From the Desk of: Evangelist Michele Richardson - What's in Your Heart?

I was in a discussion about racism at it finest. A few knew that all races had been enslaved, but the next I made to a young lady; who stated "our people were treated worse then any other race". I told her "to be racist you are enslaved to the prisons of your ancestors life but forced to live in today's world being free but yet bound shame on you" is what I told her. In her statement to me took me by surprise, a young lady in her early 30's said "if being enslaved to my ancestors life means remembering what they went through and where they cams from, i'll be a slave for life..." I put my head down and began to weep on the inside and asked myself how can we as blacks keep remembering what was done to us, but Jesus who was treated inhumanly and the statement he made was "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". If he can forgive and forget what is wrong with us forgiving and forgetting? Just because some may treat you wrong but it does not excuse you from being humbled (does not mean weak).
We as humans are hurt by what our relatives go through and hate they very ones that brought them pain; I don't understand it. It is so easy to display hate but to truly claim to be a loving Christian one must live to serve his brother/sister. In Matthew 22:32 - 40 
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducee's to silence, they were gathered together.

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Racism has many form from denomination right down to your big toe or anything that is different from someone else. I feel people do this just to see what buttons they can really get you going and to see if you say what really is in your heart, because out of your mouth speaks the heart. Some of us have grown custom to speaking that which we think people want to hear (people pleaser is what that is) and never know who you really are. Me I am a sensitive one like the prophet Jeremiah but it is easy for me to speak from my heart because of the hatred I have endured by many for many reasons here and there. Many time I ended up in a ball and just cried or I cried and talked with God about what I went through and how I felt. All I know is that people who have a form of hatred toward someone else is due to they really do not understand why you are so different. There is a wall and they do not want to be freed from their wall of confusion. Everyone has hangs ups, but are your hang ups keeping you from enjoying God's creation in you and those around you? 

Proverbs 23:7

King James Version (KJV)

7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 

While I am in this class of learning what is expected of me as the Pastor's wife and how to conduct myself I have found that my past does not matter, but it is my experience that they are after. Meaning everyone has a past but what did you obtain from it? Being as it may this class room can only be found by ones whom have a quest of learning something new everyday and can embrace what they have learned. Let me say this; an unwilling mind to understand can not obtain the wisdom within a lesson to be learned. To change your life is to change ones mind and the key to learning is to open ones mind. So your mind is mentioned here a lot so it has to be important. 

Part 2

Do you ever have a heart to heart discussion with your self? What kind of things are talking to yourself about? I used to practice arguing with people in my mind and or telling them off. Well most of the people in my mind that I gave free rent to really did nothing to harm me but they offended me. When I became older and started reading my bible more, I found this scripture. 

Matthew 13:20-22

King James Version (KJV) 

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Wow did you get it? Everyone sows seeds but where they fall depends on what frame of mind the other person is in and their perception. What you practice saying to yourself will be evident for all to see a heart protected in hurting others before they hurt you. Is a sign you do not know your self and I dare you to get to know who you are by pressing through those things that anger you. Your heart can not lie but reveal the true you. Proof in the scripture Ezra 7:9-11 (KJV)

9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. Now notice here that Ezra was preparing his heart to seek the law of the Lord which means you teach your mind what on what to speak out of your mouth? Hold on more proof on the way try this scripture, Psalm 12:1-3 (KJV)

12 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

2 They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

3 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:. I hate to say I told you so but there it is and how about this one for size. Luke 6:45 (KJV)

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Enough said, but I hope this helps you into being a better you.