Bonsoir Tout Le Monde

Hi everyone,

Gosh it has been ages. This won't be long but I just managed to wriggle my way on this computer that has lots of sites blocked including blogspot. Somehow I stumbled upon it in some foreign language (Italian I guess), and it opened. Anyway, I am now half way across the world in Congo DRC. Google it and see. It has been an exciting 2 weeks so far and I'm sure I'll have plenty to share with you readers soon.

Ciao and stay blessed.
LJ

Worship is the answer

Wow, I've just been blessed by one of my sisters-in-law who greatly uplifted my spirits and shared an awesome testimony. Here's something she said ... a lovely insight...

I CAN BOLDLY DECLARE THAT PRAYER, PRAISE, WORSHIP ... WORSHIP ... WORSHIP IS THE ANSWER. WORSHIP QUIETS OUR SOUL, AND EMPOWERS US TO SEE THE BEAUTY INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE BEAST.

A big amen to that & you all have a wonderful week!

A Real Woman

I once wrote an essay titled "A Real Woman" for a Child & Adult Development class. In it I mentioned the differences between the sexes ... my personal perspective on an age-old subject. Of course some of you, men & women, Christian or not, might see it differently. Here is a quote from that essay:

" 'So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. ²¹ So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. ²² Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

²³ The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman,'
for she was taken out of man."

²⁴ For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh' [Genesis 2v20-24].

God created the first male on the sixth day of His creation. Then on the seventh day He rested. I believe it was sometime after this that God carved out the first woman from the rib of that first man. Therefore man came first. Nevertheless God created man [male and female] in His own image, so men and women came from the same prototype – God Himself. God’s intention was to provide “woman” as a suitable helper to “man”, thus uniting them into one entity [Genesis 1v26-27; 2v20-24]."

Recently, at a women's conference at my church I heard it like this: Women do not need a man. We don't need a man to complete us. From that rib we were made ... a complete person, and therefore we can function alright all by ourselves. On the contrary, men have a missing rib. Thus, they need a woman to fill the gap. They need a woman to complete them. However, even though we, women, are complete, we were created for the primary purpose of being a helper to our men, specifically our husbands. The theme & title of the 3-day conference was Desperate Women [i.e. desperate for Jesus].

I encourage all you beautiful ladies out there to grow your self esteem and confidence because you are good all by yourself! Whether married, single, separated or otherwise, you are good all by your self. What you need is not a man to validate you [you ain't desperate like that], but for God to complete you [be desperate for God]. I believe that most men would prefer confident complete women to bless their lives. Again, this is just my personal take. Feel free to share your views and comments, and have a glorious weekend!

Dear Readers,

I am moved to share this with you. Although it mentions women, it truly applies to men also. Be blessed as you read it, and remember to pass on a blessing to others.

To all the "sisters" who I have known for a very long time and those who have only recently come into my life:

THIS SAYS IT ALL:


Time Passes ...


Life happens ...


Distance separates ...


Children grow up ...


Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're suppose to do ...



Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end ...


BUT Sisters are there,
no matter how much time & how many miles are between you.
A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach ...



When you have to walk that lonesome valley & you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end ...



Sometimes they will even break the rules and walk beside you, or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters ...


Daughter-in-laws, sisters, sister-in-laws, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!


The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.







You are all very special to me!

No Voice

How dare they?
Walked in and handcuffed me
Refused to listen to my pleas
Guilty until proven innocent!

How dare they?
Is the law for us or against us?
Tears on the face of loved ones.
Heads shaking, others looked on

How dare they?
Bound by men just like me.
And where was God?
Because I did nothing wrong.

How dare they?
Etched an image in my memory forever.
Distrust of men in uniform
Black, white, all alike.

How dare they?
Harvard professor & Sean Bell
Rodney King,
Now me

How dare they?
Caused me to anger and cry
Let me go without a word
Not an apology was heard

How dare they?
Showed me the ugly side of life.
I also am a man in uniform
But for a moment I was a man scorned.


A few weeks ago, this scenario played out in my life and I was deeply affected. Although the thoughts are mine, the handcuffed hands were not ... but I sat there and watched it all. Sad, alone, two hundred and sixty miles away from home. When it was all over, it felt like a strange dream. The experience taught me so much - God is an awesome deliverer!