Last Friday I attended Florida A & M's annual homecoming step show where all of the Divine Nine would be performing; Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Iota Phi Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Zeta Phi Beta. Each group took the stage interfusing a robust, yet creative balance of rhythmic steps and chants. Some groups of course were better and more energetic than others, but by the end of the show their mission to represent their fraternity or sorority through systematic steps, chants, and strolls had been accomplished.
I sat there watching the crowd stream into the arena with immeasurable energy and excitement. Each former alum of their organization was dressed to the nines in their flyest (if you're unfamiliar with this term see Urban Dictionary.com) outfit as they marched to their seat. The bass thudded throughout the arena, transporting us to another time and place...and the music, a mix of hip/hop and Classic R&B hung in the air as pleasant memories of the past resurfaced while new ones were etched into our minds.
It was at that moment that I wondered if these organizations were still representing the core values and principles they were founded upon, or were they now setting out to fulfill another more inferior purpose? This new purpose, one being designed by the world and defined by the current culture to maintain relevance, not loose cool points, and glorify one's self doesn't align with the intent of their original mission.
Many African American Greek Organizations were formed with an emphasis on public service and civil rights. Each promoting community awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural service activities. The birth of each black fraternity or sorority (the Divine Nine) bore witness to the fact that despite hardships African Americans refused to succeed to a status of inferiority. Servanthood, justice, and empowerment of the outcast were their catalyst; their ability to identify with the felt needs of their communities, as well as their fellow man were their fuel. These organizations represented a turning point in a time of struggle...love in a time of hate, and selflessness in a time of selfishness. Each step, chant, or stroll was meant to encourage and empower the downtrodden and the outcast.
So are those core values still being lived out today? I hope so! It's my desire that we would all be agents of change, choosing to stand for something greater than ourselves; not letting the high tides of the current culture change us, but being the under current that changes the culture. After all, we were created for a purpose far greater than being cool, cute, relevant, or fashionable.
As for you always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Celebrate 28!
Today I turned 28. What! How did this happen? Where did the time go? When I was 17 this land where I dwell now(late twenties) seemed so distant. It's funny how when we're younger we wish we were older, and once we get older some of us wish we could jump in a time machine and go back a few years. Getting older is hard work. I mean it's tough coming to grips with your own immortality, to live with no regrets, and to accept the fact that your life may not ever look the way you thought it would when you were younger. However in Christ there is always hope. He turns our youthful plans into something grandiose, regrets into possibilities; opportunities for repentance. And as we get older he continues to mature us in our faith until one day our mortality will lead us to heaven where we will dwell with him for eternity. Twenty seven was a great year, but it was a tough one. I spent a lot of time questioning God's plan for my life, teeter-tottering back and forth from impenitence to regret; asking God to somehow change some of the circumstances in my life that I thought should be a little different, or at least a little easier. It's in these times that I forgot that long suffering is part of being conformed to the image of Christ. So it has been in these circumstances that God has grown me the most, purifying my motives and mortifying my flesh. As painful as that process was and still is, it is a blessing. And the lessons learned from the process are weightier than two lifetimes worth of Gold.
To recap what God taught me at 27 has been challenging. My vocabulary doesn't seem to contain the words I need to be as descriptive as I would like, but I'll give it a try anyway.
