IN PRAISE OF ARTISTS~GOD'S TREASURE

IN PRAISE OF ARTISTS~GOD'S TREASURE

The Lord says, “You are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you.”
–Isaiah 43:4 (NRSV)

Artistic Expression is a live and well in Buffalo, New York. I am extremely honored to introduce to you several young prolific poets, a compassionate educator , a furniture designer and an outstanding artist. They currently reside in Western New York: James J. Cooper III “Coopconcepts”, Ashley Rita Graves, Ms. Quinn Lee “Q”, “Pen Pimpen” Rodney Barnes, “Miss Jennifer” Booker, Lander Gilyard, Omar Abdul Carter, Martha Burt, Marvin Askew “Phranciz”, “DB Hands” and others I didn’t intentionally mean to forget. Several of the poets and the poetry lovers gather weekly at the EM Tea Coffee Cup Café located in the Hamlin Park District of Buffalo, NY. This café is also known as the Poetry Place on Tuesday evenings hosted by James J. Cooper III. It's an electric atmosphere ripe with inspiration for the creative heart.

As you now know when I am introduced to such awesome people literally my heart leaps with joy and I have to share. I marvel at their creativity and how they capture our essence and God’s greatness through their artistic expressions. They have a voice whether it be through their prose, their paint brushes or in their ability to teach and reach others. These beautiful minds know they’ve been gifted and pursue their passions with abandonment! They are wise to seek out others that are as passionate as they hone their gifts, share the wealth and encourage each other to stretch forth and believe! That's what these Buffalo artists demonstrate to me.

Yesterday my heart/the Holy Spirit lead me to contemplate and ask myself a question. What is it that we love about poets and those in the fine arts arena? I think it’s many things, particularly their insight, the complexity and beauty of life-it’s their quest, it’s the rhythm of their hearts and the divine that dwells in them. These folks are blessed and generally not afraid to venture out, explore new vistas.

I goggled my question and wouldn’t you know it! Well, the remarkable Gwendolyn Brooks'poetry is what my search revealed. I believe this excerpt conveys what I consider is a gift from God. Here read and enjoy:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_4_56/ai_69653984

`To Gwen with Love' -

poet Gwendolyn Brooks - Brief Article
Ebony, Feb, 2001

Great Poet Captured Soul of Black America
WE were children together in the struggle and storm that created a new America and a new us. She published her first book of poetry, A Street in Bronzeville, in 1945, in the same year and at almost the same time that EBONY was born. From that moment, in the turning point of worlds that was mid-20th-century America, we sang her praises and followed her light. When she became the first African-American to receive the Pulitzer Prize, we said she was the harbinger of a new poem and a new Black America. When she mothered and mentored a new generation of poets, when she sang in a new Black voice from a new mountaintop, winning White House honors and the praise of the critics, when she made poetry talk about Birmingham and Montgomery and Johannesburg and the last days of De Witt Williams, we marveled and printed her works. And when, in December, Gwendolyn Brooks, the Poet Laureate of the Black Spirit, died in her 83rd year, after six generations of Gwendolyning, we joined the mighty chorus of Black men and women--African kings and queens, slaves, sharecroppers, rappers, rhymers, praise singers and troth-tellers, Langston Hughes, Martin, Malcolm, Rosa Parks, Henry Blakely, Harold Washington--who echoed the mighty words of her pen: We are each other's business. We are each other's harvest. We are each other's magnitude and bond.

IN MONTGOMERY WABX, the Soul station. "Come ON, stag the SONG this mawnin'!" The Soul Stirrers sing the song. --WABX is-bemoaning Astronaut-talk of a Government Visitor to Alabama State University .... which had NUTHIN', but NUTHIN' to do with black folks...." "O Happy Day! (when Jesus washed, oh when He washed.... my sins away!)" "The Old Ship of Zion!" WABX is pleading: "Try to feed somebody who's, HUNGRY. Try to clothe somebody who's NAKED. Try to visit somebody who's SICK or in PRISON. Won't cha?" The Soul Stirrers sing. Martin Luther King is not free. Nor is Montgomery

