to follow You more closely every day and live a life which gives glory back to You. Forgive us Lord, our sins and transgressions. Thank You Lord for loving us so much. Father, we want You to be our first love. We want You to welcome us with open arms. Father, today we kneel at the foot of the cross where Your Son, our Lord and Savior gave His life so that a miserable and unworthy sinner such as me, could once again kneel before the throne of grace. Thank You. Father, let us always remember how much You loved us. I thank You that Your Son stood in the gap for me. I thank You that Your Son, loved us so much that He was willing to be beaten and was crucified for me. Just for me Lord. Thank You. May Your tears of grace and mercy rain down upon Your saints this and everyday. Thank You Lord. Praise God. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
Saints, recently a friend and I were talking about the first time we fell in love. We reminisced about how there was no other feeling like it. You couldn't stop thinking about the person you were in love with and you only wanted to be with that one person and no one else.
You trusted that person completely with everything, including your heart. There was nothing that you wouldn't do for that person. how many of you remember the first time you fell in love? Some of may be lucky enough to still be with your first love, but for those of us who aren't, do you remember what if felt like when you lost that love? If felt like your heart would never stop breaking. There was nothing that you or anyone could do or say to make it better.
That's how much God loves us and more! God loves us so much that he can't stop thinking about us. There is nothing that he won't do for us. He wants us to trust him completely. He wants to be with us all the time. God loves us so much that he gave His one and only son so that we wouldn't leave Him.
It breaks God's heart every time one of His children leaves him. But the difference is there is something that we can do and say to make it better. Father, forgive me. I want to come back home to You.
Daddy is waiting there with open arms and He wants to be our first love all over again. Now that's LOVE!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I know that I've done wrong through my thoughts, my actions, and the things that I've said, sometimes by mistake and sometimes on purpose. I have gone my own way and not put You at the center of my life. I am very sorry and ask that You please forgive me. I thank You that I can ask You this because I truly believe that Your Son, Jesus, died in my place and, through Him, I have access to You. Please help me to follow You more closely every day and live a life which gives glory back to You. Forgive us Lord, our sins and transgressions. Thank You Lord for loving us so much. Father, we want You to be our first love. We want You to welcome us with open arms. Father, today we kneel at the foot of the cross where Your Son, our Lord and Savior gave His life so that a miserable and unworthy sinner such as me, could once again kneel before the throne of grace. Thank You. Father, let us always remember how much You loved us. I thank You that Your Son stood in the gap for me. I thank You that Your Son, loved us so much that He was willing to be beaten and was crucified for me. Just for me Lord. Thank You. May Your tears of grace and mercy rain down upon Your saints this and everyday. Thank You Lord. Praise God. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Is My Living in Vain?
If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. ~ Emily Dickinson
Scripture:
His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness. Matthew 25:23 (New International Version)
One of the many jobs that I have held over the years was in the programming/production department of a local television station. There would be times I would be called upon to answer telephone calls from angry viewers when their favorite soap opera or talk show was interrupted with breaking news. There was one very disturbing observation I noticed about many of these calls, these angry callers were often the elderly and I realized that television was frequently their only company.
I was reminded of this by a television special that aired here in Detroit a few years ago, about an elderly woman named Marabel Chanin, an 87 year old woman who died alone. The story so captivated the world that it spawned a need to create a news special to discover how something like this could happen. You see, Marabel had never married or had children. Her body lay unclaimed in the Wayne County Morgue for over four months.
As I listened to her story, I discovered that one of the reasons that she had been left alone, was because she had chased away family and friends. I find it heartbreaking to think that anyone could live to be almost 88 years old and have no one to care about them in life or death.
As Christians we have been charged with loving one another. Not just ourselves or our immediate family but all whose path we will cross. I challenge you to do to take a long hard look at yourselves and ask the question; Is my Living in Vain?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father God, sometimes we get so caught up with our lives and with ourselves that we fail to see the hurting world around us. My prayer to You this night is that I will see all humanity as my brothers and sisters. I choose to bless others as You have blessed me. Create in me a right spirit and help me to realize that it is not all about me. Help me O’Lord to have empathy to those who are in need and to give a portion of what has been given to me so that others can see You working in my life. Magnify the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit and allow it to light my path as I walk in a dark world so that You may be edified in the works that I do, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture:
His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness. Matthew 25:23 (New International Version)
One of the many jobs that I have held over the years was in the programming/production department of a local television station. There would be times I would be called upon to answer telephone calls from angry viewers when their favorite soap opera or talk show was interrupted with breaking news. There was one very disturbing observation I noticed about many of these calls, these angry callers were often the elderly and I realized that television was frequently their only company.
