Thursday, July 30, 2009

I'M STILL HERE-A MOMENT OF ACTIVELY LISTENING

Greetings my friends!

I have not posted any new messages because there are times when He calls me to be quiet and actively listen to what I am in need to know.

We All are to heed His Spirit's Calling to us when these times arrive. This is His Love seeking to Cover us some more, His Care calling to do some more healing and changing in us and for us, in these times Jesus is taking us to some Mount in order to speak to our Whole Self-to Minister to us.

To actively Listen means to give Him your full attention-and then whatever His speaks to you--you do it without hesitation and in Love.

Psalm 42:7 is one of my favorite Psalms. When I read the words “deep calls to deep”, I am reminded to slow down and pay closer attention to what is going on in my life and around me. God's Spirit impresses upon me the concept of Looking and Learning beyond the surface of every Teaching that He does.
Not missing the opportunity to go past what is naturally visible to my eye.

To get quiet and sit with Him as long as He says I need to. Intimate time spent with the Lord, under His Banner of Love.

Psalm 42, verses 6-8


In the mean time please soothe your heart and Spirit, your soul with these songs of encouragement.

I am in the midst of writing new messages that I will post very soon!
Be Well my friends and keep Praising Him!

One more thing, if there is anyone that you know in need of encouragement or just Loves to Praise the Lord also, Please fwd a link to them.

Remember, we are to Share our Faith in Him with others!

His Love Only Works when we share it with Others! (it means you are not ashamed of God our Father, God our Lord, and God our Holy Spirit-the Other Comforter).

Yolanda Adams - Battle's Not Yours





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Aretha Franklin - "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" (1984/LIVE)






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Patti LaBelle John Stanley Rance Allen Martha Reeves sing 'Changed'.



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PRECIOUS IS YOUR NAME CHAKA KHAN RICHARD SMALLWOOD





On feet of Faith & Peace

Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.

Monday, July 20, 2009

THANKING & PRAISING JESUS FOR HELPING MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS


EVEN though I do not leave the home every morning to ‘go to work’ anymore and have not done so in almost 3 years; I still remember what it is like to have to get up, get ready, get my daughter ready and drop her off, go to school and teach Art to about 150 kids a day. At the time when I was leaving the home to work, I also had to take care of my grandmother; So my home duties were many and filled every minute of ‘being at home’ with caring for others. All through the days I would talk with Jesus which kept me going.

Now, my days are filled with still caring for others but not having to leave the home to go to work. I Work for the Lord Jesus every day all day from our home.

I have a few close friends, who are working their ‘man jobs’ and Working in service for God. Their ‘man’ jobs have enormous duties which run side by side with Working for God each day also.


I pray daily for them thanking Our Lord for keeping them and being their Strength.

And the Work that the Lord guides us to do for Him is always full and filling.

We all need His Help, His guidance, His concern for us, His caring for us; as we are Serving Him and building His Kingdom day by day. Working for God means we have more than our share of Spiritual warfare than natural and it will wear a Servant out!

In All our work, we give honor and glory to God in service to the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lord has guided me in a Prayer/Praise to Him for keeping all of my friends- those I know and those I have not yet met, and I am led to share this with all that are here to Rest in Him and be Encouraged by His Love.

I hope you are Encouraged and Strengthened in the Lord as I know He has blessed the Words that I write for His Children. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Please do turn this into first person and speak it out over your life as Praise and Thanks Giving to Our Father in the name of Jesus.

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My Lord I come to You on behalf of my friends and their lives to offer Praise and Thanks Giving to You for keeping them and caring for them for Your namesake. I pray that my friends always begin each Work of their hands by including You, as we know that Only by Your Way are we successful in All that We do.

I speak this out over their lives as I do for myself and my family each and every day in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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My Lord, It seems that they have too much to do everyday—

It all SCREAMS, ‘IMPORTANT’!

They need Your Help to set priorities and for You to guide them through the completion of each day’s Work.

I thank You Lord for keeping them and caring for them, for organizing their tasks that fill their days.

I thank them for listening to Your voice and yielding to Your Spirit Who always guides those that Love You.

I thank and Praise Your faithfulness for keeping them from being lost in the sometimes quick pace and overbearing pressures that accompany their work.

I thank You for giving them Your Wisdom and Energy which is needed to accomplish what is necessary effectively and efficiently.

I thank You for helping them to make the Best use of this and every day that you have given to them.

