The Cherokees and Native Americans are often viewed as heathens by people in the south along the Bible Belt and the Appalachian Region. However, it is important for individuals to realize that Christianity played a vital role for the Cherokees. The Cherokees in particular were spiritual in their beliefs and they also prayed in their own ways, they accepted the Europeans beliefs because of their openness within several organizations. Overtime several different denominations began to enter into Cherokee lands and slowly began to preach, settle, and eventually convert numerous Cherokees into Christianity.

The Native American culture, having been commonly viewed as heathens by Christians, had their own sets of beliefs prior to the Christianization efforts. Christians did not and some still do not realize that their forms of worship and their beliefs are not that different from Cherokee traditions. The Cherokees believed in a Supreme Being, who was the Creator of all. The term spiritual for the Cherokee culture meant an “active and alive flow of energy that connects us all to the Universal Spirit.” [1] Garrett also describes that to a Cherokee being spiritual is similar to holding on to something that we value, such as a lesson in life that we are taught. That is directly related to the way in which we are brought up as children, and how each family teaches and stresses different moral and traditional values to their offspring. While the term spiritual is interchangeable between a way of life for the Cherokees or a religious belief, the spiritual paths of the Cherokees were not taken away by the Europeans who tried to Christianize them. In fact it seemed that the Cherokees wanted to fit into the European culture and by converting to Christianity they were able to fit in and for them that meant become a more civilized culture as a whole.

Prayer is also another term that people associate with Christianity and modern religions. However, the basis of the term was set years ago by the Native Americans. Prayers for them were often in the form of chants or ceremonies. During a prayer the Cherokees did not ask for anything but guidance, but more commonly prayers were believed to be used to give thanks. “The process of praying for Native Americans is fairly open, but subtle; we use certain hand movements…the same is true [for Native Americans] with pointing the open palm(s) toward the sky in ceremonies, which signifies giving thanks to the Universal Spirit and the Great One.” [2] A prayer may be sent by the offering of tobacco much as the tithes that are paid to a church today.

The Cherokee beliefs were generally polytheistic and the belief in multiple gods existed, but one was held to a higher stature than the others. For instance, they believed that the setting Sun was the holder of evil gods, the reason most of their dwellings had openings that only pointed to the east toward the rising sun. Most believed in some form of afterlife and believed that during the afterlife there would either be punishments or rewards meted out by the Great Spirit. One Cherokee after the conversion to Christianity described his belief prior as: “To reverence the great and Supreme Being, love my friends deeply and to take vengeance on my enemies [and after converting to Christianity] In the Indian devotion there is nothing like pure religion. Tho’ they have faint ideas of Deity, yet they are far from loving him with all the heart.” [3] The Christian Cherokee reported his findings in 1823; nearly 25 years after the missionaries began entering the Cherokee country.  

The process of Christianizing the Cherokees was a long process that took place over the course of several years. Upon initial arrival the problem amongst the missionaries was the language barrier. The Cherokee syllabary was created around 1821. With the use of the syllabary Cherokees could now learn to write their language on paper. In 1824, John Arch a full blooded convert became inspired to translate a section of the Gospel according to St. John into Cherokee. This invention facilitated the transformation of the Cherokees. [4] Then by 1828, Samuel Worcester, the editor for the Cherokee Phoenix[5], translated the Lord’s Prayer.[6]

Missionaries began coming into America as early as 1566 with a Catholic Priest by the name of Father Rogers. Rogers upon contact with the Native Americans was uncertain and was unable to communicate with them. Rogers was not able to provide much teaching to the Cherokees, but he was the first recorded missionary. [7] Rogers was not the only missionary to enter and not be able to communicate with the Native Americans. In 1758, a Presbyterian missionary by the name of John Martin began trying to devise a plan to convert Cherokees into Christianity, and in 1799 Moravians entered the Cherokee land and was taken aback at how they were unable to communicate with them.

In the early 1800’s, missions into the Cherokee lands began to increase. At first the Cherokees was not officially opposed to the preaching of Christianity, but they did not want churches built. Cherokees instead wanted their children to be able to attend a school and learn reading, writing, and arithmetic so that their children would be able to communicate with the increase number of Europeans. The Cherokees wanted their children learn all that they could so that they would not be as illiterate and ignorant as they considered themselves to be. The same concepts exist today with the parents of children wanting their children to go beyond what they have been able to accomplish.