BLACK LOVE Black love, provide the adequate electric For what is lapsed and lenient in us now. Rouse us from blur. Call us. Call adequately the postponed corner brother. And call our man in the pin-stripe suiting and restore him to His abler logic; to his people. Call to the shattered sister and repair her in her difficult hour, narrow her fever. Call to the Elders our customary grace and further sun loved in the Long-ago, loathed in the Lately: a luxury of languish and of rust. Appraise, assess our Workers in the Wild, test they descend to malformation and to undertow. Black love, define and escort our romantic young, by means and redemption, discipline. Nourish our children--proud, strong little men upright-easy: quick flexed little stern-warm historywomen.... I see them in Ghana, Kenya, in the city of Dar-es-Salaam, in Kalamazoo, Mound Bayou, in Chicago. Lovely loving children with long soft eyes. Black love, prepare us all for interruption; assaults, unwanted pauses; furnish for leavings and for losses. Just come out Blackly glowing! On the ledges--in the lattices: against the failing light of candles that stutter, and in the chop and challenge of our apprehension-- be the Alwayswonderful of this world.

AN ARRIVAL A tribute to Ourselves. And to the will the precise will, the full will that manages Arrivals through the fire; that manages revisions of the wave. Beyond the genuine crucifixions, and the sleep, the steep flint, the high howl of the hurricane, the wide ice, across our self-recovery and redress-- we look at one another. And we love.

CHICAGO, THE I WILL CITY

Now, the way of the I Will city is on this wise: ripe roused ready: richly rambunctious, implausible: sudden, or saddle-steady. In the jamboree jounce and jumble of our Season of Senselessness the I Will city is ready to rise. Toward robust radiance. Valid! Away from hunger, anger, and from dread. Toward health and difficult Splendor. Toward immense creative indignation and defense. Toward, verily, the level land beneath the solid tread.

SPEECH TO THE YOUNG SPEECH TO THE PROGRESS-TOWARD
(Among them Nora and Henry III) Say to them, say to the down-keepers, the sun-slappers, the self-soilers, the harmony-hushers, "Even if you are not ready for day it cannot always be night." You will be right. For that is the hard home-run. Live not for battles won. Live not for the-end-of-the-song. Live in the along.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Johnson Publishing Co.COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group

Yes ,we are all God’s treasure, but today in praise of all artist I’d like to encourage you to:

keep writing,

keep painting,

keep teaching,

keep loving,

keep living and surely creating

and please, keep inspiring us all as you keep the faith!

Let Gwendolyn Brooks be your guide and never forgotten as a treasure among us.

Joyfully Submitted by:

Linda Mose Meadows, author

The Blessedness of Believing

A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lesson’s and God’s Promises

Enjoy other writings Click on Blessed Chronicles

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

AN AFTERNOON OF EXUBERANCE AT TCC BARNES & NOBLE@ MacARTHUR MALL IN NORFOLK,VA

Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

Proverbs 16:20

I returned home a little warn around the edges, but actually I was so thankful that God had paved the way once again for me to share my devotional: The Blessedness of Believing A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises by Linda Mose Meadows with new friends, writers, parents and some vacationers that blessed my very soul with their warmth and caring.

Yes indeed, I was truly amazed by the young family with the beautiful children who were gracious enough to come near my table as I shared that I was a new writer and lived in the community. They first purchased one book and then returned to gather up additional books to encourage their loved ones. Imagine that’s what I believe my devotional is intended to do-encourage readers that we are not forsaken-cast down-abandoned by God!

Looks like the Holy Ghost was active at TCC Barnes and Noble this afternoon.

Prior to this wonderful family acquiring their books, I had a really wonderful conversation with a mom that was preparing to send her daughter off to college. I knew this mixed emotion of joy and trepidation well. Not many years ago that was me. We concurred that it’s vital to pray over our children as they embark on their personal journeys and what’s also key is that our children understand how vital it is to pray-there’s power in prayer! They bought a devotional and then her mother-in- law blessed me with being interested in acquiring a devotional of her own. It was difficult to contain my joy!

And then my new friends, new writers, some inquisitive, some searching, some minding their own business entreated my offer to learn of my work - applauded my accomplishment and gleaned from my new found experience. I shared what I knew, called my husband over to impart what he knew about publishing and then encouraged them with words of affirmation.

My heart was glad that I could share my testimony and say,”You too will be here-just you wait and see!” I then said my fond farewell to a fellow author at Tate Publishing who now occupied the “author’s chair” and prayed that he’d also be blessed with divine encounters and well wishers.

You wonder how I’d sum up this afternoon’s activities? In a word-Exuberant!! Yep, that’s what I am still experiencing!

