Second Sunday

By Jo Ann Petty

Dear readers, There's no better time than today to experience the mighty move of God in your life and situations. All prayers are yes in Jesus's name and God's eyes. You might have to wait a while to see the move of God, but it will work together for your good, and in the end, you win. Second Sunday was written while I was walking through my test. It gives details of my beginning and end. Each test will be different, but the outcome will be the same with God""you win. How do you handle tough situations in your life? After reading my book, it will challenge you to try God, trust, pray, fast, and most of all, believe he's coming. No trials, no testimonies. Amen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098025755

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Second Sunday

Jo Ann Petty

Copyright © 2020 by Jo Ann Petty

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Life of Jo Ann Petty

A Letter from a Friend

My Pharaoh I

My Pharaoh II

Never Give Up on God

Somebody Prayed for Me

Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

I Will Not Bow

God of a Second Chance

When asked what was the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37), Jesus responded that we should, love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind. This book chronicles the journey of Sis. JoAnn Petty to fulfill that commandment. As her love for and desire to serve God increased, Jo Ann came to the prayerful decision to not work on Sundays so she could be available to fully worship and serve the Lord. Joining her in prayer and warfare were her sisters in the St. Stephens AME Church prayer ministry who took God at His word as recorded in Matthew 18:19, If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. (NLT). The desire of her heart which was aligned with the purpose of God was answered!

To those who are being hindered in their desire to fulfill Matthew 22:37, this book will be an encouragement and provide a road map to full service. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. (Romans 8:37) Congratulations to Sis. Jo Ann for her victory and for recording it so that others will be encouraged to walk in their victory.

Reverend Alicia D. Byrd, Ph.D., Former Pastor

St. Stephens AME Church in Elkridge, MD

Illustration courtesy of Ebony Garner

The Life of Jo Ann Petty

What is this word? It’s 6:00 a.m. I’m lying in bed, reminiscing on life. What is life, I ask myself. It always seems to be a mystery to me, so many ups and downs, in and outs, thinking and working at one thing or another. I’ve found life to be uncertain. Anyone can hope or want the best for themselves and others in many area of their lives, but how to achieve and hold on to it or make it happen is a mystery. Life can thrive for many years, not sure how long it will last, like a marriage, a few challenges here and there, but it’s still uncertain if it will last. You can continue together putting forth good effort but get off track by giving into things you normally would reject just to keep the peace. People are different. Their background and values are different. Take how your parents raised you in a home, how you value love, how you treat people, even strangers, and how you respect the elderly and people as a whole, just plain old manners.

The age-old golden rule, Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets (Matt. 7:12, NLT)—that’s what my mother, Dora Lee Petty, the matriarch of sixteen single births, taught us. There were nine girls and five boys that lived, and to this day, there are eleven living eight girls and three boys. We had a one-hand rule: talking back, eye rolling, neck jerking, body motion, lip smacking, teeth sucking, throat clearing, or eye contact was not allowed in my house, not for one second. With many to raise, Mom had to have tough rules. We learned to value these rules to better ourselves and teach our kids the same and, in essence, see the beauty it would bring. These rules took us very far in life. We grew to love ourselves, took pride in the way we did things, say things, and act. To respect and receive these rules, the one who taught them had to have received them; one can only teach what they are taught. One thing’s for sure, you have to have a balance in these rules. They can either hurt you or better you.

What do I mean about that? In life, you launch out into the world with a suitcase of golden rules thinking every suitcase you see has those same golden rules in it, meaning you are equally yoked, and you can compare, relate, share, get together, and have a balance. Being gullible, with only golden rules in a suitcase, can be harmful. There are no warning signs. It’s all open field to get hurt, used, and abused. One can be taken for granted, considered as being slow or green, as they would call it. Not everyone with a suitcase has the same golden rules in it. There are counterfeit suitcases; they look good, right size and firm, as if the golden rules were taught and received in their homes. Seeing is not believing; knowing is believing. You don’t ask questions because the suitcase looks genuine. Looks are deceiving. Don’t put all the eggs in one basket. What do all these mean? Never overlook the suitcase.

Put your trust in God, who created this universe. He will teach you all things and add wisdom to your life. Being taught by one parent and the only one working, Mom went without to make sure we had a new outfit while she bought needle and thread to sew hers up. We ate first, she ate last. We had new shoes, she put Vaseline on hers and shined them up and put paper in the bottom to cushion them.

What is this golden rule? Does it only go one way? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do you