tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5182713462375569362024-03-12T16:07:36.434-07:00The Mind of GMMEMy name is Gwendolyn Melinda Michelle Evans aka GMME which is pronounced "Gimme" like the slang version of "give me." When you have a long name it's only normal for people to figure out a way to shorten it. Apparently people have been known to be inspired and/or amused at the things I say. Other than that, I'm just being me. Hope you enjoy! Oh and I luh God!GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-71115132986753175732020-06-03T16:15:00.000-07:002020-06-03T16:27:56.762-07:00#BlackLivesMatter<div style="text-align: justify;">
As a writer, people often look to you for words, but there are times when life is so overwhelming the words just aren't there. I have started several posts and then deleted them wanting to be careful of what I said and how I said it. Then I had a conversation with my editor and she said, you know you should post that final chapter in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0833RL8SK/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i7" target="_blank">"A Christmas Wedding."</a> Then the light bulb came on. I don't have the words, but my characters do. For those of you who don't know, I have a romance series entitled <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CKJ2UMA/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i8" target="_blank">A Divine Love Story</a></i>. The characters are a group of Christians who are multi-ethnic so the conversations about race and race relations are always transparent, uncomfortable and wrapped in love. For those of you who don't understand, can't understand or refuse to understand why we say #BlackLivesMatter then hopefully this "conversation" with a group of male friends (black, white & biracial) gives a starting point for those difficult conversations to have with your fellow human beings. My advice listen to <i>hear </i>don't listen to <i>rebut</i>. Don't deflect and don't change the narrative, just listen to your fellow human beings. The blood deep in American soil is crying out for justice and change! </div>
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<b>*If you have not read this book THERE ARE SPOILERS!!!*</b></div>
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<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc28115216">Excerpt from "A Christmas Wedding" </a></h1>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc28115216"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright by Gwendolyn Melinda Michelle Evans 2019</span></a></div>
<h1>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Toc28115216">Chapter 16: A Toxic Narrative</a><o:p></o:p></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
It was New Year’s Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Walker’s decided to host the gathering to
bring in the new year. They’d enjoyed Carmen’s delicious meal and then everyone
migrated to their separate corners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
kids were upstairs playing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The women
were in the living room, while the men made their way to the patio or what was
better known as Damon’s “man cave.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Their living room was spacious with a large black
leather sectional sofa with recliners. The ladies were sitting around with
their feet propped up. They were not paying any attention to the movie in the
background on the 65-inch TV that hung on the wall over the fireplace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Alright, now that the kids are gone, spill it! How
was the honeymoon?” Lucy asked Alyssa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
She blushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Oh my God you guys, the people next to our suite banged on our wall and
told us to be quiet!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
They all fell out laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Now that’s how you honeymoon,” Jasmine said giving
her a high five.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Carmen shook her head. “I hope you guys left some
money for tearing up their headboard.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The laughter continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Well honey, if you weren’t already with child, I
think you would have come back with one,” Keisha added.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“That is very likely,” Alyssa admitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We definitely made up for lost time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
∞∞∞<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The guys were sitting around Damon’s back patio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dylan had just finished telling them about
Veronica’s true paternity and all the shenanigans that resulted from it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad that he and Keisha were on the same page
now, he was in a much better place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
had turned the information over to their new lawyer at Blake’s firm for it to
be handled that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Wow,” Blake said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I admire men that take on the responsibility of raising one that’s not
their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure I could do it, but
I’m glad I didn’t have to. It comes with so many complications and potential
issues.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Damon gave a slight nod in agreement that only Blake
caught. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, only his parents,
Blake and Jasmine knew he was not Kiamoni’s biological father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett was absorbing it all and to be honest it was
adding more issues of fear of becoming a full-time father to Samantha and his unborn
baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the day, she wasn’t
his and her real father was bad news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s one thing to raise a child that acts like you because you share
DNA. It’s completely different to raise someone else’s because you have no
insight as to what the child inherited from the one they share a biological
connection to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It scared him sometimes
that he might find himself loving his own child more or even worse, showing
favoritism and he knew that could really hurt Samantha in the long run as well
as the relationship with her sibling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Jeremy was feeling some kind of way about the
conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the actual
issue, but it was adjacent enough to trigger his emotions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew Dylan wasn’t to blame for the issue
at hand, but still, it sparked an irritation he had with society at large and
the narrative they have about black men and fatherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scowl on his face said it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Dude, what’s wrong with you?” Blake inquired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Nothing,” Jeremy said with frustration in his voice
as he took a sip of his drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake’s brow raised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Clearly you feel strongly about something,” Dylan
observed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What is it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“It’s nothing,” Jeremy repeated. “Besides this isn’t
the right crowd to engage in the issue anyways.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What does that mean?” Brett inquired slightly
offended as it was clear he was referencing their whiteness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
At that comment, Damon clued into what Jeremy was
thinking about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I won’t be offended man. Express yourself,” Dylan
encouraged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Jeremy hesitated and made quick eye contact with
Damon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave a slight nod that he
understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Breaking the awkward silence, Blake said, “Listen
that’s what we do here in this family, and I don’t use that term loosely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are blessed to have these tough
conversations to help us all grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go
ahead and say what’s bothering you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
probably an opportunity for us all to do better.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett immediately got uncomfortable and wanted to
leave. He’d been around them for two years and absolutely adored their
makeshift family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, conversations
about race relations made him uncomfortable and this group never seemed to be
short on them, but he guessed it was unavoidable considering their makeup. He
just wished everyone would stop with all the drama and get along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
For their parts, Dylan and Blake had grown
comfortable in these spaces. Not only were they married to intelligent and
passionate black women, but they also had their own experiences with race
relations as well as the fact that they were raising brown children. Their love
for their children shifted their perspective as well as their love for their
wives and the day-to-day experiences they had in present-day America that
unfortunately, as of late, showed many remnants of a darker past to those of her
citizens who were black and brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I feel you, bro,” Damon said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Go ahead. I got you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Jeremy nodded his thanks and stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He began to pace looking like an agitated but
graceful cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damon chuckled; this
brother was fire hot about the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake raised a brow and realized this must be really
bothering him. Dylan wondered what it was about his situation that had Jeremy
triggered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett was nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So many times he’d wanted to join in the conversations on race relations
but remained quiet. The only other person who he felt could most likely relate
to him was Frank, but they were vastly different as was their experience in
America so again, he didn’t even see him as a true ally on the subject matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Jeremy began, “Let me start by first saying this.” He
stopped pacing long enough to turn and face Dylan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I respect what you’re doing with Roni and I
love the way you love her. You’re doing a great job as her father and as your <i>friend,</i>
I will have your back if ol’ boy ever decides to act a fool. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean it’s whatever really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You feel me?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Dylan nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He understood that regardless of what Jeremy was about to reveal, as his
friend, he would have his back when it came to Veronica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“With that being said,” he continued as he began to
pace again. “There are two problematic issues here that this conversation
triggered for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a serious
problem with the narrative in this country surrounding black men and fatherhood
and I’m sincerely irritated about this white savior complex that continues to
be somewhere in every storyline.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
No one interrupted as they listened to him state his
case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What irritates me is that this country’s original
sin was exacerbated by white men not being fathers to children they produced by
raping the black women they owned, but somehow we end up with the dead-beat dad
scarlet letter because of the stereotyping narrative <i>they</i> perpetuated. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know so many black men that love and take
care of their children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’m out
with Sophia, I always get shocked responses from white women especially. ‘Oh,
you’re such a good father.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if me
being capable of being a good father was some anomaly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really pisses me off.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I feel you, bro,” Damon said thinking of his own
experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve gotten those shocked
comments too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try my best to ignore
their ignorance.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake contemplated how different his experiences was
than theirs, especially in the same neighborhoods. It was crazy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Now, this white savior thing,” Jeremy began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“There’s this narrative that gets told to the
masses and perpetuated through different forms of media that there always has
to be a white savior as if without a white savior we’d perish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As dope as <i>Black Panther</i> was a white
man still had to play a part in saving us and saving us from ourselves at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t our stories be told without the
narrative that we need them to intervene to save us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, that irritates my soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know Lucy and I had an argument about
Sophia believing in Santa Claus now that she’s getting older.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What’s wrong with Santa Claus?” Brett asked
sincerely curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Jeremy turned to face him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Look I work too hard to provide for my
family and make sure they have all their needs met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I have a problem with letting a white man
take credit for it, I’m sorry. Teaching my brown daughter that her character,
as in being good or bad, depends on the approval of a white man.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Dude, it’s fiction,” Brett said sincerely not
grasping the depth of what Jeremy was saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yes, he is, and I could even make Santa Black in my
home, but the fact remains the national conversation and depiction in every
movie is that he’s white and I have a problem with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the record I don’t have a problem with
Santa as a person being white. I have a problem with the notion of control
that’s lorded over children by his list, especially since it’s all made
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No offense Brett, but you don’t have
a dog in this fight. Your wife is the same as you and y’all don’t have brown
children. You have no idea what that does to a person’s psyche when they don’t
have representation or when they equate their value to only one thing as
acceptable – whiteness. It’s dangerous.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“He’s right,” Damon said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Tis the season too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Carmen the same thing man, but she was
more focused on the innocence of it and didn’t want them to miss out on certain
things in their childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, our
compromise was that only one gift be from him and the rest are from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make it clear in our house Christmas is
about giving and we don’t manipulate our kids with that naughty or nice mess.
