READ ONLY. Comments can safely be entered using your email address. Your emaill address will not be published. OTHERWISE, do not enter sensitive or personal information. This site is not secured to protect your sensitive or personal information, such as payment information or passwords.
Reading on your phone? Click the three dots in the top right corner, scroll down and click 'Desktop site' for better viewing. Pinch and spread to zoom.
|
|
|
BLOGS 2023 Jan - Job's Wife Feb - Cast Away Feb - Don't! Feb - Stand May - 'Pay" Yourself June - For By One Man's Obedience June - Mary Sat. Jesus Let Her. July - TPM It's Not Dead (aired 2006) July - MOVE! (2002) July - In The Presence of My Enemies August - Broken. Humble. Stewardship of Your Gift. Don't Be A Haman. Sept - Who's Doing The Talking? October - Do We Really Want An Apology? October - Two Faces. October- Come Here October- God Can Make Your Situation So Unique October- It's Not A Miracle, We Just Decided... November - Move To The Front Of The Line November - Glad to Have Nerves November - Prayer December - We've Discussed This Before. December - Healed! December - My Testimony. The End. Last and First Dreams of 2023/24. Dreams & Vascillating on How I Feel About the Issues. 2022 July - Boundaries 2021 June - Resumes' 2020 Jan - Bits N Pieces 2018 Nov - Links to TPM Wearables for purchase. Oct - Mistaken for the side piece. July - I Cor 7:34 - An Observation, not a Command. May - Women, we change the atmosphere. March - Women's History: Black Women Preachers; No More Smallin' Up of Me; Our Greatest Fear. February - Valentines...daily! January - Random thoughts. 2017 Dec - Christmas...don't get too deep. Nov - Happy Thanksgiving! October - That's not worship. August - The devil is a liar! July - Where do you f-i-t? Be Consistent. June - "No" instead of "Go". April - Let them "kill" you. March -Woman, You are good enough. February - What ministry is calling you? January - Woman, Go! 2016 November - Don't be a Jonah. October - It's Time for a new season. September - Youth, here is something you can conquer. Aug - July - Passive/Aggressive Leaders. June - It's hard to leave. June - YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE. (aka How Women Might Miss God.) May - Woman, why are you still there? April - Passive/Aggressive people. March - God will give you His own special pulpit Feb - Rejection can be a blessing. January - Snakes in your life. 2010 Inclusion or Not? Which one are you? 2000 August - Move!/Sometimes You Gotta Leave Home To Be Blessed 1996 January - So what? August - But I Wrought For My Names Sake |
Woman, do you ever feel like a dead tree, even though you know God has filled you with living water and knowledge/wisdom that needs to be shared? Well, be encouraged. Do what's necessary to go from feeling like a dead tree to BEing/sharing the fruitful, flowering tree that God has made you and wants to contiue to make you. Isaiah 61"For the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me;.." https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/kjv/Isa.61 Products: www.etsy.com/shop/becmin |
BLOGS
2025 Feb - TPMs on FB: RCC Thought Provoking Moments Feb - Printed Works Feb - Dreams (Horses & More) Jan - Rabbit Jan - God Decides It's Yours 2024 Dec -Tell It or Not? Dec - Wait! Dec - Letting Go Helps Others. Nov - Let Me In. Better Yet, Don't. Nov - LOUD. Nov - The Line Oct - First, the Eye Roll. Then, the Lesson. Oct - Monster! Sept - (Off the cuff)... Sept - Who Will You Be? Sept. - From Sugar to ... Sept - September Notes... Aug - It's Your Fault. Aug - Bricks Without Straw Aug - Clean Houses Jul - Stop the Meanness Jul - Why Aren't You Helping People? Jul - Distraction? Jul - Reactions To The Light Jul - Set and Enforce Your Boundaries. Jul - We'll Use It On You, Too. Jul - Too Many Transitions June My Plug-Ins for The Formula Jun - My One-Word Prayers Jun - What's Next? May - Numbers 25. Homework. May - 3 Books Down. 3 To Go. May - The Promised Land For Your Teen. May - Perception or Perspective? April - Then You Win. April - You Made Your Bed. April - God Will Encourage Us To Get It Done. March - Women March - Hosea March - We Don't Have to Prop Up God March - God Will Encourage Us To Get It Done Feb - Peebles Hurt! Feb - The Lion of the Tribe of Judah Within Us Feb - The Road Feb - Keep Your Teeth Feb - Where Does It Come From? Feb - Stuff I Have To Work On. Feb - Dummy Down Jan - Start Right. Jan - Foundations Matter. Jan - Gnats and Camels. Jan - A Rat! Jan - Punishment? Jan - Right? Wrong? Both? Jan - Dreams & Vascillating on My Feelings About the Issues. (edited) Jan - Now, I Know Why. Jan - Leave Joe Alone! Jan - What Would You Title This? Last and First Dreams of 2023/24. Dreams & Vascillating on How I Feel About the Issues. |
Click the month and year.