Thank You Father for teaching us all to Number our days, as time is a precious Gift from You.

I remind my friends Lord to remember to give Praise and Glory to You, for You Are Our Help and without You we would not make it through each day.

Your Will be done Lord, Your Will. In the name of Jesus, Amen.




On feet of Faith & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,

One Day At A Time By Faith.

Friday, July 17, 2009

HE WILL QUIET THE STORMS AND TEACH ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP


I thank You Lord for the Joy that You have given to me and for Your tender care of me and mine. I know that All is under Your Influence and Your Power-this increases my Joy. This Joy that no person can take from me. My Spirit is in the Home of Your Spirit Lord, breathing a familiar Divine Air that comes from the Peace and Joy that Increases my life all day every day! In the name of my Lord, thank You, Amen.

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My friends, sisters and brothers in Christ, I am honored to greet you this day in the name of our Lord Jesus.

Let us remember that He has given us Peace that no person can take away unless we allow it. Sometimes we may feel as though Jesus is not with us, but continue to learn of Him and to know that there are times where He is silent and He is speaking to the storms that we may be within and He speaks ‘Peace Be Still” to the storms that we are going through. To quiet both the waves, the wind and the storm with All concern and care for us. Thank You Jesus Yes Lord!

He does not withhold His Presence from us—He is always teaching those that are eager to learn more about Him and His Way. In order for us to hear what the Teacher is speaking, the Teacher must squash the storms that we live through-the whirlwinds and rip tides that come up out of nowhere to devour us.

Remember it was on the quiet slopes of the mountain tops that He taught His disciples The Truths concerning His Kingdom, not during the storms. So also with us, after the storm has passed, He will continue to Teach us what we need to learn from each storm and from Each mountain top experience. And we shall Rest in Peace with Him and Learn, Amen.

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and
rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 8:26

The growth that you have received in the Lord has not gone un-noticed by Him, nor by the enemy of the Lord. This growth is strength to your faith and trust in Him.

This is your refuge. STAY—DWELL in His Love—in His Secret Place—Laugh and Love. Laughter is a Good Gift.

Know that His Divine Power is Always Surrounding you and as you move in trust by faith you will grow more.

Laughing-enjoying the day that He has given to you having no concerns, no worries, or fear is Pleasing to the Father-a child like faith; you know the Goodness of God is protecting you.

Seek the safety of His Secret Place—Here you cannot be touched or harmed—This is surely the Truth.

Know and Feel His Protection as if you are in a High Strong Tower—guarded from any and all attacks launched at you! These will not prevail!

Psalm 27:5 "For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock."

This Fearless Confidence radiates from those that Trust in the Lord. Spiritual Maturity—Obedience—is rewarded by the Lord. Even though we go through times of questioning, times of sadness, times of even being mad—we have to know that He is the Power and Influence over All concerning our lives.

Even though we struggle with the power plays our minds take us through at times, even though we may allow our flesh to lead us at times, even though it seems that God may have turned His back on us, even though it is hard to Wait and to allow Him to change us from ‘ways’ that have been with us for many years…Even though…

We must always come back to the Truth that He loves us and He is taking care of us and leading us the best Way for us….We grow in our Understanding, in our Wisdom, in our knowledge, in our Love for Forgiveness and in our Service to Him and for Him –it is all Divinely Given to those that stay with Him.

Walking by Faith with trust in Him-following Jesus is a series of processes that Time reveals all growth and understanding.

The unseen of our lives is taken care of always—His Help is Always ours!

When we realize that we are insufficient in our supply—Help comes swiftly—Our need is covered.

As we grow to see that for each need, the supply Was Already Provided—Our Help comes Potently.

So often the followers of the Lord act as if His supply comes into being Only through Prayer for help. The Supply of the Lord is already in place-and by fearless confidence-unshakable trust in Him—do we receive His Help and know that His Help was already there waiting for us to recognize it.

Thank Him before, because you know He Is Your help and He Is already in Place.

I encourage you to Continue to learn of Him—He will teach you lovingly, patiently and in the fullness of His Truth. As we move into the final stages of this transition—our movements will happen quickly. Like giving birth-the points of completion that He is bringing about; that which has required intense work and focus shall be revealed in your heart and in your life as you Wait on Him.

Please know that just as giving birth there is a point where you do not need to push or try to force anything—we are to let the results of our labor come to us!

