Advent 2023 Stop Holding Your Breath and Inhale the Holy Spirit — Week FOUR

 Blessing Through Scandal

Teenage pregnancy; divorce; lying politicians; murder of innocent bystanders; escape to safety. Long ago a young girl didn’t think twice about saying yes to life. Long ago, divorce was waved around like it was the solution. Long ago, politicians plotted and schemed against people and innocence was murdered. And into this a child is born offering us a way to safety. These ancient situations are new, calling on the Elizabeths of today to rejoice in the presence of our LORD. These ancient new situations call on the Marys of today to sing a song of Thanks-Living showing others the blessing in the mess. As Advent comes to an end, we are asked to be people of courage, not afraid to say yes to God no matter the adversity, understanding that blessings are THROUGH the scandal. Rejoice! for God is moving us out of the darkness to dwell in the LIGHT.

Peacefulness

Advent 2023 Stop Holding Your Breath and Inhale the Holy Spirit — Week THREE

 “Go Tell It On the Mountain”

As I was reading the gospel this week, I wondered why Jesus told John’s disciple to tell what they had seen and heard instead of just answering the question. It seems so simple a question. But then I realized that sometimes the answer to a simple question is not enough. To report on what one sees and hears is to speak from experience. It is the experiences of others that we value more than answers. As women, we long to hear the stories of other women’s experiences in the hope that their story will shed light on our own circumstance.  I can better understand what Jesus asks of me when another recounts  a story of what Jesus has done for them. I can feel it; see it. It is more complete. Women of God, we are the first teachers of faith for our children. They depend on us to speak about who Jesus is and what Jesus does. Let us go to the mountains of our lives and tell what we have seen and heard. People are counting on us. 

Peacefulness

Advent 2023 Stop Holding Your Breath and Inhale the Holy Spirit — Week TWO

 

Repentance for freedom 

Oh Freedom. As Americans, we often connect freedom to our country and to our rights.  Freedom is not usually seen from the standpoint of flesh. Yet it is the flesh that holds us prisoner.  It is the flesh that seeks sin and is at war with the spirit. It is the flesh, in the form of Christ's sacrifice on the cross that gave us salvation.  The Black woman, seeking to be set free, knows that freedom, true freedom, comes from the Divine within her being. With the Divine within, the Black woman is set free. In setting herself free, the Black Woman sets everyone free. That freedom comes from aligning oneself with the Holy Spirit.  John the Baptist calls us to move beyond lip sync repentance toward repentance of heart where true freedom lies. It is being set free from our sins that we learn how to deal with the injustices, imbalances and losses in life.  Take time this week to repent and enjoy the freedom of the Holy Spirit.

Peacefulness

Advent 2023 Stop Holding Your Breath and Inhale the Holy Spirit — Week ONE

Beginning Again

 
When I think of Advent, I rush ahead to the Nativity stories in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The Nativity is refreshing in that we are reminded that we get to begin again. Born anew is the opportunity to say yes to God’s will. The stories of Christ’s beginnings are less about God and more about us and our acceptance of God into our lives. When we hear about Gabriel coming to Zechariah and Mary, we imagine Gabriel coming to us telling us that our prayer has been answered or asking us to allow God to grow within us. Will you question the answer to your prayer or will you say yes?

Though the sacred act of bringing life into the world is through women, Advent gives everyone  the opportunity to bring life into the world, by preparing ourselves for Christ’s Birth in our hearts. Little by little, as each candle is lit, we learn again how to let Christ’s Light shine within us. Rush ahead with me to the Nativity Stories. Read the first few chapters of Matthew and Luke and allow God’s Star to lead you to Christ. Let the chorus of angels proclaim Christ’s birth, not in some far off place of yesterday, but right here and now, in YOU.

Peacefulness

There Is Nothing

 I am listening to Cicely Tyson's book, Just As I Am, and in chapter 10 she recounts a conversation she had with Ruby Dee about acting and not knowing how to act. Cicely quotes Ruby as saying, "If you are Black and living in this world there is nothing you can't do."

I had to pause the recording. That sentence had me thinking for the next 20 or so minutes about the ways in which I have said "I can't!" and meant it. That sentence reminded me of all the ways Black people have moved beyond "can't do," smashing records and breaking down doors. That sentence blasted my brain with images of the ways in which Black people have changed our way of life with inventions and breakthroughs.

There is nothing a Black person can't do. We are people to be reckoned with.