Month: July 2022

Loving our Elderly

Loving our Elderly

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Loving our Elderly

“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.” Psalm 71:9 NKJV

As I reflect on memories of my grandmother, I always enjoyed helping her. Whether it was hanging the laundry on the clothes line, shelling a brown bag full of field peas, putting up can goods, or taking out the trash. I was blessed to have had my grandparents in my life as an adult. I watched examples of my mom, aunts, and uncles show me the importance of what it means to care with their actions. I saw all of them helping with things like, cutting the grass, repairs around the home, and picking up dinner. Nothing did Madea’s heart better than having her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren under one roof. I can still hear the laughter and smell the soul food coming out the kitchen, as we looked at all of the family pictures.

Our senior taught us by example in their lives. They showed us what it meant to work hard, the importance of a family who prays together stays together, and a commitment to building up and not tearing down. The love and sacrifices they gave, made room for our dreams and plans to become a reality. They took less, giving us more.  They deserve to be treated with respect. Nothing saddens my heart more than to hear someone talking down to an elderly person.  It just isn’t right. Our tone, attitude and how we speak to our seniors says a lot about where we come from and who raised us. I was personally raised in the era of “yes ma’am, and no sir.”  We must treat them with dignity. That means treating them the way we’d like to be treated ourselves. They still have a say in what is right for them.

Don’t put off what you can do today friends, the seniors in our life need their flowers while they yet live.  Let them know you love them by the way you talk, act, give, and care. Show them kindness, gentleness, joy, and laughter with your presence. Let there be no regrets of what I could or should have done! One of these old days, we too will be that senior needing all of the love, understanding and compassion others can give.

Remember we are each others keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15 ESV

The phrase, “liar liar pants on fire” has been around since the 1840’s. Children would scream this at each other whenever they thought others were lying. The word lie means, to make an untrue statement or create a false misleading impression.

In my life I have prided myself on being a great many things; loving, helpful, encouraging, caring, and funny to name a few. On the flipside of the coin, I have LIED. The ugly truth is, I have lied just to lie, I have lied to protect myself and others, or so I thought.  I lied out of fear of disappointment or angering others, and I have lied to myself saying, “I’m okay, everything is fine.” The truth was I wasn’t okay and everything was not alright! I may have fooled some folks, but never God.

I recognized that a lack of honesty hurts me as a credible witness to the gospel of Christ, and creates confusion.   TRUTH must take her rightful seat in my life, “center stage.” The fact is lies cost us. The question I had to ask myself was how much?  My spouse, family, friends, dreams, and peace of mind were all too high of a price to pay. God tells me that if I stand on truth, I will never be ashamed.

The word says, “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” Proverbs 12:22 NIV.  Truth, according to the scriptures, establishes and entrenches righteousness while lying will bring the displeasure and judgment of God. It is better we refuse to speak sometimes than to speak lies. Lord – give me the power to speak the truth in all circumstances and to stand by it. Amen.

Remember we are each others keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

What You Think

What You Think

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has give. us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

What You Think

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NKJV

The Apostle Paul wrote Phillippians and sent encouraging words and instructions of how we can live in peace and contentment. Keep in mind that when Paul wrote the Phillippians he was in a prison in Rome. Even in this state of confinement Paul was free to focus on what he wanted in his mind.

Transformation in any situation starts with our mind. The enemy’s job is to “throw as much shade” as he can our way, so he can to get us off our A game! Picture this, there you are ready to start the day, smiling and saying good morning to others as you walk through the office door and WHAM!! Someone make a negative comment about your new perfume, or throw a sarcastic comment about your positive attitude and smile. You’re not the person you use to be so you keep right on walking. As you sit at your desk, you remind yourself, this is a day the Lord has made, and you will continue to rejoice and be glad in it! What really matters is how and what you think.  Proverbs 23:7 reminds us, “For as a he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Continue thinking on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and good report. The word tells us to “Mediate” on these things. DON’T LET NOBODY, AND I MEAN NOBODY STEAL YOUR JOY CHILD!

Remember we are each others keepers and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

 

Trusting Our Children To God

Trusting Our Children To God

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect.  I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his Word.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!!

Trusting Our Children To God

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

I tell you, it’s nothing like Gods timing in all matters. I read a very interesting article about parents letting go of their adult children. It got me thinking about my 23 year old daughter who is embarking on her own new journey.  As I continued reading the article, I thought about how the last two decades was in preparation for her new beginning. The wait is over because it’s her time now.

As we trust our children to God we do so in faith.  Nothing seems to test our faith more than when we as parents let go. Letting go means we are giving them over to our Heavenly Father who will continue to guide them according to his will. Age was nothing but a number to my grandmother when it came to loving and supporting her 8 children. Just like the Lord gives us our children as gifts, we eventually have to give them back in his loving care. They are doing what we did at their age. Spread their wings and fly.

What is our new role as our children become adults?

Love is always a part of how we do things, it never fails! Pray with and for them concerning EVERYTHING. Encourage and support their goals and plans. When they need us, be more than just a checkbook, be present through text messages and calls. Respect their right to choose how they will handle decisions regarding their household. And finally plan a visit. It’s nothing like breaking bread together.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

Remember we are each others keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.

DON’T LET NOBODY TURN YOU AROUND

DON’T LET NOBODY TURN YOU AROUND

Together with kindness and in understanding, let’s take this time to self reflect. I am here to inspire, encourage, and remind you that God has given us the most important weapon we have to fight the enemy, his WORD.

Now let’s dress our soul like we dress our bodies, EVERYDAY!

Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around

“But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:26 ESV

In the story of Lot and his wife found in Genesis, here we see God is going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. At dawn the angels took Lot and his family out of Sodom so they would not be destroyed with the city.  When they were out of the city one of them said, “flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee the mountain or you will be swept away!” As the family made haste the Lord rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah from the Lord out of the Heavens. But in disobedience to the angel’s command, Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.

In my mind the thought of Lot’s wife looking back was a form of hesitation of leaving all she knew behind. The Lord has put on my mind the importance of letting go of things and people. The lesson of Lot’s wife was about  more than just about leaving a city, but trusting.

Aint going to let nobody to me round, this African American civil rights song is based on an African American spiritual, “Don’t let nobody turn me around. A version of that song was included in the 1940 book Negro Folk Songs

Aint gonna let nobody
Turn me ’round
Turn me ’round
Aint gonna let nobody
Turn me round
I’m gonna keep on walkin’
Keep on talkin
Marchin into freedom land

I encourage you friends don’t let the enemy still your joy, peace, and happiness. Do not allow opinions to decide who you are or what you want to do. Everyone has a critic. Choose for yourself who and what you are going to believe. Tell me friends how long will you continue to be oppressed by negativity, foolishness and Jealousy. You’ve come a long way baby, and don’t let nobody turn you around. Keep your eyes and minds stayed on those things of the Lord. Abide in the vine, because apart from him you can do nothing. But you can do all things through Christ who is your strength.

Remember we are each others keeper and the only time we should be looking down on someone is when we are helping them up.