What the Lord has prepared for us from the foundation of His Love—will require us to enter a new dimension of existence and to experience that which will both enliven and challenge us. We are to rise up to embrace All that the Father has prepared for us. He knows the plans He has made for us—and to reach those we must allow Him to prepare us for them All.

Matt. 25:34 "Then the King will say to those at His right hand, Come, you blessed of My Father [you a]">[a]favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."



on feet of Faith and Peace,
ALWAYS SEEKING TO ENCOURAGE!
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.
Joshua 1:9 / Isa 52

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

MY OFFERING OF LOVE, PRAISE, THANKFULNESS, AND WORSHIP

My Lord, in the name of Jesus, I come to Your Secret Place to Rest with You.

I come to you everyday, Early, Before the trouble comes, before the whirlwinds appear, before the trials and challenges come into my day--I give you my humble offering of Love, Faith, Trust, Thankfulness, Worship, Obedience, and Service in the name of Jesus.

So when those things that You use to strengthen me do come, I am already in Your Presence Praising Your Faithfulness, Your Mercy, Your Grace, in the name of Jesus.

My heart speaks to Your Heart-Your Love enkindles my love—the air that I breathe is Divine-life-giving and invigorating to my weary body, mind, spirit and soul.

You my LORD Are my Strength and the Breathe of my Life!


This, the place of Your Presence is my Home!
I have nothing to ask of you-just want to Rest with You-the foundation of my Spiritual being.

Secure, beauty, glory, this Home of Peace and Joy where You come and commune with me…..I sing the song that your Love has placed in my heart.

A song of how you have Done Everything for me and those that I pray for. You have planted my feet securely on the Way and I step and go with firm trust and faith as You lead.

For surely You have gone before me and you stay with me; for you have not sent me anywhere that You are not!

And for this truth that I believe, I thank you Jesus, I thank You Father God, I thank You Holy Spirit for this is another beautifully made day that I may live with and for YOU! in Jesus' name Amen.

"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7

Isaiah 52:12

"For you will not go out with haste, nor will you go in flight [as was necessary when Israel left Egypt]; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."


ON FEET OF FAITH AND PEACE,
ALWAYS SEEKING TO ENCOURAGE!
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.
Isaiah 52: 7-8 / Joshua 1:9

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

PRECIOUS IS YOUR NAME

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The Lord is my Guardian. So Precious Is Your Name!

I belong to You Father. You have set Your stamp and seal of ownership on me. All Your Hosts seek to serve and protect me Father; according to my faith it is done unto me. Precious is Your name Lord.

I remember that I am the daughter of The King. In the Unseen of my life, Your servitors are waiting with desire to effectively and efficiently do all that is necessary to keep my well-being in tack. I have to do my part, and according to my obedience it is done unto me as You have spoken.

I know this as Your truth my Lord as I go through every moment of every day.

I can feel you through my faith! Precious Is Your Name! Righteous!

Everyday He wants us to make His will our only Will and then His Will guides us.

I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

Psalm 139:14


As I take each trusting step of faith every door that you set in front of me opens automatically—supernaturally as long as I don’t stop; for any of us that follow because of a passion and desire to-the stride cannot be broken. Just because in our view we see a closed door, we know that if we keep walking it will open.

We move in faith and trust. Go! And the Way that you have created opens as we Go!

As a believer in You Jesus, I know that doors of life swing open Only as I come to them and Through them!

Advancing with each trusting step on the straight Way called obedience.

When I started my Journey I asked myself what would I have profited had I begun to worry about any closed doors that stand ahead of my steps? What good would it be to wonder more about the outcome then the process to get to the outcome?

Nothing Good would I have gained.

This is a Spirit Life that we grow into-maturing day by day because His Love is the Teacher.

You will learn the end results of this Spirit Led life which is taught by a continuing lesson. Faith is the firm, unshakable trust and obedience of knowing that Jesus will not lead me anywhere that He has not already been. Many think something is wrong because we follow Him in quiet obedience.

Love does not force a relationship.

We do this because there is a passion and a fire in our hearts to serve Him. Many do not understand for various reasons, but their unbelief does not make it-Not So for me.

No tricks, no games, no manipulation, Love does not need any of those tools of oppression. Just Agape Love.

As I do I am reminded by His love and I can hear Him ask me how many times can I count where He has always opened every door for me in my past?

And I answer Him, Father too many to count and this memory is added to my strength, trust and faith the warmth of His presence.

