i recently watched a dateline story about three neighbors, who apparently were otherwise pleasant, mild mannered and law-abiding people, but they became embattled with strife, bitterness and vengeance which ultimately led to a tragic and deadly end.
the cliff notes, if you will, of the story is that the neighbors had agreed that a bridge that accessed both their properties was in need of repairs. as the neighbors discussed, (the husband and wife) agreed to repair the bridge because the husband had some experience in making such repairs. so as months passed away, the other neighbor grew frustrated and irritable because the the repairs had not begun.
the frustrated neighbor hired a professional company to do the work which meant that the repair bill would be split between the homeowners. the move to submit a bill to the couple created such discord and animosity between the neighbors that arguments and accusations ensued and as tempers increasingly grew hostile, the frustrated neighbor shot and killed the husband and wife.
so now a husband and wife lay dead in their driveway – a feud that began over the repairs of a bridge. how is it that seemingly loving people can sometimes be driven to such great acts of rage and violence? why couldn’t this situation be worked out peacefully among the neighbors – where was their love for one another – where was their love for Christ?
yup, i do agree that some people often make it difficult to love them, but the Christ in us must outshine the voice that may lead us to the contrary. when someone treats you badly or unfairly, it can sometimes be a struggle to show them love, but that is exactly what Christ teaches us to do – show love, in the most challenging of situations.
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).
so you may say that you have a great relationship with your neighbors, but who are our neighbors? they are not just those with whom we live in close proximity. in the 10th chapter of luke, Jesus tells the disciples that they must first love the Lord thy God with all their heart and to love thy neighbor as thyself. when asked who is our neighbor, Jesus then tells of the story of the Good Samaritan and indicates that everyone is our neighbor.
"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also." (1John 4:20)
the scriptures are clear. we are to love God, with all our being and we are to love our neighbor in the same way. we should love without judgment, reservation or condition, the way that God loves us. we are to love wholeheartedly, with all of our heart, the way we want to be loved; this pleases God. anyone who doesn't have this kind of love for their brethren does not have a perfect love towards God.
the greek word agape translates to love in the new testament. we should have an agape love for one another, its a self-less and self-sacrificing love with no sexual or romantic connotation. agape love characterizes who God is, his very nature. agape love is a choice not an emotion-filled touchy feeling kind of love. this is the kind of love we are to have for our neighbors; we are to choose to love our neighbors.
the 6th chapter of luke tells us to love our enemies. "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” learning to love each other, especially those whom we see as our enemies, does not come naturally to us so it is a process. love is a healthy and good emotion, it has a calming affect on those who allow it to enter into their lives and then share it with others. love minimizes heated exchanges and disputes, it avoids being critical and judgmental. love chooses to see the good in others, and more so when we are disagreeable. when love is the guiding principle in our dealings with one another it opens itself to a much more pleasant exchange.
as we navigate through this Christmas holiday, let’s remember the love that Christ has for us and show it to our neighbor (those in our office, our family, our church, on the streets, in the stores, on the highway, everywhere we encounter a neighbor) remember to show them God’s agape love.
had the neighbors in the story that i talked about earlier had just taken a moment to remember God’s love and allow His love to be a calming affect in the midst of their very volatile situation, those families could have been spared such a senseless tragedy. when love is the integral key in how we deal with others, we can calm fears, judgments, disputes and even senseless deaths.
during this holiday season and always, practice kindness toward others and gain the peace of God through agape love. what better gift to give to Jesus on His birthday…love God with all our heart, love one another the same, love thy neighbor as we love ourselves.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
what about the children?
shaniya nicole davis – 5 years old
imagine, a beautiful 5 year old little girl is sound asleep when the person whom she probably trusted more than anyone, awakens her to go away in the cold of the night. wrapped in a blanket and clutching the shoulders of the man who would carry her to her death, little shaniya disappears in the arms of a murdering rapist. shaniya is taken to a hotel approximately 30 miles from her home – what happens next will bring much needed attention to the crime of human trafficking.
shaniya was born on valentine’s day in 2004. she had been living with her father and was being cared for by her aunt (her father’s sister) in fayetteville, north carolina. although shaniya’s mother had some history of drug abuse, her father said he believed that she was changing her life for the better and had held down a job for at least 6 months – so he decided to allow shaniya to live with her mother for a while.
