BLACK HISTORY MONTH featuring: Hazel I Jackson

BEVALUED

Hazel I Jackson , a native of South Carolina, earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education from South Carolina State College and a master’s of education degree from Temple University.  She did post-graduate work at Delaware University.    Prior to moving to Lancaster in 1952, she taught four years in the public schools of South Carolina. 

In 1961, Lancaster Sertoma Club began a mission to help African-Americans who had been deprived of job opportunities to get into their qualified fields.  Every time she applied for a teaching postiion, she had to supply a picture along with the application, so school boards knew she was African-American.   She was rejected 12 times–“not because of her credentials.”  But, she didn’t let that stop her.  It just inspired her to work harder to get a foot in the door as a subsitute teacher.  Eventually, she was hired as an English teacher  for seventh and eighth…

View original post 252 more words

Encourage Yourself In the Lord

1 Samuel 30:5-6 (New International Version)

⁵ David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Depression tried to overtake me. Negative thoughts, voices speaking into my ears, whispering criticisms and everywhere I turned… everybody was going through something .  There was no escaping!  I wasn’t getting a breakthrough at church or from reading scripture.  Finally, I gave into depression and decided to go to bed and pull the covers over my head. 

 Has this ever happened to you?  Have you ever felt like giving up and surrendering to defeat?

As I laid on my bed it occurred to me;  maybe instead of laying here feeling sorry for myself…I should pray.  Just as I began to pray the Lord spoke to me.  He said, “if you continue to lie here, you will become even more depressed, get up and get moving.  I have already overcome for you and the only way you’re  going to lose, is if you continue to lie here and remain in this state of mind.”  So I got up!  And, I began to ” encourage myself in the Lord.”  I started speaking to myself.  “You can’t change anything by staying in this bed.  In fact, some situations you can’t change at all.  The only way you’re going to change anything is by getting out of the bed and moving,  Moving toward the change; causing the change, and/or pressing on in spite of the circumstances.”  The more I spoke to myself the better I began to feel. 

The circumstances around me didn’t immediately change, but I changed the way I felt about them.  Yes, depression was all around me.  But, I determined that I wasn’t going to let it dictate how my day would be spent.  Or, how I would respond to what was happening around me.  It was all up to me.  I could remain depressed or remember that God has everything under control.  And He is working it all out for my good and the good of others.

Perhaps,  you’re going through a situation that has you depressed or discouraged.  Just like David, you can encourage yourself in the Lord your God.  David sought the Lord’s guidance and God told him that if he “got up”  he was going to be successful and recover all.  You should not only seek the Lord’s guidance but remember what He has done for you in the past.  He brought you out before, He’ll bring you out again.

PRAYER FOCUS:  Father, right now I am faced with a difficult situation.  But, I refuse to give into depression or discouragement.  I seek Your guidance and encouragement.  Thank you for ALL the times you worked it out in the past.  IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN. 

SINGLES EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT

NAT’L CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Mark 10:14 (The Message)

 ^13-16The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

 

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and we can see according to the above passage of scripture, that children are extremely important to Jesus.  He died for us all but He said “children” are at the very center of life in the kingdom of God.  He gathered them up in His arms and blessed them.  They hold a special place in the heart of God. 

Yet, so many of our children are being hurt on a daily basis.  Child Abuse is divided into four types:  physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect.  Any child at any age may experience any or all of these types of abuse.  We ALL have the responsibility to protect and defend these children.  There are several ways to help.  If you think a child is being abused; take immediate action. 

I am a survivor of child abuse.  I’ll never forget the person that tried to rescue me.  Unfortunately, it was after the abuse had occured but, because of her intervention the abuse was exposed.  Her name was “Christine Washington” and I honor her memory today with this post.  If she had remained silent (believe me, I know it takes courage to get involved) everyone around me probably would have continued to ignore the situation. 

Jesus doesn’t want us to ignore the pain and sufferings of children.  He wants us to bring them to Him.  We can do that by rescuing a child in danger.  And there are many ways of doing it.  Contact the Nat’l Child Abuse Hotline for more information:   (1-800-422-4453). 

PRAYER FOCUS:  Father, help us to be strong in the face of possible danger.  It is our responsibility to protect all children.  We ask you to protect the children we are aware of that are experiencing abuse today.  Help us all Father to be strong and courageous until the abuse can be stopped.  IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.  

