All honor and Glory to God! In lieu of Black History Month, I thought it would be especially interesting to begin our SOD's this month with a bit of Black history that isn't as prevalent in "history" as the likes of Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. That being said, let's begin with Cathay Williams (September 1844 - 1892). She was the first African American female to enlist as a soldier, and the only documented to serve in the United States Army posing as a man under the pseudonym, William Cathay. Williams enlisted in the United States Regular Army on November 15, 1866 in St. Louis, Missouri for a three year tour. Shortly after her enlistment, Williams contracted smallpox, and her body began to show signs of strain; she was frequently hospitalized. When the post surgeon finally discovered she was a woman, he informed the post commander. She was discharged from the Army by her commanding officer, Captain Charles E. Clarke on October 14, 1868. Continue to keep one another in prayer, thanking God for the victory, and refraining from claiming defeat from the enemy; ALWAYS pray for your desired result, NOT the unfavorable outcome. Do NOT lose sight of God in the midst of adversity, God Bless!
Passage Romans 6:6-7 (NLT):
"We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin."
Again, in lieu of Black History Month, I thought it befitting to change things up a bit. So, along with our brief snippets of the "unsung" Black history, we will maintain Romans 6:6-7 as our focal passage for this month. I am aware that I have a diverse distribution list, so I will try to be politically correct and refrain from using the term "our" in its relevance to those of us who are of African American decent. That being said, the civil rights leaders who were known advocates for Black rights, such as MLK, and Marcus Garvey, and those before them such as Harriet Tubman... these people paved the way for African Americans today. Through hard labor, tears, and pain in all sense of its meaning, they sweated hard and long, and shed many years of tears; it is through their suffering that some color lines were erased, and no longer exist today. Of course racism is still very prevalent, however, who would have ever thought the opportunity would arise for a man with African American roots to be afforded candidacy as president, let alone actually winning a presidential election? Martin Luther King Jr., other civil rights leaders, and fighters such as the Little Rock 9, gave hope to my parents and shared tears with my grandparents, while Obama's triumph, no matter how the world perceives his effectiveness, has provided hope for the new generation of Black hopefuls. This passage is tip of the hat to slaves and Black leaders and fighters who paved the way for African American rights today. But as it relates to our lesson, this passage reminds us that we are NOT bound to the shackles of sin; once we have confessed with our mouth, and accepted in our heart, that Jesus died and was resurrected to save us from eternal death, we are SAVED. Just as African American's born into slavery died of hard labor and beatings - never losing hope or seeking the opportunity for change to make a way for the present generations of Blacks, Christ was crucified to provide a way for all men (NO COLOR LINES) to enjoy eternal happiness. In an effort to be more Christ-like, it is our duty as Christians to love one another, work hard, study the Word and apply it harder, and to share God's Gospel so that we may pave the way for others to find redemption through Jesus Christ.
Prayer of the Day:
Lord God we praise your Holy name, thanking you for salvation. We thank you for the leaders now who pave the way for new generations and for the leaders before us, who have made a way for our parents and grandparents; no matter race, color, or creed, we thank you for all the leaders who have made a way for each of us to flourish today. We thank you for our ministry and fellowship. We thank you for the ability to sup with one another and not be divided by our genetic make-up or gender. Father God we thank you for the blessings received through the tears and sweat from the individuals who paved the way before us. We thank you for your continued love, support, and protection. Father through slavery you paved the way, through the holocaust, you made the way, through the concentration camps, you provided the way, and through all our trials YOU grant us the way through your Son Christ Jesus, and for that we give you the ultimate praise. Hallelujah Father, we thank you! We submit this affirmation of faith in the heavenly name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen!
~~ Tylesha ~~
"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)
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