Let it Begin with Me, Oh, Lord

I am the only one that I can change.

When I googled prayers for transformation, I was looking for something that I could pray for my church but when I found this very profound prayer from  www.prayerforce.org, I was reminded that the only one I can really change is myself. I must lead by example as I follow Jesus and grow and live and change and flourish. Move God, move.

Transformation Prayer

Prayer For Personal Transformation

Dear God,

It is fruitless to rail against the world.

The world I inhabit is a reflection of my own self

For macrocosm always mirrors microcosm.

If I see it in the world, I know the seed exists in me.

Therefore, to change the world

I now commit to my own transformation.

I become the fertile soil for the world I want to see.

As a beginning, I tell myself—every day—that I am changing.

I tell myself that You are guiding, shaping and loving me

—into wholeness.

Then instead of focusing on what is bad or frightening

—or telling myself things are getting worse—

I affirm that bad things are falling away.

I switch my focus to what positive contribution

I can make to the situation and the miraculous takes place.

I stop blaming and, instead

Take responsibility for the state of the world and the state of my life.

I open myself to Your love

And experience the intensity of the Unconditional.

I never wish for others what I do not want for myself.

I become generous

And visualize lives of fulfillment and prosperity for others.

I leave fear behind as You take me by the hand each day.

And I forgive the unforgivable.

As a result, all conflicts within me resolve

And, with them, the discord in my life.

All disapproval within me dissolves

And with it, the aches and pains in my body.

I am a better person, one of whom Christ would be proud.

Yet I do not practice denial of my anger or fear, Lord,

But transcendence.

For You lift me up in accordance with my intentions and words.

You make these words powerful, Lord

And only Truth utters from my lips:

• That You and I are One

• That, to You, every living thing is sacred

• That, as part of You, I am able to let go of fear

• That, as part of You, my destiny is to be happy and useful

.

I begin my transformation today

—and with it—

The automatic transformation of the world.

Every day I dedicate my thoughts, words and deeds to Higher Truth.

I ask You to create a Sacred Container for the day.

I affirm that You guide me in doing soul work.

I affirm that everything I think, do and say

Is guided by a Higher Principle, the Principle of Light,

And what I do, think and say serves the greatest good.

Thank You for working Your miracles through me.

Thank you for peace of mind, heart, and soul.

The world and I are One with You,

God of my heart, Breath of my breath, Throb in my veins.

Your loving world is the real one, and my gratitude is profound.

And so it is.
Amen.

A New Job – Assistant Minister/Youth Pastor

I have a new job! A ministry job! I am the Assistant Minister & Youth Pastor of a Disciples of Christ congregation in the South Suburbs! I’m so excited. This is a 20 hour per week job and I need to figure out my schedule. I want to have office hours and figure out activities and tasks but I’m going non stop! I have to get a handle on this and write. Write the Youth Ministry vision, write the Sunday School Curriculum, write the plan for a 12 week September Bible study. It’s all very exciting. I have got to get a computer and get organized. It’s really crazy right now. Oh and I need to:

• order my own phone and phone line
• post my wishlist
• write a sermon
• meet with parents
• read the constitution and bylaws
• plan the evening Disciples Women’s group and make it appealing to women under 50.
• do my schedule
• get my new cell phone since I lost the old one in my house! Ugh

I’ve got to write this vision. It will help me pray and plan and work better.

This church is working on transformation, they are making youth ministry a priority and it’s very, very exciting! There so much to be done but we appear to be doing it. We have begun and God is moving in the place. Hearts, minds and spirits are being touched and it’s so very exciting. There is a core group working on this and I will continue to pray for more willing hands and hearts. We are trusting God to prepare us, send us the right folks and prepare us for whomever we are to receive.

Prepare our hearts and minds, Lord. Help us to submit to you. Please make each one of us and our congregation exactly what you want us to be. Amen.

A Different Life

I’ve started reading a blog called www.happyblackwoman.com and it’s really awesome. This woman is doing a lot of the things I’d like to do. She is a consultant, public speaker, teacher and life coach. I think that is amazing.

She has a blog entry called How to Have a Different Life that really resonated with me. She told her story, gave some simple steps to get to the life you want and asked some questions to get me started thinking about a plan to get there. I feel like I’m on the way but I know that there are things I can be doing now to further prepare, besides grad school, to get where I want to go. Everything I want to do does not require a degree, actually none of it does, but I know I want things to be a certain way. This desire for degrees and accreditation does not mean that I can’t do what I’m meant to do right now.

One of the things I’ve done to prepare is to actually apply for a job that I want. Another is that I’ve decided to take a year off to work and improve my family’s financial situation. Another thing I’ve done is to decide to switch schools and make a plan to handle that. There are many more things I can do.

So here is what she said at the end of this entry:

Yes, it’s hard, but it’s actually not that hard. Not harder than working for someone your whole life just to “retire” and have fun, relaxation and wealth when you’re 65. That life is NOT for me. It never was. This is how to have a different life: Confess your big dream. Take the first step. Commit yourself fully. Distance yourself from negative people. Ignore the economy.  Get training. Work hard. There really isn’t one magic formula other people have that you don’t. A different life is available to you if you want it.

