Updated Reflection on Inauguration of President

THIS IS LAST NIGHTS POST EDITED FOR CLARITY.
 

As I stood outside on the Mall and looked back at the over one million strong some who were waving American flags---here is what I was thinking about. In Feb. 2008, I was approached to campaign for Barack Obama--I said yes!! I began by contributing to his campaign, then I participated in registering citizens to vote by knocking on doors. I was surprised at the feedback of those who had not voted in years!!! Some were convicted felons who thought they could not vote and some had lost hope. If you didn't notice, this was before he was considered having a chance to beat Hillary Clinton, this was before all the blacks and Democrats in my home state of Georgia jumped on the OBAMA bandwagon, this was while many friends and family members were telling me "I was on the losing team". What I also remembered, was a "man" who spoke at the 2004 convention---and a "man" who moved everyone who heard him speak. He was then selected as the first African-American Senator in 2005. I was not surprised when he won the Democratic Nomination as some were--because I was in the trenches with Team Obama. I also was not surprised when he won in 2008 or 2012!! I was also one of the few "black" students at my Conservative Christian Seminary, who didn't mind saying publicly that we were voting for him. I encountered many "blacks" who said they couldn't vote for him and I respected their "choice" then and I still respect the opinion of those who didn't vote for him for various reasons including his recent support for gay marriage. When I wrote an email to one of my African-American Professors a few months before the election in 2008, explaining why I was voting for our President Obama, he asked if he could share it with all of his colleagues, friends and family members--and to protect the possible backlash he removed my name. In that email, I didn't mention once that the reason I was voting for him was because he was black. I did mention that I disagreed with his views on issues of abortion, gay rights, etc. I didn't mention that I expected him to ride in on a white horse, wave a magic wand and eradicate every problem in America. What I did state was that based on his choice to serve others through community organization in Chicago, love for his family, his sense of leadership, his intellect, and his ability to inspire others, he was the better candidate. I also wrote then that Barack Obama would become the President to a diverse America, an America made up of various faiths, cultures and races. I was not voting for him to be my Savoir---Jesus has that title and HONOR!!! I also wrote that the American economy had been run into the ground by Republican administrations and a Democrat was needed to clean the mess up and save America!! I then reflected on those closest to me in the crowd yesterday: Three white young adults from Chicago, a black man with his white wife from Tennessee, a black couple from California, two black identical twin sisters, my guest for the day Ms. Harley from the Virgin Islands and my husband and daughter. All of us interacted with each other as though we were family. We smiled and celebrated the momentous occasion. We knew that we were once again witnessing history--for to have him elected once could be seen as pure chance but twice is indeed a miracle. Finally, as I end my reflection, I must state that although I still do NOT agree with some of the political views of our President, there has been no greater supporter of him than I. Although, I am truly proud to be an American, my Christian faith in GOD dictates that while I may be "governed" by the U.S. Constitution, I live according to the WORDS of Scripture found in the Holy Bible. God does not change the Bible like men change the Constitution. Whenever the two conflict, I will ALWAYS follow the BIBLE. Jesus stated in Matt. 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell". I will not change because America changes. God does not change HIS mind concerning what HE deems to be SIN. God has always given each individual the right to choose--but we do not get to choose the consequences of our choice! God will be the JUDGE of OUR CHOICES. Even becoming a Christian is a CHOICE. Having an abortion is a Choice. Loving who YOU want has always been a CHOICE. Homosexuality or any kind of sexual immorality is SIN in God's eyes, but God allows us to do whatever we want to do---it is called FREEWILL. HE will however show us MERCY if we ask HIM to forgive us for SIN. But we can never believe that HE NOW accepts our SIN--If that were true then CHRIST did NOT need to DIE for our SINS. HE wants US to obey HIS WORD if WE LOVE HIM. God's MERCY affords--Salvation, hope instead of fear, peace instead of turmoil, and love instead of hate. As we support the President, let us remember that his "appointment" is only temporary, but GOD IS ETERNAL....GOD is the LEADER that we must choose to follow---for it is HE who sent HIS son to die, so that all who believe in HIM will be saved. May God continue to bless all of YOU! Peace.

