Category Archives: Holidays

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Someday We’ll All Be Free…

Hello World!!!

It’s been a minute since I hollered at you but my life is a little overwhelming right now so forgive me if I don’t post as reguarly as I want to post…

So as you know, yesterday our country celebrated the anniversary of our freedom…sometimes I take it for granted but freedom is really priceless…Yesterday, as I was running the Peachtree Road Race, a beloved Atlanta tradition, I felt free as my legs sliced through the heat and the crowds as I trekked on the 6.2 mile-course (yes, I am giving myself some dap…)I felt some sadness as I ran up what is known as “Cardiac Hill” on which the Shepherd Spinal Center is located. Many of its inhabitants, in their wheelchairs, lined the streets and watched as the runners and walkers passed by. I wondered, as the some 50,000 passed by them, if they longed for the freedom of those whose legs were able to walk and run. I tried to look into their eyes as I passed them, but I had to focus on making it up the hill. I did manage to cheer as I ran by – the best way I could figure at the time to show them support…

As I get updated every day about every nook and cranny of Michael Jackson’s life and death over the last week or so, I have tried to imagine how the King of Pop felt over the course of his lifetime. It’s no secret that he longed for the freedom of a healthy childhood…And with all of this media coverage, I wonder if he longed to be free of his fame…Don’t get me wrong. Now, I’m sure that MJ enjoyed the lavish lifestyle that his fame provided for him – Neverland Ranch is a prime example – but his sequestering of himself in Dubai demonstrates the underbelly of fame…It’s obvious  now there is almost no where in the world MJ could go to get away from the attention, scrutiny and judgment…

Last month, a friend of mine e-mailed a “Happy Juneteenth” message to a few of my friends and me. Another one of us e-mailed us back stating, “We’s Be Free!”  With a simple and instantaneous click of the word “send, ” we got the message…I laughed but I’m sure that it was no laughing matter at the time…I cannot imagine working under the tyranny that was slavery at all…but when you think that many slaves worked months after they were declared free…I’d like to think that somehow, some way those slaves – particularly those that built the White House – realized that our nation has finally elected a black president…

Jesus Christ invoked the principle of freedom many times throughout the Word…

 

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see,
   that the oppressed will be set free, 19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19

31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”…  34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:31-32, 34-36

1It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

Today, I’m thankful that God has allowed me the freedom of health…I have the freedom to run road races…

Today, I’m thankful that God enabled me to have a wonderful childhood…my parents, though not perfect, provided me the freedom to evolve at my own pace…

Today, though I hate that my people were ever enslaved and don’t always approve of our domestic or foreign policies, I’m thankful for the freedom that we enjoy as American citizens…I can come and go as I please and I can tell others where to go when they get on my nerves 🙂

But most of all, I am thankful that I experience the freedom of Jesus Christ – although I have never seen Him with my physical eyes, I sense His presence nearly all the time and trust that He is guiding me every moment of every day…

Yes, freedom is so precious that many songs have been written about it…One of my favorite “freedom” songs  is Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free.” I couldn’t find an appropriate video of this Hathaway classic so I decided to post Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” – also a classic “freedom” song. What are you free from today? What do you have the freedom to celebrate today? What does freedom mean to you…

Any thoughts?

P.S. I guess Sarah Palin is free to quit her position as governor of Alaska…I wonder what she feels free to do next…Lord, help us…

 

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We Fall Down…But He Got Up!!!

Hello World!!!

Two words. He. Arose…I could stop there, but I won’t…At the Maundy Thursday service I attended a few days ago, each person was given a scripture to read as a part of the service…

Below is the scripture that I read:

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, Sit here while I pray. 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, he said to them. Stay here and keep watch. 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. 37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Simon, he said to Peter, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?  38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. 39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Mark 14:32-41

I have been meditating on these scriptures since then, and I think I know what the Lord is saying to me through these verses, and what I think is confirmed by another translation of the same scriptures. The first version is the New International Version of scripture, and the second version is the Contemporary English Version.

32Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he told them, “Sit here while I pray.” 33Jesus took along Peter, James, and John. He was sad and troubled and 34told them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying. Stay here and keep awake with me.”  35-36Jesus walked on a little way. Then he knelt down on the ground and prayed, “Father, [a] if it is possible, don’t let this happen to me! Father, you can do anything. Don’t make me suffer by having me drink from this cup. [b] But do what you want, and not what I want.”  37When Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping, he said to Simon Peter, “Are you asleep? Can’t you stay awake for just one hour? 38Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.” 39Jesus went back and prayed the same prayer. 40But when he returned to the disciples, he found them sleeping again. They simply could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to say. 41When Jesus returned to the disciples the third time, he said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? [c] Enough of that! The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners.

Although Jesus Christ knew that He came to Earth to die for our sins, He clearly did not look forward to this ultimate sacrifice. And so He prayed that He would not have to die in the Garden of Gethsemane before the crucifixion. He accurately told the Father that God could remove our sin without Jesus having to lay down his life as God is all powerful. I think Jesus wanted His disciples to petition the Father on His behalf…He asked them three times to pray…Yet they failed Him each time.  Instead they chose to sleep. After His third request, I believe Jesus knew what the Lord absolutely required…something supernatural would have to supersede the natural because the natural wasn’t going to cut it.