|
Jan 31, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Who's bothering you? Bullying, purposely aggravating, or tearing you down to others? The proud. (proud - 2. having or showing a high or excessively high opinion of oneself or one's importance. "a proud, arrogant man") (arrogant - having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.) Psalm 86. KJV 14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. EXB 14 God, ·proud [arrogant] people ·are attacking [rise up against] me; a ·gang [assembly] of ·cruel [violent] people ·is trying to kill me [seek my life]. They do not ·respect you [L set you before them]. *Scheduled to post January 31, 2025 Jan. 30, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Enemies will become friends just to bother you. Even Jesus had the same thing happen to him! The two he had to deal with were leaders who didn't have like to have much to do with each other but came together to facilitate his crucifixion. Luke 23:12 KJV and EXB *Scheduled to post January 30, 2025 Jan. 29, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Some people don't want you present because they believe they have to act right if you're around. Even when you enter, don't say a word, don't make a face or sound, don't introduce yourself; and either don't care how they act because it's not your God-assignment to care or your lane or that they act differently behind closed doors vs in public and know better or you already know they don't walk their talk but understand that it is what it is. Whew! Christians feel wrong in your presence (God's presence in you or intellectual/educational/career experience abilities they should also have!) and don't want you around because they don't want to do right - not for a 30-minute meeting, 45-minute informational session, hour-long event, two-hour long service project, or 8-hour work day. That's a sign to you that His light or your intellect/education/career experiences truly shine through you. Consider it a compliment. Someone who is not afraid of you or embarrassed by/insecure about themselves will welcome you. Jan. 29, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Gather means - bring together and take in from scattered places or sources. - implies careful selection or orderly arrangement. - to prepare oneself [mentally] to do something that requires effort Do I/you gather self (all parts of us) for God's use? OR Does God gather me/you (all parts of us) for His use? 🤷♀️ God calls and equips. We have to roll with the call and equipping. So, is it both? We and God do the gathering that's in our 'hand'/responsibility to do? *Scheduled to post January 29, 2025 JAN. 29, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 The lady on GPB 88.5FM said a priest said we must be careful to not rely more on manmade ai than we do on God created intelligence (humans). I think the program name is Fresh Air. Jan. 26, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 When God speaks/commands, the earth, sea, heavens, elements, chemistry, biology, and creatures great and small, to do what He calls for or allows, they do it without favor (James) or hesitation. They obey God. #ps991 Jan. 26, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Postlude When peace like a river attended my way, When sorrows like sea billows role, Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. Though satan should buffet, Though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. #830alarmdidntgooff #plannedtogosomewhereelse #knewbetter #andonpoint #balcwaswarmtoday Jan. 25, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Normally, I go to a specific store on Saturdays after work or Sundays after church. Today, after work, I was inclined to go to a different store today because I needed an item I thought the other store would not have, plus, this store would have all the other items I needed. I drove around the parking lot several times looking for a space. The lot was full from the gym to two stores down. Finally, a car left and I pulled in that #3 space. As I walked towards the store, I looked back when I got to the car in the #1 space. On the ground, by the front door of the car, was a wallet. It was card sized with three tiers so the top of each card was visible. It wasn't a fold-over. I didn't want to touch it, so I stood there until someone came by. I asked him to ask the manager to ask if there was someone in that store with a xxx state tag. He began to refuse then I pointed to the wallet and told him I didn't want to touch it, then he agreed. I saw him talk to a lady. She came out and told me she was the manager and she would get on the intercom. Several people walked in and out the store past me, but I wasn't going to