A Marvelous Love

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”John 3:16, 17 NIVThere I stood wide eyed on an Easter Morning marveling at the beautifully tailored green coat dress my mother had created with her very own hands. Her limited budget and lack of sewing machine did not thwart her plans, nor limit her marvelous gift to me. My hopes weren’t dashed; my mother had exceeded my expectations.

On Sunday morning I awoke to the site of seeing an ensemble that was created with me in mind. There on the hanger hung my Easter dress and on this occasion I didn’t have to make due. That childhood memory, so many years ago is still very clear in my mind! But it was my mother’s constant and active displays that nurtured me and my brothers. There were many days of home baked cookies, sewn tote-shoe bags with creative stitching, construction paper made into vocabulary and math flash cards, encouraging words and her being an unselfish person—it’s all of those tokens of a marvelous love that have been instilled in me and carry me through my life and still give me this incredible and memorable gift as we approach Resurrection Sunday!Our Heavenly Father is surely the exemplary loving parent!

Have you experienced it? Friends, you know well the Easter themes, the melodic hymns of Zion, eloquent sermonic messages spoken in The Seven Last Words on Good Friday and lest we not forget the baked ham, Easter lilies, colorful outfits and baskets running over with fruity jelly beans, chocolate bunnies and crosses. This too is a real part of many Easters across the nation. But more importantly the ultimate gift given us- yes, our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

A marvelous gift that allows me and you to confidently lean on the promises of God with an expectant hope!So during this Passion Week we can confidently embrace the truth-that there’s no greater gift that we can have than the love of God. God I am sure is counting on us to let His love be the focus and main ingredient in our Easter festivities. With that thought let me encourage you to remember your birth rights as children of the most High God and carry in your hearts and conversations the spirit of an expected good to permeate your life and the lives of others.

Just like me as a child on Easter morning-know without a doubt that something wonderful and good awaits you no matter our perceived limitations and the negative nay sayers!
No my friends, I agree it’s not about the clothes; it’s about the marvelous sacrificial love of a parent. What my mother and possibly many of your parents have done on countless occasions is model love, a love that revives and lifts us! My mother’s behavior exemplified what was merely a reflection of the love that Christ has for us.Just trust in him!

"There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants."John 3: 18-21 (NIV)

Go ahead and boldly embrace a spirit of great expectancy; no matter the days that are filled with some mighty highs and agonizing lows. It’s the anticipation of something wonderful to come; the Lamb of God actively visible in the outcomes of our lives! Yes He was struck down, but no hell could contain Him. It’s the celebration and resurrection of a new day, a new hope, a new truth, a new glory and a new and real determination that our Christ is alive. So in essence our personal ruts and predictable behavior can always be blood washed and refreshed because it’s a marvelous love that saves us! Keep singing, keep hoping and keep on loving in the name of Jesus!

Have a blessed Easter! Amen!

Enjoy other writings click on Blessed Chronicles

Joyfully submitted by Linda Mose Meadows
Author of: The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises
http://www.blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

Blessed and Running On

Allow this music to minister to your heart as you revisit one of my favorite writings and remember that you are not alone. Many times I listen to different artists as I write and this is one of those songs that is so inspiring. Friends, have a blessed day. Today.

This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe. John 19:35

No one wanted the day to end. As the cleaning crew began dismantling tables, people were in there way. Some stood huddled together, others ignored that the vendors packing up their displays and they needed to make room for them. I am not sure if help was solicited from the young people standing on the deflated romp a room, but they appeared to be having a little to much fun jumping up and down on the deflated gym, which needed to be rolled up and removed. I could see that only the clean up crew wanted to go home, no one else appeared to be in a rush to get moving. A calming atmosphere of joy, peace, and love hung in the air like the distinct aroma of something wonderful baking in the oven.

As I walked toward my husband it was evident that this Saturday had provided more than we could have anticipated. My husband had been invited as a “LifeNet donor parent” and clergy member to participate as one of the guest speakers to address the issue of teen violence and shed some insight about handling grief. He did such a fine job, not reiterating the graphic details regarding our son’s death, but instead reminded that the listeners that the enemy hadn’t stolen our joy and celebration was evident and we will continue as a family and community to run this race.

