African Stylish Magazine

Issue 11 | September 2016

Grace and Beauty

Leadership Lessons from the Daughters of Zelophehad

Easy Natural Ways to Get Long, Young and Healthy Hair

Love, Courtship and Marriage

Much More than a Promise

DOZ THAT INSPIRE YOU Ms Clara, star actress in the Movie WAR ROOM, advises young Christian women in an exclusive chat with Eturuvie Erebor

Your Body is a Temple

Glorifying God in our Bodies

HOME SWEET HOME

+ more inside…

Does God Dwell in Your Home?

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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DOZ Publishing Guidelines DOZ Magazine is published by Eturuvie Erebor in London, England.

For more information, please contact: Eturuvie Erebor 1 Elmdene Court, 23 Elmdene Road, London, SE18 6TZ www.eturuvieerebor.com eturuvieerebor@yahoo.co.uk

No person, organization or party can copy or re-produce the content in this publication without a written consent from the publisher and the author of the content, as applicable. The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in articles in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher.

Ana serve only as a guide. In no way do they substitute medical and or professional advice.

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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Editor’s letter Dear Faithful Readers,

Eturuvie Erebor

I wish to use this medium to appreciate all our readers and the past Team DOZ for their loyalty and love which enabled DOZ Magazine succeed in the first instance and has led to its return seven years later.

Finally, the magazine you have consistently asked for over the past seven years is back. Yes, DOZ Magazine has been re-launched bigger and better to the glory of God. DOZ Magazine began operations in Benin City, Nigeria in 2009. It spread across a few cities in Nigeria and became quite popular amongst tens of thousands who waited anxiously for the release of the publication each month. Their disappointment was evident as DOZ Magazine suddenly ground to a halt in the same year. For the past seven years, a good number of people have approached me desiring to know when DOZ Magazine would return, but I refrained from proceeding with the project until God had spoken.

I wish to use this medium to appreciate all our readers and the past Team DOZ for their loyalty and love which enabled DOZ Magazine succeed in the first instance and has led to its return seven years later.

I would also like to bring to your attention certain changes in your magazine. DOZ Magazine initially began as one magazine and then evolved into two publications, namely DOZ Regular Magazine and DOZ True Story Magazine. This arrangement is now in the past. The DOZ True Story Magazine has now been replaced by a novel series known as DOZ Chronicles which currently has four titles selling on Amazon.

They are; DOZ Chronicles: Kemi, DOZ Chronicles: Nneka, DOZ Chronicles: Lara and DOZ Chronicles: Ruki.

DOZ Regular Magazine is now simply known as DOZ Magazine, and this is its 11th edition. However, some changes have been made to the columns within the magazine. A new column known as “DOZ that Inspire You” has been included.

This column features the cover story (this was something we never had in the old DOZ Magazine) and in this edition, we have a dynamic daughter of Zion, Karen Abercrombie, who starred as Ms. Clara in the Christian hit movie, WAR ROOM. It is amazing how God orchestrated my connection with Karen, and she has shared some amazing and exciting experiences in her career and walk with the Lord which I am certain will inspire you.

Two columns known as “Ladies Awaiting” and “Marriage and Family Life”

in the old DOZ Magazine have merged into one column named “Love, Courtship, and Marriage.” In this edition, Marilyn Smith shares with us her martial journey of more than four decades in an article captioned, “Much More than a Promise”.

The “Style and Beauty” column is now known as, “Grace and Beauty” and under this column, dear Jovana enlightens us on, “Easy, Natural Ways to Get Long, Young and Healthy Hair.” I am fascinated and can’t wait to try out the recipes and rinse my hair with Nettle tea (apparently it isn’t only for drinking. Hahaha).

The Health column has been renamed, “Your Body is a Temple”, and indeed it is. What’s more, it belongs to God and so Fran Sola Jacobs admonishes us to take good care of it.

The Home Sweet Home column hasn’t gone anywhere, and it hasn’t been renamed either, but it has taken a little twist in this edition as the Lord asked yours truly to write that column for the first time.

I am sorry to announce that the DOZMan column has been suspended until further notice. To all my brothers who were looking to pick up with DOZMan from where they left off, I sincerely apologize, and I will advise as soon as we are ready to commence with the column.

Two extras have been added to spice up this edition. There is a devotional / recipe (an unusual but brilliant combo if you ask me) from Karen White. I am confident that it will minister to you as much as it did to me. I enjoyed reading the devotional and now I am looking forward to trying out the recipe.

Hopefully, I will get it right first time.

And then, we see the five daughters of Zelophehad place a demand on Moses for their father’s inheritance, in the article titled, “Leadership Lessons from the Daughters of Zelophehad.” They are amazing, phenomenal women.

Well, that is DOZ Magazine, 11th edition in brief. It is packed full for your edification and it is my prayer that it blesses you. On behalf of Team DOZ, past and present, thank you for your standing by us the last seven years. Welcome to a brand new day.

Until I come your way next month, God bless you richly.

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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Team DOZ

Eturuvie Erebor AKA Gabriella Editor-in-Chief

Carol Douglas Lyles (HimPower Magazine)

Editor

Contributors

Angela Steele

Marilyn Smith

GiGi Mezzio

Fran Sola Jacobs

Karen White

Kim Donaby

Oge Adibe

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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Table of Contents 08

LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD

11

A TWIST IN THE BRANCH A DEVOTION AND RECIPE!

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LOVE, COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE

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DOZ THAT INSPIRE YOU

22

GRACE AND BEAUTY

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HOME SWEET HOME

Much More than a Promise

Ms Clara, star actress in the Movie WAR ROOM, advises young Christian women in an exclusive chat with Eturuvie Erebor

Easy Natural Ways to Get Long, Young and Healthy Hair

Does God Dwell in Your Home?

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YOUR BODY IS A TEMPLE Glorifying God in our Bodies

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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Are you a DOZ? If you would like to become a Daughter of Zion (DOZ) then say the prayer below from your heart.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me.

