Happy Sunday!
Happy Memorial Day!
Thinking about things we remember. In the USA, Memorial Day is set aside to remember the fallen military servicemen and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our nation...their lives. Most of my life, I thought it was about Bar-B-Que, and a new summer outfit. For me back then, it was just a day off work, and a time to relax.
Do you remember the story about the pot roast? The women in a certain family always cut the ends off the pot roast. Finally, an inquisitive husband asked why the ends were being removed. His wife asked her mother, who asked her mother. His wife's grandmother explained that she didn't have a pot big enough to hold the pot roast, so she cut the ends off so that it would fit. Each woman continued the tradition of cutting off the pot roast ends without questioning the reason.
What, why, and how we remember things in life is vitally important. Memories are often painful. It seems to be easier to sweep some memories under the rug. In order to use these memories for our benefit we have to process them properly. We can't deny things happened, but we can move forward and live a wonderful life. The Apostle Paul encourages us by saying, "No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,"(Philippians 3:13, Living Bible). It helps to know that Paul had just finished giving his testimony: good and bad. He admitted that he wasn't perfect, and things weren't perfect. But he was able to look forward with hope, and a goal in mind.
My mother loved to use High Gloss Enamel paint on our walls. She was an intelligent woman, and she understood that it was easier to wipe off fingerprints and dirt when necessary with this paint. But High Gloss Enamel paint is thick and has to be applied evenly. Also this paint cannot be washed from your paint brushes and rollers with water. Paint thinner is necessary. Where were the child labor laws? Where was OSHA? Anyway, I digress. After so many painting sessions, I must say I detest painting. While working at Arizona State University, our offices were painted. My Manager walked in and said, "Don't you just love to see them painting and smell the fresh paint?" Immediately, I had a flash back! Before I knew it, I exclaimed, "I hate painting! My mother made us paint with High Gloss Enamel Paint, and I can still here her saying, "Smooth even strokes! Smooth even strokes!" Mind you, I acted out the smooth even strokes with an imaginary paint brush. My Manager smiled, and said, "Cynthia, you are going to have to get over that!"
He was right. I need to get over it. I won't forget it, because it gets funnier as I tell it...but I can process it differently. Because my mother expected things to be done right, I never have a problem finding a job, I have never been fired for not doing my job correctly, and I understand the value of having a clean home. See, I found some positives in that negative memory. LOL!
Proverbs 4:5 says, "Get skillful and godly Wisdom, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation); do not FORGET and do not turn back from the words of my mouth."(Amplified). Remembering the Word of God is imperative. Knowing that God is perfect, and humans are imperfect helps tremendously.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Call the Calling Off off...
Happy Sunday!
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sang, "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off". Most of us are at least familiar with a few of the stanzas. The song speaks about how our idiosyncrasies can cause problems in our relationships. But at the end of the song, they realize calling the whole thing off would mean something far worse: losing their love.
Romans 15:5-6 says, "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be LIKEMINDED one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with ONE mind and ONE mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."(KJV). The Living Bible Translation of this scripture says, "May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ toward the other. And then all of us can praise the Lord together with one voice, giving glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ". Don't miss this! God wants us to live in harmony with each other, BUT the only way to do this it to have the attitude of Christ.
What was Christ's attitude? I'm so glad you asked! 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "You know the grace that has come to us through our Lord Jesus the Anointed. He set aside His infinite riches and was born into the lowest circumstance so that you may gain great riches through His humble poverty."(Voice). He was willing to give it all up for us, with no guarantee that we would love him. Romans 5:8 says, "Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us."(Easy-to-Read Version).
What would this look like in your relationships? How could this change the atmosphere in your workplace? How would this change the climate in our world? Selflessness instead of selfishness. Love rather than hate. Forgiveness rather than revenge.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong sang, "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off". Most of us are at least familiar with a few of the stanzas. The song speaks about how our idiosyncrasies can cause problems in our relationships. But at the end of the song, they realize calling the whole thing off would mean something far worse: losing their love.
Romans 15:5-6 says, "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be LIKEMINDED one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with ONE mind and ONE mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."(KJV). The Living Bible Translation of this scripture says, "May God who gives patience, steadiness, and encouragement help you to live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ toward the other. And then all of us can praise the Lord together with one voice, giving glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ". Don't miss this! God wants us to live in harmony with each other, BUT the only way to do this it to have the attitude of Christ.
What was Christ's attitude? I'm so glad you asked! 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "You know the grace that has come to us through our Lord Jesus the Anointed. He set aside His infinite riches and was born into the lowest circumstance so that you may gain great riches through His humble poverty."(Voice). He was willing to give it all up for us, with no guarantee that we would love him. Romans 5:8 says, "Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us."(Easy-to-Read Version).
What would this look like in your relationships? How could this change the atmosphere in your workplace? How would this change the climate in our world? Selflessness instead of selfishness. Love rather than hate. Forgiveness rather than revenge.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, May 12, 2019
I'll always love my Mama...
Happy Mother's Day
Who remembers the carnations that were sold or provided in the black church on Mother's Day? I can't recall if it was the Mother's Board, or the Usher Board selling them, but everyone wanted one. You wore the white flower if your mother had gone to heaven, and the red flower if your mother was still here with you. I don't have to tell you Mother's Day was quite emotional at church during these services. A soloist would be selected to sing, "Motherless Child". If you don't know this song, Google it Baby! Have your Kleenex ready, it's a tear jerker with roots that go all the way back to slavery when children were sold away from their mothers.
I totally get it! There are days when I break into tears thinking about my mother, and my sweet grandmother, Eliza Williams. After I snap back to reality, I feel so grateful for their lives and everything they taught me and shared with me. Joni Mitchell sang, "Don't it always seem to go. That you don't know what you've got til it's gone." Sometimes, this is true. BUT it doesn't have to be this way! We have a great opportunity right now to love, and appreciate those dear ones in our lives.
