Rashida

Let Freedom Ring!

rwillard — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 22:38:36 +0000

January 20, 2009, President Barack H. Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States. I’m not a political follower, nor do I claim to know all that there is to know about the subject, I actually don’t like politics, but I watched the inauguration with tears in my eyes. Seeing my people for once being able to have the same rights as those of a different- not superior- race than mine, gave me hope. Hope for my children, hope for America, hope for our future. So many people say, “America’s come a long way…THIS IS 2009!!! Racism is a thing of the past”, but oh how wrong you are. When you’re not subjected to it, you become blind to it. I am daily reminded that I wear this beautiful caramel skin, I am reminded that I am not of the majority and I am expected to take a back seat. This may sound melodramatic to some, but stand a day in my shoes. I know that America has come a long day, Tuesday proved it, but we still have so far to go. And even if you didn’t vote Obama, history has still taken place. I am proud of the events that have taken place, I am encouraged about what my children were able to see, and I am motivated to continue to live the Dream. God Bless President Barack Obama and God Bless America!

“…And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”

Hannah’s Prayer

rwillard — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:38:15 +0000

In Bible Study, we are starting 1Samuel. This starts with a beautiful story of an incredible woman who was barren. The Bible says that “The Lord closed Hannah’s womb”. Having a child seemed to be what she wanted more than anything. Desperate before the Lord, she cried to him. She asked Him to remember her and give her a son. She repeatedly asked the Lord for what she wanted. She cried out so desperately, that her husband asked her why did she continue to get drunk. She merely stated that she was not drunk but was praying to God with her whole soul. She diligently served the Lord even though she laid with her husband and did not get pregnant. She even told the Lord that if he gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord and he would serve Him all of the days of his life. Hannah did just that. She had a son, and she allowed him to live in the temple and serve the Lord there.

As a mother, I think of the longing that my body had for children. I knew that I always wanted a child. To not be able to do so would have been disheartening for me. This woman prayed as her body was wanting to give in to the natural desire to have children, she had a baby and just as she promised, gave him to the Lord. She gave him to the LORD! How many of us would let our son whom we prayed for for years and years, would actually let him live at the temple for all of his life?

Here’s the prayer:

Then Hannah prayed and said:
       “My heart rejoices in the LORD;
       in the LORD my horn ^[a] is lifted high.
       My mouth boasts over my enemies,
       for I delight in your deliverance.

2 “There is no one holy ^[b] like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

3 “Do not keep talking so proudly
       or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
       for the LORD is a God who knows,
       and by him deeds are weighed.

4 “The bows of the warriors are broken,
but those who stumbled are armed with strength.

5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food,
       but those who were hungry hunger no more.
       She who was barren has borne seven children,
       but she who has had many sons pines away.

6 “The LORD brings death and makes alive;
he brings down to the grave ^[c] and raises up.

7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth;
he humbles and he exalts.

8 He raises the poor from the dust
       and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
       he seats them with princes
       and has them inherit a throne of honor.
       “For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s;
       upon them he has set the world.

9 He will guard the feet of his saints,
but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails;

10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered.
       He will thunder against them from heaven;
       the LORD will judge the ends of the earth.
       “He will give strength to his king
       and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

I would love to have just a portion of the faith that this woman, Hannah, displays in this story. She was an amazing inspiration to me.

How Great is My God!

rwillard — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:44:05 +0000

The splendor of a king,

Clothed in majesty

Let all the earth rejoice

All the earth rejoice

He wraps himself in light

And darkness tries to hide

And trembles at his voice

Trembles at his voice

How Great is Our God!

Sing with me How Great is Our God

And all will see how great,

How great is our God!

Age to Age he stands

And time is in his hands

The Lion and the Lamb

Beginning and the end

The Godhead three in one

Father Spirit Son

How Great is Our God!

Sing with me How Great is Our God

And all will see how great,

How great is our God!

NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES!

YOU’RE WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE!

AND MY HEART WILL SING HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!

