And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
If I didn’t know better I’d declare I created this Youtube video! Looks like my car, sounds like my radio and definitely resembles my morning commute. God’s Got A Blessing With your Name On It was blaring out my windows. Well know what? This morning at approximately 7:45 that was my song! Just like in the video that was me and possibly you listening to our favorite morning talk radio stations headed to work. It's routine, switching back and forth between my favorite radio stations and presto 88.1 was playing God’s Got A Blessing!
Well I safely arrived and it's mid-day, I am chuckling because I have a moment between work tasks and just decided to visit Youtube-so I believe. This just smacks of a divine set-up! I trust you'll agree that this is surely more providential than coincidence. Yes, friends my curiosity peaked when I had the option of selecting between two videos of Norman Hutchins and I decided to select this:
Notice the “red hood” ? Well the front end resembles my car. It surely looks like me navigating my way down the I-64 East. I recognized that many of us travel just this way to get to our daily JOB’s. That’s what we use to call it going to our JOB’s, cruising down highways across hamlets, cities, and the like. Some of us even have to travel by foot, wait at the dock to board the Ferry or jump on public transportation- our journey's would be incomplete without our electronic gadgets. Listening to our radios, ipods, and surfing the internet destination bound! We’re headed some place, determined to arrive. As I drove this morning and now for a few moments I am reflecting on what I witnessed yesterday evening, while millions of households already had learned what I feel compelled to rethink.
My mind raced back to Oprah Winfrey's website. After work I had an opportunity to read and watch several videos about Tyler Perry’s very emotional accounts of the disturbing childhood abuse he endured at the hands of some unscrupulous, despicable adults. You just never know what shapes and colors our lives. The abuse was horrific, sad, and tragic . But what stood out for me was that as difficult as it is to share humiliating incidents of any kind of abuse (sexual, emotional, physical etc.) I would wager that it’s probably more difficult to operate effectively with that stigma draped over ones life. But, thank God despite that the personal anguish, it didn’t smolder Tyler’s spirit. It’s apparent that his creativity and empathy for others has spurred him on to create relevant; meaningful works. His works are healing and audacious enough to deal with the tough stuff, the nitty-gritty issues of life. He’s a miraculous over comer, clearly on a destination! Tyler is a survivor and I pray he feels victorious, free, validated, accomplished and honored for lifting the bewildering, deadening shroud of silence. What the devil meant for evil, God obviously has other plans. Romans 8 confirms this:
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who
love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God
foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he
might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also
called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also
glorified. 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who
can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us
all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who
will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who
justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that,
who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for
us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship
or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be
slaughtered."[l] 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither
angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Tyler’s creative work continually improves lives and gives voice to many that society deem unworthy. His stellar work in the arts, his philanthropic endeavors are to be lauded. But what many will chatter about is , “Did you hear Tyler?” Well as one conquerer to another, we can respond confidently with , “ Yes, I certainly did and do I ever appreciate him all the more!” Like Norman Hutchins sings, God’s Got a Blessing With Our Name On It! This stanza of Amazing Grace by John Newton rings true….
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my
shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh
and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess
within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten
thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing
God's praise
Than when we've first begun……
Thank you Tyler for the exhibiting the grace to dare share what we ought not ignore. We appreciate your desire to move foward , navigate your way and live to see brighter tomorrows! You're on your way and it's evident that God's got a blessing for His very own!
GOD'S GOT A BLESSING (WITH YOUR NAME ON IT) NORMAN HUTCHINS
With A Renewed Spirit!
Linda Mose Meadows, Urban Views Weekly Columnist and Inspirational Author of: The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises and Co-publisher of Eyes of Faith Magazine
http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/
http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/
http://eyesoffaithmagazine.blogspot.com/