Psalm 90:12 says, "Teach us to number our days so that we may truly live and achieve wisdom."(Voice). Don't miss this! As my son, Terrence A. Pruitt always says, "God does not waste instructional minutes." He's always trying to get wisdom, and answers to us! This scripture reminds us there is a limit on this earthly life. If Jesus doesn't return before your "time", you will die. Numbering our days doesn't have to be morbid. It's just good to remind yourself everyday to enjoy the simple things, laugh at the funny things, cherish those you love, and ignore the foolishness. God has not given us a spirit of fear, so don't go into next week fearing death. Proverbs 9:11 lets us in on a little secret. You can extend your life! Did you know this? It says, "Wisdom will help you live longer; she will add years to your life."(Easy-to-Read Version).
So what can we do with this wonderful life we've been given! So glad you asked! Proverbs 10:7 says, "Good people leave memories that bless us, but the wicked are soon forgotten."(Easy-to-Read Version). Leave memories that Bless others. Don't be that one mean family member that no one cares to recall, unless they are trying to convey how hard their life has been. Make good memories now for those you love, and those that love you.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Who remembers the carnations that were sold or provided in the black church on Mother's Day? I can't recall if it was the Mother's Board, or the Usher Board selling them, but everyone wanted one. You wore the white flower if your mother had gone to heaven, and the red flower if your mother was still here with you. I don't have to tell you Mother's Day was quite emotional at church during these services. A soloist would be selected to sing, "Motherless Child". If you don't know this song, Google it Baby! Have your Kleenex ready, it's a tear jerker with roots that go all the way back to slavery when children were sold away from their mothers.
I totally get it! There are days when I break into tears thinking about my mother, and my sweet grandmother, Eliza Williams. After I snap back to reality, I feel so grateful for their lives and everything they taught me and shared with me. Joni Mitchell sang, "Don't it always seem to go. That you don't know what you've got til it's gone." Sometimes, this is true. BUT it doesn't have to be this way! We have a great opportunity right now to love, and appreciate those dear ones in our lives.
Psalm 90:12 says, "Teach us to number our days so that we may truly live and achieve wisdom."(Voice). Don't miss this! As my son, Terrence A. Pruitt always says, "God does not waste instructional minutes." He's always trying to get wisdom, and answers to us! This scripture reminds us there is a limit on this earthly life. If Jesus doesn't return before your "time", you will die. Numbering our days doesn't have to be morbid. It's just good to remind yourself everyday to enjoy the simple things, laugh at the funny things, cherish those you love, and ignore the foolishness. God has not given us a spirit of fear, so don't go into next week fearing death. Proverbs 9:11 lets us in on a little secret. You can extend your life! Did you know this? It says, "Wisdom will help you live longer; she will add years to your life."(Easy-to-Read Version).
So what can we do with this wonderful life we've been given! So glad you asked! Proverbs 10:7 says, "Good people leave memories that bless us, but the wicked are soon forgotten."(Easy-to-Read Version). Leave memories that Bless others. Don't be that one mean family member that no one cares to recall, unless they are trying to convey how hard their life has been. Make good memories now for those you love, and those that love you.
Love and prayers, Cynthia
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Questions
Happy Sunday!
"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ."- (Philippians 4:6-7, The Passion Translation).
GOT Questions? Well, God has answers. I love how this translation encourages us to "tell him every detail of our life". Oh, sure, he already knows it all! But just like telling a therapist or a psychiatrist helps us to work through our issues, telling God all about it helps us too.
Some of our favorite characters in the Bible had discussions and debates with God. They asked questions, they made statements. Do you remember what Elijah said to God? 1 Kings 19:10 says, "I have worked very hard for the Lord God of the heavens; but the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you and torn down your altars and killed your prophets, and ONLY I am left; and now they are trying to kill me too.”(Living Bible). He really had the audacity to tell God he was the only good guy left! God taught him a few things, then God said, "And incidentally, there are 7,000 men in Israel who have never bowed to Baal nor kissed him!”(verse 18). Ouch!
What about Solomon? He was the wisest man, and even he asked questions, "What exactly do people get out of all their work and all the stresses they put themselves through here under the sun? For every day is filled with pain and every job has its own problems, and there are nights when the mind doesn’t stop and rest. And once again, this is fleeting."(Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, Voice). Thankfully, after everything he experienced and observed he said, "The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil."(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ."- (Philippians 4:6-7, The Passion Translation).
GOT Questions? Well, God has answers. I love how this translation encourages us to "tell him every detail of our life". Oh, sure, he already knows it all! But just like telling a therapist or a psychiatrist helps us to work through our issues, telling God all about it helps us too.
Some of our favorite characters in the Bible had discussions and debates with God. They asked questions, they made statements. Do you remember what Elijah said to God? 1 Kings 19:10 says, "I have worked very hard for the Lord God of the heavens; but the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you and torn down your altars and killed your prophets, and ONLY I am left; and now they are trying to kill me too.”(Living Bible). He really had the audacity to tell God he was the only good guy left! God taught him a few things, then God said, "And incidentally, there are 7,000 men in Israel who have never bowed to Baal nor kissed him!”(verse 18). Ouch!
What about Solomon? He was the wisest man, and even he asked questions, "What exactly do people get out of all their work and all the stresses they put themselves through here under the sun? For every day is filled with pain and every job has its own problems, and there are nights when the mind doesn’t stop and rest. And once again, this is fleeting."(Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, Voice). Thankfully, after everything he experienced and observed he said, "The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what he tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil."(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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