Southside Scoop - 8.4.2024 by southsidecoc

Southside Church of Christ

800 Elmira Avenue

Durham, NC 27707

info@sside.org | www.sside.org

919.688.3535

STAFF

Orlander R. Thomas Senior Minister

William A. Stephens Minister Emeritus

Candice P. Blount Church Administrator

Quentella Williams Executive Assistant

John Merriweather Online Campus Minister

Dineen Merriweather Online Campus Director

DEACONS

John Alcox

Anthony Green, Sr.

Arthur Hackney

John Mathis

Chester Mayfield, Jr.

Roger McDougal

Joe Williams

Keith Wright

W E E K L Y W O R D

By RICKI FULLER

For many people, one of the hardest things to do is allow ourselves to not become adversely affected by any/all hurt(s) inflicted upon us. This is, perhaps, one of the major reasons the academic field of social sciences is more prevalent today than in the early-to-late twentieth century.

Social scientists, psychologists, counselors, psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and social workers are all fields of study that are focusing on how the mind and body function as a unit in people of all ages, cultures, and social statuses. Here in the Southside church of Christ family, we are very blessed to have a good number of such practitioners within our family.

In studying and discussing the topic of ‘Overcoming Hurt’ this month, Lord willing, we have resource people to ask questions of and to help the congregation develop understanding of GOD’s perspective. With GOD being our Spiritual Father and Savior and Paraclete, we can learn through studying the Scriptures what GOD expects of us frail human beings. Also, to subsidize the Scriptural teachings, GOD has outfitted people as practitioners in the disciplines listed above. Those practitioners and researchers can work along with GOD’s Word, the Leadership, the membership, and the community to help us all learn what it means to let go

For instance, on a personal note, with me not having ever known or seen my biological father, for a very long time I was afraid to marry because of not knowing who could be my brother. Potential disaster-in-the-making. Then, when I did get to a point where I trusted my gene-pool/physical instincts enough to marry,

even though my betrothed’s nose was shaped like mine - only considerably larger [smile]), I soon learned I had made a mental and social misjudgment. Oh, such pain/hurt!

However, through all the frustrations and imperfect decisions, GOD still grew me astronomically by showing me more of who I was/am in His Kingdom (Romans 8:28, 14-17; John1:12)! It still took many years for me to get to the realization and acceptance of the importance of forgiving all individuals associated with the ‘irregularities’ that I allowed to define my life.

I’m thanking GOD for giving me the time and the freedom to learn that everyone in that portion of my life had their own lifeperspectives that governed their beliefs and actions. They were just as clueless about their life experiences/outcomes as was I about my own.

Yet, I was determined that if GOD was true to His Word, He would to lead me to understanding my duty in Christ’s Name (John 14:12-14). What I was asking did not appear exactly as expected.

First, I learned true essence of love through Luke 10:27 and John 15:16-17. Then, in His model prayer, Christ clearly stated I must forgive it all/let it go (Matthew 6:15)! What? You serious Lord? What’s my reward? The answer was/is a clean/pure heart-spirit, freedom from those negative burdens/stressors. Let it go! (I believe I’m a better woman still learning and being shaped by GOD!)