And then He says, and more will open as you continue to walk forward, they will open. I know my Lord that You have gone before me and You have gone behind me—I know that I am safe in Your Presence In the name of Jesus, Amen!

I encourage you to seek Him and He will use every obstacle, every trouble, every unseen issue, to grow you—that you will gain what you lack. Sit at His table and fearless Faith, unshakable Trust, never ending Hope, and an unconditional Love will be given to you.

So that you will be able to give it to others.

Everyday He wants us to make His will our only Will and then His Will guides us.

John 4:34 (Amplified Bible)

Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work



God often deepens our faith during tough times in our lives. Don't waste the challenges.

When Christ is the center of your focus everyday, all else will come into proper perspective everyday.


Rev. 4:1

Jude 1:24-25



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PRECIOUS IS YOUR NAME CHAKA KHAN RICHARD SMALLWOOD

Thursday, July 9, 2009

ACCORDING TO MY FAITH I WILL DISCOVER THE UNLIMITED...

.....BOUNDLESS HEIGHTS AND DEPTHS OF MY BEING CREATED BY OUR LORD!



Psalm 18:36 "You have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip."

Love is never afraid of giving too much.
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"Unbelief will destroy the best of us.

Faith will save the worst of us."
-C.H. SPURGEON
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How do you know if you have a productive heart?
Are you honest enough to let the Word of God speak to you?
Then are you trusting Him to the point where you will listen to Him And then do what He has spoken to you?

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God often deepens our faith during tough times in our lives.

Don't waste the challenges. When Christ is the center of your focus every day, all else will come into proper perspective every day.

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My friends, sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus, I am pleased to greet you this day in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

WE All are to Seek the truth of the Lord, this is your life. When you go You will have to answer Him for your actions, nonactions, and reactions, answer Him for your thoughts, your words, and your alignments; when you go they (others) won’t go with you.


So much of what you give your time to as you are living here really does not matter, so much of yourself that you give over to the worlds ways will keep you from adhering to His Ways planned for your life.

So much of what you give your time to thinking about, your time that is not directed to thinking on Him, you will have to answer for, when you go, they won’t go with you.

So many things attack Love; competition, hatred, selfishness, jealousy, lies, physical harm and pain And everything that is wrong and negative. The shallowness of mans’ definition of Love is what most people will drown in. No matter what attacks Love, LOVE will always win!

Proverb 3:6-8

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
7Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.(

A)
8It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones.

Luke 16:10 (Amp Bible)
He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much.



James 4:3-4 (Amp Bible)
3[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
4You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.


All that we do must be for God’s Glory and His Divine plan, not for worldly gain.
We are charged to stay focused on the vision and work that the Lord has directed us to do. Be careful that you do not allow a vision killer to take what the Lord has spoken for you to live and do in His name.

Many who do not stay connected to Him nor seek His Anointing and Power will give up the work He has instructed them to do. They have allowed the stealers of Joy, Faith, Trust, and Love to distract them and weaken them into thinking they are able to either do things by their own ways or that they are not equipped to carry out God’s plans to completion.


Romans 12:4-10---Stay focused on the vision and work that the Lord has directed you to do-the Way He has said to do.
By allowing our entire self to be influenced by the Lord’s Anointing, we have the victory according to our faith in Him.

So many people block His anointing all the time and one reason is because they are attempting to do the work—carry our God’s directions by their own strength. None of us is able to carry out the vision to completion without His Holy Spirit guiding us and correcting us at every breath, every step, and every turn.

A person can have all that they need from God, detailed vision, purpose, backed up by scriptural knowledge and depth in their understanding of His Word, not just the surface of His Word; but without His anointing none of what they do will manifest into what He planned.

So many allow blocks to keep them from His love and anointing for the vision and work He has called and chosen them to do in His name. The main block is un-forgiveness of self and others.

Fear is also another blocker to receiving His anointing. From fear grows so many other negative arms and legs that act as chains to put you in bondage as a slave to what you fear.

God’s Holy Spirit gives us the insight, the wisdom, the understanding and the knowledge to be able to discern when our flesh is fighting against His Will and Purpose in and for our life. It is not abnormal at all for our flesh to daily fight against the Spirit of The Lord Who lives in us. That is truth, and a greater truth is that the Lord will help us push down our flesh every time so that His Spirit is always in control.

What is blocking your forward movement? Are you running from His Truth?

What is your love made of?

