An Open Letter to Pastor Walter King

 

Dear Pastor King,

 

How many times have so many of us heard or uttered the words, “Why doesn’t somebody say something?”  How many times have so many of us heard or uttered the words, “Why doesn’t somebody do something?”  Who could count those times?  But, last night on Channel 5 News, somebody did do and say something, and that sombody was you. Our family thanks you.

 

In the Old Testament Book of Esther we read the words told to Queen Esther by her uncle, Mordecai, upon her hesitation and fear to do the one thing that would prevent the complete annihilation of the Jewish people – her people and, of course, God’s chosen.  Mordecai’s words:  “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place…Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

 

Throughout history, God has provided the opportunity and privilege to people of every size, shape, and color to do the right thing.  He has even used children to accomplish His purposes.  But, He has never forced anyone.  We must choose.  If we choose to let the opportunity slip away; it will not return.  God will raise up someone else.

 

Is choosing to publicly and without hesitation say what hundreds of us in his small community have been thinking for years – that ”Black Family Day” is not nor has it ever been what the organizers have claimed it to be – while sitting in the “hot seat” beside someone who is interested only in lemonade equal in importance to the preservation of the Jewish nation?  Who could answer such a question?  Well, I can answer that question for my family and me with an absolute, “Yes.”  The way we understand Scripture, it is our obedience that God most desires regardless of the opportunity provided.

 

We thank you again, Pastor Walter, for not letting your opportunity and privilege slip away.  You have encouraged us and, no doubt, many others as well.

 

Feeling Victorious,

Rob and Vicki Herndon

and family

Blogs and Blogging

Not sure where those words came from, but it sure has changed my life. For several years I couldn't see very well due to some problems with my eyes. Eventually after going to several doctors, a friend guided me to this wonderful specialist who didn't hesitate to operate on my eyes. After two surgeries and another procedure pending I can now see well enough to drive and to pick up a book and read again. It was a miracle for me.

During the period that my sight was so bad, my mind did a double take and just wouldn't shut up. So many thoughts kept roaming around in my head. Finally I sat down at the computer, pumped up the font size and started writing.

There was a time many years ago that a lawyer had told me I should write my life story. But being in my early thirties, I couldn't believe that it was time for a biography of my many faceted life, although I did know that I had been in some almost unbelievable situations. About 10 years later, I did sit down and try and write a few things. But I was doomed from the git go. Tears would come as I would write. Tears I had not shed for what seemed like centuries. Then the thought of how many people would be hurt if I shared some of those life experiences that made me who I am came bouncing into my brain. And I knew at that point, there was no way I could put those thoughts and happenings on paper.

After I became a Christian (or should I say Christian in training, although it has been years) my perspective changed on so many things. I learned to forgive and hopefully forget much of the horror I had been through. But recently they are haunting me again. I find that I can go years without thinking much about them, but they always slowly creep back into my brain when I least expect it.

So I did consider writing a biography again. But that thought didn't last long, because there are still many people who would be hurt if all the truths were published. Truth is a wonderful thing, but when it concerns dredging up years of past truths, is it worth it?

So I started blogging. I have grown to love writing. Those printable thoughts come to my head and I try and get them written down. I have been known to get up several times in the night to just type two sentences. Enough that I will remember the next day where my mind was going at the time. I now keep a small notebook in my car in case thoughts come freely when I am driving down the road, but by the time I am home again, they are gone. I am careful to pull off the road though, I sure wouldn't want to be responsible for any accidents.

I still have days when I am sad. Feel hurt again. But they are truly now far and between the good thoughts and feelings I have now that God has received me into his fold. Knowing God has changed my whole world.

Musings ~by Vicki~

 

 

P.S.

 

Yesterday's, "Musings" came to me during my morning devotions.  They came from the Searcher of Hearts as I asked Him to search me.  I have, by no means, come close to attaining such godly qualities.  Hence, His enlightenment.

I like to share.

 

Peace

Chin hairs

I don't know about anyone else, but the older I get the more prickly chin hairs I have. They grow without any regard to whether I want them or not. They just appear. Sometimes overnight.

I heard a female comedian say one time that she thought as her hair became more scarce her chin hairs became more abundant. She was beginning to think that the hair on her head was somehow leaving her head and growing out her chin. I laughed. Thought that was so funny.

But I don't think it's so funny anymore

Hate

When I was growing up, I don't remember hate. I remember fear.

Even as a young adult, I don't remember hate. I remember hurt.

I was around 30 when hate entered my life. It became my silent partner.

By that time rust had entered and accumulated in my soul. I hated.

I would have committed murder at one point in my life if I had not found an escape. Murder for defense. To save my life and my children's life. I hated.

I did escape, our lives were saved. But my soul became dirty.

I learned how to be tough. To be mean when I had to be mean. I learned how to weather any storm. I learned how to fight back. How to be defensive. How to be strong. I hated. It served me well. But it was no longer a silent partner. It engulfed me. It led me to the abyss many times. It became a soul breaker. But it saved our lives.

