Karen J Anderson

Book of the Month

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How To Raise God Wise Kids In A Satan Rich World

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.

Available on Amazon or Books2Read.com

Sample Chapter

Pick Your Village

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.

It Is A Family Affair

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The Sistas invite Joshua, a smart 11 years old, to chat about tv shows that give us a glimpse into the African American family and how it has been portrayed in television and films. They discuss the impact of shows like Good Times, the Cosby Show and Black-ish.

Listen It is all in the BLACK Family

Art of the Month

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In 1786 the Governor of the French Colonies in North America signed a law that created a slave class of people. It determined how they could dress and wear their hair. They always had to dress in lower class, less beautiful clothes.

In the British Colonies there were slave codes that required slaves clothing be made from a cheap rough cloth.  This cloth was usually blue which made it more of a slave uniform.

Slaves were forbidden from wearing hand me downs from their masters. If local law enforcement caught them in hand me downs, they could take the clothes for themselves.

The irony is that many of the slaves made their masters clothes which they could not wear.

Zelda Wynn Valdes, born in 1905, decided to be a fashion designer but discovered she could work in some great fashion houses, but they only allowed her to be a seamstress.   They would steal her designs and put their names on the label.

Valdes opened her own fashion house on Broadway in New York City. She created designs for Dorothy Dandridge, Josephine Baker and Mae West. She designed for many people.

As a child I often wondered why my people made such a show out of their Sunday best.  Because when it comes to clothes there is no wrong color or cut. As I have learned, deciding how you cloth yourself is a big deal.

They worked very hard in those old boots just so they could purchase that big hat for Sunday service.

Yet whether they were in the boots or the hat, they came to a point where they could decide how they were clothed.

Even Though He Wouldn’t Shut Up

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The music was amazing and it took me back. How about y’all?

Remember the time when all of the food had been cooked, everyone was getting ready to play cards, and they put the records on the player. Everyone in the room knew all the worlds to all the songs.

This past weekend, which was also Easter weekend, the guys at Versuz served up some music and memories. More important they taught us some history we need to hear right from the horses mouth.

On Instagram it was supposed to be an epic battle between two historic R&B bands: Earth Wind & Fire v The Isley Brothers. The way it works is they have the bands side by side and they play hits from each other to see which is the greatest.

Not how it went off.

We danced and sang for almost four hours Sunday evening. Everyone sang with every song. Those old dudes got stamina, cause I was ready for bed by 10, but Ron Isley was still standing and singing with his cane in hand.

Philip Bailey, of Earth Wind & Fire was still throwing that falsetto at us.

Earth Wind and Fire was a band founded in 1969 by Maurice White. It has won Grammys, American Music Awards but more important to me, has created music that shaped my life.

The Isley Brothers started in the 1950s with brothers, O’Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald. Their first big hit was Shout! in 1959. This is a song that had shape many a party.

Epic doesn’t even describe this versuz battle. I loved the music. I loved the live social media chats. I too wanted Steve Harvey to shut up, cause I was tired of our drunk uncle.

The best part was the storytelling from the bands. It was good to hear that they were all friends, but you could see that as they sang each other songs. It was good to hear how a song was made or why. It just added another level of love for the music.

It is always good to hear our history from our people.

Affirmation

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This month’s affirmation is faith. It is the complete trust or confidence in someone or something. We all have faith in something.

My faith is in Jesus as the Son of God. Every day it looks different.

I admit in the beginning it was small and could barely be seen. It blended in with the backdrop. It wasn’t trying to stand out or stand up. It just was.

What does your faith look like?

Book of the Month

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

How To Raise God Wise Kids In A Satan Rich World

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.

Available on Amazon or Books2Read.com