move. Eventually, two ladies came out. One looked "ready" - lol - I guess in case I was a scammer. She went a little to her rigjt while the other one walked towards me but didn't look at me. Finally, I asked if that was her car and she said it was. I pointed to the ground. She jumped! She was so shocked that her wallet was there. She hadn't gotten to the register so she hadn't realized she lost it. She grabbed it, put it in her purse and we hugged. I told her I drove around so much that when I got my parking space, I thanked God for it, then I saw her wallet. She said she wished she had money to give me. I told her that wasn't necessary and that the hug was enough. I headed in the store and she got in her car and sat there. I think she was stunned. God is good! Jan. 24, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Often, the ones who don't like you speaking what you see are the ones who are often on the revealing end of what you say. *Scheduled to post January 24, 2025. Jan. 23, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Over the years, the ones who left you out have no idea how many others pulled you in to do way more and better things than what they left you out of. Boop! *Scheduled to post. January 23, 2025. Jan. 22, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Don't be offended. God teaches us lessons. When we feel the same situation rising, we're expected to walk in what we were taught. It's not about you. It's about me living the lesson. You made a move. It looked sketchy. I backed away. You may not have been sketchy, but I had to walk what I learned and let God work it out. *Scheduled to post January 22, 2025. Jan. 20, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 "Let it go." Yes, let it go. Some can do that instantly. Others want their feelings validated through talking, songs, posts, or poems about what others experienced. Others want to know that yes that is exactly what happened to them, too. Yes, they were a liar or fake friend or bully or... Then they can move on, pray about it, give to God, make sure they weren't party to their own hurt, or gave too many chances. Then, they get peace and know how to move forward. You drop things easily. Whoopee! You make sure you're never the target. Yay! You're usually on the perpetrator end. You're goal was to shake them up. You succeeded. Let them handle the shaking up their way and work their way through it to letting it go. Don't be the one who is "Yes, I'll bother you but you can't complain about it." *Scheduled to post January 20, 2025. Jan. 20, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 People fight more over the food/information/Word than eating the food/information/Word. This couple likes to make funny videos. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EhA4H6mo9/ Jan. 19, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 6:35pm. I think I can eat now! God was still moving about, around, in and through me about some things, like God often does on Sundays. #giveGodtimetofinishonSundays #evenifitsnotonSunday #Godknowsourschedules #Godwillfinishtheworkofthemsgnus Jan. 19, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 God, you are also my source of the prayers to pray to you and the specific questions to ask about the things that are going on in my life. So that as I overcome, I can help others with the same situations as mine, with specificity, because you helped me know how things came about, how you answered the questions you gave me to ask you, and the instructions you asked me to follow.. Hiw can we comfort others who ask for help if our response is "I don't know what happened. All I can say is God delivered me."? Some need more than that. *Scheduled to post January 19, 2025. Jan. 19, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Lying. Cheating. Thievery. When incessant, uncontrollable, and persistent, are they spirits? If so, why aren't they cast out of people, rather than given punishment or justification for the behavior? Right. Anybody equipped can do it, so why don't churches (all, any, everywhere) do it? Especially in this day of leader's issues being posted again and again. Why not cast it out? Young people's lives may fare much better if this is handled early. They can be saved from a lifetime of issues. *Scheduled to post January 10, 2025 We've all known people to show up for one thing or nothing, and get delivered without planning to or knowing/understanding/realizing they have an issue and what/who is causing it. Also, it's possible to pray God's deliverance from the evil one for people who don't know they're being prayed for until they feel the spirit of cheating, lying, etc leave. So,... I had an experience in 1996 with a coat . Yes, and