Last summer, my husband had flight training in Savannah, Georgia and my girls and I went to visit him.  The first day that we were there, we went on a bus tour that stopped at many historical places. Our tour guide mentioned all the different churches scattered throughout the city and the church that caught our attention was the First African Baptist Church which was started in 1773 and is still active today.  Here is the link to find out more.  https://firstafricanbc.com/index.php. 

So, on Sunday morning the girls and I visited that church.  We were three of five light skinned people there that morning and we definitely stood out, however we were warmly welcomed.  Early in the service, they had a time of greeting one another which lasted about twenty minutes or so.  My girls and I were hugged and kissed many times.  At one point, a beautiful, older, dark skinned woman standing in front caught my eye and opened her arms wide as if to say, “Come.”  The girls and I walked up to her and she took my face in her hands and said, “You are my sister and we are united in Christ.” She hugged me, and then took each of my girls in her arms and hugged them, and said that she was so happy we were there.  This coupled with gospel centered preaching made for a beautiful and memorable Sunday morning.  A week later, my husband visited the church and at the beginning of the service all the men gathered together to pray for the service and they warmly included Paul, the only light skinned man, to pray hand in hand with them.  This precious church was a place of welcome and gospel centered preaching with no focus on skin color.  It was refreshing. 

During days like these, we need to be reminded of a few things. We need to remember:

1. Who God is and who we are in Him.  Remember the ABC’s of God!!!!
2. That there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). 
3. That, in Christ, we are part of God’s family; we are His children and if we are His children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (every shade from dark to light)—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17).  
4. That as we suffer, which we are promised we will, that God works all things together for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). 
5. That what is meant for evil, God means for our good, and that He is for us.  If God is for us, who can be against us? No One!!! (Romans 8:31)
6. That He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
7. That no one can bring any charge against God’s elect. It is God who justifies. Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us. (Romans 8:33-34)
8. That nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Ask yourself, “Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword or may I add a pandemic, or riots, or racial tension separate you from the love of Christ?” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:35-37)
9. That neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39)
10. That a day is coming where the Lord will set all things right; a day when a great multitude that cannot be numbered, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, will gather before the throne of God and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, crying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11. That until that day we must encourage one another to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. 
12. That we are united in Christ, so be welcoming to one another and point one another to Christ.

In closing, may we, in Christ, pray and seek the Lord.  He is our only hope and He is all that matters.  We need to know who He is and who we are in Him.  We need to remind each other of the truths above. We need to teach our children who God is and who they are in Him and that He alone is who matters! For those of you who are not believers or are waffling in your faith, may today be the day that you heed the call and give your life to Jesus seeking Him while He may be found.

II Chronicles 7:14

If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Isaiah 55:6-7 

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way. And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Proverbs 8:17 

I love those who love Me; And those who diligently seek Me will find Me.

Luke 11:9-10 

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

Jeremiah 29:13 

You will seek Me and find Me when you seek for Me with all your heart.

Matthew 6:33 

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Oh dear ones, seek the Lord, welcome one another, and point each other to Christ!

Blessings to you!

Heather