Thank you for sending Jesus to die for me.

Lord Jesus, I believe that you died for me on the cross.

And that you rose on the third day for my justification.

I repent of my sins, please forgive me.

I ask you to come into my heart and I confess that you are Lord.

Therefore, I am now a child of God I am now a Daughter of Zion.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM THE DAUGHTERS OF ZELOPHEHAD

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by Eturuvie Erebor

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elophehad was one of the many children of Israel rescued from Egyptian bondage. While the Bible does not say much about him, it does mention that he had no sons. Zelophehad had five daughters named, Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They were very unusual women. After the death of their father, all five of them stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the princes and indeed the entire congregation of Israel and said, “Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons. Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.” (Numbers 27:3-4) Their request was a bit foreign to Moses as it was the first time women would bring such an issue before him. He was obviously unsure how to handle it so he turned to the Lord for guidance and this is what God said. “The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren;

and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.” (Numbers 27:7-8) Not only did God instruct Moses to give all five women an inheritance among their father’s brothers, He also made a law that going forward, the inheritance of a man who had no son should be passed to his daughter. Thus, in confronting Moses on this issue, the five daughters of Zelophehad not only liberated themselves, they liberated all women who would ever find themselves in a similar situation. These women were empowered women, these women were leaders.

The leadership lessons that can be learned from the lives of these great women are as follows;

Great women are liberators; they do not sit around waiting for others to liberate them from the challenges life throws at them, rather, they confront the challenges that face them and liberate not only themselves but others with them.

Great women challenge the status quo, they never accept it. These five women

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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did not accept the status quo, that only a man could inherit his father’s possession, rather they challenged it. They said, “Our father had no sons and why should his name be erased from his family because of that?”

(Paraphrased)

man’s name die off because he had no sons.

Great women are not afraid to go where no has gone before.

Prior to this time, no woman had ever stood up to demand an inheritance amongst men but these women did not let that stop them. They had a vision and they pursued it regardless of whether anyone had done it before or not. Great women are pathfinders, trail blazers and pacesetters. They are leaders.

Great women fight for a cause bigger than them. For these women, it wasn’t about an inheritance, it was more than that. It was about ensuring that their father’s name did not die.

Their father was dead but they were determined that his name would not die. Interestingly, no one knew Zelophehad while he lived, but his five daughters caused his name not only to come before Moses and the entire congregation but as a result of their actions, his name

was written in the Bible where it would be read for generations to come. They spoke for their father when he was not there to speak for himself. When he could not fight for himself, they fought to ensure that he would have a light in his tribe and they achieved much more than that.

Great women are change agents. These women brought change not only for themselves but for women that would be born many generations later.

No more would a woman be unable to inherit her father’s possession. No more would a

THE WINNING MOTHERS

Great women are bold. These women were bold; they stood before Moses and the entire congregation and stated their case without fear and trembling.

“Our father is dead and he had no son.” They said, and went on to ask the million-dollar question which had never before been asked by a woman, “Why should his name be lost because he had no son?” Then finally they boldly declared what they wanted. “Give us a possession among the men.” (Paraphrased) Notice that these women did not say to Moses, “Will you give us?

Is it possible?” No, they placed a demand on Moses, they said, “Give us.” And Moses gave them.

Great women are an inspiration to other women.

Every time I read the story of these women, I am deeply inspired. Their story makes a complete nonsense of gender inequality which many women have used as an excuse for inaction and failure. Yes, their story sends this short but powerful message to all women, “You can too, because you’re a woman.”

A praying mother wins every battle by praying on her knees. She intercedes for her husband, children, families & the nation at large.

The Winning Mothers’ Forum is a vibrant praying mothers’ group. Please join us at the Prayer Tower every Sunday @7.30pm For more info, please call:

The Winning Mothers

07983601315,

Winning Mothers @ MothersWinning winningmothers@gmail.com Raising victorious women for victorious living. 2 Samuel 22:35.

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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BY KAREN WHITE

A TWIST IN THE BRANCH A Devotion and Recipe!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV

It was so small when I found the watermelon growing on the fence. I knew that if it continued to hang there its weight would cause it to break from the vine.

So, in hopes of saving the melon I tried adjusting the vine so that the watermelon would be resting on the ground. A few days later my husband discovered the vine dying apparently, I had twisted the branch between the vine and fruit.

The watermelon didn’t survive;

the twist had prevented nutrients in the vine from getting to the fruit. Such is the case when we get a twist (sin) in our Christian life. Jesus stated that He is the vine and in order for us to bear fruit (be productive as a Christian) we must remain in Him, and He in us.

In order for Jesus to remain in us, and us in Him, we must accept His gift of salvation and be obedient in all we do and say. Bible study and prayer are also important to keep us connected to Jesus. Sin however, interrupts the relationship we have with the Lord. The longer

WATERMELON RICE KRISPIE TREAT

Rind • 4 cups of mini marshmallows • 4 cups of Rice Krispies • 3 Tablespoons of butter • Green food coloring

Center

• 5 cups of mini marshmallows • 3 Tablespoons of butter • 5 cups of Rice Krispies • Mini chocolate chips

In saucepan melt butter and marshmallows, stirring continually. Once melted add drops of

we sin the wider the gap in our relationship with Christ becomes; until one day we are no longer bearing fruit. Oh, we are still attached to the vine (still a Christian), we just aren’t fulfilling our responsibilities of bearing fruit.

Had we discovered the twist and straightened the branch sooner the watermelon may have survived. The good news for Christians is that we can repent of our sins thus restoring our relationship with Him and resume producing fruit.

Lord, Thank You for being our vine! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

green food coloring until it becomes “watermelon rind green” then fold in Rice Krispies. Press the Rice Krispie mixture around the edges of two round cake pans that have been greased. Then set aside.

