November 30, 2008 by lorettaj.
All over the world people are rejoicing because for the first time in the history of the
United States of America the people of this nation elected an African American President in Barack Obama. On an unusually warm November night the mantra that had been declared for the last two years “yes we can” became reality. The people not only spoke about change but went to the polls in record numbers casting their votes for change.
Some people stood in lines for as long as five to seven hours in the early elections to do their part to make a change. Those people were not just African American people; they were an array of people of different ethnicities, social economic backgrounds, and political and religious affiliations. They all came together for one goal and one purpose. They all came together for the betterment of our nation. They all came together to send a message that the time is NOW for new leadership, new direction, and new ideas.
I believe that our nation will never be the same. Not because Barack Obama is an African American man, but because he is the chosen man to hold the highest office in the nation. He has been given an awesome responsibility as the Commander in Chief. The color of his skin has nothing to do with the task at hand. He has been chosen to change the landscape of our nation; to change hopelessness to hope; and to transform our economy by creating jobs for the jobless. Though the task is enormous, the people believed in him enough to vote for him. Change is indeed on the horizon. This is a new day, a new beginning, a new President Elect.
Before the millions of polls closed on November 4, 2008 I was confident that Barack Obama would be our 44th President of the
United States. Why was I so confident? There is a scripture in the bible that reads “The Lord does nothing unless he first reveals it to his prophets” (Amos 3:7). I was confident because on March 22, 2000 my pastor, Dr. Anthony Earl engaged Barack Obama in conversation at the East Bank Health Club the day after his defeat to Bobby Rush in the Democratic primary. Dr. Earl prophesied to Mr. Obama that the word from the Lord was that his next elections will be sweeter than all his previous elections.
Obama, from 20% points down in the opinion polls won the Democratic primary by a landslide margin of 29%. His total votes equaled the combined votes for all eight candidates who contested the Republican primary.
On January 22, 2006 during a Sunday morning worship service Pastor Earl boldly prophesied that Barack Obama would be our first African American President. At that time Obama said he was not interested in running for President. Since that first encounter my pastor had with President Elect Obama at the East Bank Health Club our congregation has been praying God’s will for Obama and his family. Now, they are the first family.
We have been taught as the scripture declares “Believe the prophet and so shall you prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20). Our nation is better and will become richer because God’s chosen Man is Commander in Chief.
Loretta J. Sims
November 16, 2008
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November 30, 2008 by lorettaj.
All over the world people are rejoicing because for the first time in the history of the
United States of America the people of this nation elected an African American President in Barack Obama. On an unusually warm November night the mantra that had been declared for the last two years “yes we can” became reality. The people not only spoke about change but went to the polls in record numbers casting their votes for change.
Some people stood in lines for as long as five to seven hours in the early elections to do their part to make a change. Those people were not just African American people; they were an array of people of different ethnicities, social economic backgrounds, and political and religious affiliations. They all came together for one goal and one purpose. They all came together for the betterment of our nation. They all came together to send a message that the time is NOW for new leadership, new direction, and new ideas.
I believe that our nation will never be the same. Not because Barack Obama is an African American man, but because he is the chosen man to hold the highest office in the nation. He has been given an awesome responsibility as the Commander in Chief. The color of his skin has nothing to do with the task at hand. He has been chosen to change the landscape of our nation; to change hopelessness to hope; and to transform our economy by creating jobs for the jobless. Though the task is enormous, the people believed in him enough to vote for him. Change is indeed on the horizon. This is a new day, a new beginning, a new President Elect.
Before the millions of polls closed on November 4, 2008 I was confident that Barack Obama would be our 44th President of the
United States. Why was I so confident? There is a scripture in the bible that reads “The Lord does nothing unless he first reveals it to his prophets” (Amos 3:7). I was confident because on March 22, 2000 my pastor, Dr.
Anthony Earl engaged Barack Obama in conversation at the East Bank Health Club the day after his defeat to Bobby Rush in the Democratic primary. Dr. Earl prophesied to Mr. Obama that the word from the Lord was that his next elections will be sweeter than all his previous elections.
Obama, from 20% points down in the opinion polls won the Democratic primary by a landslide margin of 29%. His total votes equaled the combined votes for all eight candidates who contested the Republican primary.
On January 22, 2006 during a Sunday morning worship service Pastor Earl boldly prophesied that Barack Obama would be our first African American President. At that time Obama said he was not interested in running for President. Since that first encounter my pastor had with President Elect Obama at the East Bank Health Club our congregation has been praying God’s will for Obama and his family. Now, they are the first family.
We have been taught as the scripture declares “Believe the prophet and so shall you prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20). Our nation is better and will become richer because God’s chosen Man is Commander in Chief.
Loretta J. Sims
November 16, 2008
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May 12, 2007 by lorettaj.
