Harriet’s Purpose

by Shirley Francis-Salley

Have you ever seen a railroad without a track, or a train to run upon it?

There was such a thing a time ago and slaves fled to freedom on it.

The conductor’s name was Harriet, Mrs. Tubman, if you please!

She ran the “Underground Railroad” through woods full of shadows and trees.

She helped slaves escape to freedom, right from under their master’s noses.

She led them to the “Promised Land” that’s why they called her Moses.

Why did Harriet Tubman take on such a dangerous task?

What would make her do it? Some of you might ask.

The reason that she did it was God gave her that job to do.

That was Harriet’s PURPOSE, and God’s got one for YOU too!

 

Dear Lord,

Even though I am a child,

I know you have a purpose for me.

I want to know my purpose

So I can do the things that please you.

Amen

Be Prepared!
 An excerpt from:  The Be Attitudes of a Christian Writer©
by Shirley Francis-Salley

It’s 4:00 A.M. Your eyes pop open automatically. You lay there giving the cobwebs a moment to untangle themselves from your brain and then it hits you. Sweet inspiration comes riding in on a cloud from on high with a precious morsel to be penned. You know you’ve got to get this down because sometimes it’s only there in that certain way for a fleeting moment.

You reach for your mini netbook but it is dead. You haven’t charged it in two days. Frantically your eyes pan your surroundings and you spot your voice recorder. Then you remember, you meant to buy batteries last night but you forgot. By now you’re trying to say the idea over and over again. You don’t want to lose it. And then, you spot your trusty pad and pen. You grab them and the vision becomes words that flow from your pen and are carried by a river of ink that soaks up the dryness of a blank sheet of paper. Whew! That was close! You could have lost that thought or the opportunity to create at that very moment!

There is nothing like basking in the happiness of having been prepared for the successes that opportunity brings when it knocks on our doors.  But what about the times when the knock at the door isn’t bringing happiness or success with it? What about the times when the knock on the door is that of Mr. and Mrs. Trouble and their bratty children, Frustration, Difficulty and Pain, and they’ve shown up on the doorsteps of our lives, hell-bent on wreaking havoc in our homes? Didn’t Jesus tell us that in this world we would have many trials and sorrows? (John 16:33, New Living Translation Bible)

Are we prepared for these opportunities? One might ask why connotations depicting unfavorable circumstances would be linked to the word opportunity, after all, it’s such a positive word! Here’s why:  God’s word says that He causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28 NLT). These words are an anchor for us when we are like storm-tossed ships caught in the billows on the sea of suffering.

Sometimes we suffer as a result of our choices and actions, and there are times that God calls us to it; either way we have to prepare. While Jesus said we’d have trouble, He also said that we should take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33 NLT).

Remember: When we fail to prepare we prepare to fail! (Benjamin Franklin)

A good friend shared some good advice with me this morning and I wanted to share it with you.

HANDBOOK 2010 
Health: 
1.       Drink plenty of water. 
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar. 
3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.. 
4.       Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy 
5.       Make time to pray. 
6.       Play more games 
7.       Read more books than you did in 2009 . 
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day 
9.       Sleep for 7 hours.. 
10.     Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile. 
Personality: 
11.    Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
12.    Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. 
13.    Don't over do. Keep your limits. 
14.    Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 
15.    Don't waste your precious energy on gossip. 
16.    Dream more while you are awake 
17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.. 
18.    Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness. 
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others. 
20.   Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. 
21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 
22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 
23.    Smile and laugh more. 
24.    You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree... 
Society: 
25.    Call your family often. 
26.    Each day give something good to others. 
27.    Forgive everyone for everything.. 
28.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of  6. 
29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day. 
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business. 
31.    Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch. 
Life: 
32.    Do the right thing! 
33.    Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 
34.    GOD heals everything. 
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change.. 
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 
37.    The best is yet to come.. 
38.    When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it. 
39.    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy. 
Last but not the least: 
40.    Please share this with everyone you care about, I just did.

 Wow, Seems like forever since my last blog. But this final semester of school has been a doozie (that’s “old school” language)!  You know how it is when the business of living ties you up. And, it will keep you in captivity if you don’t break free! Well, I’m free at last! I am now a graduated, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree packing, creative writing author, who is ready to roll! Happy New Year Everyone! Let me fill you in on what’s been happening.

          In November of 2009 the Shifty Characters and I made our debut at New Life Fellowship Church in Elmhurst, New York. We were the guest of Mr. Chris and his Musical Experience, and what an experience it was! The sanctuary was packed and filled with the excitement of laughing children and their parents who became kids again. There is lots of fun in Christ! If you ever get the chance you gotta experience the Mr. Chris Musical Experience! Check out his websites.

www.myspace.com/mrchrismusicalexperience

www.sonicbids.com/mrchrismusicalexperience

 

            The Shifty Characters created a lot of buzz and gave away buttons, magnets, bookmarks and T-Shirts. It was their way of getting to know everyone! I’ve loaded a photo to share with you. The Shifty Characters are almost completely illustrated and looking at a March 2010 release date; just in time to be great Resurrection Day gifts!

 I’ll meet you here next time!

Shirley

 Letters are really cool characters. They belong to the alphabet.

            They stand beside each other to form words we don’t often forget.