To me, this is one of the most amazing songs ever! From the first time that I heard this song, it touched my heart and changed my life. I can get caught up in life that I don’t stop to see how great He is! He’s so great! My friend and I have been emailing each other each day with our lists of things we are grateful for each day. It’s given me a whole new meaning of worship. I suggest you start making your lists of what you’re grateful for each day. This morning, as I thought about how much my kids got on my nerves, I was thankful that God allowed me to birth these beautiful beings who get on my nerves, but also bring so much joy into my life. As I think of my friends who lean on me when they need a helping hand, and I do the same, I am grateful for them. I am thankful that I have eyes to see the wonderful sunrise and sunset! I am grateful just to be! To start my day like this, is amazing in and of itself.

Tagged: grateful, greatness of God, praise, thanks, worship

Give Thanks!

rwillard — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:25:02 +0000

My church is hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday, 11/26/08. If you know anyone who could benefit from a meal (single, families having a hard time, college students, whoever), they are more than welcomed to come down to Genesis Community Fellowship that day.

5425 NE 27th Ave

Portland, OR 97211

(503) 281-9472

11/26/08 from 6-9

Last year we had this dinner and didn’t advertise very well, so we had a lot of food, but not many showed up, HOWEVER, we made plates and took them down under the bridge and ALL of the food was eaten while it was still warm! We served a lot of people.

I am also collecting the following for the dinner (if you are interested in donating, please let me know):

Cans of Green Beans

Cans of Corn

Cans of Yams

Pies

Boxed Stuffing

Boxed Mashed Potatoes

French Fried Onions

Sugar/Brown Sugar

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Chicken Broth

Cranberry Sauce

Juices

Packaged Apple Cider

Plasticware (Plastic “to go” containers, napkins, silverware, plates, cold cups, hot cups with lids)

**If you are able to donate a turkey or ham, please call the church or let me know.** (503-281-9472)

Revival!

rwillard — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:07:55 +0000

These last few months have been very hard for me. I lost someone very dear to me. But I know that even in death, God is glorified. He prepared her for what was to come. I also am in school, the summer months are gone, the fall is here, lots of trials and tribulations have come to those close to me. My spirit feels tired. I feel like my soul needs a revival. During this time of despair, I realize that God is still at work in me!

I go to a Women’s Bible Study on Alternate Saturdays and we are reading a book called, “Resting In Him” by Women of Faith. It’s been an eye opener for me. It talks about the different seasons you go through in your life. There are fall, spring, summer and winter seasons in our life. Just as the natural seasons change, our spiritual life changes. We talked about the times we felt closest to God. And oddly enough, the times that I felt closest to God were the times that I was in deep despair. I felt that He was right there because I needed Him. I couldn’t go on without Him. Anyway, I said all of this to say that I feel that God is doing something new in me, something new in my church and in the hearts of His people. I have hope that He will revive my spirit. I know that everything is not going to be good all of the time, but I have hope that He is at work in me. I have no other choice.

Tagged: praise, rest, revival, worship

Servanthood

rwillard — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:58:43 +0000

I don’t wanna do it!

It’s so hard to think of servanthood as worship. But it is. He calls us to be servants just as Jesus was. I know that it’s in my make-up to be a servant. Some people find it difficult, most of the time I find it easy. Sometimes, however, I need to put serving into perspective. I start to resent. I start to grumble. I start to complain. “Why do I have to be the one doing it all…why can’t someone just invite me to a party, do I have to PLAN it all the time?” Once I start letting those thoughts in, I become unhappy. My life takes a weird turn. I start shutting everyone off and I stew and pout. God says to be a servant, and not to serve to be seen. He wants us to have a fully committed heart and serve with no expectations. This is worship.

Galatians 6:9-10 says, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.”

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

God is the one who deserves the glory. HE is the only one that should get recognition through all we do. We need to do it in His honor.

I’m talking to myself when I write this blog…this means to wash those cars with gratitude tomorrow at the youth car wash. This means to not complain about how tired I am. This means to serve and know that all we do will be to uplift the Kingdom of God. This is worship.

Perfect Peace

rwillard — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:11:45 +0000

I was thinking about a song that we sing at church called, “He’s A Keepa’” by Rodnie Bryant and The Christian Community Mass Choir. Simple lyrics: He’ll keep you in perfect peace, just keep your mind stayed on Him, He’ll keep you in perfect peace, if you keep your mind on Him. He’s a keepa’, yes He is, He’s a keepa’, oh yes He is.

