Yes We Can

Habaragani (''What's the good news?'' in Swahili):

December 26 marks the first day of the African American cultural holiday known as Kwanzaa. I would like to share my thoughts on the first of seven principles, known as the Nguzo Saba. Today’s principle is Umoja, which is the Swahili word for Unity. The principle simply suggests that we “strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race."

We’ve all heard the saying, “there is strength in numbers,” and after the 2008 Presidential Election we saw firsthand what happens when people get on one accord. Most recently, we heard or read about how various entities have come together to improve their conditions. Whether it was the automobile industry executives lobbying Congress for a bailout, or the Chicago factory workers who refused to disband until their former employer honored their contractual obligations, we saw what happens when forces unite. Even workers who never shared a cup of coffee began carpooling as gas prices increased. While many of these relationships may have never existed before, desperate times called for desperate measures. The same can be said for the situations in our families, communities and in the world.

In the next few months, I believe we will begin to see cooperation like never before. This concept was not foreign to our foreparents who raised each other’s children, fed their neighbors, and cared for the orphans and widows of their ilk.

While many black Christians are a tad skeptical about the nonreligious celebration, to me, the principle of Umoja that Kwanzaa creator Dr. Maulana Karenga proposes is similar to the message shared by Pastor Hezekiah Walker when he sings, “I Need You To Survive.”


“I need you, you need me.
We're all a part of God's body.
Stand with me, agree with me.
We're all a part of God's body.
It is his will, that every need be supplied.
You are important to me, I need you to survive”

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and we must begin to consider how we can combine our various resources to make our families, communities and world a better place for our children and our children’s children.


Happy Kwanzaa!!!
Arlecia

Visit http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org for more information about Kwanzaa

Is Jesus on Your Christmas List?

Grace To You and Peace:

Would Jesus have a gift under your tree if He showed up to your door on Christmas Day? He doesn't need our trinkets, but He needs our hands and hearts. This week, we celebrate because He is not in a manger, nor is He in the grave!

He is alive and working in our lives!

Continue to walk in your blessings, remembering that Jesus is the reason for all seasons! Thank you for your love, prayers and support!



Arlecia D. Simmons
Look and Live Ministries, 2008

A Gift That Will Keep Giving

Editor's note: If you have been blessed by this ministry, I ask that you join me in supporting Kendra Bodison with your financial support and prayers. Please read the note below and continue to pray for this family.

Kendra Bodison : Yemassee, SC
Transplant Type: Heart

Kendra, a devoted wife and mother, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure five months after giving birth to her son. Medication did not improve Kendra's condition, and doctors say a heart transplant is her only hope for a second chance at life.

Before her diagnosis, Kendra worked as a social worker and loved the opportunities her profession gave her to serve others. She looks forward to the lifesaving transplant that will let her be the wife, mother and professional she aspires to be.

A heart transplant costs approximately $650,000, and that's only the beginning. Even with health insurance, Kendra will face significant medical expenses. For the rest of her life, she will need follow-up care and daily anti-rejection medications. The cost of post-transplant medications can range from $2,000 to $5,000 per month--and they are as critical to her survival as the transplant itself.

Kendra must raise $30,000 before she can even be added to the transplant waiting list.

You can help! Your gift to the NFT South Carolina Heart Fund will enable NFT to assist with Kendra's transplant expenses. If you prefer to mail your gift, please send it to NFT South Carolina Heart Fund, 5350 Poplar Ave., Suite 430, Memphis, TN 38119. Please be sure to write "in honor of Kendra Bodison" in the memo line.

Visit the following link to make an online donation:
http://www.transplants.org/Patients2.php?state=SC

Thank you for your generosity!

More about Kendra's story: http://m.wltx.com/news.jsp?key=71182&rc=fyi

What Is Your Due Date?

My healthcare provider recently sent me a postcard promoting one of its initiatives for women. The card read:

Starting a family may not be in your plans right now. But if you’re thinking about having a baby someday, it’s important to remember a healthy pregnancy begins long before conception.

While having a child is one of my top ten concerns these days (biological clock ticking, providing background music), I believe God used this mailer to send a message to you. Just as a woman can prepare her body to conceive a baby, you can prepare to birth your hopes and dreams. Are you taking your vitamins, or doing what is necessary to enrich your vision?

What do you want to birth in 2009?

Just recently, I talked with a friend about how I go about preparing to achieve future goals and visions. While most people are trying to get through Christmas, I already envision a completed dissertation, a wonderful teaching job, a new location, and a move in June or July. These things will come to pass, but before they do, preparation is necessary.

Things do not always go as planned, but we must write the vision (Habakkuk 2:2). Before I returned to school in August 2005, I began the application process in September 2004. In the fall of 2004, I began assessing my finances to determine how I could resign from my job and move 500 to 1,500 miles away within a year. Prior to moving, I held weekly “porch sales” (I didn’t have a yard but I had a whole lot of porch) to purge items I didn’t need and make money to finance my move. You get the picture.

The postcard I received listed seven suggestions for how to prepare for pregnancy. So often God sends us similar notifications regarding those seeds He has placed within us, but we dismiss them by saying:
“I’m too old.”
“I have these kids.”
“I could never do that.”
“What are people going to say?”
“I can’t afford to do that.”
“I want to go back to school, but (fill in the blank)”
“I would do ‘A’ if ‘B’.”

How long will your wombs (yes, men, consider yourself with a womb this week) remain barren? How long will you ignore the labor pains? When will you give birth?

While preparing this meditation God sent me to this familiar and seasonally appropriate passage:

Matthew 1:18 (Amplified Bible)
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place under these circumstances: When His mother Mary had been promised in marriage to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant [through the power] of the Holy Spirit.

Beloved, consider today that the Holy Spirit is waiting to use you as a vessel in this earth. Has God given you a vision for a day care center that teaches Christian principles and old-fashioned manners? Has He given you the vision of a nursing homes where our elders would be nurtured and cared for with gentleness? Has he given you a testimony that belongs in a book?

I don’t know about you, but I am getting ready to birth some things in 2009? The labor pains have lasted far too long. My water is about to break, and it is time to head to the delivery room. There is more than one birthing suite available, so do not allow your issues to keep you in the waiting room.

A.D. Simmons


P.S. It has been a pleasure sharing with you this past year through Arlecia’s Doses of Inspiration and this new blog. It has been a rough year, but I am still standing. May the joy of the Lord be your strength during these difficult times. Please feel free to send me an e-mail at looknlive@gmail.com if you have enjoyed this blog or would like to offer other comments. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Hallelujah for another year!

I am going to begin my breathing techniques….

God is Still Blessing His People

Scriptural meditation: Psalm 34:10
"The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing."

Hello People of God,

I know it has been a few weeks since you have heard from me, but a sister has been “vacationing,” regrouping and just reflecting on the conclusion of this year and the approach of another. Oh, and I have been working on my dissertation, which is a ministry in itself. It has been an interesting year, but my guess is that we have not seen anything yet. President-elect Barack Obama said Sunday on “Meet the Press,” The economy is going to get worse before it gets better." Like a cold, some things get worse before they get better.