With Great Joy:

Linda Mose Meadows, author

The Blessedness of Believing

A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises (Tate Publishing)

WE THANK GOD FOR ANOTHER EVENT! YOU ARE INVITED!

YOU ARE INVITED TO COME & JOIN

LINDA MOSE MEADOWS,

INSPIRATIONAL AUTHOR

of

THE BLESSEDNESS OF BELIEVING

A DEVOTIONAL JOURNEY OF LIFE'S LESSONS

AND GOD'S PROMISES

(TATE PUBLISHING-AUDIO & PAPERBACK)

for

TCC BARNES & NOBLE

BOOKSIGNING EVENT

Date & Time:

Saturday, August 9, 2008

1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Location:

MacArthur Mall

300 Monticello Ave.

Norfolk, VA

reference calendar on blog for directions

Contact Info: 757-640-2655

Organized By: TCC Barnes & Noble Bookstore

Celebrating~ Blessed and Breaking Through

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”

—Pope John XXIII (1881-1963), 261st Pope of the Roman Catholic Church
www foundationforabetterlife.org

~

I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try."

-Nikki Giovanni , Poet, Author, Extraordinary Human Being, Lecturer, Activist

http://www.famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/nikki_giovanni/quotes

Friends the honor was all mine; it was a surreal moment my holding the hand of one of the Moton School Student Protestors ( a spry senior citizen), meeting Julian Bond up close, taking a photo with Blair Underwood and chatting with the incomparable, esteemed, noble, tremendous poetess sister Nikki Giovanni. I really wanted to jump up and down and scream, “Nikki, Nikki it’s really you in the flesh!” -but I think, well I’d like to believe that I was very composed as my husband and step daughter stood at the book signing table and smiled at wonderful Nikki.I had no clue that I’d be so privileged to have this divine encounter with one of my favorite poets! She was extremely cordial to us as we reminisced about our love for her poetry It’s My House and her spoken word album and how during our college days her words ignited our hearts on and on and on.

Just an hour or so earlier she had dazzled our souls again, as she had given a heart rendering, heart clapping, heart song of a powerful celebratory poem honoring the wonderful and timely occasion saluting the unsung children who were heroines and heroes of the Virginia Civil Rights Movement. This historic occasion was an important moment in time and there we were witnessing the unveiling of a Civil Rights Monument that beautifully honored some very courageous youngsters that marched out of a segregated school causing this very act to snowball nationally into the Brown vs. Board of Education. Some of the surviving students that had been grade schoolers which protested shabby treatment and a substandard education, now stood proudly before the world being honored and validated as change agents in this national the Civil Rights Movement! These fearless children now seasoned senior citizens are a testament that God does honor His own.

Well friends I can’t share an audio, but I certainly can share this link http://www.vacivilrightsmemorial.org/memorial/render/ and hope you’ll take the time to marvel at this very historical occasion and possibly venture out of your comfort zones to downtown Richmond,Virginia’s Capitol Square -find your way to this historic monument and converse with your travel companions and the other onlookers about the significance of placing a memorial depicting individuals from all walks of life ( especially the young African American girl leading the way) - hopeful, courageous, and insightful moving through the stony walls of all of societies ills and biases. I’d like to believe with you also that a new day in dawning! No this isn't simply symbolish, but a new reality and a new opportunity to celebrate a national movement, the pioneers and the significance of a child's vision!

We can without reluctance embrace the notion that God does delight us and awaken us with wonderful occasions to celebrate our humanity and dignity and even witness in the flesh another phenomenal human being, another heart lesson for our good. To all the change agents who seek to live a better life and make a difference- I praise God for you!!! Take a bow Nikki, take a bow Julian, and take a bow all who know that the spirit of Barbara Johns that lives within us!

…the Lord who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Isaiah 43: 1-3

Lord thank you! What a day, what a day, I lift my hands in praise to you!!!

Joyfully Submitted by Linda Mose Meadows

The Blessedness of Believing-
A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises
blessedlm@hotmail.com

All rights reserved, no use without prior written permission of Linda M. Meadows

BABY LOVE NOTES

THERE WILL BE CRYING

There will be crying, but it will be alright.

Have you ever had to face something that you knew would be painful? A breakup, a task, a conversation, a procedure, a confrontation, a move….

After 5 years, my granddaughters and their parents were moving out of our house. My son and his wife purchased a small house in a community to the south of the city we lived in. Not a long distance away, but an unacceptable distance as far as Zakiya was concerned.

