Vampires and Werewolves in our real lives

Did you know that vampires cannot come into your house unless you invite them in?  They are portrayed as seductive to gain access to humans.  Did you also know that werewolves are the natural enemy of vampires and that legend states the reason as competition for the same prey?  Werewolves represent the base self-serving nature of humans. 

Would you allow a vampire in your house if you knew what he or she actually was?  Would you allow a werewolf into your life if you knew they would eventually rip you to shreds?

Yet in our very real lives, we are so taken in by people who behave with these characteristics.  We invite them in with a "come on in, make yourself at home".  "Be our guest", "it's no trouble".  We’re having a family BBQ in two weeks, you should come, it will be casual".   We make plans, talk frequently on the phone with them.  Get ready for the big day and are utterly taken by surprise when he or she shows up almost two hours late after they promised to help you get things ready.  

If your vampire/werewolf is a guy, he's dressed in an ultra-tight muscle shirt and jeans.  He's constantly flexing and showing off in front of the women, lapping up their comments and stares.  In front of the men he is taking charge to show that he is the alpha even going so far as to hand you a beer, take the BBQ tongs out of your hands say just loud enough, "relax brotha, I know I was late, but you take it easy now".  I'll handle the pit for you"

If your particular vampire/werewolf is female, she brings a store-bought desert when she promised she would bring a main dish of potato salad.  She’s dressed in something just a bit too tight, just a bit too revealing. She may sit with the women, but she doesn’t really fit in and doesn’t try to.  She may decide to sit with the men and wreak havoc by becoming a distraction.

The whispers start, the gossip tea flows.  Your family and other friends start questioning you. Your husband or wife may give you the side eye and you start to defend your vampire/werewolf. 

 Oh no! How did you get here?  Why are you defending the villain?  I’ll tell you why… because you invited them in.  You didn’t recognize evil because it was dressed up in a package you like and you brought it into your life.  But it is still evil.

Galatians 5:15-16

Watch out for false prophets!  They dress up like sheep, but inside they are wolves who have come to attack you. You can tell wht they are by what they do. No one picks grapes or figs from thornbushes. 

  

I can hear you saying, those people are not prophets.  You’re right… these vampires/werewolves are false prophets. They speak and influence your life in ways that are not Godly.  They convince you that what they are doing is the right way and if you stick with them, they can help you.  But really all they want is to suck the life out of you with foolishness and ravage you to turn you into one of them.  

The words, deeds and even the person 

may be dressed up in a package you like but don’t fall for it, it’s a trap.

Ask God to show you His way. Ask for His discern-ment. He can show you, lead you and guide you.  Don’t let the vampires and werewolves into your life where they will get together and turn on you!

God will meet you where you are.

Recently I was able to speak at my church's Women's Day service.  This was such a wonderful opportunity to share some of the experiences of my life and how God has been there all along. Here's an excerpt:

We grew up a little more and were blessed to see  Rep Shirley Chisholm run for President and later to be able to chant with the grown ups  “Run Jesse Run!”  And have some real idea of what that meant.  These were positive experiences in the life of a Black  girl from Deep East Oakland.    Did you attend high school in the late 70s or early 80s here in Oakland, California?  Did you see mannequins made to look like  Black folks hanging from trees and as the bus pulled up to the school  ? Ugly racist messages written on them and spray painted on the school sign.  Did you think to yourself, “ I thought this stuff was over?  I thought this happened a long time ago”.  Cause that’s how you think as a child.  That nothing bad can happen to you. 

 In the 90’s one of my favorite rappers,  Ice Cube, reminded us “Just wakin up in the mornin gotta thank God” and then Tupac followed up with “just keep ya head up” . You see sometimes the Lord will talk to us through some unlikely sources.  He meets us where we are.  Now I am in no way saying that Pac or Cube are modern day Apostles.  But  don’t forget that on the Damascus road, Jesus spoke to Saul through a donkey……….. and changed…… his…… life.  Saul  became Paul and through him, Jesus, The Word, changed the lives of the people he taught and preached to and continues to do so even today. 

I'm so glad that God doesn't require us to get ourselves together in order to come Him.  But He is there all the while, patiently waiting for us to just hold out a hand, Just ask for help, Just surrender.  God sent His Son as an human embodiment of His Love for us. All we have to do is accept Him. Confess that we have sinned and believe that Christ is our Savior.  God makes it easy for us.  The hard part is getting out of our own way. 

As my walk brings me closer to Christ. . .

As my walk brings me closer to Christ. . .

So I was listening to the Karen Hunter Show on SiriusXM today (I have a preview in my car that I just may have to subscribe to thanks to Karen Hunter).   She had a very interesting opinion about Hillary Clinton's meeting with members of BlackLivesMatter.   Ms. Hunter said that Hillary Clinton gave the representatives she met with some good advice..... but more importantly than that Karen Hunter pointed out what too many of us African Americans choose not to.  You have to have a plan or you will fade away into history.  I agree.

People want justice but they have no plan on how to get it.  They want things to change but they don't know how to spell out those changes and the steps that should be taken.  Too many times groups lose focus or take on "members" who don't have a clue or any intention of developing a strategy.  I applaud Karen Hunter for pointing out what should be obvoius to anyone keeping up with the news. You have to have a clear well thought out plan, a master chess game, a military-like strategy. 

It seems that too often we as a people are just bopping along without any real direction.  Karen Hunter, keep doing what you do!  BlackLivesMatter, get a plan together and execute it!  Don't fade away into obscurity!

Hello again,

I had a very interesting conversation yesterday in Sunday School Teacher's meeting..... ( yes I teach Sunday School, big smile).

One of the ladies was convinced that there are people who do not know right from wrong.  She explained that there are youth and young adults that behave in whatever way suits them and that she believes that they do not know what they are doing is wrong, whatever that may be.   Stealing, graffiti, cursing, fighting, drug selling and or drug use....

I disagree with her opinion.....but I can see how she arrived at the conclusion.  During our discussion I explained that the while the people she speaks of may think that their behavior is normal, they know that it is not right. That it is in fact wrong.  There is a chasm of difference between right and normal.

All people know when they do something wrong. It is part of man's Fall from grace.   How do we move from "normal" behavior to repentance?  Especially when everyone around us does not call us to task and in fact sees absolutely nothing wrong with our behavior?   In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says "come unto me all who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest".   He tells us to come to him, not get ready, just come to him.

Thank you Jesus for seeing the desperate circumstance many may find themselves in and providing a clear path to Help. To You.



Please share your thoughts on this......

At work singing softly to myself.......


I need Thee, oh I need thee......
Every hour I need Thee,

Bless me now my Savior
I come to Thee....



Sometimes I be like that

At work, softly singing to myself..... 

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.

Sometimes it be like that.