This time last year I embarked on a new adventure and moved to Tallahassee. Since moving here I have experienced God's provision like never before. His faithfulness to provide transportation, housing, and a job within a month of my getting here was astounding. Through it I learned that His sustaining provision has not, and will not fail me. I really can trust Him to provide my every need. Psalm 39:5; Psalm 54:4; Psalm 55:22
There were several times over the last year when I just wanted to do my own thing. This led me into a rebellion against God, but even in my disobedience His grace, patience, and mercy towards me never ceased to flow. He never stops being God. Even in our rebellion he cannot deny himself. "if we are faithless, he remains faithful for He can not deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13; Psalm 23:6
Sometimes I get impatient. I am a doer at heart. I hate to admit that, but it's true. To me, being active equates being useful and sometimes this is not always true. Waiting on God is sometimes the only action that needs to be taken. We are being refined and prepared even in those times when it seems as if i'm doing nothing. Waiting is not a curse or a punishment, but waiting is part of God fulfilling his purpose for me. Psalm 27:14; Psalm 37:34; Psalm138:8
I hate letting people into my life. Allowing someone to love me and allowing myself to fall in love with them has always been hard for me. Intimacy is scary. If I learned nothing else over the past year this last lesson would've been enough. It's one that I wrestle with daily. Intimacy with Christ is a privilege. One that is often taken for granted. It's not a discipline, although it can be found through practicing spiritual disciplines, and it's not a ritual or something that can be faked. Intimacy is familiarity with God, through Christ. It is knowing him personally and allowing him to know me personally. Ultimately it's the only way that God relates to us. He is never impersonal. Psalm 139; Hebrews 4:15; Ephesians 2:4-8
Each year God allows us to continue to mature is a blessing, and throughout that year, as well as every other year to follow we should walk in a way that's honoring to him. Remembering to be joyful, confident in Him, and full of hope. Isaiah 55:12; Romans 15:13
To recap what God taught me at 27 has been challenging. My vocabulary doesn't seem to contain the words I need to be as descriptive as I would like, but I'll give it a try anyway.
This time last year I embarked on a new adventure and moved to Tallahassee. Since moving here I have experienced God's provision like never before. His faithfulness to provide transportation, housing, and a job within a month of my getting here was astounding. Through it I learned that His sustaining provision has not, and will not fail me. I really can trust Him to provide my every need. Psalm 39:5; Psalm 54:4; Psalm 55:22
There were several times over the last year when I just wanted to do my own thing. This led me into a rebellion against God, but even in my disobedience His grace, patience, and mercy towards me never ceased to flow. He never stops being God. Even in our rebellion he cannot deny himself. "if we are faithless, he remains faithful for He can not deny Himself." 2 Timothy 2:13; Psalm 23:6
Sometimes I get impatient. I am a doer at heart. I hate to admit that, but it's true. To me, being active equates being useful and sometimes this is not always true. Waiting on God is sometimes the only action that needs to be taken. We are being refined and prepared even in those times when it seems as if i'm doing nothing. Waiting is not a curse or a punishment, but waiting is part of God fulfilling his purpose for me. Psalm 27:14; Psalm 37:34; Psalm138:8
I hate letting people into my life. Allowing someone to love me and allowing myself to fall in love with them has always been hard for me. Intimacy is scary. If I learned nothing else over the past year this last lesson would've been enough. It's one that I wrestle with daily. Intimacy with Christ is a privilege. One that is often taken for granted. It's not a discipline, although it can be found through practicing spiritual disciplines, and it's not a ritual or something that can be faked. Intimacy is familiarity with God, through Christ. It is knowing him personally and allowing him to know me personally. Ultimately it's the only way that God relates to us. He is never impersonal. Psalm 139; Hebrews 4:15; Ephesians 2:4-8
Each year God allows us to continue to mature is a blessing, and throughout that year, as well as every other year to follow we should walk in a way that's honoring to him. Remembering to be joyful, confident in Him, and full of hope. Isaiah 55:12; Romans 15:13
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Abandoning God
One of the hardest things that we have to consistently do as Christians is maintain intimacy within our relationship with Christ. This seems easiest when things are good and seemingly going our way. However, when things are good we can forget to be thankful, which quenches the spirit praise. In the midst of having an ungrateful heart we then tend to forget what long suffering looks like; we forget how to continue to seek God for our daily provisions and instead we forsake God's way in pursuit of our own. We become self-righteous, greedy, and prideful; neglecting prayer and abandoning God. Then stepping away from Him towards our own will, we become blind to our need for Him, failing to see Him as a necessity in our lives.
