Monthly Archives: May 2019

Reflection

Think on these Things…

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I’m watching the news, checking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. I’m looking up my stocks status, deciding what to do with my Bitcoin and transferring funds from one account to another. I’m ignoring the dating app notifications, the Messenger pings and Telegram rings. All the while, I’m thinking where is the joy. Then that voice within called to me…Think on these things.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, … good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Phillipians 4:8

I needed that reminder today. No links, no related articles. Just think on these things. Close your eyes, relax, draw closer to God and remember what is good in your life at this moment. You’re Welcome!

Purpose

What will be the legacy?

Hey Honeychild,

We celebrated the Home Going of my Aunt Bea last week. I’ve been thinking about it a lot. Someone was telling the story of how she helped settle Cambodian and Ethiopian families. They did not speak/ understand English nor was she able to communicate in their language. Through her kind spirit and actions she demonstrated that the universal language of love always prevails. I am inspired. It got me to thinking…What will be my legacy? What will people remember about me? What story will sum up the essence of me? Have you ever thought about that?

So, I’m thinking about this and I’m wondering, “does one self-determine” such things or does God place it in you to be discovered, nurtured, and shared? The Bible says that we should not neglect our gifts. It also says that we are to use our gifts in the service of others. Certainly, there are basic character traits inherent within each of us. We have multidimensional character traits, so how do we know which are meant to become a “calling card?” Some are positive and altruistic and others are more base and self-serving. For example, I am nurturing by nature, wanting to make sure that everyone is cared for in the best possible way. I am also practical to the extent that I can appear to callous. How do I balance these traits? On the flip side, I can compartmentalize people, events, and thoughts to my own advantage with no thought of how this impacts others. At the same time, this allows me to be objective and calm in the midst of crisis, which makes me a good leader at such times. Can you how one could be unsure? Are these traits that are meant to be of service or traits that I should be working on correcting? Either way, I believe that we must be intentional in how we steward our gifts. Finding you purpose and walking in it is, after all, a major life assignment.

I’ve concluded that developing a relationship with God is the path to discovering who we are and what legacy of ourselves will be left when we are no longer here. So, Honeychild, as you contemplate my musing today, think also about what you think, desire and know about the legacy of you. Seek God’s wisdom and follow his direction. Do this and you will be sure to leave a story for others carry through the generations!

Scripture Reference:
1Peter 4:10-11
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Empowerment Link:
http://thoughtcatalog.com/casey-e-bean/2017/02/what-will-people-remember-about-you/

Role Model

Live your life as a praise dance

Last week I had the honor of serving on jury duty. I met some interesting people, learned some things about guns and about the law. I saw some disturbing manifestations of society’s ills. In all of that, one thing that really stood out for me was the disconnect between what we say we believe and how we live.
Honeychild, let me tell you about it….
While sitting in the juror room, I met a woman whose name was Peace. She shared that she wasn’t happy to have been selected because she desired to back to work. She talk about how much everyone depended on her, she was the secretary that ran the place, the PhDs didn’t have any smarts and couldn’t survive without her, etc. I asked her a few questions about how she felt about that level of responsibility. She started talking about how they didn’t appreciate her, some called her mean. Some said that she didn’t know how to talk to people but she was just trying to get things done right because she didn’t have time for people. She shared that her supervisor even has to pull her aside from time to time to get to tone down but she didn’t care because she’s been in the same position for over twenty years care She started and seen them all come and go. Peace went on to talk about how much she had to do, praise dance practice and cooking ministry and taking care of the pastor’s pulpit and so on. She was very busy doing God’s work she said. That, she said, is probably why she was having trouble staying awake during testimony. Oh Wow!
Fast forward, we are in deliberation. It is difficult, more difficult than we all thought it would be. Without going into detail about the case, I’ll just say that we had some tension to address. Well, here it goes…Peace is sitting on the outside of the discussion circle, I start hearing rumbling about wanting to go to work tomorrow so we better decide something. Then she gets up, storms to the whiteboard and starts yelling and banging each point on the board. Errr! We are all shocked and confused. Someone tells her she should calm down. Someone else agrees. She gets louder and crass. The outburst is over in a few minutes and we resume.
Voting done, it look like I’m the hold out. I need peace with this decision, to know that we all gave due diligence. I ask each person to give their reasons for concluding the verdict. Most people respond and I say that I need a few minutes to process the information. O.K. I am ready to take another vote. I say what I’ve been thinking and we vote. The foreman announces the verdict. Wait I say. “Did everyone vote? I didn’t see all hands go up? “Peace: “Ya’ll told me to calm down. You didn’t want my opinion before. You don’t need it now.” Errr! We are all shocked and confused again. Come on Peace! Foreman asks, “What do we do now?” I say we send a note to the Judge and ask what to do when a juror refuses to participate. Peace: “I DID NOT REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE. I WAITED FOR YOU TO MAKE A DECISION. NOW YOU CAN WAIT.” I see, Peace is not so peaceful. We’re being held hostage. We read, tell a few jokes, small talk and then PEACE startles us one last time, “GUILTY.” Yes, Peace, guilty and so are you.
Honeychild, there are many things that can be taken out of this experience. What I want to share today is that your good works for the Lord, your commitment to your job, your praise dance on Sunday morning all mean nothing if the people around you can’t be witness to your faith without you saying so. Live your life as a praise dance so that all can SEE your grace, joy and peace.

