Grace to Love

© 2012 Gerie Moody-Major. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 8/31/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6428-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6427-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6426-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012915890

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Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version, Copyright © 2002 by Thomas Nelson Bibles, A Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Appreciation

Foward

Parents

The Price of Money

Our Merciful God

Trusting in the Lord

Charity Begins at Home

Do You Believe?

Christian Love

Future Good

The Fear of God

Witnessing to Your Faith

God’s Kindness

Hosanna

God’s Miracles

The Well of Salvation

Showing Appreciation

The Power of Prayers

Remember

Looking Back

God’s Plea

Futile

Times of Despair

Seeking Peace

Doubting Thomas

Our Light

Mother’s Advice

God Sanctioned

Family Squabbles

Kind Words

Judging

Gracious Giving

Burdens

My Protector

Slippery Slopes of Sin

Equals

Trusting in the Lord

False Promises

The Light

The Sword Tongue

Gifts

Tongue

Faith

Humility

Good Works Over Evil

Users and Takers

Revenge Is for the Lord

Strength to Survive

Faith Signs

Plan for the Future

Salvation

In That Quiet Place

Vengance

Show Love

The Lord Knows Our Needs

God All Mighty

Asking Forgiveness

Forgiveness

New Things

Loving God

Healing Heart

Following Jesus

Good Deeds

Friends

Lead by Example

Light of the World

Following the Crowd

Leadership

Learning Patience

The Gift of God

God’s Love for Us

Directions from the Lord

Grace

The Rebuilder

Brokeness

Sisterly Love

Thirst for God

The Dangers of Riches

Service to Others

Being Missionaries for the Word

Tithing

Gossip That Hurts

Lift Up the Faithful Workers

Reconcile Before It’s Too Late

Salvation

People We Don’t Want to Know

A Mother

Giving Freely and Willingly

Hope

Don’t Trust a Gossip

One Spirit

Hands for Christ

Believe

Love

A Lost Soul

Distractions

Gossip Is Not Pretty

Love Without End

The Word of God

The Good News

Glory in God

Our Trust in Jesus

Washing Our Dirt Away

A New Creation

Distractions

No Talebearers

God’s Love

A Precious Gift

Give Praise to God

Sharing Our Faith

Saved by Whom?

A Gossip Tells Lies

God’s Love Is So Wide

Scatter to Serve

Is She Sleeping?

The Village

Who Is a Christian?

Praise God for His Blessings

Dedication

In memory of Aunt Amy (Emeline Nicholas Jones Jeffords), who first showed me love and believed that I was of worth.

In memory of my church mothers, Dr. Josie Bain, Lorraine Davenport, Almeitre (Granny) Duran, Dulce Embree, Johnetta Ford, Odile Gayten, Lula (Mama) Marks, Louise Thompson, Jewel Smith, and Drucilla Wade, and in honor of my other church mothers, Marie Blair, Sybil Howard Cade, Lois Gayle, Mary Lee Hicks, Alice (Bunny) Taylor, who taught and showed me how to love.

To Irene Rozanski, my mentor, who dared to embrace, teach, nurture, and instilled in me a passion for justice at a time when it was not kosher to help an African descendant.

Last, but by no means least, my children, Frederick, Edward III, Janeth, you mean the world to me. Don’t judge me too harshly on whatever mistakes I made in raising you. I pray that you continue to have an open mind and open hands ready to service in whatever ways God directs you. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet; enough trials to make you strong; enough sorrow to keep you human; and enough hope to make you happy.

Peace and Love,

Gerie Moody-Major

Appreciation

It is impossible to thank all the people in my life, who are near and dear to me, without making the mistake of forgetting someone. That said I want to mention a few whose love and friendship have impacted my life: Robert and Diana Thom, for being true Christians; you talk the talk and walk the walk. Thank you for your exemplary life.

Diane Bernstein, Versie Booker, George and Anna Gant, Dr. Rosa Hill, Leanne Nakanishi, Lois Price, Claudia Spears, Christine Weiss, and my BWN Sisters, for having my back and for all the love you have shown me.

My church family, Holman United Methodist Church, my sister churches, Echo Park United Methodist Church and First Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California, and Holly Park United Methodist Church in Gardena, California, your faithfulness is heart felt.

The United Methodist Women, my sisters in Christ, thank you for your love. Continue your mission as advocates for women, children and youth throughout the world. Never let the dream die!

Jill Hudspeth, I appreciate the beautiful pictures. Joni Arlain, Phylis (Pinkie) Douglas, Josie Hudspeth, your up front and honest criticism is valued beyond measure. Rose Whitehead, your dedication to the Word of God is truly profound, thank you for the Foreword.

Foward

A great teacher, A.J. Gossip, had a favorite saying. He would say often that there are not four Gospels but five. There are the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the fifth most important of all is the Gospel according to our own experiences.