  

RECOGNIZING CHILD ABUSE: 

The Child:

· Has learning problems that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes:

· Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen;

· Lacks adult supervision;

· Is overly compliant, an overachiever, or too responsible; or

· Comes to school early, stays late, and does not want to go home.  

The Parent:

information, for conferences, or for home visits;

· Denies the existence of — or blames the child for — the child’s problems in school or at home;

· Asks the classroom teacher to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves;

· Sees the child entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome;

Demands perfection or a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve; o

 

· Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs

The Parent and Child: 

 

· Rarely touch or look at each other;

· Consider their relationship entirely negative; or

State that they do not like each other 

SIGNS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:

 

· Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes;

· Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school;

· Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home from school;

· Shrinks at the approach of adults; or

· Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver.

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver 

 

· Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury;

· Describes the child as “evil,” or in some other very negative way;

· Uses harsh physical discipline with the child; or

· Has a history of abuse as a child.

SIGNS OF NEGLECT

Consider the possibility of neglect when the child: 

 

· Is frequently absent from school;

· Begs or steals food or money from classmates;

· Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses;

· Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor;

· Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather;

· Abuses alcohol or other drugs; or

· States there is no one at home to provide care.

Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver: 

 

· Appears to be indifferent to the child;

· Seems apathetic or depressed;

· Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner; or

Is abusing alcohol or other drugs

 

SIGNS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child: 

 

· Has difficulty walking or sitting;

· Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities;

· Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior;

· Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age fourteen;

· Runs away; or

· Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver.

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:  

 

· Is unduly protective of the child, severely limits the child’s contact with other children,

especially of the opposite sex;

· Is secretive and isolated; or

· Describes marital difficulties involving family power struggles or sexual relations.

SIGNS OF EMOTIONAL MALTREATMENT

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child: 

 

· Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme

passivity or aggression;

· Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately

infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example);

· Is delayed in physical or emotional development;

· Has attempted suicide; or

· Reports a lack of attachment to the parent.

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver: 

 

· Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child;

· Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child’s school

problems; or  · Overtly rejects the child.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Children and Families

Administration on Children, Youth and Families

Children’s Bureau

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YOU ARE VALUABLE TO GOD

   Proverbs 31:10 (AMP)

 ¹⁰A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

 

It’s taken me awhile to post in reference to the “Chris Brown and Rihanna” incident. Domestic Violence is not going away anytime soon.  In fact, it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better. I say this with all humility and deep regret.  I truly want to believe that someday things will get better, that men will get the help they need and we can put this demon to rest. It’s the same old story.  Man becomes angry; man beats woman; man begs for forgiveness; woman goes back to man; man becomes angry, again; man kills woman; the end of woman.  Pathetic. 

 But, unfortunately, I have to face the truth.   It is no secret that what negatively effects men will result in violence against women.  The country is in a state of economic upset.  When men are scared, disappointed, angry, embarrassed, rejected, and in pain; it ultimately leads to violence against women and children…”the weaker vessel.”  What will it take in this country for us to wake up and stop the madness?

 

Since we are unable to change any man, our only recourse is to change the way we allow ourselves to be treated by a man. It’s a given– as long as men are protected and escape consequences of their actions; things will stay the same. We may as well face it.  Ladies, we have to change the way WE allow ourselves to be treated.  When a man doesn’t see the VALUE in me; he is not worth my time or thought.  Every time a man abuses a woman; he DEVALUES her.  To him you are no better than the gum on the bottom of his shoe.  In fact, they often use their shoes to stomp all over you.  You must “know your worth.”

 

Firstly: according to Genesis 1:27-28, we were created in the image of God.  What could be more valuable than that?  Secondly:  Psalms 139:14 states, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. God took special care in creating us.  We are more valuable than rubies (Proverbs 31:10) He instructed the man to provide and protect everything that He created.  Especially, the woman that was made to complete him.  She was designed to fulfill a specific purpose. 

 

Daughter of God, know that you are valuable beyond any price that could ever be offered.  The only way we are ever going to achieve Domestic Peace is to stop allowing ourselves to be victims of Domestic Violence.  Pay attention to the warning signs and get out as fast as you can.  Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, however, in most cases; there are early signs of behavior indicating possible violent tendencies. There is a list of warning signs posted on this site.   Title: Why do abusers succeed?  BE CAREFUL. 

 

PRAYER FOCUS:      Heavenly Father.  I lift up every woman living with violence to You right now.  Protect her from physical abuse.  Give her the courage to walk away from any one that doesn’t value her as You do.  IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.