As for me and this COVID-19 … I am contented with any trouble it may bring. Why? Because I have no doubt at all that all of the troubles I ever face make me more patient – a patience that proves that I am strong; a patience that gives me hope. True hope that just cannot and will not disappoint! My Father has poured out His love to fill my heart through the Holy Spirit he gave me.
Now, don’t get me wrong! I have felt some sadness, and have even become upset a few times … but I’ve had the good sense to wait on the help of my Father. I’ve had the good sense to praise Him in advance because I know He will heal and deliver! I know He will!
He has commanded me to be strong and brave …. AND not to be afraid. He’s with me!!
I will be strong and courageous and act as He leads me to act. I will not be afraid or discouraged, for He is with me!! He never fails, neither does He forsake me.
Yes! I am happy with the troubles I am having right now. He takes care of me! He notices me and I know I’m important to Him. He Gives Me Strength!!
Praying that our hearts will remain in praise and Thanksgiving!! No fear. No doubt. He is just way more than enough!!
I grew up in a house where I was taught – AND TOLD – to obey. Not just to obey God, but to obey all elders in my family. Generally speaking, I was a good girl! I seldom did without anything at all that I desired and I was never pushed away from the family. When I entered my teen years, this did not stop. I obeyed, mostly; and when I didn’t, my desire was hardly kept from me … I even got a car at 16, as I requested … and their love for me did not decrease. When I became a grown woman, I still had to obey my parents and all elders in my family; I did that … mostly! 🙂 But when I fell short, nothing I desired was kept from me and no one cut me off from the family.
What I’ve experienced not that I am in ministry is that all that is for the sake of His glory … he leads us to do. He guides us to know what we should do and what we should think; in how we should walk and how we should talk; in where we should go and what we should see. As a missionary, I’ve seen that going in obedience was coupled with what we were to do when we got there. And as we said, ‘YES’ to what He told us to do, we saw amazing victories over and over again! He opened our eyes again and again in ways that we could not ever have done on our own.
When we yielded to Him, there was not a ministry failure to be faced. We wanted everyone near us to see Him, and not us; for that He was glorified and He was was pleased with us – we knew it because we felt it in so many areas of our lives that could only have made it with His touch. But … we weren’t perfect!
There were times when we heard someone else, and did what they felt was best. There were times when we just felt like we couldn’t, and moved another direction. There were even just a few times when we truly did not listen completely. Each and every time, once we repented to Him … we could feel His forgiveness and love and were, once again, blown away by His work in the ministry that is His! He never took His joy from us! I bless His name for that!
I do want to encourage your heart today. As His children, we surely do reap great joy and peace when we walk in the way He tells us to. But, as His children, when we fail Him and feel the distress and despair; we will feel it fully that our joy and peace will not be taken away. We only have to repent to Him, not to any man. We only have to fall before Him admitting our faults, and the forgiveness will be felt. I’ve heard of people that hold grudges against people for a lifetime!!! But, Our Father does not do that.
Walk in righteousness … walk in Him. This brings peace and a feeling of safety. When you walk in Him, you’ll know that falling into anything that is not of Him, cannot take away His hand from your life!
The Coronavirus is a serious thing that we are all facing. Some are ill; some have passed away; MANY have survived it. The national news channels are not telling us that for every 1 that passes away, 20 survive. We are forgetting to tell ourselves that for any believer that passes away … the truth of the eternal life that we way that we believe in and desire is real! My mom says, “I’m ready to go to heaven. But, I’m not in no hurry!” She means that if the Lord calls her home at any time, she will rejoice; but that she won’t do anything to hurt herself and, of course, she is not wanting anyone to hurt her.
Truth is … this virus is only ONE of many things that we allow to affect our peace.
