Special thanks to my friend and ministry associate brother Enochwalked for directing me to this article from WorldMag.com. in response to my article Yes We Can ~ Eliminate Abortion. Can't We?
I must confess I fell in love with this lady pictured to the left...and she IS NOT my wife.....Now before I start a scandal on myself, you need to know that the love was and IS a godly and pure love and happiness for someone's success in Christ and spiritual commitment. You see, I was just overwhelmed with the mission and glory of the Lord upon the life of Mrs.Tijuanna Adetunji. This lady, Mrs. Adetunji, not only grew up in the projects, not only had one abortion at age 17, but she had a second abortion at age 25.
What made me so glad to know her by way of this article is that she didn't stop there, and her mistakes didn't end her life. This young lady allowed the Lord to pick her up, dust herself off and is now used in the ministry service of the Lord along with her husband in restoring the lives of other young ladies who are now caught in the same traps and are considering making similar choices in life.
For Those Who May Feel They've Failed
In this particular post, I wanted to take the special time to acknowledge that we often preach messages of what we should do or what we're supposed to do. That's in order and the TRUTH must be preached. However, I wanted to take special time and thank all of those reading this who have at one point in their lives failed, but REFUSED to be a victim of either their failures of the failures of others that were placed upon them.
Now, we must confess, abortion is murder, homosexuality and lesbianism are abominations, and choosing to be a single parent is certainly an unwise move. BUT for those who have been in those situations, relied on God for help and deliverance, and have done the best that they could with the help of the Lord, I want to COMMEND you. I commend you for not settling there or being satisfied with those mistakes or situations that you were dealt. I want to commend you for holding on to God or getting to know God and becoming and being part of the solution to the serious problems that we face and see everyday.
You see, I am aware of young ladies and men who were molested or inappropriately handled at young ages and have consequently struggled with their sexual identity, desires and intimate relationships. In our MLK Jr. Holiday celebration our special guest Dr. Bill Cosby spoke of a lady who was molested in her youth and became promiscuous her whole life and went on to give herself to crack cocaine and eventually was so depraved that she sold her daughter to pay for it. Thank God she recovered from this horrific circumstance, but she still has intimacy issues with her spouse, and it's a day by day journey for her. The truth is that some people never recover from such circumstances. Some people loose their minds and their life, but we know that only Jesus can truly heal a broken heart.
I am aware of some mothers who were married, had children while they were married and were doing the right thing, only to have their husbands walk out on them for another woman, leaving them a single parent, to deal with school and daycare situations, find a job and pay the bills in many cases without help. Still, for others the Lord saw fit to call a spouse home when the children were young. I know that wasn't easy by any means, and people who didn't know the situation were quick to lump you in with others who didn't hold to the moral standards that you did. I know it was tough. Those situations are breeding grounds for disdain and utter contempt. BUT YOU MADE IT with the help of the Lord!
I know it wasn't easy. I know you had it hard. I know there were things in you that you wish weren't there, or didn't realize was there because of what you've been through...BUT, I know as you found that Jesus came to heal all wounds, and you didn't stay where you were. Thank you for finding that LIFE is worth living.
John 10:10 ~ "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
I guess I simply wanted to say that I am godly proud of all of our godly women who have taken the ashes that were given to them and allowed God to exchange them for beauty.
Isa. 61:3 ~ "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."
For Those Who Currently Feel The Weight Of Their Burdens
Whether it was your fault or the fault of others who placed you in whatever situation you're dealing with, you too can have the same relief and gain the same purpose in life that Sister Adetunji and countless other godly women have. No matter how you got into the situation that you're currently in, God is able to heal your heart, use you for his glory and cause you to be an example and valued treasure to the community.
Why You Are Essential To The Purpose
I attended a School board meeting this week to fight to help keep a high school from closing. After I spoke to the board there was a young lady who took the mic. She said she was a foster child and had never had a stable home in her life and the only thing that she had that was stable and the same everyday, was her school and the people in her school that had helped her change her grades from D's and F's to A's and B's. She explained that these people were there for her and had her back. Yes, she admitted that they were tough, told her the truth, and wouldn't let her slide, but she acknowledged that she was fortunate to call the school HOME. She questioned why the board would take her HOME and her STABILITY from her.