“I’m not going.” She would announce mustering as much 4 year old defiance as she could. Christina was packing up the girl’s playroom. Her mother and I tried to make the transition as smooth and exciting for her as we could. We told her about having her own room, making new friends, more space for toys. We reminded her that she would have a larger playroom and be able to bring out many more dolls and books and games than she could at my house. Zakiya looked from her mother to me and back to her mother again. She stretched out her arms in a “pick me up” gesture and stepped closer to her Mom. Christina picked Zakiya up and in demulcent tones told Zakiya, “We are going to have great fun in our new home”. Zakiya brought her face to her Momma’s and cheek to cheek whispered “You know, there will be crying, but it will be alright”. With that said, she wriggled out of her mother’s arms and left us – conversation over.

Zakiya did cry. She cried and said that she did not want to go. She cried and said that she would go if Nana and Papa would go with her. She cried and said good-bye. She cried and just left. She stopped crying…eventually.

All of us will experience some type of change or transition during the course of our lives. Sometimes it will be hard…hard to tears. But if we would just go, whether we want to or not, if we would just continue on whether someone goes with us or not, if we would keep it moving, maybe we could let go of the pains and hurts and discomfort and fears and apprehensions of change, and well, overcome. Try to remember:

Be fearful for nothing, little flock, for it pleases the Father to give you the
Kingdom. – Luke 12:32

The Lord is on my side; I will not fear, what can man do unto me – Psalm 118:6

Jesus Said, I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

For we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience; hope. Romans 5:3-4

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. – 1 John 5:4

Be encouraged as I was encouraged watching patience have it’s perfect work* in Zakiya, because you know, there will be crying, but it will be alright!

Peace and Love,
Renita

*James 1:3 and 4 KJV

Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. Thisveteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.

You are invited to leave comments about Baby Love Notes-have a great day!!!

COME HOME

The best part of my day, everyday is climbing the stairs to the entrance of our home, turning the doorknob and pushing the door open. Zakiya, Zeruiah and Zeneta all shout "Nana"! They come running from wherever they are, and throw themselves at me. It does not matter what I may be carrying, it does not matter what mood I am in, It does not matter what physical state I am in, they fling themselves at me and hold on to me giggling. They usually ask to carry my purse or briefcase, (the baby dragging a plastic bag of my shoes behind her) as they accompany me to my bedroom. "Let me take your coat, Nana". "Sit down, Nana, I can pull your boots off". "Here, Nana, here is your bottle of water" "Nana, let me give you a kiss"..... These little darlings and I are excited to see each other.

Coming home brings me to them. I open a door and walk into love. And they bring me comfort. They attend to me with joy. And all I did was come home. Come home...Come. Jesus bids us "Come" many times in the New Testament. He says come and He will make us fishers of men, He says let the children come for of such is the Kingdom of God, He said if any man thirst, come.
Finally for all of us that labour and are heavy laden, Jesus says to come, and he will give us rest.

My friend Larniece shared this:
C - Christ
O - Offers
M - Me
E - Everything

I pray that at the end of your day you will come home to HIM for I am sure you will find an excited love, that carries your burdens, comforts and refreshes.

Peace and Love,

Renita Shadwick

Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. Thisveteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.

You are invited to leave comments about Baby Love Notes-have a great day!!!

PAPA

by Renita F. Shadwick

...You have set your gloryabove the heavens.2 From the lips of children and infantsyou have ordained praise [fn2]because of your enemies,to silence the foe and the avenger.
Psalm 8:1, 2

"Papa" By the time Zakiya was 9 months old, she had a full fledged love affair going on with her paternal grandfather. She would say "Papa" over and over and over. Zakiya would climb up onto his lap and holding his bearded face in her pudgy little hands, she would stroke his whiskers until they both broke out in peals of laughter.When he would repose in his big chair, she would squeeze herself behind him and simply rub his head, sometimes to his distraction. She could often be found on the floor, either between his legs, where she would try to walk, holding on to each limb like a railing, or sitting at his feet, rubbing his toes, or sitting on his feat, resting herself against his legs. She would pat his back. She would rub his chest. She would plant big wet baby kisses all over his face and hands. She would follow him everywhere in the house, reaching up to gain purchase of hand or shirt tail or trouser leg. She would bust into our bedroom in the morning with a big snaggle tooth grin and climb onto Papa.

