Monday, September 27, 2010

My Defining Moment

In 2003 my husband and I were pregnant with our fourth child.  We started taking steps to prepare for our new arrival.  We purchased a larger house, started space planning and preparing a nursery.  I was feeling great.  I was comfortable and knew what to expect, due to the fact that I had done this three times before.

My husband and I decided, just as we had done the first three times, that we did not want the sex of the baby revealed prior to birth - but if i am honest, i was praying for a boy - God had already blessed us with three beautiful girls.  In my 8th month of pregnancy I went to my normal pre-natal check up and the doctor looked troubled after performing an ultrasound exam.  I was told to report to the Imaging department for further ultrasound.  After that exam, the doctor, who was not my normal OB/GYN, informed me that my unborn child had no heart beat.........It was if all of the breath went out of my lungs.  I was completely numb.  I went to my car and wept.  I called my husband who met me at the hospital and we entered the Labor and Delivery department hand in hand....this is where the journey began....

So, I was admitted.  The Dr. performed another ultra sound to verify the previous findings.  He then inserted some medicine designed to soften the cervix in an attempt to induce labor.  I went home for a period of five days.  It was a rough five days.....knowing that the child I was carrying, the one we made so many plans for, was dead.  Those five days is when my faith began to increase.  The scripture that we often learn as children and recite in church: His strength is made perfect in my weakness, finally had real, tangible meaning for me.  I was completely weak, no strength....

My OB/GYN called me, expressed his condolences and scheduled a surgery date for a C-section.  Little did I know, that he cut his vacation short and immediately returned to perform the surgery.  Even in the midst of an awful trial God always shows Himself strong...His grace and mercy came shinning through.  It is amazing, God's grace.  In a hospital people come in and out of your room constantly.  It was no different for me, however, every person that came in and had contact with me gave me a word of encouragement.  They all happened to be Christians. I can still remember the last words I heard before the anesthesia kicked in - my doctor said to me: "You are a tough one.  Remember this is all just a test of your faith".  I cannot tell you in the split second the relief and release that came over me.  I was never confused about the fact that God was in control in that operating room.  But in that split second, with those words my doctor said to me, I knew that he knew that God was in control too.

After the surgery my husband and I began to plan the funeral for our son.  It may sound strange, but I wasn't even thinking along those lines until one of my post-op nurses asked if I needed any help or resources for burial.  For whatever reason, the thought of a funeral never crossed my mind - until the wheeled me into the room to see our son.  I was 8 months (close to 9 months) pregnant when he was delivered- almost full term.  When I entered the room, I found my husband talking to the baby.  He was telling him how much he loved him.  He named him.  Anthony (my husband's first name),  William (my dad's first name) Myers.  He was beautiful and looked so much like our youngest daughter.

The funeral was an amazing worship service at the Cemetery Chapel.  We are blessed with so many wonderful friends and family who were all there to love and support us.  My pastor delivered the most comforting, encouraging and reassuring eulogy.  There were others in the congregation that day that had lost children, weather by still birth, late in pregnancy or early on in the pregnancy.  They expressed their gratitude to the pastor, saying that God's words, through him gave them long overdue peace about their loss.

After the funeral, and in the weeks to come, I because depressed and weary.  I knew in my heart that God always knows what is best for me.  I knew that He would never leave me or forsake me.  I knew that He would comfort me, and yet I was in distress.  That distress began to manifest itself in the form of panic attacks.  I thought that I was having a heart attack or stroke.  An ambulance ride to the hospital and several follow up appointments later the doctor referred me to a psychiatrist for a psych consult.  That was it! I went home, and knowing that this was a spiritual issue, prayed and simply asked the Lord for guidance and directions.  He led me to a book called: Battlefield of the Mind,  by Joyce Meyers.  Now I am not necessarily a Joyce Meyers fan.  I had never read anything published by her, nor did I follow her ministry, but the Lord spoke to me through this book.  This was my breakthrough point.  This was it!  I skipped the psych consult (I am not condoning going against your doctors recommendations, but I made a decision to yield to the Holy Spirit)  and my journey to recovery began.  Praying, filling my mind with the word of God, speaking the word of God over my own life, all the time realizing that it was HE who was working in me to complete the work He had begun.

If you don't take anything else away from this testimony, take this:  If I had not been praying, if I did not know the word of God and could not recall the scriptures I would not have made it!  You must fill your life, with the word of God. Pray and study, because if you don't you will NOT be able to stand under the weight of life and the tragedy it sometimes brings.

God has revealed to me so many things during this trial and they are too numerous to list in this post.  I will share them though, as the Lord leads me, in future posts on this blog.  I was devastated by the loss of my son, but I also know that there is no way in the world that my relationship with Christ could ever be this close if I had not lost him.  Some may say that it was too high a price, almost cruel of God .  I say that it was necessary, remembering that everything that happens in our lives is for His glory.  This testimony has brought people to Christ, has saved souls and if that is a result of my trial, then it was worth the pain.  I know that I will see my son again.  Knowing that for the Christian death is synonymous with life.  God was glorified and I still get to live eternally with him and with all of my loved ones that are now resting with the Lord.