While the U.S. government has just acknowledged a recession, many of us have been feeling the effects of a burdened economy for months. Yet, we are still going strong. This week, I would just like to take a minute to remind you,
“God is still blessing His people!”

News outlets spend enough money and time telling us about what is bad in the world, but I just stopped by to remind you that there are some great things taking place in the earth. Even as jobs are being loss and the unemployment rate is at its highest, God is still blessing his people. A few days ago, a friend notified me that he was leaving his current job to begin a new one making more money. God is still blessing His people. Others may have told him he was lucky, but I know that this is a young man who attends to the things of God and His people. We have this inside joke that any additional funds should be tithed and committed to the Graduate Student Ministry in Iowa City. I am still waiting on the check (smile)!

One friend just bought a house, another is planning a wedding, and a few are expecting babies in the spring. Can you see how God is still blessing His people? Yes, it is possible that some of our Christmas trees may cover less presents this year. Yet, if you still have a living room for a tree then you should realize that you are blessed.

I had to say “thank you” the other day as I walked down the street and felt the wind and snow. “Lord, I thank you for these new snow boots and this coat that keeps my body warm.” There are people whose homes are outside in the cold, or they live in dwellings with little or no heat. It was not a mink, but I was thankful for the coat that kept my body warm.

Stay encouraged people of God. Do not faint.

It is an interesting time for me as I look forward to graduation and proceed with a job search. Even as I hear reports about unemployment and the rising costs of tuition at American colleges, I declare today that I will not be discouraged. You see, some of us can look back over our lives and see how we have had good reports even in the midst of bad times. My mind goes back to the spring of 2001 when I was in the process of graduating with my master’s degree and the economy was approaching a slump. I remember buying a fax machine so that I could send out resumes. I faxed and faxed and faxed, and gave that little machine a workout. I found a job announcement where the deadline for applications had passed. Most people would have given up, but I called and encouraged to forward my information. I received no responses from the other employers, but in the 11th hour, God made a way. I had secured a job prior to graduation. I look back now and I can see how God orders our steps. The job that I found at the last minute was the first and only teaching job that I applied for during that season. I wanted to do something else, but for years and years, I was told by teachers that I would one day teach. God’s blessings may not always look the way we want them to, but they are still perfect gifts.

God is still making a way and blessing His people. Things may not be ideal, but they are good. I am already excited about 2009. I know a number of people who are excited about the upcoming presidential inauguration. I am too; however, what I am most excited about is that I serve a God whose mercies are new every morning. I am excited that He is a God with a great imagination. I am encouraged that even in my mess He can use me for His glory. I am energized because He has me on His mind, and I am elated that He is continuing to bless His people.

If you cannot receive this word on today, consider rejoicing with others and standing in faith until your blessings come through!

Continue to walk in your blessings, and if this note has blessed you, please forward the link to a friend or even a foe.

ADS

This week’s photo features my grandmother, Louise R. Simmons, who celebrated her 80th birthday on Nov. 28. She has two older siblings who are still among us. To God be the glory!

In Everything Give Thanks

Scriptural meditation:
1 Thessalonians 5:18

For many of us, 2008 has been a tumultuous year filled with difficulties beyond our scope of understanding. Yet, we have lived to tell the stories and witness the making of history with the presidential election of Sen. Barack Obama. Some of us have lost jobs, friends, significant others and hope, but we have lived to tell the stories. Andre Crouch said it best, “Through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus. I’ve learned to trust in God.” The old saints use to say, “If I had 10,000 tongues I couldn't thank Him enough.” Yet, with our one, we often fail to utter the word “Thank You.”

Even in our frustration and pain, we have to declare that the rocks will not cry out for us. The rocks cannot communicate the joy I get just thinking about everything God has done for me. If I had 10,000 tongues, I could not thank him enough.

I am thankful for every valley, as they have taught me to appreciate the mountains.
I am thankful for the summer floods, as they taught me to appreciate God’s earth.
I am thankful for every relationship that dissolved, as they taught me to value the unions that remain.
I am thankful for every ache and pain, as they taught me to appreciate my health and insurance.
I am thankful for every prayer, as I know that angels were dispatched on my behalf.
I am thankful for those who love me, as they teach me how to love.

Whether you spend this thanksgiving feasting on turkey or a can of tuna, give thanks. We can all list what is wrong with our world, but there is so much to note that is right about out temporal home. Each Sunday when I walk into church, I say “thank you.” Not only because I am glad to be in the number just one more time, but because I realize somewhere else in the world there is a Christian praying and worshiping my God in secret. While we are clapping, singing, and running up and down the aisles, others in distant lands pray to a God banned by their governments.

Yes, the economy is unstable and our retirement accounts have taken hits, but we continue to eat each day. Unlike our Haitian brothers, sisters, and others across the world, we do not have to peer into the skies awaiting food drops from United Nations rescue planes. Watch CNN a few hours and you will thank God for the next lunch meat sandwich.

I know it is hard to be thankful when there is trouble on every side, but we must remember that things are not as bad as they could be. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and the Christmas season, do not concentrate on what you do not have. Rather, concentrate on WHO you have. If you have children, thank God for them. If you have a spouse, thank God for their love or just their presence if things are a little rocky. If you have siblings, thank God that you are not alone in this world. If you have parents, thank God for their guidance. If you just have Scruffy the dog or Jazzy the cat, thank God for their companionship. If you are awaiting the love of your life, thank God for this time of preparation.
And if you do not have anyone in this world, know today that Jesus loves you and so do I.

I thank God for you, your gifts, talents, and the value you add to our world!
Stay blessed and continue to walk in your blessings!!!

-ADS

Lord, Your will. Amen.

Scriptural Meditation:1 Samuel 16

"Lord, Your will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. Amen." -- Pastor Jamal Bryant

I was listening to Pastor Jamal Bryant and he uttered the above statement as he prayed with his congregation. "Wow," I thought. "That's one powerful prayer." Actually, it is a prayer we should consider as we approach Tuesday's election.

Yes, we live in the United States and we value our democracy that allows us to choose our leaders. However, as people of faith, we know that when it comes to who will preside/rule over God's people, man's choice has not always corresponded with God's will.

When Samuel came to Jesse's house, Jesse presented his strongest sons. One by one, Samuel examined them but the oil would not flow.

"Neither has the LORD chosen this one," said Samuel as Jesse's seventh son appeared before him. It was David, the "ruddy" one, who was God's choice.

Yes, I want my candidate to win, but most importantly, I want God's will to be done in the earth.

I am a newshound, so in analyzing the news coverage I have heard both candidates and their representatives "misrepresent the truth" from time to time. Yet, when I think about my God, my mind retreats to Numbers 23:19 (NLT): God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?"

Do not consider this a word of discouragement. I encourage you to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4. (YOU CANNOT VOTE ON NOV. 5) I have already voted and I will be at the precinct at 5:30 a.m. to begin my duties as a precinct official. This week, I write to encourage you. I drafted a number of thoughts to post on my blog, but the thoughts written at 1:46 a.m. (CST) is what thus saith the Lord.