Scripture Reference: Corinthians 16:14 Let everything you do be done in love (true love God and man as inspires by God’s love for us).
Ephesians 4:2 (NIV “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the
bond of peace.”
Ephesians 5: 1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God

Empowerment Link: http://christianity.about.com/od/practicaltools/a/shareyourfaith.htm

Purpose

Hearing from God

Honeychild, let me tell you this…

I hear from people all the time, “I want my will to be God’s will. I want to hear Him but how do I hear from God?” Well, we know that the Word of God is a steady and everlasting guide. We know that God speaks to us through others such as clergy and prophets. We know that prayer and meditation create an open path to receive instruction. But, what happens when you read the Holy word, when you listen to sermons and talks, when you lay at your alter in praise and supplication and still don’t feel that you are getting the word that God wants you to hear? Maybe it’s your perspective on what hearing from God can mean. Yes, it can mean a specific verse from the Bible. Yes, it can mean a direct word from your minister. And yes, it can mean a divine insight while praying. What may be missing from the lenses in which you view hearing from God is the perspective that God is always around, always speaking to you, always instructing, correcting and inspiring you. It is in the way you view your world.

God is speaking to you when you wake up each morning, saying I love you and I’m granting you another chance at life today. God is speaking to you when you turn on the news and hear about some issue that pulls at your heart, saying this is important- do something. God is speaking to you when you can’t get that idea out of your mind, saying you take one step and I’ll take two. God is speaking to you when feel bad about that judgment you just made after realizing that you’ve done worst, saying compassion and empathy are your pathway to growth. In all of these ways and many more that we take as simple everyday occurrences, there is God speaking to us. It is a conversation. When you “hear” these things, speak back; respond. It will become a lively and productive conversation between you and God.

So, Honeychild, don’t fret when it seems that God is not speaking to you. Open your eyes to glorious ways that He is with you all the time and yes, speaking to you. Once you trust yourself to hear these personal whispers you will have a no problem hearing discerning Him in the crowd.

Biblical Reference:
John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Empowerment Link:
http://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-hear-from-god-regularly.html

Compassion

The Humanity of Infidelity

Honeychild, Honeychild…

The 2016 presidential cycle was something like we’ve never seen before. There are so many starting points that I can hardly pick one. Almost 3 years later, we are still struck by unprecedented rhetoric. However, today I am led to the debate around Hillary’s response to her Bill’s indiscretions. Her opponent is bent on deriding her for her angry attacks on these women. Well there are some problems with this strategy and though process. Sure it puts the candidate in a bad light that makes it look like she is not for women, but it is a position that forgets several things.
1) Most human women do have a vile reaction to being cheated on.
2) Often, this reaction is misdirected towards the other woman.
3) At times, the other woman can be blamed for her part, particularly when she knowingly disrespects the marriage institution.
4) The vow to remain in a marriage for better or worse is a personal decision that outsiders have no business judging.
5) Faith and personal relationship with God is the guiding factor in many situations.
When taken into consideration, these factors lead one to conclude that:
A) One must first look inward before casting stones from one’s glass home.
B) The stages of surviving infidelity are similar to those of working through grief- no one takes this journey the same way or at the same pace.
C) The test of character is often seen in the midst of turmoil rather than the shade of serenity.
The Bible is clear about many things but thing for sure… Love is an action word from which forgiveness, fortitude and faithfulness derive. As we move forward in this conversation, let’s remember the humanity of relationships and the core of love.

Empowerment Link: Continue reading The Humanity of Infidelity →