We inherited this problem from the Israelites. They struggled with the same exact issue. Throughout the book of judges we see the Israelites receive deliverance, and then after a period of time, a time of good, plenty, and peace they abandon God; treating Him like some genie, using him for their own gain. Then once help was given they turned back to doing there own thing, which was not God's way. The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of th Ammonites, and the God's of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. Judges 10:6
The Israelites had forgotten that Adonai Elyon (The Lord Most High), is indeed the most high; and just like the Israelites we are a forgetful people. Forgetting that He is awesome, worthy of our devotion, and praise at all times. For the Lord, the Most High is awesome a great king over all the earth. Psalm 47:2 We have treated God like Israel treated Jephthah. We continue to deny Him daily what is rightfully his; rule over our lives, our bodies, our lands, and other possessions, chasing Him out of the city (our hearts) like the son of a prostitute, in pursuit of our own way. 1Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 Then when times are hard we are quick to flock to this same God that we previously abandoned seeking help. " But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, did you not hate me and drive me out of my Father's house? why have you come to me now when you are in distress? Judges 11:7 One of the awesome things about God is that he's not vindictive or malicious like us. He always stays true to who he is, even in our moments, hours, months, and years of betrayal and unfaithfulness he still remains faithful to his people. Judges 11:11; 2 Timothy 2:10-13
It's really hard to keep Christ at the center of our lives living in a world that's been polluted by our own agendas, but it's something that we have to do. We have to continually seek intimacy with Christ at all times; not just in times of want or deliverance, but in times of joy and plenty also. He desires our love, praise and devotion at all times, as well as a relationship with his people. To be in a relationship with God is a call to abandon the belief systems of this world while seeking God at all times. He is not a genie, but a loving God!
We inherited this problem from the Israelites. They struggled with the same exact issue. Throughout the book of judges we see the Israelites receive deliverance, and then after a period of time, a time of good, plenty, and peace they abandon God; treating Him like some genie, using him for their own gain. Then once help was given they turned back to doing there own thing, which was not God's way. The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of th Ammonites, and the God's of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. Judges 10:6
The Israelites had forgotten that Adonai Elyon (The Lord Most High), is indeed the most high; and just like the Israelites we are a forgetful people. Forgetting that He is awesome, worthy of our devotion, and praise at all times. For the Lord, the Most High is awesome a great king over all the earth. Psalm 47:2 We have treated God like Israel treated Jephthah. We continue to deny Him daily what is rightfully his; rule over our lives, our bodies, our lands, and other possessions, chasing Him out of the city (our hearts) like the son of a prostitute, in pursuit of our own way. 1Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 Then when times are hard we are quick to flock to this same God that we previously abandoned seeking help. " But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, did you not hate me and drive me out of my Father's house? why have you come to me now when you are in distress? Judges 11:7 One of the awesome things about God is that he's not vindictive or malicious like us. He always stays true to who he is, even in our moments, hours, months, and years of betrayal and unfaithfulness he still remains faithful to his people. Judges 11:11; 2 Timothy 2:10-13
It's really hard to keep Christ at the center of our lives living in a world that's been polluted by our own agendas, but it's something that we have to do. We have to continually seek intimacy with Christ at all times; not just in times of want or deliverance, but in times of joy and plenty also. He desires our love, praise and devotion at all times, as well as a relationship with his people. To be in a relationship with God is a call to abandon the belief systems of this world while seeking God at all times. He is not a genie, but a loving God!
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Righteous Shall Live By Faith.
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you violence and you will not save? Habakkuk 1:1
I feel like I have a lot in common with Habakkuk at this point in my life. I find myself complaining continually about the state of the world, my life, and great injustices that I feel are taking place. I keep wondering when God is going to step in and change my circumstances. Just like the complaint of Habakkuk mine has not fallen on def ears. He has answered “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” Habakkuk 1:5
What happens when you take that first look, and you see nothing worth taking another glance at? You’re circumstances to you seem unbearable, there’s war, poverty, death, and hedonism everywhere and there’s no clear path of escape. How then do you look among the nations (your life), and see; wonder, be astounded? Easier said than done, right? It’s here that God reminds us what it’s all about. “the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4. I have to be able to look at my life and believe that God is in control, that even when I don’t see good, he is good, and because he is good he is doing something good; something more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.
I must confess I have been guilty of chronic doubt. I’ve doubted my purpose, who God is, my gifts, talents, relationships, and vision. Many times I even doubted God’s sovereignty. I’ve spent the past few months living my life in “the what ifs” of doubt. It probably sounds silly to most, but once I committed my life to Christ, and said Lord here I am, I trust you. I didn’t realize (until now) that I would have to keep doing this continually and intentionally....uh, duh. See living by faith is continually trusting the Lord with those things both seen and unseen. This is the very definition of hope, which stems from faith; faith allows us to trust, and trust is a must. In the past I’ve based my trust only on things that I’ve seen, which isn’t necessarily bad, because in many ways I’ve learned how to trust Him because of who I’ve experienced him to be in my life. But he is calling me to a deeper level of trust. He’s calling me to look past my present reality, not ignore it, but look past it, into the hope that is Christ. That is to be my reality. In Joshua 23:14 we learn that not one of his good promises goes unfulfilled. And then in Ephesians 3:20 we are told that He can do exceedingly above all that we can ask or think. These two verses are just some of the many proofs that confirm He is doing a work that far exceeds our greatest expectations of Him. So when He ask us to trust him continually with our whole heart, believing that he is sovereign and good, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. Deliverance will come, poverty will cease, injustices will be made right, and our path will be made straight. It is not our job to make sure these things happen, but by trusting the Lord we are able to partake as vessels in what He is already doing.