I was reminded of this by a television special that aired here in Detroit a few years ago, about an elderly woman named Marabel Chanin, an 87 year old woman who died alone. The story so captivated the world that it spawned a need to create a news special to discover how something like this could happen. You see, Marabel had never married or had children. Her body lay unclaimed in the Wayne County Morgue for over four months.
As I listened to her story, I discovered that one of the reasons that she had been left alone, was because she had chased away family and friends. I find it heartbreaking to think that anyone could live to be almost 88 years old and have no one to care about them in life or death.
As Christians we have been charged with loving one another. Not just ourselves or our immediate family but all whose path we will cross. I challenge you to do to take a long hard look at yourselves and ask the question; Is my Living in Vain?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Father God, sometimes we get so caught up with our lives and with ourselves that we fail to see the hurting world around us. My prayer to You this night is that I will see all humanity as my brothers and sisters. I choose to bless others as You have blessed me. Create in me a right spirit and help me to realize that it is not all about me. Help me O’Lord to have empathy to those who are in need and to give a portion of what has been given to me so that others can see You working in my life. Magnify the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit and allow it to light my path as I walk in a dark world so that You may be edified in the works that I do, in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Soul of a Man
There is a desire deep within the soul which drives man from the seen to the unseen, to philosophy and to the divine. ~ Kahil Gibran
Scripture(s):
The LORD God formed the man The Hebrew for man (Adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah) it is also the name Adam, from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Genesis 2:18
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, for she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:22-23
One of the greatest mysteries that have plagued mankind since the beginning of time is man’s relationship to woman. Man was created to rule of the world and woman was created to be his helpmate. Over the course of time, somehow, the dynamics of the male female relationship have changed. What I mean by this is that somehow, we have become disconnected from this most divine plan.
The sanctity of the divine institution of marriage and family has been drastically altered. The number of single parent households led my woman has grown to epidemic proportions and the number of women trying to raise sons alone, myself included, is overwhelming. I myself, often find that I am at a loss when it comes to instilling in my sons what it really means to be a man.
Too many men have decided that raising their sons is not in their divine plans of life and this decision often leaves our young men to try to figure out this thing call “manhood” on their own. I love my sons dearly and unconditionally, but for reasons that escape me, I often find that their manhood is seriously undermined by their lack of a soul. What I mean by this statement is that far too often, they are repeating the same mistakes of their fathers.
As a single Christian mother, I have tried to nurture their faith in God and teach them biblical principals. Unfortunately, when they start comparing the word of God to their everyday lives, they do not see this divine plan in action. I mean, how can they “honor their mother AND their father, when the father is often missing from the family dynamics. How can they see the man as the head of the family when the head has essentially cut himself off from the body it was meant to support?
I don’t profess to have the answers to this age old dilemma. However, I do know where I seek these answers, in the word of God. Ladies, I myself have chosen not to give up on my men in training. In spite of. I refuse to allow the world to define my sons’ vision of manhood. It is time that we tell the world, ENOUGH! I will continue to feed my sons’ the word of God. And who knows, they just might reveal to me the soul of a man.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Our Father, which art in heaven. Jehovah Jireh, my provider. Whatever name we choose to call You, we recognize that You are our most Heavenly Father. Lord, we come standing in the gap this evening for our sons who are trying to find their way in this world. So often they become confused by what thing both seen and unseen. Lord, we come asking that you would wrap your arms of protection securely around our sons and our daughters. Lord, we ask that You would place Your hedge of protection securely around them and guide them down this path called life. Bless all of the single mothers trying to raise their children alone. Speak to the hearts and minds of those fathers who are not involved in their children’s lives. Help us Lord, to raise our children in Your ways. Lord, bless us, keep us, and anoint us. We come glorifying and uplifting Your Holy name. Thank you Jesus, for the blood that cleanses us, protects us and sanctifies us. It is in Your name that we submit this prayer, Amen.
