Saturday, November 20, 2010

Shirley Sherrod Speaks to Black Farmers in OKC as Farm Bill passes in Senate by CNN iReporter - Patricia Smith

CNN iReport by CNN iReporter - Patricia Smith

Pictures by Pattycake's Greetings From The Heart (Patricia Smith)

Shirley Sherrod Speaks to Black Farmers in OKC as Farm Bill passes in Senate

http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-520418

The Oklahoman Black Historical Research Project, Inc in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, Langston University, Operation Spring Plant, Rural Coalition and Langston Ag Alumni opened up the first of the two-day conference of the 12th Annual Small Farms Conference at the Metro Tech Campus in Oklahoma City today.

The Theme of this year's conference is: "Communication is the Key to Success for Small Farms and Rural Community."

Executive Director of the Oklahoma Black Historical Research Project, Inc. --- Mr. Willard Tillman opened the conference and welcomed the attendees to the 12th Annual Small Farms Conference. Conference discussion that followed included: Farm Health, USDA 1890 Programs, Reflection of the History of Black Farmers and USDA & Perspective Transformation.

The keynote speaker at today's luncheon was Ms. Shirley Sherrod of Sherrod Investment, LLC of Albany, Georgia. Ms. Sherrod was previously employed as the Georgia State Director for the USDA Rural Development.

Please go to CNN iReport for the complete story-----Link noted below:
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-520418

Senate OKs settling claims feds discriminated against blacks, Indians

By the CNN Wire Staff

http://us.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/19/black.farmers/index.html?hpt=T2

p.s. Thanks everyone so much for always supporting my many projects and causes that I am always working on / promoting....Love you....Yal are the bestest friends and family!!! :)....Thank you again soooo much!!!

Here's a link to all of my stories that I have written previously on CNN if you would like to read on: (smile)..Follow me on my CNN iReport Homepage:
http://ireport.cnn.com/people/Patricia0117

Follow me on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/patricia0117

Follow me on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1289786475

Follow my youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/patriciasmith1955

Follow my blog:
http://pattycakesgreetingsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 15, 2010

The Greatest Gift: Love........GOD'S LOVE .....by Patricia Smith

I Corinthians 13: 1-13

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I
have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the
gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am
nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I
give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade
itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own,
is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but
rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it
will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when
that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done
away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in
part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these
is love.

Love

More songs have been written about love than about any other topic. It has
inspired some of the world's best, and worst, poetry. It has set on fire,
and broken, countless hearts throughout human history. Many things are said
about love. Yet for the final word on the topic, we must turn to the Bible.
In <bibleverse:1Co:13> 1 Cor. 13, the apostle Paul, under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, provides the world's most beautiful ode to love.

There are three different words for love in the Greek language. They are
'Phileo', 'Eros', and 'Agape'.   Phileo love suggests the esteem and
affection found in a casual friendship. Eros love suggests physical sexual
desire and not much else. Because neither of these words came close to
describing the kind of love Paul wanted to communicate, he chose a
relatively rare Greek word for his definitive passage on love. That word is
agape. Agape describes a love that is based on the deliberate choice of the
one who loves rather than the worthiness of the one who is loved. This kind
of love goes against natural human inclination. Paul's description of love
is short but full of power in I Corinthian 13. It is a giving, selfless,
expect-nothing in return kind of love. Agape love is also described in
another book in the bible - The Song of Solomon. In the Song of Solomon,
Agape is described as unconditional love. It's the love that God has for
us. Agape is God's unconditional love.

Love suffers for a long time. Our modern "throw-away" society encourages us
to get rid of people in our lives who are difficult to get along with,
whether they are friends, family, or acquaintances. Yet this attitude runs
in complete contrast to the love described by Paul. True love puts up with
people who would be easier to give up on. Love does not envy. If our love
is directed toward others, we will rejoice in the blessings they receive
rather than desiring those blessings for ourselves. Fundamentally, the
selfless love that God calls us to does not involve pride or glory. It does
not parade itself and is not puffed up. In fact, true love does not seek its
own. If we truly love others, we will set aside our own plans, agendas, and
entitlements for the good of another.

Love is not provoked. That is, love is not easily angered or over-sensitive.
When we truly love others, we are careful not be touchy concerning other
people's words or actions towards us. Love does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth. The Godly love described in I Corinthians 13 has
nothing to do with evil, but has everything to do with what is right and true.

It believes all things and hopes all things. This does not mean that love is
blind or naive. When we love, we may recognize problems and failures in
people, but we do not lose faith in the possibilities of what people might
become. Love never gives up, knowing that God can change lives for the
better. Love never fails. Love continues forever. <bibleverse:1Co:13:13>
13:13   Faith enables us to come to God (see <bibleverse:Heb:11:6> Heb.
11:6), but love enables us to imitate Him.   <bibleverse:1Co:14:1> 14:1."
There are many things in life that we can simply take or leave, but love is
not one of them.

Finally, love endures all things. Love accepts any hardship or rejection,
and continues unabated to build up and encourage. The love described by Paul
in this "love chapter" means determining what is best for another person and
then doing it. This is the kind of love that God shows us. This is that
unconditional Agape Love.