In saucepan melt butter and marshmallows, stirring continually. Once melted add drops of red food coloring until it becomes “watermelon red” then fold in Rice Krispies. Press the Rice Krispie mixture in the center of the “rind”. Add chocolate chips on top to form “seeds”.

Option, once the “watermelon” has set for 15 minutes, you may remove from cake pan and cut into 8 triangular shapes and insert popsicles sticks into large end of “watermelon slice” to form watermelon on stick treats.

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Love, Courtship and Marriage

Much More Than a Promise BY: MARILYN SMITH

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ovenant marriage. It’s what my husband and I have had for forty-seven years. We didn’t really consider that term when we first said our “I do’s” but it’s what we promised to each other and to God. We didn’t take it nearly as serious as we should have but we loved each other fiercely. At eighteen and twenty-one-years old, we made those promises with the strongest of intentions.

Through the years we found that we were nothing alike except for our faith in God. He is an outdoor extrovert that loves talking and visiting with people. He is a noisy individual, sings and DOZ Magazine | September 2016

plays music loud in the am, and plans nothing ahead of time. He is frugal with his money, pays every bill on time but is generous to others.

I am an introvert who loves to stay inside, read and listen to quiet music, especially in the early am. My

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“love language” is sharing time together and my heart and mind, as an eighteen-year-old, beat for the next trip alone together or sharing romantic moments in a beautiful setting. I always wanted him to plan a great “get-a-way” for the two of us and surprise me. It didn’t happen.

Then we both woke up one day. I disliked him and I feel sure he felt the same about me although he is a wise man and didn’t share that with me.

Unreal expectations can ruin a relationship and there we were in the middle of, what seemed to be, a novel entitled “Expectations Unfulfilled”! When I would complain about my “feelings” about our difficult marriage, he would say how he didn’t see that our marriage was having any difficulty. I would feel upset and cry for days and he would ask if my hormones were “acting up.” I would scream and pull the cover over my head. I would never be the outgoing “life of the party,” enjoying the brilliant sunshine of a new day and the noise that went with it and he would never be a romantic soul “in search of things that delighted me”.

Furthermore, to my detriment, I could not come to grips with the realization that only God can keep two so-very-different people together.

Of course, as with most marriage that last longer than a few years, children entered the picture. Then the real excitement began. My daughter was a bright-eyed, inquisitive toddler—into everything and she was loud! Oh, dear me. My son was quiet and laid back… such a good child…until we realized he was a manipulator of

the first degree! You can imagine what these two brought to our already upheaval of a marriage!

As we grew older, it was defiwnitely not fun anymore and when I complained to our, now grown, daughter, her answer was, “Mama, somebody’s got to love daddy…you promised.”

That really shook something inside of me. I started to realize that I had made a promise…a promise to God…not just my husband. I began to explore the concept of “covenant marriage.”

I had heard that phrase used by a pastor and I wanted to know more. A covenant with God is most sacred, I learned. As with Abram on Mt. Sinai, (Genesis 15:7-17), a covenant is made with more than just words.

With Abram it was a blood covenant, made by the sacrifice of animals. A covenant between man and God is to be carried out with purpose and with the objective goal of being loyal to a promise made, no matter what happens. It consists of at least two parties and marriage has three. Abram’s covenant with God was so important and serious that animals were cut into with a ritual that contained supernatural elements as Abram walked between the parts of the animals and then fell into a deep sleep—and this was called “cutting covenant.” Marriage is a covenant and is just as serious of covenant as well.

I began to learn what it meant to be a part of a covenant and what my responsibilities were in that covenant. I wanted, and I did, say to God, “But God, what about my husband?” God was silent. It was my part of the covenant that he was focused on

at the moment. He would take care of my husband’s part.

We began to attend a program called “Celebrate Recovery,” that had nothing to do with any addiction, but all to do with hurts, habits, and hang-ups in our marriage. We learned how God takes two very different and flawed human beings and covenants with them to make marriage a representative of His great love for us.

As we find ourselves in this forty-seventh year of marriage, I can tell you that it was worth all the hard work to bring us to this point. Today my husband is a sweet, gentle, understanding man. He realizes that there is more to marriage than coming home and asking, “What’s for supper, honey?” He has gotten on track emotionally with me and I am happier now than in all the other years we have spent together. I have learned to actually share what is on my heart instead of waiting for him to figure it out. Now, I realized that I had expected him to have top grades in mind-reading! I have also learned to participate in things he enjoys in order to know him better and enjoy him because he is different from me.

And by the way—he does plan a day away for just us two— frequently. I am learning to enjoy visiting others with him and I actually laugh a lot during those times. Together we are helping to show other couples how God can work as we trust Him. We have discovered that a covenant marriage is when two people covenant with each other and with God to produce a life that portrays God grace, mercy and unconditional love.