Scripture(s):
The LORD God formed the man The Hebrew for man (Adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah) it is also the name Adam, from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. Genesis 2:18
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, for she was taken out of man. Genesis 2:22-23
One of the greatest mysteries that have plagued mankind since the beginning of time is man’s relationship to woman. Man was created to rule of the world and woman was created to be his helpmate. Over the course of time, somehow, the dynamics of the male female relationship have changed. What I mean by this is that somehow, we have become disconnected from this most divine plan.
The sanctity of the divine institution of marriage and family has been drastically altered. The number of single parent households led my woman has grown to epidemic proportions and the number of women trying to raise sons alone, myself included, is overwhelming. I myself, often find that I am at a loss when it comes to instilling in my sons what it really means to be a man.
Too many men have decided that raising their sons is not in their divine plans of life and this decision often leaves our young men to try to figure out this thing call “manhood” on their own. I love my sons dearly and unconditionally, but for reasons that escape me, I often find that their manhood is seriously undermined by their lack of a soul. What I mean by this statement is that far too often, they are repeating the same mistakes of their fathers.
As a single Christian mother, I have tried to nurture their faith in God and teach them biblical principals. Unfortunately, when they start comparing the word of God to their everyday lives, they do not see this divine plan in action. I mean, how can they “honor their mother AND their father, when the father is often missing from the family dynamics. How can they see the man as the head of the family when the head has essentially cut himself off from the body it was meant to support?
I don’t profess to have the answers to this age old dilemma. However, I do know where I seek these answers, in the word of God. Ladies, I myself have chosen not to give up on my men in training. In spite of. I refuse to allow the world to define my sons’ vision of manhood. It is time that we tell the world, ENOUGH! I will continue to feed my sons’ the word of God. And who knows, they just might reveal to me the soul of a man.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Our Father, which art in heaven. Jehovah Jireh, my provider. Whatever name we choose to call You, we recognize that You are our most Heavenly Father. Lord, we come standing in the gap this evening for our sons who are trying to find their way in this world. So often they become confused by what thing both seen and unseen. Lord, we come asking that you would wrap your arms of protection securely around our sons and our daughters. Lord, we ask that You would place Your hedge of protection securely around them and guide them down this path called life. Bless all of the single mothers trying to raise their children alone. Speak to the hearts and minds of those fathers who are not involved in their children’s lives. Help us Lord, to raise our children in Your ways. Lord, bless us, keep us, and anoint us. We come glorifying and uplifting Your Holy name. Thank you Jesus, for the blood that cleanses us, protects us and sanctifies us. It is in Your name that we submit this prayer, Amen.
Monday, November 07, 2011
It Ain't Over YET!
A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more. ~ Rosabeth Moss Kanter
Scripture:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19 (New International Version)
Recently I had dinner with a friend who attended an outstanding teacher’s awards ceremony. He told us the story of one particular teacher who motivated his students with one simple word; YET. If one of his students approached him and said they couldn’t do something, his response was always the same, he added the word YET. Think about the word, yet.
Yet is a simple word with a simple meaning, “Up to now.” To put in into context; “I can’t do it, up to now; I don’t understand it, up to now; it hasn’t happened, up to now. In other words even if you don’t get it, understand it, hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t. It simply means that you haven’t reached that goal, had that vision or breakthrough “up to now.!”
This wonderful educator keeps his student motivated by challenging them with the knowledge that even thought it hasn’t happened yet, their breakthrough is still at hand. And so it is with our daily walk. If those things that you need and desire haven’t happened doesn’t mean they won’t. It just means it hasn’t happened YET.
