Every day is a day of Thanksgiving!

As a hymn of spirituality states “Every day is a day of thanksgiving”, let us not forget this as we move through the next couple of months of celebrations into a new year. We shall eat the bounties of what we’ve been blessed with from the Lord, we shall show kindnesses that we reserve only during this season, and we will even grin, smile and tolerate people that just totally get on our nerves. I say do not let this be a two month commitment to blessings others. Let us continue these niceties into the coming years. For even in our trials you better believe that there is someone going through something that out magnifies your situation.

 

My challenge to you is: if you don’t think that you have anything to be thankful for, start a gratitude journal. And in it list a minim of three thankful situations or experiences that happen during your day.  I bet that you will have something to be thankful for even if only the smile of a child or that you didn’t respond negatively in a provoking situation. As you commit to doing this for yourself you will find that you have more blessings of gratitude to count than you ever thought.

Have a most splendid and safe Thanksgiving and for those of you traveling I pled traveling mercies upon you, your families and friends

Peace be unto you,

dlee Deason

My child come back to Me

In my living room I have a numbered Paper Lithograph titled “Liberty” by Artist Thomas Blackshear. I purchased this piece of art October, 2001 during a visit to Little Rock, Arkansas. It is described as: Liberty by Thomas Blackshear depicts the Statue of Liberty with a tear in her eye as she overlooks the city of New York and Jesus can be seen in the clouds in the background.  (Part of description is retrieved from:  http://www.christcenteredmall.com/stores/art/blackshear/liberty.htm) This website also notes that the artist Thomas Blackshear purchased two of these published prints and gave one to President George W. Bush to hang in the Oval Office at the White House. At the bottom of the work is the caption: "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." -- II Chronicles 7:14 KJV It is also noted that Mr. Blackshear had worked on this work for two year completing it September 2000 and after September 11, 2001 it sold out.

This artistic impression is so fitting to the plight of the United States. I was in prayer and the remembrance of the suffering and loss of life out east returned from September 11 to the new sorrow caused by nature by Supper Storm Sandy.  This is what my Lord brought to me: on October 30, 2012 at approximately 09:06 am “Thus says the Lord – U.S. you are warned, particularly the east coast. Your sin is ramped, get back to Me.” In some ways I almost see the events in the U.S.’s as a version of a modern Sodom and Gomorrah. But unlike Sodom and Gomorrah these modern cities on the east coast have had a two warning. And in this last disaster God’s promise of never destroying though the use of water, the rainbow, was vivid after the rain subsided.

…some waited in long lines, you might ask why?

I have pondered the electoral process in the United States this past week. Not the outcome, the contenders, backbiting snipes, or issues of high level leader’s infidelity. I was thinking about a caller in the 2^nd hour of the program “Chris Fabry Live!” on Moody Radio on Election Day, November 6, 2012. The caller put it all into perspective of election suffrage, what it means to her and her biblical carriage that keeps her going and standing firm. 

The caller’s name was Pearl and she resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She had such a pleasant outlook on the election process though she saw the results over years of African-American suffrage first hand. Many may say, “How could this be, not here in the United States?” Her two brothers fought in World War II and when they came home at the end (1945) they could not vote. The right to vote had been granted to men; no matter color, race, or previous servitude with the 15^th amendment ratification in 1870. They still could not vote. Yet they were abled bodied to fight in the war.

In the 1960’s her sister was fired from her job because her husband took African-American voters to their polling places to vote. Yes, this was during the time of the enactment of the 24^th amendment (the voting rights act) 1965. In other words the 24^th fixed the loop holes for African-Americans who were made subject to poll tax, qualifying test (literacy), racial gerrymandering and discriminatory enforcement of registration rules. And keep in mind woman suffrage was enacted in 1920 with the 19^th amendment.

 
Pearl stated that whoever wins the election is her president. She stated that she serves a God who sits high and looks low. The radio caster Chris Fabry was clearly in awe of this woman’s attitude being that she had seen voter racism first hand.  The scripture she clings to is Proverbs 3:5-6, which states “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledged him, and he shall direct thy paths.” KJV. Yes, we the American Public did our duty under our citizenship right to vote our conscious. But in the end the result is unto the Lord.

