Living Waters Ministries Monthly Quote
"God sent his son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal, and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my savior lives!"
Bill and Gloria Gaither, "Because He Lives"
Inspiration
Second Quarter Momentum: How Are You Doing?
By: Jennifer L Smalls
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, it is he that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."—John 15:5
We have already completed the first quarter of 2023 and entered the second quarter. How are you doing?
Winter has come and gone, spring is here, and the time and the season have changed. We've entered into the light from darkness, the temperature has adjusted from coldness to warmth. We are in a season of change/transition. How are you doing?
In the business world, the first quarter sets the tone for the working rhythm of the organization for the year; goals are developed, expectations are set, and alliances are formed. The first quarter is intentionally and consciously designed to move the organization forward in a positive direction.
In our personal lives during this quarter, particularly the first month of the year we set goals, and make plans, via New Year's resolutions, vision boards, and or one word, these are designed to help guide us and move us forward in the year in a positive direction. How are you doing?
However, the second quarter is important, while the goals and expectations are set in quarter one, it is your performance in quarter two that will give you an indication of how well you will do by the end of the year. The second-quarter performance can give you momentum to win the game or you can lose momentum and be under extreme pressure to catch up by the fourth quarter. How are you doing?
I pray that your first quarter has positioned you so that your second quarter will give you the momentum to propel forward to win this year. I pray that you do not let fear, your past, or a little hiccup cause you to be at a standstill but that you push forward and press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Our momentum is found in "The Vine"; in the vine is our hope, our salvation, and our momentum.
How are you doing?
News from Living Waters Ministries
Happenings Around St. Augustine
Black History Month
Spring Festival, April 1, 11 a.m - 1 p.m. Free event, free food, free games. Event sponsored by Victorious Covenant. Webster Elementary School, 420 N. Orange Street
Blessing of the Fleet, April 2, 12 p.m. St Augustine Municipal Marina, 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL
Solomon Calhoun Center 15th Anniversary Celebration, Wednesday, April 5th, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Solomon Calhoun Center 1500 Duval Street
First Friday Art Walk, April 7th, downtown St. Augustine 5-9 p.m. First Friday Art Walk takes place on the first Friday of every month, exhibiting creative artworks throughout St. Augustine's fine art galleries.
First Friday Art Walk Concert Series, April 7th. First Friday of each month, 6-8 p.m. This organ recital at the Cathedral Basilica in downtown St. Augustine is free and open to the public on the first Friday of every month.
Betty Griffith Center Run for Peace, April 8, 8 a.m - 12 p.m. St. Johns County Ocean & Fishing Pier, 350 A1A Beach Blvd, St. Augustine, FL https://www.visitstaugustine.com/event/betty-griffin-center-run-peace
St. Augustine Easter Parade, April 8th, 9 - 10:30 a.m. Downtown St. Augustine, Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront, 32 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL
Saddle Up For West Augustine Senior Day, April 8th, 11 a.m.. - 3 p.m. Western theme attire at Collier Blocker Puryear Park, 10 Holmes Blvd. RSVP by April 1 with Ashley Brown at (904) 309-0379
Jazz in the Garden, April 13. 6 - 8 p.m. Lightner Museum75 King St, St. Augustine, FL
News For Us By Us
Justice Katanji Brown Jackson was recently honored in Miami with a street named for her. Justice Brown has always been true to her Miami roots. "I really do believe that there is an important connection between my experience growing up in this area and my current position," said Justice Jackson.
"the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners unanimously greenlighted Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins’ proposed legislation to rename an arterial thoroughfare after Jackson." (NBC Miami)
Katanji Jackson Brown, the first Black woman in history appointed to sit on the country’s highest court was born in Washington DC and raised in Miami, Florida.
"Justice Jackson says she hopes the street will serve as a source of inspiration for those from the local community. “I hope that this street naming will also serve as a testament to what is possible in this great country,” she shared during the ceremony. “I hope that people who are driving by might have a moment of reflection about what it means that a person from this neighborhood and someone from my background could take what this place has to offer and be well-equipped enough to then go out into the world and do what it takes to not only become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States – but also the first former public defender – and the first associate justice who is from the great state of Florida.” Justice Brown is also releasing a memoir titled Lovely One.
Tyler Perry, famous for his Madea character and the creator of several blockbuster movies and several TV shows has donated $2.75 million to older homeowners in Atlanta to help ensure they can stay in their homes. These homeowners were at risk of losing their homes due to rising property taxes. Tyler Perry reached out to the Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens about providing assistance to these residents.
