ORDAINED – ALLOWED : CALLED – CHOSEN

My morning thoughts marveled on four words ordained, allowed, called, and chosen. For many years these four words have come to my thoughts many, many times. Today I shall attempt to bring to the forefront what my revelations on these four words are.

 

I’ll first start with ordained and allowed. In my walk of this life, I see them as counterparts of one another, but I also see them as intertwined. So how could this be, you might say? Different yet related is what I believe. Let me explain. To be ordained is to be called to something specific, I’d say a calling assigned to an exclusive individual or situation. Now let’s look at allowed. It is that which is not necessarily planned but happen anyway. 

 

I contemplated these two words as it pertains to worldly actions, what my faith teachings & spiritual awakening allows me to realize that these two opposites, yet interweaved words pertain to daily life. My confidence in Him working all things out for His glory makes me aware that those things that He has ordained shall come to past no matter the plans of evil. Yet, the evil that is allowed to manifest will be worked out to benefit His glory. 

 

Now let’s move forward to called and chosen. So many times, I’ve heard the saying many are called but few are chosen. I’ve had some say to me I’ve been called by God to do whatever they think that they are to do in His service. My standard response has been the for mentioned statement. From my many contemplations with the Father I’ve come to the conclude that our Father calls many to action but there are some of those called who are special/so specific a message or task they are chosen for a “rubber hits the road moment.”

 

Moreover, as much as these two-on-two words are opposite yet intertwined I have come to think they are more related to one another. Someone or something can be allowed but not ordained and someone or something can be called yet not specify chosen for the most moving/important moments in life. I’m so thankful to Him I have been called to be chosen yet allowed and ordained to His service in His kingdom, though His infinite wisdom by the gifts He has bestowed on me and allowed me to manifest His works here on earth.

I Just Want to Help

Today, this morning as I sit playing a mindless game on my cellphone at 7 am CDT with the ABC News in the background reflecting on the loss of life 20 years ago. I’m thinking of the motives of Americans who just wanting to help each other through this attack on the American people. Yet, I’m reminded of the events of the last 19 months.

 

A worldwide event that affects every human on earth which has been used to divide not unite. 20 years ago, we were of one mind, helping one another. But today we’re divided because during a time when we should be more united that ever, individual rights are perceived to be more important than the heath of the whole.

 

I’m grieved & angry because that which so joined us 20 years ago has been long forgotten, amid a global pandemic. All I can think, all I can say, all I can shout is PUT A MASK ON, GET VACCINATED because I… you just want to help our fellow humans.

What About Is-um

Human nature at its finest, predicable. Yesterday a friend of mine of many years posted to her social media feed what she called an **EMOTIONAL Post – couldn’t help myself**. The ‘just’ about the post was sicken feeling after one of her followers posted the comparison of the preservation of concentration camps to the removal of statues. I knew when I wrote my reply to her post that there would be at least one who post an ‘what about is-um’.

Her post hit home for me. It was like déjà vu. My response was as follow: Bottom line losers don’t get statue. That is everywhere except in the United States. I feel you. Often time I’ve been told when the discussion of slavery comes up, “When are you going to get over it.” My stock answers is & will remain, NEVER. African Americans are always told to get over slavery. No one ever ask Jewish people to get over the Holocaust.” A few weeks ago, I was thanked by one of my friends who is White, for being frank enough to have this conversation with her. She’s lived here the majority of her life & had never gotten citizenship. But since the 2016 election & our conversation she is eager for November 3, 2020 to cast her vote. Keep the faith. Until the American history books stop telling HIS-tory & tells the truth many will not understand why POC have had enough, 400 years is MORE than enough. 

This morning I was not disappointed to awake to a post 8 hours after mine to the ‘what about is-um’. In this reply directed to me was the expression of “don’t forget the Irish slaves…slaves (labor) in China…” Not surprised, I mused at this ‘is-um’.   

The amusement led to the thought, here we go once again. Let’s change the focus on the hundreds of years of injustices of Black to others who have suffered injustice. This is no different than when Black express Black Lives Matter and it is met with the response of All Lives Matters. 

The lack of understanding & the belittling of suffering of 400 years to the point a complete race of people that have no identity. There is a continued consorted effort to minimize rights & ability to thrive. Until those who have “privilege” understand the magnitude of suffering of POC & their contribution to its continuance.  The “privileged’ must gain understanding, truth in HIS-tory, and the ability to have empathy is at the seed of beginning of understanding.  

…My grace is sufficient

This past weekend I was graced to spend a weekend scrapbooking with my Sistahs in Holland, Michigan. It was filled with fun, laughter, moments of ‘what the heck’ and just getting to know each individual a little bit better. The group is eclectic and how our puzzle piece fit together – in this time…in this moment is one of those excursions in my life’s journey. 