When they get in trouble they get punished on the spot. I don’t like holding
stuff over their heads, but that’s just me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Jeremy nodded his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s not a bad idea. I’ll talk to Lucy
about it. She’s the same way with the whole innocence and childhood thing.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Santa is a problem but depicting Jesus as a white
man is America’s biggest white savior con,” Damon said bringing the
conversation back. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Thank you!” Jeremy shouted feeling vindicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett frowned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yeah, we white folk have got to take the L on that
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean how the heck did Jesus hide
in the crowd in the Middle East looking like the doe-eyed man with long silky
hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not even logical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention the description of his hair,”
Dylan said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Exactly,” Damon agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s crazy is most people don’t even know other
places in the world have pictures of Him with a dark complexion and wooly
hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone needs to watch <i>Hidden
Colors.</i> It’s the biggest perpetration of psychological warfare against
black people and the sad part is that lie is pulling so many of us away from
the church and God’s word. The devil is busy, and people fall for the okie doke
because deep down, one side embraces their supposed superiority, while the
other side rebel against the notion they are inferior and in the process rebel
against all things they feel support the narrative. But what’s more accurate is
what is being used to support the narrative based on how it’s interpreted to manipulate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean they actually had a ‘slave bible’
where only the passages left were ones that instilled obedience and upheld
slavery.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake watched Brett as all this information was being
passed around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew it wasn’t easy to
hear. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Pope Alexander VI commissioned Leonardo Da Vinci to
paint a new picture of Jesus using his son Cesare Borgia which is the image
most take as gospel,” Jeremy said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But
you’re right Damon, the psychological damage that it’s done to our people,
which they knew full well it would, is sickening. It saddens me that so many
people are pulling away from God’s Word because they depict it as the ‘white
man’s Bible.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“You know I always wondered of all the lies that
those who colonized told in history why didn’t they just take out the
description of Jesus in the Bible that so blatantly dispels their account of
what he looked like?” Blake asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“They couldn’t because if they could have, they would
have and that alone is the validation of the sacredness of the book in my opinion
because let’s face it, white people have been fictionalizing history to fit
their narrative for centuries and don’t even get me started on celebrating
Columbus Day,” Jeremy tisked as he took another sip of his drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Here’s something that needs to be considered,” Dylan
began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“When the forefathers set out to
create this deception, they deceived everyone, black and white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Black people believed they were inferior and
white people believed they were superior. Psychological warfare was done on
both sides. Part of the reason why systematic racism is so hard to dismantle is
because white people have to accept that they were lied to as well and are not,
in fact, superior and this whole mess is not even a real thing, but a social
construct created for a power grab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s be honest for most that’s a hard pill to swallow,” Dylan added.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
They all nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett shocked himself by joining the conversation,
but he felt he needed to say something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Okay,
I can understand that, but this conversation started based on Dylan’s
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I for one think it’s messed
up that you can come at him like this. At the end of the day, he stepped up to
do what was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t see color;
he saw a child in need and did what a responsible man does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the record, I don’t see color either and
I think if we all took color out of it and just dealt with people based on
their character as MLK asked us to then the world would be a better place,”
Brett told them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Both Dylan and Blake dropped their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brett was about to get a valuable lesson in
race relations he would never forget. They were married to black women and they
understood how dangerous that notion of not seeing color truly was. Damon took
a sip of his drink and shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jeremy turned to look at Brett finally taking a seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Alright let me break this down to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that you don’t see color tells every
black and brown person that you don’t see their plight in life. That it doesn’t
exist to you. That everything that comes with the skin they were born in, not
only doesn’t exist to you, but it doesn’t matter to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as you’re blind to color, you’re
blind to the struggle of those of us of color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It sets a dangerous precedent for injustice, low self-picture,
inferiority complexes and so much more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a copout, in my opinion. If you don’t see color, then you don’t have to take
responsibility for what you see happening day in and day out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How old is Jane Elliott’s experiment of
asking a room full of white people to stand up if they were willing to trade
places with a black person? Not one stood up because they know the truth but
like to ignore it, so they don’t have to deal with the part they play in it
that perpetuates the oppression of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, silence is an action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
you brought up Martin Luther King, remember he said, ‘In the end, we will
remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.’”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett swallowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Furthermore, you just proved my point that it’s not
a black and white thing if one has to step up and take responsibility, but the
character of the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell, Samantha’s
dad is lily-white and trifling as hell and Damon as a black man stepped in to
help raise her before you showed up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
even walked Alyssa down the aisle because the white man who fathered her never
even tried to be in her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not
about seeing color or not seeing color, it’s about seeing a need and fulfilling
it and color not being a determining factor when it comes to doing what is
right or necessary,” Jeremy said and took another sip of his drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Dylan chimed in, “Uh, for the record I do see
color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom put me up on Jane Elliott
a long time ago and I have brown children, I cannot afford to not see color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because if I engage the world through my
white eyes only, I miss the overt and subtle tactics of racism.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
With that, he sat back and gave Jeremy back the
floor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brett’s face was red, and they
could tell he was struggling with this conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Let me ask you this,” Damon interjected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How many black people were you around prior
to us?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“On a consistent or regular basis? Just
coworkers.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Is Ken the first person of color to enter your
family?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yes.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“So, no intimate relationships, like ours where
you’re consistently involved in their daily lives.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“We can never live the experience of others because
you must be in their shoes to walk their path, but we can empathize with others
and not dismiss their plight or fictionalize it because it’s not our own,”
Damon said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I hope you don’t feel attacked and I hope you take
what’s been said here and really think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At any given moment, one of our brown
children can be in your care and we need to know that you’re a tower of
strength and safety for them with whatever they may face while in your care,
even racism,” Jeremy said from the sincerest place in his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett nodded. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
did understand that because the love he had for Samantha scared him sometimes
because it often overwhelmed him as did his need to keep her safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Now, I never thought of it from that perspective.
With the kids, I truly get what you’re saying, so I know I need to work on
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t feel attacked, just
uncomfortable, but I guess just like you want me to see it from your
perspective, you also have to look at mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t think the average white person sets out to prove white is right
when they’re out in the world doing good things, I think they see a need and
fulfill it. I think it’s jacked up when someone is truly doing something out of
the goodness of their heart, and they get attacked for it because of the
perceived motive behind it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end
of the day, Veronica’s life is better because Dylan is in it, not because he’s
white, but because he’s a good man and a great father to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now true, some may gravitate to the causes of
marginalized people to appease some level of guilt they feel but mostly people
are just trying to do and be better. For me, I taught myself not to see color
because it’s a distraction. At the end of the day, even though I grew up in a
loving house that taught respect for all people, I grew up in a white world and
with that comes the ugly things said and perpetuated about people of color.
Teaching myself not to see color was something I used to help me stay away from
attaching stigmas and stereotypes of what I’ve been taught just from existing
in my white world.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“When we find coping mechanisms, we have to ask
ourselves some things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this instance,
are you fixing the issues of the implicit biases created from your white world
or are you putting a Band-Aid on them?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jeremy asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett nodded thoughtfully then responded, “I work in
security, so I see shady behavior from all types of people. I don’t believe any
one group has the patent on being shady. Shady behavior does not have a
color.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The narrative is there that white
is superior, it’s right and blah, blah, blah. I get that, but for me not seeing
color helps me not buy into that narrative because I know it’s not true,” Brett
told them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Jeremy nodded. “I get that, I really do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it helps you with your personal convictions,
I get why you use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you’re not
racist. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you don’t dislike people
because of their skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re talking
about the larger issues in society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks for helping me see that perspective because it’s one I would have
never been able to.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brett nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’re all out here in this world trying to
survive, I can’t begrudge you the ways you choose to navigate this crazy world,
all I’m saying is don’t just think <i>to</i> the situation, think <i>through</i>
the situation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett nodded and extended his fist to Jeremy for a
bump. Jeremy obliged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Alright, are all hearts and minds clear?” Damon
asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
They laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Brett, you good?” Blake inquired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yeah, for now. You all gave me something to think
about. Can we revisit this again if I have questions?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Absolutely,” Jeremy said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Honestly, I was actually hoping to talk to you guys
about something else, but Jeremy got in his feelings and threw me off,” Brett
said with a smirk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
They all fell out laughing as Jeremy threw a
balled-up napkin at Brett.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What’s on your mind?” Dylan asked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett rubbed a hand over his face before continuing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Uh-oh,” Damon said laughing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“This fatherhood thing scares the bejesus out of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean I have a great example from
my father, but still, it’s a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, I can’t go to my dad with this issue and I was hoping maybe you
guys could help,” he confessed looking at Dylan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sometimes I wonder if I’ll treat Samantha
different from the child that does belong to me,” he said with shame coating
his voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake eyed Damon who caught it from his peripheral
vision but didn’t acknowledge it. Blake wondered if Damon would tell them of
Kiamoni’s true paternity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I think that’s a very fair concern,” Jeremy added
though he couldn’t give Brett any personally learned wisdom on the matter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Well, I can say this,” Dylan responded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’re going to love each kid differently
regardless of who fathered them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
child is unique and will create their own specific feelings from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, Veronica is the child that made
me a father and she’s a girl. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lucas is
flesh of my flesh, so yeah, it’s cool to see parts of me in him, and there’s
pride because he’s a boy, but the truth is because I’m raising Roni, there will
be parts of me in her as well. Maybe not physical attributes, but mannerisms
and character for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you let a
child into your heart as yours, they’re your own and your heart can’t
differentiate that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The differences in
the way you parent them will come from many different factors, but biology
isn’t one of them because you’re a good human being.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I’ll add this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s important to spend time with each child individually. Let them have
their own spaces where they don’t have to share you with their siblings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will also make this confession and y’all
gotta swear to me that it doesn’t leave this room, even to your wives. This
stays out of pillow talk,” Damon said eyeing each one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just think it will be beneficial for Brett
to know it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Swear.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Swear.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Swear.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake rounded it out with a nod just to be agreeable
even though his wife already knew.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I’m asking that because I told Kiamoni that I
wouldn’t blast it to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kiamoni
is not my daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our DNA didn’t
match.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were gasps of shock, but
Damon continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I know who her father
is, but he gave up his rights just like her mother did.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Man, that’s crazy she has curly black hair and green
eyes, so it’s easy to not look further for physical similarities,” Jeremy said.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Damon nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Whoa, so what made you take her as your own?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Carmen was okay with it?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brett asked.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Well we had gotten attached to her and she had no
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though she wasn’t mine we knew
we had a home available for her and didn’t want to send her into the foster
system. The first day she was dropped off unannounced Carmen said she heard God
tell her to show her His love. So that’s what we did.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Wow.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Whoa.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake just nodded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I can tell you that I love her, and I don’t see her
any different than my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t
anything I would do for Michael that I wouldn’t do for my Kiamoni.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s my daughter, period.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Thanks for sharing that man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You too, Dylan. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel better,” Brett said sincerely grateful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Just then the door leading to their kitchen opened.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hey, are you guys done with my husband?” Alyssa asked
from the doorway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all turned in the
direction of the disturbance to their male bonding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Oh, our bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can have him back,” Damon said laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I’m ready to take you home handsome,” she winked
flirtatiously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett popped his collar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well fellas, I gotta go!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
They laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Dawg, it’s only been a week and you’re already
sprung,” Jeremy teased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Blake extended his fist for a bump as Brett passed
by. “I get it, bro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Handle your business,”
he said as he chuckled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Brett grinned and took Alyssa’s hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She smiled and waved bye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Well, we won’t see him for another two weeks,” Dylan
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
They fell out laughing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14.0pt;">~The End~<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "lucida calligraphy"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm truly praying for changed hearts and healing in our nation. God bless!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Love,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Melinda Michelle</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">www.melindamichell21.com</span></div>
</div>
<br />GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-74948730936925989902019-01-04T17:19:00.000-08:002019-01-11T13:13:56.107-08:00Silence Isn't Always Golden - My Thoughts on R. Kelly<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The
Bible says, the <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+6%3A10&version=KJV">LOVE
of money is the root of all evil</a>. Where there's evil, there's a trail of
money that leads to the root. One of the most sought-after things evil
purchases is SILENCE! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/rkelly?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#RKelly</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I
generally don't give too much commentary on pop culture unless it's comedic in
nature. However, this current discussion about R. Kelly has truly given me
pause. I'm disturbed at the continued support of him and dismissal of the pain
of these women. I’ve never been a big R. Kelly fan, but I was done once he
proclaimed himself the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pied_Piper_of_Hamelin">Pied Piper</a> of
R&B. How much more proof does one need?! I mean, the whole premise of that
tale is a MAN who stole CHILDREN from their parents with his MUSIC. Not to
mention his marriage to a 15-year-old and ANYBODY who saw that tape knows
doggone well, that was a child. Let's not EVEN get started on his song titles
and lyrics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Whatever
demon he's wrestling with is arrogant and vicious. I understand he was abused
and yes, hurt people hurt people, but he's a grown man and he knows right from
wrong. He has more than enough money to have gotten himself some help for the
trauma he experienced. Instead of being a champion for victims, he chose to victimize.
There are plenty of GROWN women out here willing to help him let his freak flag
fly, but he chose to be a sadistic predator. In my opinion, he's an
opportunistic sociopath. </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">🤷🏾</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As
black people in America, I get it. We are so used to being oppressed we defend
black in all instances and that shouldn't always be the case. If black lives
truly matter, then ALL black lives should matter even if the culprit is black.
I've seen this on a couple of posts and I totally agree. The reason he is not
in jail is because his victims are black. We know doggone well had they been
white, he woulda been under the jail. Why? Because no matter how asinine,
irrational or disgusting the situation, for better or worse, richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health, white is right. Because... <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/thisisamerica?source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG">#ThisIsAmerica</a>.
The most disrespected, unprotected and neglected woman… well you know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As
far as these “fast” girls. Victim blaming is just so basic. There are serious
psychological and spiritual components that play a part in this. At the end of
the day, who was the adult in the room?! There are many people who played their
role in this. So much complacency and turning a blind eye. However, NO ONE
bears more blame than the perp himself! For those of you that wish to continue
supporting him and his music... I guess... To those that can still listen to
him and get your groove on knowing, your compartmentalization game is superb.
You can’t tell me there isn’t plenty of music out there to assist you in your
adult antics. If I'm sickened, I cannot imagine how triggered actual survivors
of sexual trauma are by this. Those royalties of his will continue to supply
resources for his continued sick behavior. I sincerely hope the women who
choose to continue to support him or their daughters never have the horrific
experience of sexual assault only to find that the world champions their
predator. </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">✌🏾</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-27417023133290201682017-11-20T06:00:00.000-08:002017-11-20T12:45:08.367-08:00Spiritual Wickedness in High Places<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Every time we turn on the news,
there’s another shooting, another person being outed for their indiscretions
and so on and so forth. It’s exhausting
to watch, which is why after 9/11 I stopped watching the news. Tried again and then Katrina. It was only last year that I brought back the
news to my life. It’s not any less
exhausting, but I realized something.
