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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Mornings with the 'Good Book'

God morning blog family.  Praise Him! Let me begin with the Word of God. Today in my early hour reading  time the book of Jeremiah 17:5-8 really stirred something up in me.  It reads: Thus saith the Lord ; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places of the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is a man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yelding fruit.


I like to find the little pearls in the Bible like this.  I call them pearls because at first glance the treasure can't be seen.  There is this rough even hard, ugly exterior. But if you continue deeper the way and beauty of what's inside comes forth true and majestic.  Well today's scripture chastises me and provokes me to face the fact that I am guilty of trusting in a man...ME! It's so easy to fall prey to this. I cannot save myself.  I cannot change or exchange myself.  In order to obtain peace, I need to totally trust in God. I must have Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trust. 

The scripture says if you do trust in men or yourself then there is a curse waiting for you. What in the world?? I don't want that.  Have mercy oh God! As I read the verse further I am able to find the way that blesses me and I find that I am blessed when I trust in the Lord.  That's it... just trust, so simple.  As I go through this day hidden under the shadow of the Almighty I repent of any evil that would separate me from God.  I ask God to take even surround me. I admit. I don't know how to keep me on the narrow path.  Keep me oh God from my self and the enemy that's seeking to kill steal and destroy my soul. Your kingdom come your will be done. Amen!

The 'Yada Yada' Craze

My first experience with a Yada book (author Neta Jackson) came during one of my book club 'selection' shopping excursions. There are many things I look for in a book and 1st looks can be deceiving.  Not all books with great covers are good reads.  Books with boring or less interesting covers can turn out to be the best experience.  Well I didn't think too much of the Yada Yada Prayer Group (YYPG) at first glance but Oh my goodness, it falls on my list of books to read again and recommend to others. I read the YYPG in book club.  My book club - His Glory Girls (HGGs) read the book in February of this year (09) and loved it!

My favorite scene in the book:  Jodi's husband, eavesdrops on a prayer meeting held at his home and breaks down in tears repenting.  It was powerful stuff. Jodi's praise dance was awesome too.
At the end I felt: Inspired to seek after a deep relationship with God - More of the simple stuff like reading, prayer and listening.
The Plot: Women from very different cultural backgrounds realize what they have in common through their individual trials and tribulations.
Author/s Tidbit - Neta and David Jackson are a husband and wife writing team.  His heritage is in African American descent so his and Neta's is a mixed cultural marriage/writing team.  It works very well for them because they create believable character interactions. 

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Books hold Treasure

I read 'Hinds Feet on High Places' when I was about 14 years old.  To this day some of the scenes still play out in my mind. One summer my aunt Phyllis (diva in the Lord) introduced me to this wonderful work. We call her auntie even though she has 4 or so other sisters. The summer auntie passed this gem of a book on to me there was this bag she kept in her bedroom.  Her room was as beautiful as a hotel suite decked out with matching curtains and bed shams all the things you'd see in a Home and Garden advertisement.  When she pulled out that book from its special place it was almost as if I was a character in a movie about to embark on a special adventure into my maturity. I accepted the treasure and held it in her presence with as much care as a 14 year old could muster.  She believed I would appreciate a good book. I wasn't going to take that for granted. 

She was right to pass that book down to me.  I did need to read it and especially at that moment in my life.  The story line was about relationships highlighting the one with the Holy Spirit and the daily purging that goes along with that. God's spirit was with the main character. Her name was 'Much Afraid'. What no! She was so much like me from the start.  The books you can relate to are the best ones.

If you are an auntie or a mentor to a young person then, as a reader, it is your responsibility to pass on the treasures.  I know all about wanting to keep the books for your library or what have you but it is more valuable to share the gifts.  Not every book can change your mind.  For me that book my auntie shared did just that.  It changed my life and I have a copy in my favorite place ready for the next young thirsty soul to receive and be changed. So why don't you pass it on!