Gideon Blackburn, a Presbyterian who was contacted by John Martin after he had visited the Cherokee country, began asking for a government grant in order to educate the Indians. The process was slow and the two began talking in 1758, but it was 1803 before Blackburn received a grant of two hundred dollars in order for him to create a school. Blackburn received the Cherokees approval and was able to construct and establish his first school, one year after receiving his grant. Two years later, in 1806, Blackburn was able to create his second school by using left over funds from the first, and by the success of his first school.

The same year that Blackburn established his school, John Gambold a Moravian missionary was also looking into the Christianization of the Cherokees. Gambold came into the Cherokee country in 1804 and began trying to educate and preach to the Natives. Gambold found out that the Cherokees wanted schools and not churches just as Blackburn had discovered and in 1805 established the Spring Place Missionary School. The missionary school began with mostly young children but later branched out to have some adults in attendance as well, hoping to learn English. In 1819 Spring Place had 2 to 14 children in regular attendance and by 1830 they had 32 adults and 31 children. [8]

Cyrus Kingsbury was the next large player in Christianizing the Cherokees. Kingsbury saw the success of Blackburn and Gambold’s missionary schools and decided to create some of his own. In 1816 Kingsbury, created the Chickamauga Missions School on a 25 acre plantation. The Chickamauga school was a small portion of Kingsbury’s plans to aid in the education of the Cherokees. Kingsbury created what became known as the Brainerd Missions. Brainerd held numerous schools of different branches. Taloney was created in 1819; Creek Path in 1820; Hightower, Willstown, and Haweis in 1823; Candy’s Creek in 1824; New Echota in 1827; Amohee in 1831; and finally Redclay and Running Waters were created in 1835. All of the schools worked together but separately to educate Native Americans living in different parts of Cherokee country during the time period.

In addition to the Moravians and Presbyterian, there were also the Baptists and the Methodists that came to the Cherokee country. The Baptist associations came into Cherokee country from Georgia around 1816. The Baptists and Methodists did not set up any schools; however, they did preach and teach to the Cherokees. The Methodists came into the Cherokee country from Tennessee. The Methodists was under the Conference of Tennessee, directed by William M. Mahan. They set up four schools and had all of them established by 1828. The Baptists and the Methodists found the aid of the Cherokee Phoenix to be very helpful because they could distribute scriptures as well as hymns in both English and Cherokee. [9]

The missionary efforts were great by 1829, it is recorded that there were 1,028 Methodist Converts. The Methodists were the most effect in reaching out the Cherokees first. By 1831, it has been recorded that there were 192 communicants, 120 Baptists, and 74 Moravian converts.[10] According to Gulick in 1960, “There are as far as we know 17 churches.” 11 Baptists, 1 Episcopal, 3 Holiness, 2 Methodists, and the Roman Catholic and Mormon services are held in a community building, all of which would not have been made possible had it not been for the early missionaries that began working toward Christianizing the Cherokees in the early 1800s. Four of the 11 churches that Gulick found still offered church services in the native Cherokee Language. [11]

For the most part, Eastern Cherokee churches preach of the sinfulness and evilness of mankind along with the necessity of the belief in Christ so that the Native American can be saved and escape hells fire. With non-Indian church goers there is an intense emotion. The Native Americans, on the other hand, remain impassive and their social behavior does not typically express emotions during church services. However, they are accepting of the emotional responses of the non-Indian church goers and have grown to expect the outburst. The texts are sometimes sung in the Cherokee language, but they are sung to tunes derived from non-Indian backgrounds. [12]

In conclusion, the Cherokees may have been unwilling to accept Christianity and churches at the beginning, but they finally allowed missionaries to begin creating schools in 1799. To the Cherokees the schools were a necessity for their children to be able to live a civilized life amongst the Europeans. It was easier for them to realize the benefits of education than it was for them to see the benefits of Christianity. However, through the blending of Christianity and education the missionaries were able to accomplish both the education of Native Americans and the converting of Cherokees to Christianity. After 1816, missionaries built a network of boarding schools which catered primarily to the highly acculturated Cherokee leadership of the early 19th century. [13]The progress was great, acceptance was wide spread, and children as well as adults began to attend. The converting of Christianity grew and exists today in the Cherokee Nation. Today many people still view the Native Americans as being uncivilized and heathen, but in reality they have been quick to accept Christianity and are no different than the non-Indian American’s.  