How can I effectively fight when I consciously blind myself to my
enemy? The Bible says, “For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against <b>spiritual wickedness in high places</b>.” (Ephesians 6:12- Emphasis added) </div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFpuFGKh2xDomhWosVUuGfI0GWGA3wBG_E6JCO9InLWPu3mxLOHIzrk3y7naw_0qCTiTN-5t7csTkg55h_7ijm1dW-sUuX6EiGxU6VQBqkieOc2ZD7WtCPLfSSye6gro8vLvxvVpopZj6/s1600/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFpuFGKh2xDomhWosVUuGfI0GWGA3wBG_E6JCO9InLWPu3mxLOHIzrk3y7naw_0qCTiTN-5t7csTkg55h_7ijm1dW-sUuX6EiGxU6VQBqkieOc2ZD7WtCPLfSSye6gro8vLvxvVpopZj6/s200/hqdefault.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Google Images</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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That
scripture is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. As a matter of fact, it’s
the premise for my entire book series, The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Surviving-Sunday-Chronicles-Warfare-1/dp/0989146014/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">Chronicles
of Warfare</a>. As my readers know,
there is a whole other world out there moving and influencing the one we live
in every day. The other morning during
my boo time with God, I was musing after I had gotten a call about yet ANOTHER
shooting. The fact that an elementary
school was targeted is just heart breaking.
I was reading in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20133" target="_blank">Psalms 133</a> that day about the oil flowing down
from Aaron’s beard. I have heard many a
preacher say, the anointing flows from the head down. I believe that to be the absolute truth. When there’s chaos all around a particular
body of Christ, look to the head and see what’s really going on behind the
veil. Just as the anointing will flow
from the head down, so will everything else.
In the United States our “head” is the office of the presidency. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Now before we go any further, let me say
this. I believe wholeheartedly in the sovereignty of God. I believe what the
Bible says in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+75%3A6-7&version=KJV">Psalm
75</a> about promotion coming from God. I believe one of two things happen
during the election of a POTUS. Either
it's God’s choice or God allowed the choice of the people for His ultimate
purpose. Either way, God remains in
control and ultimately <i>all things will
work together for the good of those who love Christ and are called according to
His purpose</i>. Since this scripture
applies directly to my life, I tend not to lose sleep over who sits in the
oval, though I must admit, this new one definitely makes it difficult to
understand. Back to my point though, who
sits at head (The Oval), whether it’s your choice or not affects the body
(America). </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
On the campaign trail, this
man incited <a href="http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/01/23/donald-trump-iowa-rally-shooting-sot.cnn">violence</a>
(<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000004269364/trump-and-violence.html">encouraging
supporters to harm opposition</a>), he displayed his <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-recorded-having-extremely-lewd-conversation-about-women-in-2005/2016/10/07/3b9ce776-8cb4-11e6-bf8a-3d26847eeed4_story.html?utm_term=.2f0917b93d66">disrespect</a>
for women, his <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/31/politics/donald-trump-mexico-statements/index.html">bigoted
and racist</a> remarks were cheered on or unchallenged by his supporters, his narcissism
has been legendary and he’s basically a “mean girl” on Twitter. Now, I don’t want 45 supporters to go ham
and blow a gasket. I’m not here to talk about the man, because we wrestle not against
flesh and blood. I’m here to deal with the spirits that are in play because of
him, his rhetoric and those he chose to surround him on his presidential
journey. Like it or not, as a result of
this man winning the election, some very nasty spirits have been unleashed. The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+18%3A21&version=KJV">Bible</a>
says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Don’t be fooled and think that this man’s
words have no power and that they don’t influence the spirit world. It’s not to say these spirits didn’t exist
before him, because they did. However, his boldness has given them free access
to flourish in the current atmosphere. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
People
who allow these spirits to influence them feel like it’s okay to behave the
same way 45 does. If he can do it and
get elected to the most powerful position in the world, surely, they can do it
too with no consequence. Spirits like
hatred, division, anger, violence, bullying and narcissism are acting a
complete fool. Let’s not forget his
sexism that fuels the rape culture in this country that is already out of
control. If you don’t believe me, just
look at the <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/harvey-weinstein-scandal/weinstein-here-s-growing-list-men-accused-sexual-misconduct-n816546">news</a>. The violence and the level of aggression is
rising. Each one of the shootings that
have occurred are reaching new levels of cruelty - “<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deadliest-mass-shootings-us-las-vegas-texas-church/">Worst
mass shooting in MODERN American history</a>” or “<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/deadliest-church-shooting-in-american-history-strikes-sutherland-springs-texas">Deadliest
church shooting in American History</a>.”
I believe that the bold and unapologetic actions of 45 are emboldening
those with like spirits. The boldness
that has risen in racial tensions is absolutely ridiculous in 2017. The way racists feel entitled to come from
beneath their masks to boldly and openly display their message of <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/13/us/charlottesville-white-nationalist-rally-car-crash/index.html">hate and superiority</a> is despicable. I
think one of the most reprehensible displays of privilege I’ve seen so far was
the injustice for “60 year old white men” being jailed because they only <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2014/10/16/millionair-author-john-grisham-says-not-all-men-who-watch-child-porn-are-pedophiles/#e1474c77341d">watched</a>
child pornography, never mind the traumatic nature of whom the statement came
from. I mean, it’s like, did I just
actually write that? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
As these spirits
are emboldened, they are also exposing themselves. The enemy cares nothing
about you. He will use you as long as you benefit him, the minute you’re no
longer useful, he leaves you to the wolves.
Fret not though and see the hand of God exposing and bringing light to
dark places. The spiritual wickedness in
high places also exposes the wickedness in <b>HIGH </b>places – the government,
Hollywood, National Sports, TV executives and the list goes on and on and
on. Never think that God doesn't know what He's doing. There is a reason and there is a purpose. We must continue to do our part and
combat the effects of this spiritual wickedness with <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+10%3A4-6&version=KJV">spiritual
warfare</a>. That is through prayer,
fasting and obedience to the Almighty God. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyraiz8jdbDxlkduFvzuVD5Z3qbg7YdxcRuZ6ztCN88tilQ6kGzNG1kIE8Gv9PZvhVWPLaHuEOTEV2Ab0c90dhuFgAVsesf4cJop0-lu1bGEwIvXMmp0STsdFzm22LLqP0KAbp8z0pBDm/s1600/instaquote-_temp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyraiz8jdbDxlkduFvzuVD5Z3qbg7YdxcRuZ6ztCN88tilQ6kGzNG1kIE8Gv9PZvhVWPLaHuEOTEV2Ab0c90dhuFgAVsesf4cJop0-lu1bGEwIvXMmp0STsdFzm22LLqP0KAbp8z0pBDm/s200/instaquote-_temp.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Finally, to my Christians, be careful with your political label – democrat,
republican, conservative, liberal, etc. Some of us are making
this label an idol and putting it not only above COMMON SENSE, but above the Word
of God. But, like my mama said, common
sense ain’t common. Yes, we are to do
our civic duty and vote. Yes, we are to pray
for our leaders and yes we are to respect authority, but we are also to stand
up for what is RIGHT! Not what is right to man, but what is right to God. We believers need a heart check quick, fast and in a hurry! We don’t fight these battles and sins with hateful
words, we fight them through spiritual warfare.
Like my late pastor use to say, you gotta catch the fish before you
clean them. You can’t legislate
morality. How do you justify voting for
Christian values by electing hate? This country
needs an overdose of unconditional love and it is our job as believers to
supply it, not add to the hate AND division. At the end
of the day, the writing is on the wall and the blood of the innocent is crying
out from the ground. The sooner we realize
what’s really going on, the sooner we can actually make a difference.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m out y’all,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Melinda Michelle<o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="https://linktr.ee/themelindamichelle" target="_blank">Ways to Get at Me</a>GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-44343356458454180832017-11-13T11:50:00.000-08:002017-11-13T12:38:12.671-08:00When God Speaks<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">They say hindsight is 20/20. If that's the case, then spiritual hindsight
has to be 20/15. I wrote this line in
one of my books, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Color-Me-Blind-Divine-ebook/dp/B00CKJ2UMA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367252090&sr=1-1&keywords=color+me+blind" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">Color Me Blind</span></a>:" <i>
"You won’t always understand while you’re in the storm, but when
you’re out of it, God’s hand will reveal itself to you more clearly than
anything you have ever seen." </i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI_Q776Xbi-4UVIKtRJR99mJZRCfY08XLFw9slilZ55IEraf22_wp425irdQTr95uFSGOQtCQ4cL388UtjLJGFzUsvSQkaL_Kbx7PWs3yoU3DF64pHX-OKqLIA8Y2EaDSnCSNZZn19T3k/s1600/47358471-eye-sight-test-chart-or-snellen-chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="355" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI_Q776Xbi-4UVIKtRJR99mJZRCfY08XLFw9slilZ55IEraf22_wp425irdQTr95uFSGOQtCQ4cL388UtjLJGFzUsvSQkaL_Kbx7PWs3yoU3DF64pHX-OKqLIA8Y2EaDSnCSNZZn19T3k/s200/47358471-eye-sight-test-chart-or-snellen-chart.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Google Images</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My writing comes by the leading
of the Holy Spirit, and I couldn't have written truer words. As 2017 is coming to a close, I realized how
challenging this year has been. I mean
I've dealt with the types of shenanigans that I never expected to hit my doorstep. And I'm just talking about GMME world events,
not actual world events, which as I'm sure you know has been just... Disturbing
to say the least, but God remains <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Date-Death-Novella-Melinda-Michelle-ebook/dp/B075PKJJT4/ref=la_B008XNRKFO_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1510591559&sr=1-1#customerReviews" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">sovereign</span></a>. I keep coming back to
what I learned about when God speaks and yesterday it woke me up, so I'm going to
share what I've learned on my journey of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2055:8-9" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">Bible</span> </a>says that God's ways
and thoughts are not ours and that they are higher than our own. So consider
this, when He speaks, He speaks at the level of His ways and thoughts and not
our understanding. It is up to us to seek Him for insight and revelation into
what He is revealing to us. In the
recent past, I learned one of the most painful lessons ever. As I often say, it's REAL in these spiritual
streets. I was impatient and decided
that the opportunity in front of me was the promise I had been waiting
for. This was all based on MY
understanding of what God had previously told me. Even when I began to see little things that
nagged me that did not line up with what I know God told/showed me, I
ignored it. I was trying to make a
square peg fit in a round hole. I was
determined to make this situation fit God's promise to me. It turned out to be one of those Father
moments, <i>I can show you better than I can tell you</i>. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0UMdzEZ9fhJ27Akx78UrbKix4T8ku58MQmOHi7l4Dh3ieltfq4IprBQgvdgPmf2Aq8Mt2kRPpOk6v4mikPx6Nb3GQCs7Iwyl6-oUnLolfnI_vnYvsQlWmkCOvEx7m6UGdzPlYBIMtxnO/s1600/instaquote-19-10-2017-08-27-58.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0UMdzEZ9fhJ27Akx78UrbKix4T8ku58MQmOHi7l4Dh3ieltfq4IprBQgvdgPmf2Aq8Mt2kRPpOk6v4mikPx6Nb3GQCs7Iwyl6-oUnLolfnI_vnYvsQlWmkCOvEx7m6UGdzPlYBIMtxnO/s200/instaquote-19-10-2017-08-27-58.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Trust me when I tell you, that is NOT the place you want to
be in when it comes to God. After the
situation came crumbling down, I threw my temper tantrum of being mad at God
because He let this happen to me. I
received a phone call from a friend and God used her to politely rebuke the
mess out of me. She told me that I
already knew that situation was counterfeit, but I chose not to accept it.
BOOM! I had no recourse to defend
myself. So I went to my war room aka prayer closet and God began to go slap off
on me. I took what He said and ran with
it based on what I <i>thought </i>He meant without getting further insight and
revelation. I was talking trash, <i>but God
You said this and You said that</i>. His clap-back was, <i>yes, but I didn't say it in
reference to that</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes, we get so comfortable
in our relationship with God, we assume that how He worked the last time is
going to be how He works this time. YOU CANNOT PUT GOD IN A BOX - HE'S TOO BIG! God
is a God of process. He always lays out
the promise in steps. Once the first
step is accomplished, He gives us the next.