Each and every one of us must remember that when we trust in something greater then ourselves; when we trust in God, that job, financial breakthrough, marriage, children or whatever else you may be waiting for simply means that you just don’t have it YET!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Lord, we lift Your name on high. I will bless the Lord at all times and his praises shall continuously be in my mouth. From every mountain high and every valley low, we will uplift the name of God. We will sing songs of praise all the day long. Though he slay me, I will have hope in Him. Even when my enemies are camped all around, yet I will give Him the glory for my impending victory. Lord we sing songs of praise even when we can't speak. We say Glory, glory hallelujah, praise be to God, even when the tears begin to fall. Even as I lay on my bed of affliction, when friends and family have turned against me, when there seems to be no hope for my situation or circumstances I will shout from the mountain tops; HALLELUJAH, ANYHOW! PRAISE BE TO GOD, GLORY! GLORY! GLORY! BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD! amen.
Scripture:
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments. ~ Habakkuk 3:17-19 (New International Version)
Recently I had dinner with a friend who attended an outstanding teacher’s awards ceremony. He told us the story of one particular teacher who motivated his students with one simple word; YET. If one of his students approached him and said they couldn’t do something, his response was always the same, he added the word YET. Think about the word, yet.
Yet is a simple word with a simple meaning, “Up to now.” To put in into context; “I can’t do it, up to now; I don’t understand it, up to now; it hasn’t happened, up to now. In other words even if you don’t get it, understand it, hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t. It simply means that you haven’t reached that goal, had that vision or breakthrough “up to now.!”
This wonderful educator keeps his student motivated by challenging them with the knowledge that even thought it hasn’t happened yet, their breakthrough is still at hand. And so it is with our daily walk. If those things that you need and desire haven’t happened doesn’t mean they won’t. It just means it hasn’t happened YET.
Each and every one of us must remember that when we trust in something greater then ourselves; when we trust in God, that job, financial breakthrough, marriage, children or whatever else you may be waiting for simply means that you just don’t have it YET!
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Lord, we lift Your name on high. I will bless the Lord at all times and his praises shall continuously be in my mouth. From every mountain high and every valley low, we will uplift the name of God. We will sing songs of praise all the day long. Though he slay me, I will have hope in Him. Even when my enemies are camped all around, yet I will give Him the glory for my impending victory. Lord we sing songs of praise even when we can't speak. We say Glory, glory hallelujah, praise be to God, even when the tears begin to fall. Even as I lay on my bed of affliction, when friends and family have turned against me, when there seems to be no hope for my situation or circumstances I will shout from the mountain tops; HALLELUJAH, ANYHOW! PRAISE BE TO GOD, GLORY! GLORY! GLORY! BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD! amen.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
God's Promise
Remember, the only difference between stumbling blocks and steppingstones is the way in which we use them. ~ Unknown
Scripture:
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. Matthew 21:21 (New King James Version)
Saints, I don’t know if you are anything like me, but periodically, I will begin to doubt my purpose and abilities. You see, I have gone through some things that cause me to question if I have “the right stuff”. Do I have the right job skills, parenting skills and life skills?
When I lost my job, I began to doubt in my abilities to do the work. When my children do things that are contrary to how I have attempted to raise them, I will doubt whether or not I am a good parent. And sometimes when it comes to making the right decisions on how to live, I begin to question whether or not I am making right choices.
As I lay in bed late one night, doubting and questioning everything I have ever done since High School, I heard a voice say, “I have not given you a spirit of fear and you doubt you have fear. You fear because you are listening to the lies of the devil and the devil is a liar”.
You see Saints of God; my God reminded me that he has already given me everything that I need to make it in this world. He reminded me that he has given me all power and authority in Christ Jesus. He has given me access to the throne of grace.
Brothers and sisters, each of us will have doubts about our lives, but the word of God has already assured us that if we just trust in the Lord, this too shall pass.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Lord, with Your blood, You wiped away my sins leaving me promises to enjoy in faith until You come back to claim me as Your own. It takes patience to live in faith, and I confess that sometimes my patience runs thin. I wonder why You don’t act in ways that I can see and understand. Why is there so much evil and suffering in this world that discourage both the faithful and the unfaithful? I don’t understand. Help me to realize that my understanding is not necessary for the completion of Your plan. You understand everything; all I need to do is have faith. In the meantime, keep me free from wavering, Lord. Your faithfulness is perfect, and Your will be done. Lord, I thank you for Your word that speaks to my soul when I am weary. I thank You father, for I know and realize that there is no testimony without a test. I thank You Lord, for even when I am weak, You are still strong. Lord, we bless Your name and submit our prayer in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture:
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. Matthew 21:21 (New King James Version)
Saints, I don’t know if you are anything like me, but periodically, I will begin to doubt my purpose and abilities. You see, I have gone through some things that cause me to question if I have “the right stuff”. Do I have the right job skills, parenting skills and life skills?