I cried, at her testimony, and I further thought, when will the church truly be HOME for hurting people? There are thousands of these young ladies in every city wanting someplace to simply call home and needing somebody to simply be there for them.
The truth is they're not looking for a place to party, nor a place to socialize but a place where they can bring themselves which includes their frustrations and failures and leave it all at the alter of the Lord's mercy and receive the power to be what they can't be on their own...You see, they want to be told the truth without manipulation, because some of them realize that otherwise they've been lied to. They want to be loved on for who they are, not for what they can perform and ultimately be shown out of their current conditions into a new life and way of living.
Heb. 4:15-16 ~ "15-For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16-Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
When will all these things be?
As my friends, the group Commissioned said some time ago...Well, the time is now, and the day is today!I just had to share this word of encouragement with you. For those who have aborted a child and realized the error and grievous mistake, give it all to Jesus and take what you now realize and heal these other young ladies and men of their ills.
For those who have become overwhelmed in promiscuous behavior, sexual sins and or homosexual sins...you too can be free and washed of those sins and the burdens of guilt beneath the flood of the cleansing blood of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Confess, repent and commit your heart and ways to HIS care. I simply believe and know that Jesus is coming back...and I want to meet all of you on the other side...Well, here too, but surely over there!
Psalms 51:7-13 ~ "7-Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8-Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9-Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10-Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11-Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12-Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13-Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee."
Blessed!
I just stumbled upon your blog today, I hope you don't mind if I follow it. I am a track & field coach at a Catholic University and I work with a lot of young black men and women, mostly Christians. I see my vocation as a coach to go beyond just trying to get them to run faster but to spread the Gospel as well. While I am pro-life I am largely ignorant of abortion's devastating effects on the black community specifically and even more ignorant of how to approach the topic with my athletes. I have tried, and I think the wheels are beginning to turn, but there is still a lot of work to be done. I pray for all of my athletes daily, but I still need to keep searching for ways to connect the Gospel message with them better. Reading your posts has been very helpful - thank you, and you and your ministry will be in my prayers.
ReplyDeletePastor Burnett,
ReplyDeleteI praise GOD for using you as a witness in this issue. I am posting another uplifting link about another black pastor that is standing in the gap against abortion.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jan/09012311.html
Coach Dismas,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing with me. Believe it or not in a "former life" and 60 lbs ago, (give a little-LOL) I was trying to be a world class sprinter. I touted a 4.2 40 and a 10.5 100M in high school (injured)
I didn't know at that time that God had another path for me. I can't overstate how I use my experiences from back then even today as I prepare myself for ministry.
I say that to affirm, that you are doing a HIGHLY important job and one that your athletes will reap the benefits of for years to come.
I am in the process of getting back in shape and I am using the same thought process that I learned in high school to do this now.
I just wanted to encourage you and commend you for your efforts to help those athletes you coach. many athletes (myself included) don't pay this sort of thing any attention until they are confronted with the situation and it needs to be addressed. You know as well as I, that knowledge is a powerful tool and weapon and can be the difference in any close race. It can also help an athlete overcome a deficiency they have in order to compete.
Those are the lessons that we often don't receive and sometimes learn them on the fly. So whatever I and this ministry can do to become or be a resource for you and your athletes we're more than willing and able.
Thank you and God bless you greatly!
Enochwalked,
ReplyDeleteThank god for Pastor Robinson, he was right on point.
I took a protion of my time today to deal with both issues...abortion and worship of Obama and expectations that he'll just automatically do what's "best" for the African American community without us (the church) engaging him. If we leave him to his own devices we'll be jacked up!
Lawd help us and keep sounding the alarm and GREAT reasearch my brother. I (and we)need the support.
God bless.
Blessings Pastor Burnett.
ReplyDeleteThis so has touched my heart, as I am a women with "several" past abortions, all during my 10 year "backslidden" state. I thank God that He was married to this backslider. But, never-the-less, it wasn't until I was in church, serving in the Evangelism Ministry and in Missionary Class (The COGIC church that I rededicated my life in) that I was truly delivered from the murdering spirit of abortion.