By the end of Habakkuk’s book he realizes that God is indeed in control and has been the whole time. The problem was that Habakkuk had forgotten that the righteous were to live by faith, he needed to be reminded to trust in the Lord no matter what, because He is good and sovereign in any and every circumstance, worthy of all the praise and glory. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
So when all is said and done It can not be refuted that He is God, He alone is good, and it is in Him that we must put our complete trust; hour by hour, minute by minute no matter the surrounding circumstances.
I feel like I have a lot in common with Habakkuk at this point in my life. I find myself complaining continually about the state of the world, my life, and great injustices that I feel are taking place. I keep wondering when God is going to step in and change my circumstances. Just like the complaint of Habakkuk mine has not fallen on def ears. He has answered “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” Habakkuk 1:5
What happens when you take that first look, and you see nothing worth taking another glance at? You’re circumstances to you seem unbearable, there’s war, poverty, death, and hedonism everywhere and there’s no clear path of escape. How then do you look among the nations (your life), and see; wonder, be astounded? Easier said than done, right? It’s here that God reminds us what it’s all about. “the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4. I have to be able to look at my life and believe that God is in control, that even when I don’t see good, he is good, and because he is good he is doing something good; something more wonderful than I could have ever imagined.
I must confess I have been guilty of chronic doubt. I’ve doubted my purpose, who God is, my gifts, talents, relationships, and vision. Many times I even doubted God’s sovereignty. I’ve spent the past few months living my life in “the what ifs” of doubt. It probably sounds silly to most, but once I committed my life to Christ, and said Lord here I am, I trust you. I didn’t realize (until now) that I would have to keep doing this continually and intentionally....uh, duh. See living by faith is continually trusting the Lord with those things both seen and unseen. This is the very definition of hope, which stems from faith; faith allows us to trust, and trust is a must. In the past I’ve based my trust only on things that I’ve seen, which isn’t necessarily bad, because in many ways I’ve learned how to trust Him because of who I’ve experienced him to be in my life. But he is calling me to a deeper level of trust. He’s calling me to look past my present reality, not ignore it, but look past it, into the hope that is Christ. That is to be my reality. In Joshua 23:14 we learn that not one of his good promises goes unfulfilled. And then in Ephesians 3:20 we are told that He can do exceedingly above all that we can ask or think. These two verses are just some of the many proofs that confirm He is doing a work that far exceeds our greatest expectations of Him. So when He ask us to trust him continually with our whole heart, believing that he is sovereign and good, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. Deliverance will come, poverty will cease, injustices will be made right, and our path will be made straight. It is not our job to make sure these things happen, but by trusting the Lord we are able to partake as vessels in what He is already doing.
By the end of Habakkuk’s book he realizes that God is indeed in control and has been the whole time. The problem was that Habakkuk had forgotten that the righteous were to live by faith, he needed to be reminded to trust in the Lord no matter what, because He is good and sovereign in any and every circumstance, worthy of all the praise and glory. “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19
So when all is said and done It can not be refuted that He is God, He alone is good, and it is in Him that we must put our complete trust; hour by hour, minute by minute no matter the surrounding circumstances.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Could He Be The One?
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
God first gave me this verse months ago one morning when I was in the middle of vociferously and fervently praying for my never ending need and desire for a husband. My prayer went something like this, “ Oh Lord, I don’t care what he does or what he looks like as long as he’s......................thus beginning my long list full of unrealistic and some realistic expectations. After reading this verse and praying this prayer ironically enough I headed out my door and meet a guy at Krispy Kreme (this was only the second time in my life I’d ever set foot inside a K.K.). I could’ve never imagined that I would land a date at K.K. God is funny like that sometimes, but I wasn’t laughing. I think at that moment God and I both knew that the K.K. guy was not my future husband, but in that moment He was testing the motive and truthfulness of my prayer. “Oh Lord, I don’t care what he does or what he looks like.” Yeah right, I lied. It’s funny how quick I am to reject the shepherd boy, that actually could be a diamond in the rough.