The troubles that we face are not for us to carry on our shoulders, but rather to lay on the shoulders of The One. The needs that we have should not be concerning – because our worry won’t make the need met. Trials – they come, I can’t solve them. Anxiety – does no good, weighs me down. Death – its inevitable, but it can’t conquer me. Money – it answers many things, but it is not the real need – EVER. Fear – it happens, but it doesn’t solve anything. These are just a few of the things that can occupy our minds; our hearts; our thoughts.
The great thing about being in Him is that we have answers for all of these things. Tomorrow – He knows what lies ahead of us. Needs – He will generously take care of them not based upon what you can do, but upon His own limitless supply. Trials – He has already overcome them all and He is working them out for your good. Anxiety – gratefulness will run it away and besides He is with us always. Death – no such thing, we are eternal beings destined to dwell with Him forever. Money – He owns the cattle of a thousand hills and as our Father, we will have what we need. Fear – we trust in Him and His love casts it out.
When you feel yourself starting to slip into worry, REMEMBER – He calms storms; He opens up seas so that you can walk right through; He brings life to things that once were passed away; His love is unfailing; He hears the cries of the righteous and delivers them; His compassions do not fail; His mercies will meet the needs of each new day; He gives endurance and encouragmenet; He is your strength and your defence; He is the source of our help; He is greater than all – what problem do you have that can stand against Him!
This virus is truly something that is causing many of us worry — but by worrying we don’t solve anything.
I am praying:
Father, fill each of us with your Holy Spirit so that our hearts and mind will just trust Your Word — believing that everything is going to be alright! Father I know that you have our back; and our front; and each side; and You even hold us up. You are faithful. Your promises are yes and amen. You are the covenant keeper. We will rest – lay back into Your presence (as I imagine the beloved disciple did) – and watch You work.
Henry Highland Garnet. Born into slavery in Maryland in 1815, Garnet and his family escaped to New York City when he was nine years old. In New York City, Garnet attended the African Free School. In the 1830s, Garnet continued his education at several institutions. He eventually ended up at the Oneida Institute in Whitesboro, New York where he finished his studies in 1840. He became a Presbyterian minister and served as the first pastor of the Liberty Street Negro Presbyterian Church in Troy, New York, beginning in 1842.
His “Call to Rebellion” speech in 1843 encouraged slaves to rebel against their owners. In 1850, Garnet traveled to England and Scotland where he spoke widely against the practice of slavery. He also supported allowing blacks to emigrate to other lands, such as Liberia in Africa, a country made up mostly of freed slaves. In 1852, Garnet traveled to Jamaica to serve as a missionary. Ill health forced his return to the U.S. in 1855 where he continued his work in the abolitionist movement. In 1856, he begin to serve as pastor of the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC.
On February 12, 1865, while in Washington, Garnet made history when he was chosen by President Abraham Lincoln to speak to the House of Representatives—making him the first African American to preach a sermon in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 1868, Garnet was appointed president of Avery College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Later he returned to New York City as a pastor at the Shiloh Presbyterian Church (formerly the First Colored Presbyterian Church, and now St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem).
Fulfilling a longtime dream, Garnet traveled to Africa in 1881 where he was appointed as the U.S. Minister to Liberia. He died in 1882, a few months after his arrival. Garnet was given a state funeral by the Liberian government and was buried at Palm Grove Cemetery in Monrovia.
“The humblest peasant is as free in the sight of God as the proudest monarch that ever swayed a sceptre. Liberty is a spirit sent from God and like its great Author is no respecter of persons.”
Sarah E. Gorham is recorded as the first female missionary of the AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church; but she served for 8 years before that as an independent missionary.
In 1880, Sarah visited family in Liberia. Her interest in helping people and pouring into their lives was true and strong and she was described then as a missionary; as a church leader; and, as a social worker. She returned to the United States and was involved in the ministry of the Charles Street AME Church. In 1888, she went to the Magbelle mission in Sierra Leone, where she established the Sarah Gorham Mission School, a place of both Bible teaching and industrial training. In Jul 1894, Sarah was infected with malaria. She was bedridden, and passed away in one month.
Sarah was buried at Kissy Road Cemetery in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
