Encouragement From Timeless Messages

This week, I received news of the tragic loss of a close family friend who was the victim of senseless violence in my hometown of Oakland, California. As you read this, I hope that you will join me in a prayer of comfort for his family. The following is a collection of a scripture, video dramatizing a scripture, and a hymn. Although I may not know what you have encountered this week or what season of life you are in, I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged by the timeless messages offered below and continue to hold on to the hand of the "One" who will never leave you.    

Scripture

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3 (New Living Translation)

Pursue Wisdom

--> Pursuit Intro HD from PC3 on Vimeo.



Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Jennie Wilson and Franklin L. Eiland

Verse 1:

Time is filled with swift transition,

Naught of earth unmoved can stand,

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand. 

Chorus:

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand,

Hold to His hand, God’s unchanging hand;

Build your hopes on things eternal,

Hold to God’s unchanging hand. 

Verse 2:

Trust in Him who will not leave you 

Whatsoever years may bring 

If by earthly friends forsaken 

Still more closely to Him cling

For additional lyrics, http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Hold_to_Gods_Unchanging_Hand/

To sing along:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJv1-QC3lg

Thank You

Today, I am thankful to God for my life.  I am also extremely grateful to those of you who have shared encouragement, kind words, a smile, hug or resources with me. May God bestow on you His best blessings. 

Peace and Love,

Nona

 

Quote of the Week from Liberty Ink "Quotables"

Dr. Benjamin S. Carson, Noted Neurosurgeon

"No matter how many letters you have behind your name, don't start rearranging them to spell G-O-D."
--Dr. Ben Carson, 9/24/10, Howard University's Opening Convocation, Washington, D.C.

From:
 Liberty Ink "Quotables" | *New Facebook Page 
To "Like" this page, click:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Liberty-Ink-Quotables/111717022220918?ref=ts

Quote of the Week--Help Somebody

When you had the opportunity, did you help somebody? 

" We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord." Galatians 6:10 (Contemporary English Version)

The hands are so powerful for connecting...
Connect with someone today!

REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND

(Nickolas Ashford/Valerie Simpson)

Chorus:

Reach out and touch

Somebody's hand

Make this world a better place

If you can  (repeat) 

(Just try)

Take a little time out of your busy day

To give encouragement

To someone who's lost the way

(Just try)

Or would I be talking to a stone

If I asked you

To share a problem that's not your own

We can change things if we start giving

Why don't you

(Chorus) 

If you see an old friend on the street

And he's down

Remember his shoes could fit your feet

(Just try)

Try a little kindness you'll see

It's something that comes very naturally

We can change things if we start giving

 Why don't you

Chorus  

Three Powerful Words

Copyright V. Nona Ogunsula 2010

After suffering months of bullying that culminated in an entire day of insults and harassment from school classmates, Phoebe Prince, a 15 year old student originally from Ireland, committed suicide on  January 14, 2010 in South Hadley, Massachusetts.  Phoebe hung herself in a closet in her home.  She was found by her twelve year old sister.  

A Massachusetts District Attorney believed that the bullying as well as other actions by Phoebe's classmates were a contributing factor in her death and indicted six teenagers from South Hadley High School with various felony charges ranging from civil rights violations to stalking for the acts that led to the young girl's death. Newspaper reporter Kevin Cullen stated in a Boston Globe article on August 1, 2010, that Phoebe's father, Jeremy Prince, does not think the teens charged in the case should go to prison as long as they acknowledge what they did to Phoebe and apologize for it.


Very early children learned the importance of words.  From the first moment they begin to speak discernible words, they are rewarded with smiles, claps, hugs, and out and out glee by almost everyone who is in hearing distance.   Well, that's the case if they speak or repeat the "right" words and not the "bad" words that sometimes they inadvertently pick up.  Parents and teachers tell them, "Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you".  For young children, this adage is supposed to discourage them from resulting to physical violence motivated by the words of an antagonist.  But as they grow older, they begin to comprehend that words can be used as weapons.  In fact, hurtful words can leave an impression and hurt that takes longer to heal than actual physical wounds. 


Time supposedly heals all wounds. But as I learned from overhearing a discussion on wound care last week, time by itself is not enough to ensure that a wound heals correctly.  The kind of treatment a wound receives will determine if the wound heals properly. The representative that I spoke to from Johnson and Johnson stressed that their innovative wound care products make the difference in the healing process.  So then, we can safely deduce that something else besides time is needed for a successful healing process.


It's the right kind of treatment.  But, what is the right kind of treatment?  I believe that the answer lies in the message and the motivation behind the words used in the healing process.  A Biblical proverb challenges us in the following way, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose." (Proverbs 18:21 The Message Bible)  


The situation involving the death of Phoebe Prince is tragic not only for her family, but for the students and all others who have been impacted by the situation.  Although the bullying at South Hadley High School may not have been the only factor in her death, many of us would have to struggle not to admit that it was a contributing factor in her decision to take her own life.  The moral of this story for all of us, young and old alike, is we should choose to speak life more often than not.  (See the links below for articles about the incident in Massachusetts.)


