A Pledge to Rescue Our Youth

by

Maya Angelou

© 2006

Young women, young men of color, we add our voices to the voices of your ancestors who speak to you over ancient seas and across impossible mountain tops.

Come up from the gloom of national neglect, you have already been paid for.

Come out of the shadow of irrational prejudice, you owe

no racial debt to history.

The blood of our bodies and the prayers of our souls have bought you a future free from shame and bright beyond the telling of it.

We pledge ourselves and our resources to seek for you clean and well-furnished schools, safe and non-threatening streets, employment which makes use of your talents, but does not degrade your dignity.

You are the best we have.

You are all we have.

You are what we have become.

We pledge you our whole hearts from this day forward.

Maintaining a spiritual focus has allowed my strength to endure and overcome trails and tribulations. I invite you to meditate on the thought of the month provided by:

Rev. Wayne and Andrea Purcell
The Word Made Truth Ministry
76 Livingston Street
Asheville, North Carolina 28801

(828) 279-8562

Rev. Wayne and Andrea Purcell also have a prison ministry. Please feel free to ask questions pertaining to the thought of the month.

What’s on your mind?

Proverbs 24:9 (KJV):
The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

Proverbs 24:9 (AMP):
The plans of the foolish and the thought of foolishness are sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men.

Thought of the Month

This verse comes from Proverbs and tells us that even our thoughts can be sinful and one who is a scoffer is an abomination to men. God knows every man's thoughts and we are told in this verse that foolish plans are sinful. The word foolishness in this verse has the meaning of trusting in one's own heart and mind. When we plan our own way and leave God out of those plans, it is very foolish indeed. The Bible tells us to trust in the Lord and not to rely on our own understanding. Because God is "all knowing" and "all wise," He will lead us in the right path.

Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

These words from Isaiah remind us that God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Our prayer should always be that we might have thoughts like our father. Eternal, peaceful, loving, kind and generous thoughts. Thoughts that build up rather than tear down. Then our thoughts will be holy and righteous and pleasing to Almighty God so that we might be blessed and not curse.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for your word that rebukes and reproves us in word, deed and thoughts so that we will be fit for eternal life with you. Forgive us for thoughts that have not been worthy of your children. Help us to mediate on your word day and night so that we may be blessed and be a blessing!
Amen