Give Your Face a Break

February 2020 Words of Encouragement

This month is packed full of “Words of Encouragement” moments. We have Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Founder’s Day, Richard Allen’s birthday, Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, Groundhog Day, Red Dress Sunday, and a plethora of other created days to celebrate; too many to mention here, but I’ll bet if you Google “Special Days In February", you’ll find something that’ll fit your liking.

Recently, I heard a quote that I’d like to share with you, “It’s hard to stay in the present when you know what the future holds”. This quote came from my boss as he was talking to an employee about opportunities that would soon open up for the company. As he shared it, he smiled the entire time. Listening to him and watching him, made me smile as well and reflect on what is to come. Here's the thing, sometimes we get stuck in the past or complain about the present, and forget that we do have a bright future. Why? Because God promised and honestly, I believe every now and again, the Lord wants us to get a glimpse of our future so we can give our face a break and smile. I believe He wants us to imagine our future to keep us moving forward, to keep ourselves encouraged, and to remember that God is God.

During this month, regardless of what others say, celebrate how far you’ve come, consider where you are now, and then think of where God promised He would take you. That should make you smile and if that doesn’t work, stop and take a look at all those precious babies you see running around the church, participating in music ministry, giving you unsolicited hugs, and give your face a break and smile. Smile because the future is bright. Smile because what’s coming is going to be better than what was (Job 8:7). See yourself successful and smile. See yourself financially stable and smile. See yourself loving yourself again and smile. See yourself rested and revived and smile. See yourself celebrating yourself and smile. See yourself walking in victory and smile!

I think you understand what I’m trying to say….get excited about what God has for you and smile.

Thanks for reading and smiling.

Peace, Rev. Dana

See you next week for 240 Minutes of Meditation, Motivation, and Mental Relaxation….Safe travels J

A New Decade - A New Year

January 2020 - A New Decade A New Year

Happy New Year My Sisters!

It’s a new season and a new day and this month’s Word of Encouragement will come in the form of a reminder and an invitation (in that order).

Let me start with this: Years ago, Helen Baylor recorded the song entitled, “Wounded Soldier”. Have you ever heard it? If no, make sure you YouTube it, but until then, the lyrics to the chorus go like this: “Come let us pour the oil, come let us bind their hurt. Let's cover them with a blanket of His love. Come let us break the bread, come let us give them rest. Let's minister healing to them. Don't let another wounded soldier die”. Beautiful huh? So here’s the thing….

We spent almost all of 2019 talking about and encouraging clergy self-care, especially for women in ministry. Truth is, we often find ourselves helping, encouraging, praying, and caring for everyone and we forget about ourselves. Unfortunately, it’s not until we’re knocked off our feet with a bad cold, the flu, or a migraine that we slow down and rest.

So, here’s your reminder: We won't let another wounded soldier die so SLOW DOWN and TAKE CARE OF YOU!!!! Don’t wait until you’re too sick to enjoy some “you time”. It doesn’t have to be a long period of time or expensive. It may be as simple as sitting in the car for a few minutes and taking deep long breaths before going in the house or having a good ugly cry while taking a long hot shower. Slow down and take care of you. This is one of those things that we must CHOOSE to do for ourselves.

Listen, let me break it all the way down. I love a cold glass of orange juice. As I drink from the glass, I’m refreshed. But when the orange juice is gone and the glass is empty, it no longer provides refreshment and the only thing left is an empty glass. Don’t be the empty glass. Take time and refresh, refill, revive, and renew you so you can in turn minister full.

Now here comes the invitation.

The Second Episcopal District Women In Ministry is hosting a self-care retreat the day before the Mid-Winter Meeting begins and this is my personal invitation for you to join me and other Women In Ministry for 240 Minutes of Meditation, Motivation and Mental Relaxation.

The date is Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 1pm to 5pm at Persimmon Grove AME Church, Greensboro, NC 27410 where The Reverend Deborah Lawson-Smith is the Pastor. There will be a workshop, healthy eating tips, homemade snacks, fellowship, and lots of laughter and fun.

The cost? Just $10. That’s 42 cents an hour that you’ll be investing in your self-care! Come on, you can’t do any better than that! You can register NOW on the website (https://www.sedwim.org/) and pay your registration through Cashapp. Okay? I’ll see you there…..

Oh, let me throw this in. When you travel to the various meetings, consider arriving the day before so you don’t feel so stressed. I’m telling you, try it one time and I bet you never go back J.

Peace,

Rev. Dana

Who Is This Baby, You Ask...?

Recently I was listening to the song, “Someday At Christmas” by Stevie Wonder and as I listened, my heart got a little sad.

First, I think I got sad because I started missing my Daddy. For those who didn’t know him, Christmas was my father’s favorite time of the year. In fact, he loved it so much, he chose to go be with the Lord right after Christmas almost 11 years ago. He taught us to celebrate the season and to remember Jesus. He taught us to be childlike and enjoy the season. He taught us to pull folks in, especially those who feel alone. Yeah. I miss him.

The next reason my heart got sad is because although Stevie recorded this song in 1967, it still rings true. We’re still waiting for hate to be gone and love to prevail. Over 40 years later, we’re still searching for a land with no hungry children and no empty hands.

I must admit, I was really beginning to get down and then the Lord did something. He sent me to Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Now, I don’t know if that made your heart happy or not, but it did for me and let me tell you why. Just to know that in spite of Stevie singing that song, in spite of the government separating families, in spite of the ball of confusion of life, in spite of what our eyes no longer see and our hearts no longer expect, in spite of impeachment proceedings and elections, in spite of it all….GOD sent a Baby to give us life. He sent a Baby to lift out hopes. He sent a Baby to jolt us back to life.

Who is this baby you ask?

He is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. He’s the Rose of Sharon, the Rock in a weary land, and a Bridge over troubled waters. He’s a Heart Fixer and a Mind Regulator. He’s the Stone that the builders rejected and the One Who orders your steps.

So, for this last edition of the Women In Ministry Words of Encouragement for 2019, let me leave you with this….May your Christmas Season be filled with so much love, joy, peace, and happiness you can barely contain yourself and it all bubbles over into the lives of others. May you have no drama or chaos, unless somebody is healed in the process, and even then, the drama/chaos not last more than an hour. May the Lord heal your broken heart as you celebrate Christmas without your loved one for the first or the fiftieth time. May a song raise up from your belly when you wake up with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning (or tomorrow morning if that’s what you need). May you never forget that you ARE loved….God loves you and so do I!

See you in February at the WIM Retreat and Winter Meeting in North Carolina.

Rev. Dana