Then a time came when I realized I didn't have to hate anymore. That long period in my life was over. It was time to live a new life. A time to rejoice that we had made it. That we had overcome. That we had conquered. And I became vulnerable again.

Musings ~by Vicki~

Talk less; listen to God more.

Listen, and be a comfort and a source of hope to those who are hurting or are in need.

Talk about people only when necessary with language that would please God, and with right motives.

Encourage, edify, love with God's love – praying always.

Do for people when possible.

Remember that "possible" and "convenient" are not interchangeable.

Helping someone when it is inconvenient and the motive is right is an action of eternal value.

Doing for friends only when it is convenient gains nothing and has no place in the heavenly kingdom.

Do for strangers, anonymously. 

Tell no one.  The doing will retain its sweetness when kept in "the closet of your heart."

Peace, dear reader. 

 

 

 

Trash

We live in a disposable society. Our nation throws away more trash than any other in the world. We have created places that store the trash. Landfills. We have hundreds of landfills from coast to coast, border to border. What will we do when we have no more room for our trash? And the funny thing about it all is nobody wants a landfill near them. But almost everyone creates hundreds of pounds of trash a year fill them.

Then there are the people who collect trash. Have you ever seen one of those news reports where someone has died and they were surrounded by trash? Looks like they hadn't thrown away a bit of trash in years. It probably slowly grew. A bit here and a bit there until eventually it was more than any person could handle. Everywhere they looked there was trash. Instead of a trash can full of trash they had accumulated a room full of trash and then another room full of trash till there was barely room to move from one room to another.

How do you get rid of all that trash? Do you throw it away a little at a time? That would take you years to get rid of it all. Do you decide to just give up and move? Who would buy a house full of trash? Do you hire someone to come in and clean it up? That would be very expensive.

I was thinking the other day how trash relates to sin. Some people seem to collect sin. They can't seem to rid ourselves of it, so they hold on to it. And hold on to it some more. Eventually it overcomes them to the point that they are overloaded and don't know how to get rid of it. It is in every room of their body. It is in their head, in their heart, in their soul.

So what do you do to get rid of that amount of sin? How can you manage to throw away a years worth of sin? A decade worth of sin? A lifetime worth of sin?

Do you throw away a bit here and there? Maybe. Do you throw it all away at once. Maybe. I believe any way that works for you is a good way. No matter how much you have collected and stored it can all be disposed of. It takes determination and commitment to make it happen. It takes faith to make it happen. It takes God to make it happen.

Lower than a snakes belly

Years ago I picked up a phrase from a dear friend of mine. When she was depressed or down in the dumps about something she would say she was lower than a snakes belly. How appropriate that is? Can't get much lower than that. Can you?

Then I think of that song. That blue skies will clear up if you *Put on a happy face. * I guess that does work for some people. But it never has for me. I have to waller my way through what ever is making me down. I have to think on it for a while. Could be minutes, hours or days. Depends on why I am feeling like a snakes belly.

Faith always helps. It is what eventually works for me. I have no idea if other people feel the same and have the need to relive some of those painful memories we wish would stay buried. But eventually with help from above and some renewed courage it too shall pass.

I’m a Weeble

Have you ever done something that seemed silly in a store? Many times when I go to a large book store I sit on the floor. Mostly cause that is the best place for me. For my safety and others around me.

The other day my oldest granddaughter who will be graduating very soon, and I went to Walmart. I let her drive the car that day. When we got there she asked if I was going to put my handicapped hanger thingie up and I said no. She said *Why not Nana*. I told her cause today is a good day and I will be fine. I hate the thought of using it. So in we went to Walmart. Give me a cart and I walk as normal as anyone else. But this day I lost my balance, just a little bit. Like the Weebles that Wobbled but they didn't fall down. But she grabbed me and hugged me and hugged me some more and then kissed me. And said, *Nana, I love you sooooo much*. I know you do, and I love you just as much back, I told her. Later I wondered what people must have thought of seeing this much taller beautiful teen age girl hugging and kissing this short old lady. I know what I felt, that I was the luckiest person in that store.

Divine Washing

 Journal Entry

12:29 P.M.

06-05-06

 

Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? Acts 9:6

"…Are you doing for Jesus?  Are you doing in the spirit of Jesus?  Beware lest you put your doings in the place of Jesus; do all you can, then you can lay all you do at the feet of Jesus; it will need washing."

                                                From "Believers' Daily Remembrancer"

    All we do for Him must be lain at His feet for purification and completion.  (Italics mine)  Never, in all of my thinking and studying has this revelation come to me.  Or maybe just not in quite this way.  I have prayed that the Holy Spirit would clean up my prayers at times when they just didn't feel right.  And, as told in Scripture, we don't know how to pray as we should.

    Laying my prayers at His feet for their final washing in order that they be purified, made whole and complete before Him gives me a sense of deep and final satisfaction.  All is secure.  All is well.

 

"Jesus who died shall be satisfied,

And earth and heav'n be one."

 

    Can we even think how extraordinary a time and place and people will be when the Son of God, the One who died, is completely satisfied?