Here are some examples of three words that when spoken together from the heart can have a powerful effect on lives of loved ones:


I am sorry.


Please forgive me.


I love You.


I want you.


I need you.


God loves you.


What are three of your most powerful words?


Articles on the Phoebe Prince:
1.   Cullen, K., (2010, January 24). The Untouchable Mean Girls. The Boston Globe.
Retrieved from http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/24/the_untouchable_mean_girls/
2.  Brazelon, E.,( 2010, July 20). Could the South Hadley Schools Have Done More, Slate.
Retrieved from http://www.slate.com/id/2260952
3.  Cullen, K., (2010, August 1). Grieving Father Seeks Justice, Not Vengeance. The Boston Globe Retrieved from http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/08/01/phoebe_princes_father_seeks_justice_not_vengeance/

Tis So Sweet by Melinda Watts

Just wanted to share one of my favorite hymns...





Melinda Watts is the season three winner of Gospel Dream, the Gospel Music Channel's reality talent show.

Love Is...

During my teenage years, most of my friends were into singing, playing music, and songwriting. A few months ago the lyrics to one of the original songs that we sung came to mind. The song was written by a close family friend/cousin (if you're black you know what this means):

Love is needed in this world today

In special way
Needed across the land
So that everyone will understand
About God's love

Christians should be the personification of God's love. The only way the world will know about God's love is if we demonstrate it to them in how we live our lives and how we treat them, help them, and love them.

"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." John 13:34-35 (The Message Bible)

Leave a comment describing what love is to you. You don't have to be spiritual!  An example could be: Love is...a mother looking proudly and smiling widely as her child gives a speech or love is...hearing your grandparent tell a story for the 25th time but listening to it like it was the first time. 

On The Occasion of the National Day Of Prayer 2010

The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to pray, as interpreted by the Message Bible:

So [Jesus] said, "When you pray, say, 

   Father,
   Reveal who you are.
   Set the world right.
   Keep us alive with three square meals.
   Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
   Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."




Luke 11: 2-4  "Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group."

Life and Peace in the Blood of Jesus

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
--Ephesians 6:12 (New Living Translation)

Let's start with some facts.

Jesus Christ was the Son of God.
He came to earth and was birthed into the world by the Virgin Mary.
He lived a sinless life, but He died as a sinner.
In fact, He died a bloody death on a cross.
But, He rose from the dead and now lives as our redeemer.

He died so that we could live a new spiritual life in peace with Him and others both here on earth and in heaven. He died so that we would not have to die eternally.

The Bible tells us that and through [Jesus], God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. (Colossians 1:20)


NOTHING BUT THE BLOODWords & Music: Ro­bert Low­ry

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Women's History Month--Women's Leadership Part 2 | Integrity

I have had some time to reflect on the previously posted Wall Street Journal (WSJ) articles on why women mistreat each other in the work place. If you missed the previous blog with the articles, please see the links at the end of this blog. When I think about playing “the game” in the workplace and succeeding on the playing field, one word really sticks in my mind and that is integrity. I really thought about what were some of the leadership traits that I most admire and while I respect leaders who have great vision and accomplishments, charisma, empathy, and respect for others, I think integrity is one of the most important attributes one can have.

Integrity determines how we play the game of life as well as how we lead in life. If we don't possess a strong sense of what is ethical, then we will allow ourselves to cheat and sham our way to the top. The news headlines are filled with examples of employees and executives who have compromised and ended up in jail.

My first job was at AT&T and at AT&T, integrity among other things, such as respect for the individual, was a core value. In fact, in the government division where I started my career, each year we went through Corporate Professional Integrity Program training. At the end of the yearly sessions, we signed a statement signifying that we understood the tenets of the program and agreed to adhere to the tenets of the program. One of the key phases that I will always remember from the training was, “corporations don’t go to jail, people do.” When making a business decision, we were told to think about how we would feel if the decision and consequences were reported on the front page of the Washington Post. That yearly training reinforced a strong sense of ethics in me that has served me well. I am really thankful to that company for reinforcing in me a strong commitment to ethics and professional integrity

One of the reasons I believe women fail to truly respect and value one another is we are often seeking acceptance from people who require us to be cut throat, disingenuous, sabotage others, and cut others down to be in the “in crowd”. Those women must be respectfully challenged on their behavior. Competitive behavior that emphasizes and celebrates winning at any cost must be discouraged. Just as it is important to follow the rules in sports competition, it is important to embrace sound ethical standards as one seeks to lead in the workplace and in life. It is important how we play the game because true champions win without cheating!