In our impatience, we rush things or go in the wrong direction because
we THINK we know how God is going to do something. Let me tell you, He is the
ULTIMATE King of Plot Twists. You can't figure Him out, so don't assume you know His next move. Let be God be God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many, many moons ago, I had a
pastor tell me this guy I was SOOOOOOOOO in love with, was <i>the one</i>. Never mind that when we met, I had just
bought my house and he had just received another job and was moving to another
state. (First Clue) Because this "prophecy" lined up with MY will, I was here for
it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wait... pause, let me drop a little
spiritual common sense real quick.<b> Even though I believed that he was "the
one" I never told him that "God said, he was the one." We need to be careful how we throw in God
said or the Holy Spirit said or the SPIRIT said (What spirit is that?). Often times people use that to manipulate or
guilt people into doing things and I'm just gon call a spade a spade - that's
witchcraft, plain and simple! </b> Even back
when I was young in my faith, I had enough sense that if God could tell me, He
would tell him and bring us together on one accord at the appointed time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, back to the story. Six months in, he said he just wanted to be
friends. I was devastated, BUT my faith was on high, not really, I was just
young and foolish, but I digress. So
maybe a year later that SAME pastor had a word for me at prayer. (This was the real word from God, not the
flesh of man speaking into my life) It
was, "God said, when the brook dries up, move on." I'm like huh, what?! A body of water...
bruh... what you talkin' bout?! Everybody around me was like that has to be
about ol' boy. I said it can't be, it's a body of water PLUS God said, he's the one. Chile, I'm doing all this fasting and praying
while this negro is living his life, dating whoever and got me in the background as
"the friend." About three
years into our back and forth, we hung out for my birthday, it was epic. Had the best time ever. I just KNEW my prayers had finally been
answered and he was going to see what he had been missing. When I got back, he went back to the same old
shenanigans! I was HOT! I said I
didn't have the tolerance for this crap anymore. I was done. God brought that word back to me. It didn't make any sense still, but this
time, the thought occurred to me there was a reason He said it. I decided to look up the word brook. According to Merriam Webster, this is the
second definition of the word, the verb:
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">brook (transitive verb) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">to stand for: tolerate ~ <i>he would brook no interference with
his plans</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Human mind:</b> When the <b>brook </b>dries up, move on</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>God's mind:</b> When the <b>tolerance </b>dries up, move on</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My mind was BLOWN! First of all, who knew "brook" had such a meaning. Second of all, God sent word to get me out of this foolishness and save me from unnecessary heartache A LONG TIME AGO. Third, I really tried myself and could NOT blame God. He did His part. I had just said I didn't have anymore tolerance for this crap BUT the truth is, I had long ago lost my tolerance for it, I just didn't acknowledge it because I didn't want to let go of MY will. It was never God's will AND He gave me that word to free me from the lie of man. Not only that, but used the same pastor to do it to get him straight too for <i>prophelying</i>. After God sent my word of freedom, it was on me to accept it. <i>I just used my faith as an excuse to justify my stubbornness of not letting go of my will, when everything around me was telling me, this isn't God.</i> Now I know you're thinking, why didn't God just say what He meant. Well, He did. His Word already told us His ways and thoughts are higher. It's not His fault if we choose to use our understanding over HIS understanding. His <span style="color: magenta;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A5-6&version=KJV" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">word</span></a> </span>says: <i>Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. </i><i>In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Those are some shining examples that stay at the forefront of my mind when I hear from God and how I proceed next. Patience has become my new best friend. I know she's a drag and no one REALLY likes her, but she's the real deal and you better not only get to know her, but embrace her in this walk otherwise you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of disappointments. I am going to leave you with some things I've learned and prayerfully they'll keep you in the will of God and not led astray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">1) <b>When God speaks, He's
referring to what's to come, not what has been.</b> Don't try to GO BACK and make
it fit for something in the past, especially when you get impatient because it hasn't showed up yet. Don't get into the "well maybe He meant this" cycle. Just wait, it's coming.
Instead look ahead for His words to come to pass. <i>His <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+55%3A11&version=KJV" target="_blank"><span style="color: magenta;">word</span></a> will not return to Him void. </i>God spoke so clearly to me in January of 2016. </span>What I heard only made sense in parts and I had to link it to past events in order for it to make the most sense, but it still didn't quite fit. I was so desperate for this promise to be right now, I was going to make it work instead of letting God be God. I did not receive insight and revelation until October of 2016. When He reminded me of the promise in October after many things transpired that year, everything was plain as day for me to see. It's now November of 2017 and while I now have insight and revelation, I'm still waiting on parts of it to manifest. Let patience have her perfect work. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2) <b>When God speaks that doesn't
automatically make it His Will.</b> God deals in absolutes, if you ask Him
something and He answers, He's going to tell you the truth because He knows the future. <i>Ex: You
ask God, "Will I get this job?"
He replies, "Yes."
However, His yes could be contingent on the fact that He knows they will
offer you the job, but that doesn't make this job His will for you.</i> The follow up question to his "yes"
should be, "Is this your will for me?" Then go from there. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3) <b>The timing of when God chooses
to speak is not necessarily in reference to what you are going through/dealing
with at the moment.</b> <i>Ex: I have had God
give me specific and direct instructions about my husband while dating a
counterfeit. </i> Don't assume you know based on what's going around you. His timing is His own and up to His choosing and there's nothing to be done about it except to govern yourself accordingly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Always seek for insight and revelation so that you can avoid delays, disappointments, heartache, unnecessary spiritual battles AND their residue. We are constantly trying to bring God down to our level when we should be ascending to His. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Alright y'all, I'm out!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Melinda Michelle</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://linktr.ee/themelindamichelle" target="_blank">Links to Get At Me</a></span></div>
GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-51905992475567531592017-10-18T07:39:00.001-07:002017-10-18T07:39:05.864-07:00Personal Inventory<div style="text-align: justify;">
Was scrolling through my Facebook memories and this one popped up from two years ago. It's a bold in your face reminder of what this walk with Christ is all about. It's also one I needed to revisit. It's funny how life, impatience and world events get in the way of focusing on what's really important. #Ouch</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqsUpZD6UbTvuo_mRQa3iLB-k0DhBcP26ZMepVZgw3BcCJvCb0eyhBIAk5kBBRrqCwrrnPFif0ZHOmswiyAY4OnrfA7nfXzqnx4BkQYZoipu7vDu6OyPh0HsFM_kKE0jj7UZ0pTlbKOvC/s1600/accountability-300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzqsUpZD6UbTvuo_mRQa3iLB-k0DhBcP26ZMepVZgw3BcCJvCb0eyhBIAk5kBBRrqCwrrnPFif0ZHOmswiyAY4OnrfA7nfXzqnx4BkQYZoipu7vDu6OyPh0HsFM_kKE0jj7UZ0pTlbKOvC/s200/accountability-300x300.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> Photo courtesy of Google images</span></div>
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My favorite scripture is Ephesians 3:20. I think about it all the time,
trying to wrap my mind around how powerful it is. “Now to him who is
able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to
his power that is at work within us.” Am I the only believer who feels
like because I’m a believer my life should be extraordinary? I mean not
necessarily fortune and fame, though some assignments/calling might
lead there. I’m talking about walking in power, anointing and spiritual
authority and God getting ALL the glory. I don’t feel like I’ll ever be
satisfied in my Christian walk until the fruit of my life has tangible
results in the form of people being healed, set free, delivered, and
changed. Well maybe it’s just me, but if Christ said, “Greater works
will we do, if we believe in him…um…yeah…it’s been like two thousand and
fifteen years. I ain’t seen these greater works…at least not with any
consistency or on any large scale. So then, why is that? Well that’s
on us, the Body of Christ…ALL of us. In all honesty, we’re just lazy,
selfish and fearful. We are too lazy to put in the work for our
relationship with God that it can be more than surface or just lip
service. That is spending one-on-one time with God daily, fasting,
praying, etc. We love to say we don’t have any time, but we got time to
complain and we got time to watch those around us perish. If God told
you to do it, he will give you the strength, time and resources to do
it. But that takes discipline… I think TV might be most of our problem.
We definitely waste so much time watching other ppl work… Ijs. We are
selfish because all we care about is our own salvation and our own
ticket to the pearly gates. We don’t care if our brother right next to
us is headed straight for hell. Which brings me to us being fearful… We
are afraid of what it will take for us to have that spiritual
authority. We are afraid about what we will have to give up to have that
spiritual authority. We are afraid of what we will look like to others
to have that spiritual authority. But aren’t we supposed to look
different from everybody else? Are we not supposed to stick out from
the crowd? We’ve become too accustomed to conforming to the world vs
transforming it. When did the church become such a hateful place? There
is a church with a website called “God hates fags.” SERIOUSLY?
SERIOUSLY?! I am not here to condone anybody’s sin…including mine, but
what happened to love? Not man’s made up definition for it…God’s love…
you know the 16 characteristics he laid out in 1 Corinthians? God hates
ALL SIN, but he LOVES every single person he created. I wouldn’t want
to come to a church where you are openly hostile to my struggle, and
think that your sin is less than mine because it yields a different
consequence. Ppl should read the whole Bible. Try Ezekiel 16:49 for
Sodom’s sin. Hmmm…sounds like America to me and it has nothing to do
with THAT sin. Meanwhile… people are so concerned with the sins that are
open for everyone to see, but not the ones hidden in our wicked hearts.
It was that kind of stuff that kept the Children of Israel out of the
Promised Land, Ijs. Yes our hearts are wicked and deceitful. What
about that envy, lust, bitterness, jealousy, un-forgiveness, malice,
RACISM, anger, drunkenness, complaining, selfishness, nasty attitudes,
and all the other stuff we’re walking around holding on to. (Please
note: I am ONLY talking to believers here) I have a question… Has
holding on to any of this stuff, made your life better? Has it enhanced
your life in ANY way, shape or form? Has it made you a better person…at
all? I’m thinking…no… let it go. There’s too much at stake. Why
would God put his anointing and power in us, when he can’t even trust us
with the basic stuff about our walk? We want to participate in
everything the world does and then we wonder why we have no power. I’m
not anti-fun. I have fun all the doggone on time, but do I lose my
WITNESS in this state of fun. That’s when the problem comes in. We are
so comfortable in our sinful selves that we don’t want anybody
correcting us. Some of us, can’t even FEEL the Holy Spirit’s conviction,
we’re so far away from God. We are SO QUICK to say…Don’t judge me or
only God can judge me… That baffles me. Have y’all read the Bible? Is
God’s judgment something you really want brought on your life?!
Seriously? 'Cause he won’t necessarily wait until the end of your life to
judge you. Galatians 6:1 tells us we who are spiritual are to restore
our brothers/sisters when fault has overtaken him in the spirit of
meekness. It also says to consider ourselves unless we are also tempted.
So…we GOTTA get that plank out of our eye before we come for the beam
in yours…but make no mistake…that beam still has to go whether the plank
remains or not. When we are judged we can’t say…well…well…what about
what so and so did…it was worse…Nah bruh, that’s not how this works.
See, we don’t have time to judge each other, but we do need to correct
each other and hold each other accountable. Ezekiel tells us, if we are
the watchman and we don’t warn, that blood is on our hands…Ijs… that’s
the Word. There has GOT TO BE MORE. But are we willing to live a life
of FAITH and OBEDIENCE to see it happen? Will there come a time when
people just walk up to a believer and say, “There’s something different
about you? What is that? Can you tell me how to get it?” Does our light
ever shine? There won’t be any arguing about whether or not our God is
real, because his signs and wonders will speak for themselves.
Miracles should be so common place that we walk around like my late
pastor saying “Who’s surprised?” Do you know there are actually
Christians who believe that miracles and such was only in the Bible
times? UGH!!! Listen…what is the point of this walk if all we do is
live and die. Why even make the choice if we’re not going to go all in?
Am I the only person who feels like there has to be more? But we must
be willing to do more. When are we going to stop asking for God’s hand
and seek his heart? When are we going to surrender our will to his?