shaniya’s father stated that she was just learning to ride her scooter - her aunt recalls how she would come home excited about the good grades she received in school.
on tuesday, november 10, 2009, shaniya’s mother calls 911 to report her child missing. later, police obtain the shocking video showing little shaniya being carried away to her brutal rape and murder. as they wait for an elevator, the chilling image of shaniya’s last moments alive leaves one haunted by what she is soon to face. does this photo not send chills down your spine?
on monday, november 16, 2009, the gruesome discovery of shaniya’s body was found along a rural highway in stanford, north carolina dumped among trash and dear carcasses. shaniya had been kidnapped; the 5 year old had also been brutally raped. shaniya had been murdered and dumped like garbage on the side of a highway.
police reports say that shaniya was prostituted as repayment for her mother’s drug debt. shaniya’s mother, antoinette davis (shown below) is charged with human trafficking for allegedly selling her child as a sex slave. the killer, mario andretti mcneill (pictured below) is charged in shaniya’s kidnapping, rape and murder –both are being held until their trials.
kevin dayshawn wooden – 6 years old
several years ago i bordered on obsession as i fought to keep up with every report and update about the brutal killing of a 6 year old boy in my home town of new orleans. the child’s name was kevin wooden and on february 6, 1999 he was brutally murdered.
for many months and even a few years following this vicious killing, i would contact the police department to find out if there were any breaks in the case. kevin was violently beaten about the head and body to the point that it is reported his liver ruptured in the process. kevin’s body was then thrown into an abandoned auto parts shop.
most of the clues in that case had pointed to the mother’s boyfriend as the killer, but the case has not been solved and an arrest has yet to be made.
in researching the latest events of this case, i was able to reach a journalist and one of the detectives who worked on the case in 1999. the journalist said to me, “It was among the hardest [cases] i've ever had to cover.” as a reporter assigned to the story, she said, “Kevin Wooden…is a name I won’t forget.”
i was also able to reach one of the detectives who once worked on the case and told me that all of the original detectives have since retired. he did note however, that there is a cold case unit staffed by detectives and he led me to a detective who is currently involved in the case. the case does remain open according to the detective with whom i spoke, but there is no new information to report.
the last day of kevin’s life was so brutal, his story was so painful to recall that it gripped me for a very long time and would not let me go. i had contacted local media to keep his story alive and for at least a couple of years, it was. i had reached out to national media and television shows which profiled cold case murders but nothing had sparked any new leads in the case.
unfortunately, i could not find any photographs of kevin – but his obituary read as follows:
Kevin Dayshawn Wooden, was a Student at Ronald Mcnair Elementary School, He was Found Beaten To Death Tuesday At Burthe And Joliet Streets. He Was 6. He Was A Member Of The Youth Department At Providence Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors Include His Father, Craig White; His Mother, Sherine Wooden; His Stepfather, Ricky Jones; A Brother, Ricky Jones Jr.; And His Grandparents, Audrey Wooden And Earl Ratcliff. A Funeral Will Be Held Monday At 11 A.M. At Providence Missionary Baptist Church,2311 Seventh St. Visitation Will Begin Monday At 9 A.M. Burial Will Be In Providence Memorial Park Mausoleum. Magee Funeral Home Is In Charge Of Arrangements. Times Picayune 02-13-1999
sarah haley foxwell – 11 years old
born may 18, 1998, sarah foxwell was preparing to welcome santa claus and looking forward to christmas presents when she and her younger sister went to bed on the nite of tuesday, december 22, 2009. as she slept, 11-year-old sarah foxwell was snatched from her bedroom in salisbury, maryland by a convicted, registered child molester, thomas leggs, jr. (pictured below). what’s more shocking is that leggs was the former boyfriend of sarah’s aunt who was the child’s legal guardian.
while sarah and her 6 year old sister were sleeping, the killer entered the house using a key that he knew the aunt kept hidden under a door mat. sarah's little sister provided a complete description of the kidnapper - the child said, “tommie took sarah.” she was so thorough in her description of him that everything she said he wore on that nite was surprisingly accurate down to the color of his sneakers, jeans and jacket according to a detective in the case. "When we apprehended Leggs in his family home, he was wearing the same exact clothing the sister described."
