A Charleston Massacre

Late last night I was reading a post, posted by one of my sisters in Christ, as my husband and I watched a late night movie on the Demand channel. At that time, I understood the post to be a general post asking for prayers for our community, the hate in our community and the people in our community who are affected. I understood something had happened and maybe it was something personal, as I watched the movie.

It wasn’t until this morning when my husband and I arose and he read the alerts from his phone that we were enlightened of the horrific news of the massacre in which she was referring to on last night.

As sad as the massacre was, it was an evil heart manifested in one man, Dyland Roof, which brought one more hate crime to light. Nonetheless, we once again seem shocking surprised of the behavior of man that has gone on for centuries.  I am not by any means without compassion for the families that have lost their loved ones, but at the same time the bible tells us there is nothing new under the sun, (Ecclesiastes 1:9). It all has just reappeared in a different face, place and time.

We do grieve the loss of lives, here in Charleston, SC . However, we must also grieve the HEARTS of a nation of people who don’t understand or respect life (those with and without authority) who don’t know or understand our God and because they know him not, we must pray for a nation of people who WILL face him totally unprepared.

On the contrary, where do we go from here? Because all men must obey the laws of the land, Dyland will face justice. I really thought he would have taken his own life. But he seems to have a narcissistic type personality, having noted his desire to be noted for the things he’s done.  It is good that he did not take his life. He can now face justice and still have an opportunity to change his heart.

Equally we come together praying for these families, we must also continue to move forward as we cannot be over taken by fear. We must, for as much as we can hold on to normality. Those of us who understand God; we continue to praise and worship him. Try to help the community heal, by helping others to understand that this evil deed was NOT of God.

Love God above all and vengeance is His, not ours, Deuteronomy 32:35 and Roman 12:19.

An Evolving World

I enrolled in a computer class a few years ago. In my studies I found that technology is constantly reinventing itself. It was noted, at that time, technology was evolving on the average of every two years. That fact has proven to be true. A computer can be outdated before it is purchased off the store’s shelf. There are very few people using a flip phone today. The world is constantly changing.

Who remembers the wholesome sitcom, “Leave it to Beaver”? In today’s society Beaver would be deemed mentally challenged. We are so far removed from wholesome, respectfulness and simply good morals                      .

                                                                            

          

Though time is constantly changing, God’s words and commands are not evolving. His commands for the New Testament Christians, stays the same. He says in (Ecclesiastes 12:13) to fear him and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Nobody ask me, but God says in (Ecclesiastes 1:9) “There is nothing new under the sun.” Though computers and smart technology may have not existed before, the character of man, who God created, is still the same, which is part of what’s meant by, “there is nothing new under the sun.” God created man in his own image; man ingenious abilities, which God has given him, creates abundance. How man uses it, for good or evil decides his real smartness, and his faith.

Same man, same core choices in an ever changing world!

Wake Up Dead!

"WAKE UP DEAD? Wuudd?" Not you sweetie. You are safe.

I always remind my adult children how they don't want to, surprisingly wake up and find themselves dead.  "What a group of oxymorons." Yes, they are and I never realized how much I use them, or like a good oxymoron to demonstrate life's events.

“Wake up dead”, came to my mind after seeing the movie, “Ghost” starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg. It entails a 1990 love story of Demi Moore and the ghost of her murdered boyfriend, Patrick Swayze. His ghost, who rose immediately after he was murdered, tries to protect Demi from which he learns, after his death, to be his evil business partner. He does this when he literally wakes up dead, and his ghost roams the earth using Whoopi Goldberg, who’s a psychic, to relate information that only he can see, now that he is a ghost.

This movie, however much of it we know as fantasy, has some parallel validity. If you live in a realm where you know not God, or live in the Christian realm and know, but choose not to follow the instructions, which our God has commanded. God says in John 3:36, you will not receive eternal life. Christians understand that to mean you will literally wake up dead. Eternally separated from God, a spiritual death

So this tells me life doesn't end after we are physically dead. That part of the movie is valid.  We are not like Rover dead all over, as the cliché says. We have an opportunity at eternal life.