Bibliography

Baird, W. David. “Cherokees and MIssionaries, 1789-1839.” The Western Historical Quarterly (Western Historical Quarterly, Utah State University ) 16, no. 2 (1985): 191.

Collins, Linton. “The Activities of the Missionaries Among the Cherokees .” The Georgia Historical Quarterly (Georgia Historical Society ) 6, no. 4 (1922): 285-322.

Corman, Catherine. “Writing Indians: Literacy, Christianity, and Native Community in Early America .” The William and Mary Quarterly (Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture ) 58, no. 3 (2001): 742-745.

Garrett, J.T. and Garret, Michael. Medicine of the Cherokee: The Way of Right Relationship . Santa Fe, New Mexico : Bear and Company Publishing , 1996.

Gulick, John. Cherokees at the Crossroads . Chapel Hill , North Carolina : University of North Carolina , 1960.

Kilpatrick, Alan. “A Note on Cherokee Theological Concepts .” American Indian Quarterly (University of Nebraska Press) 19, no. 3 (1995): 385-405.

Malone, Henry. Chrokees of the Old South . Atlanta , Georgia : The University of Georgia Press, 1956.

McNally, Michael. “The Practice of Native American Christianity .” Church History (Cambridge University Press) 69, no. 4 (2000): 834-859.

Perdue, Theda. “Cherokees and Missionaries, 1789-1839.” American Indian Quarterly (University of Nebraska Press ) 9, no. 2 (1985): 188-191.

[1] Garrett, Medicine of the Cherokee, page 110.

[2] Garrett, Medicine of the Cherokee, Page 116.

[3] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A People in Transition, Page 91.

[4] From a Note on Cherokee Theological Concepts, the article points out how without a written language the Europeans had great difficulties in communicating with the Native Americans who spoke mostly in their own language.

[5] The Cherokee Phoenix was originally called the Cherokee Press at New Echota and that led to the Phoenix which became a National Newspaper by 1828.

[6] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A people in Transition, page 114.

[7] Extracted from a journal Article, A Note on Cherokee Theological Concepts.

[8] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A people in transition, page 95.

[9] Collins, Activities of the Missionaries among the Cherokee, page 18.

[10] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A people in transition, Page 117.

[11] Gulick, Cherokees at the Crossroads, page 36.

[12] Gulick, Cherokees at the Crossroads, pages 118-119 goes into great detail describing the non-Indian verses the Indian churches.

[13] Perdue, Cherokees and Missionaries. 

We are truly the products of our thinking or thought process. Believe you me, if you will become a success, it will have to start from within – your heart or mind – and with other attributes embedded inside of you, other things will fall in shape and boom…you are that success originally conceived in your mind.

“As a man thinketh in his mind, so he shall be.” This is a line from a verse in the Holy Bible. God gave us the wherewithal to choose what we would become in life. A child who instead of going inside the classroom chooses to be hanging out with agberos has made his choice and only out of the abiding grace of God would he end up on the path chosen for him by God.

I have seen a young man who always told me when we were in the university that he knew he would end up fast in life a big man. Even right there in school, he raised money from his family and bought a motorcycle and started operating commercial services on all the campuses by himself. Within six months, he was able to buy another one and his business started growing in leaps and bounds. Today, he has a thriving transport business and has fulfilled his dream of becoming a big man. It is all about your mindset and confessing it at all times. This makes you armed with positive mindedness.

Everywhere you look at, you’ll see opportunities and believe in your mind that you will do something about these opportunities that would benefit humanity and you as well. When others are waiting on their fellow human beings to help them out with ideas, you have been blessed with ideas that would take you to the next level in life and you will continue to soar higher and higher.

