Scaffolding of Grief...continued

In one of my previous blogs, I discuss grief and one thing I mention is to embrace your grief and don't fight it. Allow grief to run its course while through the process allowing God to truly heal you.  I have also mentioned that grief can be metaphorically compared to scaffolding in that it is not a permanent structure in your life.  It is, however, your choice to remove it at some point or allow it to continue surrounding your life.

My personal experience has been that only through God’s grace and healing I was able to understand that the scaffolding of grief in my life needed to come down.  It is important to realize that love is greater than any power death may think it has over us.

With that said, I offer this poetic tribute to my mother, Braddella Elisabeth Brown who blessed me with excellent mothering and was taken from this life at the early age of 51 on February 18, 1983.

Mother dear you will always be

My mother so loving and so loved by me

You blessed my life in so many ways

Our memories I’ll cherish until the end of my days

You left me too soon and this was not part of our plan

But God’s wishes always come before those of man

Mommy’s heart, though filled with love simply became too weak

She fought the good fight; till finally she reached her peak.

A bond we shared so strong and so true

A bond unlike any other

A bond shared only by a daughter and her mother.

Being with God, she’s found rest and peace

In this I have comfort and some happiness at least

My mother dear you will always be

My Mother so loving and so loved by me.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

We MUST Rise...

Dear Children All Over the World,

The choice to hang your heads in the dungeon of despair or hold your heads high in the clouds of hope is yours alone to make.

Do not be ashamed or embarrassed because you come from what others consider as humble beginnings.

Matters not what names others call you.

What matters most is the name you answer to.

Matters not from where you come since greatness has and will continue to come from the strangest of places, from the unexpected, from the plain and ordinary, from the rich or the poor.

Out of the ashes of dashed dreams, out of the suppressive hands of adversity, out of the unbridled mouths of little children, the humble, the powerful, the weak, and the strong, greatness must be anticipated, expected.

Believe that you can.  Believe that you will.  Believe that you must keep rising after countless falls for you will survive if you keep your eyes on the greatness of God’s faithfulness.


Anonymous input with my thoughts added in.  Your comments and input are always welcome…

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Let's Talk About It...

Three Topics of Concern

Performed a ceremony during which a rabbi from the Messianic Judaism movement crowned Bishop Eddie Long king?!  Wrapped him in a Torah scroll that was supposedly a 312-year-old scroll belonging to the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II, brought him in on a throne, and paraded him around the pulpit.  After all the darkness in his life that has come to light, I do not understand how the very thought of crowning him king can even be entertained.  My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came into town riding on a donkey! And HE is the KING of KINGS.  Stop worshipping the “man of God” and start worshipping the God of man!

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In so many communities, within a 5-mile radius, there are over five “black churches.”  It simply does not make any sense.  Are all called to minister AND start a church?  I just wonder why we as a people, as a race who pray continuously for unity in the body of Christ cannot figure out a way to come together and promote unity from a unified standpoint.

Churches are going into foreclosure.  Member’s homes are going into foreclosure.  There are multiple broken homes in the very community where the church stands.  Unity, love, helping our fellow man, witnessing and sharing the love of God.  Are we practicing what we preach or is it “our four and no more?” Many churches are reaching out to their communities, trying to provide a helping hand and give hope to many that are lost, and feeling hopeless.  However, even the churches can work harder on the concept of joining together especially during this critical economic slump.

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There is a major problem with our education system.  Working as a substitute teacher has afforded me the opportunity to see children from very diverse backgrounds.  I spoke with a 4th grade teacher over lunch one day and she said our kids are treated as second-class citizens in this country.  If our government would simply invest more in our children (similar to other countries), we would see more highly motivated, educated, and prepared children.  A greater investment needs to be made in teacher’s salary.  The teacher I spoke to said there has been no raises in over 3 years only a step increase that does not even change the paycheck.

The test scores are dreadfully low yet the students are pushed on from grade to grade and at the time of graduation, many students can hardly read or write.

There is much more violence in the schools.  Many children live with one parent or perhaps a grandparent or other relative and a surprising number of children are homeless. These and many other issues can only be dealt with properly motivated and trained staff.  The staffing needs have changed over the years.

The purpose of education is to prepare our children to succeed in life, and without investing in their education, we continue to fail.

Thank you for reading.  I welcome your comments...

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown

Transformation Part 2

The process of transformation can be quite challenging.  It may sometimes feel like you are trapped inside a cocoon and can't get out.  The butterfly goes through a complete metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to cocoon and then after resting inside the cocoon, at the appointed time, emerges as a beautiful butterfly.


As spiritual beings going through human experiences, we will find the solutions to life’s problems and challenges through study and application of the Word of God.  God may have us in the cocoon stage longer than we want or anticipate but I encourage you to rest in Him while you wait for the completion of your personal transformation.

The following steps will assist you with your personal transformation:

• The First Step in personal transformation is to change your thinking.  As we transform our thoughts, we are able to change from the stereotypical negative pattern into positive thinking aligned with the word of God. 

• Philippians 4: 8-9 (KJV) “Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do:  and the God of peace shall be with you.

• The Second Step in personal transformation is choosing to respond to circumstances and situations with a favorable, positive attitude.  Declare to the circumstances that you are strong and not afraid.

• Ephesians 6: 10 (KJV) “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

• The Third Step in personal transformation is to put your words of faith into corresponding action.  It's not enough to speak positive words.  Faith to believe we can be transformed requires action.

• Jesus told the man with the withered hand in Matthew 12 "Stretch forth your hand;” Jesus told the paralytic in Mark 2:11 " arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."  He told the man who was blind from birth "Go to the pool of Siloam and wash the mud from your eyes." Each transformation required action.

Worthwhile accomplishments require effort. Make up your mind to transform your thinking, your attitude, and your actions and through prayer and reflection of God’s word, you will see results.

SharB~TTSD
#TakeTheScaffoldingDown