Category: Daily Bread

In our natural lives, before we can become qualified in an area of study or certify our competence for promotion, we must pass a test. In order to be proficient on that test, we must study. However, spiritual laws operate very differently. In regards to our spiritual life, God gives us the test first, then the lesson.

George Floyd’s death is a test. It is a test that yet and yet again, America keeps failing. Therefore, God keeps retesting us. Finally in 2020, we have pulled out our Cliff Notes and are taking His tests more seriously. We, as a nation; as a people; as a society, need to study God’s lessons. We need to study what we can do individually to pass the test of racism in our communities, schools, and social structures. IT IS NOT ONLY just up to the police department to change its practices; it’s up to all of us to create change in our families and communities.

The lessons we need to study are: examining our character, morals, intent and perspective of others. Our lesson is to stop chanting “No justice, no peace,” until we start enacting “peace” in our own home, toward our loved ones, neighbors, and community. Our lesson is to stop chanting “Stop the violence,” until we stop killing each other; whether by gun violence, molesting family members, domestic violence; or by physical, mental or emotional abuse. Healing first starts in YOUR OWN FAMILY. Compassion, love, and acceptance first start in YOUR family; only then can it spread to the community. Only then can it CHANGE laws. Only then can it CHANGE A NATION!

More, the Coronavirus pandemic is a test. Now scientists and researchers must go back and study Covid19, to not only find its point of origin; but also a cure. They must study its biology, mutation and transmission. Linearly, Covid19 is testing us as a people. Our faith is being tested. Our profession, family, finances, belief system, and our health are being tested.

We must now go back and study. We must study what we must do differently, what we must change, and what we can do better. We must gauge what steps we must take to become our best: emotionally, financially, physically and mentally. We must learn what we need to do individually to position ourselves to defeat any triumph we face. We must study what God is telling us individually in this time.

Yes. I am a Christian, first. Yes. I am a black person. Yes. I am a woman. But most, I am a writer and writing is my therapy from the evils of this world.

There’s much talk lately about the role of Christians in this time of racial upheaval. Whether we should protest, speak out about racial injustice, or even stand in solidarity with those on the front lines fighting for racial equality by protesting. Just recently a young family member asked me to attend a protest. I went.

As a Christian, I do pray. But when I walk into a store or public area, the first thing people see is this black skin first, not my Christianity, nor my character. I’m judged solely on the color of my skin. The story of Ahmaud Arbery resonated deeply with me. As an avid runner, you would not believe the harassment I receive by simply being a woman, albeit a black woman. There was a time I ran through a certain neighborhood during the course of my run, and stopped by a particular store. The security guard at the store, every single time, came out and followed me around the store and harassed me by letting me know he’s watching me. He’d trail me the whole time in the store telling me if I break or open anything I’ll have to pay for it. And if I pick up something, put it back where I got it, he would tell me before I touched anything.

The angry way he spoke to me and looked at me was alarming. I was simply a black woman shopping, looking really, because I was afraid to touch anything. I never said a word to the man, I just tried to be non-confrontational. Until one day I’d had enough! I walked into the store and he made a beeline towards me, started screaming at me before I looked at anything. I turned, looked him directly in the eyes and said: Leave me alone! You’ve been harassing me since I first started coming to this store. I’ve done nothing! You’re racially profiling me! If you don’t leave me alone I will call the police. Your behavior is nothing more than racist! It was only then that he backed off somewhat. Later appearances at the store, he stopped trailing me and would only demean me with his eyes from afar. Those eyes; what look of hatred and disdain! I continued to keep shopping at that store because I choose to be PART OF THE SOLUTION. Every black person thereafter that shops at the store would face the same level of degradation I did if I didn’t fight for my right to shop while black.

As Christians, of course we pray: all the time. But beloved, sometimes the vitriol is so violent againt black people that you get mad, angry even. We’re allowed to feel emotion, we’re human. But the Bible says, be angry but do not sin. And that is what separates Christians from the world.

Unless you are a black person and walk daily in these black shoes, experiencing this black life, you’ll never fully understand the hatred simply for being black. I’ve been called everything from the “N” word to nappy headed, to any other derogatory term and epitaph you can think of. And not only by white people, either.

There’s many other instances of blatant racism too. Like when I went to a bank and the security guard came from across the other side of the bank and stood behind me as I used an ATM, not even going to the teller. Mind you, there were others in the bank. He stood behind me the entirety of the transaction. I turned around and said: “How are you? Hope you’re having a blessed day!” He looked at me confused then followed me out the door! Banking while black!

Oh, not to mention the time while driving with a female relative and a child in the car, the cops pulled us over for a moving violation. What shocked me was the cop called two other squad cars to the scene. For two women? I was very afraid in that moment. That is the fear many black people face when coming face to face with cops. The demeanor of the officer was very rude and condescending. No way am I saying all officers are bad. There are good cops too. It’s the human condition of the heart of those who don’t know Jesus that fills them with fear and hatred. In every occupation, there are those few who don’t uphold dignity and respect for their fellow man. Eventually we were let go by the police. I cried that whole week thinking what if things would have gone differently.

