An African American woman moved home to take care of her dying mother giving up the opportunity to experience a world beyond segregation. Zoraida Hughes Williams finds that some things have changed about her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas while some have stayed the same, like Hell’s Half Acre, an area where saloons, prostitution and gambling runs wild. Like most of the residents, she wants to keep her head down and stay away from trouble, but it comes in the unlikely form of an Anglo Baptist preacher. He messes up everything and almost gets them killed.
He is a Wonderful Counselor. I mean think about it. He knows everything about you because He created you. Isaiah 9:6 tells us He is a wonderful counselor.
Christians are preparing to celebrate God coming to earth during the month of December. This month we will focus on His attributes. Isaiah 9:6 tells us He is a mighty God. He is a powerful God, someone with strength. Remember that this week as you encounter problems. God is mighty.
The Bible teaches us that from our hearts everything about our life flows from it. What we love and believe in our hearts determines how we see the world around us.
We need to be careful about the things we allow to influence our hearts. We need to guard it.
In a world that can seem hopeless, kids need a reason to hope. In addition to teaching our children how to get into college, play sports and chase the American Dream, there is something greater to be learned. He created the universe with stars and planets, yet the desire of His heart was to reconcile with people whom He loved. In this devotional, the author shares ideas of how to help your children have a personal relationship with God. Through scripture, art and stories, she shared the opportunities she had to teach her own child to get to know God.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Society brags about self-made men who climb to the top. It leads you to believe that they did it by themselves. It reinforces the desire to be independent and not ask for help. People who need help are often thought of as weak.
As a single parent this was one of the easiest lessons. I knew I couldn’t raise a child on my own. I knew I was going to need help. God brought people into my life who would shape my daughter’s life. He does this for everyone because He believes in community. He understands the importance of this.
I can’t remember all of the names or all of the deeds, but I remember a kindergarten teacher who took my daughter home after school because I couldn’t get off work in time. I remember a group of friends who fixed up the house when we had no other means.
There have literally been hundreds people in our lives over the years. The beautiful thing was watching which people stick. Watching my daughter grow into a beautiful young woman with pieces of each person who poured into her life like a mosaic.
Not every person has been a good influence. However, I used those as teaching moments to say that not every person who comes into your life is there for your good. God will use it for good, but those people won’t.
Parents allow the person or persons God appoints to step in when you are just too tired. He knows we need an extra hand. He will send heroes to help guide their hearts because He has an interest in how the children turn out.
You will pick some, God will pick some. Don’t sweat it, just pray.
Pray that the Lord will give you people who will pray over your child, and always direct them towards God. He is a friend.
The people who surround your life will determine what type of life you have. They will decide if your life is full of joy or focused on what you don’t have. So pick your village carefully.
When I say village I mean your friends, family members you hang with, where you work and what you do. All of this determines your quality of life.
I have great family and friends because of how we chose to have a relationship. We set healthy boundaries. This doesn’t mean our lives are perfect. It just means we have our own definition of good.
In a world that can seem hopeless, kids need a reason to hope. In addition to teaching our children how to get into college, play sports and chase the American Dream, there is something greater to be learned. He created the universe with stars and planets, yet the desire of His heart was to reconcile with people whom He loved. In this devotional, the author shares ideas of how to help your children have a personal relationship with God. Through scripture, art and stories, she shared the opportunities she had to teach her own child to get to know God.
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