"Let Us Not Forget"

This letter demonstrates that fear, envy, and distrust were powerful strategic weapons slave owners used to keep slaves mentally and physically in bondage forever. Conditioning slaves to distrust those with black skin who look like them, and to trust only the white slave owner who doesn't. Pitting the old black male against young black male, black male against black female, light skin against dark skin. Ever wonder where that comes from? Does the Willie Lynch Letter involving the making of a slave have relevance to our struggles as African-Americans today? Listen to the letter and decide for yourself.

Initially I couldn't decide whether to title this message "Following God's Calling" or "Answering God's Calling." Then I decided that they go together. First of all, when God calls us we need answer the call, second, we need to follow what God is calling us to do. I believe the Book of Nehemiah is a masterpiece for learning how to answer and follow God's. I have listed eleven lessons that I have learned from this Book. Now following them is of course the challenge.

If this message about distractions applies to you too, please learn from my mistakes.

Jesus commanded Christians in Matthew 28: 19, to "Go" and make disciples of all nations." But did we go? And if so, where did we go? Of all my podcast, I believe this is the most valuable and important. So, please listen and share with others. Make it truly a Happy New Year. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

In the Book of Joshua, Chapter 1, God tells Joshua, "Get Ready." Then further down in Chapter 1, Joshua tells God's people to, "Get ready." Well, the same God that inspired his children back then, is the same that inspires us today. Now is the time for us to move forward. So, Get Ready!

Let's talk teacher to parent. This experienced classroom teacher shares her knowledge and information to help parents help their children succeed in school. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Don't get a job, get a business; and Mind Your Own Business! That means starting with a Vision, a Mission, a Prayer, and a Plan to Move Forward. Stop depending on others for your livelihood and success in life. Use what God has placed in your hands, and Keep Moving Forward. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

How to share the Christmas Story about the birth of Jesus with little ones; as a reading from, "The Jesus Storybook Bible," by Sally LLoyd-Jones. Teach little ones early about why we celebrate Christmas, who Christ is, and why Christ came. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Whatever happened to Merry Christmas, singing Christmas carols, watching the Christmas Story, and seeing the beautiful manger scenes of Christ birth? Now we see front lawns littered with Santa Claus, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and even the Grinch who stole Christmas. They've "X"d Christ out, or they've tried to. But Christ isn't going anywhere. He's here to stay. So, Let's put Christ back in Christmas and celebrate what Christmas is really all about. It's about the greatest gift ever given and the biggest birthday party in the world. There's no "X" in Christmas, only Christ!!!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Do you know what the world would be like without Black people? Well, follow along with this episode to find out. What you learn might shock you, and help you to see us, as a people, in a whole new light. And this is just the beginning of our story. "Let Us Not Forget," that Black History is World History. Say it loud, "Be Black and Proud." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Have you noticed how Black people excel at whatever we set our minds to? And we seem to do our best work when the odds are against us. We are the ultimate overcomers. We have done it in sports, music, the arts, sciences, and so much more. However, for far too long we have allowed ourselves to be under-educated, under-employed, under-paid, under-served, under-represented, and under-protected. All to hold us back. But we have also been under-estimated; and now is the time for us to move forward. Let Us Not Forget that we never quit. Let's go! Thank you for listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Who do our elected officials work for? And do they work for us, or against us? These are questions we must start to ask, and then get answers!  #Stop The Silence (theirs and ours). Our VOTE is Our Voice, and Our Voice is Our VOTE.  Let's make the word VOTE an acronym that stands for, "Voice Of The Empowered. Then, #Stop The Silence, and VOTE Smart. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

If Black Lives Matter, Prove it! Because those taking Black lives obviously disagree. And if we do nothing, so do we. Show we care about Black Lives. Stand up, Step up, and Get Involved. Otherwise, do Black Lives Matter to Black People???? --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

"Slavery is not abolished until the Black man has the ballot." Those were the words of Frederick Douglass in 1865. But now that we have the ballot, what do we do with it? Our Vote is Our Voice, so we must Start to Vote Smart. No Vote = No Voice. Frederick Douglass knew the power of the vote for ending slavery, and for not returning to it. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Mrs. Quinetta Peterson is the owner and operator of an impressive childcare center called, Quality & Kreative Kids Childcare. She has been in the business for more than 25 years, and is sharing three important things parents need to know and do to get their preschooler ready for kindergarten. Please listen in. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Investing in our children is one of the best investments we can make in our future. And “Let Us Not Forget,” the importance of investing in a good education that begins at home and continues at school. The “Let Us Not Forget Podcast,” is starting off the 2023 Season with a big focus on education, but this time around we're asking teachers to share three important things parents need to know and do, to help their child be more successful in school. I know that's a mouthful, but we don't know what we don't know, but when we do know, we can “choose” to do better. Our children desperately need our help, but so do the parents and teachers. “Let Us Not Forget” to help each other. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/brenda-simons/message

Do you know that black babies die at more than twice the rate of white babies within their first year of life? Did you know that black mothers also die at a much higher rate than white mothers? And yet, so much of this is preventable. Gilda Johnson, a pediatric nurse practitioner with 34 years of experience will share some important things Black parents need to know and do for healthier babies. "Let Us Not Forget," that when we know better we can do better, with healthier babies from the womb to the world. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

With all that is happening in America, and particularly in our Black Communities, we need a message of hope, inspiration, and encouragement. Let Us Not Forget that God is always working. He is still in control. And there is always hope for a better tomorrow. I believe that hope lies in our children and their future. We are about to see the dawning of a new generation. A new seed that has been planted in the ground, and it is up to us to water and nurture it. I once heard a sermon that talked about one of many important lessons to be learned from the Bible, about the life of Joseph. The minister said that from Joseph's life we can learn, that "no one can keep you in a prison if God has destined you for a palace." Well the same can be said for us, as a people of faith in God, through Jesus Christ. No one can keep us from what God has already planned and ordained for us. We have been where we are for a long time. "Let Us Not Forget, To Keep Moving Forward." Let's Groom Ourselves for Greatness! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