God says we have a soul that lives on forever, Mathews 10:28. He says; don’t fear the one who can destroy the body, but fear Him that can destroy both the body and soul in hell. Man can destroy the body, but only God can destroy both. 

How we live today is the deciding factor. Do we live for God, storing our treasures in heaven, Mathews 6: 19-21, or man, storing your treasures on earth? One will cause us to have eternal life and one will cause us to wake up dead, (a lost soul, due to carelessness) forever. Cast into the furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42) Let us Hear, Roman 10:14; Believe Mark 16:16; Confess the name of Jesus Roman 10:9-10; BE BAPTIZED, Mark 16:15-16; and LIVE FAITHFULLY, Rev 2:10. Amen.

MIRRORED

When we look in the mirror, we rarely like what we see. We usually never see what others see. Why is that? Because beauty and flaws tend to be in the eyes of the beholder, so it is said.

What we can't see when we look in the mirror are our personality flaws or the beauty in our personalities. The flaws and beauty are most times pointed out by others. Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes deep into the bones, again, so it is said.

It is so easy to see the flaws of others. We are always thinking about them and ready to point the personality or physical flaws out to that person or to others who will listen and agree with you.  We do this in an effort to up lift ourselves.

The bible have many passages about pointing out the negative fault in others such as, Matthews 7:3, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" and  1 Corinthians 10:12 says, "Wherefore, let him that think he stand, take heed lest he fall."

If our God has blessed us with good health or any other good abilities or qualities, let us be thankful and used them to pull others up in love, unless we mirror the same infirmities we deemed to be negative.

I reflect back often to my high school years; of my teacher who bared a physical infirmity. It appeared to be a birth defect were one leg was quite a bit shorter than the other causing her to walk with a limp. She seemed to be fine with it, until the class clown made note of it and caused her to cry rather often. I really felt bad for her.

Today the class clown is a teacher. However, while we were still in high school she was stricken with some sort of virus that caused her to walk exactly like the teacher whom she caused to cry so frequently. That was the strangest thing. I often wonder had she ever relate the two and realize her teacher’s life has been mirrored. Her life has reflected our teacher’s.

Let us truly take heed how we stand and be grateful, compassionate, understanding and loving to all, unless we too are mirrored. 

                                                      

An Unfortunate Wonderful Opportuity

I love a good oxymoron. Here goes another one, an unfortunate wonderful opportunity. Let’s see how it is unfortunately wonderful.

Today, in the city where I reside, a mother lays her son to eternal rest.  It’s a sad day in the city that’s nickname, “The Holy City”, the city of Charleston South Carolina.

Walter Scott’s death resorted from the awful decision Officer Michael T Slager made when he selfishly decided the life of Walter Scott’s was far less valuable than others he may have encountered, not realizing or caring that his decision to murder would not only affect Scott’s family but many others, including his own.

Officer Micheal Slager wife has to deliver their child next month without his presence. His child may never see him in their created family environment, and Walter Scott’s family may never see him again to walk or run, as a free man, on this side of earth, where our God has created all men equal.

The astonishing revelation to the story was on CNN, when Walter’s mother was interviewed, she said she has forgiven Micheal Slager, her son’s murder.  What strength and power she has displayed. This is only because of her understanding of the love of God. This is the type of love our God wants us to display. She was not only saddened for her son, but her son’s killer and his family. They all are experiencing a lost.

My grandmother always said how our God sits high and looks low. It may have or may have not been a coincident that Feidin Santana happened to be present at that moment to video the entire incident, showing the fact that a picture does speak a thousand words and the surprising truth.

God is the ultimate authority. If Santana was not present Scott’s life would have just been one more life lost in an unjust decision made by another person that our God has allowed to be in an authoritative position. See he (Michael) reported to S.L.E.D. on this side of life, in an attempt to hide his iniquities. But see, Feidin was present with his video and so was our God in His omnipresence. Now, unless Slager find true repentance in his heart, he will report to our God, the ultimate authority, who allowed him to have the position in which he abused, in an unclean state of non-repentance, finding eternal damnation.

