My Name is Jali

When I turned 25, I asked to God make it my year of "grace." I wanted to have an understanding of what it meant to walk in His unmerited favor, and pass it on to others. I wanted to become more graceful, both inside and out. He has exceeded my expectations. Here's what I learned:    Grace is a gift and freely given (Romans 1:5) - Let's say that I gave you a tri-color gold bracelet embedded with multiple precious stones, engraved with your name on it, along with a proclamation of my love for you, for no apparent reason. Would you be turning the box upside down trying to find the price tag? Would you ask me a thousand questions as to why I would do such a thing? Would you be afraid to wear it because it's so nice and you don't think you could wear it well? Would you try to give it back because you didn't want to feel like you owed me anything? Would you try to guess how much it cost and resolve in your heart that you would repay me, or give me something ...

 So... I've been pretty vocal regarding my feelings about all the goings-on between the "Powers that Be" and the Black community. Probably more vocal than I've been since high school. And I've noticed that since I've made my stance clear on the issues, a lot of people have fallen silent. And I don't just mean silent on the issues. I mean silent. Like I don't hear from them anymore. I'm not so much bothered by it because I'm lonely for friends; it's more like a weird occurance - I had a bunch of friends/close acquaintances, and then I started talking about my views on police brutality and racial disparity and they - poof! - disappeared from my social circle. And I question this silence. I wonder: Is it out of reverence, where they don''t feel as if they have enough information or perspective to add to the conversation so they just don't say anything? Is it the type of silence where they actually disagree with me, but don't ...

This actually started off as a Facebook rant, but I have more to say. Basically, it started when I read an article by a psychiatrist who discussed the dangerous themes about relationships that are portrayed in the books and film 50 Shades of Grey . You can read it here . I've been weaning myself off of and blocking myself from shows that I believe are really socially damaging (Scandal, Empire, anything produced by or starring Tyler Perry, T.D. Jakes, or Oprah), and are perpetuating attitudes and perceptions that are destroying our communities. While none of the shows I watch are spiritually edifying, I've been REALLY determined to stay away from materials that are especially spiritually damaging, hence my hesitation to even be curious about 50 Shades of Grey in literary or cinematic format. I've been pretty good, if I may say so myself, and when the movie came out, I wasn't moved at all to buy a ticket. So when I came across the above article, here was my reactio...

Psalm 55:12-16 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it:  neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me;  then I would have hid myself from him:   But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.   We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.   Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell:  for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God;  and the Lord shall save me. It's no secret to anyone who knows me that David is my favorite hero in the Bible. And a big part of why I love him is because of his transparency when he talked to the Lord. He let go in his prayers in a way that I admit that I still struggle with now. For some reason, I get to a point where I lock up and don't push past where it's comfortable. I allow myself to succumb to tiredness, frustration, unbelief...

"Let the words of mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." - Psalm 19:14 I was hemming and hawing the other day because I wanted to do a December post, and had no idea what to write about. I'm teaching a lesson on Leah soon, so I wanted to hold off on posting my thoughts about her. But then... opportunity presented itself. It seems that ever since I've been working in a school with children who have disabilities, I am much more aware of the power of words. For example, if I'm writing a report about a child I have just finished evaluating, I don't say, "This kid is autistic and he needs help." I say something like, "It is recommended that _______ receive services as a student with autism." It's called being "person-centered," and makes it about the person and not the disability. We try to always frame things positively by saying things like, "the student w...

     "At last!" the man exclaimed. "This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called 'woman,' because she was taken from 'man.'" Genesis 2:23 (New Living Translation)        So 4 months back, I wrote a piece about the warning signs of someone who presented as being saved and wanting to date you, but really were wolves in church clothing. And at one point I mentioned that I wasn't sure where the line was for those professing salvation. Do we do the "meet and greet" stuff that the world does, or do we rock the Old Testament Bible swag? What does "saved" dating, or courting look like?      Well, I've been praying. And studying. And watching. And experiencing. And I realize that a lot of women, including myself, do not know how to be courted properly by the time they are approaching the marrying age. It can come from being sheltered like I was. I grew up with a dad, 9 uncles total, 2 grand...