RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
Finding Peace During Life's Storms
Storms have been raging all around us, and over the past couple years, every one of us find ourselves in the midst of a storm. The challenge is to find ways to have peace amid our storms. Ahmaud Arbery was killed in broad daylight on Feb. 23, 2020. Then on March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor was killed in her home after having gone to bed for the evening, when police break down her door and the night turned into her last night on this earth. And George Floyd was murdered for the whole world to see on May 25, 2020. All of this, amid a worldwide pandemic. And though we're heading into yet another year, there's the possibilities of the omicron variant — wow! Hold on, and keep God in your thoughts. I remember watching protesters marching around the world after the George Floyd murder. It didn't matter about the new coronavirus then. There was a need for the Black Lives Matter movement to finally be heard by the world — and they were! Unfortunately, these families have had to weather the storm. In each case, these individuals were minding their own business — Ahmaud Arbery was simply out taking a jog, getting some exercise; Breonna Taylor was in her own home, in bed, never expecting to have to get up and be shot and killed by police; and George Floyd, of course, we all saw pictures of him walking around in the store, simply shopping, something we all do, only to come out the store and
be murdered for the world to see. When something happens in your life, whether it's good or bad, look for the lesson in it. For those killed, the only lesson I care to mention is how justice was needed. Repeat this Scripture, Romans 8:28, often, as I do. You've seen it in this column many times, and you will certainly see it again: "And I know that all things work together for good to them who love God and who are called according to His purpose." Look for the good, even when things are bad. How many of us go through things and never learn anything? Whether these things you do are good or bad, it's your choice, but please remember, today's decisions are your realities for your tomorrow! As each year goes by, I can understand this scripture more and more! This thought is biblical. I did not really see what it was really saying until I read Napoleon Hill's book about 15 times or more, though Hill repeated over and over that "Thoughts Are Things." The principle is easily seen in our world today. You sure can tell who is watching what they say by carefully orchestrating their words with a positive spin!
Positive people choose words and thoughts, with their own free will to stay focused on those things that are right, noble, pure and lovely. Pessimistic and depressed folk tend to have negative attitudes towards anybody and anything, and they're always choosing to think and dwell on the negative side, the way Jeremiah did. That's why they called him "Weeping Jeremiah" — always crying about something! Jesus did warn us that we would go through many trials and tribulations. He said life is full of trouble. However, there is a flip side to this coin. On the one side of the coin is the darker side of this life, but on the other side of this coin is the good, positive, and brighter side of this life. It is not all death, doom and destruction. Even in the worst case scenarios and situations, there is always a hope and a light at the end of that storm cloud. Don't allow negative thinking to take a stronghold on you! You can change the way you think, and you can do it the way the Bible tells us to in Philippians 4:8 where it tells us to "Think on These Things!" I close with this from Proverbs 23:7: As someone thinks within himself, so he is. WI
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Adams Inspirational A.M.E. Church Dr. E. Gail Anderson Holness / Senior Pastor Rev. Ali Gail Holness-Roland / Assistant & Youth Pastor 12801 Old Fort Road • Ft. Washington, MD 20744 Office (301) 292.6323 • FAX (301) 292.2164 Service and Times Sunday Worship 10:15 am Sunday Church School 11:00 am Youth Sunday every 4th Sunday Prayer Call @ Noon every Tuesday & Thursday 978.990.5166 code: 6166047# Virtual Bible Study Wednesday Facebook & Zoom 7:00 pm “A Growing Church for a Coming Christ” www.adamsinspirationalamec.org
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