I know I can apply this scripture to my life. I think sacrifice is a requirement in the life of a Christian. We may not be required to die on the cross, but we do have a cross to bear – that cross may be different for each person. And who wants to bear a cross…We may pray and ask several people to pray that we don’t have to bear that cross, but in the end, we realize that there is no way to it- unless you go through it…That’s a hard pill to swallow…As I type this post, I know there is something I must sacrifice, but I would rather not…What in your life is God asking you to sacrifice that you rather not… As I ponder on my current cross, I just have to sigh….Thank God, when I’m ready to do my part, I can ask God to supersede the natural and help me….Yes, I fall down…a lot…but thanks be to God, He Got Up and eventually I will too…

Anyway, it’s something to ponder on this blessed Easter Sunday!!!

Any thoughts?

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That’s Why My Heart is Filled With Praise!!!

kirk2Hello World!!!

Blessings to you on this first day of Holy Week! If you remember my Valentine’s Day post or more accurately, my Valentine’s Day Eve post, I discussed some songs that get me in that lovey dovey mood…And that is why I want to list some songs – praise and worship and gospel – that get me in the mood to lift up my Lord and Savior -none other than Jesus Christ. During this week, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I plan to focus my attention on the Lord and His blessed resurrection  because He is worthy of all my praise and adoration!

Thankfully very early in my Christian journey, a fellow traveler revealed the secrets of praise to me and it has become an important aspect of my relationship with Him…First of all, I learned to praise the Lord whether my circumstances are good or bad, and through my praise, the Lord gives me joy – which is not dependant on happiness! As my father said, most people make themselves unhappy because they expect to be happy all of the time….it just ain’t gonna happen…but you can always have joy! Praise Jesus!

And although times may be particularly bad for many people right now, we are challenged  in the Word to offer up the sacrifice of praise…And we can do it, because the Lord sacrificed his Son for us….

By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.   Hebrews 13:15

So because I love my Lord more than any other, I will list 15 rather than the 14 songs I listed my for Valentine’s Day Eve post…let me know what you think…

1. “Oh Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers – It was a happy day when I was saved! This soulful song can’t help but put you in the mood to praise Him! It’s a good song to end your workout with as well for my gym rats out there…

2. “I’m Still Holding On” by Luther Barnes and the Red Budd Gospel Choir featuring Deborah Barnes – Although I sometimes feel silly believing in a God that I can’t see, I still hold on because I’ve had too many blessings and experiences to turn back now…I’m still holding on…

3. “Expect a Miracle” by The Clark Sisters – If you follow God, you will have a supernatural experience…This song right here is pure butta baby…the notes these women hit…umm, um – truly gifted from the Lord! It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get your day started right!

4. “Hosanna” by Kirk Franklin – First of all I met Kirk Franklin in Nashville, Tennessee a few years ago…He is the nicest guy for real! And he is as short as I am…hilarious!  Anyway, this song is a shonuff praise song…I ain’t gon lie…not too many gospel songs make me wanna dance but this one does….(I included a pic of us in this post…obviously, I wasn’t hitting the gym as I needed to…)

5. “My Life, My Love, My All” by Kirk Franklin – Just a beautiful love and praise song…It’s a love song for Jesus…I know that sounds corny, but it’s true…I’m swaying as I’m listening to it right now…

6. “The Blood Song” by Kirk Franklin featuring Donnie McClurkin, Crystal Lewis and Jaci Velasquez – Can you tell I’m a Kirk Franklin fan?

7. “This Battle is the Lord’s” by Yolanda Adams – When folks gettin’ on your nerves and you’re hoping the Lord will get your vengence for you- vengence is mine He says…I know it’s wrong, but I know I ain’t the only one…Y’all pray for me and for yourself…Anyway, the Lord is my protector and yours…

8. “Open My Heart” by Yolanda Adams – The lyrics for this song are just soo honest…”Don’t let me make the same mistakes over and over again.” I sometimes make the same mistake over and over and over again…But the Lord is working with me…

9. “Victory” by Yolanda Adams – This song rocks! In spite of myself, I was bobbing my head when I first heard this song as I watched the movie “The Gospel” a few years ago…

10. “Fragile Heart” by Yolanda Adams – First of all, the guitar solo at the song at the beginning of this song is crazy…This song is about losing a beloved person in your life to death…but I think the song works if you’re broken hearted about anything…Sometimes, it’s only the Lord that can heal your broken heart…

11. “Shackles” by Mary Mary – This is a nice song to bob your head to in the car… (Plus, they are so pretty too…sorry, I believe in being cute!)

12. “Love Him Like I Do” by Dietrick Haddon, Mary Mary and Ruben Studdard – Again in spite of myself, I find myself rockin’ when I hear this song…I swear you will to 🙂 .

13. “Love Song” by Canton Jones – Just a beautiful song about the love of God…it compares to no other…and really works when your man is trippin’ …y’all know how it is!

14. “Let Go” by DeWayne Woods – This song is sooo earnest…I don’t know about you, but sometimes, the best thing you can do is let go and let God…that’s when things begin to change…Read about Woods’ amazing testimony here.

15. “How Can I Say” by Lisa McClendon – She is not as popular as the other artists I mentioned, but her voice is beautiful. And the lyrics of this song are beautiful…how can I say I love the Lord and not talk to Him each day…

So what are your favorite praise and worship and gospel songs or even hymns?

Any thoughts? 

P.S. Here is the video for Lisa McClendon’s song…