It all starts in the mind and moves to your confessing it to come to pass in your lifetime. There is power in your sheer will power. That is where the spirit of God lives in you and helps you know when an opportunity is crying for a roof over its head. Just believe in your mind and avail yourself the opportunity of casting your bread upon many waters. You will equally be prayerful for absolute divine help in guiding your path to the right opportunities.

If you believe you will end up a failure in life simply because no one in both your nuclear and extended families has made it in life, you will definitely not have a say in what becomes of your future because in your mind, there has been a foreclosure to success – this success that you only live to envy people who are in bed with success. This is where many of our youths end up derailing. When you are filled with greed and you are lazy and equally lacking in the will power of believing in yourself, you will become a devil’s workshop. That is why Nigerian youths today are so much into armed robbery and other vices. The other week in the month of April we heard how a friend took the life of another friend when he believed that this ill-fated friend of his would become his source of wealth. At the end of the day, he ended up in jail. Of course you and I know the system and condition of the Nigerian prison. He would never make it out of there alive and his life is ended except God comes knocking with the grace of second chance. Yes, we have seen such happenings in our daily living.

This young man had his sense eroded with the tricking from an octogenarian who deceived him into believing in blood money. That might be in existence and serving and has served a lot of Nigerians but that is not how to make yourself successful. We have equally been inundated with how so many people have lost their lives even as young people simply because this kind of shortcut to wealth is not about being a success. They always ended up running to men of God to help salvage what is left of their lives before their souls are taken by whom it was commissioned to when they hit the brick-wall of grave danger whereby they are neither here nor there with life. Reality has dawned and they start looking for help from where they should originally have gone.

Therefore, friends, I urge you to reshape your mental stead and tune in to God through prayers as He is the only one that would help you with all that you will need to even be blessed with the wisdom of believing in yourself and willing yourself to be optimistic and seeing opportunities around you.

Hung up by my window seal

Trying to capture all the memories

I remember Christmas Eve

When you said for me to sing a song

I simply said maybe next year. 

I’m trying to hold on 

To memories like that

It’s all that I got left

I see you’re smilin 

And I’m hoping and praying that 

You can hear this song from here to heaven.

Looking at your smiling picture

Sitting upon my dresser 

Trying to find the memories.

I remember Christmas Day

When you told me not to give up faith

You told me sing my heart out

And soon I’ll make it to the top. 

I’m trying to hold on to memories like that 

It’s all that I got left 

I see you’re smiling

And I’m hoping and praying 

That you can hear this song 

From here to heaven. 

Looking at the picture frame

Sitting upon my dresser

I remember Christmas Eve. 

I remember Christmas Day. 

We sang til the morning light. 

And we had a great time.

I’m trying to hold on

To memories like that

It’s all that I got left

I see your smiling 

And I’m hoping and praying 

That you can hear this song

From here to heaven. 

Easter Wishes Sent Your Way 

April 08, 2012

Smiles and Inspiration 2012

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) Matthew 28: 6

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

King James Version (KJV) John 3: 16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He is Risen !  The true meaning of the Easter season.   Not the colored easter eggs, or the special chocolate rabbits.  Not the sharing of the easter baskets or the jelly beans.  No not even the ham and trimmings.  The true meaning of this holiday is the empty grave  and the knowledge that he is risen! 

How blessed we are to know this.  To have knowledge that God even after all of the transgressions and faults that we as children have chosen to fall into.  That he sent his son so that we may have everlasting life.    Awesome news : )

So it has indeed been a while since my last post.  I think of you all daily and much has been going on.  Happy to report that it is all good…. no all great.

My life has been flowing into a positive direction.  My goals are slowly starting to form into objectives, tasks, progress is at my feet and I continue to step into a good direction.  A direction for me and my family that feels and is by my choice.

Thank you for all your prayers and kind words.

Sure I know that life is a series of waves, and I am sure you know this as well.

We are either riding a wave head held high or being crashed by a wave.  But still can we hold are head high?  I say yes.  I know we can.  We can look in the mirror and know that we have all the “right stuff” to handle any and all crisis that may befall us.  We can, and we will.

We will not try to handle it.  For to try is to not even do.  As Yoda said there is no try only do or not do.

