¹In 1917, William Tyler Page of Maryland won a nationwide contest for “the best summary of American political faith.” The U.S. House of Representatives accepted the statement as the American’s Creed on April 3, 1918. Its two paragraphs remind us that responsibilities are the source of rights. It deserves to be read and recited. Today very few people have even heard of it.
I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.
¹Bennett, William. The Book of Virtues. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993. Print.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. ~Roman 12:15-16
Today, Lord, give me the ability to push my troubles temporarily aside. As you give me the comforting words to say to a friend in distress. Lord, I also ask that you give me the words to pray for the homeless everywhere.
Lord it is easy to take your blessings for granted when personal wants are fulfilled. It’s easy to forget about those that are sincerely in need as long as personal needs are being met.
Heavenly Father, this morning I’m praying that you touch the hearts of those that are blessed with a roof over their heads, food in their stomachs, clothes on their backs and shoes on their feet with a spirit of thanksgiving. Lord, help them to see, myself included, how blessed we truly are despite of unachieved goals. Help us to become steadfast in giving to the less fortunate with cheerful hearts.
Lord watch over the homeless. Give them their next meal without question or delay.
Picture of the Week: Was featured on Interracial Dating with the below words:
When Keshia Thomas was 18 years old in 1996, the KKK held a rally in her home town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hundreds of protesters turned out to tell the white supremacist organization that they were not welcome in the progressive college town. At one point during the event, a man with a SS tattoo and wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a Confederate flag ended up on the protesters’ side of the fence and a small group began to chase him. He was quickly knocked to the ground and kicked and hit with placard sticks.
As people began to shout, “Kill the Nazi,” the high school student, fearing that mob mentality had taken over, decided to act. Thomas threw herself on top of one of the men she had come to protest, protecting him from the blows. In discussing her motivation after the event, she stated, “Someone had to step out of the pack and say, ‘this isn’t right’… I knew what it was like to be hurt. The many times that that happened, I wish someone would have stood up for me… violence is violence – nobody deserves to be hurt, especially not for an idea.”
Thomas never heard from the man after that day but months later, a young man came up to her to say thanks, telling her that the man she had protected was his father. For Thomas, learning that he had a son brought even greater significance to her heroic act. As she observed, “For the most part, people who hurt… they come from hurt. It is a cycle. Let’s say they had killed him or hurt him really bad. How does the son feel? Does he carry on the violence?”
Mark Brunner, the student photographer who took this now famous photograph, added that what was so remarkable was who Thomas saved: “She put herself at physical risk to protect someone who, in my opinion, would not have done the same for her. Who does that in this world?”
Keshia’s choice was to affirm what some have lost.
Keshia’s choice was human.
Keshia’s choice was hope.”
John Newton is the author of this spiritually enlightenment hymn. At the age of eleven he became a seaman and later was imprisoned. After escaping from those that held him captive he found work on a slave-trading ship. It was then God began to work on his conscience about the cruelties of slavery. And it was then when he wrote this beautiful hymn as a testament to his transformation from being a slave-ship captain to becoming a Christian.
Most often God takes our wrong to right the wrong of man’s inhumanity to man. We’re His wonderful creation with the flaw of cruelty attached to our characters. It is only by God’s amazing grace that saves us from always extending the hand of destruction to our brothers and sisters.
– Prayer –
I pray this day for God’s peace in your life. I ask God to give you His grace. For the Bible says, His grace is enough for you and His power is perfect in your weakness as His grace is new every morning. Have a wonderful day!
Amazing Grace
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less dys to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.
All week-long I have asked God to teach me how to write. Writing well is such an essential part of communicating effectively. And I wish to communicate without feeling less than.
Well-any-who-how, a couple of days ago I felt guilty, again, for spending too much time on Facebook. So, today I prayed for the Lord to help me make better use of my time. He quickly answered my prayer! But what I didn’t know is that He was going to make this a treasure trove day full of blessings.
What seemed as meaningless chores became nothing but inspirational moments.
As I pulled weeds and grass from flowerbeds God was spiritually blessing me. He was giving me answers to questions I had long forgotten. I wanted to stop my gardening chores and run in the house to grab pen and paper to write what I had learned. But something within said, “Don’t stop! Keep going! Because if you stop you will not return. Set a goal and complete that goal.”
I did everything that was shouting from within and found my hour of gardening more refreshing for my soul than the long days I have worked in my yard.
But the motivational and inspirational blessings kept coming as I entered my home and proceeded to do housework. I would venture to write the greatest blessing for today was finding a little red book. I would have never found it had I not been rearranging books on the bookshelves. It was tucked underneath books I have meant to read for a year now. The titled “The Little Red Writing Book.”
I can only assume it was a college text for one of my sons. They seem to throw their books here and there once they’ve passed whatever class. I, however, seem to cherish books. So, I walk behind them picking up their discarded books and place them on my bookshelves.
I was happy to discover such a fine. I feel like the book was indeed sent to me by God. And He used one of my son’s to deliver it to me. His actions answered a prayer that lay deep within my subconscious for decades; as my wish was finally whispered a few days ago.
— Prayer —
Lord, thank you for my little red book. Please help me to understand its content. I will cherish it always.
The American’s Creed
Picture of the Week: Was featured on Interracial Dating with the below words:
All week-long I have asked God to teach me how to write. Writing well is such an essential part of communicating effectively. And I wish to communicate without feeling less than.
Black Women Have It Going On 