The two most memorable lessons I learned from my mother are:
1. Treat others as you want to be treated.
2. You can’t hate for anyone.
Nearly everything I learned from my mother, I learned from watching her live; observing how she interacted with and treated others. Occasionally, I ignored one of her lessons and took my cues from how people treated her – dismissively, disrespectfully or abusively.
Terry Ann: Eulogy
As the moon shines,
The angels come.
On a warm, hazy night
With stars twinkling bright;
The waves crashed against shore
With their ever beckoning lure.
Terry Ann, my baby;
My beautiful black lady.
A mother, wife, daugther, sister,
Cousin, aunt and friend.
Because of you, my heart beats;
I live and I breathe.
My ambitions stem from your struggles;
My understanding from your love.
You are one of God’s special
Children, touched on the heart.
And as I look to the Lord
There’s no anger for His part.
He has a place worthy of your presence -
Where heartache doesn’t reside.
You’ll not be disappointed, be in no pain,
Now that our Lord has taken you in hand.
On that warm, hazy night,
With stars shining bright;
As Michigan’s waves crashed
With their ever beckoning lure;
I know, as the moon shone upon you,
Your angels came to take you home.
~ LaShawnda Jones, August 1996
We love each other because God loved us first.
If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters. ~ 1 John 4:19-20, NLT
My heart is just so full right now. Amazingly, achingly, burstingly full. When this condition first came upon me, all I could think was, “I Love the Lord!” and “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Now, I don’t just thank God when the blessings are obvious, I’ve learned to thank Him even in the deep darkness of my affliction, pain and despair. However, when the blessings do rain down, I am not neglectful or stingy with my thanksgiving!
I wish for the whole world to know how great, magnificent, wonderful, merciful, caring, nurturing and amazing my God is! I wish for everyone to experience His provision, wisdom and grace. I have determined to continually be the one who returns to give thanks for what my Lord has done for me before heading out into the world to share my testimony of His overwhelming generosity and healing grace.
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, He reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance,crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting,“Praise God!”He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” ~ Luke 17:11-19, NLT
Amen! Glory to God for a healing, restorative faith!
performed by Whitney Houston, from The Preacher’s Wife Soundtrack
I love the Lord, He heard my cry And pitied every groan, long as I, I live"without pushing them away?"
At some point, every Christian has had a family member, a friend, co-worker, or acquaintance who is not a Christian. Sharing the gospel with others can be difficult, and it can become even more difficult when it involves someone with whom you have close emotional ties. The Bible tells us that some people will be offended at the gospel (
Logo design by Katie Good
Isn’t she lovely!?! 
(spiritharvestblog.com)
I’m always shocked how quickly and completely people pre-judge me simply because I profess my belief and faith in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. After they know that about me, it’s like they deem me unworthy of getting to know. Suddenly, I have no opinions other than what’s popularly known, assumed or guessimated about the Bible. I have no sense of humor. I have no aspirations other than the second coming of the Lord. I’m one-dimensional. I’m unfair. A religious nut. A fanatic. A homophobe. Perhaps a racist or classist. Certainly superior. Irrational. Unintelligent. Unable to think for myself. A know-it-all with a straight line to God. Misguided. Simple-minded. A target. Object of pity. Innocent. Naïve. Someone to take advantage of because forgiveness is a way of life. A non-sinner. Incapable of understanding struggle. Unacquainted with sin or sinful thoughts. A paragon at avoiding temptation. Self-righteous and overly ripe. I’m sure the list of assumptions and judgments continue endlessly, but these are some I’ve been confronted with.
Recently, I had a Facebook exchange with someone who just assumed I was in opposition to something that she supported simply because of my “religion”. This was our first exchange on the topic and her only comment to me about it. The first time I met her is the last time I saw her, about five years ago at an event. In the same comment she mentioned an appreciation of our “friendship”.
That’s the second thing that hit me after being pre-judged based on my faith life: What friendship? Friends communicate with one another. They take the time to get to know each other. Friendships are long-term relationships that grow DESPITE what we learn about the other person. A friend doesn’t learn one thing about their “friend” and stop learning. Stop speaking. Stop sharing. Stop growing and exploring the relationship. In other words, friendships are not based on pre-judgments. Friendships are based on openness and a willingness to get to know another person and accept them as they are. To share that person’s present reality and perhaps aid them in their future dreams. Friendships deepen with each new character aspect we learn about the other person and through each trial and challenge that is overcome together in the relationship.