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DOZ THAT INSPIRE YOU

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the Movie in ss re ct a r a st , ra la C s M ung WAR ROOM, advises yo clusive chat x e n a in n e m o w n ia st ri Ch with Eturuvie Erebor nt that I But every defining mome ve seen ha have looked back on, I ere in the where God was right th in one middle of it pointing me ing me way or another or just giv I courage to take on new am one of five children. cular was two territories. One in parti have two brothers and into the when I gained admission sisters. I am the second . I had town in University of Pittsburgh born. I grew up in a small I figured t bu el town. always loved acting Pennsylvania. It was a ste ee in all, little, that trying to get a degr And so I grew up in a sm in n. We Psychology and a minor project area, of a steel tow ored fav re t town English would be mo manufactured steel in tha place a good choice. I ended up getting for many years. It was a nd that ged on but then I made up my mi upbringing. I was challen to do and loved us this is what I am going many levels, my parents it. And I and it I am just going to go for but both were alcoholics tsburgh, I n. But left the University of Pit had challenges of its ow school in auditioned for an acting looking at things now I e nc s accepted perie New York City and I wa understand how every ex u, so I owing and I went there not kn you have in life shapes yo go uld ng the wo can’t really say that I anybody but I was trusti d an w no and back and change things gift that I had been given He what gift and I know that God knows trusting the giver of the it. ch mu y ett pr t I held is doing, so that’s it wasn’t always easy bu g un yo a as t e to be I gave my life to Chris on to that burning desir in ed olv inv ry ve to be an s t, wa tis d child an creative, to be an ar I s ar ye ge na tee ng that I church. In my actress. And it is somethi ing rty pa a s and I walked away, I wa ow was a gift from God kn I s tie en th my teenager and in my tw can never let it go. So wi t ris Ch to ck ba ng lki wa minutes started last breath and the last to life my ted , I want and I rededica that I have on this earth one son just to Christ. I am a mother of ts to be using those gif . ed rri ma am I use every and bring glory to God beca or in time I step out on a stage What have been some of me, for , me front of a camera, to the defining moments in is It personally, it is worship. your life and why? to the e ais pr d giving thanks an efining moments? I would giver of the gift. . say that there were many

Tell me a little about yourself. Where did you it grow up and what was like?

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I can tell that you are a very gifted actress having seen the movie, WAR ROOM. So let’s talk about Ms. Clara.

Tell me, how did you get chosen for that role? ell I believe that it was a divine appointment, an answer to a prayer.

Thirteen years before I got the role, I had gone over to a women’s conference and they had a dynamic actress who would do different things and model up between the different women speaking and I just said God if you would just allow me to use my gifts the way you’ve allowed her, I’ll give you all the glory, all the honour. So wherever I was, whether I was in New York City or Los Angeles, every time I stepped out to do something, I gave God everything, because it’s personal, to me it’s between me and God. And whenever I was in church, I gave everything I had, whether it was on the worship team or writing or directing dramas. And then my family, we decided to move from Los Angeles to North Carolina, to a very small town and we got involved in a church. And I had been there for almost six years and then a gentle man said, you know the Kendrick brothers are going to be making a movie, I think you should send your picture and resume so I did and I didn’t hear anything from them. A couple of weeks went by and the gentleman said, have you heard anything from them and I said, no I haven’t, he said, well that’s okay because they are going to be holding an audition here in our church next week. So he sent me the dialogue, he said it’s for an older woman but I have seen what you’ve done here at church

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and I know that you can do it. As soon as I read the dialogue I could hear Ms. Clara’s voice. It was amazing, because as an actress they send you out to do research and put things together but I heard her voice immediately as I read it. And I went to my closet and I pulled out the greyest wig I had and I dressed up in a way that I thought she would dress and when I went in to the audition, I was dressed up as the character, I went in as an older woman. When I was through with the audition, Alex Kendrick asked me about my testimony, he wanted to know what my walk with the Lord was, and I shared that and then I left and when I got home, after a little while the phone rang and they were offering me the role of Ms. Clara.

Now mind you, they were two weeks away from filming that movie and they still hadn’t found the person they wanted. They had interviewed and auditioned well known actresses and gospel singers but every time they would take the person back to God and pray about it, God would tell them, no. And I know why, because He was holding that for me, it was time for Him to answer that prayer that I had put up thirteen years ago. And then one of the days, I was filming on the movie and the director walked over to me and said, you know why we didn’t call you after you sent the picture and the resume? Well, just because we thought you were too young. You had enough credit but we just thought you were too young for the role. So you see God answered both of our prayers in the perfect time. And to top it off, every night, I was able to go home and sleep in my bed because they filmed the movie in close proximity to where I live

and it was the first time they ever filmed outside of Georgia. So you see, it was God and it was God and then it was God again answering my prayer in such a way that you could not mistake who made it all possible – God!

What are some of the similarities between Ms. Clara and Karen Abercrombie? ell when I first started the movie, or before I even got involved in the movie, I had my own little prayer area, a room that I go to, to do my devotion and to pray and honestly I thought that I was really getting down, that I was going deep but after I got more involved in learning Ms. Clara and trusting the Lord to guide me to this character so that I could say what He wanted me to say, I came to understand that as Karen, I was only scratching the surface of prayer. So my experience in performing this role, allowed me to go deeper and get a better understanding about prayer in general across the board and the depth.

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So when it comes to prayer, would you say that it is one similarity that Ms. Clara and Karen Abercrombie share? h yes, I’ve always prayed, but once I got involved in this role and better understood prayer and I did that through this character, oh my gosh, my prayer life is so much deeper, so much sweeter and I understand the whole strategy of prayer and the importance of prayer more than I ever had before.

O

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Was it your first big movie?

If yes, how has it impacted your career?

What are some of the challenges of your profession as an actress?

have had smaller movie roles but this definitely was my most important for sure.

People have been sending me scripts, a lot of people want me to play older women but other people are just offering me some really beautiful stories to be a part of and I am forever grateful.

There was a time when I was praying, it was about three years before I got the role, and the Lord spoke to my spirit and told me to be patient. And now out of this role, so many wonderful things have been coming my way, so many roles that I am so grateful.

ell some of the challenges is that sometimes you’re busy, sometimes you’re not. Or you may be great for the role but sometimes it is given to someone who is a relative of the director or someone who maybe is not as talented or suited for the role.

There are so many different things that come into play when you are going out there to audition, so many things out of your control and that can be very frustrating but it’s interesting, I have come to understand better and say okay, if it’s for me I will get it. Period. If that is what God wants me to have I will get it. Period. And it wasn’t always that way, I have learnt patience, patience, patience.

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So you can say it has impacted your career positively?

O

h, oh, in amazing ways, absolutely, absolutely.

