Today we celebrate and honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., and how his legacy is relevant today. We as Americans are so divided and unity is needed now more than ever.
What we need now is love. Love, you say? Yes, we need to show love because so much hate is being driven through social media. Do we bury our heads in the sand like nothing is happening? No, but we cannot filter in the garbage in day in and day out without getting depressed, complacent and overwhelmed. Is all social media bad? No, but we really have to be selective of what we see and hear.
What do you think Martin Luther King would say today? Would he still think there’s a dream?
MLK in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, August 28, 1963. The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans.
The reflection we see in the mirror is where it starts. What are we doing for ourselves to make that change. No matter how big or small, what are we doing to make a difference?
Right now some people are traveling but many are not, take a look at the 360 view of the Martin Luther King memorial in Washington, DC. Give us your thoughts of what you are feeling as you watch.
As a people we don’t run from a challenge we get energize and fight for love in the trenches. I think having a life of meaning we come keep Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream alive in each of us. You may disagree with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech but I say how can you disagree with loving one another no matter what our differences.
As a part of our church my hubby and I are going through 21-days of prayer and fasting and we are on day 8, and it’s amazing how you can see more clearly and a time to reflect and see what really matters.
How’s your mind doing these days? The world is full of so much noise that it can leave the strongest person weak. I found that I was looking at the news on my phone twice a day to see what was going on and that was too much for me. I looked over at my Joyce Meyer calendar and it says:
The Life-Changing Word
“You can begin to change things in your life if you will take the Word of God and start to speak it over your life.”
Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain. Be Lifted and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be dome for him. Mark 11:23 Amplified
Words change everything and it takes a fight to say something positive. However, it can be done. It takes just as long to same something positive than to say something negative.
Are Your Words Infertile?
Barren souls, Barren ground where growth is unseen and never sees rain. Words can be infertile because there’s no growth. Negative words produce a negative outcome so if you feel you’re slipping into this infertile ground it’s time for you to grab God’s hand to pull you out of the quicksand. I have felt this way and I think at one time or another we have all, but we can’t stay there. I don’t have it all together so I must say I am writing this for me as well.
Four-way to Fertile Words
1. Who are you hanging around and what are they saying. Do their words build you up or tear you down?
2. Get into the word of God. I can tell when I am not in the word as much as I should be. Things start getting to me that didn’t when I was in that deep relationship with God. Time to start diving in and to stay there.
3. Help others
4. Daily affirmations can be encouraging scriptures that relate to what you are going through and great quotes. No limit to speaking the word of God out loud.
Pep Talk by Terri Savelle Foy is a great book and she includes several examples of daily affirmations that you can say or start making up your own.
Here’s a video by Terri Savelle Foy about positive affirmations and how important building yourself up matters.
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Make sure that today your words that you plant with your mouth are fertile; and that they produce good fruit.
Today is Guiseppe (Seppe) the beagle’s birthday, he turns two today!
Seppe
Seppe is spunky, feisty, and will talk back to you. Woof, woof, woof! He has a ton of energy and will nudge you or bite you to take him outside or to play with him or to feed him. It may be midnight and you think that he is tuckered out, but he is ready to play more and will not let you rest until he is done playing.
During this time of working from home, my hubby and I have gotten to know more of his personality, his mannerisms, and his gestures. Over the last year and especially since we have been home with him and Vinny, we have seen his personality develop more and found out what he really is like. He loves to play with us, with his rubber toys and sticks in the back yard. He will run full force, whether in the house or in the backyard until he is ready to go to bed. Non-stop energy! He has two speeds, full-speed ahead and asleep.
Every dog has a different attitude and Seppe is off the charts. Even at two years old, he is still in training. He can be very sweet and loving, but then be fussy with you the next minute because he wants to go outside to tinkle. We are continuing to work on the different training commands, especially the ‘come’ command. He is easily distracted because he is a beagle, but he’s learning and making some progress.
Seppe loves food and would eat all day and night if you let him. He’s a part of our family and he brings loads of energy and fun. His three words are fun, party hard, play hard.
a rare moment when Seppe is taking it easy!
Seppe has his own Instagram page, be sure to follow him for more beagle fun!
My Pastor, David Blunt of Church on the Rock in Missouri, shared some powerful words on Facebook that I wanted to re-share. People of color, including me, are angry, frustrated, exhausted, and hurting.
Repost from @davidmblunt
It’s troubling to see how life can be undervalued due to the color of people’s skin. For years we’ve seen life taken away from young black men and women for just the color of their skin.
Enough is enough. We need change. As Christ-followers we are to love our neighbor. There is so much that needs to be done and we can start by:
1. Praying – Pray for God to forgive our sins and heal our land.
2. Recognize – Recognize the pain African Americans face daily in this land we call “the land of the free”. The life of African Americans must and should be respected.
3. Examine – Examine our own hearts. Do I have any bias toward someone who is different from me? Do I see every life, every person as a brother or a sister?
We are hopeful that we are in the right position in our hearts for change. God be with us.
Pastor Blunt shares some very healing to the soul words straight from the word of God. If ever our nation needed the church it’s right now. Please watch the video below.
Repost from @davidmblunt •Today I want to share five things that can help us make a difference right now.
Racism is evil and will always be evil. We need to do everything within our power to end it.
Wisdom For Thought We have to do our part as an individual and as a community, it will not get any better until we educate and grow. All of us.
I hear people say all lives matter, however, how do all lives matter if black people’s lives don’t?
I have been really battling with myself on what to say and what can I do. I am frustrated with thinking we are constantly going around and around in circles and saddened by Police taking another person of color’s life.
We have to make a change!
It saddens me that in response to George Floyd’s murder more violence has occurred. David Dorn, a person of color, a retired police captain of 38 years, was shot and killed by a looter in a Saint Louis pawn shop. His killer, also a person of color has not been found yet.
David Dorn, Retired Police Captain
I stand with the peaceful protestors who are marching online and in the streets for better laws in states to protect Black Americans. Black lives Do Matter and the only way to show that is to speak up and be heard.
We have to make a change.
I stand yelling with a humble cry for ways to educate and make a positive change.
George Floyd
I know many of you have signed the petitions that brought the three police officers to face charges with Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. It’s not over so we have to continue to pray and stand strong.
We also have to take a stand for Breonna Taylor whose birthday is today, she would have been 27 years old.
“Breonna Taylor was an award-winning EMT and model citizen. She loved her family and community. She worked at two hospitals as an essential worker during the pandemic.
One month ago, a division of the Louisville Police Department performed an illegal, unannounced drug raid on her home. Not a single officer announced themselves before ramming down her door and firing 22 shots, shooting Breonna 8 times, killing her.
Not only were the police at the WRONG HOUSE, but the man they were looking for had already been arrested earlier that day.”
The officers have not been fired, arrested, or charged with any crime.
Please sign the petition at Change.org calling for justice. I found out about this on Katy Perry’s Facebook page. She’s right it takes two minutes or less. #JusticeforBreonna #HappyBirthdayBreonna
Sometimes in life, there are challenges that come our way and it’s sometimes difficult to stay positive. But it is important that we don’t find ourselves too disheartened even though things aren’t going to plan. Keeping track of our mental health and ensuring that we don’t end up feeling miserable and disheartened constantly is essential. Challenges are sent to try us, and many of us can breeze through them knowing that everything will be okay. But unfortunately, we are not all yet that way, and we may need some help in staying positive. Here are some ways in which you can stay positive throughout even the most challenging times, and insure That we aren’t following a path to depression.
Make a plan
Making sure that you have a plan to overcome the challenges, ensuring that you have your appointments, such as hearing test written down and organised, that you manage your time effectively and don’t have too many interruptions when it comes to carrying out your plans, and ensuring that everybody knows what it is exactly you are planning on doing, will ensure that even though you are facing challenges, you should be able to overcome them over time, and ensure you come out the other side in a positive and happy way. Of course, we can’t plan for everything, but you must make sure that if you can plan for things, then you should. This will bring you a sense of control even if you don’t have full control over the situation in hand, ensuring that you have control of how you act and how you plan things effectively, can really help you through the tough times.
Self-care
Self-care is more than putting on a face mask and having a bath, you can create a routine of self-care by learning meditation, journaling, or anything that is relaxing for you such as mindfulness and yoga, everybody is different though and ensuring that you have plenty of space and time to Take care of yourself, whether your challenges are physical ailment or not, will help you feel positive and happy. It isn’t selfish to take some time for you and ensure you are well taken care of because when you are taking care of that means you are able to help others as well. Which is a great thing all around.
Do What You Enjoy It’s easy to get wrapped up in the things that we have to do, and the basic tasks that we need to get done every day, but it’s also important to ensure that you take time out for yourself, and do what you enjoy every single day. Whether it’s playing a game, calling friends, walking the dog, or anything else that makes you feel good, because when you are focusing on the happy things in life, the struggles and challenges become less loud, and you find yourself in a much better and stronger place to be able to overcome these challenges.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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