I started researching my family history when I was in my early thirties. This was before websites that had tons of information on people. I used to sit at the library and read census records and anything else I could get hold of. I compiled lists and made charts.
I traced my family back to about 1820 Farmington, Tennessee. I was very proud of all the work I had done, but it was speculation based on family legends and documents I found. I filled in my family tree with names and dates. There were a long list of people who were were related too. Some had great accomplishments and others were ordinary, but we were related. I shared it with other family members. Not many were interested.
The other day I got a message telling me my DNA matched some other peoples’ DNA and we should form a circle around a certain ancestor. This ancestor takes me earlier than I was. I laughed thinking I knew we were related before there was a DNA test to prove it. This just confirmed what I already knew.
This process reminded me of what heaven will be like. Some of us are going through things that seem tedious because we believe something. We kinda of have an idea about it, but don’t really understand the details about it.
One day we are going to have the best giggle when Jesus tells us we are apart of his family. I mean we know it now, but when He tells us. That will be a day.
One of my favorites by Prince. Music brings memories to mind. I remember hearing Prince in the dorm. I think someone had a poster of him on their wall. (sorry the videos keep getting yanked offline)
Rest in peace, your work on earth is finished. Thanks.
For the month of April I am just posting videos. I love music. It inspires and encourages me. This is some music THE TEENAGER introduced me to. We were cooking one evening and listening to her playlist. I like it.
I love music. Everyday I wake up with a song in my head. It usually sets the pace for the day. (And some days I do try to change the sound track)
When I write, I usually have a sound track for each novel. Sometimes it is obvious because the music will be mentioned in the text, while other times not. I like music that is full of emotion.
This month, we are just going to jam. Here are two of my favorites.
Anger drove her to find the ones who invaded her life, but Claire was sure that was not going to be able to sustain her when she finally caught up with the pirates. As she chased the pirates, she found the only help she had came from a local cop and a federal agent, but would that be enough?
Privateers is the story of a single young woman who is tricked by modern day pirates losing everything she owned. As she tries to figure out what happened to her belongings, her world crashes around her as government and private agencies treat her as a suspect. Determined to find the man who did this to her, she stumbles onto a government top secret. Finding this modern day pirate turns into a race against lethal forces.
because He knows we won’t be obedient. God did not tell me His plans for today because He knew I would skip it.
I had been trying to get my small group together for a while, but there were lots of conflicts in our schedules. One of them suggested Harvest America, which was a free concert with several Christian artists and a message from a great preacher. Initially I was leery because it was being held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. I didn’t want to deal with big crowds.
Unfortunately, everyone in my small group wanted to go. Okay. I put the person who suggested in charge of planning. Thought maybe we could all have dinner together and go to the venue. I research the preacher. It looked like he only got crowds of 17,000 to 20,000, I figured we could have some choice seats at AT&T with that few people.
Two days before the one whose idea it was, could not go. WHAT! This was your idea! (not real Christian of me) So discussing the idea with my sister, I suggested the group meet for dinner at 4 then head on over afterwards for the concert and the word. My sister suggested we meet earlier. I relented.
We knew things were going to be crazy when we met to eat because the restaurant was overflowing with people. We thought we might get jumped for our table. One woman had so many people with her I thought she was just going to start sitting them at tables with strangers. Our journey began at Cane’s. (God has jokes)
We finished eating and headed for the stadium. It was incredibly crowded. I told myself it was what 20,000 people looked like. Once inside, the bottom two levels filled up fast. Soon it looked like this. (I knew I wasn’t in Kansas anymore)
When the top tiers filled up I knew this was more than 20,000 people. We watched on FB as people posted about bad traffic in Arlington around the stadium. Good thing we left early.
Now left to my own devices, I would have NEVER attended something with more than 100,000 people. They said people were coming and standing outside to witness what was happening on the inside. They said the fire marshal made people leave because there were too many.
Inside it was Amazing Grace.
It was such a privilege to hear the recording artists and the preacher. I was so blessed by the word. It was a blessing to just see the words roll across the screen and think about the gift of being saved from my sin. It was a blessing to see Lecrae in person. I am a fan.
Chris Tomlin did what He does well. It was freeing. I have been set free.
I don’t know much about Greg Laurie, except he is a man of incredible prayer. He prayed and God answered. You should listen to him for that alone. He preached God’s word simple and truthful.
He held and invitation to invite Jesus into their lives. He filled up the football field and had to use overflow room. God worked miracles and wonders this evening. I am glad I made it in.
I almost missed my blessing. I am glad God outsmarted me.
The United States was built on the backs of African Americans, Mexican Americans and Asian Americans. That is why I love Black History Month. It tells the stories I never got to hear in school. It reminds me that my people are not shiftless and lazy. They have great minds and hearts contributing to society.
