I ALMOST CRIED ON THANKSGIVING DAY

I almost cried on Thanksgiving Day, because I had to spend it alone. I thought of my kids being with my family, and my home was filled with void.
I almost cried on Thanksgiving Day, contemplating how I could be surrounded by family, but not one to physically touch; I’m a distant memory, I’m a ghost, I’m a gesture, I’m a hunch.
How dare you stand a few feet from me, you who I call family, eating and drinking and making merriment, while I wait for the patter of my little feet; the feet I birthed into this world; the one’s that you host so sweet; but, how could you possibly smile in their face, and not think or give regard to me. Home alone for hours all day awaiting their return, you call yourself my family, but you forget about me every year as if you don’t know my name. Is it like a memory loss, or a conscious disregard? Would it be so difficult to include me? Would it be stressful, would it be hard?
I almost cried on Thanksgiving Day, but then, I remembered why, we celebrate this day; it’s not about them, or you or I. Its to recognize how good God is, and how thankful we should be you see; the world may need this holiday, but I don’t because I thank HIM daily.

I almost cried on Thanksgiving Day………..but I DIDN’T!
Thank You Lord for One More Day.

The 'WORD' for the Day

1 Corinthians 15:58 (King James Version)
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

"THANKSGIVING"

In his first sermon, the late Elder George Ladson, Jr. urged the congregation to begin each morning with, "Thank you Lord for one more Day". I believe I was around 16 when he first preached that sermon; it has become a part of my everyday life since hearing it. With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaching, I thought, what better way to kick off this season of thanks than to make 'Thanksgiving' an everyday habit. "Thank You Jesus for One More Day."

Rest in Peace Elder Ladson!

The WORD for the day......Love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
King James Version (KJV)

4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5)Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6)Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7)Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8)Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

My Father, My God

I have a cousin that I talk to once in a while. What I love about our conversations is that we both bring so much to the table of interest, its never boring. Last week, he said something to me that totally was amazing and profound. It’s what Oprah would call an ‘Ah-Ha’ moment.

We were talking about trusting in God: about how natural trusting in God should be. What was compelling is the analogy he used. He asked me if when I was younger, living under my father’s roof, was I ever concerned about provisions being met for me? I said no. He asked me why not? I said, because he was my father and that’s what father’s are suppose to do, provide for them; so, I didn’t wander if we would have a place to live or food to eat, because my father’s job is to provide. Now, also considering that my father is an Alcoholic, and has been in and out of recovery all my life. (Right now he’s fallen off the wagon again, so please pray God’s perfect will be done in his life.)

Anyway, my cousin made the point to me, so you could trust your natural father without doubt, even though he had his issues, but you can’t trust the ‘Almighty God’, our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the World, not just you and me. Do you mean you trust your natural father more than God, your Heavenly Father, who left word that promised to supply all your needs?

I laughed. At first, I said, “OOH, That stings.” It was an I-opener for me.
When we say we trust God, it should be…………………..instinct, second nature. It should be like my typing this message right now. This wonderful typing teacher named, Mrs. Lovett from Alcorn Middle School, taught me how to type. (Shout out to Alcorn) Mrs. Lovett taught me to type so well, that I don’t have to look at the keys, I instinctively touch the keys I need to form my words.

That’s exactly how trusting in the Almighty God, Our Father should be: ‘Instinct’.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY!!!

Michael Jackson's, Man In the Mirror

I woke up about 4:30 a.m. this morning with Michael Jackson’s song, ‘Man In the Mirror’ just ringing in my ear. I got up to go to AZ Lyrics to download the words. I believe the message I’m suppose to convey today is in the lyrics to this song. Throughout the challenges I’ve endured in my body, there’s one thing that’s been intriguing me the most and that is, if I’m suffering this much and going without sufficient help every week, then what’s happening to those that are worst off than me?

Now this is just to target some of the church community. We are going about on our jobs and going to church, sometimes out of town, while there are members in your church struggling. You would rather travel 100 mile’s away to a church, give them an offering of $500 to represent your church and make you look good. But what about the faithful members in your church that are asking for help, that $500 could have gone to help them. Don’t you know that if you take care of your family, that’ll make the bond at home stronger? Therefore growing your family at home so you can leave some at home to minister and some can travel to represent. Some people wonder why they keep losing members, one reason is because you have faithful members there for years and when tragedy strikes in their family, the church that they attend (not God’s church) is not there for them. I’m done. Please take a minute and read through some of the lyrics to Michael Jackson’s, ‘Man in the Mirror.’ Have a blessed day.

Man In the Mirror: I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life, its gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right. As I turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat, this wind is blowin my mind, I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat. Who am I, to be blind? Pretending not to see their needs. A summer’s disregard, a broken bottle top and a one man’s soul they follow each other on. The wind ya know, ‘cause they got nowhere to go, that’s why I want you to know…
I’m starting with the man in the mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways, and no message could have been any clearer, if you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, and then make a change.
I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love, its time that I realize that there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan. Could it be really me, pretending that they’re not alone? A willow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart. And a washed-out dream they follow the pattern of the wind, ya see. Cause they got no place to be.
That’s why I’m starting with the man in the mirror……….

There’s so much lack in the church world, in the world, what are we doing about it. What will you do?
What will I do?

BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that statement over the past 5 years. Apparently, when you are handicapped and/or need help, you are not allowed to convey to those who come to help you your preferences. If you do, you are then labeled ungrateful, unthankful, difficult, and too demanding.
SHAME ON YOU! How dare you say to any person in need, “beggars can’t be choosers?”
I am so glad that I’m saved!!!
I had to put that in there just now because I wanted to say something else.

I never thought that the day would ever come when I would say that I am handicapped, but I am. However, I also never thought the day would come that if I were handicapped, I would be treated like useless matter.

What’s wrong with saying, you know I prefer that you wash the clothes and let the first load dry almost completely before washing another load. That way, the other load sitting in the washer won’t lose its freshness. That’s not such a tall order considering my washer and dryer is about 20 years old and still kicking, but, it’s kicking slowly. It usually takes 3 runs in the dryer before a full load is finished. So, if you put another load to wash in the washing machine at the start of the 3rd drying load, then both the 3rd drying load and the wash will end about the same time. Is that such a demanding request?

Also, when you come to help someone and they ask you to please wash your hands before you fix food for the family, and to wash your hands before unloading the clean dishes from the dishwasher, what’s the problem? Why must one be labeled an obsessive-compulsive person?

I’ll answer all of those questions with this profound statement, “THEY DON’T WON’T TO BE THERE.”

When you go to help someone, handicapped or whatever the case may be, if you don’t want to help them ‘WHOLE-HEARTEDLY’, then do us all a favor and don’t come.

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve gone to retrieve a cup or dish from the cupboard after my help has left, and couldn’t find it. Why, because when someone does not render the service of help with a whole heart, then they don’t give good service, period. Whether something should go here or there is irrelevant. When you put up someone’s dishes and you don’t care about putting that plastic cup in a cupboard filled with glasses, its just like saying to the recipient, you are not important enough to me for the correct placement of your dishes to matter. It should matter. It should.

We ask for help because we need the help, but, if you don’t want to serve as a proud soldier would, then don’t.

THINK ABOUT IT!!!!