In the evening, her parents would usually find her curled up in Papa's arms, and from his arms they would put her to bed. With great amusement I watched this baby behave like this with my husband.

Jerome's heart would swell with joy everytime that little tyke came his way. He said "I'll never be able to deny her anything, she loves me so sweetly."

A few days after Jerome made this statement, Zakiya taught me about loving without condition. My daughter-in-law was sitting on the couch in our living room holding an almost asleep Zakiya, who was noisily sucking on a her bottle. The front door of our home announced Jerome's return from work. Zakiya sat up. As his footsteps introduced his entry into the hallway, Zakiya squealed "Papa", and dropping her bottle, squirmed out of her mother's arms and went straightway to meet him. As he entered the room, Zakiya flung herself at his legs.

"Hold on now baby", Jerome said, "Let Papa sit his case down"."Papa!""Can I take off my shoes, little girl?""Papa!""Just let me go to the bathroom, my baby.""Papa!"

Zakiya would not stop calling him or following him until he stopped and gave all of his attention to her. Just her. Him and her. In that moment, love would abound.I pray that you develop such a desire for God, for the things of God, for the smell of God, for the Word of God, for the person of God, for the presence of God, that you would move with all abandon to get to Him.I pray that when you have your meeting with God, that you would fill the time just loving Him. Holding His beard, kissing His face, sitting at His feet.

I pray that just like Zakiya, you would chase him, calling on that Great Name, making your desire for him so personal, so intimate, so desperate, regardless of who may be holding you, regardless of what you may be consuming, in spite of what ever level of comfort you may have,I pray that you would chase Him hard. Until He would turn to you - in the middle of holding this world together, turn to you - as he processes the prayers of the Saints, turn to you, set aside time for you, catch you up in His arms, just you.

You and Him.... Papa!

LOVE SCRIPTURE:

1 O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!You have set your gloryabove the heavens.2 From the lips of children and infantsyou have ordained praise [fn2]because of your enemies,to silence the foe and the avenger.3 When I consider your heavens,the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars,which you have set in place,4 what is man that you are mindful of him,the son of man that you care for him?5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [fn3]and crowned him with glory and honor.6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;you put everything under his feet:7 all flocks and herds,and the beasts of the field,8 the birds of the air,and the fish of the sea,all that swim the paths of the seas.9 O Lord, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!Psalm 8 (NIV)

Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. Thisveteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.

You are invited to leave comments about Baby Love Notes-have a great day!!!

All rights reserved. No part of these writings may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written consent of the Publisher.

BABY LOVE NOTES~ PAPA by Renita F. Shadwick

...You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise [fn2]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

Psalm 8:1, 2

"Papa"

By the time Zakiya was 9 months old, she had a full fledged love affair going on with her paternal grandfather. She would say "Papa" over and over and over. Zakiya would climb up onto his lap and holding his bearded face in her pudgy little hands, she would stroke his whiskers until they both broke out in peals of laughter.

When he would repose in his big chair, she would squeeze herself behind him and simply rub his head, sometimes to his distraction. She could often be found on the floor, either between his legs, where she would try to walk, holding on to each limb like a railing, or sitting at his feet, rubbing his toes, or sitting on his feat, resting herself against his legs. She would pat his back. She would rub his chest. She would plant big wet baby kisses all over his face and hands. She would follow him everywhere in the house, reaching up to gain purchase of hand or shirt tail or trouser leg. She would bust into our bedroom in the morning with a big snaggle tooth grin and climb onto Papa.

In the evening, her parents would usually find her curled up in Papa's arms, and from his arms they would put her to bed. With great amusement I watched this baby behave like this with my husband.

Jerome's heart would swell with joy everytime that little tyke came his way. He said "I'll never be able to deny her anything, she loves me so sweetly".

A few days after Jerome made this statement, Zakiya taught me about loving without condition. My daughter-in-law was sitting on the couch in our living room holding an almost asleep Zakiya, who was noisily sucking on a her bottle. The front door of our home announced Jerome's return from work. Zakiya sat up. As his footsteps introduced his entry into the hallway, Zakiya squealed "Papa", and dropping her bottle, squirmed out of her mother's arms and went straightway to meet him. As he entered the room, Zakiya flung herself at his legs.

"Hold on now baby", Jerome said, "Let Papa sit his case down".
"Papa!"
"Can I take off my shoes, little girl?"
"Papa!"
"Just let me go to the bathroom, my baby."
"Papa!"