I very much wanted to take the opportunity to say “Happy Mother’s Day” to all the moms in the CCI Community. What an awsome responsibility you’ve been given. While this season is a challenging one for me I would be remissed if I did not give honor and tribute to the mother’s who have made such an impact in my growth and development. God has surrounded me with a mighty cloud of witnesses who have stood in the gap. Those are the ones who have supported, prayed, encouraged and uplifted me during the illness and ultimately the death of my mother.
For a couple of weeks leading up to Mother’s Day there were times that my heart was extremely heavy, I felt anxious for that one day to come and go. In addition, I was unable to articulate what was going on in my emotions. All I knew for certain was that I wasn’t going to crash because God say I wasn’t designed to. Not by my might or power, but by His spirit.
I thank God that He cares so much about how I am doing that in the midst of Saturday morning prayer He began to heal my heart. All the tears that I had been choking back for the pass three and a half months came forth. I could feel God working on my heart, loving me, telling me its okay to feel however I was feeling. He understood all the emotions I was wrestling with internally. God was standing right in front of me with open arms waiting for me to release the burdens I had been carrying for my family and get lost in His embrace. Never had I experienced the power of God in such a way.
Had I not gone to prayer this morning and received my break through and healing I would have walked into Mother’s Day an emotional wreck unable to fully celebrate the women who deserve to be honored. I would have cheated them of their just dues. There is one woman that I must call out by name for so many reasons. Mom Bobbie, first and foremost I thank God for you. I celebrate you, I honor you, I love you and I appreciate you. Thank you for your strength, your words and your committment to see not only my life, but the lives of others changed. Thank you for being stedfast and unmoveable in the faith. Thank you for being available.
I honor each and every women in the community, for your handprints are engrafted in my heart forever. To all the mothers, Wow!!! You have my continue prayer. My heart is for all your children to reach their fullness in Christ Jesus and triumph into their destinies. I avail myself to labor with you and for them. Happy Mother’s Day!
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April 20, 2007 by lorettaj.
I’m sure everyone has heard about the tragedy that took place at Virginia Tech University. As believers how do we respond to such a situation? Do we shake our heads or perhaps say a prayer and then move on with life? I just wonder. My heart was turned towards the families of the victims. No one sends their child off to college expecting something so horrffic to happen that takes the life of that child. I thought about the slain ones and if they had a personal relationship with God. What were those final moments like? Was there time for repentance? Did they call out to the Lord? Then my thoughts turned to the living. The word of God says we know not the time or the hour. So, the time in NOW to give your life to the Lord. The time is Now to repent and turn from evil ways. The time is NOW to forgive. The time is NOW to fulfill your purpose in the earth or to discover your purpose so that you can reach your destiny. The time is NOW to turn your heart towards God and seek His will for your life. For those who were shot down they will never have an opportunity for a second chance at life. They will never have the opportunity to make a wrong right. They will never be able to praise God or give Him thanks or exalt His Holy name. I also thought about how many dreams died with those victims. How many of us have dreams hidden in our hearts instead of living them out? Our time is NOW! I believe that in the midst of tragedy, pain, sorrow, and confussion God can cause us to be victorious and triumphant over the enemy. We ought to pray and be so moved with compassion that we reach out to our young people. The ones who are crying out from the pits of their bellies and the depths of their souls. No longer can we sit in the sanctuary and sing our songs and clap our hands and ignore the fact that our youth are in trouble. God has given us a wake up call. You better pay attention… May the God of comfort and peace be with all those affected by the happenings at Virginia Tech.
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April 18, 2007 by lorettaj.
I received new insight and revelation in prayer about what we as a community have been asking God for. We’ve prayed, decreeded and declared that we’re going to the next level, a new level if you will. Next level, next level, that sounds great! What I recently discovered is that the next level requires some stepping up. That created somewhat of a problem for me and here’s why? I have become comfortable. Not so much content, but comfortable. You know how you feel on a cold morning all wrapped up under the covers. You’re in a confortable position and don’t want to get out of bed even though you have a long list of ‘things to do’ that require you to turn the covers loose. That’s how I felt. I know God has place much in my heart to do as it relates to ministry and building the kingdom. I’ve been challenged, but I was reminded that to whom much is given much is required. I cannot afford to remain comfortable. That’s what the prayer meetings have shown me. Taking our rightful positions has come up a great deal during our Saturday prayer gratherings. For me personally that called for a self-examination. Am I operating in a leadership capacity as I should? Am I impacting lives the way God has gifted me to do so? Am I moved with compassion enough to step outside of the box or my comfort zone? Or am I just content making cameo appearances every now and then? Some times we aren’t able to answer such questions ourselves, but God always has a ram in the bush. He sends those who have the wisdom, compassion, and authority to say everything that’s needed to bring clarity and understanding. What I now know for sure is that I have to step it up in order to migrate to the next level. That means I have to rise up and flourish in my rightful position in the community. I have to be bold enough to go over to the other side by force and eliminate everything that hinders me from operating in the full stature of Christ. Being at the prayer grathering every week is equipping me to do just that.
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