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So what is the most rewarding project you have worked on and why was it rewarding?

ell I would say WAR ROOM, certainly, because God chose me to be an instrument to wake up the church, and the world, to bring the subject of prayer up and out, and just to teach people, to show people how powerful a tool prayer is, life changing, life giving tool, prayer is. So that God would allow me that opportunity, oh my God, I had no idea when I said that prayer thirteen years ago, that this was how He’d answer my prayer. And another thing, when you’re out in Hollywood you get caught up and concerned about oh my gosh I’m getting older, I’m getting older, if I don’t get some great roles before I get older, I won’t have the chances I need but God took me as an older woman, 58 / 59 and gave me that role and on top of that, He gave me the role playing an 80-yearold woman, as if to say, girl, I have got you, don’t worry about this, I’ve got you covered.

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He is a humorous God, isn’t He?

the next step that I laid it down for years. But it’s an important story because I don’t want people to look at people homeless and just be able to speak negative. Or even a black person, I don’t want them to look at black people and think everybody’s the same or white people thinking that everybody’s the same or Hispanic people thinking that everybody’s the same because everyone’s got a story and we’re not in a position to judge, only God can judge. So anyway I picked the script back up and I finished it really. I did some re-write and now the struggle or the war is taking it back and putting it in a New York theatre and I am trusting God one hundred percent to bring me all of the people that I need to get it done properly.

es, yes, yes. And then I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to work on a small film where I played an angel. And the story is basically about some people that want to go to church and serve but because they have disabilities, they are not afforded the opportunity. So just to be a part of bringing that story up to the forefront, and it’s a lovely story, that really touched my heart and it speaks volumes so I was grateful for that opportunity as well.

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So is this something that is going to be coming up soon, possibly this year or next year? ctually, what we did was a short film version of it and now the producers are going to take it to people and try to get a budget put together so that they can make a full feature movie out of it.

A

That is good, we’d love to see more of your movies.

O

h, thank you. Thank you.

What project do you consider a classic “war story,”; why was it so difficult; and in hindsight what would you do differently now? here is always an uphill when you’re doing art but there is a project that I wrote and it is the story of a woman who used to be an up and coming singer and a brilliant composer but life has changed for her and now she is living out on the streets of New York. I wrote it

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about 17 years ago and put it in the theatre and it had really good response but what I did was I took it off the shelf and did a re-write on it and my plan is to take it to a New York City theatre in 2017. But because of the subject matter, sometimes people don’t want to be reminded of that. But the reason I wrote it is just because when I was living out in Los Angeles, there were so many homeless people living in the streets everywhere and at one point I found myself just looking past them. I couldn’t see them anymore, or else, when I did see them, I would speak in my mind, and say, oh, maybe you’re all out here because of drugs or alcohol or whatever. And I didn’t want to feel that way anymore, so that’s why I wrote the story in the first place. But then I just got overwhelmed about taking it to

How would you say your career impact the body of Christ in particular and the world in general? ell wherever I served, whether it was on the worship team or writing dramas or creating dramas or taking something the pastor wanted me to turn into a story, I can always say that I did it one hundred percent. And I also believe that that is the reason He gave me WAR ROOM. You see to whom much is given much is required. Also whoever is faithful over little will be faithful over much that is what the Lord God said and there was never a time that I can look back and say that I did anything half-heartedly with the gift that I have been given, when I was serving in church where nobody knew me, where I was just another woman in the church. But I gave everything in

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me, so now God has given me a bigger stage. And with that and everything else that I do, I just want to glorify Him. I don’t care if one person sees it and it changes their life, or a million people, I will still put my all into it because I do it unto the Lord first and foremost.

What is your typical day like? ell, I get up, first thing I do is I get a cup of tea and then I have my devotion and do my prayer and after that for the most part I either go to the gym or I take a power walk around where I live. And if it’s gardening season then I may go out to the garden and pick weeds. And then I may come in and do some writing or

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the spiritual helps to develop the other things and I think they work very closely. My career choice was one that I know the Lord put in me.

He equipped me to do what I do but it was on me to go to school and train. There’s plenty of the dark stuff out there, there’s plenty of violence out there, there’s plenty of the sexual out there. I just want to bring love into this world. I formed a production company and it was part of my choice in doing things right. I wanted to create a thread, we all have a common thread, all people on this earth have common thread and it is through those common thread that I want to connect us and make good stories. Everybody wants love, they want food to eat, etc., so we create stories for the stage and the big screen that everyone can watch, the entire family, and be touched by and inspired by.

Did you always expect to be an actress at this stage in your life or was there some defining moment that placed you on this path? But going by what you’ve told me so far I can guess that the answer is yes. es, yes, yes, yes, yes; because do you know what honestly?

It’s what I do best. It’s how He equipped me and I love it

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check my emails or send some information out, you know, some office work and then the day begins. That’s pretty much my typical day.

How would you rate your profession on a scale of 1-10 on the basis of your spiritual development?

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ell, that’s very interesting, because many times it’s how

Having watched the movie, WAR ROOM, I can tell that you love what you do and you are good at what you do.

Thank you.

So what are the most critical skills and talents required for your profession?

ou have to train to develop whatever it is He has given you. You have to train. It is a tool that you have to keep sharpening. You continue to grow; you continue to sharpen the tool.

You continue to keep it in shape because you could lose it.

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I guess it’s like the man who was given one talent and did nothing with it and eventually he lost it. es, he did. Yes, he did. So you continue to use it and take care of it. Your body, keep it tuned up because the better you feel, the better you can minister with that gift.

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Are there any limitations on your personal and/or spiritual life because of the nature of your work? t one point in my life when I wasn’t strong in knowing who I was in Christ, there were, but now, no. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. And like I said before, I don’t care to do violent things or sexual things. Those things are off the table and when I am not doing other good things, God has given me the gift to create projects that I can then act in or create opportunities that I can tell biblical stories because I love taking stories and bringing them to life as I tell them.

And I look at things artistically and I know that He’ll always provide a way for me to represent Him and worship Him at the same time so I do not fear.

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What job would you choose if you didn’t do what you do now?