Do you have a love that will comfort, give, allow mistakes, is your love made of forgiveness, unconditional at every point of human weakness, is your love able to allow people to grow and have other friends, is your love made of faith, and trust, full of light and maturity?


OR, is your love made of jealousy, lies, fault finding, regrets, and oppression and oppressing others, is your love made of tearing down instead of building up? Is your love made of selfish motives that always thinks of you first, is your love made of greed, and having to be satisfied by others at any cost, is your love seeking approval from man and not God?

Is your love made of gain from the world’s treasures and immaturity? Is your love worthy to offer to another for the rest of your lives? Will your love be able to guide you through trials, troubles, and difficulties?

Will your love be able to comfort another no matter what you have to give up?

Will your love be able to STAND when everything around you is falling?

Will your love be able to allow another to move into your living space and allow you to give another everything that you have?

Will your love Wait on the person that God has chosen to be your life partner, or will your love convince you to go get who you want?

What is your love made of, And are you sure it is ready to give to another for life?
Is your love defined by your intelligence and knowledge of experience, or has your love been changed into the definition of God Love? Agape Love? Do you know the difference?

I encourage you to ask our Father to reveal to your eyes and heart what your love is made of? You may be trying to give negative, tainted, stunted, immature love to another that is really not the one that God chose for you to be with.
And if there is not another in your life right now, are you allowing God to correct and grow your love into changing it into His Love so that you Will be ready to Love unconditionally the One He has chosen for you to be with for the rest of your lives?

The blessing will arrive on time as He has spoken—will you be prepared to receive, take care of and keep from harm, allowing to grow and bear fruit, the blessing of the Lord?


I encourage you to seek time with our Father God - God our Friend, God our protector, God our Everything! Give Him more time from the life that He has given to you, than you do the worldly issues, that did not birth you.

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on feet of Faith & Peace,

ALWAYS SEEKING TO ENCOURAGE!
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.
Joshua 1:9

Thursday, July 2, 2009

"...Discovery Of The Illimitable Heights and Depths Of my Own Being."


The more I learn about Pauli Murray’s life the more I wish I could have known her as a friend before she died. I will let her life speak to you by the Work she did for the Lord.
Her words speak of a time with ways, that in years have passed us by.
But in the way humans act toward each other, her words ring so true for us today. The klan as they have always been known, may not be so visibly active today, but the horrendous acts and hatred they exhibited are alive in so many people today. No value for life that is different in any way from them.

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Pauli Murray, Activist, Poet, Lawyer, Priest, A Woman after God’s Heart.


DARK TESTAMENT, verse 8
In memory of Stephen Vincent Benet

Hope is a crushed stalk

Between clenched fingers,

Hope is a bird’s wing

Broken by a stone,

Hope is a word in a tuneless ditty---

A word whispered with the wind,

A dream of forty acres and a mule,

A cabin of one’s own and a moment to rest,

A name and place for one’s children

And children’s children at last…..

Hope is a song in a weary throat,

Give me a song of hope

And a world where I can sing it.

Give me a song of faith

And a people to believe in it.

Give me a song of kindliness

And a country where I can live it.

Give me a song of hope and love

And a brown girl’s heart to hear it.

From Dark Testament and Other Poems. Norwalk, CT: Silverman, 1970

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Collect for Poplarville
(Adapted from the Book of Common Prayer)


Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, Oh, Lord;
Teach us no longer to dread

hounds yelping in the distance,

the football at the door,

the rifle butt on the window pane.

And by Thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night;

Give us fearlessness to face

the bomb thrown from the darkness,

the gloved hand on the pistol,

the savage intention,

Give us courage to stand firm against

our tormentors without rancor—

Teach us that most difficult tasks---

to pray for them,
to follow, not burn, Thy cross!
New York, May 1959

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PROPHECY

I sing of a new American

Separate from all others,
Yet enlarged and diminished by all others.
I am the child of kings and serfs, freemen and slaves,
Having neither superiors nor inferiors,
Progeny of all colors, all cultures, all systems, all beliefs.
I have been enslaved, yet my spirit is unbound.
I have been cast aside, but I sparkle in the darkness.
I have been slain but live on the rivers of history.
I seek no conquest, no wealth, no power, no revenge;;
I seek only discovery
Of the illimitable heights and depths of my own being.