Agape Love is

God's unconditional Love that we should have for one another.

The Greatest Gift: Love

GOD'S LOVE

Discover NKJV Bible

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Haiti needs our continued prayers!!!....1 Thessalonians 5:17 states: Pray without ceasing

Haiti needs our continued prayers!!!..

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR HAITI...

1 Thessalonians 5:17 states: Pray without ceasing

Below is the prayer petition that my church Windsor Village in Houston is praying for Haiti based on the below scriptures.

Psalm 66:1-8

Psalm 20

Reflections of the Heart:

Haiti is a nation in need of our prayer. Thousands of people have died, and countless families have b een affected by the devastating earthquake and now the hurricane. The Haitian people could spend years recovering what was destroyed in a matter of minutes. Please keep this nation and its citizens in your daily prayers.

In our prayer classes at Windsor, we were taught to read and pray through scripture.

Please join me in daily reading and praying these scriptures.....Thank you soooo much and abundant blessings to you!!

Phillippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Check out my new blog: Pattycake Greetings From The Heart

http://pattycakesgreetingsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/

Follow me on my CNN iReport Homepage:http://ireport.cnn.com/people/Patricia0117?viewingAsOthers=true&view=documents

Follow me on Twitter:http://twitter.com/patricia0117

Follow me on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1289786475

Follow my youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/patriciasmith1955

http://blackwomenoffaith.com/profile/PatriciaSmith

Member of National Black Women of Faith

Praise, Prayer, Purpose

Saturday, November 13, 2010

PRAYER 101 - Praying in Scripture --- PSALM 111 by Patricia Smith

Prayer 101 - Praying in Scripture

Psalm 111

Patricia Smith

1: Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

Our Most Gracious Almighty Magnificent God. I stand before all present today and will stand in front of all mankind and Praise Your Holy Name. I stand before you today and at this moment give you the utmost praise and honor . . . .You have been sooooooooo wonderful to me. You have taken such good care of me. You are my best friend.. Thanks for being God . . . Thanks for your grace. Thanks for your mercy. Thanks for your love. I’m not even a speckle in this unlimited universe that you have created, but you’ve still LOVED ME! ! ! !! . . .. You loved me enough to give me the most precious gift. . .the most precious gift you could offer . . . . . the gift of life . . . . . .everlasting life . . . . . through the shedding of the blood of Your Lamb . .. Your Most Precious Lamb . . . .. Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for my present Oh God! . . .Thank you for My Gift. . . .Thank You . . ..Oh God, I love you I praise you, I magnify you . . . I lift upYour Holy Name. God you are such an awesome God….you are God of all Gods…..You are a wonderful, omnipotent, omnipresent, magnificent, unconditionally loving God…..I am sooooooooooo honored to be even just loved by you…..I am soooooo humbled by your presence in my teeny, tiny world…..Thank you God for just loving me…..Thank you…thank you, thank you….I love you Lord…I love you……I truly know and believe….you are more than a conqueor……God…. you are love…..

2: The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3: His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4: He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

God, since the beginning of time you have shown us great things and wonders. . . . . .You created the universe. . .. You’ve created this earth . . .You created us. . . . .You’ve given birth to those that were barren, you‘ve healed the sick and raised the dead. You’ve fed the multitudes, you’ve been there when we’ve been in battle, you’ve been there even when we’ve denied you . . . .You still were there . .. . .always . . . . . when we’ve needed you . . . .you’ve not only been there . . .walking right beside us. . . .you’ve also carried us when the burden got too heavy . . . .. . .Thanks God . . .Thank You! . . ..

5: He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

6: He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7: The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8: They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

9: He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

10: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Deut:7:9 reads: Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

God you gave a covenant to Abraham because of his obedience that his seeds would prosper be given land as far as their eyes could see . . because of Abraham’s obedience to you, we are still receiving your blessings of prosperity.

1Chron:16:15: reads that it is written that we should be mindful of your covenant, your word which you commanded.

You promised by keeping your covenant that we would prosper in ALL that we do . . . . ..

Thanks be to you God . . .Thanks for blessing me . . .I claim your gift of prosperity that your Word has already been promised and given to us. .. . ..

You have loved us since the beginning of time . . . .and will love me . . . us . . .. forever . . . .. . .Thanks God for caring. . .Thanks for just being God . . .. and for continuously reinforcing our faith!

I pray and strive to not just live in your permissive will….but to abide and live in your perfect will…..I pray and give you ALLLLLLLLL the praise, ALLLLLLLLL the honor and ALLLLLLLLL the glory . . .in the Precious Name of Jesus . . . . . . . .through the Holy Spirit. .. ..

Amen . . . .Amen. . . ..

SCRIPTURES RESEARCHED FOR PRAYER

Gen:9:17: And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Gen:15:18: In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

Ex:31:16: Wherefore the children of

Israel

shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.

Deut:7:9: Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deut:8:18: But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

Deut:29:1: These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.

Deut:29:9: Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.

1Chron:16:15: Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;