at approximately 4pm on christmas day, 2009, sarah’s body was found wearing the bedclothes she was last seen in, red fuzzy pajama’s decorated with images of christmas trees on them. sarah had been kidnapped and suffered multiple injuries; she had been brutally raped and her body had been severely burned.
do u notice a trend in these three stories? the children were murdered (or accused to have been murdered) by someone close to them, a family member or friend of the family. we have to be excruciatingly vigilant of those we allow in our inner circle.
unfortunately, our newspapers are littered with stories such as these. can u imagine what goes on in the mind of a child who is facing such a violent death? the last person they see before they leave this earth is the person who is causing them pain, the person who his robbing them of their innocence, their laughter, their youth, their life. when we die we would hope to be surrounded by those who love and care for us and help keep us at peace as we transition, these children did not have that opportunity.
Matthew 18:6 – “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” we must continue to be vigilant and not rest until these perpetrators are thrown into the sea of accountability and punishment.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7. those whom have sown harm, injury, evil, rape and murder in the lives of our children must reap the swiftness of justice.
sound off...
imagine, a beautiful 5 year old little girl is sound asleep when the person whom she probably trusted more than anyone, awakens her to go away in the cold of the night. wrapped in a blanket and clutching the shoulders of the man who would carry her to her death, little shaniya disappears in the arms of a murdering rapist. shaniya is taken to a hotel approximately 30 miles from her home – what happens next will bring much needed attention to the crime of human trafficking.
shaniya was born on valentine’s day in 2004. she had been living with her father and was being cared for by her aunt (her father’s sister) in fayetteville, north carolina. although shaniya’s mother had some history of drug abuse, her father said he believed that she was changing her life for the better and had held down a job for at least 6 months – so he decided to allow shaniya to live with her mother for a while.
shaniya’s father stated that she was just learning to ride her scooter - her aunt recalls how she would come home excited about the good grades she received in school.
on tuesday, november 10, 2009, shaniya’s mother calls 911 to report her child missing. later, police obtain the shocking video showing little shaniya being carried away to her brutal rape and murder. as they wait for an elevator, the chilling image of shaniya’s last moments alive leaves one haunted by what she is soon to face. does this photo not send chills down your spine?
on monday, november 16, 2009, the gruesome discovery of shaniya’s body was found along a rural highway in stanford, north carolina dumped among trash and dear carcasses. shaniya had been kidnapped; the 5 year old had also been brutally raped. shaniya had been murdered and dumped like garbage on the side of a highway.
police reports say that shaniya was prostituted as repayment for her mother’s drug debt. shaniya’s mother, antoinette davis (shown below) is charged with human trafficking for allegedly selling her child as a sex slave. the killer, mario andretti mcneill (pictured below) is charged in shaniya’s kidnapping, rape and murder –both are being held until their trials.
kevin dayshawn wooden – 6 years old
several years ago i bordered on obsession as i fought to keep up with every report and update about the brutal killing of a 6 year old boy in my home town of new orleans. the child’s name was kevin wooden and on february 6, 1999 he was brutally murdered.
for many months and even a few years following this vicious killing, i would contact the police department to find out if there were any breaks in the case. kevin was violently beaten about the head and body to the point that it is reported his liver ruptured in the process. kevin’s body was then thrown into an abandoned auto parts shop.
most of the clues in that case had pointed to the mother’s boyfriend as the killer, but the case has not been solved and an arrest has yet to be made.
in researching the latest events of this case, i was able to reach a journalist and one of the detectives who worked on the case in 1999. the journalist said to me, “It was among the hardest [cases] i've ever had to cover.” as a reporter assigned to the story, she said, “Kevin Wooden…is a name I won’t forget.”
i was also able to reach one of the detectives who once worked on the case and told me that all of the original detectives have since retired. he did note however, that there is a cold case unit staffed by detectives and he led me to a detective who is currently involved in the case. the case does remain open according to the detective with whom i spoke, but there is no new information to report.
the last day of kevin’s life was so brutal, his story was so painful to recall that it gripped me for a very long time and would not let me go. i had contacted local media to keep his story alive and for at least a couple of years, it was. i had reached out to national media and television shows which profiled cold case murders but nothing had sparked any new leads in the case.
