God speaks to the hearts of mankind about wisdom that is gained through his generosity and his will.

“Increased wisdom comes when we examine the experiences God gives us and discern what we have (or should have) learned from them. Nothing that has happened to us should be wasted,”  Romans 8:20.

“Because it is sometimes painful, often we do not take the time or effort to discover the reason for the ‘gift’ of our personal experiences. When we do not learn as we should, we stop growing until we learn those same lessons through another experience that is tailor made by God to make us mature.” (James 1: 2-4).

Most often we gain personal insight into our experiences only after earnest, persistent prayers. Psalm 43 is a wonderful example of a persistent prayer. It opens up to us an example of a person searching to know what God wants to reveal about a specific experience. Sometimes it is good to write out what we have learned about God, about ourselves and about life during and then after a special experience or encounter. As we learn these lessons, we may find that we will not need to learn them again in exactly the same way. This will increase our individual capacity to learn greater lessons and gain deeper wisdom through God (Matthew 13:12).

Brookhaven Colored School and Alexander High School Homecoming Reunion that was held July 22 through 24 had its bi-annual worship service on Sunday morning July 24 at 9 a.m. at Alexander Junior High School auditorium. A program was presented that included a memorial presentation for all deceased members of this school.

The guest speaker for the worship service was Vora Price Howard, who was born in Mississippi to Rev. and Mrs. Price. She was a resident of Brookhaven throughout her elementary school days and through most of her high school days attended Fannie L. Mullins and Alexander high schools. When Vora became a senior at Alexander, she moved to Gary, Indiana, where she continued to pursue her educational goals and received her high school diploma. During her stay in Indiana, she married and became the proud mother of five children. Later, Vora moved to Lawrenceville, Georgia, where she has resided for the last 18 years. Vora was called into the ministry as an evangelist in 1982, and she is a minister of grace, and she ministers to God’s people through love.

Her topic for this service was “Merry Christmas” — taken from this year’s school reunion theme, “Christmas In July.” Vora spoke about the ultimate gift of Christmas past and present. The message was that we have looked under the Christmas tree every year for many different kinds of gifts that we expect to receive. Sometimes we have thought that we received the perfect gift, and it was just what we expected to receive. But in our subconscious minds it is still not what you really wanted to get. You did not know that the gift that you really were looking for was there all along from the beginning, but you had to open up your heart to receive it. This ultimate gift was God through his son, Christ Jesus. He is always there for you in any situation if you would acknowledge him as the ultimate gift. Vora concluded with a few lyrics from a Christmas song and from her topic, “Merry Christmas.”

Vora was a calm, soft spoken and a dynamite speaker who stayed to the point of her topic and explained it very well to the attentive audience. Special thanks to Vora for a well taught message and for her ministry as she continues to teach and to evangelize to people about God’s love from day to day.  May God continue to bless and keep you and your family.

Attention, to all youth throughout the various communities in all the different neighborhoods: you are cordially invited to attend this most worthy and informed event. The Heavenly Community Development & Empowerment Center INC. / Boys To Men Mississippi Virtuous Women: presents “This Means War” educational health fair and youth rally Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be public sessions on drug awareness, health and wellness awareness, authority engagement awareness plus more during this youth rally. The musical guests will be Ken Barnes and Chris G.  So, come on over and bring your youth and other youth to Rhema Word Worship Church located at 1034 South First St. to be more informed and to enjoy yourselves. Lunch will be provided during this educational health fair and youth rally. There will be no charge for this event nor for the meal. For more information or for questions, call 601-810-8285 or 773-416-0317.

Eva Harris Alumni will have a fish fry in October to jumpstart the fund raisers for their upcoming school reunion in 2017. There will be more information about this event at a later date, and the tickets will be circulating throughout the communities by alumni members by the last of August. The next alumni meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 8 at the public library. All alumni and teachers are asked to be present.

If you have any Loyd Star Area News to Report, please call Carolyn E. Beard Humphries at 601-833-5753.