This week, pray with me as our nation prepares to vote and wait for the revelation of God's WILL.

Let us pray for each of the candidates, their families, their campaign staffs, and those who protect them. We pray not only for the presidential candidates but also for those running for state and local offices.

We pray for our neighbors and fellow citizens who are still undecided about how they will vote. Let them hear You through all of the advertisements and the media spin.

We pray for those who will work the polls, peace officers, poll watchers, and anyone directly involved in the election process. Strengthen them during the 15-hour workday, in some cases, and remind them to treat your people with dignity and love. We bind the spirit of mischief and wrongdoing and we loose the spirit of fairness and justice.

Lord, let your people know that they are somebody not because they have the right to vote, but because they belong to you.

Lord, we thank you for those who have gone before us - the martyrs of our time who worked to secure our right to vote. We do not take this opportunity for granted, but we thank you for our due season and for their sacrifices.

Lord, we thank you for protecting our soldiers and those of every nation who are fighting to protect the civil rights of your people. We plead the blood of Jesus over our family members who are fighting a war we do not understand.

Lord, we know that no matter who assumes political office in the earth, You are in control. Proverbs 21:1(KJV) reminds us, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

We trust that you can also turn our economy and nation around.

We thank you, praise you, lift your name up and know that you are the Ultimate One. We trust you to provide us earthly leaders who are men and women after your heart.

We declare and decree this petition, and commit to accept your will in our lives and in this upcoming election. In Jesus' name we pray, and it is so, AMEN.!

As always, stay encouraged, walk in your blessings, and do not forget to cast your ballot. Whether we celebrate or lament on Tuesday night, know it is "His will. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else. Amen!"

A.D. Simmons

When Breast Cancer Hits Home

In memory of Ms. Isabel Law (Jan. 29, 1947 – Sept. 14, 2008) and
Petty Officer Marcus A. Lee (1970-2007)

It is fair to say that most of us know someone with cancer, or we have personally dealt with the disease in one way or another. By now, you’ve seen the pink ribbons, received an e-mail about breast cancer, or may have possibly participated in some kind of awareness activity.

One woman who lived through breast cancer and was able to talk about it was the late Ms. Isabel Law, a 26-year breast cancer survivor and nurse who worked with cancer patients. I never knew Ms. Law but I got to know her spirit through her daughter, Tamara, a childhood friend of my friend, Shana (See "Who Are Your Peeps?"). I was blown away when Shana called me on Sunday, Sept. 14 to tell me Ms. Law had passed away. Via e-mail, Tami had kept me abreast of her mother's progress, and only a few days earlier, had notified me that she was leaving the hospital after heart surgery. "What happened?" I went back to the e-mails and there was just one praise report after another. "How?"

The family and her doctors have questions that have yet to be answered, but what is known for sure, is that Isabel Law fought a good fight and finished her course.

To remember her life and work, the Mayor of Columbia, S.C., renamed his annual breast cancer awareness breakfast in her honor. Additionally, Palmetto Health dedicated their Walk for Life in her memory. While Ms. Law received many awards during her life, her most important achievement was that she knew her God and allowed Him to use her as a vessel.

This week, I encourage you to join me in honoring Ms. Law’s memory by taking the time to learn more about breast cancer. As a journalist, I wrote so many stories about various forms of cancer that I became a little jaded about the topic. That is, until I began reviewing some of the latest statistics on the disease. The American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures reports,

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among African American women and the second leading cause of cancer death among African American women, exceeded only by lung cancer. In 2007, an estimated 19,010 new cases of breast cancer and 5,830 deaths are expected to occur among African American women. Although breast cancer incidence is lower among African Americans, African American women have a 36 percent higher breast cancer death rate than Caucasian women...”

“an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2008. An estimated 40,480 women will die from breast cancer. It is estimated that 1,990 men will be diagnosed and 450 men will die of breast cancer during 2008.”

In November 2007, my play-cousin’s husband, 37-year-old Petty Officer Marcus A. Lee, succumbed to the disease. Prior to his illness, he had spent 15 years in the U.S. Navy.

This week, I also encourage you to learn more about your body. Breast cancer as well as other diseases can often be managed or treated with early detection.

Here are a few questions I’d like to leave you with this week:

Do you know how much you weigh?

Have you been ignoring aches and pains for too long?

Have you checked your breasts this month? If not, why? (oops, stepping on my own toes, there!)

Have you had an annual exam this year? If not, what are you waiting for?

Today, take a moment to pray for those living with breast cancer, those whose loved ones have lost their battles, and those who treat and study the disease. It is my prayer that God will anoint those hands for healing.

While it may seem like cancer research has yet to uncover the answers needed to prevent or cure various forms of cancer, I am encouraged by the words of the psalmist who wrote, “If you can have it, God can heal it.”

As always, continue to walk in your blessings!

ADS

Picture: Tami and her sister, Monique, pictured in front of the Palmetto Health mobile mammography van that features their mom’s pic (October 4, 2008).

Prepare for Greatness

Scriptural Meditation: Romans 4:17-20

I looked in an old journal the other day and discovered a page of signatures. No, they were not the autographs of famous celebrities; rather, they were my own. One of the benefits of journaling is it allows you a chance to recap events that have taken place and record your visions for the future. When I would get discouraged about my unfulfilled dreams, I encouraged myself by practicing how I would one day autograph the books I am destined to write. I will need to master this craft in anticipation of the lines! (Hey, you have to "speak those things" into existence!)

It might sound crazy, but sometimes you have to practice and prepare for greatness. This week, take time to consider what needs to be on your to-do list as you “get ready, get ready, get ready” for your dreams to come true.

Go ahead, sign your autograph!

As always, continue to walk in your blessings!

Use This Lesson Towards Your Blessing

This weekend I experienced a personal defeat that had me in a bad way. I even loss my appetite. I do not like missing meals, so you can imagine this one was a serious situation. On Friday night, I started frantically wrote in my journal, trying to recall what was said and each action that had taken place. Within a matter of moments, I resolved that the situation was out of my hands. I proclaimed:” It is what it is, and it’s going to be what it’s going to be.” As I turned the page to continue writing, I began to scribble words to encourage myself, passages to edify and to inspire me back to a place of familiarity. It was as if the Holy Spirit had taken control of the pen and wrote, “Use this lesson towards your blessing.”

“I receive that,” I said, as I looked at the words. As a coupon clipper, the phrasing of this passage immediately resonated with me. I interpreted: “The lesson of this moment will affect my grand total.” So often, when we are looking for a Word, we think we have to run to where the prophet is holding a meeting or call someone else up. If you seek Him, He will send a Word directly to you.

This, too, shall pass. I may shed another tear or two, but I know that I know that I know that this experience had a purpose. This lesson was ordained for the syllabus of my life.

When we ask God for His will to be done, we must remember that He will not always do His will our way. His way may not be the result we envisioned, but it will work for our good. “Yea, but if feels so bad,” you might say. Yea, this does not feel good and I am hungry, but I know that this lesson puts me closer to His plan.

No matter what you have gone through this week, take some time to evaluate the lesson(s) learned. Remember, nothing just happens.

I trust my appetite will soon return and I will relinquish my keys to the Heartbreak Hotel. And while I’ll never understand why it happened this way, what I know for sure is He who has begun a good work in me will complete it. For that, I say, “Hallelujah!”

In the meantime, I have a dissertation to write, a job to find, and a vision to fulfill…

Stay encouraged and in prayer!

Sharing in a Blessing

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15


Happy Monday!

So often, it can be difficult to rejoice with those we love when we experiencing personal struggles. Recent weeks have been challenging for me; however, on Sunday I was elated to hear a friend’s good report. A new professional opportunity was on the horizon and the other “yes’s were lining up”!

“It just happened,” he interjected as I fussed about my delayed notification. This moment was consistent with our normal exchanges, so he knew he had to provide details. As he outlined each facet of the ventures, I began to smile and get excited as if I had won the prize. At no time was I jealous, rather, I rejoiced with a friend who has prayed and worked hard. When you are aware of someone’s storms, it makes it easier to celebrate when the clouds disappear. Thankfully, our relationship is reciprocal and he is one of my graduate school cheerleaders. “Hang in there, Le Le,” are the kinds of one-line emails I get at just the right moment.

After our conversation, I thanked God for the blessings and thought, “I am so happy for him.” It would have been easy to think that the same things should be happening for me, but for a few minutes, I took the time to consider the gift of someone else’s blessings. I rejoiced!

This week, thank God for the people who will authentically rejoice with you. Haters are a dime a dozen, but a true friend is priceless. “Hi Hater!” Even if your blessings are delayed, thank God for what He is doing in the lives of those you love. As I considered the transitions soon to take place in my friend’s life, I remembered that God is still in the blessing business and I am still on His mind. His testimony was just the little faith “boost” I needed. Is it possible that God allows us to share in someone else’s blessings just to see how we will respond? I am not sure, but it is something to consider the next time we consider a taste of haterade.

As always, continue to walk in your blessings and rejoice!


P.S. This week’s photo was taken in Kalona, Iowa, which is located about 15 miles outside of Iowa City. On Saturday, I attended the Kalona Fall Festival with some sister friends who make me smile. I am still amazed that corn is always at arm’s length!

People first, then money, then things

One of my favorite television personalities is financial guru, Suze Orman. She appears weekly on MSNBC, monthly in O Magazine, and you can find her books in any local bookstore. Suze has one of the best mantras that we should all embrace, “people first, then money, then things.”

As we look at the financial crises in America and approach the holiday season, I would like you to consider embracing Suze’s mantra. During the recent floods and hurricanes, thousands of people lost cars, homes and land. At the end of the day, most of those people walked away holding the hands of their loved ones and clutching their children. During Hurricane Hugo, I will never forget how my extended family sat around the dinner table eating these massive feasts, as we were blessed to have a gas stove. In the dark, we ate buffet style meals for days as we attempted to empty the deep freezer. Those memories could never be replaced by money. The little house was in the hood, we were in the dark, but we were safe, well fed and together.

This week, instead of lamenting over our individual financial issues and that of our world, consider the people in our lives that we could not put a price on. With this entry, I have included a photo taken five years ago with most of my maternal family members: the Union Heights Crew. Here we are celebrating the retirement of an extended family member. Numerous cameras were snapping at one time, thus, the facial expressions are priceless.

P.S. I trust that you are all aware of the devastation left by Hurricane Ike and the recovery efforts still underway from Hurricane Gustav. While these are trying times financially for all of us, please consider a donation to the American Red Cross.

During the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, I volunteered at my church and saw firsthand how ARC funds are distributed to affected communities. Yes, I know we are all a little skeptical about how our money is used by these large organizations. Yet, we all know that government funds alone cannot do what is needed.

Last week, CNN showed one of the most disturbing videos showing Haitians, who were also affected by recent storms, fighting for food and oil. CNN.com has info on how to donate to that recovery effort.

Lest We Forget

Scriptural meditation: 2 Chronicles 7:14

September 11, 2001, is a date that very few of us will forget. I was living in Charlotte, N.C., at the time and my routine was reversed that morning. While I normally watched the morning news shows to get an update on what had taken place over night, on that morning, I woke up early so I could finish grading writing assignments I would return to the students in my 9:30 a.m. class. I wrapped up the grading and prepared for work. I was listening to the urban radio station on my drive to work, and I recall hearing the report of the first airplane. The initial report was that seven or eight people were hurt or wounded.

For some reason, that report didn’t make much sense. By the time I reached the building and got in the elevator, students were frantic and everyone was talking about what had just happened. It would not be business as usual. We initially tried to piece together what each of us had heard but nothing made sense. The students tried to get online to see if they could locate reports, but the system was jammed. I left the students and went to my department’s office where other faculty and staff members were huddled around a television. By then, the Pentagon had been struck and details were slowly emerging.

I returned to my students and told them what I learned, and we did the best we could to go on with business as usual. However, as we all know, life would not be business as usual. Our lives, as well as the lives of thousands of others who lost fathers, mothers, spouses, and children, would never be the same.

In December 2005, I visited Ground Zero on a cold New York day. Without the memorial panels and the placards detailing the events, one would think it was just another construction site surrounded by fences. Yet, we all know it is not just an ordinary site; rather, it is a site that marks the day our lives as Americans began to change.

The Sunday following the attacks, the news media visited local churches where there was record attendance across the board. People needed answers and we sought them in our faith communities.

However, since September 11, 2001, the answers have not arrived. We are no closer to the truth about the attacks of that day or those that have followed.

This week, I implore you to pray for our country, its leaders, our troops, and the family and friends of those who lost their lives on Sept. 11 and in wars ignited since.

When we do not know what to do or say, we can rely on God’s words:
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Stay encouraged and on the King’s Highway!

You Need an Evacuation Plan

Scriptural Meditation; Proverbs 14


This time of year, people living on the East Coast are on high alert as weather conditions are of the utmost concern. Thankfully, Hurricane Gustav didn’t show-out as expected on the Gulf Coast; however, there are other storms out on the ocean. My family members in Charleston, S.C., are already preparing for weekend storms, as they may need to move to higher ground. If you have never had to run from a hurricane, you cannot understand the anxiety, fear, frustration, and uncertainty.

In many cases, local and state governments will require those in harm’s way to take cover or simply evacuate. Even after hurricane season has passed, having an evacuation plan for our own lives isn’t such a bad idea.

Proverbs 14:7 suggests, “Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.”

How many times a week do you simply run into fools speaking foolishness? Do you believe everything you hear, or can you discern when you are in the presence of a foolish man or woman?

This week, consider an evacuation plan when what you are hearing does not edify you.

Your plan could include turning off your phone, the TV, or simply having lunch alone instead of with co-workers who speak death and not life.

For the next 60 days or so, you will become engaged in many conversations about Election 08. Some of these conversations and news reports will distract us, while others will impart knowledge.

Ask God to help you discern when you are hearing knowledge or when you are in the presence of a fool.

Stay blessed, safe, and continue to walk in your blessings!

P.S. Today, I was reminded of the old call and response spiritual, “Can You Feel God Moving.” It is 58 degrees in Iowa City and I just heard about a big chunk of ice melting due to global warming.

One of the Reasons I'm So Spoiled

Eight years ago this week my grandfather made his transition to his eternal home. From time-to-time when I’m cutting, rigging, or tying something up, I remember his MacGyveresque antics. He was so funny. In my box of treasures I keep a one-paragraph letter he wrote me while I was in college. It probably contained a tightly wrapped $10 or $20 bill.


During his last months of life, he sat down and patched together a pair of pants. He had numerous pairs he had never worn, however, he was a good ole’ country boy who enjoyed simple things. You know, like fried bologna sandwiches.

My grandmother constantly reminds me, “they don’t make them like that anymore.” Yes, Louise, I know.

During one of our final conversations, I sat at the foot of his bed and we began to talk. He could understand why I had secured a bachelor’s degree, as he had sent four of his five children to college. However, he couldn’t understand why I had quit my job to pursue my master’s degree. (He got sick during my first semester and died during the first week of my second.) He wasn’t asking to discourage me. He just could not understand what the extra schooling would amount to. Well, I told him it would possibly mean a better job and more money. He understood that answer, shook his head, and rested.

A few years ago, a nun who is a family associate asked for a copy of the words I spoke at my grandfather’s funeral. Well, let’s just say I never fulfilled that request. I guess, I felt I wanted to allow those words to remain in that moment. This week, in honor of my maternal grandfather, William Simmons, Jr., (1922-2000) I would like to share an excerpt from that tribute. It is a little lengthy, but after reading, you will have a better sense of why I have become the woman I am. He’s one of the reasons I work hard and I use my head "for more than a hat rack." He's also one of the reasons I'm so spoiled! (If only I could find another man with that spoiler DNA!)

I sung a few verses of "Walk With Me Lord" before giving the following tribute. (These are my personal notes written a day or so before the funeral, so very little editing was done):


So often when family and friends gather to remember their loved ones who have made the transition from this world to the next, people, preachers stand up and talk so well about the deceased that some in attendance have to verify that they’re at the right person’s funeral.
Well, today we are here to celebrate the life of William Simmons Jr. , a man devoted to God, his family and his community. See, William doesn’t need any help from us nor does he need to be preached into heaven, because he’s already there. But today we come to celebrate his life and thank God for sharing him with us. William was truly a designer’s original. For me, he may be imitated but never duplicated. God gave him a servant’s spirit. Some people like to lead, some like to follow, but William loved to serve. And he served with vigor, passion and faithfulness. If he’s done something for you, you can say what that is. But to his family he’s been a good provider, a counselor, a chauffeur, mechanic, a concierge, a private investigator, a laundry attendant, and the list goes on and on, on. And while others may not want to admit it, for me he’s was a banker and a loan officer.

Yes, we’ve cried, screamed and possibly even questioned God during this ordeal, but for me these are tears of joy. We can rejoice knowing that William got a seat in the kingdom. We can rejoice because no longer will his body be racked with pain. We can rejoice because William didn’t just find the Lord on his deathbed, but because he has known him most of his life he was able to talk with him and prepare his family days before his death. As a family, we can rejoice because while he may have not left us loads of earthly possessions, he left us with a foundation. To his family he left his work ethic, his dedication, his business sense, his love and respect for people, and his love for Christ. He wasn’t a man of foolishness or confusion. If one of his children ever complained or said something about the other he would say, “I just want you all to get along.” When one did something good for the other he would say, “I just like to see you all helping one another.”

He taught us the importance of hard work and working for what you want in life. Deddy, didn’t have an MBA or a Ph.D. [he actually had what we would equate to a middle school education], but he had common sense and course work in the University of Life. When he advised on money or business affairs, he would say to me, “Use your head for more than a hat rack.” While simple words, they penetrate my mind each time I’m about to make a major purchase.

He valued education and he encouraged our endeavors. As my aunt Wanda would say, if it had something to do with school you could get it out of him. I’ll never forget when I was in elementary school and my teacher introduced us to a book called a "thesaurus." A book that gives you Big words to use. I came home from school and I said “Deddy, I need a thesaurus.” He said, “A what?” I said, A book that will give me bigger words to use when I write, He said. Well where do you get one of those from? I said, “I guess a book store or something.” He didn’t say anything else. I sat there and finished my homework and a few minutes later he came out the room, fully dressed with his hat in hand. That hat in his hands meant we had a little trip to take. I got my thesaurus and while the binding is a little shaky and a few pages are missing, I still use those big words today. About three weeks ago he was asking me how school was going, I told him if I could ever got started on my thesis, school would be going a whole lot better. Probably not even knowing what a thesis was, he sat up in bed and said, “You just keep fighting.” When I got home I thought about what he said and cried. I thought, “how could this man who is stairing death in the face have the courage and energy to tell me to keep fighting?”

William not only valued the secular education but at an early age I saw how he treasured the Christian education. One of my most vivid memories as a child happened one Sunday morning. He had already loaded me in the car and we sat in front of the house waiting for my mother. He was the angriest I had ever seen him. I’m pretty sure by this time in his life he realized that Lovie wasn’t his child that valued a watch, but I later I realized that he may have been so angry because she was late, but he knew we needed to be on time for Sunday School. He knew that if he trained us up in the way we should go we would not depart from it. Well, we haven’t. He always thanked God that all of his children were working in the church.
But think about it, it wasn’t hard to do. It’s not like we had a father or grandfather who just dropped us off for church. But after he dropped us off he got dressed and went to church himself.

Being a God-fearing family has helped us cope with the lost of William, because we know in our hearts that God’s will was done. Our will would have been for him to stay with us just a little bit longer. But we knew in our hearts that he was God’s and he had to return to his Creator. He wanted to return to his Creator. He worked hard to get home.

What my grandfather’s death has taught me is the importance of living a good life. As my grandmother said, “so you live, so you die.” He lived in peace and he died in peace. When the Hospice nurse came for her last visit on Friday she said, “I’ve never seen one man have so many women fighting over him.” We thank God for giving us the strength to take care of him with the same enthusiasm and vigor he took care of us.

But how could we not care for him, “To whom much is given much is required.”

In life and as he approached death, he never complained. William was never one to accept an invitation to a pity party. When I would complain about my job, my lack of money, or anything else I lacked in life, he would simply say, “Pray for long life.”

So family, we’ve done all we could do. Now we must do all we can to keep his memory, his values, and his life lessons alive. We must remember that he wants us all to get along and help one another and we must take up where he left off in caring for his mate. Williams supported his wife in all of her endeavors. Louise may have sold the Stanley Home Products, but he was the stock clerk and deliveryman. No matter what disagreements they may have had, he always made sure she had all of her needs and a majority of her wants.

Today as we leave here to lay our beloved William to rest let us all remember the reason or the thing that made us love him so much. If we can just take that one thing and incorporate that in our lives. Not only can we remember the legacy of William Simmons Jr., but also collectively make this world a better place.

When the People Pray

Scriptural meditation: Philippians 4:6-7; Luke 18:1; 1 Timothy 2:8


Like David, I had to encourage myself this week as bad news kept coming. One of my grandmothers was hospitalized, a friend announced the illness of her spouse, and another friend is standing in the gap for a mother whose heart is challenged Add those concerns to the daily challenges of life and you have a supersized bout of anxiety. In this life, we will have trials and the trying of our faith worketh patience (James 1:3).

This week, let us remember to pray for our family and friends. Pray for those who are sick as well as for those who care for them. Pray that the doctors and nurses will leave peaceful homes so they can focus on health and wellness while at work.

While you may not have children, pray for students and educators at all levels. For the students, pray for focus and that their minds will be open to new experiences, people and knowledge. Pray for the teachers, especially those who are already approaching this year with defeat and discouragement. Ask God to strengthen their minds and stir up the passion they once had for their profession and students. Pray for the bus drivers, the cafeteria workers, the administrators, and even the people who clean the buildings. Most importantly, pray for parents and their resources. Ask God to give them more. More time to prepare breakfast, more time to assist with homework, and more patience to nurture their children. If they cannot afford new clothes or school supplies, pray that God’s hands in the earth will bless them.

Pray for college-aged children who are leaving home for the first time. Ask God’s protection over those who will travel alone on the highways.

As summer ends, remember your friends and loved ones who are wrapping up vacations. Bus, car and plane crashes abound, but pray that no harm should come nigh their dwelling.

Pray for people who need a vacation (put my name at the top of that list). Prayerfully, we’ll keep it together.

This week, I pray God’s protection over your life. May He keep you in perfect peace!

A—

P.S. The photo here was taken a few days after the Iowa floods. Only a few feet away from this bush, businesses were destroyed and mud covered the ground. When I saw these little flowers, I was reminded that God can still give us beauty in a messed up situation.

Clear the Room

Scriptural Meditation: Mark 5:22-43

Mark 5:38-43
38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

The events of Mark 5 are familiar, as regular churchgoers know the story of the woman with the issue of blood. And if even if we cannot pronounce his name correctly, we are familiar with Jairus and his petition. While Jairus held out hope for his daughter, those around him saw death. What we call “the wake” was in full effect; the chicken had arrived and the flowers were ordered. The passage tells us that Jesus answers Jairus’ request and eventually escorts him back home, where the professional mourners have already arrived. What stuck out to me while reading this passage is how the people laughed when Jesus arrives and pronounces that life still exists in this situation.

Can you believe they laughed?

So often, our circumstances and lives are prime real estate for a miracle, but we are surrounded with people and spirits who attempt to hinder the move of God. Today, Jesus may be on the way to do something great in our lives but there may be too many naysayers in the way. Like Jesus, you might just have to clear the room.

Have you ever shared your hopes and dreams with others? Were you encouraged or did you hear, “it’s too late.” Did they laugh in you face?

Consider clearing the room instead of concluding that your situation is dead. The passage tells us that the only people Jesus allowed in the room were those who believed. You see, when God is about to do a new thing, or wake up something in your life, you have to connect with people who can stand in agreement with you.

Today, clear the room. Say goodbye to the mourners. Surround yourself with people who are willing to read a birth announcement instead of an obituary.

Stay cool and encouraged…

P.S. Please send me an e-mail or post a comment if you've been blessed or if your feathers have been ruffled by the posts. I'm starting to think that my Aunt Val is my only visitor!

Who Are Your Peeps?

Scriptural Reference: Proverbs 17:17; Proverbs 18:24; Proverbs 27:17

My maternal grandmother takes the word “friend” seriously, so you will not hear her calling casual acquaintances “friends.” Designate one of her associates a “friend” and she will quickly define the criteria of friendship. The scriptures, however, provide the clearest definitions of friendship. Nowadays, it appears that there are very few authentic relationships, as most are built on the concept of “what can you do for me?” And not, “how can we help one another?”

While Christ is the ultimate friend, the example of friendship that encourages me is the story of the paralyzed man in Luke 5:17-20. His healing depended on a few good friends. Jesus was teaching and so many people had gathered at the place where he preached, the man’s four friends realized that the only way to get him to Jesus would be to open the roof and lower the man into the dwelling. Jesus recognized the faith of his friends, and healed the paralyzed man because of that faith.

Do you have friends who would do the unthinkable to help you secure a blessing or healing?

When I landed my first professional job interview in Eden, North Carolina, my friend and sorority sister, Shana, agreed to travel with me to the backwoods. Eden is a small town located about 30 miles outside of Greensboro and about 10 miles from the Virginia line.

We gassed up the Geo Prism and were off to Eden...

We got lost after passing through Greensboro. Shana couldn't read the map and I began to scream and demand directions. Note: these were the days before Google and MapQuest. While my other friends would have told me where to put my map, Shana just searched in silence. Did I mention it was about 95 degrees and my car did not have air conditioning? Well, I arrived on time and Shana just drove around the town until my interview was completed.

When I moved four times in five years, Shana participated in three of those experiences, and even found herself crawling into a dumpster when I moved at the beginning of 2000. In the process of throwing away boxes, I mistakenly threw my keys in the receptacle that contained the remnants of New Year's Day meals. I will never forget that big pan of barbecue sauce that I encountered.

Shana crawled in as I stood by directing the rescue and recovery effort. It was dark and we could not see until a neighbor discovered us and returned with a flashlight. We found the keys after an hour of dumpster diving; Shana later found a bruise on her thigh. Thankfully, she had just gotten a tetanus shot!

These are my most memorable events, but Shana always recalls our little detour to Sandy Flats. Don't ask how we got there. We may not talk for months, but I always know she will be there if I ever needed to get to the roof.

Haters Can’t Cancel Your Dreams

Scriptural Meditation: Genesis 37-50

The Hip Hop generation has made the words “hateration” and “haterade” popular terms. While the concepts may appear new, Ecclesiastes 1:9 specifically tells us, “there is nothing new under the sun.” Hateration has existed since biblical times, and the life of Joseph is one such example. Joseph’s story helps us understand how the children of Israel ended up in Egypt and consider the providence of God. The narrative also serves as a reminder of what not to do with your dreams.

Joseph’s father identifies him as the chosen son; he is not only the favored son, but also the son of Jacob’s favorite wife, Rachel. Joseph is both a dreamer and an interpreter of dreams. In the beginning, the 17-year- old dreamer was a little naïve, as he shares his visions with people who chose to “hate” and not “celebrate.” His brothers thought that if they could destroy the dreamer they could destroy the dream.

Some of us are 27, 37, 47, 57 and we are naive in the sense that we have received a dream, a vision, and instead of keeping it to ourselves, we go and share it with others. As the young people would say, you just put it “on blast.” You go post it on the social networking sites, MySpace and Facebook, and tell everybody what God has done or will do. In a time when people are more concerned with our demise and not our success, we have to guard our hearts and dreams.

While we must share our testimonies and tell of God’s blessings, we must mark “embargo” on some of our blessings. The word, “embargo,” often appears at the top of press releases sent to journalists and media organizations. That notation indicates that the information is only to be released on or after a specific date and not a minute earlier. Like the info in the press release, some things in your life are not quite ready for publication.

No matter what Joseph’s brothers or his captors did, they could not cancel his dreams. Remember, no matter what anyone does or attempts to do, they cannot redirect your dreams. They cannot destroy your purpose; they cannot abort your calling. They can hate, but they cannot take away those things God placed inside of you.
I am a living witness that haters might disrupt your sleep, but they cannot cancel your dreams.

Where is Your Title in the Library?

2 Corinthians 3
3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

The other day I had to repent after cutting a fool with a lab tech who was attempting to handle me after a four-hour doctor’s visit that included x-rays and lab work. I am fine. I did not anticipate eating lunch at 4 p.m., so I blamed low blood sugar or hunger on my reaction. One of the lab workers grabbed me a cup of juice, as she realized that drawing blood was not going to helping the situation. I was one grumpy little woman, and I was not a very good epistle to read in that moment.

Our actions have to speak louder than our words. Today, consider what kind of text people translate when they see your life.

Are you a trashy novel, a tabloid, or a devotional?

The next time, I will follow my spirit and grab an apple and a jacket before I head out to my next appointment. Better yet, I am just going to stay well and at home.

Pray my strength and continue to walk in your blessings!

ADS

He Keeps On Doing Great Things for Me

Hello All,

I am thankful for all of calls, e-mails and prayers. I am dry and safe!

I delayed posting this week, as I was waiting for a word from heaven. As you can imagine, the past few days have been rather tumultuous and uncertain for the people of Iowa and other Midwestern states. But even as I read the reports of devastation and smell the stench of the receding waters and its residue, I continue to see God work. In the words of LaShun Pace, “He Keeps On Doing Great Things for Me.”

A few months ago when I met with my tax preparer, she looked over and said, “It’s amazing how much you give with your income as a student.” She continued sifting through the receipts from my two alma maters, churches, and the usual not-for-profits.I did not know how to respond, so I simply joked, “You can give away or you can give it to the government.” I do not share this story to brag or boast, but to bring you to my testimony. Even with the increasing cost of gas and other consumer products, I am still committed to being a giver.

Last week, I learned that my summer job would be saved while my colleagues were laid off. The summer program was canceled due to the flooding and its consequences. Prior to the call and e-mail, I had made peace with whatever decision would come down…But God!

On Monday, I received a letter from my undergraduate alma mater thanking me for a gift I had given to a recently established scholarship for African-American students. Earlier that day, I received an e-mail stating that I had received funding to conclude the data collection for my dissertation. My 600 miles of travel and my 25-cent photocopies will be reimbursed. On Tuesday, I learned that I was awarded a scholarship to assist with my final year of schooling.

Some would call it luck, but I know it is the favor of God.

I know that many of you have been praying for the people of Iowa and surrounding areas, but would you consider putting your faith into action by donating to the American Red Cross. The Red Cross is at the fore of the flood recovery efforts and they continue to assist the affected and inflicted across the world. However, I just read that the organization has had to take out a loan to continue their services. I know it is hard for all of us, but please consider a small gift this week. If you or your church would like to give directly to a local church affected by the floods, contact me and I will put you in touch with local pastors who could assist you.

Trust me, giving makes room for more! As always, continue to walk in your blessings.

ADS

I can't afford it, but God can handle a $4 gallon of gas

Happy Monday, All!

“Stay encouraged,” is the word of the Lord for you this week. While gas is $4 a gallon and our grocery bills are skyrocketing, God is still in control. On Saturday, I went to a gas station to purchase an 8 lb. bag of ice and the cashier was even shocked that the price had risen from $1.25 to $1.44. His co-worker just shook her head and said she received word that diesel would increase by 30 cents.

I know it is hard to stay encouraged when your money is funny and your change is a little strange, but we have to trust our living God. David said in Psalm 37:25:“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

Yes, we’ve all had to make some changes; however, none of my friends and/or loved ones have reported that they are losing any weight. I’m trying to work off a few pounds I packed on during Iowa’s long winter and late spring. You would think a sister would lose a few pounds choosing vegetarian entrees over beef or chicken to save a dollar or two.

This week, try this little exercise I’ve found myself doing lately. Most of us are use to saying grace or a prayer of thanks before eating, but have you considered that this act is transferable. Recently, I have found myself saying “thank you for provision” as I walk through the grocery store and while I am pumping gas. I am a bargain shopper, so I am interested in the little tag that tells you how much each ounce will cost. I still look at those little tags, but as I make my selections, I give thanks.

I once heard a preacher say, “'thank you' makes room for more.” Send me a note if you get a chance to experiment with this little exercise.

It is almost 2 a.m. and it will soon be time to experience God’s manna!

As always, continue to walk in your blessings! (Meditation Passage Exodus 16:4-7)


Arlecia D. Simmons

Copyright © 2008 Arlecia’s Doses of Inspiration by Arlecia D. Simmons
All rights reserved.

Women After God's Heart

On Friday, May 30, the Associated Press reported that the Vatican, the central governing body of the Catholic Church, issued a warning that women taking part in ordinations would be excommunicated. “The church has always banned the ordination of women by stating that the priesthood is reserved for males. The new decree is explicit in its reference to women,” the report stated. A top Vatican official said, "The church does not feel authorized to change the will of its founder Jesus Christ."

As I read the story, all I could do was shake my head. For me, this matter was a continuation of the age-old debate of whether women should operate in ministry. I am not Catholic and I know very little about Catholicism; however, I know it is the same discussion simply taking place in a different room of the house.

For the past year or so, I have immersed myself in reading about women in the Bible and in contemporary ministry. My dissertation research is a study of the life and work of an Iowa woman who was ordained in 1930. Although she was active within a local Western Iowa church, she “pastored” via the radio for over 55 years. For the past two years, I have read her sermons and through issues of a magazine she published for 46 years. I have also spent hours flipping through her personal scrapbooks and letters, and interviewing her grandchildren and her associates who are still in their right mind. I am still making sense of my project and its contribution to knowledge. Nevertheless, one thing I am sure about is that God has always used women to spread the Gospel and assist with the maintenance of the Church.

Even before I began this research, I saw how God used a group of praying women. In my childhood church, there were always women operating in ministry. Last fall, I was saddened to learn that two of these women, the Rev. Mary Broomfield and Evangelist Mable Maxwell, had gone home to be with the Lord. About two months before her passing, I had called the 91-year-old “Sis. Maxwell.” Her mind was strong, as she provided updates on her grandchildren, the great-grands and other relatives that I could not recall. As our conversation ended, she thanked me for the call and simply said, “You stay on the King’s highway.” That was a word!

Many family members experienced my wrath when I learned that they had not informed me that the Rev. Broomfield passed away. I had not spoken to her in years, but I will never forget how God used her to assist with my healing. As a kid, I suffered from an extreme case of eczema that forced me to miss months of school. Because Mary Ford Elementary had no air conditioning, I did not spend many late spring days in the classroom. At times, a teacher visited my home to drop off assignments and go over new material. That is, when I was not in the hospital. While most kids would simply remember missing recess, I recall Rev. Broomfield and Mrs. Mary Lee Fields, the pastor’s wife, coming over to pray and rub me down with oils and other concoctions they had learned about from friends or people at the health food store. My grandmother, Louise, would be right there with the tag team. They prayed, sang, and greased me down. The whatnots in the living room would shake as the women prayed that God would heal my body. While other kids would have been freaked out, such activities became my “normal.”

As I thought about the story coming out of the Vatican, I remembered these women and thought about others of all faiths, who were feeling God’s tug. Many women have dismissed their calling due to political or societal roadblocks. Reflecting on her entrance into the ministry, my research subject stated: "Had I been a boy instead of a girl I am sure I would have been preaching the gospel long before I did. But having been brought up to think preaching was a man’s job I did not aspire to be a minister of the gospel."


No matter how many decrees are issued, the will of God will be done. Today, I am encouraged by Joel 2:28-29 (KJV): 28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…

I am so glad that my research subject, Rev. Broomfield and Evangelist Maxwell took God at His word and fulfilled their assignments!


Copyright © 2008 Arlecia’s Doses of Inspiration by Arlecia D. Simmons
All rights reserved.

Too Many Irons in the Fire and They’re All Smoking

There is a new inspirational book out that I would like to bring to your attention.

Dr. Cynthia Bond Hopson (pictured to Oprah's immediate right) has recently released, “Too Many Irons in the Fire and They’re All Smoking.” Dr. Hopson is my mentor, prayer warrior and soror, and I count it an honor and privilege to call her a friend. She keeps me straight, and that is a job all by itself! A few weeks ago, I was blessed to receive a signed copy of “Too Many Irons…,” which I believe is a great gift for any occasion.

“In this little book, as in her popular Bad Hair Days, Rainy Days, and Mondays, she offers a month’s worth of wisdom, advice, and encouragement for women in the form of 31 short daily meditational readings,” reports the publisher.


Dr. Hopson has written thought-provoking and inspirational columns, feature articles, and speeches. She has been nominated for teaching excellence and has been named to the Who’s Who Among American Teachers five times. Formerly associate professor of journalism at the University of Memphis, she is assistant general secretary of the Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns for the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry in Nashville, Tennessee.

This is Dr. Hopson’s second inspirational book. “Bad Hair Days, Rainy Days, and Mondays Wisdom and Encouragement to Lift a Woman’s Spirit” was her first. Both books can be purchased at Amazon.com or obtained through your local bookstore.

Continue to walk in your blessings and remember that eagles fly with eagles! Soar, girlfriend, soar… I am flying right behind you!

Arlecia D. Simmons



Visit the following link to order "Too Many Irons...": http://www.amazon.com/Too-Many-Irons-Fire/dp/0687491673/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211953367&sr=8-1

I'm Going to Party Like It's My Earth Day...

In the next few hours, I will prayerfully celebrate what Bishop T.D. Jakes describes as my “Earth Day.” Because God knew me before the foundation of the world (See Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:20), May 26 is the day I was released into this earth. As I grow older yet wiser, I am constantly considering what I am doing with my dash. You know, the punctuation mark representing your life on a grave marker, between your date of birth and your date of death.

I could spend time listing all of the things I have not accomplished to date; however, I choose to count my many blessings. For one, I have become a very different statistic than the one reported the day I was born to a 15-year-old mother and a 17-year-old father. I trust those figures said something about the likelihood of various limitations. Sociologists may have predicted the amount of education I would secure and the number of children I would have by now. Nevertheless, many of us know God works with a different set of variables. While I cannot say that some of the limitations they predicted have not existed along the way, I can attest to the fact that God chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise (See 1 Corinthians 1:27).

When people see us, they are impressed with what they see now. They want to hate on us because of our education, positions of influence, or appearances. However, they would think twice if they only knew our testimonies. I may be a doctoral student at a Research 1 institution now, but that is not the whole story. My teenage parents resided in two separate hoods. You know, the places where Domino’s Pizza would not deliver. The haters will never consider how my mother finished high school and attended college. Oh, and they know nothing about how she caught four buses a day so she could get between two jobs. She worked to buy a Chevette, which she used to shuttle me to and from various church and school activities. Those activities, which required fees and transportation, helped to shape my future in immeasurable ways.

They see me, but they do not know the testimony.

As I celebrate this year, I cannot say that all of my dreams have come true. Like Esther, I have prepared myself for a king. Yet, my king has not arrived. Like Hannah, I have gotten ugly with my prayers. Yet, God has not given me a Samuel. While I could focus on all of the prayers that have gone unanswered, I choose to give thanks for the petitions that have been granted. “He’s brought me a mighty long way,” as the old mothers would say!

An old Baptist minister once told me, “Without tests, you have no testimony.” This Earth Day, I thank God for all of my tests, trials, tribulations and the testimonies that have been birthed out of them. I will not spend Monday looking in the mirror and lamenting about crow’s feet. I thank God for a face, a beautiful one at that. I will thank Him for His goodness, mercy and loving kindness. I will sing, “It’s just another day that the Lord has kept me.” I will write my own song and sing it until others are inspired to do the same!

Continue to walk in your blessings!


Copyright © 2008 Arlecia’s Doses of Inspiration by Arlecia D. Simmons.

All rights reserved.

“I’ve a message from the Lord, hallelujah!"

Hello and Welcome to the brand new blog of Look and Live Ministries!

I'm your host, Arlecia Simmons. I trust that you will visit with me each week as I attempt to dissect the world and share what thus saith the Lord. Previously, I have disseminated my inspirational messages through a forum known as "Arlecia's Doses of Inspiration." For one year, I sent weekly e-mails to family, friends who in turn forwarded those messages to their family, friends and co-workers. While the original recipients were most likely located in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, the Internet allowed me to share my inspirational messages across the country and possibly in other parts of the world. I trust that this blog will not only encourage and inspire, but also stir up the gifts that dwell within you. We all have stories or testimonies that can enrich the lives of those around us.

It is my prayer that through these posts, you will become motivated to keep on keepin' on! That's all I am trying to do as I run on to see what the end is going to be! I love the old hymns and dirges of the church, so you'll often find my writings sprinkled with songs that invigorate my spirit. I can't say I'll always be politically correct, as I am a "Jesus freak" and it is what it is.

I am currently in the process of beginning my doctoral dissertation, so I trust that you'll learn more than you ever wanted to about Iowa, the writing of a dissertation, and the troubles that arise. Please feel free to share your thoughts with me. And look ya (I'm a Gullah gal), I will try my best to make sure all subjects and verbs agree; however, all work is still in process!

Enjoy the journey and I look forward to our time together.