coat. Tell ya' about it later! On a Monday night, I saw and felt the heaviness lift and go immediately! No one knew but I knew exactly who was praying for me at that exact moment. I just realized I never told them! ...instead of talking about, avoiding, dismissing, constantly interrogating, ... Jan. 18, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Often times, we are told to be careful who we confess to because the Bible tells us to confess our faults to another person. Truly be careful who you confess to. You may find that the world will brush it off (easily forgive); whereas, others may remind you of it or discredit you from participating in some things because of your confession that you received forgiveness for from God. Yes, confess to a right(eous) person, but choose the right one that won't start to look at you sideways every time that kind of fault is brought up in someone's/anyone's conversation. *Scheduled to post January 18, 2025. Jan. 18, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 People, we gotta' get outta' here. We gotta' be headed in the right direction when we do get outta' here. We must be ready when it's time to go. #Whatsyourargument *Scheduled to post January 18, 2025. Jan. 18, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Sometimes people and places don't want you around because they don't want you to see what they settled for. *Scheduled to post Jauary 18, 2025 Jan. 17, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Thirty-five years from now, you will still be stepping back to make sure they know they are the man, and they will still need you to step back more. No matter how far you back up or lower yourself, they still won't be happy. Why hasn't your stepping back worked all these years? Why isn't your stepping back helping their mind, feelings and thoughts? They don't have an outer problem (you). They have an inner problem (personal insecurity.) #myphoneisfornotes link to pic: https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/471856444_1405330610684086_8766726594068996071_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=127cfc&_nc_ohc=jzLpCtVNvmcQ7kNvgEApJ0i&_nc_oc=AdgAYqZVhzkeRybTPF0nF8fdGjUJfiKbtnnCdJw2Fv7f_TU6Y7dWZK_32J_hO3ezpiRBifEt-PFP92TYHkzL-Up2&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&_nc_gid=A2qAL7s0w-ur5Gu_DmuLlpR&oh=00_AYDsGS3s1LhSl0iApE04TO6mGO922RBWlQFzn86a96-iYg&oe=67C57FBD *Scheduled to post January 9, 2025. Jan. 17, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 The bottom line is this, All we have wrongly done, dare we make conclusions about others? The tests and expectations are for Christians, not for the sinner or unrepentant. We expect sinners to get right. God expects CHRISTIANS to do right regardless of who does or refuses to get right. *Scheduled to post January 17, 2025 Jan. 15, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Is there a difference between not thinking about it vs letting go and giving it to God? Jan. 14, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Have you ever been on someone's side and wondered why they rejected the support? Some don't want support and encouragement because, deep down inside, they don't plan to get better, don't want to stop doing what they're doing, and moves made were not slip-ups or mistakes and were planned and done purposely. To be advocated for, to be encouraged, or to be justified by others in the Faith, just rakes on their nerves. Not all have given their life to Christ, but blend in. It is what it is. Pray. Stay out of their way or in their way, depending on what God says to do. God's handling them. God doesn’t want anyone to perish. *Scheduled to post January 14, 2025. Jan. 14, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 "Let it go." Yes, let it go. Some can do that instantly. Others want their feelings validated through talking, songs, posts, or poems about what others experienced. Others want to know that yes that is exactly what happened to them, too. Yes, they were a liar or fake friend or bully or... Then they can move on, pray about it, give to God, make sure they weren't party to their own hurt, or gave too many chances. Then, they get peace and know how to move forward. Some drop things easily. Whoopee! Some make sure you're never the target. Yay! Some may be on the perpetrator end, with the goal to shake someone up, and succeeded. Let them handle the shaking up their way and work their way through it to letting it go. Don't be the one who is "Yes, I'll bother you but you can't complain about it." Let's help people move quickly to the letting go stage, like someone helped me, instead of bashing them for being bothered by what happens to them. *Scheduled to post January 2025. Jan. 13, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 They want you out so they can talk about you more freely. They want you in, so they can find more things to talk about. #givethemsomethingtotalkabout #Novblog Jan. 12, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 There will be people - male or female, acquainted or stranger - who will try to keep you 'beneath' them by re-explaining your words and thoughts or always finding the blame in you. Just smile, nod, let them think they're right (aka better), and know that you know what you're talking about, you know you aren't to blame, and God is proud that you don't let yourself be reduced or manipulated. #GreaterisHethatisinmethanhethatisintheworld *Scheduled to post January 12, 2025. Today, I was reminded of my point of view I've always had. Six decades; 1985-2017: Financial Secr, Teacher of Teens, Adults, Young Adults, Outreach servant and Coordinator, Senior/Women's/Missions, Ministerial staff; Personal life: loads of volunteerism at non-profits and for individuals. I know how to be a #TP. 'Lately', I'm not the one who's been the problem. #IspeakupforwhatJesushasdonewithme Jan. 12, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Today, we learned how to trample. We learned that the name of the process some don't do or already use to fight the enemy, and banish stains, thoughts, and doubts, is what trampling means in the Bible! Yummy lesson!!! Jan. 11, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Guessing. You don't want people guessing about you. They went there, too. They didn't get the same issue. Millions read the same book. They didn't get that issue. Countless have great callings. Countless are fought by the enemy. They didn't get the issue. We all watched the video. They didn't get the same issue. They all did/do/plan to do wrong things. They didn't get that issue. They befriended very strange people. They didn't get the issue. Why does it happen at night but not during the day? God has the answers. http://www.thoughtprovokingmomentsblog.com/blog/wait *Scheduled to post January 11, 2025. Jan. 10, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 http://www.thoughtprovokingmomentsblog.com/.../why-they... *Scheduled to post January 10, 2025 Jan. 09, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 'They' says everything He or She says is a lie. You believe They. Now, each time, ask They for the truth. They will say the same thing He or She said. You've known it to happen many times, but you still believe They. Why hasn't that taught you that They is double-minded, instigator, spiritually blind, hateful, bitter, jealous, and/or envious? What does your continued falling for They's mess (knowing They is the mess) say about you? Jan. 08, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Say it. Type it. Video it. Post it. Preach it. Sing it. Let them say you're wrong. Let them contradict you. God will correct them and you'll know it when it happens. God can't show He's on your side and speaks to you, if you don't put it out there so God can confirm what you say He said and will correct the contradictors and reveal that He has done so. Before He takes it back, He'll add more to it. *Scheduled to post January 4, 2025. Jan. 08, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 People will talk you out of using that item/system or associating with this or that person, then leave you hanging. They will not replace what or who they convince you to drop. They'll try to convince you to not use that particular rideshare, church bus, babysitter, or whatever. While you're stuck at home, after listening to them, that person does not offer to become your ride to church or your babysitter. Simple examples, but you get the point. Just plug in whatever it is your hintzy 'friend' is trying to talk you out of. Can they do it? Will they do it? Will they find you a replacement service or person? Probably not. Make decisions based on you and your life, not on their feelings and their life. *Scheduled to post January 8, 2025. Jan. 07, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 People will use your transparency to hide their own issues. They keep you out front so everyone will focus on you and be distracted from their (already apparent) iceberg-sized issues. The difference: The transparent ones get help. Our issues get healed, sometimes with the help of those who are showcasing ours to distract from theirs. Their issues just keep growing until the top of the iceberg looks as big as the part that's underneath the surface. Be transparent somewhere to somebody, while you're helping others who are transparent, so you can heal, too. #work#church#family#home Jan. 06, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 