I Am Determined: Spiritual Guidance to Being Victorious Through and Beyond the Challenges of 2020

By William E. Thrasher Jr.

As we face this season of challenge in 2020, we must embrace Paul’s I Am Determined attitude and just like the blade of grass that pushed through the concrete we must be determined to push through this pandemic. Just like the tree that grows up through the giant rock, we too must go through the giant rocks of racial and social injustice. Like the cactus that stands tall in the dry dessert, we must be determined to stand tall as we go through the dry desserts of trial and sacrifice. When we are troubled on every side, just say I Am Determined and you won’t be distress, perplexed, declare I Am Determined and you won’t be in despair, persecuted, shout it out I Am Determined! And you won’t be forsaken, Cast down, reach for the prize, let the world know that I Am Determined has kicked in and you cannot be destroyed! Tell 2020 I got this, cause I Am Determined!

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jan 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664213975

William E. Thrasher Jr.

William E. Thrasher, Jr. was born in Little Rock, AR. He is the second of seven children born to the late William E. Thrasher, Sr. and the late Willie Mae Thrasher Hearon. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas At Little Rock, former Pastor of First Baptist Church, 901 Calhoun St in Little Rock, and currently resides in San Antonio, Texas, where he oversees an online ministry, Christian Community Fellowship. He is the author of To Make the Moment Last: The Story of The Incredible Jades, Good Citizenship for Today: A Mind Set on Civil Virtue, Seven Pillars for Successful Service and now I am Determined: Spiritual Guidance to Being Victorious Through and Beyond the Challenges of 2020.

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Copyright © 2021 William E. Thrasher, Jr.

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Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1396-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1398-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-1397-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020923432

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/8/2021

Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Contents

Dedication

Foreword

From the Author

I Am Determined

The Power of Humility

The Question & The Answer

Peace

We Ask for Bread

For Such a Time as This

America’s Goodness

The More Things Chang: Comfort in the Midst of Chaos

Overcoming Evil: The Force of Goodness

How Bad Do You Want It?

Sometimes You Just Have to Wait

A Season for Sifting

The Whole Duty of Man

Victory In Jesus

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the loving memory of my late mother, Willie Mae Thrasher, the inspiration for this work and my greatest cheerleader.

Foreword

I was honored and completely caught off guard when my brother by blood and brother in Christ, William E. Thrasher Jr., asked me if I would write the Foreword for his latest book, I Am Determined. When asked, I said to myself, Me? Then I said, What am I going to say? Well after reading I Am Determined, it was obvious what I was going to say. This book has been on the drawing board for quite some time, as our mother Mae gave the title to him many years ago. I’m not sure if I was supposed to tell you all this or not, but this book’s time has come, and only God knows why it was just gifted to us. We came from a background of strong grandparents and parents who were all determined in their chosen field of work. Our grandfather was a Scout Master/Deacon, DETERMINED to help his community; our grandmother was the owner of a daycare center, DETERMINED to help parents who didn’t have a place to leave their children. She was determined to help them. Our father, the local Boys Club Director, DETERMINED to foster a place where kids in our community would have a place go after school and develop skills for everyday life. He was DETERMINED, and our mother who was an educator/schoolteacher, making sure that children were taught to read and write, was DETERMINED to educate. So, as you see, I Am Determined got its roots from a long line of determined ancestors. As we come to a close of one of the most tumultuous times in the history of mankind, because of events such as the corona virus, political unrest countrywide, and race relations deteriorating, God said William Jr, as we called him when we were growing up, "it’s time for I Am Determined. Our country needs to know we cannot lose hope, and we must press on and be determined so that history does not repeat itself and we do not take our eyes off the prize. We all must say, as the human race, I am determined to conquer any obstacle that is put before us.

Read and enjoy the latest book from William E. Thrasher, Jr.—I Am Determined—and be Blessed.

Eric Thrasher Sr.

From the Author

On my 32nd birthday, my mother, Willie Mae Thrasher, presented me with a hard-bound book entitled I’m Determined. I was startled to see that my name was inscribed as the author of the book. On the inside cover, she wrote: Jr. you’ve been a salesperson, a man dealing with Affirmative Action procedures, now a minister and Personnel Director. I’ve another chore for you. You must write your first book. (Smile)

We all Love you. Daddy William loved you too. I’m sure he’s all smiles over the accomplishments you’ve made. As you set out on your new Goal, say to yourself as Abraham Lincoln said: I will study and get ready, and perhaps my chance will come. As Theodore Roosevelt said: It is only through labor and prayerful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage that we move onto better things."

-Read-

When in sorrow – John