Whenever my Pastor’s Wife prays, she always adds something about God giving us the “peace that passes all understanding”. I understand now what she means.

Sometimes we try to “fix” our situations on our own. When we do that, our minds become troubled. Just ask God and He will fix it and He will put your mind at ease. James 1: 6-8 says 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. This man has no peace. Phillipians 4:6-8 says 6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

I desire God to keep me in His perfect peace as I keep my mind on things from above. It’s hard for me not to worry about what is to come, but it’s a decision I am willing to make in order to have a pure praise and a perfect peace. Let’s remember that on our Sabbath when we are gathered and during our worship time. We don’t have to worry if we don’t want, He can keep our minds in perfect peace.

Racial Reconciliation

rwillard — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:31:46 +0000

My pastor has a ministry of racial reconciliation. We often get the comment, “why do we need a racial reconciliation ministry? When you become a Christian, you should know to love people the way that God has instructed us to love”. I wish the world really worked that way!!! To me, that comment is just like saying, “why do we have to keep preaching about sin…when we get saved, sin goes away!” or “why are we preaching on healing and faith, when we get saved, we should just have faith and be healed because the Bible says so”. It’s interesting how many of these conferences that I’ve been to where people don’t even know that they have racial issues. If you’ve never encountered difference, you would never know that certain feelings about racism exist.

It’s so easy to have a homogenous church. I think the issues come when you have a heterogeneous church. Different styles of worship, different people from different walks of life. There are so many thoughts about what one should do when they worship, or when they sing or when they study the Bible. We always think that our way is the right way. I don’t think that one thing is wrong over the next thing, and that gives me freedom in worship.

One of the now deceased Mothers at our church once said, “If we can’t worship together now, what are we going to do when we get to heaven?”. It won’t be homogenous in heaven. Your way won’t be the only way.

Paul started the work with the church of Antioch. God has called us to finish the uncomfortable work. Get busy, church!

Acts 1:8, Acts 8:1,4, Matthew 28:18-20

Check out this link! http://www.cnnw.com/articles/articles05-00.html

Relationship or Religion?

rwillard — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:33:26 +0000

A friend of mine once told me that I was religious. I had to correct him. I don’t like the thought of being religious. Anyone can be religious, but it takes work to have a relationship with Christ. You have to work at a relationship: you have to spend time with, cultivate and learn the person with whom you are trying to have the relationship with.

I spend a good portion of my life being religious. Doing the things I’m supposed to do, just because I’m supposed to do it. I went to church, I played the “good girl” didn’t do anything I was not supposed to do. But to know Him in a personal way, that is when I stopped searching. To know Him personally is to be content. I no longer have to search for something to fill the void. He is everything to me. I don’t have to look in drugs, alcohol and other material possessions, because God is everything I need. When I’m at that place, I can be content with my church, my work, my ministry. I am learning a lot about myself through our relationship and I’m learning alot about the character of God.

I love contentment. You should try this relationship thing!

Extravagant Worship

rwillard — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:55:35 +0000

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One of my favorite artists, Darlene Zschech wrote a book that I recently read called Extravagant Worship. She starts the book off talking about the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume – very expensive perfume. She goes on to talk about how the woman was very extravagant in her worship. She defines the word extravagant as: exceeding the limits of reason; lacking in moderation, balance and restraint (praise); extremely or excessively elaborate; spending much more than necessary; profuse, lavish.

To even think about those words in the context of worship is amazing. God, the Creator, Maker, Lover of our Souls, lavishes his love and grace upon us DAY BY DAY. Can we not lack moderation, balance and restraint in our praise? Can we show just a little bit of appreciation for all He has done for us? Something is to be said about someone who thinks about praise in such a way.

My challenge for myself and for those reading this is that we will not lack restraint in our praise. That we wouldn’t care about how crazy we may look. That we may raise our hands, that we may lift our voices in adoration. To not think about anything else but Him as He gives us all of Him. What a wonderful God we serve. Can we lavish our love on Him as He does for us??? What does this mean? To me it means to take just a little more time to appreciate the “small” things that we forget about…breathing? living? loving? These are all things we take for granted. May I never get too busy that I forget the small but huge things.