I will leave you with James 1:2-6
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Study the word and stay prayed up so that you might be able, through the Lord's strength, to stand....
Let's continue to Get it in................

Monday, September 20, 2010

Message for Youth Ministry Workers & Leaders

There is a documentary on the horizon called "Waiting for Superman".  It is a personal, hard look at the state of public education in the United States and how it is affecting our children.  The synopsis of the documentary is found on the movie's website and includes this statement:  "When disaster strikes in America, heroes rush in.  We've seen it time and again:  when all seems lost, real-life supermen (and women) step up to save the day.  But what if right now there is a hidden catastrophe spreading quietly, insidiously through our nation's cities, towns and communities - and yet we have the power to stop it?  What if our children and their futures were in peril? Who will become a hero now"?   The experts assert that the break down in the education system lies not solely, but primarily, in the hands of the teachers.

Teachers, are those who are charged with imparting information and knowledge. There is an expectation that the information that is being taught is not only accurate, but is presented in such a way that the student would not only learn the information but understand and retain it.  If the student retains and applies the information it would be reasonable to conclude that they have learned.

Michelle Rhee is the Chancellor of the D.C. Public Schools.  Since coming into office,  she has aggressively sought to reform a school system whose students historically produced below-average test scores. She is known for a tough, ruthless approach, seeking to purge public schools of teachers and principals who were, in her opinion, incompetent.  


I put great value on education.  My husband and I have raised our children to value and seek higher education.  College was never a question for our children.  After 12th grade comes a four year University.  We have one in college, a senior in High School and a freshman in High School. We set out to foster in our children, an appreciation for the privilege of being educated.   I, like many other parents applaud Michelle Rhee's efforts to reform the Public School System by ridding it of unmotivated, unproductive and unknowledgeable teachers.  But there is something that I value more than that of a formal academic education and that is a Biblical knowledge and understanding.  While I believe that knowledge is power.  I also believe that-that power is powerless if you are not educated on the power of God.


The Bible says this of teachers in James 3:1 - Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.  Clearly he is addressing teachers of the word of God.  But I believe that this shows the importance of the position and responsibility of teaching.  Youth Ministry workers.  All of us who teach young people the Word of God.  It is our duty, our responsibility, our honor and our privilege to impart the knowledge of the word of God to them.  We must be knowledgeable of the subject matter (THE BIBLE) and make the word of God our prime focus.  It cannot be secondary, or a back drop, or an aside to other "activities".  If you are going to lead a missionary project then teach.  Why are we doing the project? What does the Bible say about missionary work? What IS a missionary?  If you are going to out to feed the homeless we have to teach the youth that we cannot just offer physical food.  The Bible says that man cannot live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.  TEACH IT!  Impart the knowledge of the word so that when the youth go out to share physical food they can share spiritual food as well.  They cannot share what we do not teach them and we cannot teach them what we have not taken the time to study and learn ourselves.  I would be outraged if my child's English teacher did not know anything about subject verb agreement.  I would be equally outraged if my child's Sunday School Teacher or Youth Worker couldn't answer questions about salvation, loss, the will of God, God's plan for our lives, the sovereignty of God, the Trinity, etc.  These are basic Biblical principles that we should know.  They should be written on our hearts and we should be able to teach them with great enthusiasm to our youth.  I am in no way suggesting that Youth Workers should know everything.  We are ALL learning and growing in Christ.  But we should know basic Biblical principles.  And if we don't, we should make it our top priority to learn it and spend some time in prayer for understanding.  Our Youth Ministry Programs can no longer be filled with activities, talent shows and car washes.  We must engage our youth in a REAL conversation about God that stresses relationship with Him.


Youth Workers.  Challenge yourselves to create, promote  and sustain viable Bible centered Youth Programs.  Judges 2:10-11 says, “After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel.  Then the Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and worshiped the images of Baal”  This is what will absolutely happen if we do not put the teaching of the Gospel above all else.  


Just as the documentary "Waiting for Superman" holds teachers primarily responsible for our failing Public School system, I believe that teachers of youth in our Churches hold a large responsibility for this generation of youth that do not really know God.   For the Christian, our Superman has come.  He has walked among us, healed, taught the masses, made personal connections, delivered, liberated, hung, bled, died and rose again.  Jesus is our Superman.


Teachers.....time to GET IT IN...................