When are we going to stop fighting the yes in our spirit and JUST
SURRENDER? I’m not saying it’s easy…'cause it’s not. But greatness never
is. If it was everyone would do it. It’s time to get to work. I don’t
know about y’all, but I want a life where evil has to stand down just
because I am there, with the spiritual authority God has entrusted to me
because I put myself in a position where God can trust me with his
power. Every time we turn on the news, tragedy, tragedy, tragedy…and it
doesn’t have to be. Anyways, those who have ears to hear, let him
hear.</div>
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MM</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.melindamichelle21.com/" target="_blank">Site</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Michelle/e/B008XNRKFO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" target="_blank">Books</a></div>
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GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-32160438814487849832016-11-28T01:37:00.001-08:002016-11-28T01:37:53.168-08:00The Prince of the Power of the Air: The Real Culprit<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“The Strongman and all the demons that dwelled in the
mansion began to screech and scream, thrown off by the unexpected presence of
God’s most powerful emissary. They
didn’t want any parts of it. The fact
that his sword was out and his eyes were aflame told them this isn’t where they
wanted to be. At the moment, Michael
didn’t engage them, but let them flee.
They didn’t get far because one sixth of a legion of naval angels sprang
up out of the Pacific like golden flames.
They emerged in rank and file. As
one rank of 100 would come up out of the water, another would follow right
behind them until there were 10 rows of 100 angels each. The water rolling off
their wings sparkled like diamonds. There
were countless skin tones. Their armor
was golden and their luminous two sets of white wings had a 15-foot
wingspan. Their wings were tipped with
gold. They stood 13-feet tall. They waited for their entire squadron to join
them before they made their move. In one
mighty united snap of their wings, they began to fly towards the house where
they formed a circle of brilliant golden fire around the house.”</i> ~ Excerpt from
“<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Showdown-Chronicles-Warfare-Book-ebook/dp/B01HXFE6JA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Saturday Showdown</a>” Book 7 – A Chronicles of Warfare </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Novel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s a war going on people plain and simple. So many wonder where God is in the chaos all
around us. My response… He’s
everywhere. He’s not on vacation and
He’s not MIA. He’s also in a place He’s
always been, but often ignored – His Word!
The Bible tells us the following:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2 Corinthians 4:4:</b> <i>“Satan, who is the god of this world, has
blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the
glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the
glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.” (NLT) <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Ephesians 2:1-2: </b><i>“And you were dead in your trespasses and sin, in which you
formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of
disobedience.” (NASB)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Proverbs 18:21: </b><i>“Death and life are in the power of the
tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.” (NET Bible)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let’s take the state of America
today. Any person with a modicum of
common sense can see that there is something very wrong in America 2016. The worst of human nature has reared its ugly
head while causing division and strife among those who are supposed to be the
citizens of the UNITED States of America.
I submit to you that like the Bible says, Satan is the prince of the
power of the air and death and life is in the power of our tongues. So let’s look at the air all around us. What is saturating our airwaves? What words have been spoken or are being
spoken over America? The 24-hour news
cycle and music that is more attainable than ever before. We walk around with personal computers as our
communication devices. The whole world
is in the palm of our hands. On those
devices, we are in constant communication with the world around us, 24 hours a
day and seven days a week. Let’s start
with the words that are written in the history books of America. What do those books glorify? What do those books leave out? What lies have those books told? It doesn’t matter, we’ve all been indoctrinated
to believe it’s the truth. Those
centuries old lies have birthed the reality we live in today. Those words were spoken and created our
atmosphere. Let’s talk about the
mainstream media – and this is right, left or in between. Pay close attention at the words they use to
describe one set of people versus another for the same exact crimes and
offenses. Discern the photographs they
use to sway public opinion of one group of people over another. It wasn’t by accident, it was by design. Satan knows what he’s doing and people have
fallen for his lies and manipulations over and over again. His version is so
loud that the truth gets tossed aside as paranoia and conspiracies. Either his lies are so convincing or the hearts of
those that want to believe his lies are so deceived they dismiss the truth that’s
right in their face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Is God actually missing or is it
perhaps that our world has been shaped by the words we have used for
centuries. From the lies in the history
books to the strategic manipulation of the mainstream media to the fruitless
lyrics of today’s music disguised in a clever beat to the negative words we
speak to and over ourselves and our fellow man.
Meanwhile, Satan and his minions continue to stir the atmosphere because
our hearts go unchecked. If we want to
see change then we need to check our hearts. What nasty little emotions and
thoughts are there that Satan can use to further his agenda? Maybe it’s time to stop blaming God for all
of problems and realize we bring it on ourselves. It’s greed, hatred, fear and superiority
complexes that have led us down this path.
The truth is out there, thanks to the internet but who’s going to be
bold enough to tell it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For the saints
who are praying, my suggested strategy is for God to expose the prince of the
power of the air for what he is – a liar, a thief, and a killer. Let’s ask God to let the truth resound in the
hearts of men, women and children. Let’s
pray for the spirit of greed to be exposed and dealt with. Let’s pray for the spirit
of hatred to be extinguished. Let’s pray
for the spirit of fear to be annihilated.
Let’s pray for the belief that one is better or superior to others be
vanquished from the hearts of men, women and children. And last, but certainly, not least, let’s
pray against the spirit of division.
There is so much division in these United States of America it’s hard to
call this country by name without feeling like a liar. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So many times in life we are waiting on God
or asking His whereabouts when He’s waiting on us, asking where have we
been. In Matthew 22, the Bible states: <i>36 Master, which is the great commandment in
the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and
great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets. </i>I think before we ask where God is, we need to ask ourselves, His
body of Christ, where have we been. These
two commands are a prerequisite to the other laws.
The main ingredient for the two greatest commandments in the Bible is
love. I think we can all agree that is
the ONE thing missing from this country. I believe if we start with love – true,
unconditional love, then the rest will fall in place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those who are in the Body of
Christ, I challenge you for SEVEN days to cut off the prince of the power of the
air from your life. Turn off the news,
turn off the radio, avoid social media if it fuels anything ugly in your heart.
Fall on your face and ask God to show YOU everything in your heart that’s not
like Him. Ask Him to show you every area your heart is not pleasing to Him and
harmful to others. Then pray and ask Him for the courage and strength to go
through the process required to change it, as well as the humility to seek forgiveness
from those your misguided heart has injured. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now, let’s wrap this up. Verse 8
of Psalm 139 says, <i>“If I ascend up into
heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”</i> This verse tells me there is nowhere I can be
that He is not. So, while Satan may be
the prince of the power of the air, he’s still restricted and under the sovereign
rule and authority of the Great I AM.
Maybe it’s time we snatched back the atmosphere around us and filled it with
love, life and truth. Maybe we can stop
asking God where He is and show God where we are. It starts in the heart. It begins with love.
It ends in victory. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Until Next Time,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melinda Michelle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">www.melindamichelle21.com</span></div>
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GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-44496674019406547562016-11-15T07:42:00.000-08:002016-11-15T07:42:02.689-08:00Armed and Dangerous<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This one popped up in my Facebook memories from three years ago. I thought it very appropriate to re-post as we take on the challenge of ending the year STRONG through spiritual warfare strategies!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Check it out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These words have been ringing
in my head ever since our pastor said them a few weeks back. Placing them side by side with the
conjunction “and” seemed to make them more powerful. When you think about a civilian that might
carry a concealed firearm, these words may come to mind. The weapon makes them armed. The fact that they know how to use it makes
them dangerous.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> With that picture painted let’s see this in the
spirit. We are supposed to be soldiers
in God’s army. Soldiers are armed and
they are certainly dangerous as their training makes them such. If you’re a Christian that the enemy doesn’t
consider armed and dangerous then it’s time for a spiritual check-up. <i>For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of
God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwjhCKtlrvSUvGRp1mhWAHTz5GNDiIoj_5d45FLsus_61EaPvP3B5U-RMyTOe_i9VEi69fZVMI-1toiyBg57P6mp5SaWqParnkc-DXU_cZjzp2qc9exX97yZhJBOV0XRCBELe5oNxFXW-/s200/15065150_10154693182047179_1298492628_o.jpg" width="200" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> As Christians we are armed with spiritual weapons, our
faith, prayers, praise, fasting, the Word and obedience to name a few. If we know that we possess these weapons then
we would consider ourselves armed. If we
understood just how powerful these weapons were <i>and</i> we had the right relationship with God then we’d know just how
dangerous we are. We’d understand the
attacks against our lives and purpose.
We’d understand the necessity to keep our relationship with Christ solid
and we’d understand why we couldn’t just tuck tale and run hiding our weapons
behind our fears. That civilian that
carries that concealed weapon is no longer fearful about what the day may bring
because they know they possess the capabilities of defending their life should
the need arise. So it is in the spirit
if we know and are secure in our spiritual weapons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Not only do we have these weapons that can break chains,
tear down walls, open doors and shut them, we have the Creator of all we know
backing them. Just like a firearm comes
with a manufacturer’s warranty so does our spiritual weapons. The eternal warranty we have is backed by the
Great I AM, the God who is whatever we need.
The Lord God strong and mighty, the Lord God mighty in battle. The alpha and the omega, the beginning and
the end, the author and the finisher of our faith, the God who knew us before
we were formed in the womb, need I go on? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> One thing we must be careful of. A person who is armed and dangerous can also
be a danger to others if they are not trained.
If someone walks around with a firearm that they’ve never shot or
trained with they are not only a danger to others but themselves. So as it is with a soldier in God’s army who
never trains with their spiritual weapons or communicates with God. Those who are Christians are those who try
daily to be like Christ. Without that
one very important caveat one is simply a person that believes in God. That person cannot be armed and dangerous in
the spirit or a threat to the kingdom of darkness. That person is simply marking time waiting
for their appointment with eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I don’t know about you but when I chose salvation I know
I enlisted in God’s army and I want to be an effective Christian that’s armed
and dangerous that the enemy knows and fears.
I didn’t sign up for this journey to be scared and live in fear. I signed up for this to know my Creator and
to walk in dominion. To do what He
called me to do and to win souls for the kingdom of God. I encourage you Christians out there to spend
time daily with the one true living God and to exercise the weapons at your
disposal because we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We can win this spiritual battle <i>in the spirit</i>. We are more than conquerors, we are equipped therefore
we are armed and dangerous! Now let’s
drop the fear and pick up the fight!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Melinda Michelle</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Author. Speaker. Life Coach</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melinda-Michelle/e/B008XNRKFO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" target="_blank">The Chronicles of Warfare</a></span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-28400666471066798122016-11-09T06:09:00.000-08:002016-11-09T13:01:46.951-08:00The Day After...#ShiftYourThinking<br />
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*Best time for up and coming comedians to take the world by storm, we're going to need laughter more than ever. People will gladly pay for your gift.</div>
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*Best time to learn about investing and INVEST. Take advantage of the uncertainty, change and emotional panics.</div>
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*Best time to know the truth about those who are among you. His win came at the hands of SILENT supporters. DO NOT UNFRIEND! Who blinds themselves to their opposition? Watch the moves they make and use that knowledge to your advantage. Remember division is what got us here. You don't fight the tide, you swim with it. Use the momentum to work FOR YOU. Pray for your enemies.</div>
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*Best time to be a witness for Christ. People will be looking for solace in this time of despair and uncertainty. It's time to show His love and who He REALLY is not this false effeminate picture He's been reduced to here in the the good ole US of A.</div>
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*Best time to get on your grind with the gifts and talents God placed on the inside of you so you can become independently wealthy and not have to be depending on the government to sustain you. Maybe even create jobs! Your gift will make room for you and bring you before great men.</div>
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*Best time to REALLY do something about racism. It can NO LONGER BE DENIED because it's the prevailing reason why this man got elected. PERIOD! It's here now, let's deal with it!</div>
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Just like no one could know/believe this would happen NO ONE but God knows what the next 4 years will bring. Don't speak defeat and regression into existence. Speak life and prosperity over your life, family and this country. You see that nut spoke his candidacy into existence. 😂 You better catch that and learn something. Seriously though, I get it y'all. THIS SUCKS! I did my part, but I'm really shocked bcuz I HOPED we were better, but since we're not it's time to look for the opportunities in this disturbing turn of events. He's everyone's president JUST LIKE Obama supporters let his opposers know he was their president too. There are people who are genuinely afraid and scared out there. They need your prayers, strength and faith. It's never about ourselves. God loves people. We have to love people. ALL PEOPLE! If there was ever a time to pray for a leader... MY GOD! It's NOW! Happy Hump Day y'all. Take your emotional MOMENT but don't stay there. We gon be alright. 😘</div>
GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-87240665756989858132016-08-10T07:43:00.001-07:002016-08-10T08:12:42.810-07:00Queens Holding Kings Accountable - Initial Approach Edition<div class="MsoNormal">
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I know some folk take issue with the "decoy" ring,
but this thing comes in handy. Lord knows I always try MY BEST to never
verbally assault a black man, because they get it from er'body, even though
some of them have earned the wrath of this pre-Jesus tongue with their
shenanigans, I always bite it. This is the politest way to respond to the
variation of their "are you available" line. I simply hold up my left
hand, smile, slide into my car and ride out. (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>#BoyBye) And I didn't even have to open my mouth to tell a lie.
