Thursday, August 21, 2014

Quiet Obedience


Someone said to me just yesterday that there is no need to be upset about what is happening in this country in regard to the government, the police, anarchist and discourse, disturbance and the like.  She went on to state that what we need to do is pray.  At the time I had to huff up for a moment and think that although it be true that we must pray for the people and our country, we as a nation of black folk must rally, stand up and loudly proclaim that what is going on in all of our major cities and in Ferguson is unacceptable.

The militant side of me screams that we must stand shoulder to shoulder and do whatever is necessary until change happens in this country in regard to our young black men being killed at the hands of a militarized police force, each other or even in a prison system that is designed to kill a spirit and break a mind.

Ok, in my quiet moments I reflected on what she was trying to say.  The bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

With that said it is time to stop the insanity on all fronts by any means necessary.  When I say all fronts I mean the the brutal murder of our strong black men by the police in our communities, black on black crime, gang wars, drugs, child abuse and the sexual exploitation of and the violence against women. By any means necessary I mean that it is time for us to fully exercise the power that works in us – the power of Jesus Christ – the power of the Holy Ghost.


There is a storm raging in every village, hamlet and neighborhood across this country.  Somebody is mad about something or just plain mad in general but nothing we can do in our mortal flesh will calm that storm the way Jesus can. 

Mark 4: 37-41  37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Revelation:  we cannot do what we do in church – teach and preach a gospel  of peace and understanding and protest, march, fight and riot outside of church. The bible says that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:8  Either we hold fast to our faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His might or we don’t.  This does not mean that we are passive because I do not believe that in any way,  shape or form my prayers are passive.  I am radical for Christ by all means and know who it is that I serve.  We can move a mountains with the understanding that the most powerful tool we have against injustice is prayer.  The fence we build as protection against the wilds of the enemy are sure when built through the unction of the Holy Ghost. The same is true with the spiritual warfare that we must wage now more than ever.  We are not fighting against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in high places.  These issues with our young black men are spiritual issues and we as prayer warriors must gird up and fight in that manner.

Ask me if I am going to protest or march through the streets. MY answer is a resoundingly loud no. God has called me to fight on my knees. So, in quiet obedience that will I do.

Read and heed the Word of Lord. Some 50 years later, here we sit. Not much has changed so it must be time for Revolutionary Prayer.


Nina Simone - REVOLUTION, 1969



Backlash
Langston Hughes, Nina Simone, 1976




Thursday, August 14, 2014

I N T E G R I T Y


in·teg·ri·ty       noun \in-ˈte-grə-tē\
A word that has been rolling around in my head for several days is the word INTEGRITY.  Webster’s defines the word as being in an unimpaired condition or soundness of mind, the state of being complete or undivided.  It further states that integrity is the firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values:  incorruptibility.  All of this sounds good but it begs the question how do people really see me?  Do they see me as a bold woman of God,  full of INTEGRITY, sold out for Christ, walking and talking what I believe?

Here is the key.  There are many people watching your every move whether you think so or not.  I don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about other's opinions. Doing so makes one quite crazy, incomplete with a divided mind not to mention easily swayed.  But I am aware that there are people watching to see if what I profess as my faith makes a difference in my life.

12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2:12  KJV

It was pointed out to me some years ago that people don’t take just a passing glance in your direction but they generally take a long hard look to see if our behavior matches your belief.  Folks want to know if that same holiness I display on Sunday carries over into the week when I am not in church.  In other words, they are looking to see if I have integrity. 

29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Proverbs 10:29 KJV

People with integrity:

Have nothing to hide
Have nothing to fear
Know how to keep their eyes on Christ – the model of integrity
Know that integrity is the hallmark of their Christian walk – they walk the walk and talk the talk
Are honest and of good report
Know themselves and have a clear vision as to what is good for them and what is not – in other words, they know how to flee from situations that can cause them to stumble
They own their mistakes and short comings (a mature mind knows how to not blame someone else for something they did or did not do)
Recognize that yielding to those in authority is not a sign of weakness but a genuine sign of self- control - “my way or the highway” does not fit every situation
Know that their word is their bond and they stand for what is right at ALL times
They don’t ask why is this happening but ask God what they are to learn from it

Remember “The whole world is watching”.  I pray that my own integrity will be strengthened as I am tested in this area daily. As people watch me, I pray that my character matches my confession and that I will be a witness for Christ in all things that I do.  Do you have enough integrity to trust the Lord and lean not to your own understanding?  Seriously?

©Debi Mason, 2014, Oakland, CA, USA  Reference: What do people see in you? By Rick Ezell, 2005
#aginggracefully  #soulwriter   #whatithoughtwassojustaint

Monday, August 11, 2014

F A I T H


FAITH
Today I am grateful that I have the kind of faith that keeps me standing strong and firmly rooted even when the winds of change blow all around me.  Change, as we grow into our later years, is difficult.  It is something that we try to avoid at all cost.  Yet change is inevitable.  Fight it all you want but change in our relationships, in our finances, in our living circumstances and in our health is going to happen.
 
I read something today by Jack Zavada that caught my attention.  In his article on why change is so hard he explains that we all ultimately dislike not having control over the things in our lives.  Giving up that control is scary at best and it means that we have to step into the unknown where we lose all sense invulnerability and all sense of power.

The bible says, “NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 KJV   The word NOW in this scripture means that we as saints of the most High God can access the power of faith in the one and only living God right now, immediately.  The NOW in the scripture means that we can step immediately into the unknown with confidence knowing that God is in control.  The bible also says, “If God be for us, who can me against us?” Romans 8:31 KJV   God-given faith produces steadfastness in the life of the dedicated believer in Christ Jesus.  By-the-way, we believers are not required to do anything when faced with change but be steadfast in our faith, stand unmovable in our faith, listen for the voice of God in faith and be obedient to His will by faith.

Much of my life was spent in a “fight or flight” response to change.  In fact a saying that I used to joke about was so painfully true, “Feet don’t fail me now!”  I was the first one to jump up and leave everything behind if there was even an inkling of a chance that I might not win a battle.  I would fight as long as I could and perhaps missed many an opportunity in the process because of the time spent. In the end I would still find myself giving up and walking away.  That was before I fully understood that God knows all, sees all.  He created the universe and He is, indeed, a BIG God.  Not only is He the instrument of my peace but He can see far better into my future than I and He has already insured success in whatever change there is to come.  
Any and all changes made with God and through God will also stay changed.  The bible also says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28 KJV

Resistance to change is motivated by fear and we already know that God did not give us a spirit of fear. We already know that God gave us enough power and enough love to navigate through any good or bad change, any storm that may come our way. 

God has so blessed me with a strength I thought I would never have, a boldness in my spirit that keeps me grounded and always looking forward to the next chapter.


#gracefulaging #soulwriter #whatithoughtwassojustaint #praisechallenge -- Day One
(c) 2014, Debi Mason, Oakland, CA, USA

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Just breathe




Learn to breathe.
Learn to breathe in spite of all that surrounds you. 
Breathe through it.
Float in it.
Relax in it and just breathe.
Slowly let your lungs do what they were designed to do --
Just breathe.
You know trouble don't last alway.
Breathe.
He's got you and He's got this. It's His promise. So ...
Breathe.
That's right -- in and out,
Breathe, chil'.
It is He that makes the storm a calm.
Breathe deep. Take it all in until you hear His whisper.
He is testifying of His wonderous working power
His grace. His mercy.
His faithfulness and His charge to bring you out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Move on.

#aginggracefully
#whatithoughtwassojustain't

(c) Debi Mason, Oakland, CA, USA