What Does Frederick Douglass and Valentine's Day Have in Common?

By: Rev. Angela Lee Price

Abolitionist, orator, author, diplomat, politician and polemicist Frederick Douglass was born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in Maryland in February in either 1817 or 1818. The exact date of his birth is unknown. However, he chose to celebrate his birthday on Valentine's Day, February 14th. Frederick Douglass was a courageous African American intellectual who escaped slavery, and through his life and literary works, provided hope for the future.

In his 1845 autobiographical book entitled Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Douglass eloquently articulated that hope as he reflected on his life as a slave in Maryland. Had Douglass not penned his autobiography, we would have never known the full scope of brutalities, injustices, hypocrisies and humiliations he endured in his quest from slavery to freedom nor would we have understood the level of brilliance, creativity and bravery required of him in order for him to teach himself, and other slaves, to read and write in a system that treated the American Negro as chattel.

Moreover, Douglass’ scathing condemnation of slave-holding Christianity provides hope today to seminarians and Christians currently grappling to understand and explain this nation’s racial divide.

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Here are excerpts from three of Frederick Douglass' speeches:
Church and Prejudice
Fighting Rebels With One Hand
What A Black Man Wants

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love" 1 Corinthians 13:13.

Remember, There's only one way to eternal life. Jesus Saves!

ARE YOU THAT ONE?

By:  Rev. Angela Lee Price

Jesus healed ten lepers, but only the one, a foreigner, a Samaritan, followed up.  He returned to Jesus to say thank you. Jesus asked the whereabouts of the other nine, and then told the one, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well" (Luke 17: 11-18). Don't miss the blessing of giving thanks. Verse 15 states, "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed turned back, and with a loud voice gloried God."  

When praises go up, brothers and sisters, blessings come down! All ten lepers were cleansed, but only the one was cleansed and made well.   This Samaritan, a Gentile, Jesus pointed out was more spiritually minded than the nine leprous Jews.  All were healed, but only the one gave thanks to Jesus.  And so, his salvation was complete (v19).  Let us give thanks in this season not because everybody else is doing it, or because it is the politically correct thing to do, but because we recognize where our blessings come from.  They are not of ourselves, but from the One, the One who loved us so much He gave His only begotten Son to save us from our sins!

As believers, we should be thankful to God not just at Thanksgiving, but at all times. The Bible says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18 NIV). The Bible declares, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalms 107:1-2). And Hebrews, 12:28 states, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"

Be the one who rejoices always whenever God heals and sets someone free; Be the one who prays constantly for others because you understand the power of prayer. Be the one who gives generously and, in all circumstances, because God has given generously to you!   You can't beat God's giving no matter how hard you try! Are you the one? Be the one!  Jesus saves!

Don't Give Up On Your "Tulips" in Mum Season!

Fall is here! It is mum season! Look around. Mums are everywhere, little ones, big ones, and very, very BIG ones. You can pray for tulips in September and October, but that won't get you very far. You are more likely to get tulips in March. That's because March is tulip season. If God is giving you mums right now, thank Him anyway even though you didn't ask for them. Don't throw a tantrum, pout or get mad with God. God is not a genie, nor cosmic bellhop, nor Santa Claus, nor is He an ATM machine! Don't grow weary! Wait on the Lord! Renew your strength.  

Try appreciating the mum for what it is. Mums will beautify your garden or your home, just like tulips. Renew your strength by counting your blessings! And wait on the Lord. Thank God for your mums, and take care of them! He didn't have to give them to you, but He did! We serve a good God who knows what to give and just when too give it. 

Learn to appreciate the season that your in. Claim the promise is Isaiah 40:31, and keep on praying, and praying. Pray persistently in September, in October, in November, in December, in January...keep talking with God about tulips, the pretty colors, and different textures, and how you plan to water and take care of them. Then say, in March, in tulip season, or shall I say in due season, the Holy Spirit just may give you tulips. God just may give you double for your trouble! Just ask Job. And, I'm a living witness of what God will do when you persist, according to the Lord's will in prayer. 

Don't give up on your tulips in mum season! Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace; And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time for peace.

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