So today, this Easter Sunday know the following:

He is risen !

He is sitting in heaven at the right hand of God !

He came so we may have everlasting life !

We are created to be happy and filled with joy and love.

We are created to share in that happiness, joy and love.

We have 2 eyes to see, 2 ears to listen, 2 hands to reach out.

We also have 1 mouth to speak, and 1 heart to love and 1 mind to utilize all of our choices.

Choose wisely.

Love deeply.

Care always.

Pray everyday.

Smile forever

Live with it all.

Dream big, Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish and live with Passion  Smiles to you this day and everyday : )

The New Affirmation for the month of April 2012

Today I will start fresh, will look to the heavens in prayer, rise from bed with joy leaping from my heart.  Today I will take time to love a little more, be kinder to complete strangers and be a friend to nature.   Today I will be more for when I become more I will become stronger, wiser and more significant for the world.  I will ensure laughter is part of my daily routine.  I will also find something to move me to tears.  Because when laughter is a part of the day and tears are also part we have indeed lived a more full day.  I will dream more, love more and always live each day with a positive attitude.  So this month will be filled with days like this.  This pattern begins now.

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PRAYER FOR THIS MONTH

GOD THIS PRAYER IS SIMPLE AND MY HEART YEARNS TO BE CLOSER IN MY WALK

THIS PRAYER IS SIMPLY TO SAY THANK YOU!

THANK YOU FOR THE NATURE THAT SITS OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.

THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE THAT EXTENDS MY POSSIBILITIES.

IN THE SIMPLEST OF TERMS I SAY THANK YOU

AMEN : )

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Fun Links to have

Daily Countdown to Spring 

Sound Cloud 

A cool Time piece for the web

Next Full Moon 

More to come … Enjoy : ) 

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Sharing a smile ~  Sending you love ~  Pass it on

: )

brought to you by Make ME Smile Online

written by Victor Yakin copyright protected 2011* 2012

New Month ~ New You

April 01, 2012

Smiles and Inspiration 2012

A new month starts and a fresh new path awaits you.  Sure it is April Fools Day a sure way to pull a prank or a slight of hand. Sure I could say this would be my last post but you would not believe me right?  

So a new month the fourth month of the year.  What goals have you made for this month.  I you have not had a chance to review any of last months post please click on the link to review the month of March 2012.

This month lets start a new, a fresh start.  For me last month was awesome.  A new women entered my life and she has changed my heart and my spirit for the better.  Thank you Lourdes : )

I had a record month of sales in my automotive career.  My previous record was 21.5 a few years back and this past March 2012 I sold 27 units.  I thank all those who purchased and if I can ever give anyone advice or help you please email me at vyakin@makemesmileonline.com

Top 5 things we can do to start fresh this month.

Each day we should: 

# 1  Get plenty of prayer and meditation in.

# 2  Get plenty of spoken gratitude in each day.  To start and finish with this makes a world of difference

# 3  Start each day with positive affirmation much like the one below for the month of April.

# 4  Review your daily, weekly, monthly goals and objectives.

# 5  Laugh each day, be moved to tears each day and if you did the first four things above you gave thought which will give you a full day.

Dream big, Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish and live with Passion  Smiles to you this day and everyday : )

Oh by they way about me not writing anymore and this being my last post……..

April Fools : )   See you tomorrow : ) 

The New Affirmation for the month of April 2012

Today I will start fresh, will look to the heavens in prayer, rise from bed with joy leaping from my heart.  Today I will take time to love a little more, be kinder to complete strangers and be a friend to nature.   Today I will be more for when I become more I will become stronger, wiser and more significant for the world.  I will ensure laughter is part of my daily routine.  I will also find something to move me to tears.  Because when laughter is a part of the day and tears are also part we have indeed lived a more full day.  I will dream more, love more and always live each day with a positive attitude.  So this month will be filled with days like this.  This pattern begins now.

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PRAYER FOR THIS MONTH

GOD THIS PRAYER IS SIMPLE AND MY HEART YEARNS TO BE CLOSER IN MY WALK

THIS PRAYER IS SIMPLY TO SAY THANK YOU!