However, taking all that into account, as well as my long list of “have to haves” there are still some things that were true to David’s character when God plucked him from amongst the flock that I feel should be true of my future husband. Some characteristics are innate; God given. Now once one has chosen to come to him and is filled with his Spirit they then grow in those positive characteristics and attributes, but by being made in His likeness they are there from the start(some of you will probably disagree with me, but whatever). When David was first called to appear before King Saul his character and attributes were well known, and heralded. “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.”
1 Samuel 16:18
It’s easy for me to forget knowing all that David accomplished in his life, where he actually started from. When God chose David he had not yet become what he was to become, but he was in the process of becoming all that he was to become. I have been too quick at times to dismiss good men, because I have created in my mind some mark that they must meet before they are datable, not realizing that they as well as myself are in process. But knowing this is still no reason for me or you to ever settle. Though he may be in process his God given character, attributes, and good reputation should already be present. David was already a believer who had the Spirit and presence of the Lord with him. He was already a prudent man in speech and decisions, he was a man of war; a warrior courageous in battle, he was a man of valor with a great countenance who was bold, brave, determined, and not to be intimidated. He was indeed on his way to being all that God intended, and that could not be denied by anyone.
1 Samuel 16:18 made me re-evaluate my expectations of men. My future husband doesn't have to be perfect or anywhere close to perfection, but he does have to be in process. He does however have to posses some irrevocable, irreplaceable, concrete traits. He has to be a man with the presence of the Lord resting with him and it him. It is my prayer that the Father would purge me of those superficial expectations that keep me from seeing the heart of a godly man who is waiting to pursue the heart of a godly woman.
1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
God first gave me this verse months ago one morning when I was in the middle of vociferously and fervently praying for my never ending need and desire for a husband. My prayer went something like this, “ Oh Lord, I don’t care what he does or what he looks like as long as he’s......................thus beginning my long list full of unrealistic and some realistic expectations. After reading this verse and praying this prayer ironically enough I headed out my door and meet a guy at Krispy Kreme (this was only the second time in my life I’d ever set foot inside a K.K.). I could’ve never imagined that I would land a date at K.K. God is funny like that sometimes, but I wasn’t laughing. I think at that moment God and I both knew that the K.K. guy was not my future husband, but in that moment He was testing the motive and truthfulness of my prayer. “Oh Lord, I don’t care what he does or what he looks like.” Yeah right, I lied. It’s funny how quick I am to reject the shepherd boy, that actually could be a diamond in the rough.
However, taking all that into account, as well as my long list of “have to haves” there are still some things that were true to David’s character when God plucked him from amongst the flock that I feel should be true of my future husband. Some characteristics are innate; God given. Now once one has chosen to come to him and is filled with his Spirit they then grow in those positive characteristics and attributes, but by being made in His likeness they are there from the start(some of you will probably disagree with me, but whatever). When David was first called to appear before King Saul his character and attributes were well known, and heralded. “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him.”
1 Samuel 16:18
It’s easy for me to forget knowing all that David accomplished in his life, where he actually started from. When God chose David he had not yet become what he was to become, but he was in the process of becoming all that he was to become. I have been too quick at times to dismiss good men, because I have created in my mind some mark that they must meet before they are datable, not realizing that they as well as myself are in process. But knowing this is still no reason for me or you to ever settle. Though he may be in process his God given character, attributes, and good reputation should already be present. David was already a believer who had the Spirit and presence of the Lord with him. He was already a prudent man in speech and decisions, he was a man of war; a warrior courageous in battle, he was a man of valor with a great countenance who was bold, brave, determined, and not to be intimidated. He was indeed on his way to being all that God intended, and that could not be denied by anyone.
