Evangelism – In the presence of God… be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable… I used to think it took courage. Now I understand that it really just takes faith. Of the many things we learn and know it doesn’t take courage for us to talk about those things. We freely offer our knowledge, advice and encouragement. Gracious God may our knowledge of you always be the forethought in everything we do and a highlight of our conversations.
Saturday’s Meditation – Psalm 108:1-4
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed;
I will sing and make melody.
Awake, my soul!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn.
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples,
and I will sing praises to you among the nations.
For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens,
and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
when once you have turned back… Yes, there are times when we are fighting for our lives, our spiritual grounded-ness that keeps us from falling off the deep end. Gracious God help us to remember that when we have fallen, it’s all about what we do next. At the end of the day we have only to lay our heads down because with God’s help we made it, a true blessing in itself and tomorrow we shall walk strengthened by God’s grace and unashamed by God’s mercy.
At my first company luncheon for new hires, I recognized someone and walked over to say hello. I sat down to talk just for a moment and soon afterwards the head of the company walks over to the table. By the time I recognized the place cards it was too late. ” It’s ok – you don’t have to get up. I’ll just sit at your place at the other table.” Immediately I sensed that everyone at that table look at me with disdain. I’d ruined there opportunity to eat with the president of the company. The value we give to one another is often judged by what we see or the titles one has attained. God’s gifts and blessings are not substitutes for God’s true gift of a humble spirit. Lord God, let us not be fooled by the illusions of our lives and be forever ready to sit at the other table.
Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed and he began to speak praising God. Sometimes our words simply get in the way. Gracious God, let me speak when I have something to say and let my words prove your glory.
“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation… They (the families) forgave the shooter in South Carolina. They did their part. Before the nation and the world the families stood strong in their faith according to the Gospel. How shall we be on our guard against so many systems that continually make the claim that it was built on “Godly” values? We know that it’s not just guns that we must protect ourselves against. If we take away every gun in this world and the hatred remains what have we accomplished; the killing of the body. How do we stop the killing of the mind? We must be on guard from every aspect, every angle of thought that seeks to destroy the Spirit to which God intended us to be in relationship. Gracious Lord, you promise that your word will not return void. Help us to be on guard against those whose actions try to call us out of our faithfulness to the true God and let not our forgiveness be lost, let it not be disregarded, but rather accomplish the work you have given us to do.
Saturday’s Meditation – Psalm 90:13-17
Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands—
O prosper the work of our hands!
The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. I met Jaja when he was just a kid about 13 years old. This first meeting with his mother, my sister and me turned from a converstaion about strong black women raising sons into a discourse about the importance of black male presence in a young boys life. Far wiser than his years, Jaja, which means Gift of God, was at the center of the conversation. His apologetic proposition was filled with compassion as if from a well seasoned debator. As a mother of two young sons he captured my attention and I left that evening resolved that if my sons ever lost their father, it was still my responsibility to make sure they had that strong black male presence in their lives. I have this young man to thank for a piece of God’s wisdom through the voice of a child who could see what I at that time could not see. Thank you God for that one moment you allowed our paths to cross. On June 8, 2015 at the age of 35, Jaja took his own life.
… a poor widow put in two small copper coins. My mother always said that as a child she didn’t know that she was poor. Everyone in her neighborhood lived the way they did. There was goodness, laughter and a sweet spirit. The best dreams are made of these things. It is when we experience the rest of the world that our perspective is challenged. Be with us and help us dear God to discern what’s really important. As we get ever closer to to you, let our minds be drawn to those “best dreams” so that when we find our selves struggling with the most difficult times, we are still able to give all that we have to give.
My life is always in my hand… I suppose it’s why we make the mistakes that we do. But you have filled us with your Spirit, and equipped us with your consciousness. Help us Lord to take responsibility according to your word, that we may fully live now in to your gospel and later in to your promise of the hereafter.
crustybread 