Reflection on Presidential Inauguration 2013

I thank God for all who prayed for me and my family for traveling mercies--we arrived back home safely!!  I would also like to this opportunity to share with some of you my reflections.  As I stood outside on the Mall, in the gold ticketed area and looked back at the over one million strong some who were waving American flags---here is what I was thinking about.  In Feb. 2008, I was approached to campaign for Barack Obama--I said yes!! I began by contributing to his campaign, then I participated in registering citizens by knocking on doors.  I was surprised at the feedback of those who had not voted in years!!! Some were convicted felons who thought they could not vote.  If you didn't notice, this was before he was considered having a chance to beat Hillary Clinton, this was before all the blacks and Democrats in my home state of Georgia jumped on the OBAMA bandwagon, this was while many friends and family members were telling me "I was on the losing team".  What I remembered, was a "man" who spoke at the 2004 convention---and a "man" who moved everyone who heard him speak.  He was then selected as the first African-American Senator in 2005.  I was not surprised when he won the Democratic Nomination as some were--because I was in the trenches with Team Obama.  I also was not surprised when he won in 2008 or 2012!!  I was one of the few "black" students at my Conservative Christian Seminary who didn't mind saying publicly that we were voting for him.  I encountered many "blacks" who said they couldn't vote for him and I respected their "choice" then and I still respect the opinion of those who still can't vote for him for various reasons.  When I wrote an email to one of my African-American Professors a few months before the election in 2008, explaining why I was voting for our President Obama he asked if he could share it with all of his colleagues, friends and families and to protect the possible backlash he removed my name. In that email, I didn't mention once that it was because he was black, I did mention that I disagreed with his views on issues of abortion, gay rights, etc. I didn't mention once that I expected him to ride in on a white horse, wave a magic wand and eradicate every problem in America.  What I did state was that based on his choice to serve others through community organization in Chicago, love for his family, his sense of leadership, his intellect, and his ability to inspire others he was the better candidate.  I also wrote then that Barack Obama would become the President to a diverse America, an America made up of various faiths, cultures and races. I was not voting for him to be my Savoir---Jesus has that title and HONOR!!!  I also wrote that the American economy had been run into the ground by Republican administrations and a Democrat was needed to clean the mess up and save America!!  I then reflected on those closest to me in the crowd yesterday: Three white young adults from Chicago, a black man with his white wife from Tennessee, a couple who came from California, two black identical twin sisters, my guest for the day Ms. Harley from the Virgin Islands and my husband and daughter.  All of us interacted with each other as though we were family.  We smiled and celebrated the momentous occasion.  We knew that we were once again witnessing history--for to have him elected once could be seen as pure chance but twice is indeed a miracle.  Finally, as I end my reflection, I must state that I do NOT agree with some of the political views of our President, but there has been no greater supporter of him than I.  While I am truly proud to be an American, my Christian faith in GOD dictates that I although I am "governed" by the U.S. Constitution, I live according to the WORDS of Scripture.  God does not change the Bible like men change the Constitution. Whenever the two conflict, I will ALWAYS follow the BIBLE.  Jesus stated in Matt. 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell". I will not change because America changes.....God does not change HIS mind concerning what HE deems to be SIN. I KNOW what God's mercy affords--Salvation, hope instead of fear, peace instead of turmoil, and love instead of hate.  As we support the President, let us remember that his "appointment" is only temporary but GOD IS ETERNAL....GOD is the LEADER that we must follow---for it is HE who sent HIS son to die so that all who believe in HIM will be saved.  May God continue to bless all of YOU!  Peace.

