I Yield

My heart and soul are stirred. I hope that someone else is feeling the same way. Why am I stirred? Because I care about people. I want to see us walking in love and unity, especially within the Body of Christ. It is so important that we learn to get along. The only way this can happen is if we yield sometimes. We have to give up our right to be right (not our right to be righteous). Sometimes, even if only mentally, we have to be able to say, "I yield. It's not my turn to have the upper hand; I don't have to have the last word; I don't have to prove how smart or powerful I am."

We all (if we are honest) desire to be loved and appreciated. We sometimes desire to be exalted and admired. I think that is part of our nature as human beings. But we get messed up when we let these natural desires stand in the way of our better judgment - our Godly judgment. We must be able to let go - not only of what hurts us, but sometimes of things we want. If it is truly for us, letting it go for the moment will not delay it for eternity. As the song says, "What God has for me, it is for me." And it is through faith in God - not fighting for our rights against our brothers and sisters in Christ - that we will receive all that God has for us.

Yes, I am guilty, too - my hurt pride roars; my shattered expectations scream. And I find somewhere within the nerve to assert my right to have my own way. But the Spirit of the Lord is upon me tonight for something other than preaching and teaching - it is on me for repentance.

Lord, I yield my right to be first - my right to be right - my right to be heard. Help me to humble myself and walk in a continual state of humility. I look to the ultimate example - Jesus Christ - for a way to pattern myself. I yield my sinful nature to the control of your Holy Spirit. I yield my will to your will for my life. Forgive me for my wicked ways, and cleanse me of my sin - selfishness, stubbornness, pride, and self-seeking. I know that you are able to place me in a right place with you and with others. Help me to trust you to provide everything I need at all times in all circumstances.  Thank you for your steadfast love and faithful grace extended toward me.

In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

Proverbs 29:23 (KJV)
²³ A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.


1 Peter 5:5-7 (KJV)
⁵ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Colossians 3:12-17 (KJV)
¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
¹⁴ And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
¹⁷ And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Merry Christmas! Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill to men! Love to you & yours from Darryl & Catrina Blount

My Grandmother's Legacy Remains

My grandmother, Rosie Mctyere, passed away three years ago today, December 21. I remember that the news of her passing shocked me. She was only 90 years old, and ever since I was a little girl, I just knew she would outlive my entire family. Grandma had been strong and independent, seemingly in need of nothing but the Lord that she loved. The last few years of her life had been plagued by illness, but still she was Grandma, the one who told us what was on her mind and made us laugh. I really miss her, but sometimes I see her in my granddaughter. My Twinkie’s mannerisms are a lot like the great-great grandmother who was gone before she got here.

I was on my way to a Christmas Banquet the day Grandma passed. I had been asked to write and read a poem at the event, but for some reason I had not written anything. After I found out my gran was gone, I wrote the poem which follows. I don’t know what one thing has to do with the other, but somehow I have always felt like Grandma gave me these words. She loved the Lord with all her heart and she loved her family. She outlived all of her siblings, and took care of every family member that needed her.  She was Grandma to her entire community in Niagara Falls, New York. My family rejoices in the knowledge that Grandma is enjoying the fellowship of the Savior she loved, and I, for one, look forward to seeing her again one day.

BORN TO DIE

I still celebrate Christmas

Not a generic holiday

Because I have to remember the reason

That we give such reverence to the season

Because the messiah was brought nigh

It was Jesus, the Savior, born to die

Imagine his virgin mother

Herself not more than a child

Chosen to incubate the one

Who men to God would reconcile

I wonder if she asked God why

Her firstborn child was born to die

Imagine his earthly father

Entrusted to raise the son of God

A child born like no other

In a place that seemed so odd

I wonder if it made him cry

To watch a child grow who was born to die

The shepherds heard heaven’s announcement

The glory of the heavenly choir

They worshiped him when they found him

Amidst a stable’s muck and mire

I wonder if the angels prophesied

This was the savior, from heaven, born to die

The magi followed the shining star

To find out the birthplace of the king afar

Bearing gifts they came with joy

To worship the heaven-sent baby boy

I wonder if they even realized

They worshiped a king, anointed and born to die

Now they don’t want to remember his name

To delete Christ the savior is the world’s chief aim

To replace him with “x” as if that is the same

And to turn those who worship him to shame

But the reason this season exists – I won’t lie

Is to remember the heaven-sent king, born to die

©2008, Catrina Johnson-Blount

Poem to be published in the upcoming collection, “Observations of a Black Girl”

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No Longer Bound

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."

Galatians 5:1, NIV.

This verse is saying that whether or not to be entangled again is our option. I just want to encourage you not only to get free, but to STAY free! And if you are not free, then GET free! Once you get free, then STAY free! Christ came that we might be free, and once free, then free indeed. No need to be bound by sin anymore. We can walk in newness of life, released from the oppression of sin and Satan.

Today is America's day to celebrate independence from England, but it can also be your day to celebrate independence from sin!

One group sings about the day they got rid of their heavy load. Today can be your day. And once you are rid of it, why pick it up again?

Mary Kay Personal Beauty Profiler

You can get your own personal beauty profile at www.marykay.com/cblount (my website)! It would be my pleasure to minister to your beauty needs. God made us body, soul, and spirit. It is our job to maintain all of those areas for His glory.