Walter’s mother wonderful decision to forgive is what frees her. If his mother can forgive, what gives us the right not to forgive as well?  “Vengeance is mine,” says the Lord. (Deuteronomy 32:35) (ESV)

Isn’t that what God did when we killed his son? Jesus, Himself, before his spirit departed said," forgive them father for they know not what they do." KJV (Luke 23: 24). Our iniquities/ sins nailed His son to the cross just as Officer Michael Slager put Walter Scott to death with his choice to further indulge in sin and immoralities.

Nobody ask me, but I say let God and Mrs. Scott be an example this day in the power of forgiveness; the freedom of forgiveness and the great opportunity it gives us towards eternal salvation, which God offers, if we obey his commands.  Forgive, let go; and let God take control. Mrs. Scott truly used her  unfortunate situation  as an opportunity to display a wonderful example of forgiveness.She could have chose bitterness, but she chose forgiveness. 

THE GREATEST EXAMPLE EVER DISPLAYED

THE GREATEST EXAMPLE EVER DISPLAYED

I can remember growing up, and my mom would always tell me, "Don't do as I do, do as I say do." I'm pretty sure many remember that slogan, as well. What were they really saying to us? Some may say they were saying, it's okay for me to live in this misbehaving manner, but not you. Others may say they meant, we (children) can't do those thing until we become  

adults like them.Well that slogan may have somewhat worked in the generation of the mid-sixties and before, but not today and perhaps not much even then. The difference then and now is the level of respect we carry for authority figures. Though we may have known that the slogan wasn't a good one, we never questioned or debated it, we just respected it because it came from an authoritative figure.

Today, we have a total different generation and perspective. We have children that talk back, ask questions, in a respectful and non-respectful manner. There are children who set the rules for the parents to follow, they've place a twist on the age old slogan saying, "You (mom and dad) do as I say do!" 

Sadly, parents are weaker, they have bent and some are broken. Why, and how has this happen? Simple, Man hadn't figured out that the greatest example is one that is displayed. Yes, those kids above may have not done what they were told not to do, but they watched and vowed to do those things as adults to the tenth power. The workaholic parents, alcoholic/smoking parents, abusive parents and the "perfect over achieving" parents are all reflected in our new generation.

Yes, there are cycles, positive and negative and most times we live what we learn. That's why it is imperatively important that we are aware of the greatest example ever displayed. God created us for his own pleasure. He gave us one purpose which is to fear (respect) Him and keep his commandments.   (Ecclesiastes 12:13) When He saw that it seemed that man was having the most difficult time with His commandants, He loved us so, that He sent us His son, Christ Jesus to display the GREATEST EXAMPLE EVER, of how we should live. He did it in the flesh with all the temptations we face and did not sin.

Take some time and read the book of Matthew, get to know this Jesus, who came in the flesh, giving us a new slogan to tell our children and they can tell their children, "Follow me as I follow Christ, and you CAN do as I do and as I say do."

Nobody asked me, but  it's not a perfect walk following the great example. Nonetheless, as you strive for perfection and your children are watching, there will be times when you fall, but you can ask for forgiveness, as you teach them God's examples are the best examples.

Why Say No?

The word no is one of the largest, smallest words ever, next to the infinite word, if. Yes, it is grammatically an oxymoron, but true. So many people are afraid of the tiny little word. It has crushed the largest person's ability to stand tall; it has bankrupted fortune five hundred companies, broken marriages, and the hearts of many children.

The word no can be used in a negative sense as above, or it can be used in a positive sense. The rod of correction, most times began with the word, no. It is part of the rod of discipline. Few people welcome discipline, right? In order, to grow it is a tool of discerning wisdom which we must understand and respectfully acknowledge. Note I said, “Discerning.” We have to be able to discern where the word no is coming from. Is it in a negative sense to tear you down, stop you from moving forward, meaning never, or the positive no, the no of protection, or the no that really means, not yet, but maybe later, depending on you.