And at the close of the day’s festivities there stood my husband on the dusty high school race track beaming with his hands extended towards me.

I squeezed my husband’s neck and couldn’t help but remark, “Hey look at you, and you’ve received a medal also!” He chuckled and smiled broadly and acknowledged that he too had been a runner in the race. I gave a hearty “Amen” because indeed he had.

As I reflect on the symbolism of the dusty tracks and roads, I understand that all of us have stood on the dusty tracks of life at some point in this life journey. Sometimes the run is smooth and, often time it’s a hard stretch of a run that makes you wonder when it will become smooth again. But we continue to persevere!

I thank God for the organizer’s and parent’s foresight and all those that rallied around them grieving the loss of this excellent young man and commemorating his life of sportsmanship and scholastic accomplishment with an invitational community event Enthusiastic runners young, middle aged and some not so middle aged enjoyed the day. This multifaceted day provided fun, fellowship and an opportunity for community leaders, administrators, parents and students to announce to the world that the epidemic of teen violence must be addressed. I marveled at the ingenuity to bring recognition to such a dismal occurrence through such a worthy event.

Yet I am pushed to appreciate the day for more -it was a day filled with optimism that evil had not conquered good in spite of the negative reports, I’d like to think the community said with their resounding appearance that we do have victory, we are winners.

I recall observing that many of the youngest runners from the seasoned sprinters were proudly wearing their LifeNet bracelets and their Olympic style medals. The medals each had a pair of gold running shoes handsomely displayed on a red, white and blue ribbon. It was apparent that the recipients of the medals were pleased at their accomplishment of running the 5 k race. My husband was equally proud to place in the runners hand a plaque signaling a job well done!

Earlier that day my husband stopped to chat with a young runner who walked with his father. My husband inquired how young man had done in the race. The young man appeared to be in his early teens, and half heartedly smiled and acknowledged that the race had gone fairly well for him. My husband looked at the father and then said to the son smiling, “You know the race is not given to the swift or strong, but those that hang in there until the end.” “Tell him father!” For a quick moment, the father must have thought this guy is right! He then looked at Ricky in his eyes and said, “Yes that’s right!” The young man’s shoulders for a moment appeared slumped, but I could see the life and energy return to this young runner and his posture was erect.

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.

I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.[fn4]

Phl 3:12-14

Surely God’s word does that for us –it rebuilds our brokenness and disappointment.

That day when we reflected on the tragic loss of life for the teens or other loved ones, our hearts did ache because of the travesty of the senselessness of the loss of life. But for a moment when I closed my eyes and lifted a prayer of thanksgiving I felt the warm sun my face, opened my eyes and witnessed the runners, the cheering bystanders, and heard the background music, children running, playing and laughing in the inflated gym, saw the vendors dispensing health information–without a doubt I knew we all were winners on that day. The air was filled with exuberance, there was a celebration in our midst and it was contagious. Our hearts were alive with hope and promise and our spirits were soaring for new days ahead.

Let’s thank God together friends, for his infinite wisdom and loving kindness in sustaining us with the resolve to endure and keep it moving. Some can give a good report and yet others are a little worn from their experience nonetheless we can be eyewitness for each other that love, Holy love, enduring love has sustained us for this race!.

God had once again poured his love on us, given us medallions of love and we’re recipients of grace, and I knew I too stood on the dusty track and was in position to run again!

Dedicated to Baron "Deuce Braswell...This is an article written by his mother Gwen Braswell-Nash (Click her to view article)

Joyfully Submitted by
Linda Mose Meadows
The Blessedness of Believing-
A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises
blessedlm@hotmai.com

Introducing...Souls of My Sisters

Linda and Candace at Walden Books, Norfolk VA.

NEW YORK, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Steven Zacharius, Chief Executive Officer and President of Kensington Publishing Corp. announced today a joint publishing agreement between Kensington Publishing Corp. and Souls of My Sisters, Inc., which takes its name from the highly successful Essence Bestseller SOULS OF MY SISTERS: Black Women Break Their Silence, TellTheir Stories, and Heal Their Spirits, written and edited by Dawn Marie Daniels and Candace Sandy.