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would be teaching acting to children. I did that one time.

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had a space in my house where I would teach the class and the kids would come to me after school and my son would come up too. It just allowed me to be creative and to love on other people’s kids and share with them a gift that saved me, I know it did because a lot of kids where I grew up became drug addicts and alcoholics but that gift was my saving grace from God.

What do you find most satisfying about your career? eing able to be creative and see how people receive the gift God gave me. Sometimes when watching they forget their problems or I do something that would lift their day up. Or just being able to use the gift freely that I’ve been given.

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What are some things you don’t like about your job as an actress? ell, sometimes you’re auditioning and you really feel that you’re right for the job and then you don’t get it. And many times it’s the waiting time and then sometimes you have creative differences. It has its ups and downs, sometimes you’re busy, sometimes you’re not and that’s just the way it is.

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I started a children’s theatre company. I had my son at 39. And once I had him I was already living out in Los Angeles doing some things. Things were picking up for me but I had been on my knees for many years praying for a child and when God finally allowed me to conceive I knew that I was going to be a hands on mother. I wasn’t going to put my child in day care, I was going to be his mother in honour to God for the gift that God had given me. So DOZ Magazine | September 2016

in the meantime I was looking for ways to make a little extra money.

My husband was working and bringing in a good income but I also wanted to contribute but I didn’t want to leave the house and leave my son. So for a while I did daycare where I took other people’s kids into my home and it also was great for my son because he is an only child and he could have a social activity as well. And then after that I opened up my children’s theatre company and I

And I’m guessing for someone who loves her job as you obviously love yours, you would want to be busy, going from one project on to the next. es, as long as it’s a really, really, wonderful project.

But then I also like to take time off too because I’ve got a

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husband and I like to go fishing with him, or just sit by the water with him or do nothing.

Or just read a book because I love to read books. And I am a nature lover too, I love hiking and I love the woods.

So tell me one thing about yourself that most people don’t know.

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ell, I love gardening without gloves and in my bare feet.

Who is your role model and why? h my gosh, there are several. Mother Teresa because she was just able to lay her life down one hundred percent. And dedicate herself to feeding the poor. You know she was brave. And then Martin Luther King, not only was he willing to step up for a people but he chose to do it in a way that was foreign to many people. He chose peace, regardless of what his message was, it was a message of peace.

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What advice do you have for young Christian women and how would you suggest they plan for their futures? will say this and I wish that I would have known what I know now but when I go to speak, I always say, be clear on who God really is for yourself. You need an intimate relationship with God. And in that, you come to know who you really are, how powerful, how valuable you are and had I been clear on that then, I would not have walked into some of the road that I walked into as a teenager. I would not have been willing to offer to do anything out in Hollywood because I wanted that big role or I wanted the director to see me or a producer to see me. When I put God first, everything in my life changed drastically. My perspective about everything, about who I was and everybody around me, changed drastically and I want all young girls to know that they are amazing, with great purpose and priceless.

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Thank you very much, Karen for that advice to young Christian women. Finally, if you weren’t here answering all these questions, where would you like to be?

Where would I like to be? Oh gosh, I could be hiking in the mountains or I’ve always wanted to fish in Greece.

Or sitting beside a waterfall reading a good book.

That does tell me a bit more about who Karen is. Well, the interview has come to an end. Thank you for your time and thank you for granting this interview. I am certain that young Christian women especially those seeking a career in acting will be inspired by this interview.

You’re welcome and thank you for inviting me to this interview.

Picture was taken by Photographer Tony Searcy. Stylist is London Kasmir.

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Grace and Beauty

Easy Natural Ways to Get Long

Young And Healthy Hair

By Jovana

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seems that nothing benefits more women’s beauty and causes more problems at the same time as their hair. Eternal question – how to make our hair healthy, how to make it shine, be thick and long, full of life and with no grey hairs - doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere closer to an answer with the development of modern technology. The reason for that is simple – for centuries women had easy, natural ways to keep their hair under control, but we tend to forget about that, lost in a wide variety of commercial products. We tend to forget that nature is full of answers, you just have to ask.

Many factors can lead to premature aging of the hair, resulting with thin, limp and fragile hair. Aging hair tends to get dry, brittle and easily damaged, ultimately losing pigment and the first grey hairs appear. But sometimes this process starts to progress in teenage years, and by the middle of twenties the hair is already on a half way to become completely grey.

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haircut for a while.

Women who are faced with this are swearing in a simple solution that can not only prevent greying of the hair, but can also reverse hairs that have already lost pigment and benefit overall hair health. Try it out and see for yourself:

Mix 6 spoons of green clay, 1 spoon of rose water, 1 spoon of castor oil, 1 teaspoon of Aloe Vera gel and couple of drops of burdock oil. Mix it well until you get smooth paste. Apply it and thoroughly massage it into your hair and scalp. Keep it for 30 – 45 minutes, then wash your hair as usual.

Coconut oil:

Heat 200 ml of coconut oil with 50 ml of jojoba oil, then add 1 large spoon of curry leaves. Let it brew for a while, then remove from the heat. Once your oil cools down, strain the leaves and add a couple of drops of vitamin E oil. Apply it all over your hair and scalp. You should keep it that way fowr about half an hour, occasionally massaging your scalp. Than wash it off with shampoo and finish with cool water. Repeat the process twice a week.

And if you want your hair to grow faster and ticker, we are offering you some tested recipes that can help you achieve that, primarily by cleaning your scalp properly, nurturing it and giving it everything it needs to boost hair growth, making it long and glowing:

Nettle:

Nettle is the one of the most amazing ingredients that can help you get your hair long, tick and strong. Nettle is full of antioxidants. It purifies blood and removes toxins and free radicals. It nurtures your hair and makes it stronger and lighter, prevents losing hair and even helps with dandruff.

Healthy scalp is the main precondition for your hair to grow faster, and nettle does wonders with that.