The godly walk with integrity... Proverb 20:7a New Living Translation Bible (http://www.biblegateway.com/)

Wall Street Journal Articles:
Preoccupations: A Sisterhood of Workplace Infighting by Peggy Klaus

The Juggle: When Women Derail Other Women in the Office by Rachel Emma Silverman

Can you hear me now? Injustice at the right price.

You were silent...Injustice metamorphose in silence. The unconscionable becomes not only justifiable, but allowable especially when the right price is paid for the silence.

In Tribute Of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am sharing these quotes from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. because they are still relevant today some 50 years after he spoke them.

Some philosophical sociologists suggest that morality is merely group consensus and that the folkways are the right ways. Some psychologists say that mental and emotional adjustment is the reward of thinking and acting like other people.

Success, recognition, and conformity are the bywords of the modern world where everyone seems to crave the anesthetizing security of being identified with the majority.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love, Fortress Press, 1963

No Limits!

People will try to limit you because they are limited. Don't allow it!

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, US essayist & poet (1803 - 1882)

Affirmations from the Bible:

1. For [say your name] can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. --Phillipians 4:13 (New Living Translation Bible*)
   
2. Now to [Jesus] who is able to do immeasurably more than all [I] ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within [me]. --Ephesians 3:20 (New International Version Bible*)
   
3. [Say your name], press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling [you]. --Phillipians 3:14 (New Living Translation Bible*)

Happy New Year!!

*All scripture excerpts taken from Biblegateway.com

A New Year's Prayer For Those Who Know The Words and Worth of Prayer

I grew up in church. In fact, you could say that I have been in church all my life. I remember back in the day when people would get up during the 'testimony service' and say, "...those who know the words of prayer, please pray for me." Then, we heard a slew of admonitions challenging the validity of "the words" of prayer. So, people began ending their testimonies with, "...those who know the words and worth of prayer, please pray for me."

Well, Romans 8:26-27 (Amplified Bible) says the following regarding "words" and "worth",

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men (and women) knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.

The motivation for this blog came when I recently received some news about someone that I know.  The news immediately stirred my spirit to heartfelt prayer. The following words were the result:

Lord, there are places where we are not able to go, so we send your Spirit. There are hearts that we can not touch, so we pray for the power and comfort of the Holy Spirit to minister to them. We also pray for those that will have the opportunity to minister and pray for those who are in need and broken-hearted. Give them wisdom. Help them to minister in a spirit of love, truth and restoration. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

In 2010 as we pray for ourselves and our needs and wants, let's allow the Holy Spirit to move us to prayer for others as well because...

P R A Y E R  C H A N G E S  T H I N G S ! !

Happy New Year!

The Gift of An Apology

A good heart-felt apology is a priceless gift. It can be worth more than a thousand gifts. But a good apology and a priceless gift (á la Kobe Bryant) is even better. ;-)

What is God looking for?

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously—
take God seriously."

Micah 6:6-8 - The Message Bible - BibleGateway.com

Keeping It Real...Relationships

Real relationships are built on love and truth! When I think of relationships, the image of a house comes to mind. Love is the foundation. Truth are the walls that defend against the enemies that would destroy the home and the precious things that are inside. Hope is the roof that provides protection when the storms of life come. Fidelity and trust are the glue and cement that keep it all together.

In life, we are each building and strengthening our homes every day. As the saying goes,

Home is where the heart is. Your true home is with the person(s) or in the place that you love most.*

So, we have to be mindful to do things that will protect and keep our important relationships strong.

Keeping important relationships strong is hard work. But we can look to the examples of God the father, Christ Jesus and words of wisdom from the Bible for a couple of lessons:

1) Give sacrificially--John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (New King James Version)

2) Don't lie or be deceitful; speak the truth in love--Proverbs 27:17 You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another. (The Message Bible)

3) Spend quality time with those who are important to you--St. John 13:1 & 4, It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (The Message Bible)

Jesus washing his disciples' feet symbolizes Him meeting a need. When you spend quality time with special people, you begin to become familiar with their strengths, weaknesses, and needs. Pray about how God can use you to meet a need.

4) Love unconditionally--John 15:12, This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Proverbs 17:17, Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. (The Message Bible)

5) Don't be too proud to say, "I am sorry"--Genesis 33, Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming ... As [Jacob] approached his brother, [he] bowed seven times, honoring his brother. But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept. (The Message Bible)

By deceiving his Father, Jacob stole the blessing that was traditionally reserved for the oldest child. Although Esau was Jacob's twin brother, he was the oldest and the one who should have received the blessing. Jacob took advantage of his brother at one of Esau's weakest moments. Additionally, Jacob deceived his Father in order to obtain the blessing. However, when the time came for reconciliation, Jacob was not too proud to humble himself and ask for his brother's forgiveness.

*(http://www.idioms.thefreedictionary.com)