Gerie Moody Major’s spirit filled experiences takes us to the threshold of this revelation of truth. This writer seems to have met the risen Christ and is willing to share her story of healing and transformation with others so that we too can know God’s love and healing power.

This gem of a book is filled with encouraging scriptures that points to the faith and hope this believer exemplifies in her walk with God.

She reminds us that the words of Samuel Smiles ring true, Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.

Rose Whitehead

Parents

Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be prolonged: and that it may go well with thee.

Deuteronomy 5:16

God was serious about respecting and honoring parents; that is why He made it one of the Ten Commandments. The Book of Proverbs (1:8, 8:32, 13:1 to name a few) repeats it, and Jesus reiterates it. No matter how awful your parents are to you, continue showing them respect. Forgive them, and let God exact punishment on them for not being good parents; for not doing the job that God gave them to do; that is, raising up a child in the way he or she should go (Proverbs 22:6). Let the sin be on them, not on you.

Marc’s mother is in the same convalescent hospital as me. She has been there for eight years. I have never seen anyone so devoted to his mother. Marc works part-time just to be able to take care of his mother. He is at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. every morning to clean or shower and change her; he goes to work for a few hours and is back by noon to check and change her. Marc does everything for his mother, and only allows the nurses to change her if he is gone for a couple of hours. Marc even washes and colors his mother’s hair because he says that he wants her to look her best at all times.

Marc and I were talking one day as I was waiting to be taken to the doctor. I mentioned, how devoted he is to his mother and how blessed she is to have such a devoted son. He said to me, No! I am the one that is blessed for having such a good mother. God gave her a job to raise my siblings and me, and she did it to the best of her ability. She never complained when she had to do it without my father. I am only being a dutiful son. I thank God for the opportunity to serve and honor her.

I told Marc that the Lord will bless and prosper him, and it will go well with him, for God commanded that he honor his mother and father that his days may be prolonged (Deuteronomy 5:16, Exodus 20:12, Matthew 19:19). Marc has performed these duties with a smile on his face at all times.

Those whose mothers were faithful to God’s direction in raising them through difficult challenges are fortunate and blessed if they are, like Marc, able to honor her and show love. Those who were not fortunate to have a loving and caring mother to raise them, must still respect her for giving birth to them, and thank God for that blessing. Those who had surrogate mothers to nurture and give them love are also blessed that God sent a mother to mother them.

If you were abused, abandoned, and/or neglected by your mother, forgive her. No matter what the situation, continue to honor her. Don’t hold onto that grudge; let go, for the Lord will exact his vengeance and judgment. You do not want the sin on you for you have trusted in the Lord’s mercy (Psalm 13:5). You suffered in silence but God, who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matthew 6:6)

Thought for the day - Respect your parents so that God will bless you.

The Price of Money

Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Acts 8:20

There are some people who think that money can buy anything and everything. Because, for them, money is all you need. You and I, as followers of Jesus Christ, know that this is not so. Money can buy material things, a title, or, maybe a flight to the moon. It certainly can’t buy love, happiness, respect, peace of mind, and above all, God’s gift of salvation.

The spiritual gifts that God gives us, for the use of glorifying him, also cannot be bought with money. Very talented people leave you wondering how do they do it? Someone else tries and just can’t get it; no matter how hard they try or how long; the gift is just not theirs to get or have.

Others, because they have wealth and power, think they can do and get anything they want or desire. All they have to do is flash their money, or make an offer, and it is theirs for the taking. Not so!

We Christians know that money can’t buy us salvation, nor can it get us into heaven. It can help us help others less fortunate than ourselves. In this way, we are using it (money) to glorify God. Jesus said, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24). Is this because the rich man focuses too much time on his money and not enough time on our heavenly Father? After all is said and done, our heavenly Father is responsible for the riches that we have; He loaned the riches to us.

God’s gifts are given to us because He loves us; and if we trust and seek Him, we shall not want for any good thing (Psalm 34:10). Material things can be stolen, rust, break, and crumble (Matthew 6:19-21); while the gift of His son, Jesus Christ, lasts and lives forever and cannot be bought with money.

God’s Grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). We need to love Him in return, and also love our neighbor. That’s not so difficult to do. After all, God gave us the grace to love each other as he loves us.

Thought for the day - Money can’t buy everything.

Our Merciful God

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

Psalm 116:5

Sometimes I sit and think about life and its many hills and valleys. I wonder why, with all my faults, mistakes, materialistic habits, and actions, the Lord still loves me? There are times when I selfishly think, and forget, that my body is not mine; I am only the caretaker of God’s temple, and as such, I should be very careful of what goes into it, how I treat it, and how I allow or give others permission to abuse it.

They say that with age comes maturity. If this is true, why are there those, who should be very mature, still acting