Matter of fact we even saw the 21^st century attempt at gerrymandering and discriminatory voting practice. But these people would not be moved, they were committed to voicing their choice. And to them I raise my hand in salute. For many people died, were denied, abused, and manipulated out of their citizenship right to vote in previous years, no let’s say century. But these people know the significance of their one vote and its importance to the overall outcome.

Today we must move forward with the people’s chosen leadership. Let all areas of government work with this people’s expressed leader to the betterment of our citizens and world.   

Faced with a decision…sure you know what you would do

Okay Lord your gentle nudging has become a push and now it is a shove. Over the past few weeks I’ve been pondering the comments that some politicians have made about an issue surrounding what they term as right to life. It is not this writings intent to support/not-support this issue. The desire is to be thought provoking and open the door for REAL conversations and HONEST inflections. When a few politicians voiced their stance about this issue and it brought about a remembrance of a situation and conversation on this matter in a prior work setting. 

Everyone has this person in residence at their work location; the one who is the equal opportunity aggravator. There stances, comments, interactions mange to go beyond the boundaries of race, age, or gender. At this work location we often have what I call “pow-wow sessions” or discussions in the break room. This particular morning before we started working my most opinionated aggravator voiced the following comment. “Abortion should not legal.” I looked at him and my immediate thought was ohhhh no he didn’t. My comeback was as follow: “I am soooo… tired of men telling woman what to do with their body. Now, you have two daughters who about the same age as my daughter (tweens). There is no way that you can tell me that if one of them is rapped by a ____ man you wouldn’t be running to the nearest abortionist.  I recognize that abortion in deed is a sin but I tell you until you are faced with this life situation you do not truly know what your action will be.”

Needless to say the whole table in the break room went silent. There wasn’t anything else to be said. You can say you are for or against something but when you are actually faced with this challenge the test is at hand. My thought is… can you be honest with yourself and everyone else that when this choice knocks on your life, will you or won’t you keep your stance? The longer you live…the more opportunities of life challenges will test your stance.

Note: It has become made aware to me that the person mentioned in this writing is going through an illness challenge. My prayers go out to him and his family for healing and salvation.

Betrayal...Forgiven

Let’s open up the conversation about the … between betrayal to forgiveness. I’ve always accepted the promise of our Father that He didn’t want to lose not one of His sheep. But I have often had mixed thoughts on the fate of Jesus’ disciple Judas Iscariot. A God which is so loving would not want to lose a chosen one in his inner circle, even to achieve the ultimate goal of salvation for all of his lost sheep to sins dirty stain, would He? ““What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?... ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’” Luke 15:4 & 6b NASB

This morning I pondered this thought over and over and then the Lord gave me a revelation. At Calvary and on a cross he accepted repentance from a convicted criminal. Our Lord hung between one criminal one who cursed and reviled Him and the other who acknowledged who He is, the Son of the Almighty. “And we indeed, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” Luke 23: 41-42 NASB And Jesus’ response to this criminal’s earnest repentance on his death throne was that He told him that he would be with Him today in paradise. “And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”” Luke 23:43 NASB

Even though Judas was a betrayer had he repented and asked for forgiveness even he could have been with our Lord in paradise. There is no, I say no, once again I say NO sin above my Jesus’ ability of forgiveness. It appears by Judas’ actions and un-forgiveness by hanging himself, that there wasn’t any repentance on his part. But I don’t know for certain, for as he hung himself did he ask for forgiveness, did he repent? I guess I shall have to wait until I meet my Jesus to know for certain.  

Self-limiting…?

Our backs are up against the wall. We have nothing and no hope. I am at the end of my rope. These sayings are staples in the arena of defeat. But I say to you ask the One who can give to “Sure –nough” help is the message delivered by the Reverend Donna Anderson of Trinity Waukegan AME Church. This message was offered at the Hour of Power services yesterday October 11, 2012 noon session at the 130^th session of the Chicago Annual Conference held at The Hilton Milwaukee City Center.

