It seems to me that we need to listen to various people share their hearts and personal experiences so we can have a deeper appreciation of the issues surrounding us. How can a person respond unless he has first heard? And I think it is wise to hear perspectives from several people so I can come to a more complete and balanced understanding.
“Lord, what do You want to speak to me concerning law and grace?”
My friend, law or instructions are the things that set the boundaries for our relationship. That’s all. So many people worship My instructions and neglect Me. They are proud of their ability to memorize a list of things to do or not to do… and they even take on a new language as if because they have tuned their tongue to speak Hebrew that that is a milestone for them.
July 7, 2020 – Two-Way Journaling from Tom P.
I have never had a conversation with a black police officer about any sort of racial issue. I have never even talked with a black man about racial issues. For some reason this is just an uncomfortable subject. I remember a seminar I did 35 years ago at Bishop Joseph Garlington’s church. I made a complimentary comment to my black audience saying, “You guys are better than whites in this area" (I forget now exactly what the area was). Bishop Garlington interrupted the seminar and asked me two or three times what I meant by “you guys.” And I was afraid to provide a more specific answer because I didn’t know if I should call them Black or Negros or African Americans, and I assumed that if I chose the wrong phrase it would be offensive to them. So yes, I have never had a conversation with a black man about racial issues. This is about to change!
These facts from FlattenTheFear.com help provide peace and encouragement. There is even a petition at this weblink which you can sign if you choose to. There are eleven hyperlinks in the list below and each one is worth clicking on as it reveals valuable research that will calm one's fears.
Ruth Wilson writes: I have a testimony I would like to share with you. I have learned so much from your book Unleashing Healing Power through Spirit-Born Emotions. Here is another amazing experience that happened.
We live near a huge bridge that is critical for every day getting to and from work, beach, etc. Last fall they began construction and closed down one of the lanes on the busiest weekend. It was a Friday evening and took over 7 hours to go what normally takes 1.5 hours (with traffic).
For many of us, it is time to listen to a Spirit-led leader in the black community express his thoughts about the racial tension that has erupted around us. We need to hear what the concerns are so we can be active participants in promoting a solution. It is impossible for us to be part of the solution if we have not first listened.
He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. (Prov. 18:13 NASB)
When I want to master a topic, I begin by looking up everything God has said about that subject in the Bible. I pray over these Scriptures, asking for revelation, and then journal out the insights God is giving me. I recommend this approach to all. This way, you are not receiving information that has been passed down for hundreds of years. You are not getting man’s ideas. You are receiving directly from God as you meditate on His Word under the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
by Patti Virkler
I confess that I am one of those people who have been offended and put off by the expression “black lives matter.” Not because I disagreed with it in any way, but because to me, it was a statement of the obvious. Of course black lives matter; all lives matter. Jesus died for all mankind. In Him, there is no Jew or Greek nor male or female nor black or white. We are all one in the family of God. It seemed to me that to emphasize the value of one group stirs up negative feelings and brings needless division. I felt like that would be more racist than anything else I have ever said or done.
Then I was reminded of Luke 15.
On June 27, 2020, I heard a sermon about the creation that really stirred my heart. Then during the night, I awoke to a strong wind blowing the curtain in the bedroom. I got up to close the window and a prayer flooded into my spirit. I grabbed a pad and paper and started writing. I didn’t really hear the Lord as I usually do, but this prayer just flowed from my inner being.