Beloved, there are many, many more instances of blatant racism against black people. So when these police shootings occur it hurts deep down in our soul, Christian or not. I think all black people say to themselves: “That could have been me!” And wonder if we are going to be the next victim. Whether by police brutality or black on black shooting.

We all may not have a global reach. But I do believe God uses each one of us to affect change by reaching those closest to us. God uses these scofflaw moments to plant seeds of love whether the recipient receives it or not. We just need to pray for them and leave the rest up to God.

In darkness light always shines; in light, the shadow of darkness always appear.

Before a thing manifests physically, a seed must first be planted spiritually. There’s a darkness in the soul of man. God is shining a light on this generation. He is uprooting the seed of hatred and indifference buried deep within the heart of this nation.

Many sometimes mistake light for darkness. The fire that went up in Minneapolis is God’s light. God is shining His light yet again on this time of civil unrest, moral decay and spiritual sickness.

The woman holding the sign: “George Floyd’s life mattered,” is God’s light. The man marching down the street chanting “Stop killing us,” is God’s light. The young boy clinging onto his mother’s leg while she’s fighting for his right to be black in America, is God’s light. Those looting and vandalizing are shining God’s light on the dis-ease of this society.

There was a season for Dr.Martin Luther King’s movement. There was a season for Malcolm X’s movement. Even a season for Mandela’s. But this movement is now! Being led by the atmosphere, the climate, political warriors, social changers and people who’re just fed up!

Souls are screaming out from the grave, the blood spilled on God’s streets is screaming; screaming through the heart beat and emotion of those in Minneapolis fighting for JUST US: Justice!

The heart of America has been murmuring and palpitating for centuries; pumping boiling blood through its veins. The blood vessel has burst and poured out into the streets of this nation. Yet again its heart is sick.

This isn’t about a people looting and vandalizing a community, it’s about retribution. It’s about the KKK stealing brown people, looting their homes, stealing them from their families, and vandalizing their brown property by heinous act of murder.

The new Jim Crow masks itself behind blue uniforms and democracy, while the Willie Lynch letter is still being passed down from generation to generation; read to society through media, politics, entertainment and commercialism. Further dividing the black family, emasculating the black man; while still teaching slave owners (court system, politicians, prison industrial complex, sports) how to POLICE and buck black men.

-Puah Neiel

The opposite of peace is piece. When you lose your peace, your thoughts scatter into fragment pieces. You are not whole. Where the mind treads the body will soon follow. Worry, anxiety, panic and hopelessness become normalacy. The mind is so powerful. One thought can change the whole trajectory of a day, a problem or a self-appointed life-sentence. You may be free but negative thoughts hold your mind a prisoner.

Peace of mind is a habit. It is a habit of disciplining the mind to challenge any thought that brings distress. A negative thought is so subtle, it eases its way in but takes extreme effort to kick out. It really takes a mental battle to free your mind from clutter to subtlety.

You really have to be proactive. If you take a mental assessment, what do you usually focus your attention  on? Your problem, or the solution? Defeat, or seeing yourself overcoming the situation? Most importantly, do you meditate on God, or the madness?

2 Corinthians 10:5, asks us to

Cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

That’s half the battle! The other half is training your mind daily by meditating on and affirming the word of God.

We are definitely in a killing season. Ecclesiastes so eloquently reminds followers of Christ that there will be contrasting seasons in our lives. We know this, but when the season of death comes upon us it is never easy to bear. But God has a plan and His hand on it all! Though the spirit of death is moving over the earth, the Bible reminds us in Exodus 12:7-13, to cover our door posts with the blood of the lamb: His Son. Though we’re covered by the blood of Jesus, we all feel the ramifications of this pandemic. Many are physically dying of Coronavirus, while others are succumbing to mental, emotional, relational, financial and material death. Contrarily, the beauty of the promises of God is we know there will yet again come a time of harvest!

Though you may feel like the enemy is burying you, rest assured, God’s only planting you deep down in isolation so you will emerge stronger and higher! Many are heavy burdened in this season. Gloom may cause you to doubt that you will make it through this time of testing, be encouraged, God is only killing off things in you that are unfruitful and unproductive. He’s killing off dead weeds in order for your true beauty to blossom. God’s dealing with the heart in this hour. He’s purifying you from the inside out. He’s stretching your faith, teaching you to trust Him. He’s working out your spiritual muscles for HIS greater good in your life! He’s preparing your hands for war and your fingers to fight. Haven’t you noticed? The more of the enemy’s territory you conquer, the stronger you are? Like it or not, a Christ follower will always have battles. But how reassuring is it that Psalm 34:19 says, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but God delivers him out of them all! God has a purpose for your life. He may have allowed your loved one to leave this earth, He may have allowed you to suffer loss, He may have allowed loneliness and depression.

However beloved, find solace in the fact that after this Coronavirus death, that truly is killing us all in some aspect of our lives- there will come new life! You’ll emerge stronger than before. You’ll have a better job than before. You’ll be connected to a new like-minded community. Your relationship with God will be stronger. You’ll find your purpose. Most importantly, you’ll know that your loved ones-those in Christ- their demise was not a final goodbye, more so, a temporary leave of absence until you join them in heaven! Be encouraged, God loves you!