Souls of My Sisters Books, the imprint launched this month with an update of SOULS OF MY SISTERS and the new SOULS REVEALED: A SOULS OF MY SISTERS BOOK OF REVELATIONS AND TOOLS FOR HEALING YOUR LIFE, SOUL AND SPIRIT with a foreword by Star Jones. Other projects include It Happened In Church: Stories of Humor from the Pulpit to the Pews written by Patti S. Webster.

Souls of My Sisters Books will publish a minimum of four titles per year. Kensington will distribute the books, building upon its base as the country's leading distributor of African American titles.

Just Believe!

But Moses protested again, "Look, they won't believe me!
They won't do what I tell them. They'll just say, `The LORD never appeared to you.' "
Exodus 4:1

This morning’s inspirational reading delivered to me in an e-newsletter from Foundation for A Better Life blessed my soul. As I sat at my desk contemplating the day and scanning my electronic messages I couldn’t help but pause, reflect on the message and thank God! All the doubtful thoughts were under arrest, my thinking was changed. My spirit must have shouted, "About face! " The words that moved me and stirred my soul silently ushered me to mentally reverence the moment and the many acts of kindness that God had bestowed on me and my circle of loved ones. Lord knows that there's much to beleive for! And there it was right before my eyes!

What were the words you asked? What had I read?

“First thing every morning before you arise say out loud, 'I believe,' three times.”

—Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993), author, preacher

Without hesitation I dropped my head and silently began to praise God! I wanted to cry, tears of joy but knew I’d be a real mess and my work day attire and work appearance would be over. So I tried to hold it together. "No Lord, please no runny eye makeup, creating raccoon eyes and no runny noise, I have no tissue! "It was as though I was on tip toes, my heart and tear ducts would burst if I wasn’t careful. I tried to be still with my praise at work. "So far, so good !" I am sure that’s what I felt. But friends God was at work and I couldn’t control the flood of inward praise- a litany of praise rolled out of my heart and spilled from my lips! Joy was birthed! Praise declarations announced a stream of I Believe's:

God I do believe that you love me and your love rescues and restores us! Lord thank you!
God I do believe that my son and daughters will succeed and reach out to many others! Lord thank you!
God I do believe the best is yet to come and you hear our prayers! Lord thank you!
God I do believe that I have the heart to forgive! Lord thank you!
God I do believe we’ll make it through the sun and the rain! Lord, thank you!

For a moment friends embrace the belief that if you still your spirit, lift up a prayer of thanksgiving your outlook will invariably change! I am sure thatyour heart will be refreshed and elevated with excitement regarding the possibilities that can be manifested; if you have the heart to believe!

Finally, in your minds eye reflect on His abiding love, gifts of grace and mercy and watch God speak through your spirit and pronounce your beliefs! Just believe God, believe God for your very life, your spiritual sustenance, your real need!

Does your reverence for God give you no confidence?
Shouldn't you believe that God will care for those who are upright?
Job 4:6 (NIV)

Joyfully submitted by: Linda Mose Meadows,author

The Blessedness of Believing

A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

Chesapeake VA Library Reading and Writer's Forum

"Celebrate" 1st Book Signing

Barnes and Noble Book Signing January 19th, 2008 Williamsburg, VA

"Watch Concert at Trinity Wall Street"

Trinity Institute: Bernice Johnson Reagon in Concert
High Bernice Johnson Reagon was the founding director of the ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock. She shares her unique perspective of God's "ultimate visions" through performance, storytelling and song. From the 37th annual Trinity Institute.

For more than 40 years, Bernice Johnson Reagon has been a major cultural voice for freedom and justice; singing, teaching—speaking out against racism and organized inequities of all kinds. An African American woman’s voice, a child of Southwest Georgia, born in the struggle against racism in America during the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s. Reagon’s life and work support the concept of community based culture with an enlarged capacity for mutual respect: for self, for those who move among us who seem to be different than us, respect and care for our home, the environment, including the planet that sustains life as we know it.