Get In Shape - 1 Timothy 4:7-10

Young people,

Following God is a life style.  It takes work and you have to devote time to Him.  Let's think about our day and what we spend time doing.  If we are honest, we would realize that we spend the majority of our downtime (from work and school) on Facebook, Twitter, AIM, Oovoo, etc.  We spend the rest of our downtime texting, playing video games and watching TV.  There is noting wrong with engaging in these activities, however, just as we carve out time to spend on these things, we must carve out time to study the word of God and pray for understanding.

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10This is why we work hard and continue to struggle,[a] for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

Training to be godly simply means that you must apply discipline and train yourself to be like Christ.
A good place to start your journey in the Bible is with the Gospels.  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  These books will allow you to get to know Jesus.  You will learn of his characteristics, how He interacted with people, His nature.  After you discover the ways of Jesus, pattern your actions, your speech, your behavior and your very life after His.  You will not be able to do this on your own.  Pray and ask the Lord to help you.

*Challenge yourself to incorporate some new spiritual habits into your lifestyle.

*Stay in the word of God. Set aside some time each day to study the word.  Remember that everything you need - every answer to every question is in the word of God.  It is the power unto salvation.  It is living and active.  It is a light unto your feet and a lamp unto your pathway.  In other words, when you don't know what to do or where to go, the word will illuminate or light things up" and make a clear path to understanding what to do.

You can do it young people........

Read the word
Pray
Put the word into action
Line up the choices you make with the word of God
Line up your actions with the word of God

GET IT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Sunday, September 19, 2010

The day Jesus truly changed my heart.....

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt. 7:7-8

I grew up in the small, affluent, conservative and predominantly White town of Monterey, California.  My parents, being the wonderfully loving people that they were place me in a Private Elementary School.  I learned at an early age that I was different.  I didn't "feel" as if I was any different than the other kids.  I lived in a house, my parents drove me to school and picked me up, they participated with me in school activities.  My parents were articulate, both held Masters Degrees in Education.  My dad was a teacher and Vice-Principal and my mother was a college professor.  They worked everyday.  I thought I was the same as any other kid.  But I soon learned that although I felt as if I was the same, the kids around me not only thought I was different, but made it a point to tell me that I was different each and everyday.  What was the difference?  I'm glad you asked....The difference was I was Black.


As time went on, and I was in the 6th-7th grade these same people advised me that although I was Black, I was not a typical Black person.  I was well spoken and well behaved, I was a "different kind of Black person", however that did not deter them from calling me "Nigger".   That is where the seed of hatred started...............As I entered High School, and changed schools, many of my classmates remained the same.  My heart began to harden and I found school difficult, socially.  I found my niche in the music and drama departments and this allowed me to open up a little.  One day, in drama class, the drama instructor decided to do and exercise that included role reversal.  My partner was a White male.  He had to play a Black male and I had to play a White female.  It was interesting because I played my role, not dissimilar to my personality and how I would normally talk or act.  But my partner played his role as a criminal gang banger and proceeded to go into a monologue that included a line that I will never forget:  "I'm a Nigga, don't you know I will kill you"?  I wasn't shocked or surprised.  I was furious.  I kept quiet, finished the class and walked away........The hatred was festering........by the time I graduated my heart was completely hardened and I knew that if I did not get a hold of my anger it would lead to a dark place.  I was in Sunday School (as I was every Sunday) and the lesson was on Love.  I had already accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior but I still had hatred in my heart.  The lesson that day taught me that God created us all in His image and that we are to love one another with no condition.  Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, made no difference.  I learned that God wants us to be unified, that Jesus died once for ALL of us.  It was at that time that I knew that the hatred I was feeling toward White people was wrong and that I had to make a change.  I had to admit that I was using the same stereotypical characteristics that some of my classmates used to  judge me.  For weeks after I had this revelation the hatred had not moved from my heart, in fact it worsened.  It was then that I realized that I could not get rid of this hatred on my own or by my own power.  I had to ask God to take away the feeling of hatred.  I had to ask Jesus to occupy my heart so that the evil spirit of hatred could not abide there.  Upon asking the Lord to do this, the feelings of hatred began to be removed.  I learned to meet people where they are. If they hated or disliked me because of the color of my skin I learned to pray for their hearts to change but I no longer blamed or hated them for expressing racist feelings.  I began to pray the prayer that Jesus made while hanging on the cross to die for the sins of the world.  He said: "Father forgive them for they know not what they do".  I am so thankful that those feelings are gone and that they are gone at the loving hand of God.  When I asked Him to come in and change my heart, He did it.....


Young people, stop being angry, stop being mad at the world, your teachers, parents and siblings and embrace LOVE. Stop being bitter about your situation.  Whatever it is that you need to change ask and it shall be given unto you.  If you feel as if you just cannot forgive a family member or friend, or if you have a certain prejudice against a certain group people, or you dislike someone because of something that they have done to you - ask God to remove it.   It is not about asking for material things (house, car, etc) it is about asking for those things that are truly in the will of God.  Certainly it was in His will that I love everyone as my brothers and sisters and so when I asked, He granted it unto me and He will do the same thing for you......