When they are ready to move, these characters know things just won’t be the same.

The words they were a moment ago are now about to change.

They switch their places for new spaces. They like to move around,

to create new words, create new thoughts, and to also create new sounds.

 
      In the not too distant past Tennis Pro Serena Williams made news not for playing tennis, but for saying some very unbecoming things to a line judge at the U.S. Open. Serena had to pay a fine of ten thousand dollars. A little person said to me: Mrs. Salley is it okay to say bad words when someone makes you angry? Everyone does it.”
 
 I replied, “Yes, I know, sometimes it happens but, it’s never okay. And, just because everyone does it, that doesn’t mean that YOU have to do it too. God has a better purpose for your mouth.

 This conversation inspired me to write this song for my little guys and dolls.

 

I Won’t Follow the World

 
If the world says yes, then I’ll say no.
If the world says stop, then I’ll say go.
If the world says it’s all right to curse,
Its cause the world doesn’t put God’s word first.
So I won’t do what the world says do.
I’ll keep my heart clean and true.
Clean and true to Jesus Christ.
For He's the Savior of my life.
 

WOW!
 Here are just some of the products
that my illustrator  has designed for the Shifty Characters.
 Yes, the Shifty Characters are making their debut and
 they are jumping on anything or anybody that will carry them!

There are too many to show here but,
there are mugs, tote bags,
magnets, buttons, mouse pads,
T shirts, hats and more...  

To see the full line visit zazzle.com
type, shifty characters, in the product search box and,
 enter their world!
They make great little keepsakes!

Gotta go now, talk to you soon!
Shirley

 
  In June I saw this really cool red cell phone and I wanted it for my birthday.  I told my parents about it and I even showed them a picture of it.  They told me they would keep it in mind.  I felt like I should do more about the situation since Mom and Dad didn’t sound too convincing, so I prayed each night. My birthday was 2 months away so I knew God had plenty of time to answer my prayer.

 
   Well, my birthday was last week. My mom made a big cake and fixed my favorite dinner. I was very happy and even happier when my dad handed me my present. I knew what it was. After all, I had prayed every night for it.  As I unwrapped my gift my heart was beating very fast because I was excited. When I opened the box I saw a shiny, silver colored, watch. I was very surprised and disappointed, but I didn’t want my parents to know. I said it was real nice and I thanked them. 

  I was very confused. I didn’t understand why God didn’t answer my prayer. I think I was even kind of angry with Him. But there was nothing I could do about it.  So I stopped praying to Him and I tried to forget about the cell phone. A couple of days went by and something happened.  I was watching my little brother while my mom was upstairs sewing some curtains. There was a box of chocolate cookies on the top of the refrigerator in the kitchen and my little brother wanted them, but he wasn’t tall enough to reach them.  Mom had told me not to give him any snacks because that would spoil his appetite for dinner.

  My brother asked for the cookies and I said, no. But, that didn’t stop him. He kept coming back to me every 10 minutes asking for the cookies and I kept saying no. He was very angry with me. I didn’t tell him that it was Mom who said he couldn’t have any snacks. I just let him blame me.  When Mom came down to the kitchen she noticed the box of cookies on the top of the refrigerator.  She said, “Oh. No! I forgot to take those cookies back to the store where I bought them. They’re no good. I’m glad nobody ate them they are filled with little bugs.” My brother wasn’t angry with me after he heard that. He was very glad that he didn’t get the cookies. 

    That night when my parents thought I was asleep I overheard them talking.  Dad said, “I really wanted Michelle to have that phone for her birthday but we just couldn’t afford it last week. Mom said, “Even though she tried to hide it, I know she was disappointed. Did you see the look on her face?”   Then Dad said well she’ll have a different look on her face on Christmas day.  We’ll be able to afford that cell phone, then.  I was so happy.

   As I lay on my bed, I began to think about my brother and the cookies. He had kept on asking for the cookies. But he didn’t get them and he got angry. Now he’s glad he didn’t get the cookies.  Then I thought about me, every night I had prayed to God and asked him for the cell phone.  I didn’t get it and I got angry.  Now, I know why I didn’t get it. I also realized that God really does always answer prayers. Sometimes He says, Yes (and it happens right away). Sometimes He says, NO (and it doesn’t happen at all). And, sometimes He says, Wait (and it happens later).

Story by
Shirley Francis-Salley

  A Children’s song to be sung to the tune of George M. Cohan’s song titled, Harrigan

 

S-A –L-V-A-T-I-O-N

Salvation is a great word, say it again.

It’s a word that we should all be knowing

Salvation is the way we should be going

So I’ll say it again, say it again

S-A –L-V-A-T-I-O-N

Jesus gave it to me ‘cause He loves me

Thank you Lord for have made me free

 

By

Shirley Francis-Salley

God made the world and everything in it,

We call it the universe,

Nothing was made before there was God

He was, and is always, the first

  We’ve always been taught

Everything has a start

And also has an end

A day has its start it begins with the sun,

When the moon comes out that day is done.

  The alphabet starts with the letter A

And ends with the letter Z

  But God has no start

And God has no end He is and always will be

  That’s what makes Him God

Our Creator, He’s so great

We accept these things about our God,

Believing them by faith.



  By S. Francis-Salley

  Hebrews 11:3