Post your responses to the following questions in the comments:

1. What does your “different life” look like?
2. What’s the first step you need to take to become the CEO of you?

 

I’m going to work on this in the areas that interest me most, including the job, God willing, that I hope to get. I’m excited to do my part. I believe that God has a plan for me and it involves learning how to really run my own life instead of waiting for things to happen. I believe that God is going to get me there and this is one of the ways that I can get my life in order so that I can truly enjoy the journey.

Care to join me?

More later, fellow heros!

csh

Ps. 140:12

I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

Dating Advice from www.divinecaroline.com

http://www.divinecaroline.com/22065/113132-him-text-dial

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW! (via My World!)

I really enjoyed this blog post by a writer named Wafa. I just wanted to share it with you.
Blessings,
csh

One of the hardest ages in life is his seventh stage in which the person gives farewell to his life. This age apart from old age can be called DISPPOINTED AGE, HOPELESS AGE where a person’s hope is all drained. Those pains which a person can’t even think of surround him. The age where He comes to know THE TRUTH! Truth that the life he spent on his loved ones was actually WASTAGE! He comes to know that majority was with him because of his wealth! … Read More

via My World!

Fighting Poverty – Food Pantry Visit: God’s Hand Ministries in Harvey, IL

Since my spouse has yet to receive his last two unemployment checks, I suggested that we go and get some stuff from a food pantry. I figured, if  we were pro-active and procured our food at the pantry, we could use the unemployment checks to pay our larger bills – mortgage, utilities, etc. – when we get money.

So today, we went to the CEDA on Pulaski and they gave us a list of places that have food pantries, soup kitchens and other types of assistance.

We missed the pantry hours at several locations because we had morning appointments – bankruptcy lawyer and prosthetist. After we completed our errands, we went to God’s Hand Ministries Bible Church of Reconciliation, 117 East 154th Street, Harvey, IL 60426. They are open on Tuesdays from 1pm-3pm. Phone: (708) 331-4009. Their boundaries of service, according to the list I found online, are residents of 60426 but I don’t think they verify residency.

I sat in the vehicle with the baby while my husband went inside. I reminded him to tell them he needed food for a family of four. (I am still amazed that there are 4 of us.) He returned fairly shortly with a paper grocery bag. Quick and simple.

Here are the details I gleaned from interviewing my spouse and observing from the vehicle:

Enter the church from 154th Street. There is street parking and a small parking lot on the side of the church. When you enter the church, you’ll need to check in and then head downstairs to the basement where you sign-in. Yep, just go with it. After that, you will get a bag of food. My husband informed me that everyone was nice. I was glad to hear it.

Here’s what we got:

• Two bags of bread – loaves (4 total, 2 medium and 2 small) that looked like they were from a bakery.
• Hamburger buns with sesame seeds
• 3 small zucchini
• A bag of corn flakes cereal – approx 3-4 servings
• Sour cream – medium sized container, dated November 25, 2010. According to www.stilltasty.com, an unopened container of sour cream is good for 10-14 days after the date on the package but do what makes you feel healthy and safe.
• Azteca Mexican Rice – 4 packages, pre-cooked, frozen. There was more than one flavor and they contained beans, rice, meat, roasted tomatoes and ancho chiles. http://www.aztecafoods.com/products_mealessentials.html
• Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt – (1) 6 oz container, dated 12/07/2010.
• Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Plums in light syrup
• Cut greens beans – can dented

I will say that I was hoping to get butter, eggs and milk but I think we have to wait until we get SNAP, WIC or some help from friends to get those things.

I suggested that we eat the bread tonight with spaghetti so it doesn’t get too hard and that we eat the yogurt and sour cream asap since they are both past quality date. I think we should eat yogurt for breakfast tomorrow and make chicken taco casserole with sour cream in the next day or so.

So far, I give this pantry a thumbs up. Once I get back on two feet, I’ll go in myself and see what other services they offer. I’ll keep you posted!

Hope this helps.

-csh

 

 

Day 1: Reading theology

I brought “The Responsibility of the Church for Society” by H. Richard Niebuhr, “Liberation and Reconciliation” by J. Deotis Roberts and “Pragmatic Spirituality” by Gayraud S. Wilmore today. I’m going to read and take notes and think.

For support and encouragement. I sent a text to the Director of  Ministry and I’m about to send a text to my mentor. I posted my books on Facebook. I’m beginning today. Very exciting and scary but I’ll get it done.

It’s Complicated

The challenge of being a person of God who has issues with church and the things church folks do.

http://reverendsister.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-complicated.html

New EDD 08/23/2010

Okay so I want to see my new OB. Her name is Dr. Nicole Leong and she is awesome. She SAT DOWN and TALKED to me! Ain’t it sad when that is a big deal? I enjoyed talking to her. We discussed all sorts of stuff. VBAC, being 39, natural vs. caesarean, etc. Last Friday, I had an ultrasound and the tech complimented me on having my dates right based on the baby’s size. She also said that my prosthesis was cold on her arm which is really funny. I never would have thought of that. Obviously we discovered that when she was doing an internal ultrasound. She did a belly one too because my ovaries were hiding. Too funny. Anyway, I sent the pictures to my friends, moms and dad. It was nice. I better go I’m supposed to be running errands.