Category Archives: Prayer

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Ex-Con’s Art Featured in United Methodist Church National Prison Summit

Hello World,

I love a good redemption story. Isn’t that the whole point of the Bible? To redeem us from our sins and set us on the right path…

That’s why I have to share the story of Leonard “Rusty” Medlock, who I read about on the Dallas Morning News website. A former drug dealer, he began dipping into his supply…

“Even in my darkest hours, I was praying,” Medlock said. “I was the only one sitting in a drug house, using drugs and praying out loud. I’d say, ‘Lord, please don’t let me die in this sin.’”

freeAlthough he eventually went to jail, God still heard his prayer…

“When I was in elementary school, my art teacher told my mom I had a real talent,” Medlock said. “And Mama said, ‘I know. He’s doing it all over my living room walls.’”

Behind bars, he started sketching again. He learned how to strip the bright colors off of Skittles candy and turn it into brilliant paint. He even used toothpaste to paint.

But another creative idea — drawing portraits of those featured in newspaper obituaries — got him noticed. He mailed them to funeral homes and asked them to pass the images along to survivors.

“All of a sudden … I started getting money on the books,” he said, referring to the cash — as much as $150 — that folks sent him.

To read his how art eventually freed him from jail physically, mentally and spiritually and see his artwork, go here…

Medlock’s art will now be featured in the National Prison Summit on Incarceration held at Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas this Friday through Sunday. hamilton

According the summit website, the National Prison Summit on Incarceration is a weekend designed to bring national, statewide and local experts together to share strategies and best practices to those who work in prison ministries. The goal for the summit is three fold. First, providing information about the need for community and faith-based volunteers to do ministry inside the prison walls that will transform the lives of persons incarcerated; Second, learn from experts about evidence-based practices on starting and growing your prison ministry; and finally how to be more effective and develop successful re-entry programs.

Any thoughts?

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Seven Scriptures to Dispel F.E.A.R. About Ebola…

Hello World,  hazmat

It’s time to get back in the Word again…I live in metro Atlanta…yes, that’s right…Ground Zero for Ebola treatment in the entire United States of America…

I have started carrying hand sanitizer and every time someone sneezes or sniffles near by me, my mind starts spinning all kinds of dramatic scenarios…What if she has Ebola? What if he has been in contact with someone who has Ebola? What if she is a family member of the nurse who has been transported to Atlanta for care?

I have even considered walking around like this…

So when my F.E.A.R. (False Evidence Appearing Real) of anything starts getting bigger than my faith in Jesus…It’s time to get back in the Word and dispel it…Below are a few verses to help me and you when we are tempted to make our own hazmat suits, avoid the area of town where the CDC and Emory are located or stay home altogether…

  1. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4…
  2. The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
  3. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3
  4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
  5. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
  6. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
  7. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “”Abba,” Father.” Romans 8:15

These verses help me to realize that my life and times are in God’s hands alone…God had an appointed time to bring me here and even though I don’t like to think about it, God has an appointed time for me to leave here…In the mean time, I will trust God and carry hand sanitizer…In other words, I trust God and I use the common sense that He gave me, but outside of that, that is all any of us can do…at least individually…

But here is something we can do collectively…let’s pray for those in West Africa who are suffering from Ebola, pray for those in the healthcare industry all over the world (my husband is in the healthcare industry), pray for those nurses here in the U.S. who are sick with Ebola and pray for the family of Thomas Eric Duncan (Read a touching article about his funeral in The New York Times )and all families who have lost members of their family due to the deadly virus…and sending some money to worthy and reputable organizations who are combating Ebola wouldn’t hurt either…

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

 

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Deliver Us From Hypocrisy: Senate Chaplain’s Barry Black’s Scathing Prayers in the government shutdown…

Hello World,

Like many Americans, I imagine, I am thoroughly disheartened that the people we elected cannot seem to work together to govern our country…I am reminded of when I first began as a reporter and covered school board meetings…I was shocked at how childish and petty the school board members acted. I felt like many of them either forgot or never learned the basics of good manners and appropriate behavior and instead chose to further their self interests instead of doing what was best for the children…I am not privy to all of what has transpired in the House and Senate but from my view, they are conducting themselves like children who want their way no matter what…

But thankfully, there is a voice of reason that has the unique ability to tell these so-called leaders about themselves…I learned about Senate Chaplain Barry Black from MNSBC’s Rachel Maddow…Prior to the government shutting down and throughout the government shutdown, Senate Chaplain Barry Black, who opens the meeting of the Senate each day with prayer, has used his prayers to admonish them and their shameless petulance…

  • On the Friday before the shutdown, Black said, “Keep us from shackling ourselves with the chains of dysfunction. Lord, deliver us from governing by crisis.”
  • On last Monday, Black said, “Lord, lead them away from the unfortunate dialectic of us versus them as they strive to unite for the common good of this land we love.”
  • On last Tuesday, Black prayed for “replacing cynicism with faith and cowardice with courage.”
  • And on last Wednesday, Black said, “Save us from the madness. Deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable.”

He said that, didn’t he?! Go head Senate Chaplain Black! Reminds me of the scathing prayers of the Old Testament prophets! Although Senate Chaplain Black is praying for our leaders, he shouldn’t be the only one…We are commanded to pray for our leaders 1 Timothy 2:1-2…

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Check out Senate Chaplain Barry Black’s prayers in the video below…His voice is so rich, deep and authoritative…Almost like James Earl Jones…Hopefully, his prayers combined with our prayers will be answered…

Any thoughts?