GOOD News!

 Happy Sunday!

"But LIFE is worth nothing unless I USE it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of TELLING OTHERS the Good News about God’s mighty kindness and love."(Acts 20:24 TLB).

In 1974, Chaka Khan and Rufus sang a song written by Stevie Wonder entitled, "Tell Me Something Good".  They weren't singing about the Good News of Jesus Christ, but everyone will agree we prefer good news!  There are enough negative things happening in the world and our lives to keep every news outlet busy.  

We have some really Good News to share!  Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to all who come to him.”(Luke 4:18-19 TLB).  Now that's GOOD News!  

Romans 10:13-17 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be SAVED. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not HEARD? and how shall they HEAR without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of GOOD THINGS!  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So, then FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of God."(KJV).

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Blessed Memories

Happy Sunday!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you awesome ladies reading this!  This week is a repost from 2019!  It still holds true for women and men!  Enjoy!

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 every day 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

I'm Complete

 Happy Sunday!

"God made my life COMPLETE

    when I placed ALL the pieces before him.

When I got my act together,

    he gave me a FRESH start.

Now I’m ALERT to God’s ways.

    I don’t take God for granted.

EVERY day I review the ways he works.

    I try not to miss a trick.

I feel put back together,

    and I’m watching my step.

God REWROTE the text of my life

    when I opened the BOOK of my heart to his eyes.

The GOOD people taste your goodness,

The WHOLE people taste your health,

The TRUE people taste your truth,

The bad ones CAN'T figure you out.

You take the side of the down-and-out,

But the stuck-up you take down a notch.

SUDDENLY, God, you floodlight my life.

    I’m blazing with glory, God’s glory!

I smash the bands of marauders,

    I vault the highest fences.

What a GOD! His road

    stretches straight and smooth.

Every God-direction is road-tested.

    Everyone who runs toward him MAKES it." (Psalm 18:20-30 Message).

Love and prayers, Cynthia