It was something because abortion was rarely preached from the pulpit and once I rededicated my life, there still wasn't that firm conviction in "my heart" that abortion was considered murder.
The Lord used my good friend to write a play called "Broken Vessels Used to Glorify God" that the Holy Ghost began to prick my heart about the deceptive murdering spirit of abortion that was in "my heart" (yes while evangelizing on the streets and attending Missionary Unit!)
In this play, there were several stories involving women that had gone through trials and tribulations in their lives, and I thought that I was going to play the lady that had "many lovers", but lo and behold, there was a part about a woman that had many abortions and when I read the screen play, it was with such conviction that both my friend and I knew that it was "me" that was meant to play that part.
The play was written under the anointing of the Holy Ghost and the scenes were so powerful that
my true deliverance came the night of the performance. I wasn't acting, the Holy Ghost was delivering "me" from that spirit....You could hear a pin drop in the place and as I was performing/being delivered, I could see the faces of women in the audience that were holding in that secret and were being set free right then and there...it was so powerful that it's bringing chills to me as I type this. I began to understand what Jesus meant in Matthew 7:21-23 when He said many will say to me, didn't I do this and that in Your name, and Jesus says "depart from me...I never knew you"...I was serving Him in evangelism, leading people to the Lord, missionary class, preaching, but yet, in "my heart" I was a murderer. Oh God I thank Him for sending His Holy Spirit to convict me of sin and cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness.
After that performance, there were so many women testifying of how they were delivered from past issues, hurts and pains, but guess what, we were shunned by "LEADERSHIP!" That's right! It's as if we came in and did something that was under the order of the devil. I don't think when the First Lady approved the performance that she knew the magnitude of the delivering power of the Holy Ghost that was going to be released through that play.
We were then asked to perform at a State Jurisdiction event by our YWCC II Leader, and again, the power of the Holy Ghost was awesome...and once again, we were absolutely "shunned" by the
state prelates, mothers, district missy's etc...(don't get me to start naming all those levels of nonsense)...but anyway...they literally acted like we were lepers and didn't even want to hug or shake our hands...Then our YWCC Leader got "reprimanded" for having us do the performance AFTER she was told it was OK by the First Lady. It was UNBELIEVEABLE!! It was as if some of those "church folks" was upset because the Holy Ghost was all up in their past "sanctified closets!"
But I said all that to say, that, abortion is deceptive, and the church, the black church at large is too silent concering this issue. I was under the lie that abortion is an OK form of birth control, and that a child is not considered a child until it's fully born, but I thank God that the eyes of my understanding have been enlightened...yes I know what King David was talking about in 139 Psalm...God saw our substance being yet unformed...Hallelujah that I'm now PRO-LIFE in "my heart"...not just my head!
I have forgiven myself and I know that God has forgiven me for those past abortions, and every chance I get, I boldly proclaim life and let these young women know that abortion is murder, there is always an alternative, and that alternative if LIFE, whether they take care of the child, or someone else does...CHOOSE LIFE! God did for us in His son Jesus!
Thank you Pastor Burnett for this forum and the opportunity to testify of the healing power of the
Holy Ghost!
Sister Pat
thank you Sis Pat, this brought tears to my eyes and yes the glory of the Lord is revealed when his truth is released.
ReplyDeletePlease, please dont stop declaring your status and your freedom. I was at a service in Greensboro, NC where several (black) sisters came to share openly about having abortions and the deep effects it had on them until the Lord set them free. I was touched so deeply in my heart, because I know so many women (and men who have agreed to the murder of their own flesh and blood) are suffering in silence and if the truth could just be told, God would do the work.
God help those who attempt to restrain and restrict his truth.
Sister Pat,
ReplyDeleteI echo the sentiments of GCMWatch. That testimony was fantastic.
I an godly proud of all the sisters and brothers who have overcome this deadly deception to now live in freedom. Thank God for the blood of Jesus that cleanses from ALL sin.
Thank you so muych for sharing.
On a related issue, I also saw today where Obama tried to get contraceptives on the back end of the stimulus package...The Republicans wouldn't sign on and demanded that he scrap it which he did. What kind of "stimulus" was he talking about?
A total mess!