THANK YOU FOR THE NATURE THAT SITS OUTSIDE MY WINDOW.

THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE THAT EXTENDS MY POSSIBILITIES.

IN THE SIMPLEST OF TERMS I SAY THANK YOU

AMEN : )

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Fun Links to have

Daily Countdown to Spring 

Sound Cloud 

A cool Time piece for the web

Next Full Moon 

More to come … Enjoy : ) 

**************************************************

Sharing a smile ~  Sending you love ~  Pass it on

: )

brought to you by Make ME Smile Online

written by Victor Yakin copyright protected 2011* 2012

The Process Day 6 of 7

Goals / Objectives

and SMART

Starting your day with focus and drive you will attain your wishes and plan.  Start your day in a fog and a mundane attitude your goals will be nothing more than a dream without a conclusion.

The first step in the morning, the first thought can help you achieve your dreams.  Your objectives and your focus on them will help you attain them.   

Spoken gratitude will help you understand the importance of being happy and grateful each day.

Prayer and meditation and giving thanks to your creator for all the daily gifts of nature and abundance that is around all of us.

Abundance and nature is the same for all of us.  It is there and free all we need to do is reach out and claim and obtain it.

Meditation that silent moment that you stop and listen to you heart, your thoughts and to that little voice inside.  What is your little voice saying?  Is it helpful?  Take time each day in silence.  Take time to listen and share your time of quiet in a helpful way.

This is your day.  A day to exceed, to excel.  What say you?    Say YES! 

One last day remains, we try to wrap it all up into one short and easy plan to achieve your goals and turn them into objectives and turn those into a plan to achieve and excel.

We will go on more with this process and may your weekend be blessed. : )

Just some thoughts and as always smiles sent to you this day and everyday.

New Affirmation for the Month of March ….. Use it daily and feel the change in you.

I walk with confidence and understanding towards success.  Born into a perfected state I strive to achieve my intended purpose, to love, to share and care for self and for others that come in contact with me.  I choose to be happy and share laughter.  Making a difference in another persons life for the better gives positive and ever flowing energy into my world.  I am focusing on my goals, the this moment goal, this day, my weekly goals and monthly goals I achieve because of my spirit and focus.  

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Quote of the Day 

For me, half the joy of achieving has been the struggle and the fight, the pitting myself against the world and all its competition – and winning.

: o ) Conrad Veidt

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Today in History (on this date)

1822 – The Florida Territory is created in the United States.

1842 – Ether anesthesia is used for the first time, in an operation by the American surgeon Dr. Crawford Long.

1867 – Alaska is purchased from Russia for $7.2 million, about 2 cent/acre ($4.19/km²), by United States Secretary of State William H. Seward.

1870 – Texas is readmitted to the Union following Reconstruction.

1910 – The Mississippi Legislature founds The University of Southern Mississippi.

1939 – The Heinkel He 100 fighter sets a world airspeed record of 463 mph (745km/h).

1981 – President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John Hinckley, Jr.

1982 – Space Shuttle program: STS-3 Mission is completed with the landing of Columbia at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

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Fun Links to have

Daily Countdown to Spring 

Sound Cloud 

A cool Time piece for the web

Next Full Moon 

More to come … Enjoy : ) 

**************************************************

Daily Prayer for March

Thank you for another day in the world you created.

May my spirit inspire, inflate and bring joy and peace to another.

May I always speak my gratitude into the world and share my appreciation.

Guide me today to be wiser, more kind, help me to see deeper into this hurting world and perhaps give a bit of kindness to it.

May I always appreciate the nature that surrounds me.

The wind, the sunshine and the plants and trees that surround me.

Help me to understand that the energy around me is both helpful and strengthening.

In your word I seek peace and solace.

Thank you for another day.