When I lost my job, I began to doubt in my abilities to do the work. When my children do things that are contrary to how I have attempted to raise them, I will doubt whether or not I am a good parent. And sometimes when it comes to making the right decisions on how to live, I begin to question whether or not I am making right choices.
As I lay in bed late one night, doubting and questioning everything I have ever done since High School, I heard a voice say, “I have not given you a spirit of fear and you doubt you have fear. You fear because you are listening to the lies of the devil and the devil is a liar”.
You see Saints of God; my God reminded me that he has already given me everything that I need to make it in this world. He reminded me that he has given me all power and authority in Christ Jesus. He has given me access to the throne of grace.
Brothers and sisters, each of us will have doubts about our lives, but the word of God has already assured us that if we just trust in the Lord, this too shall pass.
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Lord, with Your blood, You wiped away my sins leaving me promises to enjoy in faith until You come back to claim me as Your own. It takes patience to live in faith, and I confess that sometimes my patience runs thin. I wonder why You don’t act in ways that I can see and understand. Why is there so much evil and suffering in this world that discourage both the faithful and the unfaithful? I don’t understand. Help me to realize that my understanding is not necessary for the completion of Your plan. You understand everything; all I need to do is have faith. In the meantime, keep me free from wavering, Lord. Your faithfulness is perfect, and Your will be done. Lord, I thank you for Your word that speaks to my soul when I am weary. I thank You father, for I know and realize that there is no testimony without a test. I thank You Lord, for even when I am weak, You are still strong. Lord, we bless Your name and submit our prayer in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Where Have All the Children Gone?
There is nothing more precious to a parent than a child, and nothing more important to our future than the safety of all our children. ~ President Bill Clinton
Scripture:
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ~ Mark 10:14 (New International Version)
Monday just minutes before arriving home from work, a teenaged boy in my neighborhood was shot four times and left for dead. A couple of years ago in this same neighborhood, another fifteen year-old boy had been led, naked, out to an abandoned field and shot in the back of the head by his father. Earlier on that same day, I heard that a mother was charged in the death of her five year old daughter whom the mother had sold into prostitution for drugs.
As I have mentioned before, I work at a funeral home and it has become far to commonplace. Unfortunately, even my own family has been touched by this same type of violence that is threatening to destroy a whole generation.
Saints, I am heartbroken as I sit here and write about these atrocities being perpetrated against these babies. To make the crimes even more horrific is the fact that in some of these cases, the pain they suffered was at the hands of their own parents; their very own flesh and blood. But to me the saddest thing of all is there is no public outrage. People hear about these things, say they are a shame or maybe even shed a tear but do absolutely nothing about it.
Have we become so desensitized that we shed one lone tear and keep it moving? I am a single mother of two boys. My youngest son was outside on the porch next door when his friend was shot just two streets over. There were times when they made me so angry I may have felt like killing them or throwing a skillet at their heads, but the love I have for my babies far outweighs any desire I may have to ever cause them harm.
Our children are precious gifts from God. We are failing our children when we don’t take them to the alter and introduce them to God. Satan is after our children and here we are just giving them away.
I look around me at our children today and ask; where has the village gone?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Jesus Wept.
Scripture:
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ~ Mark 10:14 (New International Version)
Monday just minutes before arriving home from work, a teenaged boy in my neighborhood was shot four times and left for dead. A couple of years ago in this same neighborhood, another fifteen year-old boy had been led, naked, out to an abandoned field and shot in the back of the head by his father. Earlier on that same day, I heard that a mother was charged in the death of her five year old daughter whom the mother had sold into prostitution for drugs.
As I have mentioned before, I work at a funeral home and it has become far to commonplace. Unfortunately, even my own family has been touched by this same type of violence that is threatening to destroy a whole generation.