unfortunately, i could not find any photographs of kevin – but his obituary read as follows:
Kevin Dayshawn Wooden, was a Student at Ronald Mcnair Elementary School, He was Found Beaten To Death Tuesday At Burthe And Joliet Streets. He Was 6. He Was A Member Of The Youth Department At Providence Missionary Baptist Church. Survivors Include His Father, Craig White; His Mother, Sherine Wooden; His Stepfather, Ricky Jones; A Brother, Ricky Jones Jr.; And His Grandparents, Audrey Wooden And Earl Ratcliff. A Funeral Will Be Held Monday At 11 A.M. At Providence Missionary Baptist Church,2311 Seventh St. Visitation Will Begin Monday At 9 A.M. Burial Will Be In Providence Memorial Park Mausoleum. Magee Funeral Home Is In Charge Of Arrangements. Times Picayune 02-13-1999
sarah haley foxwell – 11 years old
born may 18, 1998, sarah foxwell was preparing to welcome santa claus and looking forward to christmas presents when she and her younger sister went to bed on the nite of tuesday, december 22, 2009. as she slept, 11-year-old sarah foxwell was snatched from her bedroom in salisbury, maryland by a convicted, registered child molester, thomas leggs, jr. (pictured below). what’s more shocking is that leggs was the former boyfriend of sarah’s aunt who was the child’s legal guardian.
while sarah and her 6 year old sister were sleeping, the killer entered the house using a key that he knew the aunt kept hidden under a door mat. sarah's little sister provided a complete description of the kidnapper - the child said, “tommie took sarah.” she was so thorough in her description of him that everything she said he wore on that nite was surprisingly accurate down to the color of his sneakers, jeans and jacket according to a detective in the case. "When we apprehended Leggs in his family home, he was wearing the same exact clothing the sister described."
at approximately 4pm on christmas day, 2009, sarah’s body was found wearing the bedclothes she was last seen in, red fuzzy pajama’s decorated with images of christmas trees on them. sarah had been kidnapped and suffered multiple injuries; she had been brutally raped and her body had been severely burned.
do u notice a trend in these three stories? the children were murdered (or accused to have been murdered) by someone close to them, a family member or friend of the family. we have to be excruciatingly vigilant of those we allow in our inner circle.
unfortunately, our newspapers are littered with stories such as these. can u imagine what goes on in the mind of a child who is facing such a violent death? the last person they see before they leave this earth is the person who is causing them pain, the person who his robbing them of their innocence, their laughter, their youth, their life. when we die we would hope to be surrounded by those who love and care for us and help keep us at peace as we transition, these children did not have that opportunity.
Matthew 18:6 – “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” we must continue to be vigilant and not rest until these perpetrators are thrown into the sea of accountability and punishment.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7. those whom have sown harm, injury, evil, rape and murder in the lives of our children must reap the swiftness of justice.
sound off...
Friday, January 29, 2010
teenage pregnancy
“so i had been feeling bloated for a few weeks and had these weird cravings and was eating everything in sight, strange things. some mornings i would wake up feeling nauseous and others, not so much. i couldn’t focus, i was anxious and irritable all the time. then it dawned on me, could i be pregnant? i began to panic and my thoughts were racing about how this would affect my life. what in the world have i done? we only had unprotected sex once, we just got caught up. so i took a pregnancy test which was positive and went to our family doctor who confirmed it. what in the world am i going to do with a baby - i’m only 15 years old.”
how many times have we heard this story? how would you handle if it were your teenage daughter, grand-daughter, niece or sister? it is estimated that nearly 4 out of 10 girls will become pregnant at least once before she turns age 20; the USA has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the world. teenagers are having babies at an alarming rate, as if it’s a new fashion trend, a badge of honor even.
sex before marriage is fornication, it is against the teachings of the bible. so where are our teenagers picking up these habits – well from our mothers (and fathers), ofcourse. we as a culture have embraced sexual immorality and fornication (which also translates to shacking up, living together, having sex before marriage, and adultery) so it should be no surprise that our children are confused. why would a teenager not have sex when they’re living in the house with their mom and her boyfriend or their dad and his girlfriend…having sex before marriage cant be wrong, mama and daddy do it all the time. the bible tells us to “abstain from all appearance of evil. and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23.