On a lighter note: I remember men watching the church service through the window in one of the villages in MX. The first accomplishment was getting the men to allow the women and children to attend the church. The next accomplishment was that the leader got some of the men to at least stand at the window and watch the services, in hopes that one day the men would want to enter and become a part of the church. That was a long time ago. I'm sure the plan worked because it was built on love, patience and compassion. No matter where a person listens from, God can still draw them IN. #onedayatatime #onestepatatime #bepatient #Godhasaway *Scheduled to post January 5, 2025. Jan. 06, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Be still with your mess! All over the place, people are getting shot, there are homeless and housed who are starving, kids are getting molested, guys are getting yanked into gangs, all ages and genders are being sex trafficked, Seniors are disappearing, the depressed are contemplating suicide, but YOU spend time trying to stop someone from singing, teaching, preaching, giving, feeding, loving, deaconing, ushering, dancing, clapping, or praying for others, because YOU don't believe God called them. There are bigger issues you need to be helping with. Go help them help the people they are trying to help! Get over yourself. Let God do through anybody what God wants to do. Jan. 06, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Adult, when you s-h-a-m-e another adult - especially young adults, with words or looks, the susceptible ones may feel ashamed to approach God about whatever they have done. The shamer prevents the shamee from repenting. God does not shame. God does not condemn. God convicts. Do humans inevitably bring condemnation and shame out of their own personal expectations, upon others, interfering with the process of conviction and the openness to run to God that God gives? Shaming only benefits the feelings of superiority of the people who do the shaming. Are you shaming or informing so that Conviction can come and do its work? Jan. 05, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Depends! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AJijuiEz2/ Jan. 05, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Don't want the topic discussed? It needs to be discussed so others can see themselves as the victim or the perpetrator. The sooner we see ourselves, the sooner we can seek to change. Another lesson: People feel sorry for the one who befriended a snake or a deceiver. Why feel sorry for the one who tried to be friendly? If anything, pity the one who is the snake or deceiver. The friend choses to first be kind and trust. The snake or deceiver operates with evil intentions. The snake or deceiver is the one who needs concern because they will have to answer for their negative actions! *Scheduled to post January 5, 2025. Jan. 04, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Jan. 03, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 Jan. 02, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 I usually have a yearly theme. This time, God gave me His theme for my life, on my October 2024 birthday - September 2025. "In year 62, I'm coming for you. I'll know what it means as I live the year out. *Scheduled to post January 2, 2025. Jan. 01, 2025 🫦🦁🌹🐑 He made it. 🤷🏾♀️ I know people say life doesn't go in a straight line, but recently, I prayed that career life go in a straight line for two young adults. (Ex: Like the old days when people got a job in one field, was taken under somebody's wing, and mentored up through the industry, so they were happily able to stay for many non-crazy, stable, nice years. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18Jjn1PMX6/ Books are on www.etsy.com/shop/becmin. The beads on the pics are scatter beads/vase filler beads. The glass beads are like marbles but flat on the bottom. The shaped beads are plastic. They are NOT 'crystals'. Tables at receptions/dinners/luncheons are sometimes decorated with these beads. The beads, shoes, pearl bracelet, multicolored bead necklace, gray bead ring, salt, and fake bread are NOT included with the purchase of a book. http://www.thoughtprovokingmomentsblog.com/blog/three-books-down-three-to-go etsy.com/shop/becmin
0 Comments