It reminds me that you can come from nothing and add something significant to life. In my Queens project, the women I chose made a contribution to society that changed the fabric of it. Ordinary women did extraordinary things.
For this project, I chose women from all walks of life. I will share some of the photos I have taken, thus far. These are my Queens of Freedom.
Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues
Betsy Ross, mother of the American Flag
Madam CJ Walker, first African American Millionaire
Delores Hueta, Labor Leader and civil rights worker
Rosa Parks, civil rights activist or the mother of the freedom movement
Sacagawea, lead Lewis and Clark across North America
Shirley Chisholm, first African American woman elected to Congress
I love that there are months to celebrate African American History and Women’s History. It is the opportunity to tell the stories of people like you and me who accomplished things that moved us further along on life’s journey.
My current photo project is inspired by a group of women who changed life for the people around them. These women taught us about freedom, self worth and beauty. They walked us to freedom through dark woods in the dead of night. They built fortunes washing clothes and combing hair. They leave a legacy that the impossible can be done.
I call them Queens because these women led when it wasn’t easy. Anyone can do it when it is easy, but these women did it when there was nothing in it for them. When all of the odds where against them. They made a difference.
Because of women like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, Betsy Ross we are free. We are not restricted by someone who owns us. Because of women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton we can own property and manage our own lives. We can be lawyers, architects or millionaires. We can be what God created us to be and not limited by what man thinks we should be.
Bessie Smith was raised during a difficult time in our country’s history in 1892. She lived in the segregated South. Her parents died when she was young, so she and her brother would dance and sing on the streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee to earn money. In 1912 she started her career as a dancer traveling with a troupe. She would later get a job as a singer, which would lead to better paying jobs.
By the 1920s and 1930s, Smith was known as the Empress of the Blues. She would headline shows and traveled around in her own custom made rail car. What was more important is she gave voice to a style of music that got its roots in America. Bessie Smith understood the blues, it was her life. She poured everything she had into it until it consumed her.
If we don’t tell these stories who will tell them? Young girls need to know you can climb out of hard times if you have perseverance and a dream.
The final section for this series is Emotional. It speaks to making social and meaningful connections with others. These are the people you encounter and who influence your life. Sometimes is it family, sometimes it is friends, sometimes it is strangers on the street.
Do I think I can walk out of the house in my pajama pants to run some errands? My sisters and daughter would kill me.
Do you ever really leave BSF leadership? I have friends who still taunt me with “We sure miss you in the mornings.”
The other day I encountered a woman who tried to hold it together while she told me how her life was falling apart. I could not put words together to console her. After she had walked away, the Holy Spirit gave me instructions and I followed His wisdom.
The last couple of years of my life has focused on the connections that influence who I am. One of the things I learned was that the only thing that last forever is your relationship with God. All of our other relationships on earth come to an end but everything else builds on that relationship with God. If you want to have peace, allow God to have the most influence in your life.
If God takes someone from your life, trust Him. He knows what is best for both of you. I had too many influences or the wrong influences. God showed me through a series of trials that things that I thought were true of people was not. People who I did not like, He taught me to love and cherish. People who I loved, He cut from my life.
When I was younger, I had a good friend who I met in college. She had a great deal of influence in my life because we were friends. She was intelligent and well connected. She had a lot going for her. She also had some things going on in her life that God’s word did not approve of. At that point in time, God did not have the influence in MY life to counter the influence she had. God removed her from my friends list and began to teach me His ways. Looking back over my life, He was right.
So today when He starts removing people from my friends and family list, I roll with Him. When He adds people, I roll with Him. I know it is not about me. My influeners list is short. All of the people on this list KNOW God and LOVE Him.
Take a serious look at the people you are connected to. This area of your life can take all your energy and drain you if you allow the wrong people to have influence. I look at the stop signs God has placed in my life and I know He was right.
I remember one time He gave me a “go” sign and I thought He was tripping. I was doing a small group study through my church. I remember sitting at the little table for sign ups. I had one person from church interested in joining my group. Then I watched God surround this Ph.D student with a bunch of seasoned social workers. I remember thinking, “Wow, God that is soo cool.” We have all been praying for each other ever since. Trust Him. My small group is better than your small group.
The only thing better than my small group (and yes my sisters are part of my small group) are my sisters, Pooh and cousin Kisha. I am going to send a shout out to the travel group, WWC because I do not want anyone smothering me with a pillow on our next trip.
I spend time with these people and share life together. We don’t always agree, but we do lots of laughing. Make sure the people who influence your life can make you laugh, support you when you cry and point you to the Most High God all the time.
These are the people who influence my life. They say “That’s stupid, don’t do that.” Or as my younger sister says, “I have friends in this city and do not want to see you on a episode of Cops.” We are family.
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