Don’t claim to be my friend if you can’t even accept or respect me as a faith-filled person.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them.
“…but I came to give life — life in all its fullness.” ~ John 10:10, NCV
It’s not often that I get so riled that I allow myself to be dragged into another person’s pettiness. But this morning, that’s exactly what happened. My emotional reaction may be understandable to most people with the least amount of common sense and decency… at least I hope it is… even though that’s not really important.
I had to pull myself up short this morning, even as I was slipping into a rabbit hole of bickering with someone. Once I had a bit of vision beyond my red haze of rage and resentment, I gave the issue to God. “Father, take this! I’m breathing deep and I’m exhaling it all out of me. I don’t want this.”
The next thing I did was think about how well God has taken, and continues to take care of me. He has blessed me so much! My life is bursting with possibility, my heart is overflowing with hope, and my mind has expanded to horizons I had never even thought of. And I know there’s so much more to come!
Rage and Resentment were trying to box out my Joy.
Then John 10:10 came to mind. I initially thought the message was about the enemy’s purpose. A reminder that I should expect to be attacked by those who aren’t aware of their own blessings. But it wasn’t a reminder about the enemy’s purpose; it was a reminder about Jesus’s purpose!
Jesus Christ came to give me and you life. Not just any old kind of life. He came to give us LIFE IN ALL IT’S FULLNESS!
When I reminded myself of God’s goodness to me, I also reminded myself my fullness. I don’t have any room for rage, resentment, pettiness, foolishness, envy, jealousy – all the animosity that was on offer to me this morning is nothing I chose to accept into my life.
Take time to truly thank God for all He has done for you. When you run out of breath, you’ll notice the arrows that were flung at you lay harmlessly on the ground.
Selah!
Be joyous in all your blessings and you won’t have the time or energy to wallow in any of your sorrows!
Shawnda
Related posts:
The enemy ONLY comes to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY (John 10:10). If you are being attacked, you have something the enemy doesn’t want you to have. However, if you focus on the enemy, you aren’t able to focus on the blessings in your life. That’s what s/he wants! If you are not focused on your blessings, then you are not able to give thanks to the One who has blessed you. When you don’t give thanks, gratitude is short-lived, mercy is not received, and hope is short-sighted. This is why praising God is important when you are under siege. Lift your blessings to God and give Him your battle too. You’re already victorious – the enemy wants to make you forget that.
Be blessed.
Shawnda
Stand Bold Against the Spirit of the Antichrist
A Lesson in 1 Kings 13 – Man of god from Judah Meets the Old Prophet from Bethel
Pleasing God While in the World
If ever there was a song that did a heart and spirit good in a melancholy moment. I hope it blesses you too.
Shawnda
I was just a child, when I felt the Savior leading
I was drawn to what I could not understand
And for the cause of Christ, I have spent my days believing
That what He’d have me be, is who I am
As I’ve come to see the weaker side of me
I realize His grace is what I’ll need
When sin demanded justice for my soul
[Chorus]
Mercy said no
I’m not gonna let you go
I’m not gonna let you slip away
You don’t have to be afraid
Mercy said no
sin will never ever take control
Life and death stood face to face
Darkness tried to steal my heart away carry for 3 beats …
Thank You Jesus, Mercy said no carry it for 5 beats…..
For God so loved the world, that He sent His son to save us
From the cross He built a bridge to set us free
Oh, but deep within our hearts, there is still a war that rages
And makes a sacrifice so hard to see
As midnight fell on crucifixion day
The light of hope seemed oh so far away
As evil tried to stop redemption’s flow
[Repeat Chorus]
[Bridge]
And now when heaven looks at me
It’s through the blood of Jesus
Reminding me of one day long ago
[Repeat Chorus]
Writer: LONG, GREG ALLEN/KOCH, DONALD A/CLARK, DAVID ALLEN/CLARK, DAVID ALLEN/KOCH, DONALD A
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Performed by CeCe Winans
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