Saturday, September 18, 2010

The Day I accepted Christ as my personal savior.

I can still remember the day that I made a conscious choice to accept Jesus as my savior.  I was 13 years old.  I was sitting in the pew right next to my dad, as I had done ever since I can remember, and something compelled me to get up, walk down the isle toward the front of the church and tell everyone including God that I accept the truth that Jesus is the son of God, He died on the cross for my sin and that he rose from the dead with all power, leaving with us the Holy Spirit to guide us.  I knew that I loved Jesus.  From a young age I have always felt the presence and love of God. The adults who loved me, including my parents kept hinting that I was reaching an age of responsibility and that I should make the choice to publicly confess my acceptance of Jesus Christ.  And although I believed in God, I had no clue what any of that meant.  I joined the church that day because that is what I was raised to do.  I grew up in the Baptist Church so shortly after I accepted Christ, I was Baptized.  I can still remember the freezing cold water as the Pastor dipped me down under the water and very eloquently taught on the symbolism of what had just occurred.  I still had no clue.  I understood what was being taught with my head, intellectually,  but there was still no REAL connection with my heart, nor an understanding of how to apply this supposed life changing event to my everyday life.  
I would venture to say that many of you have had a similar experience.  You have accepted Christ (at least publicly)  but still feel disconnected.  But you continue to come to church and participate in Youth activities at Church because your parents insist that you do.  Please note that your parents are showing you the greatest show of love by keep you in a Christian atmosphere.  The problem is that often time we as parents introduce you the Church but don't really introduce you to Jesus.  There is a distinct difference.  Because of this, I went to church, sunday school and Bible study faithfully while still living the same way.  The most important change had not yet taken place. The change that needed to take place for me to truly be saved and to be a Christian had to take place in my heart.
My prayer for you today is that you ask Jesus to change your heart.  Ask Him to change how you feel about others.  If you have any anger, hatred or malice toward others (regardless of what they did to you), ask Jesus to remove it and help you to love them as He loves you.  If you are mean spirited towards others at school because you are popular and the other group of kids are not.  Ask Jesus to change your way of thinking.  Ask Him to change your heart.  
I will share with you in another post the defining moment of my heart change.  I had a lot of anger and hatred in my heart and I literally can look back now and see how God systematically melted all of that hatred away.  He could have done it at any time.  But He did not do it until I asked Him to........

Welcome to the Living Room

I was inspired to start this blog to address the needs of Youth as it relates to their relationships with God.  Our churches are filled with young people who have no clue who God is or what it means to be a follower of Christ.  When I was  young my parents took me to Church, Sunday School and Bible Study and it just became part of my normal routine.  But one day there came a time when I had to decide for myself if I was going to live the life that I had been hearing and learning about.  Did I believe what was being preached and taught every Sunday?  Did I buy this whole notion of following someone that I could not see with blind faith, doing what He told me to do just because the preacher and youth ministry workers told me that I should?  Even though I knew in my heart that God loved me, I just didn't understand what living for Christ really meant. So I did what most people do when they aren't sure.  I took a closer look by actually reading the Bible and investigating this whole Christian life for myself.  I was going to decide for myself if I actually believed what it said. The Bible is HUGE and I didn't know where to start, so I asked my Pastor at the time and he advised me to start with the Gospels.  "Start with the story of Jesus", he said. "Get to know Him, study his character.  Study how He interacts with people, how He thinks and how He conducts Himself and then pattern your life after His".  I took his advice to heart and did just that.  Once I got to know Jesus by studying Him, I fell in love and was utterly and completely impressed by Him.  My prayer for you, young people, is that you become impressed by Jesus.  When you start studying and learning about Him you will fall in love with Him too and then your real journey with God will begin.  Not because your parents told you to believe but because you actually DO believe.


Youth Ministry workers it is time to step up your game and teach young people the word of God. You cannot teach what you do not know.  This is why we have so many youth ministry programs in churches across the country that are ineffective and produce generation after generation of young people who do not have a true personal relationship with God.  Gone are the days of ordering pizza or serving cookies and punch and shoving kids into a room to color.  Young people today are having all kinds of sex starting at 12years old.  They watch their friends die at the hands of other young people in gang violence. They witness domestic violence in their homes and are oftentimes in violent relationships themselves.  Our young women are dressing provocatively because they feel that they will attract young men and our young men value money and possessions over the content of their character.  We MUST teach them sound Biblical principles and teach them how to relate those principles to their everyday lives.

Young people, let's develop a relationship with God and seek His will for us through prayer. And let's live the way He created us to live.  You will only find out how He wants us to live by studying His word.  I encourage you to visit this blog when you can and let's Get the Word in together!

MM