“i was 19 at the time and i had just found out i was pregnant. my boyfriend and father of my baby ended up leaving while i was six months pregnant and still doesn't want contact with our son. i was young, fun loving, loved to go out and party a little while and just starting college. i was working part time as a personal assistant and looking to go overseas and travel. the future looked bright for me until i fell pregnant.”
yep things are always great in a dating relationship until you become pregnant. the guy seems like “the one.” you have a special connection, he just loves everything about you, wants to spend every moment just smiling in your face and then it happens. you say those three little words, “i am pregnant.” watch him run out the door faster than you can say the words, “i’m now a statistic” as he renounces you and the baby you’re carrying. most often the teenage boys have no interest in marriage or fatherhood and are not held accountable, so the pregnant mother is left abandoned to care for the child on her own.
“i found out I was pregnant when I was 17. i was a senior in high school. when i first found out i was with some friends and my boyfriend. we had been together already for three years. anyway, when I found out, I thought my world was over. i sat and cried on my best friend's shoulder for about an hour. i guess my dreams are gonna have to wait.”
oftentimes when teenage girls become pregnant, their dreams are deferred or downright denied. their hopes of achieving great professional accomplishments become dashed. statistically they don’t finish high school, let alone attend college. becoming a pregnant teen can result in serious education and social problems for both the mother and father. their carefree single life ceases to exist. there is no more time for partying with friends or hanging out at the mall, or catching a movie with a girlfriend or taking a relaxing vacation. instead, their time is spent changing diapers, finding daycare, working 2 and 3 jobs to support themselves and their babies. why would a teenager sign up for these calamities? do they lack self worth, self confidence or self acceptance or do they just lack self control?
“she came to the center seeking an abortion. she had recently moved to our community to live with her boyfriend and she had no support systems. her boyfriend had become abusive and she had spent the night in a shelter. she looked so weary, her only words were a repeated request for an abortion. at the center, she was told what an abortion would entail, and she agreed to an ultrasound. she openly expressed hope that it was not a viable pregnancy. she remained resolute regarding the abortion and felt it was the only answer for her. she agreed to a second ultrasound, but did not show up at her appointed time. when she did not return my calls, i anticipated the worst.”
the subject of abortion is one that has created much debate. rather you are “pro-choice” or “pro-life” the one thing that cannot be disputed is that choosing life (giving birth) or choosing death (abortion) can dramatically impact your life. each has its own set of circumstances and everyone has their own opinions on the subject, pregnant women, clinicians, politicians and spiritual leaders. but what really matters is what the bible teaches about abortion. it is a sin.
if you are a young woman currently faced with a decision about an unplanned pregnancy, please know that there are options. make an informed decision and do not choose it hastily. seek advice and counsel from a trusted source (parents, school counselors, crisis centers, spiritual advisors).
do not be bound by your sins for all have sinned and fallen short and no one who walks the earth is perfect. in your sin you must seek forgiveness from God and change your values and principles. God hates sin but He loves the sinner. if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart God will hear your cry, heal your hurts and bring you out of your dark situation. God has a plan for you – believe that.
“Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. “For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.” Matthew 7:1-2
if you have had an abortion in your past, that’s where it is, in your past. do not allow your past guilt and sins to condemn you. just as with any other sin, if you ask God’s forgiveness, He will forgive you. that’s one of the great things about God, He forgives and forgets. ”Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18
teenagers need our love, support and encouragement. we should keep the lines of communication “gapped wide open” and teach them what the bible instructs about pre-marital sex. we should encourage them to abstain from sex until marriage. but we cant stick our heads in the sand either and pretend that the statistics aren’t real. as difficult as the conversation may be, if our teenagers are determined to be disobedient to the word of God and not abstain from sex, then we should have a discussion about prevention.
note: the personal stories illustrated in this blog represent real teenagers and are excerpts as submitted from pregnancy centers.
sound off...
how many times have we heard this story? how would you handle if it were your teenage daughter, grand-daughter, niece or sister? it is estimated that nearly 4 out of 10 girls will become pregnant at least once before she turns age 20; the USA has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the world. teenagers are having babies at an alarming rate, as if it’s a new fashion trend, a badge of honor even.
sex before marriage is fornication, it is against the teachings of the bible. so where are our teenagers picking up these habits – well from our mothers (and fathers), ofcourse. we as a culture have embraced sexual immorality and fornication (which also translates to shacking up, living together, having sex before marriage, and adultery) so it should be no surprise that our children are confused. why would a teenager not have sex when they’re living in the house with their mom and her boyfriend or their dad and his girlfriend…having sex before marriage cant be wrong, mama and daddy do it all the time. the bible tells us to “abstain from all appearance of evil. and the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23.