Zakiya would not stop calling him or following him until he stopped and gave all of his attention to her. Just her. Him and her. In that moment, love would abound.

I pray that you develop such a desire for God, for the things of God, for the smell of God, for the Word of God, for the person of God, for the presence of God, that you would move with all abandon to get to Him.

I pray that when you have your meeting with God, that you would fill the time just loving Him. Holding His beard, kissing His face, sitting at His feet.

I pray that just like Zakiya, you would chase him, calling on that Great Name, making your desire for him so personal, so intimate, so desperate, regardless of who may be holding you, regardless of what you may be consuming, in spite of what ever level of comfort you may have,

I pray that you would chase Him hard. Until He would turn to you - in the middle of holding this world together, turn to you - as he processes the prayers of the Saints, turn to you, set aside time for you, catch you up in His arms, just you.

You and Him.... Papa!

LOVE SCRIPTURE:
1 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise [fn2]
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings [fn3]
and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8 (NIV)

Writer, Renita F. Shadwick, is Community Builder @ United Way of Buffalo, New York. This
veteran actress of Paul Robeson Theatre is also an anointed licensed Children's Pastor of Elim Christian Church of Buffalo, NY. She is currently working on series of children’s books-teaching children how to walk out the word of God in sneakers. She is married to her soul mate of 25 years, Jerome Shadwick, Sr. and is the proud mother of four sons, three grandsons and four grand daughters which are the inspiration of these writings.

You are invited to leave comments about Baby Love Notes-have a great day!!!

All rights reserved. No part of these writings may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written consent of the Publisher.

INSPIRATIONAL LOVE

Inspirational Love

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This is truly an amazing quote to me that I’ve just stumbled upon; it was just a moment ago and there it was as I was scanning my email! We know that that was God’s doing? I am trying to locate just the right baby photo that conveys love! Honestly, I don’t believe there is just one photo, but a collection of photos. Each baby photo I’ve selected reminded me of scripture- God’s strength, God’s loving kindness, God’s faithfulness, God’s tenderness, God’s endearing affection towards us, Embracing the milk of His word, Meekness, God’s Hope and Promise and on and on!

Somehow the photos connected me with scriptures regarding love, strength and mercy. Friends I am sure that you must have your treasure trove of inspirational love scriptures which inspire and motivate you to love yourselves and others better! Here are just a few scriptures that I grown to appreciate more and more. Go on and wet your spiritual taste buds-enjoy:

John 14:21
Ephesians 2:4-6
I John 4:12
Matthew 5:44-45
Colossians 3:12-14
I Colossians 13:4-8
Romans 8:38-39
I John 4:7
John 14:23
I John 4:18
Jeremiah 31:3
Psalm 146:8-9

Do you agree that the best lessons of love that we give to each other are memorable/soothing thoughts that can’t escape us? And the kind expressions and let us not forget the very acts of love-demonstrations of love which carry us, comfort us and warm our hearts. During these lean days we as believers must grab hold of loving scriptures like Charley Brown’s Linus held on to his security blanket.

I remember visiting the Executive Director’s office of a huge human services organization on many occasions, I can’t tell you much about the many meetings to discuss client concerns, but what I most enjoyed about stepping into Mr. Johnson’s office was the art work he had acquired from a country in Africa. No, this art work wasn’t your typical palate of color and movement; it simply had a bird on a limb and with the words inscribed: Love Is an Action Word! Of all the pieces that hung throughout his office, the bird piece always seemed to grab me! I concur today, talk and sing all you wish about love, but if love seldom comes to take a seat in our lives-it’s a very bleak existence.

That brings me to this news.

My dear sister and friend Renita Shadwick is quite poignant in sharing how her loving granddaughters demonstrate God’s love for us. Renita and her family have done a remarkable job instilling the love of Jesus in those babies. I receive wonderfully written exposes’ about Zakiya and her siblings and have received Renita’s permission to share them with you. I wish to feature and entitle on my blog: The Blessedness of Believing several uplifting and inspiring family stories written by Renita as Baby Love Stories! I pray she’ll soon publish her writings which always, always hit me smack dab in my heart and causes me to never forget how special God’s love is towards us.

The lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yes, I have loved thee with an everlasting love;
therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3

Joyfully Submitted by:
Linda Mose Meadows, author
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lesson’s and God’s Promises

Enjoy other writings Click on Blessed Chronicles http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/