January verse James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (prompts: b a d) JAMES Where do you sit? At receptions, family events, classes, formals, company picnics, weddings, or school events? Where do you sit? Why are we placed (seated) where we are, when not allowed to choose? Why do we sit where we sit, when allowed to choose? Extroversion? Introversion? Expected? Not expected? Personal sight or hearing issues? A noisy kid people hate to see coming? Several kids that will have lots of questions for Mom and Dad? How we are felt about by the hosts? Front and wanted? Back and not high on the list? (Pause for this story: I attended a meeting with a group I knew but had never participated with. As I entered, I noticed the friend and other like-friends sat together, in the back. The site was startling. All were born early, in the South, and were Black. They were not told to sit there. So, why did they? Perhaps they remembered their place before times changed or chose based on previous experiences, while the others either preferred them back there, didn't care or recognize where they sat, or understood the group's comfortableness with their choice because sometimes you don't even try to test the change/new way of thinking/politically lawful upgrades, and/or just know unspoken feelings or unspoken understanding of feelings by those who have no qualms with you. End of story.) Some sit in front by necessity, Near the spot chosen for their task/performance/leadership of the event. They need to be "next" or keep things in order from the front row. Some sit in the back to view the whole room, this and that, and to miss nothing. Keeping guard? Where do you sit? Why? Some know where they 'should', based on their status, liked, disliked, or treatment at other times. Joe, "I know our table is at the back. She never forgot that one time I xxx 25 years ago." Her: Yes, your place setting at the reception is Table 24, near the last table #25 at the back door. You remember that time you...?" Even when there are no place settings, Joe knows where he is expected to sit. Are the young, well-dressed, beautiful, handsome, better body-built welcomed up To sit as close to the front as they choose? Often, though, the eldest are seated front and center. Respect. Honor. Deserving of surviving life! Maybe the ones who travel the furthest, Makes the best grades, or Compassionately those who need help with making better grades. Why do we sit where we sit? Why are we seated where we are seated? Bottom line: ??? Motivation for the seating arrangements: James 1 - Lust for superiority via placing oneself in a higher seat or placing others in a higher seat to get brownie points? James 2 - Our works show our faith. Faith says, "We're all equal in God's eyes." Works may show, "Sit over there. You don't deserve to sit with us." OR "Sit anywhere you like (no matter who you are or aren't"). James 3 - (?)Blessings and cursings (?) ??????? "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hallelujah. Bless you. You are beautiful. Sit here by me." "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hallelujah. Eeewww - your clothes, hair, shoes, suit! Sit o-v-e-r THERE (unspoken "far away")! ??????? James 4 - Are we guilty of making a difference, Even when others don't know we're making a difference? - motivation, inner motives. We need to recognize the need to be afflicted and then, BE AFFLICTED. (Pause for a story: Years ago, I watched a kid get a spanking, then the kid continued to do whatever he got the spanking for. He presented himself for the spanking, and went back to what he was doing, unchanged...as if the spanking was solely to appease the spanker. Kid: "I let her spank me. She's happy. I can go back to what I was doing." End of story.) (?)Vs 9 and 10 - When we see or are told the error of our ways, we should be afflicted (troubled), sad, mournful, and change (repent) and humble ourselves... ...and not be like a kid who thinks the chastisement is solely to appease the disciplinarian, ...or like a puppy that, when put in a box, jumps right back out the box over and over again, not realizing that he's supposed to STAY IN THE BOX! THEREFORE, when we become aware of handling people differently because of our opinions of them, we need to stop separating people who we think are lesser than ourselves. It's not so much about place/seating, as it is about the motivation of the one who does the placing/seating. James 5 - I've been like this rabbit before:
In 2019, there was an issue at an acquaintance's house. We went there, checked things out, called for help, then I sat on the couch. Help arrived and went through the house. When one of the helpers re-entered the living room, he pointed and said "What a calm rabbit." I followed his finger. The rabbit was beside me! I knew the rabbit, but didn't know it had been brought by its owner when we all met there to deal with the situation. The rabbit had been on the sofa the whole time we were walking around, talking, deciding, and when I sat beside it on the couch. I had no idea it was there! Not invisible. Not 'hiding'. It was in the sofa, in plain sight. Not afraid. Caught in an unexpected situation. 'Frozen' for (?)protection(?)/observation/clarification/safety/information and/or strength to fight or flee,... www.etsy.com/shop/becmin FB: RCC Thought Provoking Moments 1/17/2025 God knows what to say in the most creative ways. In 30 years of ministry, I used parts of one prayer from a book. I never used a book before or since when writing messages or TPMs. God talks to me about what He wants the audience to hear. He leads my words, where I find definitions, examples, etc. (Note: Those of us who don't have to do it often, as in regularly, because we're not in that position and we're usually women, aren't tempted to use a prayer or message in a book or on the internet because we don't have that level of pressure to get something done every, every, every week. We go to God. Plus, know your audience: This one was Calm. Peaceful. Reserved. Do what they ask and include words, phrases and thoughts they request. It's their loved one: Calm, peaceful, reserved, meaningful, quiet, no loud/long exhortations. God obliges His people because God knows His people. Do what God says they said. (December 12, 2024)
(In 2021, I worked at a place where random people would walk up and give us instructions. Then, we'd hear complaints from the known leaders about what we were doing OR we refused to obey because we didn't know them, and they complained. Collectively, we all complained about the random strangers. They didn't wear leadership apparel nor did they introduce themselves, but expected us to be obey. Example: You get a job, hired by HR, signed off by the President, VP, Director,…whoever. The week you start the job, ten people, at different times, approach you to test you to see if you deserve the job. One has to question you about your education. One has to question you about your experience. One has to question you about training. One has to question you about your hiring process. One has to question you about the names of the people who made the final decision. One has to give you a scenario about the assignment to see if you know what to do. Three have to give you parts of their work so they can see if you know how to do it. None of the ten are in any position to hire, question, test, or fire you. If they determine you were good enough to be hired, they go sit down. If they determine you were not good enough to be hired, they go sit down. Oh, there is always one who will be big and bad enough, without any authority and with just a big mouth/attitude, to go to the Hiring manager, Boss, Department Head, etc. to challenge their decision to hire you. She'll fail and in essence, let any one of those people know that she thinks they are not capable of hiring the right person for the job, because she and they (with no authority) ran their own tests and interviews AFTER the person was already hired. -What school did you attend? -Surely, it wasn't as good as when I attended there? -Did you have Prof. XXX? -Well, then, you didn't get educated if you didn't have Prof. XXX? -Do you know how to wrap a piece of pie in aluminum foil? -Do you know how to put a pot on the stove? -Can you read? -Have you ever worked a computer? This is 2024. I don't believe you. You probably have not. -Were you in the band High School? That doesn't mean you deserve to be in a College Band. They should have asked me before they let you in the Band. I'm a sophomore. I know better than the Band Dept. Leaders. -Who taught you how to walk a dog? If you don't walk it like I do, then you don't know how to walk a dog. You are already hired or chosen, but individuals gotta give his or her own tests AND THEN proceed to try to fail you,... [SIDE NOTE: ...so he or she can tell the powers-that-be that he or she, though not in their lane, could have or can make a better hiring choice...aka "You're stupid and incapable of making the right decisions. You should have let me do the interviewing and hiring."] Why are you trying to prove yourself to one who is not in the official "prove-yourself-to-me department? Why are you trying to prove yourself to one who has nothing for you? Again, if you fail, they go sit down. If you succeed, they go sit down. They have nothing for you. If they reject you, they disobey their boss, the one who hired you. If the boss can't do anything about them rejecting you, then who is the REAL BOSS? The boss or the people? People try to make us prove to them that we should be there or participating in something they don't even own. They got there only because of God themselves. God decides it's yours and the powers-that-be should follow God's directions, thusly. www.etsy.com/shop/becmin FB page: RCC Thought Provoking Moments |
Archives
November 2025
|
RSS Feed