"Protection"

Have you ever gotten a message from your Anti-virus Protection(hope you have one?) that said, "Norton detected a problem with the website you were about to visit and it was blocked". This is similar to God's protection. God knows what is bad for us and He sometimes steps in and blocks us from going places that we don't need to go or blocks things that we want to do. He is also working in the background, protecting us from things that we will never ever know! God is however better than "Norton" because we don't have to "pay" for a renewal every year. The ONLY renewal that God requires--is a daily renewal of OUR MINDS. Each day I thank Him for waking me up, clothed in my right mind, and with a reasonable portion of health and strength. I thank Him for His protection throughout the night. I read His revelation to all of mankind--THE HOLY BIBLE. I pray for myself, my family, my friends, and those that HE allows me to come into contact with personally and those who HE places in my spirit. I give the Holy Spirit permission to guide and direct my path for this day, then I ask Him to use ME for HIS GLORY. My purpose for living is to encourage YOU---AND If God is REAL in YOUR life I pray that YOU find yourself doing the same. Have a blessed day.

New Year--New Possibilities!!!

This is 2013!! I am truly happy to be still here.  Still able to work for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Do I have concerns? Sure I DO!! Who doesn't? But my concerns are just that, concerns--they do not cause me to worry or stay up late at night.  I thank God for his grace and peace.  It is that peace that allows me to press on regardless of my concerns.  I believe that all of us need to be aware that we will always have concerns, but it is how we choose to deal with them that will either give us peace or cause us to worry.  Stand firm today and know that God is able to keep you and strengthen you as you journey on!!  God is faithful and TRUE.  In 2013, keep your mind focused on your journey.  So many of us spend time watching others and no time on focusing on the steps needed to accomplish our own tasks.  Can you imagine what is possible for you in this new year?  1 Cor. 2:9 states that "Eye has not seen, not ears heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things God has prepared for those that love HIM." May God bless you to have a successful year!!!

Love Conquers ALL

Love conquers ALL.  Love is more than just a feeling, it is a deep emotion that is developed over time. There are three exceptions in which love is immediate they are: 1) a mother or father---we love our children from the moment they are conceived--I know that I loved my children since they were in my womb. 2) Children love their parents from birth. 3) Acceptance of Christ as YOUR Savior.  If we know better then we must do better--therefore we should not love things that can be destroyed--ie. shoes, cars, houses or cellphones.  Be mindful of what Christ died for--PEOPLE--not the things we acquire. For God so loved MANKIND that He sent His Son on the Cross to die so that ALL who believe in Him would have eternal life. He did not die so that we can love acquired things or ask Him for these things so that He could prove HIS love for US.  Look around you at those that you love more than things and demonstrate your love by smiling more, talking more, hugging more, giving them flowers while they can smell them and by doing anything that will show your appreciation. God loves US and He demonstrated HIS love ALREADY by sacrificing HIS SON. I pray that you have a God blessed day.

Good morning. Are you inspired YET, after seeing the great accomplishments of our athletes at the Olympics so far? There are so many lessons that we can learn from them. 1) Hard work and determination pays off 2) You win some and you lose some 3) You may be considered the underdog, but don't give up--you may just win the GOLD medal and prove them wrong 4) Having a great attitude makes a difference 5) The support of parents in your life is important 6) You are what you eat 7) Exercise does the body good 8) Being the best in anything has its challenges, but it feels really good 9) Preparation is half the battle--performing wins the goal/GOLD. 10) Everyone may not notice your talent, but GOD does. At the appropriate time, the world will see it too. Hope this inspires you to charge on doing all you can with the life that you have. Be blessed.

A Godly Marriage is between a MAN and a WOMAN

Matthew Chapter 19

3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6 So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." 10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry."11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it."  Many cannot accept these verses of Scripture as a direct teaching against homosexual marriage.  I however believe that it is clear--yet I completely understand why they are in denial.  In verse 11, Christ stated they "cannot accept this saying".  The Word of God is not for everybody! It is for those who believe in Him and are his disciples.  Christ teachings regarding why divorce was "allowed" was clearly laid out here in these Scriptures--it was because of "the hardness of your hearts".  This is so sad--because that is what we have today---people who are "hard hearted" toward the Word of God.  There is only one kind of marriage ordained by God and it was not the idea of man--so man's "new" ideas can never overrule God's original plans for mankind.  May God help those who refuse to understand that marriage was God's idea -- a covenant between a man and a woman---where the two became one flesh.  PERIOD.