Amen

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Sharing a smile ~  Sending you love ~  Pass it on

: )

brought to you by Make ME Smile Online

written by Victor Yakin copyright protected 2011* 2012

Nate (oldest child), called our house regularly, every Saturday just to say, ‘I miss you, Grammy!’ That was a heart warmer, if there ever was one. Taylor (second oldest), sent me a paper doll, which I had to carry wherever I went, for a solid week. Also, I had to write a journal of everything that occurred in our life together! This dolls name was, ‘Flat Taylor.’ Actually, I completely enjoyed this constant companion at my side, because I knew that my precious granddaughter fashioned it, with her own, precious little hands! This thrilled my heart, knowing that she chose me, to participate in one of her classroom projects, for an entire week. After it was over, I had to mail everything back to Taylor’s teacher, along with ‘Flat Taylor’ and our week-long journal neatly written out. It was a joyful experience, I will never forget. Zachary (number three), was the quiet one, who acted like he didn’t have any needs, didn’t demand things and he never said a whole lot. But, when Grandpa and Grandma took him with us, alone in the backseat of our car he chittered non-stop, knowing that he had our undivided attention, all to himself! Zachary wasn’t a born squeaky wheel, so he just laid back and watched everyone else grab and scramble for what they wanted or thought they needed. Kaitlyn, (number four) was adorable and quite verbal. Whenever she needed something, everyone heard about it! Her cute face and natural, bubbly personality, won my heart over in about five minutes. Spending time with her, was a lot of fun!

MariLyn and I had a disagreement, not a fight mind you, just a few short sentences. To keep from flaring up at each other (which we never do), we parted ways and didn’t communicate for a couple months. Why didn’t I contact her? Because after time passes by, it’s very hard to remember what was actually said or done. I honestly didn’t remember, because I love my daughter very much. Not hearing her voice or seeing her face, was extremely hard. I consider her one of my best friends, regardless of who was right or wrong, or who said what. I was definitely wrong, that’s one thing I did know. My attitudes were far from being right. 

Today, she sent me a text message and neither one of us even mentioned our discord. It’s such a blessing to be communicating with her again, hearing that she misses me! We shared a few short texts and both were assured that everything is back in place again. Only God can mend hurt feelings and that’s exactly what he has done. I’m so glad, that his ways are so much higher than our ways and the Lord has a perfect plan, knowing just exactly what it takes to heal our hearts. I’m so thankful for his infinite wisdom, his forgiveness and also, for his complete understanding!

There is a tenacity that he has which could only come from knowing the Almighty God in such a time as this.  He perseveres despite of the pressure that he gets from the fans, the media, team, and his own personal life but yet he has not allowed an ounce of it to deter him from what he believes to be right and good for him. He shows a quality of leadership that is unprecedented and warranted in a young person today.  Many of our youth today depends on stroking, compromising, back patting and a lot of pushing to go forward or accomplish what is needed for their lives. How can you deny the fact that this young man is helping to shape our youth and society, through Christian practices that apparently works?

I truly admire this young man for many reasons, even some adults would have succumbed to the pressure of the masses, the bullying and allowed the negativity to permeate their soul to humiliation and embarrassment, to later quit.  He has come to realize the “power of prayer”, trusting a God who has never failed him, and since being a good soldier who understands enduring hardness and unfairness (2 Tim. 2:3). It is a chose that he made and people must learn to respect a person’s belief, especially if it helps in the wellbeing of the person or our society. Our youth and adults need positive role models and especially those who are consistent and persistent in character of good qualities.

For anyone to condemn Ted for his actions, are those who do not understand commitment, sincerity and the devotion of one’s beliefs or lifestyle.  It is great to know that there is a person who understands those principals, for I truly thought all were lost or obscure in our society. I am not painting Ted as some martyr or great super wonder but one who has taken on a characteristic that definitely clears the air of his weakness in character. He not only believes in his God but he also believes in his team and self.  There is a great demand to believe and to believe in you is a blessing.  I pray that he continues forward on the field, as well as in his life, taking on the challenges ahead with his determination to succeed, while leaving the haters, foolishness, naysayers and negativity where it belongs, behind him or under his feet.

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The first day I walked by myself to Kindergarten was a Sunny Autumn morning. I cried nearly ever step of the way – but I bet Mom really wasn’t too far away and every tear must have hurt her dearly. But she knew there would be a time I would have to step out on my own. As much as she loved me she knew I would have to go on my own eventually – she knew I’d be okay, but it didn’t make it hurt much less.