Teresa Pearsall Young is the creative author of Seeds, Trees, Branches and Leaves. In her book she shares her true- to- life stories in poetry form, and takes us on a journey with her, and a special man, who rescued her from destructive behaviors that were destroying her life. Instead she has risen above it all and now is the author of this book and another in the works. Teresa's book gives hope and help to anyone who needs some inspiration and encouragement to know the can rise above whatever they are going through. Teresa's message says never give up, instead reach up and grab hold of this special man's hand. Teresa did, and now she wants to tell you about that man, because what he did for her, he can do for you too. Teresa's book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobel, and many other sites. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

Ever wonder where the word lynching came from? It's said to be named after Willie Lynch, a slave owner in the West Indies who taught slave owners in America how to make and break a slave. Listen to the reading of this letter for yourself, and see what similarities you can draw from the mental, physical, emotional, and economic state of Blacks in America today. Is it a coincidence? You decide for yourself. It's a rather long recording, so I encourage you to grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, relax, listen, and learn what you can. Sometimes, it's what we don't know that can truly hurt us. Thank you for listening. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

Can you imagine playing a game of darts, but being blind-folded, spun around, and then told to hit the target? How likely are you to hit a target that you can't even see? Yet that is how too many people wander through life; not seeing where they are going, and no real life targets. Is that you? Answer the questions in this podcast, and find out. Let Us Not Forget the importance of having targets in life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

By faith, I believe in the "Power of Parents," to to turn things around in our communities, our country, and even in the world. Join me for this podcast and learn why I believe parents have the power to truly make a difference, and how we can do it. Power to the Parents! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

What are the things you wish that you had learned in school, but it wasn't taught? Would it be about borrowing, budgeting, banking, investing, and maintaining good credit? These things fall under the title of financial literacy. What if I were to tell you that there is a credit union that teaches these important life skills to high school students, and that it is readily available to high schools? Wouldn't you want your teenager to receive these lessons, and hopefully avoid some of the costly financial mistakes many adults have made ? Can you imagine the difference this could have made in your life? Well, grab your high schooler and listen and learn about how and why math skills really do matter. And tell them that life is getting ready to get real. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

Life is a journey. If it isn't one thing, it another. Join me as I share a part of one of my journeys. It's personal and it's real. This episode says "Let Us Not Forget" to encourage, enlighten, and inspire one another through our own life lessons, because that's where our real power to become empowered will come from. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

If you have ever felt hopeless and powerless about government, then this podcast brings words of hope and puts power back in the hands of the people. That's why the next time you vote, please don't pull a lever, push a button, or check a box for a party or a person without knowing who you are voting for, and why you are voting for them, because Black America, we must learn to do more than just vote, we must learn to "Vote Smart." This podcast will share with you apps and websites that will put information at your fingertips, and provide you with the knowledge to help us hold our elected officials accountable, and put the power of government back into our hands. When we vote, let's vote for our future, and the future of a better, stronger, and safer America for all Black people. There are two parts to this podcast and you will need to listen to both of them as we learn to "Vote Smart" with winning in mind. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

Today I prayed and asked God "to give me the courage not to be a coward." Then I meditated on two of my favorite quotes, seasoned them with a little Deuteronomy 28, and the result is the title this message, The Courage Not To Be A Coward." I encourage you to take it standing up, and not sitting down, because that's what I had to do to record it. Please listen, and be encouraged, and enlightened, to be empowered. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

Are you waiting on God to answer a prayer or prayers that appear to have gone unanswered? However, sometimes it's so easy to say and to even think we are waiting on God to answer our prayers, whereas, we are actually waiting or relying on ourselves or someone else to the answer them. Who are you relying on to answer your prayers? Listen to the powerful testimony from someone who at a critical time in their life, experienced what God alone can and will do, if we believe, trust, wait, and rely on him, to answer our prayers. Then afterwards, listen to a devotional message taken from a publication called The Word For You Today, which is where the title to this episode originated. It references, 2 Corinthians 1:9, which says, "We stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

This message comes from an amazing devotional booklet titled The Word for You Today, Strength and Guidance for Daily Living." It will be in three parts. Please listen, enjoy each one, and be blessed. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

Welcome to another "Let Us Not Forget Podcast Experience." It is called an experience because every time we come together, I see it as a wonderful life changing opportunity to make a difference in someone's life, family, or community. Maybe today it is yours. The "Let Us Not Forget Podcast," brings encouraging and inspiring messages to Black America, to inspire, encourage, enlighten, and give us hope for our future. It's a message that says, "Let Us Not Forget," How Real Our God is, and that now is the time for us to get ready, so we will be ready, to move forward, together. Please enjoy this episode and two more future episodes giving powerful testimonies on overcoming obstacles. This one says, "What would you do if you had to overcome two traumatic brain injuries and a stroke only months apart?" Well, my guest had to do just that. Please listen and be encouraged by her story of faith and resilience, which later became her testimony. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

This episode is full of encouraging reminders of our power and our potential as a people. Our minds alone are a goldmine and the potential for a Black Wall Street exist in every one of our communities. It is also a reminder "Let Us Not Forget," that there is no American history without our own Black history, as you will discover in this episode. Black America, wake up, speak up, stand up, and be heard. We have been silenced and silent for far too long. Now is our time to make things happen and to get things done. Pass it on! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message

This Podcast calls for the awakening of a sleeping giant, "Black America." Enjoy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/brenda-simons/message