Saints, I am heartbroken as I sit here and write about these atrocities being perpetrated against these babies. To make the crimes even more horrific is the fact that in some of these cases, the pain they suffered was at the hands of their own parents; their very own flesh and blood. But to me the saddest thing of all is there is no public outrage. People hear about these things, say they are a shame or maybe even shed a tear but do absolutely nothing about it.
Have we become so desensitized that we shed one lone tear and keep it moving? I am a single mother of two boys. My youngest son was outside on the porch next door when his friend was shot just two streets over. There were times when they made me so angry I may have felt like killing them or throwing a skillet at their heads, but the love I have for my babies far outweighs any desire I may have to ever cause them harm.
Our children are precious gifts from God. We are failing our children when we don’t take them to the alter and introduce them to God. Satan is after our children and here we are just giving them away.
I look around me at our children today and ask; where has the village gone?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Jesus Wept.
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Give Thanks Today
Remember, When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food, and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself. ~ Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief
Scripture:
ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29
Too often it becomes easier for us to see only the bad things that are going on in our lives. We get up each morning and put on the same garments of despair, hurt, anger and resentment that we had on the day before. Instead of seeing the dawning of a new day as another opportunity to begin again, we see only our problems of yesterday.
We would rather dwell on the problems of our past, then rejoice in the blessings of the day. It rarely occurs to us that maybe our inability to rejoice in the blessings that we have already been given, as being a part of the reason we don’t receive our blessings of today.
As a mother, I often compare my relationship to God to my relationship with my children. You see, its hard for me to give them something new, when I feel they don’t appreciate what they already have. I cannot in good conscious give them a new thing if they don’t take care of the old.
So I have to ask, how can God in good conscious bless us with a new thing, when we can’t appreciate what we already have. As I read the above quote, there was one statement that really stood out to me; If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.
Don’t you have something to be thankful for?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Lord, we come once again praising and uplifting the name of Jesus. We lift up Holy hands and bow down before the throne of grace in reverence and honor to You Lord. Father, no matter what this day may bring, I will continue to praise You. Lord, this joy that I have deep down in my soul, the world didn't give it to me. You did. I will not allow anyone to take back what You have given me. Thank You Father, for my gifts. I thank You for waking me up and breathing life into my lungs once again. I thank You for family, friends and loved ones who encourage when the world tells me I can't. I thank You for guiding and directing me especially during those times I seem to stray. Lord, continue to place Your hedge of protection around the saints who are represented here. Strengthen all of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are going through. Manifest and magnify Your Power and Your presence in our lives today. Thank You Lord, Thank You Jesus. Amen.
Scripture:
ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. 1 Chronicles 16:29
Too often it becomes easier for us to see only the bad things that are going on in our lives. We get up each morning and put on the same garments of despair, hurt, anger and resentment that we had on the day before. Instead of seeing the dawning of a new day as another opportunity to begin again, we see only our problems of yesterday.
We would rather dwell on the problems of our past, then rejoice in the blessings of the day. It rarely occurs to us that maybe our inability to rejoice in the blessings that we have already been given, as being a part of the reason we don’t receive our blessings of today.
As a mother, I often compare my relationship to God to my relationship with my children. You see, its hard for me to give them something new, when I feel they don’t appreciate what they already have. I cannot in good conscious give them a new thing if they don’t take care of the old.
So I have to ask, how can God in good conscious bless us with a new thing, when we can’t appreciate what we already have. As I read the above quote, there was one statement that really stood out to me; If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.
Don’t you have something to be thankful for?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Lord, we come once again praising and uplifting the name of Jesus. We lift up Holy hands and bow down before the throne of grace in reverence and honor to You Lord. Father, no matter what this day may bring, I will continue to praise You. Lord, this joy that I have deep down in my soul, the world didn't give it to me. You did. I will not allow anyone to take back what You have given me. Thank You Father, for my gifts. I thank You for waking me up and breathing life into my lungs once again. I thank You for family, friends and loved ones who encourage when the world tells me I can't. I thank You for guiding and directing me especially during those times I seem to stray. Lord, continue to place Your hedge of protection around the saints who are represented here. Strengthen all of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are going through. Manifest and magnify Your Power and Your presence in our lives today. Thank You Lord, Thank You Jesus. Amen.
