I remember when we were young and color blind

I remember when . . .
When we were young and color blind.
When we had no sense of time.
Spelling and Math homework was our only concept of responsibility.

I always knew I was a Nigerian.
No one had to tell me, I could just figure it out.
Made my first trip to the Motherland when I was five.
And this was increasingly evident when my mom dressed me in a purple tie-dye Ankara on Halloween.

Little brown girl, with the best of both worlds.
Leggos and jump ropes, Fresh Bread, Semo and Soup (Stew).
Just the same, no one had to tell me I was black.
I was black and so were several people in my neighborhood (Uptown) and in my church (Faith Tabernacle).
I was black and so were a few people in my grammar school and on my bus route, my bus driver was black too.

Ms. Meister was my first grade teacher and she was my favorite teacher at the time.
My classmates and I looked forward to reading time at the end of the day.
We would form on the carpet, one after the other, once we finished our class work.
Ms. Meister read us several novels: The Boxcar Children, Stuart Little and the like.
Then she began reading Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.

I remember when
She came to the part just before Ms. Tubman was struck with an iron.
Some time prior to that, I involuntarily curled up in a praying position, on the carpet.
I was so fearful of what was to come.

Suddenly, Ms. Meister stopped reading
Christina? [pause]
I just looked up; surprised that I even ended up in that position.
Are you okay?
I felt 60-something 6-year-old eyes staring at me awaiting my response.
With a shocked yet embarrassed look on my face, nervously I nodded in the affirmative.
Then I fixed my posture and she continued reading.
And we continued listening not only with our ears and imaginations but with our eyes.

Then I started to understand what it meant to be black.
In a classroom where the African Americans could be counted on one hand,
it became very apparent, not only to me, but also to everyone else, that I was black.
We were still young but no longer color blind . . .

Church in the state

So I’m working up the courage to just invite people openly to church events without thinking about the political correctness.

This morning in class . . .

Thoughts: hmm I wonder what some of these valley girls are going to think? Would I get a “how dare this law grad try to invite us to something about church here, doesn’t she know better?” Followed by all this unwarranted {in my objective opinion} offense for the rest of the year.

*SHRUG*

Me: Professor A., are we allowed to announce campus events? {I mean they announce all types of events in class, some of which could be offensive to me, why not? it's only fair, equal opportunity.}
Professor: Sure. What is it, just so I know and I’m not caught off guard?
Me: It’s called All Campus Worship
Professor: Oh. It’s religious *hand toss* well maybe we can just save that, but you’re more than welcome to announce it after class.

Thoughts: Oh of course, when everyone is packing up to go as quickly as they can after sitting here for three hours…. O____O ok...."a time and a place for everything huh?..."

Lesson 1: There are going to be people that will say no, but that doesn’t change my role. Moreover, there are going to be people that say yes, {Praise Jesus!} and that still does not change my role [here].

A few weeks ago, I went to an intercession meeting where a woman prayed about the upcoming elections. One of her points asked [in summation] for the Lord to completely occupy all government positions with pro-life Christians [sounds like an oxy-moron, but that's a different post], among other related topics and issues. My legal training made me question if that’s even constitutionally possible and just possible right now . . .

For example, on the issue of abortion:

1. Do people know enough about where the candidate stands on abortion or are the majority of voters casting party-line votes?
2. Would everyone who is pro-life vote for that candidate based on that one issue?
3. Would the pro-life votes be enough to place someone in office? Are there enough people that care?
4. Prior to that, and more importantly, would a pro-life candidate add their pro-life beliefs to their campaign without fear of losing their pro-choice constituents?

[it is possible by the way]

Then I thought . . .

1. Is everyone tip-toeing around trying not to offend “somebody?” I mean I know there are a lot more Christians on this campus, in this program, in this class right now. . . I hope . . .
2. Are we just trying to be politically correct?! {but why?} 

What am I doing, what am I waiting for?

Political correctness – I’m done with that! It's so incorrect. Separating the church from the state, for Christians should be a {pound, capital fail}.  ---> #FAIL

"No church in this world should ever be satisfied with the separation of church and state!"  -David Sliker.

My beliefs come before my profession because my beliefs came before my profession.  It is only because of my beliefs that I am here.  Moreover, the fruition of my ultimate beliefs will be here way after my profession is all said and done.

If you’re faithful with a little you’ll be faithful with a lot. He has placed us in these various spheres of influence for one main reason. If I'm not doing that, then what am I doing?? {being politically correct? - is that what that is? sounds like something else . . . } Furthermore, how am I going to go from not openly witnessing at school {my current level of influence} to witnessing at the next perfect position He will bless me with? {a possibly greater sphere of influence, with likely more at stake}. Salt serves no purpose in the shaker.

"Save that" <--- Respectfully, I dissent. ;-)

I'm voting church in the state and church in the schools! --> church everywhere because church is everywhere {it should be} since we are the church. >>  *CHURCH!

I'm going home.

There are certain places you go and you just have peace. One is home. One is at God’s house.

There are certain places you go and you can just laugh. One is home. One is at God’s house.

There are certain places you go and you can cry. One is home. One is at God’s house.

There are certain places you go and you just get excited. One is home. One is at God’s house.

There are certain places you go and you can just be free. One is home. One is at God’s house.

