Racism keeps the people of God divided into racially separated congregations. Maintaining this separation requires that we justify the choice to worship in exclusive communities. Ultimately, I believe the struggles are largely superficial. Let me address some of the most superficial right here. Ultimately, racism lacks the love to embrace the beauty of dark skin, black features and natural hair. Yes, loving someone includes loving all that God designed them to be. God made everything good and any standard that does not embrace all beauty is not representative of a loving God. No one should ever offer an apology for their natural beauty. It it important that we love and embrace all the beauty God has richly given. It is equally important that we stand against racism when it shows up through insensitive remarks. Remarks designed to shame. Where is the spiritual maturity in that? Our children deserve to feel confident and loved in the presence of their church family. It’s time to gain some perspective and move past the superficial.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalms 23: 4 Acknowledging the major superficial roadblocks is only a start. Breaking free from racial division means overcoming our fears. Fear is the one thing that we must eventually address in discussions about race. What makes us afraid of one another? Even if I can’t tell you my fears and you refuse to openly share yours with me, we must confess them to the Lord. We are walking in fear each and every day. We are not walking in fear of the Lord. We walk in fear of evil. When we walk in fear, there is no room for God in our daily lives. As long as we hold on to the fears we have, there is absolutely no place for God’s righteousness to thrive. Our relationship with Him suffers and as a result, our relationship with one another cannot flourish. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 If you see yourself in this message, let me tell you, there is enough love. God's love is enough. Many times we want things to be better but we are not sure what to do or where to start. I love partnering with Christian people who want to move past hatred and fear and learn to exhibit peace and love within the church of a loving God. If you are willing to shine forth and consider the cause of others greater than your own then I invite you to contact me for more information. Reach out to me and let's get the conversation started. Let us pray together and bond together to the glory of God. In loving kindness, Evelyn Tinsley Evelyntinsley.org
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The Joy of the Lord Like many people, I am concerned for myself and so many individuals and families as we navigate through our daily lives with COVID19 as a constant and uncertain presence surrounding us. And like many I know, I am cautiously untethering myself from my home and taking strides to emerge into a world I’ve never known before now. This new world is fashioned by COVID19, a virus. Many things about this new reality of life is unfamiliar and different. But God remains the same. He continues to be in control and He is constant. So, many Christians who happen to be bloggers like me, turn to God’s word for direction and guidance. As a Christian blogger, I am pleased to be one among a number of inspirational bloggers who offer words of healing and comfort to get us through this pandemic. In this post, you will find links to other blog sites that speak to the topics I have chosen to address. Collectively, the blog posts will focus on Joyfulness, Surrender, Self-Care, Prayer, and Encouragement. Delving into each of these topics can offer wisdom, strength and understanding as we struggle against the daily feelings of fear and worry. First, let me clearly state that being a Christian does not mean never experiencing fear. Ask the Preacher’s Wife. Ask the Preacher’s Wife is a blog that addresses questions submitted by readers. In a post entitled “Help! I Have Faith and I’m Still Afraid” the reader acknowledges that they have faith and fear. The preacher’s wife, Melanie Bryant-Hearst, aka Lady Mel, acknowledges the fear and anxiety we can experience as believers and states, “Anxiety comes from thinking about the future without the presence of God.” I love that statement because it very quickly gives us motivation to move beyond fear and anxiety, or anything that separates people of faith from our loving God. The Joy of the Lord We can acknowledge that fear is something we all experience, however, let’s not stop there. Let’s proceed further and attest to the power of joy. Miranda, of Miranda Rejoice, tackles this very important topic in a post entitled ”5 Steps to Experience Joy in Any Circumstance”. She begins by quoting Psalms 94:19 “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Many of the verses she quotes throughout her post provide the words of wisdom needed to help us keep things in perspective. No matter what is taking place around us, God remains God. He is in control and His love abides with us. Interested in reading more about the joy, peace and comfort God provides? Consider the following blog posts:
Look for Part 2 Next: Humble Surrender
The Virtual Christian Book Club (VCB) on Facebook!The VCB is a virtual book club on Facebook. It is intended for Christian book club members, authors, vocalists, bloggers, vloggers, and speakers. We are a fun and inviting group. Bring your own bookclub to the VCB facebook page or become a member of a virtual book club. We welcome inspirational writings that align with the general environment and vibe of the book club. Here are some exciting and engaging things you can find going on: - Self-Published Author Spotlights - Book Club Support - Book of the Month Reviews - Bible Studies - Book Club Spotlights - Blogger Spotlights - Book Talks - Preacher/ Church Spotlights Book topics will center around spiritual growth, unity, wellness, wisdom, and prosperity and will include both non-fiction and fictional selections. Participating members are welcome to engage and delight other club members by introducing their own book, blog, vlog or inspirational musical selections. This month, we are featuring these 4 Christian authors:
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AuthorEvelyn Tinsley, The Host of the Virtual Christian Book Club on Facebook VCB RegistrationVCB RegistrationArchives
February 2021
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