1 Samuel 16:18 made me re-evaluate my expectations of men. My future husband doesn't have to be perfect or anywhere close to perfection, but he does have to be in process. He does however have to posses some irrevocable, irreplaceable, concrete traits. He has to be a man with the presence of the Lord resting with him and it him. It is my prayer that the Father would purge me of those superficial expectations that keep me from seeing the heart of a godly man who is waiting to pursue the heart of a godly woman.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Jonah Was Right.
That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
Jonah 4:2
Jonah was right, the Ninevites didn't deserve the Lord's grace, mercy, and compassion. But who really does? Jonah forgot were he once was and what God had saved him from becoming. He forgot that he too was a sinner. Being blinded by self-righteousness he didn't recognize that he was still very much in need of God's grace, compassion, and mercy. Through out the book of Jonah I'm humbled by the grace, mercy, and compassion that God shows him (which he did not deserve) even in the midst of his self-righteousness and disobedience. Salvation is the Lords. So when He calls us to share The Gospel it's not up to us to decide if those he's calling us to share it with are worthy enough, but that decision has already been made. Salvation is there for anyone with a repentant heart, no matter the offense. Who are we to deny others this great gift that was given us. It's because of this great gift that Jonah's obedience as well as our own should be forthcoming. We are to be obedient even if we're right and justified in our thinking. Jonah was right the Ninevites were evil; they were murderers and adulterers. They were so evil that Jonah would have rather died than to see their salvation.
Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. Jonah 4:3
Although Jonah was right about the Ninevites he needed to be reminded as I often do of what servant-hood looks like. He needed to be shown that justice and salvation was not his to divvy out. When we're obedient, justice is always served one way or another, but always in God's timing. Just a couple of books later in Nahum we find out that Nineveh would most certainly be destroyed, but that was God's sovereign choice. Jonah had to learn that He wasn't God, and that obedience, impartiality, mercy, grace, and compassion are vital parts of servant-hood. Without them we are no longer serving God, but ourselves. Even if we're right, we shouldn't let our self-righteousness, and limited understanding stand in the way of an obedient response to God, which allows us to show His all encompassing character. God's ways and methodology will always be better than our own because they never forsake the greater vision.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so our my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Lost Identity?
No matter how you feel about Oprah, you would have to agree that her success as minority(in every sense of the word) has been phenomenal. As she closes out 25 years of having the highest rated talk show in the history of television. I’ve started to wonder, without her where would the presence of positive minority women in the media be found. Granted, we do have a very well spoken, well educated, and beautiful first lady, but even she has very little presence in the media when it comes to being anything other than being a fashionista. Oprah unlike our first lady has been a constant on TV for a quarter of a century. Not sense Phylicia Rashad’s character (Clair Huxtable) have minority women been represented so well in the media. No African American woman before her had ever been give given such a mainstream platform. None had ever spoken with such elegance, subverting racial barriers while all the while managing her family and a successful career. Although Clair Huxtable is a fictional character, both her and Oprah have had a profound effect on how minority women are perceived in the media.
For the past few years shows have come and gone on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX; and rarely if ever have I ever seen an African American, Asian, or Hispanic woman play the lead role, or be the leading man’s love interest. Currently Grey’s Anatomy is the closest we’ve come to this kind of media presence in years. No matter how you feel about the show you have to admit they have one of the most diverse cast in television today. Usually minority women are almost always play the role of sidekick or the funny friend. This has been the case for years since shows like the Cosby Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-air, A Different World, and Living Single went off the air in the 90’s. Now we’re told sub consciously that being an African American, Asian, or Hispanic woman is only useful when your funny or when you have no visible flaws and a skin tone that our all white audiences recognize as acceptable. I mean we’d hate to offend anyone, or make someone uncomfortable. Television is suppose to be our ex scape, our fantasy. The problem is, is that we’ve started to allow that fantasy to influence our reality. This is precisely the reason why the article on CNN.com by LZ Grandersonhttp://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/19/granderson.black.women/index.html so profoundly struck me. Although we hate to admit it, how we think is very much influenced by what we see in the media today. We are a visually stimulated culture, we like television, movies, and magazines; we’re obsessed with pretty people, who wear pretty things, and have cute pets. We like instant gratification and we don’t like like things that make us uncomfortable or remind us of our flaws. So what happens to a woman’s self-esteem when she never sees anyone like herself positively portrayed in the media? She starts to doubt. She thinks she must not be beautiful, funny, or smart, so she is incited to do something to make herself like all the other women that are what the world recognizes as beautiful. So black women have taken to bleaching their skin, dying their hair, or adding lengthy extensions, and Asian women have taken to going under the knife to get their eye lids widened, and many of the same issues plague Hispanic, Caucasian, and women of every ethnicity everywhere. I’m not thin enough, my breast aren’t big enough, I must stay young, my eyelashes aren’t long enough, my skin isn’t the right color or tone, I must be perfect.
