Comments on: racial injustice. now what.

By: l a r a w i l l i a m s

l a r a w i l l i a m s — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 20:01:00 +0000

In reply to JaQuinn. Yes, ma'am. Only Jesus! Love you, friend.

By: l a r a w i l l i a m s

l a r a w i l l i a m s — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 19:56:00 +0000

In reply to Anja Wray. Hope for the future. Yes.

By: Tameka Burroughs

Tameka Burroughs — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 02:03:00 +0000

I was truly blessed by your insight and it honestly was a fresh wind for me as an African-American, Holy Spirit filled, pastor, wife, mother, and most importantly Child of God. It is very important for Christians to identify and have an understanding of the differences that make us unique by our Creator. It is also important to remember that Our Creator made us different but still placed His signature on each of us as we were created in His image. We have so many similarities as mankind…if cut, we all will bleed! The issue that we face with racial injustice, profiling, discrimination, racism, hatred, etc. is that here are not enough of us identifying that it exists…please don’t think that just “privileged white people” are unaware…you have just as many “privileged black people” and I am sure there are other races too that have people who do not have a true clue as to what is going on around them and they pass judgement on what is unknown. Sadly, we all do it. If I am in a parking lot and see a man walking too close to my car, I immediately lock the door. If I see a woman, I do nothing…either could pose a threat to me, but is is sexist for me to assume the man is a greater threat??? We all do stuff like this EVERYDAY even if it is with our own family. My son is going to eat more at lunch, so I give him more food but my daughter ends up eating more than him…judgement based on assumption.
What we must realize with our times and how we can really be a voice and make an impact is to identify the areas in our lives where we ourselves have developed negative judgments and destroy them. If those around us hear us discourage negativity, those seeds will spread change on there own. Most things that are learned are through demonstration or what we see. Yes dialogue and discussion is great, but are we always prepared for the questions that can come along with it?? NO! If our children see us or hear us, they are more likely to follow us. “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6 What my husband and I teach our black children is The WORD of God so that it will be hidden in their hearts (Psalm 119:11), we teach them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made and they are precious gifts from above. Yes they know at 5 and 3 that they are brown and so do we, but we will always encourage Christ first because demonstrating His Character and The Fruit of His Spirit are far greater than any cautions or “worldly teachings” we could ever provide.
I have written devotionals as well, addressing this topic on my website http://www.womanbyfaith.com
It is so important to SEEK HIM FIRST for all answers and guidance. Sin is crouching at our door, but what does God encourage us to do?

God Bless You All! Thank you Lara!

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 23:02:00 +0000

You dived DEEP my sister and I say Hallelujah!!! It’s time for us all to look in the mirror asking God to show us the difference of what He sees in our hearts compared to a heart like His. Why? Not to feel condemnation but to realize we are equipped to be better that we are. We have been given His Spirit grieving to be allowed to will and work in us. It’s time we paid attention to our thoughts, our conversations and our attitudes. Eyes and ears are learning from us. It’s time we faced our own prejudices and fears. It’s time we stopped judging anyone and spend our time knowing their story. Until we have a friend who is African-American, gay, trans-gender, Muslim, poor, dealing with addiction, etc. THEN might we become prepared to express an educated observation about what it’s like to live in their shoes. Until then, we need to be quiet. Keep diving deep my friend. Let us drop our rocks and find out the truth about ourselves.

By: Lynnell

Lynnell — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 18:31:00 +0000

Thank you for your words. I have been marinating in thoughts and prayers over these issues the past few weeks & months. I didn’t realize until we moved back to the south how “white washed” my Colorado community had been. Since we landed in GA, I’ve been really thinking about the systemic issues that face people of color and what I as a white suburban stay-at-home-mom could possibly do to even make a dent. But your words of encouragement continue to prod me in the direction I believe the Spirit is leading, towards seeking out relationships and opportunities to pour his love into a broken system, into broken hearts, into our broken brothers & sisters and bring his kingdom one seed at a time.

By: Chuck Morton

Chuck Morton — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 18:13:00 +0000

Absolutely correct!! I actually told a good friend (a not-Christian) almost the exact words that you used in your “disclaimer”. It is Christ ONLY who can change the hearts of man and make a real difference in this world! WE must share His message of salvation if the world is to have any hope of experiencing that change!

By: Jeramy Lee

Jeramy Lee — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 17:27:00 +0000

We were on vacation at the time of the Dallas shootings and the following evening, we were at a tourist “hot spot” with arcade games, sky coasters, go-carts and the like. We ended up in line near a large black family who were loud, boisterous and fun, but I found myself wondering if they where the type of family to celebrate the BLM movement or how they felt towards us as a white family. And that made me sad and mad, that I had allowed society and media to get me thinking this way! In my mind I was judging them because they might be judging me. Yuck! That is NOT how I want to think or act. One of the things I enjoyed watching was the good-natured ribbing between family members on who was going to win the race. It reminded me of my teen sons and husband, so I made myself focus on the commonalities, not any perceived difference. I didn’t ride and waited for my family at the finish line. As that family exited the ride, I asked who was the family winner. Mom did a little happy dance saying that she was and the son kind of shrugged his shoulders and said he came in 2nd. I replied, “But you beat your Dad and that’s what really matters, right?” A big grin lit up his face and he looked at his Dad and said “heck ya! My old man is S-L-O-W!” Sounded just like my family. Because, you know what – they are.

By: Karen Crockett

Karen Crockett — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 16:40:00 +0000

I too cried as I read this. Wonderful thoughts, Lara! Thank you for being humble and bold at the same time.

Our Police Chief David Brown said it so well (loosely quoted) “We, individually, are in this time and place for a reason and we have to get involved and be a part of the solution in a hands on way.”

I have no idea what it feels like to walk in someone else’s skin color, so I will look everyone I walk towards in the eye and smile and say hello and show kindness and sharing in anyway possible.

How must it feel to have no real grocery store to get to? There are cities where good store chains are miles away. Fresh vegetables and fruit and meat and eggs are not easily obtained. That is so far removed from my understanding. I only understood the choice of living far from retail and planning your monthly store trips, but there are people who do not have either luxury: living close to retail or the means to plan living far from retail.

I like the examples in Acts of unity amongst believers and boldness to speak Christ amidst threats and persecution.

So many thoughts going through my mind, but above all, I will do more to look others in the eye and ask God to help me see what is inside those eyes – the windows of our soul – and to show me how I can not hastily move on with my busy day.

By: JaQuinn

JaQuinn — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 15:24:00 +0000

Amen! We can’t just sit silently in our churches or safe spaces because of the issues we are afraid of or don’t understand. We see injustice and bring the gospel! Because only Jesus can save and heal and forgive. Love this!

By: Anja Wray

Anja Wray — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 14:26:00 +0000

Your post brought me to tears and I’m positive I don’t have the right words…but we stand with you, and your family, and the Lord, in the gap, with hope for the future.