Home is where the heart is. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and follow it! 

I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” 

Psalm 122:1

Cards

It’s like a deck of cards. God is the dealer. The cards weren’t shuffled though.  So we each get a hand, a different hand. Some have Kings and Queens, some have Jokers, and some have other variations in between.


He picked each card specifically for you and He will see you through to the very end!

He's Faithful to the end . . .

Why? Why Not!

so earlier today an exchange in my Workplace Dispute Resolution class went like this:

Professor: Why? [to student who answers affirmatively and so confidently]

Student: Why not?

O_O . . . What a cop out answer I thought.  I mean we are in school to learn, obviously the Professor is trying to get at a point. (so sad that the words "well" and "obviously" still remind me of the bed intruder interview, with the neck roll anywho) Needless to say, I wasn't too fond of the answer in the classroom setting, at the time. However, "Why Not?" summarized my portion of an unexpected but welcomed conversation I had right before that class with a new fried.

So first, God will send people to you. We just have to be ready. I met my friend earlier in the semester, she just came up to me, politely bold, right after class one day. Apparently she thought I took good notes -- which I guess I do (could), but when people are relying on your notes you tend to "multi-task" less, so in turn that's helping me to excel in this class.

A little backdrop and setting: On Mondays, I usually have a 3 hour gap in my day and have to decide where is the most efficient and effective place to relocate to; my two Monday classes are in the same room. Just as I was thinking to myself where should I go that has a clean microwave, for my lunch, (I very much dislike -Naija grammar, a dirty microwave - gross) I heard the good news: the class that is usually in that classroom during my break was canceled today.  So I decided to stay there and just as the last student trickled out, I began to play my music with no headphones (freedom!). After about 2.5 hours in solitude, in walks my new friend, arriving early for our WDR class. We made our small talk and greetings and eventually she comments on the music I was watching/listening to "that's beautiful" she says (it really is, Jon Thurlow is anointed! -check up on him) and we went from there . . . 

Second, God will give you the right words to say and the right time to say them. We just have to be prepared, to an extent.


In the beginning, God created = my faith. (that's all I really need, but there's more)

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. (there's still more)

He authored the script to every single day of my life before my life was even alive. (it just goes on and on and on)


Love God Why? Why Not?!  . . .  Let me tell you about what He's done and what He does . . . (It's all about Him!) so Why Not?

Basically, that  ^^ came out in our discussion, (and the Jesus part; the kicker) which were some things I was thinking about recently in relation to atheists and near-future plans (it's related somehow, I'll connect it back in another post). My (Chicago) church's theme is currently focused on evangelizing. Mainly, someone cared enough to share the gospel with me, and just the same, someone(s) need me to share the good news with them. Why not?

This was probably one of the easiest opportunities to openly witness and it was so unforced and accepted. She just kept hitting me with another innocent knowledge-seeking question. What if I turned off the music as soon as she entered? (because I really almost did, but it wasn't loud so I left it playing) What if I decided to plug in my headphones to tune the people out that would soon trickle in for class? (these what ifs were very much a possibility especially when you've been caught near a conversation you could have done without overhearing, about so and so's weekend activities and randomness o_0)

What a missed opportunity that would've been, I've already missed some and I don't want to miss anymore. Now I just have to bring her to a church with me and/or find a Chinese church to take her to before I leave Champaign in 8 weeks! Time is flying . . .

God is good so Why not?

what does love look like?

is the question I've been pondering . . .
 

I started a tumblr. (iLike it - like 11 posts in 24 hours type like)

So, I'm learning what Love is (what it really is) and my tumblr basically highlights what I'm learning - honestly.

Arms Wide Open.

The Cross.

John 15:13.

But this song is the bomb dot com, so I shared it here too; listen to every word.

By the way, she will be one of the ministers at the OneThing conference in December. If you want to go (from the Chicago area) let me know, we've got a group so far. Kansas City or bust! *clicks red heels*

Road map

"Until the Bible begins to talk to us, we really have not been reading it." AW Tozer

2010 has been and still is the year of enlargement and because of that my life will never be the same. I'm compiling all the various ways of change and enlargement and it's becoming very lengthy. I will still try to summarize  everything for a post towards the end of year. With this testament, I know 2011 is going to be very radical!

So, I’m drafting my road map and it’s becoming more and more concrete and likely. As I draft a road map of plans and visions, this verse suddenly comes hard on my heart:

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21.

This verse leads me to:

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9.

This verse leads me to:

A man’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way. Proverbs 20:20.

This verse leads me to:

If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm. Psalms 37:23.

Somehow I’m guided to Jeremiahs Prayer:

I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps . . . Jeremiah 10:23-25.

And then I see:

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. Isaiah 46:10.

 . . . which ties back to the first verse: Proverbs 19:21 and all the other messages I've been getting this week from various mediums.

Message? = Message!

The combined messages I received this week, in summation, tell me that when you know, believe and trust that your life is not your own but God’s, you have that peace that passes all understanding because you know everything will be done according to His will and for His purposes in His perfect time, as long as you're continuously (not just continually) abiding in Him.

How is that for a road map? 

“My life will not be used for trial an error!" 

–gotta love a Nigerian woman’s prayer.

~Happy Birthday mom, Happy Independence Nigeria.~