You can use nettle in many ways, whether it’s drinking nettle tea or massaging scalp with its oil. Probably the easiest way would be to rinse your hair with nettle tea as often as you can. Or use it as a hair mist – just cool down the tea, add your favorite essential oil and some citrus juice (lemon for blond hair, orange for dark one). Whatever you chose, for noticeable results, regular usage is required.

Green Clay

Green clay is often used for detoxification of scalp, as its main feature is to absorb extra oil, dirt and toxins from skin and hair. By removing that layer, clay helps your scalp to breathe and get more oxygen, but also allows other ingredients to easily reach to the deeper layers of the skin and perform their full effect.

After using it, hair looks rich and shiny. In combination with oils, not only will it increase your hair growth, but it will also help with regeneration of the damaged hair and postpone

This hair mask is especially suitable for oily hair; if your hair is very dry add couple of spoons of almond oil into the mixture.

Ginger

Ginger contains zinc, which hydrates your hair and scalp and makes root of the hair stronger. That way it prevents hair loss. Ginger also speeds up circulation of scalp and stimulates hair growth, softens hair and makes it smooth and shiny. The following hair mist can also help with controlling hair and defining it:

Into 100ml of cooled green tea add 5-6 slices of cucumber and let it rest for a while. Thoroughly blend half a thumb of ginger root until you get a smooth paste. Remove cucumber from green tea, add ginger instead and mix it well. Then add 1 spoon of sesame oil, 1 spoon of peppermint oil or grape seed oil and 200ml of water. Pour everything into a spray bottle and shake it well. Spray it on damp hair after every hair wash, and in a meantime keep it in refrigerator.

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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Home Sweet Home

Does God Dwell in Your Home?

BY ETURUVIE EREBOR AKA GABRIELLA

I had a submission from a contributor for this segment of the magazine, Home Sweet Home, but then the Lord asked me not to use it but write an article myself. That was a surprise because in the history of DOZ Magazine this is the first time I would write an article under this segment and I never thought that I would. He wanted me to write this article for all His daughters and of course His sons who are also taking a sneak-peak at this Christian women’s lifestyle magazine.

Many times, we ask God to bless our homes; as a matter of fact, there is a well-known, bless this house prayer that is engraved in plaques in many homes and it says; Bless This House Bless this house O Lord we pray Make it safe by night and day Bless these walls, so firm and stout Keeping want and trouble out; Bless the roof and chimneys tall Let thy peace lie over all Bless this door that it may prove Ever open to joy and love Bless these windows shining bright, Letting in God’s heavenly light Bless the hearth a-blazing light; With smoke ascending like a prayer; Bless the folk who dwell within Keep then pure and free from sin; Bless us all that we may be Fit, O Lord to dwell with thee, Bless us all that one day we May dwell, O Lord with thee.

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This is a good prayer, no doubt about that.

But God’s question is this; Does God dwell in your home? Please give this some thought.

And while you’re doing that let’s look at a man whose home was blessed by God. The Bible refers to him as Obededom the Gittite. And it says concerning him; “And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.” 2 Samuel 6:11

God blessed the household of Obededom. And I don’t think it was because they said a “God bless this house” prayer. They were blessed for one reason and one reason only, “the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom.”

God’s ark is God’s very presence and so the presence of God, continuing, or dwelling, in the house of Obededom, brought in a deluge of blessing. So, does God dwell in your home?

If God will dwell in your home, and release a blessing, like He did with Obededom, there are two things you need to be aware of.

The first is that you will need to invite Him in, and no I do not mean invite Him to bless your home. There is nothing wrong with that but when He dwells in your home the blessings naturally follow like in Obededom’s case. So invite God into your home, don’t assume that because you are a Christian God dwells in your home, nothing could be further from the truth.

Consciously, ask Him to come and dwell in your

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home the same way you asked Him to come into your heart when you became first became saved. God is a gentle man and will not barge in. He stands at the door and He knocks. He is knocking now, will you let Him in?

The second thing you need to be aware of is that you must also deliberately and consciously make the environment in your home one that is conducive for His divine presence. What kind of environment is suitable for God’s presence? Well we know for one thing that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). This must mean that a home that is full of praise and appreciation is a more conducive one than a home with an atmosphere of ingratitude, murmuring and bickering. If God says it is better

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to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome woman (Proverbs 21:19) you can be certain that He won’t dwell in your home if you are a quarrelsome woman. And when I say praise I don’t just mean putting on some good music I mean your attitude your thoughts should reflect gratitude and praise because that’s where it all begins and as women we need to understand that we set the tone for the atmosphere in our home. We must work with God to reject the wrong atmosphere and allow the right one into our homes, the one that is conducive for God to dwell in.

Habakkuk 1:13 says that God is too holy to behold sin therefore, we want to keep sin in any form out of our homes if we desire God to dwell there. There is no communion between light

and darkness, if we allow the devil in we have asked God out. If God must dwell then the pornography must go, the lies must go, the harsh words must go, the sexual perversion must go, the things we stole and hid in our homes must go, everything that does not give God glory within our walls must go. And we must repent and cleanse our homes. Only then will He dwell with us and release His blessings upon our homes.

When God steps into your home you will truly have a home sweet home. It will be a place that each member of your household looks forward to returning to and not a place they want to escape from. But remember it starts with the choice you make, today.

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DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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Your Body is a Temple

Glorifying God in Our Bodies

BY FRAN SOLA JACOBS

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am grateful to God for the opportunity to write this article as I really needed this message myself. It has prompted me to make some positive changes in my life and I hope it will inspire you to do the same too.

We know from God’s word that we are created in His own image and likeness, and therefore can be described as a perfect workmanship. David the psalmist could not but burst forth in praise at the work of God’s hands, and in Psalm 139:14, he describes us as “fearfully and wonderfully made”. Our bodies are a wonderful masterpiece of science, irreproducible by any genius alive or dead, designed lovingly by our heavenly father. I think that our bodies should therefore be appreciated and cherished, don’t you agree? Furthermore, we are admonished to glorify God in our bodies and the reason is simple, our bodies ultimately belong to God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit … and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”.