“i was 19 at the time and i had just found out i was pregnant. my boyfriend and father of my baby ended up leaving while i was six months pregnant and still doesn't want contact with our son. i was young, fun loving, loved to go out and party a little while and just starting college. i was working part time as a personal assistant and looking to go overseas and travel. the future looked bright for me until i fell pregnant.”
yep things are always great in a dating relationship until you become pregnant. the guy seems like “the one.” you have a special connection, he just loves everything about you, wants to spend every moment just smiling in your face and then it happens. you say those three little words, “i am pregnant.” watch him run out the door faster than you can say the words, “i’m now a statistic” as he renounces you and the baby you’re carrying. most often the teenage boys have no interest in marriage or fatherhood and are not held accountable, so the pregnant mother is left abandoned to care for the child on her own.
“i found out I was pregnant when I was 17. i was a senior in high school. when i first found out i was with some friends and my boyfriend. we had been together already for three years. anyway, when I found out, I thought my world was over. i sat and cried on my best friend's shoulder for about an hour. i guess my dreams are gonna have to wait.”
oftentimes when teenage girls become pregnant, their dreams are deferred or downright denied. their hopes of achieving great professional accomplishments become dashed. statistically they don’t finish high school, let alone attend college. becoming a pregnant teen can result in serious education and social problems for both the mother and father. their carefree single life ceases to exist. there is no more time for partying with friends or hanging out at the mall, or catching a movie with a girlfriend or taking a relaxing vacation. instead, their time is spent changing diapers, finding daycare, working 2 and 3 jobs to support themselves and their babies. why would a teenager sign up for these calamities? do they lack self worth, self confidence or self acceptance or do they just lack self control?
“she came to the center seeking an abortion. she had recently moved to our community to live with her boyfriend and she had no support systems. her boyfriend had become abusive and she had spent the night in a shelter. she looked so weary, her only words were a repeated request for an abortion. at the center, she was told what an abortion would entail, and she agreed to an ultrasound. she openly expressed hope that it was not a viable pregnancy. she remained resolute regarding the abortion and felt it was the only answer for her. she agreed to a second ultrasound, but did not show up at her appointed time. when she did not return my calls, i anticipated the worst.”
the subject of abortion is one that has created much debate. rather you are “pro-choice” or “pro-life” the one thing that cannot be disputed is that choosing life (giving birth) or choosing death (abortion) can dramatically impact your life. each has its own set of circumstances and everyone has their own opinions on the subject, pregnant women, clinicians, politicians and spiritual leaders. but what really matters is what the bible teaches about abortion. it is a sin.
if you are a young woman currently faced with a decision about an unplanned pregnancy, please know that there are options. make an informed decision and do not choose it hastily. seek advice and counsel from a trusted source (parents, school counselors, crisis centers, spiritual advisors).
do not be bound by your sins for all have sinned and fallen short and no one who walks the earth is perfect. in your sin you must seek forgiveness from God and change your values and principles. God hates sin but He loves the sinner. if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart God will hear your cry, heal your hurts and bring you out of your dark situation. God has a plan for you – believe that.
“Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. “For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.” Matthew 7:1-2
if you have had an abortion in your past, that’s where it is, in your past. do not allow your past guilt and sins to condemn you. just as with any other sin, if you ask God’s forgiveness, He will forgive you. that’s one of the great things about God, He forgives and forgets. ”Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.” Isaiah 43:18
teenagers need our love, support and encouragement. we should keep the lines of communication “gapped wide open” and teach them what the bible instructs about pre-marital sex. we should encourage them to abstain from sex until marriage. but we cant stick our heads in the sand either and pretend that the statistics aren’t real. as difficult as the conversation may be, if our teenagers are determined to be disobedient to the word of God and not abstain from sex, then we should have a discussion about prevention.
note: the personal stories illustrated in this blog represent real teenagers and are excerpts as submitted from pregnancy centers.
sound off...