Cambridge, 1969

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North Carolina Collection Photographic Archives

The story of Harriet, Cornelia, and the Smith family was recounted by Cornelia's granddaughter, Pauli Murray, in her autobiography Proud Shoes: The Story of an American Family (1956). Murray was an attorney, writer, and civil rights activist. Educated at Hunter College in New York, she applied to graduate school at the University of North Carolina to study sociology. The university rejected her on grounds of race, provoking a national debate. Blacks were first admitted to professional and graduate study in 1951.
Murray later became the first black female Episcopal priest, and in 1977, she presided over her first Holy Eucharist at Chapel Hill's Chapel of the Cross, where her slave grandmother Cornelia had been restricted to the balcony.

http://museum.unc.edu/exhibits/slavery/pauli-murray-1910-1985-0/

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Pauli Murray:
A One-Woman Civil Rights Movement

Mention United States civil rights leaders, and most Americans think of mid-twentieth-century icons such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks. But in a lecture sponsored by the Schlesinger Library and held in February at the Radcliffe Institute, Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore, a Yale University historian and 2000–2001 Radcliffe fellow, offered a vivid account of an activist whose struggle for racial and gender equality took place many years before Brown v. Board of Education and the civil rights marches on Washington.
“We [historians] write about the civil rights movement as the time when white people saw it on television in their living rooms,” Gilmore said in a talk titled “Guts, Greyhounds, and Gandhi: Pauli Murray’s Civil Rights Movement, 1935–1973.” “By that time, many people had been in the civil rights movement all their lives.”
The Pauli Murray in Gilmore’s lecture title is a central character in the historian’s new book, Defying Dixie: The Radical Roots of Civil Rights 1919–1950 (Norton, 2008), which sheds light on the unsung activists—including labor figures, Communists, anti-Fascists, artists, poets, intellectuals, and picketers—who led the fight against segregation and Jim Crow laws in the American South. Murray, whose forebears included both slaves and prominent white North Carolinians, worked throughout her life to widen opportunities for African Americans and women.
Murray grew up in Durham, North Carolina, a fast-growing town in the early part of the twentieth century, with a large black middle class. “Segregation was ubiquitous,” Gilmore said, “and Murray hated Jim Crow as much for its repression of the soul as for its repression of the body.” To get away from the segregated south, she attended Hunter College in New York and graduated with a degree in English in 1933.
In 1938, she applied to graduate school at the University of North Carolina and was denied entry because of her race, even though her white great-great-grandfather had been a trustee of the university. “From that moment on,” Gilmore said, “Pauli Murray was a one-woman civil rights movement.”Murray was never admitted to the University of North Carolina, but her career is a study in idealism and determination.
Among other distinctions, she graduated from Howard University Law School at the top of her class; enlisted Eleanor Roosevelt as a lifelong friend and political ally; studied and put to use the nonviolent resistance techniques of Mahatma Gandhi; organized and led desegregation sit-ins in Washington, DC; became the first African American to earn a doctorate from Yale Law School; and, at age 66, became the first African American woman in the United States to be ordained as an Episcopal priest.
Murray had a lasting impact on American feminism, beginning with an article she coauthored with Mary Eastwood in 1965, “Jane Crow and the Law: Sex Discrimination and Title VII” in George Washington Law Review. The authors wrote that “the most serious discrimination against both women and Negroes today” took place in the area of employment. Two years later, Murray was instrumental, along with Betty Friedan and others, in founding the National Organization for Women (NOW).
Gilmore conducted extensive research for Defying Dixie at the Schlesinger Library, drawing heavily on Murray’s papers, one of the library’s most popular collections. “Pauli Murray left her papers to this place because she thought the Schlesinger would take the best care of them,” said Gilmore, who couldn’t resist noting an irony: Murray once applied to the master’s program in law at Harvard but was informed, “You are not of the sex entitled to be admitted to Harvard Law School.”
Deborah Blagg is a freelance writer.
Watch Glenda Gilmore's lecture at http://radcliffe.edu/events/calendar_2008gilmore.aspx.
The image collage by the design firm Mullen is from items in the Pauli Murray Papers at the Schlesinger Library-

Here is a LINK to the JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN Humanities Institute, which is collaborating with the New Project Org. that is Teaching so many Who Pauli Murray was. People Need To Know!
http://www.fhi.duke.edu/2009/03/pauli-murray-project/

faith and peace,
ALWAYS SEEKING TO ENCOURAGE!
Resting In His Faithfulness,
One Day At A Time By Faith.
Joshua 1:9