Perry will also pay the back property taxes for 300 low-income seniors. In addition, "Perry will also cover any increase in taxes over the next 20 years for 100 low-income older residents. He has already donated $750,000 for the first year to cover the back taxes and any increase in property taxes, and has pledged $500,000 each year over the next four years to ensure the residents don’t pay any more in such taxes." According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
A Case Western Reserve School of Medicine medical student made history in Women's History month becoming the first Black woman doctor to be offered a residency position in neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee.
Tamia Potter is a Florida native and a FAMU graduate. According to Vanderbilt, Potter is the first Black woman to be accepted as a neurosurgery resident in the school's 148-year history.
It is rather absurd that since our arrival in this country in the 1600's we're still making history in 2023 becoming the first, but yet here we are. Another interesting note: according to data provided by the American Society of Black Neurosurgeons there is only a total of 33 black women in the neurosurgical specialty.
Potter started working as a certified nursing assistant at the age of 17, straight out of high school to pay her way through college, she became fascinated with the brain and the many things that could go wrong with the nervous system and she wanted to learn how to resolve those issues. She is the first in her family to go to medical school.
Potter gives credit to those who mentored her and guided her along the way on this journey and she is committed to mentoring other young Black doctors to help them navigate through the complicated and unfamiliar system.
Wellness
5 WAYS TO DECLUTTER YOUR MIND
( SOURCE: BLKANDFIT.COM)
Spring is an ideal time to clean not only your space but also your mind. Stress, anxiety, and negativity can harm your brain over time. Discover these tips on how to clear your mind of stress and make room for a more positive you.
Keep a journal: It’s always helpful to write down your thoughts and feelings. Keeping a journal is a good tool to organize your ideas or work out and analyze your feelings.
Breathe. Practicing deep breathing is one of the best tools to calm the mind. When you feel anxious or overwhelmed, stop, close your eyes, and take 3 deep, cleansing breaths. After 3 breaths, take 3 more if needed, until you feel a sense of calm.
Spend time outdoors. Unplug from the world, get out in the sun, and get outside. Nature is nurturing to the mind and soul. Set aside some time each day, weather permitting.
Meditation: Stilling the mind is a great way to clear the mind of stress and worry. Read more about meditation here.
Invest in your mental health. Consider seeing a therapist to work out lifelong issues or to get your life on track.
Remembering The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
"And they said to one another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore and let us slay him..." Genesis 37:19-20
On April 4, 1968, Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in Memphis Tennessee. As I reflect on this day, (in which I was just shy of 2 months old), I ponder the question: Did the dream die with the dreamer? I've heard people say "they killed the dreamer but not the dream". What became of the dream?
While much has changed in America since that dreadful day on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis Tennessee, the dream is still a dream. Fifty-five years later, we can certainly attest that black folk has indeed made great strides in the entertainment industry, sports, education, politics, and many other areas. We have even rejoiced at having elected the first African American President. Martin would be proud of the accomplishments I'm sure but he would also be disappointed that America is still defaulting on its promissory note, it has not made good on that bad check written to the negro people. We're still waiting on equality, those unalienable rights of life, liberty, and happiness. The "White's Only" signs came down, but are welcome? Voting Rights are still hanging in the valance. Poverty is on the rise, and people are being priced out of their neighborhoods. It's not my character they see, but my color, my religion, my lifestyle and that's how I'm judged. Black men continue to be victims of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. The wealth gap continues to widen, Black folk is still fighting for their rightful place in that American dream, still looking to be created equal.
What became of the dream? Did it die with the Dreamer? The intent of many is for the dream to die, turning back laws that impact women's rights, banning books, legislating hate via "woke' laws, and making it illegal to teach or discuss diversity in the workplace and educational institutions. And we continue to push through, continue fighting to make the dream a reality, with every setback, we overcome just a little.
Fifty- Five years after the death of the dreamer and fifty-nine years after the dream, we're still waiting on that one day when "every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." We're still hoping "we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood." Clinging to the faith "we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day." We're not free until we all are free, we are forever intertwined in this house we inherited, when one suffers, we all suffer.
What became of the dream? Reflections
Living Waters Ministries didn't miss a beat as stepped out of February into March, we went from celebrating Black History Month to celebrating Women's History Month. While celebrating we hit some milestones; we had our first Women's History Month Brunch, "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories" with guest speaker City Commissioner Cynthia Garris, our sister, Brenda Simmons was ordained into the ministry, we purchased our church van, and we unified with some others to beautify our community with "Pride in the Westside". We had a GREAT first quarter, booked and busy!
Women's History Month Brunch
Ordination of Minister Brenda Simmons
Scenes From Pride in the Westside
A Glance at Our First Quarter of 2023
APRIL BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUTS
Living Water Ministries Upcoming Events
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