The word no, that I want to focus on today is directed towards self-preservation. “No,” is not an easy word to say, especially when coming from yes people; people who always say yes, even when it is not in their best interest. Sometimes when “no" is said, the person who it is directed, may appear in disbelief, asking you to repeat it, “Excuse me could you repeat that again,” or, “did you say no?” It is really a struggle for the “yes” person to repeat or answer.

   

The sooner we learn we can’t be everything to everyone and still be all that God wants us to be, the faster and better we will grow. Putting God first and doing his will means saying no quite often, in a negative environment. No, you can’t have time for all the things that the world will attempt to entice you with and God. God do not want our left over offerings as we learn from Cain and Able. (Gen. 4:3-7)

As we put God first it will become easier and easier to say no to things that don’t matter. People who don’t understand will go away and that’s okay. People who respect you and do understand will take their place. Why? Because when we put God first, seeking his kingdom, all other thing will be added unto us. Matt. 6:33. Paul says, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Nobody asked me, but I say, in order to preserve ourselves we must follow the formula of putting God first, husband/ children second, then work, etc., is defiantly a formula for success and peace that surpasses all understanding! 

The word no, preserves your life and your soul! Try it today.

High Noon

Twenty-five, what an awesome age. However at twenty-five, the first quarter of your life has already surpassed. It was a time when what others thoughts of you mattered, a time when you may have even been a people-pleaser. They were the years where mistakes, if time permits, can be repaired and recovered.
Twenty six through forty, still an awesome time of youth and discovery. It is still the age where mistakes can be recovered or boredom can be revived with reinvention or new creations. This is the second quarter. The second quarter extends to age fifty, if life allows you to live to the ripe age of one hundred. However, based on the actuarial tables found on the Social Security Administration website, if you are a man (living in the US), your probability is .48% of making it to 100.  If you are a woman, 1.66%. Then there's the third quarter, fifty-one to seventy-five. The third quarter is a time to really focus! If God's grace allows you to play in the third quarter, all childish things and decisions should truly be left behind. It is a time to continue to seriously teach others and to have a character in place that when someone mentions your name it is good. It is a time of high noon, a time to clean the idled cobwebs of our minds.  We should no longer be people-pleasers. Everything forward should be in an attempt to please God. This could statistically be the last quarter. It is not suggested that we wait till the third quarter to attempt to win the game. At whatever point in life you learn the reason for your existence (Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind, NIV Ecclesiastes 12:13)  and arbitrate it, that is half the battle towards a successful ending. Use the play book (The Bible) and learn the commandments, for the New Testament Christians. This is to say, if you've been blessed to play at high noon, do note that the sun will soon be setting. The things that deemed so important may need to be refocused. It is a time when you need to be awake and be energized so you can decide how your story ends here on earth, with the choices that has been set before you. Will you still focus on accumulating more stuff here, or store towards eternity? Always remember God is ultimately in control and if He has allowed you to play in the third quarter, don't waste time! Win the eternal crown! Learn and use the strategies. Recognizes your adversaries in all it's different forms, for they come in many. 

Lost and Found!

Have you ever wondered why people act and think the way that they do? Most people walk around, and live each day with no direction, no purpose, and no plans,waiting in the wing of the lost and found. Ready to be picked up by anyone or anything that may claim them.
They awake in the morning without intention, and play a game of "let the cards fall were they may,"
A large percentage of people live and then die, not ever knowing or understanding why they were here. The headstone of one may read, Maethea Steadfast, 1967-2015. What did Maethea Steadfast accomplish from 1967, her birth until 2015, her death, That is what that dash should represents. Is it just a dash or does it represent substance?
Most don't know the reason for our existence, which is to fear God and keep his commandment! That is the total duty of man!
So though nobody asked me, l suggest we read and hear what our God has inspired to be written.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14King James Version (KJV) says,

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.