Friday, January 22, 2010
forgive...
something that may not be easy to do, but if we want to receive God’s forgiveness, we must forgive one another.
have you ever made a mistake so terrible that you shocked yourself? have you done a deed so inexplicable that you wonder why God continues to bless you? when you sin, do you apologize to God and pray for Him to forgive you of those sins? 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
likewise, when someone has hurt us by their words and/or actions and it crushes us to our core, they too should be forgiven. how can we expect God to forgive us if we choose not to forgive others? don’t continue in 2010 to harbor resentful feelings which allow you to become caged in an emotional prison. let go of the things that hold you bondage and prevent you from living a rewarding life full of peace and true happiness. walking in the strength of forgiveness sets us free to enjoy the life that God intended us to live.
how foolish and immature of us to knowingly be at odds with someone and refuse to “apologize or forgive them first” because “they hurt us first so they should be the one to apologize.” please let that go. are you so stubborn, selfish and self-centered that you can’t recognize when God is trying to get your attention – to use you to maybe show someone else the light of salvation? could this be a test administered to you by God and you concede failure and defeat? when you continue to hold on to past hurt, resentment, pain, anger, revenge, and bad feelings – you deceive yourself into thinking that you’re living a fulfilled life, its only a caricature of the real thing. please, let that go.
Mark 11:25-26 (Amplified) "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop--leave it, let it go--in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your (own) failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."
i earnestly pray that this post reaches someone who truly needs to understand what it means to forgive – the beauty, strength, maturity and growth it takes to forgive. we should never believe that to apologize and forgive resigns us to weakness. when we don’t forgive one another then it hinders our praise and our relationship with God. if we say we love our brothers and sisters but we can’t apologize and/or forgive then our misguided, half-baked idea of what true, genuine and sincere love really means is only a distorted reality.
Matthew 6:14-15, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
our earthly life is but an ephemeral journey and we should make a positive impact while God has given us the opportunity to do so. if God was to call you home right now, at the very moment that you read this post –how can He receive you into His kingdom with an unrepentant heart? how can you stand before Him knowing that you harbor anger, resentment and animosity and did not seek to resolve the issue? if God can forgive us for all the terrible sins that we have committed against Him then who are we to not forgive others?
give the gift of forgiveness. as you walk thru 2010, forgive someone today and walk in your deliverance.
have you ever made a mistake so terrible that you shocked yourself? have you done a deed so inexplicable that you wonder why God continues to bless you? when you sin, do you apologize to God and pray for Him to forgive you of those sins? 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
likewise, when someone has hurt us by their words and/or actions and it crushes us to our core, they too should be forgiven. how can we expect God to forgive us if we choose not to forgive others? don’t continue in 2010 to harbor resentful feelings which allow you to become caged in an emotional prison. let go of the things that hold you bondage and prevent you from living a rewarding life full of peace and true happiness. walking in the strength of forgiveness sets us free to enjoy the life that God intended us to live.
how foolish and immature of us to knowingly be at odds with someone and refuse to “apologize or forgive them first” because “they hurt us first so they should be the one to apologize.” please let that go. are you so stubborn, selfish and self-centered that you can’t recognize when God is trying to get your attention – to use you to maybe show someone else the light of salvation? could this be a test administered to you by God and you concede failure and defeat? when you continue to hold on to past hurt, resentment, pain, anger, revenge, and bad feelings – you deceive yourself into thinking that you’re living a fulfilled life, its only a caricature of the real thing. please, let that go.
Mark 11:25-26 (Amplified) "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop--leave it, let it go--in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your (own) failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings."
i earnestly pray that this post reaches someone who truly needs to understand what it means to forgive – the beauty, strength, maturity and growth it takes to forgive. we should never believe that to apologize and forgive resigns us to weakness. when we don’t forgive one another then it hinders our praise and our relationship with God. if we say we love our brothers and sisters but we can’t apologize and/or forgive then our misguided, half-baked idea of what true, genuine and sincere love really means is only a distorted reality.
Matthew 6:14-15, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
our earthly life is but an ephemeral journey and we should make a positive impact while God has given us the opportunity to do so. if God was to call you home right now, at the very moment that you read this post –how can He receive you into His kingdom with an unrepentant heart? how can you stand before Him knowing that you harbor anger, resentment and animosity and did not seek to resolve the issue? if God can forgive us for all the terrible sins that we have committed against Him then who are we to not forgive others?
give the gift of forgiveness. as you walk thru 2010, forgive someone today and walk in your deliverance.
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