Day 5, See the Black Community Thrive

I love the look of a flourishing garden, I can walk by and my eyes collect all the colors and aromas as we pace onward and around the garden. Yellows, reds, purples, oranges, and so many shades around and in between. My smile stretches from ear to ear… as if butterflies are in my tummy, I am once again filled with wonder.

I walk past the rainbow of roses and onward to the delightful daisies and turn the curve to see the carnations, my birthstone. I bend down to examine the freesias and take in all the varieties of pansies.

Much more than the created flowers, people hold such variety. I love the fact that no two fingerprints as well as no two people are alike. I admire the creativity in God that he would make us all different yet as one we are under him. In him, we move and have our being.

Photo by MIO ITO on Unsplash

For Black History Month, I wanted to shed light on the fact that this is not the case in many hearts and homes. Some states still hold some segregation or a sense of segregation: you will find in parts of California and all states: ghettos and historically, people moved and flocked to an area and the people became resourceful and built communities where, say, Khmer people grew up together and the community grew as in Long Beach, CA or Lowell, MA. What I don’t like is hearing of families who are underprivileged simply because race… simply because their skin color and then the systems that kept them out of basic privileges.

Well, what is great is God’s spirit with us has allow there to be men and women who have answered the call and stepped into mission with God to bring about a sense of responsibility, walked in his strength and because of their actions ignited the torch of hope that we might share and pass on with others.

The gospel is mighty to save and to save all, but we as ambassadors must represent God’s kingdom in this very way to be those who set the captives free… to lift up our friends from their oppressors.

Today, I highlight a couple of pastors who I have had the privilege of listening to their teaching…

1. Dr Tony Evans of Oak Cliffe Bible Fellowship and The Urban Alternative. I’d like to highlight his sermons https://www.ocbfchurch.org/ and his book that addresses race and racism: “Oneness Embraced” https://www.christianbook.com/oneness-embraced-reconciliation-kingdom-stronger-together/tony-evans/9780802412669/pd/412669?product_redirect=1&search_term=oneness%20embrace&Ntt=412669&item_code=&ps_exit=PRODUCT&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
2. Pastor Eric Mason of Epiphany Fellowship… I’d like to highlight his book “Woke Church”–you can get the audible version, which I am listening to… so good! https://www.epiphanyfellowship.org/ and https://www.christianbook.com/urgent-christians-america-confront-racism-injustice/eric-mason/9780802416988/pd/416988?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=academic-0-20%7C416988&p=1179710&dv=c&gclid=Cj0KCQiAmfmABhCHARIsACwPRACUlH0mGGCdkMHbq2ojemEV1IHAiKZhJ2JzK17AaklO-OUTsqBdf4gaAr0aEALw_wcB
3. Other places to find information is through the NAACAP, PBSKIDS or just PBS. Go here: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/teaching-your-child-about-black-history-month
4. Planet Money on NPR has a podcast on Black Weath. Listen here: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/05/920342513/rethinking-black-wealth
5. Phil Vischer’s video http://one of two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUwcs9qJXY part two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-yun74BJEc

I hope these are informative and TRANSFORMATIVE…

Let’s pray: God, we thank you for our brothers and sisters in the black community. I thank you for the many people who are walking in mission and depending on you to be their strength and igniting hope. Today, I pray for __________ (your name or a family member who is gifted and able to impact their community). Lord, I pray you’d raise up leaders who will look on laws and rules that are oppressing people. I pray that the laws and rules that are oppressing others, will be addressed and dismantled. May those whose safety and health are threatened, we pray against corruption in city officials and leaders, county officials and leaders and national officials and leaders. May we see a humility and repentance that many will operate under a respect and reverence for you and in turn, the cities will see renewal, repentance and revival. You, God, are mighty. We trust you that you who began a good work in those you’ve called are faithful to complete it. Amen!

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