Perhaps no individual today better illustrates the transformative power and instruction of traditional African American music and cultural history than Bernice Johnson Reagon, who has excelled equally in the realms of scholarship, composition, and performance. She is Professor Emerita of History at American University, Curator Emerita at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, and served as the 2002-2004 Cosby Chair of Fine Arts at Spelman College in Atlanta, GA. Two of her major works are seminal to the study of this tradition: Wade in the Water: African American Sacred Music Traditions and Africans in America: America’s Journey Through Slavery. Reagon served as principal scholar, conceptual producer, and host for the Peabody Award winning Wade in the Water, the 26-show series produced by National Public Radio and Smithsonian Institution (premier broadcast 1984). She also served as curator of the traveling exhibit and compiled the 4CD box devoted to this sacred music tradition. After serving as the score composer for the four-film series. produced by WGBH TV, Africans in America (broadcast in a PBS mini-series in 1998, also received a Peabody Award), Reagon produced the related series of audio recordings released by Rykodisc/GBH Records. From 2002 to 2004 Bernice Johnson Reagon held the Cosby Chair Professor of Fine Arts at Spelman College, where she created the live performance production Lord! I Got A Right To The Tree Of Life! A Tribute to Early African American Sacred Song. While at Spelman, Reagon initiated an archival collection project focused on the life and work of Willis Laurence James, an African American 20th-century musician, folklorist, composer, and choral director.

In 1973 while serving as Vocal Director of the DC Black Repertory Company, Reagon founded the internationally acclaimed African American woman a cappella ensemble, Sweet Honey In The Rock. For 30 years she was artistic director, performer, songwriter, and producer of many of the group’s recordings, retiring in early 2004. Among the recordings she produced are: Sacred Ground, Selections: Sweet Honey In The Rock, 1976–1988; Still the Same Me, and Alive in Australia, Sweet Honey In The Rock (Australian release only).

Reagon’s publications include: We Who Believe in Freedom: Sweet Honey In The Rock, Still on the Journey; We’ll Understand It Better By and By: Pioneering African-American Gospel Composers; and If You Don’t Go, Don’t Hinder Me: The African American Sacred Song Tradition. She has also written numerous articles on African American culture and history. She compiled and wrote the booklet for the two-CD collection Voices of the Civil Rights: Black American Freedom Songs 1960–1965 (Smithsonian Folkways Records).

Dr. Reagon became active in the Civil Rights Movement while a college student at Albany State College in Albany, Georgia (from which she was expelled after participating in a demonstration for which she and others were jailed). She was a member of the original SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee) Freedom Singers formed in 1962 by SNCC field secretary Cordell H. Reagon, and in 1966, a founding member of the Atlanta-based Harambee Singers.

Dr. Reagon has served as music consultant, composer, and performer for several film and video projects, including the award-winning Eyes on the Prize, the Emmy-winning We Shall Overcome, and the feature film Beloved. She received the Isadora Duncan award for the score for the original ballet, Rock, created by Alonso King, founder and artistic director of the San Francisco based contemporary ballet company, LINES (1996). In 2003, she created the music and libretto for the Robert Wilson production, The Temptation of St. Anthony, which premiered in Germany and was also performed in Italy, Spain, England, and New York. In this work, Reagon’s music drew upon her intimate and long term study and performance of African American music spanning 19th and 20th century genres. Nov/Dec 2005, Temptation completed a run at the Paris Opera House de Garnier (the first African American cast to play in the house since the 19th century) to sell-out audiences. The libretto for the production was inspired and adapted from a translation of the 19th century Gustav Flaubert novel of the same title. Her pioneering work as a scholar, teacher, and artist has been recognized with the Heinz Award for the Arts and Humanities (2003), the Leeway National Award for Women in the Arts (2000), the Presidential Medal for contribution to public understanding of the Humanities (1995), and the MacArthur Fellowship (1989).

From www.bernicejohnsonreagon.com and www.trinitywallstreet.org
submitted by Richard D. Meadows, Jr.