The delivery of this message was heartfelt, effective and biblically grounded.  The title of “What do you do when you have nothing?” is a self-realization of how self-limiting people can cause their own demise. The scriptural focus has a foundation in 2 Kings 4:1-17. This is where we find a widow who is in dire financial end of her rope. She has, what she thinks is nothing to support herself or her children. But she knew to call upon the prophet to help her through, to find her help. In this biblical time the prophet was the conduit to answers from God. The answer was supplied and she followed the instruction which removed her from her death walk of insurmountable debt.

 Today we have a direct line because of New Testament principles but the bases are the same. We must go to the One who has the answer in all things. And this doesn’t mean that this should only be done when we have no other recourse. We should seek Him in all of our endeavors.

In addition Reverend Anderson ended her message with an analogy. This analogy referenced a fisherman who was fishing and was observed as measuring his catch and throwing back the larger fish. When the man was questioned as to why he threw back the larger catch his answer was that his skillet was only 8 inches. Therefore, any fish longer than 8 inches would not fit in his skillet so he would throw it back. The answer per Anderson is a bigger skillet. And immediately I thought, just cut the larger catch and it will fit. This man was limiting his achievement.  Beloved are you limiting your catch…your achievements… your blessings? 

Note: Thank you Reverend Donna Anderson your message is timely and well supported. You are to be applauded as a woman of God with the gift of delivering the Word to a depraved and deprived world who believes that there is no hope.

Getting Real... Love Thy Neighbor

My life cannot be simple and uneventful. This I found out yesterday as I ran errands yesterday afternoon. All of the errands where complete in the middle of the afternoon and I was waiting for public transportation to go home. At the bus stop I notice a short woman exit a currency exchange just outside the bus stop. What I noticed was not only her nationality, her height but the fact that she was in desperate need of a touch up on her white roots of about one inch. 

The bus of the route that I needed to take was approaching and I moved closer to the bus stop sign. When the bus proceeded to stop this woman walks up to me and attempted to snatch the bag with my purchase from Bed Bath & Beyond. What this woman didn’t know is that I had the double plastic bags wrapped around my left wrist. As she grabbed my bag she shouted, “Mine.” I looked at her in shock and got a firmer grip on my bag and stated, “You better let my bag go.” She looked dumb founded.

Once I got on the bus the operator and a handicapped passenger asked me what had happened. I stated that, “This woman attempted to snatch my bag and she almost got her butt whipped.” The ride home, even with high school students aboard, was quite peaceful. As I exited the bus the operator stated that the woman might have been confused. But my thought on this is that she picked the wrong victim. I also stated that I planned to report this incident to the police.

Once I arrived home I made a non-emergency call to the police, left message for a call back from a police officer.  This morning a message was left on phone about my call from the day before. The officer didn’t leave a name, just stated that I could call 311 if I still needed to make a report. I called back immediately and spoke with an officer who exclaimed that a crime was not committed. No I was knocked down, I didn’t get a scratch on me and, no I didn’t pop the offender for attacking me. The only reason I didn’t get harmed is because I was able to defend myself. The officer claimed to check with her supervisor and they agreed that a crime was not committed. So now I’m still waiting on this police supervisor to call me back.

Last night I had to take the offender to the throne of grace with prayer. For had it not been for my having my wits about myself 1) she could have stolen my purchase and 2) I could have hurt this woman more than she realizes. My major concern is that the next victim might not be as aware or elderly. This could result in possible broken limbs or some other harm for the offender or the next possible victim. Also, I had to remember that although this person attacked me I have to realize to true attacker which is an attempt to take me outside my inner peace from the Almighty.

Now I must continue to on the vigilance of prayer for the offender, the police department, and myself keeping a pleasing reaction to attacks. But hey what can I say? In Him I’m up to the challenge. For all are children of the Almighty. . “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 1:3 NASB

Note: I do not know if this attacker has some type of mental condition or if she is possibly working within a robbery ring of snatch and grab. So anyone shopping in the vicinity of Roosevelt Road and Jefferson Street in Chicago stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings.