Monday Morning Inspiration
Good Morning My Beautiful Link Sisters
What a great time we had together this past weekend. We really put in some well spent time and work. So, on to another Link’s service year we go. Let’s get to it. As I was writing this morning’s message, a totally different thought suddenly entered my mind. With so much going on in the world today, I often find myself troubled. Yet although I am troubled, I pray. Although I pray, I try to do my part to make things better. Although I try to do my part, some things never seem to change. Although some things never change, our lives and what we have access to continue to be more positive. While this is all true, we are really blessed to experience life as we do it today. We have so much to be appreciative of and as I looked around during our meeting Saturday, it was proof that through the years some things have really changed. We wouldn’t be such an amazing chapter with awesome and diverse backgrounds if some change had not come. I begin to think what a beautiful, powerful, smart and productive group we have in our chapter. Then I thought of Amanda Gorman’s very awesome and poignant inaugural poem. So, let’s take a flash back to that very historical day.
When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry. A sea we must wade. We braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notions of what “just” is isn’t always justice. And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow, we do it. Somehow, we weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished. We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one. And, yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge our union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man. And so, we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. We seek harm to none and harmony for all. Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true. That even as we grieved, we grew. That even as we hurt, we hoped. That even as we tired, we tried. That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious. Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division. Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid. If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made. That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare. It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit. It’s the past we step into and how we repair it. We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation, rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith we trust, for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption. We feared at its inception. We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour. But within it we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves. So, while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe, now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation, become the future. Our blunders become their burdens. But one thing is certain. If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright. So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left. Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. We will rise from the golden hills of the West. We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states. We will rise from the sunbaked South. We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover. And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful, will emerge battered and beautiful. When day comes, we step out of the shade of flame and unafraid. The new dawn balloons as we free it. For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.
My sisters some change has come and there will always be more change that’s needed. We have helped so many others to have positive experiences that they otherwise might not have had. My prayer is that all that we do will lead to positive change. Let’s continue to do our part both collectively and individually.
Today’s Scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Enjoy A Change Is Gonna Come performed by Sam Cooke and Great is Thy Faithfulness performed by Donnie McClurkin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5zDRtEC0x0
A Change Is Gonna Come Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group A Change Is Gonna Come · Sam Cooke 30 Greatest Hits: Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 ℗ 2008 ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. Released on: 2003-06-17 Composer Lyricist: Sam Cooke Auto-generated by YouTube. www.youtube.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNiKt_5WH-8
Great Is Thy Faithfulness / Great Is Your Mercy – Donnie McClurkin & CeCe Winans \”Great Is Thy Faithfulness / Great Is Your Mercy\” was originally streamed online July 25th at 7pm ET as a special worship night event by Times Square Church. We hope that these songs from CeCe Winans, a 12-time Grammy award winner, along with Marvin Winans, Donnie McClurkin, and the Times Square Church choir bring music, joy and encouragement … www.youtube.com Love you all! Have an amazing week!!
Link Stephanie Chaplain
What a great time we had together this past weekend. We really put in some well spent time and work. So, on to another Link’s service year we go. Let’s get to it. As I was writing this morning’s message, a totally different thought suddenly entered my mind. With so much going on in the world today, I often find myself troubled. Yet although I am troubled, I pray. Although I pray, I try to do my part to make things better. Although I try to do my part, some things never seem to change. Although some things never change, our lives and what we have access to continue to be more positive. While this is all true, we are really blessed to experience life as we do it today. We have so much to be appreciative of and as I looked around during our meeting Saturday, it was proof that through the years some things have really changed. We wouldn’t be such an amazing chapter with awesome and diverse backgrounds if some change had not come. I begin to think what a beautiful, powerful, smart and productive group we have in our chapter. Then I thought of Amanda Gorman’s very awesome and poignant inaugural poem. So, let’s take a flash back to that very historical day.
When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade? The loss we carry. A sea we must wade. We braved the belly of the beast. We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace, and the norms and notions of what “just” is isn’t always justice. And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow, we do it. Somehow, we weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished. We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one. And, yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. We are striving to forge our union with purpose. To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man. And so, we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. We seek harm to none and harmony for all. Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true. That even as we grieved, we grew. That even as we hurt, we hoped. That even as we tired, we tried. That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious. Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division. Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid. If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made. That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare. It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit. It’s the past we step into and how we repair it. We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation, rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. In this truth, in this faith we trust, for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption. We feared at its inception. We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour. But within it we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves. So, while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe, now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation, become the future. Our blunders become their burdens. But one thing is certain. If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children’s birthright. So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left. Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. We will rise from the golden hills of the West. We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution. We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states. We will rise from the sunbaked South. We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover. And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful, will emerge battered and beautiful. When day comes, we step out of the shade of flame and unafraid. The new dawn balloons as we free it. For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.
My sisters some change has come and there will always be more change that’s needed. We have helped so many others to have positive experiences that they otherwise might not have had. My prayer is that all that we do will lead to positive change. Let’s continue to do our part both collectively and individually.
Today’s Scripture: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Enjoy A Change Is Gonna Come performed by Sam Cooke and Great is Thy Faithfulness performed by Donnie McClurkin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5zDRtEC0x0
A Change Is Gonna Come Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group A Change Is Gonna Come · Sam Cooke 30 Greatest Hits: Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 ℗ 2008 ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. Released on: 2003-06-17 Composer Lyricist: Sam Cooke Auto-generated by YouTube. www.youtube.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNiKt_5WH-8
Great Is Thy Faithfulness / Great Is Your Mercy – Donnie McClurkin & CeCe Winans \”Great Is Thy Faithfulness / Great Is Your Mercy\” was originally streamed online July 25th at 7pm ET as a special worship night event by Times Square Church. We hope that these songs from CeCe Winans, a 12-time Grammy award winner, along with Marvin Winans, Donnie McClurkin, and the Times Square Church choir bring music, joy and encouragement … www.youtube.com Love you all! Have an amazing week!!
Link Stephanie Chaplain