This morning I was contemplating some exchanges with an individual. It is this quiet moment of the morning I have come to be aware that this is when my Lord speaks to me though my spirit. The interaction didn’t appear to be overtly concerning but a bit eccentric.  In response to my query of the interactions what spoke to me was, “My grace is sufficient.” Lord I here You and it shall be done.

This life & these interactions with others of different ‘life journeys’ show us the way Lord. Thank you, Lord, for your small voice that forces me to be quite so that I can heard You.

Memorialize

I’ve pondered a rant on social media earlier this week. The person identified it as his 2^ndrant of the week.  Maybe, I’ll explore the earlier rant on my blog at a later time.  Periodically I’ve thought about his rationale that Memorial Day is for those who made the ultimate sacrifice of life in service for America and not the acknowledgement of veterans. They have Veterans Day.

My thought on this matter is anyone who has stamped there posterior ‘Grade A USA Property’ by signing their name to serve deserves to be acknowledged more than once or even two days out of a year. As a US veteran if someone wants to acknowledge my service on Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, or any other day I’m going to say thank you! Everyday people remember the deceased my doing for the living. They are called memorials, scholarships, donations, and monuments which are acknowledge of this fact.

Matter-of-fact those who died, served, and are serving are the reason your rant is possible. You have the voice to freely express your idea. So, on this Memorial Day weekend I’d like to thank all of those who have chosen to serve for my voice & yours. And I’m going to try to find a way to get in on some of the offers that many businesses are offering this Veteran’s Day to veterans, Gold Star Families, and surviving members family this weekend. THANK YOU for YOUR SERVICE!

Like Me

As I was going about my day after the 4^thweek of Lifeway’s Women’s Bible Study by Jen Wilkin “God of Creation”. This thought would not leave me alone. The Bible has been used for century as a tool of oppression when it tool of freedom.  

It has been used to suppress people of African decent to free servitude and by many to nullify the significance of women is God’s scheme of God’s purpose of humankind. And both are present today just on different levels of previlance.

Once Adam saw Eve, “Then man said. “ This at last is bone of my bones an flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken of Man.”” Genesis 2:23And as Jen Wilkins stated, “Like me.” Both were created in the Creator image “like Him”. They are equal. Neither is above the other. The only one above is the One who was above from the beginning. “In the beginning…” For man is to treat the bone of his bone like himself. Not to lord over his helpmate. Does this mean that the physical attributes are equal? Of course they are not. In the scheme of responsibility of caring for earthy creation they are equivalent.

What saddens me is the motive of difference in human kind is prevalent in the world & in God’s house. This aim binds and keeps people from being all that they can be because I’m better than you, not equal. Leaders squash or take credit for others gifts or ideas God has given and it puts the wrong people in leadership because they can controlled or manipulated for they’re own selfish reasons. This doesn’t bring glory to His purpose nor does it amplify the many things that we have in common. Which is that we are created in His image. Instead it amplifies our differences on the physical level in place of magnifying our sameness with which He created us.

What we are to see is, “LIKE ME”, not I’m better than you because of my physical vessel God has chosen to place me in. We are the same and are to be treated in that sameness. We take care of our body so shall we take care of our helpmate and all of His human creation. Do not suppress what He gave us but give it freedom to be all He called us to be because fellow humans are no less or better than yourself. Later in the creation account and after the act of disobedience of man He gave man ruler ship over woman. Yet, He doesn’t nullify that she is bone mans bone. Man is still bound to treat his mate as he would himself. 

The leader who treats his charges with the respect of himself they willing submit. Wow, what a enlightening idea that was right there in the beginning. 

Fighting the Important Fight

As many might say pick your fight. I’ve often thought about those who want the controversy of which day is the Sabbath. Explaining their belief in their righteous ways and reasoning. I’ve stood back and just pondered the thought of really does it make a difference?

I’ve thought about this question over the years many times. God is there a right day to celebrate your rest from work? I often think of my thoughts about theology as a whole, Lord your righteous people have splinted off into many semblances. The ones who say Saturday and the ones who say Sunday is your choice of the day of rest. I wasn’t there & there wasn’t a calendar or timepiece to definitively set the day.

So as we try to persuade one another of our right-ness I am brought to the time on my daughter’s funeral. Let me clarify this statement. The church I was a member at the time of my child’s death was small so whenever there was a need of a funeral or wedding we utilized a fellow Christian church of a different denomination. The hosting church’s pastor initiated the program and as he started he spoke of my child and had to stop and stated something like, let me stop before I preach her funeral. But the following statement he stated has remained with me always, “In heaven there will not be Baptist or Methodist.” And this is correct. No denominations will be recognized.

So in the scheme of life will it matter which day we choose to rest? I think not. God knows us better than we know ourselves. If our heart matches our actions to serve Him in obedience will the day of the week matter which day we celebrated his creation in rest? I don’t believe so. Now I know many will continue to keep this conversation going but I say to you, Let us fight the important fights…like souls for Him.