As strong as I may seem for years I have questioned my beauty. As much as I hate to admit it sometimes I fail to find my identity and beauty in Christ and have sought to find it elsewhere. To be told you’re beautiful is a wonderful, freeing, reassuring thing. The media fails to do this with any kind of consistency that will last. But Jesus does this continuously, constantly, and veraciously . The creator himself has indeed made us beautiful. We are his creation, so we could never be anything less than beautiful. Now whether we are a good stewards of the beauty that God has given us is another topic, but beautiful is what we are and daughters of the most high King is who we are. Nothing in this world can ever change that. Our identities must be bound up with Christ; found in God alone. This kind of reassurance and confidence will never be found in the media. We are victorious because Christ has made us that way, we are beautiful because God created us to be so; apart from what we may look like or feel like in the present moment. We are successful because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13. As women lets be faithful to remind each other where our true beauty comes from. Continuously reminding one another of how God views us.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. Isaiah 62:3-4
For the past few years shows have come and gone on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX; and rarely if ever have I ever seen an African American, Asian, or Hispanic woman play the lead role, or be the leading man’s love interest. Currently Grey’s Anatomy is the closest we’ve come to this kind of media presence in years. No matter how you feel about the show you have to admit they have one of the most diverse cast in television today. Usually minority women are almost always play the role of sidekick or the funny friend. This has been the case for years since shows like the Cosby Show, Fresh Prince of Bel-air, A Different World, and Living Single went off the air in the 90’s. Now we’re told sub consciously that being an African American, Asian, or Hispanic woman is only useful when your funny or when you have no visible flaws and a skin tone that our all white audiences recognize as acceptable. I mean we’d hate to offend anyone, or make someone uncomfortable. Television is suppose to be our ex scape, our fantasy. The problem is, is that we’ve started to allow that fantasy to influence our reality. This is precisely the reason why the article on CNN.com by LZ Grandersonhttp://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/05/19/granderson.black.women/index.html so profoundly struck me. Although we hate to admit it, how we think is very much influenced by what we see in the media today. We are a visually stimulated culture, we like television, movies, and magazines; we’re obsessed with pretty people, who wear pretty things, and have cute pets. We like instant gratification and we don’t like like things that make us uncomfortable or remind us of our flaws. So what happens to a woman’s self-esteem when she never sees anyone like herself positively portrayed in the media? She starts to doubt. She thinks she must not be beautiful, funny, or smart, so she is incited to do something to make herself like all the other women that are what the world recognizes as beautiful. So black women have taken to bleaching their skin, dying their hair, or adding lengthy extensions, and Asian women have taken to going under the knife to get their eye lids widened, and many of the same issues plague Hispanic, Caucasian, and women of every ethnicity everywhere. I’m not thin enough, my breast aren’t big enough, I must stay young, my eyelashes aren’t long enough, my skin isn’t the right color or tone, I must be perfect.
As strong as I may seem for years I have questioned my beauty. As much as I hate to admit it sometimes I fail to find my identity and beauty in Christ and have sought to find it elsewhere. To be told you’re beautiful is a wonderful, freeing, reassuring thing. The media fails to do this with any kind of consistency that will last. But Jesus does this continuously, constantly, and veraciously . The creator himself has indeed made us beautiful. We are his creation, so we could never be anything less than beautiful. Now whether we are a good stewards of the beauty that God has given us is another topic, but beautiful is what we are and daughters of the most high King is who we are. Nothing in this world can ever change that. Our identities must be bound up with Christ; found in God alone. This kind of reassurance and confidence will never be found in the media. We are victorious because Christ has made us that way, we are beautiful because God created us to be so; apart from what we may look like or feel like in the present moment. We are successful because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Philippians 4:13. As women lets be faithful to remind each other where our true beauty comes from. Continuously reminding one another of how God views us.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. Isaiah 62:3-4
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