Plus, it's a character meter. If they back off right away then at the LEAST
their moral compass is trying to point due North, even though he just bit his
lip as he eyed you up and down as if you were a piece of meat like ain't nobody
fed him at all this month. (<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>#StopIt I'm wearing sweats, didn't even make an effort today,
it's too early in the morning for this foolery) And if he doesn't respect it,
you know you dodged a bullet anyway. I know there are some who will debate that
I could miss "the one" with this tactic, but trust me, that's not a
necessary concern you need to have, so miss me with that logic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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To my beautiful black men out there, listen... It's time for
y'all to upgrade your approach, especially when it's a grown woman. Read the
body language - walking away is not an opportunity to chase her. Take the
polite smile and gracious exit for what it is - a kind "no, I'm not
interested." I know this current generation got this whole dating game out
of whack with their low standards and acceptance of any foolishness offered,
but that doesn't translate well to adult interactions. Let's up these
approaches, add some class, take out the crass and actually use your verbs,
nouns and adjectives to communicate and not your disrespectful eyes. Some of us
actually prefer an adult conversation to the immediate lustful stare and
objectification. Exercise some self-control, it's a very telling sign when you
don't. Even if you don't walk away with her number you will have
restored/confirmed her hope in her black brothers. Be encouraged. Selah. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>#Standards
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>#BlackLove<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>#GrownWomen
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>#LoveMyBlackBrothas
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span>#QueensHoldingKingsAccountable<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ciao,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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GMME<o:p></o:p></div>
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www.melindamichelle21.com<o:p></o:p></div>
GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-41323502737210427352016-07-13T06:28:00.001-07:002016-07-13T06:48:34.690-07:00Great Authority, Great Responsibility <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I know my FB posts this
week have been mostly silly in nature, but it is release week and that just comes
with the territory. However, in this
week of spiritual consecration and fasting I haven’t lost sight of all that’s
going on in the world around us. What we
are seeing played out in the news daily are symptoms of something much
greater. The ROOTS of the problems need to be dealt with. I was reading my Bible
today, Numbers 30 to be exact, and I came across something so interesting…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The chapter deals with vows and
how God sees them. Any believer knows, or
should know this scripture in Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 (NASB) - <i>4 When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes
no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! 5 It is better that you should not vow
than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Do not let your speech cause you to sin
and do not say in the presence of the messenger of God that it was a mistake.
Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your
hands? <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So yeah, we don’t play with God
and vows. Now back to Numbers 30. I found it interesting that if a woman still
in her father’s house or a married woman makes a vow and the MAN responsible
for her, overhears it he can nullify it based on his position in her life and
the authority God has given him. God
will honor his authority and release her from a VOW, something we know God does
NOT play about. BUT, the man has to say
something as soon as he hears about it.
If he doesn’t take direct action and lingers in his nullification then
he will be responsible for any guilt.
WHOA. Did y’all get that? God will intervene for her based on the man
he put in place to cover her and RELEASE her from a vow. Also, the man has to act on that thing
immediately, he can’t play with it or that guilt is his to bear. <b>NOTE: The
man can suffer if he doesn’t PROPERLY use the authority God has given him. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So what’s my point and how does
this tie in? Listen, one of the root
causes of what’s going on in society today is men being out of place, in
particular black men. Yes, there are
MANY contributing factors and I am not about to list any of them, because what
matters now is solutions. Look at how
much authority and responsibility God has given the man in his Divine
Order. Wait… pause… this is NOT an open
forum for an independent woman or feminist argument. This is about God’s order for the
family. It’s NOT up for debate. Now where was I, oh yes, the man aka the head
of the house aka the authority in the family.
It’s no coincidence that Satan is destroying the head of the family
through senseless violence, hate, mass incarceration, identity issues and the
like. It’s a PLAN. It’s a strategy to get them out of
place. When the head falls, the body
suffers. I am reminded of a passage in
my upcoming release, “Saturday Showdown.”
(Not a shameless but an INTENTIONAL plug – LOL) In this book, God is very much dealing with the
men, their rightful place in Him and in their family, so we need to take heed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wise words from First Lady Darcy
Stone: “Don’t be like Adam and throw her under the bus. Even if Adam hadn’t eaten the fruit, God
would still have come looking for him because he’s the one that God left in
charge, not Eve. So take a lesson from
him and cover her sins with your love the way Christ covered your sins with his
blood. I don’t care what she reveals.
You cover her. When God looks at
you all He sees is Christ’s blood. When
people look at her, all they need to see is your love. You are to love her the way the Christ loves
the church. Most times the only
scripture a man knows is, <i>‘Wives submit
to your husbands.’</i> It never occurs
to them the weight that goes with that charge.
Yes, God gave you all great authority but that’s because it comes with
great responsibility. There’s a cost to
be the boss and the price is your life. Just
like Christ laid his life down, you are to lay yours down for the family God
entrusted to you. Son, you have to
crucify your flesh and operate in the spirit.
So you stand in front her. You
hide her. You protect her. Do you understand me?” (Excerpt from "Saturday Showdown" Book 7 in the Chronicles of Warfare Saga)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Men, and not just black men, but
ESPECIALLY black men, it’s time to take your place! We need you!
The authority you’ve been given is great. It can change the very fabric of our
existence. TAKE YOUR PLACE! This blog has been brought to you by the
letter V and the number 2. (LOL) Y’all
be blessed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Until next time... </span></div>
GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-72864199983730618932016-07-08T06:03:00.002-07:002016-07-08T06:03:47.341-07:00Open Letter to the Body of Christ<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Listen, scrolling through my FB feed what disturbs me more than anything else, and there's plenty that's disturbing, is the hopelessness I'm seeing from those that are Christians. I'm here for the anger (without sin). I'm here for the outrage. I'm here for the righteous indignation. All of that is necessary, but what I can't deal with is the hopelessness. The “I don't know what to do.” We have seen God move on our behalf time and time again, this isn’t any different; it’s just bigger, but NOT bigger than Him! If this is not a </span>wake-up<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> call to the ENTIRE Body of Christ, then NOTHING will be. Now is the time for the POWER and AUTHORITY of Jesus Christ to manifest itself in the earth. People are asking where God is. What is He doing? I believe with everything in me, God is saying where is My church? What are YOU doing about this? We have God's unlimited power backing us, but it takes OBEDIENCE to activate it. Could it be that we know we are not in the right position with God to tap into the spiritual power and authority given? This battle doesn't belong to us, it belongs to the LORD! But we have a part to do. We spend all this time getting dressed up, hooping and hollering, running around and shouting but when our country turns into a </span>war zone<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> right before our very eyes, WE HAVE NO POWER!!! I know this hurts and I know it makes you angry, as injustice should, but EVERY church across America regardless of ethnicity or denomination should be standing in the gap as a congregation for their cities in prayer and fasting. If your church is not addressing this issue then that is a BIG PROBLEM! We should be seeking God for divine strategy about what He wants us to do and THEN we should GO OUT AND DO IT!!!! I guarantee you it won’t be a strategy that involves taking more lives! Are we heartbroken enough to repent and turn back to God? Are we heartbroken enough to see that love is the only answer to hate? Are we heartbroken enough to see that our petty differences are moot when people are dying in the streets left and right! Make no mistake about it; this battle isn’t against flesh and blood. Look at the overall picture. If an enemy of America wanted to attack right now, it would be </span>good<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> strategy because we are so divided. A house divided against itself cannot stand. No more should I see weak words and hopelessness from believers as I scroll down my timeline. I should see words spoken with authority and wisdom that are backed up by the Word of God. Because NOTHING can stand against God’s Word. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I should see Kingdom men saying how they are anointing their wives and children and praying over them before they leave the house. They know that the God they serve will protect them and those they love. They are covering them in prayer. There are legions of angels at your disposal. DIVINE PROTECTION is a real thing! I have seen it. I have experienced it. Psalm 91:7 says, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee.” I don’t understand, did we just forget about the God we served. Instead, we need to see this in the spirit. This chaos requires </span>US<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, the believers, to turn BACK TO GOD!!!! You fight power with power not violence with violence. You cannot speak life to yourself or your family when all that’s coming out of your mouth is death. WATCH YOUR WORDS!!! Do not make yourself a victim THROUGH YOUR WORDS! Either we believe in the God we say we serve or we don’t. We can’t be double minded. The world is dying all around us. Please understand reacting emotionally is not the answer. The evils of the world are inciting a race war and that will usher in martial law and then EVERYBODY will be crying out for justice. It won’t be a black/white thing. THEN it will be a people thing. DIVISION IS NEVER THE ANSWER – NEVER!!!! We may live in different communities and experience different things, but we all still live in this ONE country. So we ALL need to partake in fixing it. It’s not enough of any one group to make a difference, so we have to stand together in LOVE to conquer hate. (P.S. This is a TOTALLY separate issue than the black community coming together FINALLY to take care of their own – that’s ECONOMICS, that’s another post.)</span></div>
GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-59835315260492490452016-04-06T12:32:00.001-07:002016-04-06T14:25:43.662-07:00For the Single Christian Woman Who's Tired of THAT Question<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hi, my name is Gwendolyn Evans. I am thirty...cough...ahem years old and I am SINGLE. Yep, that's right. My left ring finger is naked, except for when I rock one of my fabulous rings. Meanwhile, when I say single, I mean, like for real, for real...single. I am not entertaining a male acquaintance, it's not going down in my DMs and I don't have a "friend" around just for companionship. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For me, being single at this point in my life is by divine appointment. Just to clarify, my meaning of divine... I'm talking about Yahweh, Jesus' dad. Let me be clear, yes I do want to get married and have a family someday, but in the meantime... I'm good. I know it's hard for some people to grasp this concept, but I really am okay. Why you ask? Because I live my life on, in and about purpose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I believe that God put me here on this earth to do something great. So that's what I'm doing. The thing that works my nerve about folk, specifically church folk and family folk, is this constant questioning of the status of my left finger and/or my uterus. Now look here, I understand some of it is genuine concern, but most of it is just plain old busybodied-ness. Is that a word? Well it's going to be one today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Listen, I am NOT here for your personal love connection skills, which by the way SUCK! At some point these people ASSUMED that because my life wasn't moving at THEIR expected pace that I need their UNSOLICITED help. Oh. Em. Gee! The "candidates" that have been brought to my attention make me want to say, <i>"Do you even like me? Do you know anything about me? How much thought did you put into that before you approached me with this option? Why do you insist on trying my life?"</i> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's like come on people... I'm good. Unless you see me around here moping, behaving in a thirsty manner, or suicidal on Facebook due to loneliness, ASSUME that I'm good. ASSUME that I'm happy. ASSUME that I'm content in my single life. ASSUME that I'm having fun. ASSUME that I believe the Bible that I confess to believe in and that I'm not worried because I know God's got me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My Bible tells me in 1 Corinthians 7:34 that, <i>"The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit..." </i>My life revolves around doing what God told me to do (see <a href="http://www.melindamichelle21.com/">www.melindamichelle21.com</a> for documented proof), enjoying my family, enjoying my friends, traveling and pretty much selfishly spending my time the way I want to with no regard for anyone else's opinion. I am enjoying my season of singleness because guess what, I am going to enjoy the mess out of my married life. That's right people. It's important to enjoy whatever season you're in because seasons change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So if you are a part of the "folk" that harass the single person about their status in life... STOP IT I SAY. Why don't you pray that God sends them the godly spouse that you're so desperate for them to have and give them encouragement on how to be a good spouse when that person arrives. If you're the single person who is tired of being harassed, cornered and questioned, I say it's time to cut off the un-edifying chatter and LIVE YOUR LIFE! Besides, once you get married they're going to ask you when you're having a baby. Then as soon as you give them this baby, they're going to ask you when are you having another one. See the pattern? People cannot be satisfied, so you have to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Go live your life. Stop waiting on a spouse to validate you, God has already done that. Find your purpose and get your Kingdom Grind on. I'm on mine and I'm telling you it's a wild ride that NEVER has a dull moment. I'll leave you with this. Cyrus Flanagan, one of the greatest men I have ever known said, "You don't marry a person, you marry a destiny." Therefore, your marriage is an assignment from God. If you're not able to focus on your assignment as a single person, how will you ever be able to focus on your assignment as a married person with all the things that will be added to your plate when you say, "I Do." <i>To everything there is a season</i> (Ecclesiastes 3:1).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until Next Time,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">GMME</span></div>
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GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-90454464387527423982015-08-17T14:09:00.000-07:002015-08-17T14:09:06.231-07:00Friendship is a Gift from God<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Thinking about friendship and how people you will meet one day can become your family. Family doesn't have to look like you, they just have to love you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">An excerpt from my novel, "Color Me Blind: A Divine Love Story."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Jasmine
looked over at Blake and couldn’t believe they were 21 already. Time was flying by so fast. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">She said, “You’re old
now.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">He laughed, “Uh you were old
a month before I was.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">“I cannot be bothered with
petty details.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">They laughed as he pulled up
to the restaurant. Blake got out and
went to open Jasmine’s door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">He said, “You look very
pretty.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">She said, “I know,” and
laughed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">He pinched her nose and then
kissed it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">She said, “You’re not so
shabby yourself.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">“Did you expect anything
less,” he replied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">She lightly punched him in
his shoulder as they headed inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> The hostess led them to a table in
the back. All their friends were there
waiting. Sitting at the table was Damon,
Lucy, Carmen and Ahmed. Since sophomore
year this had been their motley crew.
Lucy was a skinny little bean pole with a fresh pleasant face, shoulder
length straight black hair and eyes the same rich hue. Lucy was Vietnamese and had been Jasmine’s
roommate sophomore year. They hit it off
instantly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Lucy introduced her to Carmen
because they worked together as waitresses at a local restaurant. Carmen was average height with an athletic
build though she did possess the curves common to her Mexican heritage. She had long dark brown hair that cascaded
down to her backside. Her brown eyes
sparkled as she greeted Blake and Jasmine with kisses on their cheeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Ahmed gave Blake a fist
pound and kissed Jasmine on the cheek.
Damon and Blake had met Ahmed on the basketball court. Ahmed was about five-eleven with gorgeous wavy
black hair. Since he was Middle Eastern
his skin was the color of ripe olives and his jet black eyes were pleasantly mysterious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Their crew was a uniquely eclectic
one, but the love between them was as authentic as it could possibly be. They embraced their differences and never
took their ethnicities too seriously by always keeping the jokes about
stereotypes frequently flowing. Not
everyone they encountered could handle the realness of what they shared. As they were catching up Damon’s date
arrived. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">She was a sista with bone
straight hair and curves for days, the way he liked them. Her cocoa skin was flawless. She looked around the table trying to figure
out how she would get along with this rainbow of people. She and Damon had only been hanging out for a
month, but she was already smitten with him like most women he
encountered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">He introduced her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">“Hey everyone, this is
Stacy. Stacy, this is everyone.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">He went through and
introduced each of his friends by name.
Stacy was nervous and wanted to make a good impression, but she was
starting to feel like she might not have anything in common with Damon if these
were his closest friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">She smiled shyly and said,
“Nice to meet all of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Just then the waiter came up and
made his way around the table taking orders.
Jasmine eyed Stacy suspiciously and then shared her glance with Carmen
and Lucy. They both lifted their water
glasses to try and camouflage their laughter.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Damon was a ladies man. He always had a new flavor every month. They didn’t waste their time getting to know
any of them and they didn’t even try to make them feel comfortable. They had gotten burned too many times getting
attached to a woman he brought around.
Their hearts couldn’t take the disappointment anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Jasmine wanted to warn the
poor girl and tell her to run as fast as her long legs could take her away from
that man. She had yet to meet the woman
who could tame him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Blake and Ahmed always had his back
and laid on the charm thick. They gave
every one of his women the benefit of the doubt that maybe they would be the
one to make the cut. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Blake asked Stacy, “So what is your
major?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> “I’m a poly-sci major.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Jasmine asked, “Do you want to be a
lawyer or an actual politician?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> As if she was tired of the question
she answered a little exasperated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> “I’m going into politics. My family has had a politician in every
generation. This time it’s my turn.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Carmen caught the hint of dissent in
her voice, “Sounds like following in the preplanned script isn’t what you’re
passionate about?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Stacy consciously made her smile
reach her eyes, “Now why would you say that?
I can’t wait to become a public servant.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Jasmine sipped her water and said,
“Well, you definitely have the makings of a politician. You turned on that charm extra sugary sweet
in the blink of an eye. I still have to
agree with Carmen you don’t seem that excited.
Life’s too short not to do what you love.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Smile still in place Stacy asked,
“And what exactly do you know about my life, <i>sista</i>? You just met me so
don’t go there.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Jasmine’s eyebrow shot up as she
slowly set her water down. Blake knew
that she was about to go in hard on Stacy.
So did Ahmed and Damon. Lucy and
Carmen sat back to enjoy the show. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Damon was quick, “Uh Stacy, don’t
mind my girls. They always go for the
jugular the first time out trying to see if you’ve got what it takes to stick
around. They don’t mean any harm.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Lucy said, “Yeah, it took me a
minute to get used to it, but they’re harmless.
Well Carmen is but Jasmine, well that’s another story.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Everyone but Jasmine and Stacy released
a tension filled laughed. Their eyes
were locked on each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> “If I had known I was going to be interrogated
I would have brought my lawyer along,” Stacy said sarcastically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> “Honey if you can’t handle this
table then politics is probably not the smartest decision you’ve ever made. We represent just about every voting group,”
Jasmine retorted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Damon, smooth as ever, laid a
soft kiss on Stacy’s ruby red lips before she could respond. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Ahmed always the peacekeeper said,
“Quick Blake, say something oppressive and redirect the palpable tension.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Blake said, “I oppressed yo mama
last night!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Carmen said, “White people
just can’t quite pull off yo mama!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Damon replied with a
straight face, “Carmen, half of me is offended.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Lucy said, “Just don’t let
your black half offend the waiter by not tipping him!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Blake said, “Luce make sure
you calculate the tip so Damon and Jasmine don’t have any excuses.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">“Uh, that’s Chinese people,”
Lucy smirked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">“Wait you’re not Chinese,”
Ahmed asked. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Lucy threw her napkin at him
and responded, “Nope, the people across the street from your uncle’s gas
station are Chinese.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Damon said, “Oh you mean the
one’s next to your cousin’s nail shop?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Jasmine redirected and said,
“Carmen I’m looking at the dessert menu and I don’t see anything on here with
beans. Sorry maybe next time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Carmen gave Jasmine the
finger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">She said, “It’s okay I
checked with the waiter and they’re out of hot sauce so we’ll both have to tough
it out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Damon gasped, “Now my other
half if offended! But Jasmine always
brings us a bottle of hot sauce in her purse.
Ain’t that right Jazzy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">“Actually it’s the hot sauce
packets from various fast food joints,” Jasmine said. “I’m all out though because Blake used them
all trying to support Black History Month.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Lucy asked, “Now Damon what
are you going to put on your chicken?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">“I didn’t order chicken,”
Damon lied. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">There was a collective smirk
and then all of them fell out laughing.
When they composed themselves they each pulled out a dollar bill and
handed it to Damon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Damon exclaimed, “Here’s my
tip!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">They laughed again. It was a game they played frequently. Whoever made them break their flow and laugh
got a dollar from each of them. They loved
to freak out new people to the group with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">Stacy stared for a moment slightly thrown
off. She wanted to be offended but she
had to admire the quick wit and word play.
She could tell this was something they did often. Before she could decide how to respond two
waiters came out with their food and began distributing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> When all the plates were settled
Stacy was about to dig in when Jasmine said, “Okay y’all, wait, we gotta bless
the food.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"> Stacy caught herself as they all
prepared to bow their heads. She
wondered if they were going to pray to Jesus, Allah, Buddha or the Virgin Mary. She had no idea what to expect so she quickly
said her own silent blessing. She knew
the rest of her night would be very interesting...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Baskerville Old Face","serif";">If you want to read the rest of this story visit www.melindamichelle21.com. The book is also available in Ebook on Kindle and Nook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-69536906503812317882013-07-14T19:27:00.001-07:002013-07-14T19:27:28.160-07:00My Two Cents on Trayvon Martin
I posted this on my FB page and from the response decided to blog it. Please hear my heart people...that's all I'm asking.<br />
<br />
To my white friends that I see are
discussing deleting people from their pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s your page do your thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
respect your feelings and the life you live, so I added this disclaimer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you feel the need to delete me once I show
you my heart, do what you have to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will be the first to delete people for pure ignorance BUT don’t measure a
person by ONE incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not their
totality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will have NOTHING but love
for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re on my page you know
that I HAVE NEVER done or said anything to you PERSONALLY that was
disrespectful, hateful or racist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
only been a friend/classmate/co-worker to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know you don’t understand the walk I walk, just like I don’t understand yours.
This doesn’t change anything between us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But until you walk a mile in my shoes…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am a BLACK WOMAN that means I give birth to BLACK MEN, A TARGET IN
THIS SOCIETY, POINT BLANK, PERIOD!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love
you much!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#CheckTheStats<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I’ve read all the posts on my newsfeed and everyone is
focused on the INJUSTICE in this country for black men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say WAKE UP and realize this system
wasn’t designed for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I say that this
situation more than anything should show BLACK MEN just how POWERFUL you
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THEY HATE YOU BECAUSE THEY KNOW
YOUR WORTH - YOU DON’T!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is my
PERSONAL BELIEF that black men are one of the most powerful creations on this
earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WHY?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THEY HAVE THE MOST OPPOSITION!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one fears or puts in place a design to
SYSTEMATICALLY destroy you unless they have reason to fear you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t fear you because you’re dangerous
in the sense they MADE YOU OUT TO BE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They fear your MIND because it’s powerful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t understand how you can do what you
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You drug dealers are doing chemistry
and algebra in your head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You hustlers
are CEO’s of your own company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
rappers are orators who can bring people together with your words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>REFOCUS YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS TO ELEVATE
YOUR COMMUNITY IN A POSITVE WAY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know
that you descended from KINGS and QUEENS, not SLAVERY. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know all the things that AFRICANS
CREATED!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>DON’T BELIEVE THE LIES!!!
STOP KILLING EACH OTHER over nonsense, money, cars, women, drugs!!!! Open your
eyes and see it for what it really is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Get in school, stay in school and educate yourselves in THEIR SYSTEM. Go
to the library, talk to old people READ A D#MN BOOK and EDUCATE YOURSELVES IN
OUR TRUTH – KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!! The best war strategy is to infiltrate your
enemy from the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You gotta know their
system to change it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not telling
you to USE VIOLENCE, I AM TELLING YOU TO USE YOUR MIND!!! TAKE YOUR PLACE IN
SOCIETY! RAISE YOUR BABIES; ONLY A BLACK MAN CAN SHOW A BLACK MAN HOW TO BE A
BLACK MAN!!!! YOU ARE THE HEAD OF THIS CULTURE we need you to take your place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BLACK WOMEN it’s time to have their backs. I
am not saying you can’t date another race of man that’s absolutely fine but you
will STILL GIVE BIRTH TO A BLACK MAN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
I submit to the women, the carriers of our culture that we DEMAND BLACK MEN
STEP UP AND DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THEIR BEST.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use your influence to BUILD THEM UP, ELEVATE
their minds and remind them of their worth DAILY because they are bombarded
DAILY with everybody else telling them they ain’t nothing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
To my Christian family, I don’t know why God made us all
different races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally I’m pretty
doggone proud to be in my beautiful black skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of the MOST HIGH GOD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is #JehovahRohi and my ultimate protector
and yours!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is sovereign and he does
not make mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the time to say,
hey God, we hurting down here, what are you working on that we can’t see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Know your CREATOR; you will NEVER UNDERSTAND
your PURPOSE until you ask the ONE that CREATED YOU!!! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
#Done <o:p></o:p></div>
GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-74935508108551768072013-03-14T09:12:00.002-07:002013-03-14T09:12:54.751-07:00For Such a Time as ThisI wrote this in 2007 but it is still relevant today because I am now trying to do just this with my life...Looks like I prophesied to myself...HA! I hope you enjoy!<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
This past Sunday a guest pastor
spoke at my church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He mentioned
something in his message that just made a light bulb come on in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is something that I have been harping
about for a while (The Children Are Our Future).<o:p></o:p></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> The World “The Why”<o:p></o:p></b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
-<u>Baby Boomers</u> – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1946-1964</i>
– During a time of great economic stability people were making babies at
unprecedented rates, conservative, educated - BS<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
-<u>Generation X</u> – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1966-1980</i>
– The “lost” or “invisible” generation – described as entrepreneurial and
tech-friendly – rebellious and turning away from God, educated – BS, Master’s <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
-<u>Generation Next</u> – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1981-1988</i> – Grew up with personal computers, cell phones and the
internet – no moral context, accepts anything – educated – BS, Master’s, PhD’s <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Church “The How”<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ~ Ephesians 6:12 (KJV – 21<sup>st</sup>
Century)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em>I promise you there is a method to my madness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just allow yourself to put into context the
world we live in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Now, what exactly is going on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the issues with the world I try to
see it from a spiritual point of view because that often answers the “how”
things happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2007 the baby boomers
are retiring if not dying out leaving the world in the hands of the Generations
X and Next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world is not what it was
when the baby boomers grew up or had their children. It has drastically changed
and not for the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However because
of the age the Xers and Nexters came up in we are more adapt to change to see
the progressive side of life and make “our own way.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Now put that thought in the church,
back then you heard Jesus is coming back soon and Hell, Fire, and Brimstone
messages and not that they are not applicable because they are, but there is
still work to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to do more
than just be “saved” to secure your seat in Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of our progressive mentality we are
more susceptible to understanding God positioning His people around the world
to make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the
generations that can bring about change in the world for God because we can be
in the church and be a strong presence there but also be the entrepreneurs,
CEO’s, and teachers in the world as a light for those who need hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This pastor said the prayer handles
spiritual demons but money handles human demons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shift of the world’s wealth is coming to
us and we will be in powerful positions to do God’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now my point, we are the generation that
the enemy is seeking to devour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every
kind of sin is rampant; drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, fornication,
adultery, to name a few.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Please understand who is being
targeted, the youth and the men, in other words the FUTURE and the FOUNDATIONS
of the home and it is all a plot of the enemy to silence the voices that God is
trying to raise up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to be
smarter than this people; we can no longer float through life aimlessly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every single one of us was born with a
purpose and it’s time we get back to God and find out what that purpose is and
do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must do it with so much
conviction that people MUST stop and pay attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Find your purpose and God will
position you to bring about His purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s time to get back to church, not the commercialized, money hungry,
divorce is okay, homosexuality is okay, monetary prosperity only church’s being
splattered all over the media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The real
church’s (yes they still exist) the praying, fasting, interceding, visionaries
who have a heart for God and people to do His will no matter what.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Oh I really should mention this,
don’t get it twisted, Heaven and Hell are still very near, check out
Revelations and look at the times, so let’s get to getting because time is in
fact running out!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<strong>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Don’t let six strong men carry you back to church. ~
Unknown</span></strong>GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-518271346237556936.post-38390039826300641772012-11-23T12:14:00.001-08:002016-04-16T06:17:47.645-07:00Christian vs. Christian, STOP IT I SAY!Let me start by saying this I am only talking to people who identify themselves as a Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t then I am NOT talking to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am writing this because I am totally disturbed by the way Christians are handling this last election cycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much hatred, racism and judgment are coming from those who are supposed to be Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is disgusting!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For clarification let me say, I am a born again, blood bought believer and I will be on #TeamJesus for life and YES I voted for President Barack Obama.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes I watched the news with the rest of the world when he came out and said he was for gay marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did it bother me as a believer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was disappointing but guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>POTUS stands for President of the United States not Pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has to govern the entire population: black/white, gay/straight, republican/democrat, saved/unsaved and everyone in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not know the status of that man’s relationship with God and neither do you!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not our job as Christians to be the moral police but to be the moral example. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As a Christian yes I can witness to you and inform you that what’s going on in your life is not pleasing to God but I DO NOT have the right to treat you with hate and disdain because I do not agree with the way you live your life or I just don’t like the color of your skin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the issue comes to a vote then vote your convictions but other than that fight it in the spirit.<o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I take issues with those Christians who feel perfectly fine with judging me because I voted for a president that supports something that is in complete contrast to biblical truth BUT you cast your vote for Governor Romney when he is a Mormon?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if you’re on your moral soapbox here then I have a BIG problem with your rationale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not attacking your choice I just don’t understand how you can attack mine?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By all biblical intents Mormonism is a false religion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their beliefs are also in DIRECT contrast to biblical truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage you to read their theology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a religion that has created another book they believe is equal to if not superior to the word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible tells us that if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received he is to be accursed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Galatians 1:9)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The argument that a Christian can vote for Romney and that’s okay but if you vote for Obama you’re going to hell (yes some Pastor’s said that from their pulpits) is asinine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BOTH candidates represent something that is in DIRECT contrast to the word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Christians were to only vote for political candidates that lined up with the Bible we would never vote, ever!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we did that we would be leaving the direction of the country to those who do not believe in the ONE TRUE LIVING GOD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now what kind of sense does that make?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ourselves fall short every day but grace and mercy catches us when we fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we be so gracious and extend some of that to others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And to those believers that listened to someone that told them not to vote and obeyed shame on you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can hear the spilled blood from all those that fought for our rights crying out from the ground, “How could you let my death be in vain,” just like Abel’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of Cain and Abel, Mormons believed that black people were descendants of Cain and therefore we’re inferior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh but when black people were going to sue the Mormon Church another vision was given and we were included though we would still be slaves in heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whew, I am so glad that at 31 years old I just made the cut for that new vision that allowed me passage into heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you Sheldon’s out there, yes that was sarcasm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Come on now some of this stuff just does not pass the law of common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have got to stop letting the things about us that are different separate us and concentrate on the things that we do have in common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of racism, I won’t assume that conservative is synonymous with Christian but come on people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is this, “Take our country back?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take it back, really?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about we GIVE IT BACK!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Columbus Day is nothing but a holiday condoning bullying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deny it all you want but you can’t find something that someone else already did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the cold hard truth, deal with it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>No one in this country should have a problem with immigration except for maybe the Native Americans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone who came to this country came by way of immigration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do believe that everyone should legally have to be in this country but can we please stop looking down on people as if we’re better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone graced us passage once into this great country even if it was under less than pleasant circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a white conservative does not give you sole ownership to this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have already fought that war once let us not regress people but keep moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>God is so not pleased with the way His Christians are behaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is LOVE!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christians are some of the most hateful, spiteful, vicious people I’ve ever met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder we can’t win souls to the kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you want to be a Christian based on what we have out there now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can we PLEASE do better!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not here to condone ANY sin but people in glass houses should not walk around naked or throw stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gave us free will so who is man to take it from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forcing religion on anyone is wrong and God wants people to come to Him of their own free will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone wants to complain about the way the world is now but we as the body of Christ right now SUCK!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe, just maybe the world is going to hell on a scholarship because we are not doing our part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is so much hate going on right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened to God being in control?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is everyone so mad?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I would have been disappointed if Governor Romney won, I’m not going to lie but I know that I am a child of God and no matter what He is who I look to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened to God being sovereign?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Am I the only one who read that promotion comes from God? (Psalms 75:6-7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that is the case then what higher promotion is there than the presidency of the United States?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible says that God puts down one and sets up another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So do we believe the whole Bible or just the parts that are complementary to our personal agendas?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wake up people, if God is sovereign and in control then it was His will to put President Obama in office at the end of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He either caused it to happen or allowed it to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if you’re mad at someone, take it up with God and stop causing all this drama down here on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have enough problems to deal with than to have to also contend with your unstable emotions!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know what the reason was, good, bad or ugly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we accept His will and His instructions to pray for our leaders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t say we prayed for our leaders if we liked them, agreed with them or if their skin color matched ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Let’s remember the fundamentals of our faith and get back to the basics – Witnessing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guilty of not witnessing as much as I should so this is a chastisement I have to take too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are ambassadors for Christ which means we are in this world but not of this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we still need to participate in the governing of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to pull out our spiritual weapons prayer, fasting, the word, faith and obedience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me make it plain, the bible says:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have NEVER seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Psalms 37:25)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is your faith in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it in the president or is it in God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I read the other day a man killed himself because President Obama won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wake up oh sleeping Christians!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are the salt of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If our salt has become tasteless we are no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (Matthew 5:13)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has placed a purpose in each and every one of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So my decree to every believer whether you are democrat, republican, tea party, or independent, the election is over and what is done is done!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us fall on our faces and earnestly pray for this country and the people who lead us to do the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hungry, the hurting, the sick, the dying, the poor, the sad, the depressed, the suicidal, the bound, the oppressed, and the confused are the reason why we have no time to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I don’t think those two issues of gay marriage and abortion is more important than all the other ones that we face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The moral decay of this society rests solely on the shoulders of those of us who call ourselves Christians.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of spewing hate at those who look different, think different, or have a different sin than us we need to be living our lives the way God asked us to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If my people, which are called by my name, shall <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">humble</b> themselves, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">pray</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">seek my face</b>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">turn from their wicked ways</b>; THEN will I <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">hear from heaven</b>, and will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">forgive their sin</b>, and will <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">heal their land</b>. (2 Chr. 7:14)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh my how our land needs to be healed: diseases, unprecedented natural disasters, and so much more!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who is God talking to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The office of the presidency?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sinner?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NO he is talking to HIS BELIEVERS!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore WE need to get it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop trying to be the judge, jury and executioner of every person whose sin is not like yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Live by example, show them <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">LOVE</b> and pray for GOD to change their heart and bring them into salvation by HIS spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not suggesting we bite our tongues about what the Bible says is wrong but let us stop condemning that is NOT our function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>People love to harp on Sodom and Gomorrah like that one part of the Bible gives you some right to smite all those who are homosexuals but don’t get it twisted in the book of Ezekiel it says that the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GUILT</b> of Sodom and her daughters is that they were <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">arrogant</b>, they had an <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">abundance</b> of food and were carefree yet they <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">did not help the poor and needy</b>. (Ezekiel 16:49)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well crap, that sounds like America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Jesus not tell the people if you had two coats to give one away to the poor and if you have food give some to those who are hungry?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Luke 3:11)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I ask you once again, are we reading the parts of the Bible that support our bigotry and selfishness or are we reading the entire Bible and rightly dividing the word of truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we studying the word of God to show ourselves approved?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I have no problem with how you vote but then you don’t have a problem with how I vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s stick to the issues and leave our prejudices out of politics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it’s over win or lose let’s put our focus right back to where it belongs on God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s in control and He has a plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So YES I am going to say it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President Obama was God’s choice we just have to wait and see why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many times God used an unsaved leader to carry out the plan for His people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if the president is a believer or not but since my faith is in God, I’m good either way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just breathe, relax, God has this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No seriously…chill the freak out people!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was the last time you witnessed to someone or shared your testimony about how and why you came to know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When was the last time you shared with an unbeliever all the blessings God bestowed upon your life or how He delivered you from your past and gave you a clean slate to start over?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It is our job to witness and plant the seed, only God’s spirit can convert a sinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do we single out only two sins?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This makes no sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WE HAVE ALL SINNED and come short of God’s glory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God doesn’t measure sin where any one is greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes there may be greater consequences to some versus others but it’s all the same to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That lie, that HATE in your heart, that immoral lifestyle, that murder, that un-forgiveness, that adultery, that fornication, that greed, and that selfishness will all garner the same reserved seating in hell without repentance, period!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People are dying EVERY SINGLE day and we are consumed with the WRONG things!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The election is over!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will be the president for the next four years but GOD will be on the throne the entire time and long after.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us stop this civil war and pull together as the body of Christ and do what He has called us to do!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> A house divided CANNOT stand. </span>ALL of creation is waiting.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Melinda Michelle<o:p></o:p></div>
Author. Writer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Novelist.<o:p></o:p><br />
<a href="http://www.melindamichelle21.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.melindamichelle21.com</span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
Author of "Surviving Sunday" Book 1 of 7<br />
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GMMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06223408229643035932noreply@blogger.com4