For some of us, we know that death is not a final ending. We might not all have the same faith and some of us might not believe in an afterlife and do not believe in what that afterlife is even if we believe in it. However when we are faced with mortality, the separation from our loved ones by that veil of death, no matter how firm our faith, there is a feeling of pain and loss. Like a parent sending their child to school. Or like a child going leaving home to live away from home to go to university or college, we know it is happening and it is proper that it happens, but even though we know that we can still love our loved ones who are separate from us – it will never be the same.

Even as that time approaches, even if the brush with mortality is not mortal on that occasion, it foreshadows the eventual separation. We feel the upcoming pain of separation.

I think, I pray not that someone close does not die. I do not know the proper time of their passing. I know it will happen when it is God’s Will – for that is my belief – and so my prayer is for strength and understanding in the time of tears over the separation. I pray for comfort for those around me and the person who is facing mortality. I pray for strength so that I can help comfort those around me who need it an so that I do not become a burden in taking too much energy in personal needs for comfort myself.

I know that knowing and feeling are different things. I feel the pain even though I know the parting is temporary and if and when it happens it is God’s Will and that in truth my beloved one is not that far away – just not so huggable. I cry just thinking of the separation. Like Mom must have when I walked alone at 5 to kindergarten that first day.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”  Matthew 6:25

When is the last time you stopped long enough to just think about the question – What is “really” important to ME?

Often there doesn’t seem to be enough time to catch your breath in between running from work to home or home to your volunteer activities; work to your children’s school functions or home and back to work again. Pursuing that so-called “balanced life” is a common desire in today’s society. It is a search that often leaves you with a feeling of exasperated frustration. You become the proverbial “hamster on a wheel”. You never catch it!

While you are now taking that momentary break (good for you!) to think about slowing down long enough to ask about taking some time to look inward, I propose that we begin this step by making the task a bit easier. First try shortening the question.

Rather than starting this journey by asking ourselves “What is really important to ME?”, try a more direct question that will hopefully move us closer to something more deeper ….something closer to touching our own faith, our own spirituality, our own conversation with God.

What is really important?

One word, you say to yourself. One word deleted from that sentence is going to make such a difference in my answer? One word is going to bring me to a deeper level?

You are probably asking yourself – Isn’t my focus of importance truly going to be different than my spouse, my neighbor, my co-worker, my parents or my friends?  It depends.

How we define “what” and “importance” are really important parts of this question.  Is the TRUTH really that different for you and your spouse, your neighbor, your friends? Or are there some constants in this universe which are immutable? Is there such as thing as the ultimate and divine TRUTH?

If we are searching (and we all do at some point), are we not all seeking the same TRUTH and not the “what”.

If not, then all the other things which we have focused on in our life as important – which have failed to bring us comfort, peace, serenity and closer to God – would surely have been working. Our current need to be filled and nourished by something other than false hopes and short-lived peace holds a common bond among the needs of all humanity. The desire for what is really important is universal because it is a search for TRUTH. A truth that can only be found when we come to a point where are ready to empty ourselves and enter into a journey with our God.

Answering the question, “What is really important”, means having to become brutally honest with ourselves and the values that we place in people, places and possessions.   It means coming to an understanding of our relationship with God in a greater context than just in the beginning at birth, the end at death and at some random points along the way. It means breaking down the current focus to the very starting point of our creation – the TRUTH. The very TRUTH found only in our relationship, on a daily basis, with God. The TRUTH that is eternal in nature and not subject to individual interpretation. As there is only one God who created all – there is only one source of TRUTH – created in the same way.

Are we ready to continue on our journey? Are we ready to stop the focus on all that has not worked in our life? Are we ready to stop long enough to begin a conversation with God?

Surrender yourself to the relationship which is rightfully yours from your birth….your relationship with God – the source of TRUTH.

 ” We have the choice of letting the storm of life lift you up to the summits of a deeper more abiding faith …or slipping backward being buried under a pile of rubble called despair and self pity.”  Mujana Darian

Personal Journal Reflection

What is your current image of God?

How did you think of God as a young child?

Have you ever felt the desperate need for God? When? Why?

Have you ever felt like you were staring TRUTH in the face?

What is important to you now?

What have you felt should be important but you’ve ignored it?