So the question is how do we glorify God? Well one way to achieve this is to take care of the body, keep it healthy and refraining from abusing it in anyway. A lot of people do not realise the damage that they cause their bodies by what they feed into it. And when I say feed, I am not

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only referring to food. The thoughts that we allow to dwell in us also do as much damage. For instance, depression comes from feelings of despair and hopelessness caused by wrong thoughts. God’s word says in Proverbs 17:22 that a cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. Do you know that scientific researchers have identified a link between depression, bitterness, unforgiveness, strife, hatred, anger and some diseases? They are poisonous toxic emotions that the devil seeks to use to abuse and destroy our bodies.

In order to stay healthy, make a habit of analysing what you feed your body.

Overeating, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, stress, overworking, inadequate sleep can adversely affect the body. Type 2 diabetes is associated with excess body weight and physical inactivity. It is now being increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents. And it can and often leads to a myriad of complications such as high blood pressure, heart diseases, cataract, to mention a few. To make this more real to us, we do not need to stuff our bodies with too much salt, oily foods, or sugar.

Talking about sugar, as a dentist, I have come to realise that I will never lack a job unless the sugar (and smoking) culture of the UK changes. Believe me when I say that a majority of dental problems is due to over consumption of sugar. Please cast your mind back to the shop counters at Christmas, Easter, and all other festive

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periods. Stacks of chocolates, cakes, sweets, juices are all taken off the shelves like there is no tomorrow! You would not ordinarily put 12 spoons of sugar in your mouth and swallow it would you? Such is the content of sugar and more in these foods being consumed. As a mother, if you are in the habit of substituting water for juices and fizzy drinks, fruits for chocolate and cakes, and keeping your children quiet by giving them sweeties, no amount of prayers will keep you from being a regular caller at the dentist as they battle with tooth decay.

Here are some well-known tips on maintaining oral health • The brush and toothpaste is your friend, use it in the morning and at night before dropping off to bed

• Have a professional clean twice yearly at the dentist, it keeps your gums health • Avoid smoking and too much sugar. Eat a balanced healthy diet and those gnashers will last you a life time.

• If you have gaps between your teeth, use a small tufted brushes, called interdental brushes and floss to dislodge food. This is really important as this could lead to decay in the roots and loose gums and loose teeth.

• Chew sugar free gum especially after having a sugary based food. This cleans out your teeth and helps saliva to remeneralise your teeth Finally, go for the healthy stuff and God will reward you with fitness and a good health. It is not enough to pray for good health. If we really want to enjoy good health, especially as we get older, we must stop ignoring all the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us to achieve it.

Fran Sola Jacobs ( B.D.S)

Associate Dentist, Dental Health Care Practice, Gillingham

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DOZ Chronicles DOZ is an acronym for Daughters of Zion, and DOZ Chronicles is a series based on actual events experienced by women who have one thing in common: Zion. Names and locations have been changed to protect all persons concerned, but in and of themselves, the stories are true.

When DOZ Magazine began operations in 2009, our true stories comprised a section within the magazine.

However, readers quickly grew tired of reading the stories piece by piece and came to absolutely loathe the phrase “to be continued”, so we created a separate magazine dedicated to telling our inspirational stories in their entirety in a series. This magazine was known as the DOZ (True Story) Magazine, and it had a huge effect on readers. It went out of circulation for a few years, but due to popular demand, it has now returned and today is known as the DOZ Chronicles. DOZ Chronicles can be purchased from Amazon.co.uk

DOZ Chronicles: Nneka This book, “DOZ Chronicles: Nneka”, is a part of the DOZ Chronicles series and falls under the category of African Women Narratives. It is based on real life experiences and told in the first person narrative by Eturuvie Erebor. It is the story of Nneka, a young Nigerian woman, whose first attempt at love leaves her devastated and on a mission against all men. Then she meets Ray and with him comes a second chance at love.

DOZ Chronicles: Kemi This book, “DOZ Chronicles: Kemi”, is a part of the DOZ Chronicles series and falls under the category of African Women Narratives. It is based on real life experiences and told in first person narrative

by Eturuvie Erebor. It is the story of young Kemi Oshinowo whose childless marriage of five years is about to end as another woman becomes pregnant by her husband. As a Christian, Kemi turns to God in her darkest hour – will He come through for her?

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DOZ Chronicles: Ruki This book, “DOZ Chronicles: Ruki,” is a part of the DOZ Chronicles series and falls under the category of African Women Narratives. It is based on real life experiences and told in the first person narrative

by Eturuvie Erebor. It is the story of Ruki, a young woman from a poor family, whose quest for a better standard of living drives her to the streets of Lagos as a full time prostitute. Then one night, she has an unusual experience that causes her to forsake the streets and prostitution, and return to her hometown, in a bid to redeem her reputation. After three and a half years of living a far from glamourous life in the village, Ruki meets and marries a man who has the means to give her the life she’s always wanted. But just as she begins to enjoy her new life, the undesirable unexpected happens. The past, which Ruki has tried so hard to bury, suddenly resurrects, and her perfect world with Anayo begins to disintegrate. Is this the end of her marriage?

DOZ Chronicles: Lara This book, “DOZ Chronicles: Lara,” is a part of the DOZ Chronicles series and falls under the category of African Women Narratives. It is based on real life experiences and told in the first person narrative by Eturuvie Erebor. It is the story of young Lara, who finds her life slowly falling apart following the sudden and tragic death of her mother. Then at a time when she needs her father most, he abandons the family to seek greener pastures abroad. Lara is left in the care of her older sister, Nike, although this is not a favourable situation for her as Nike hates her and holds her responsible for the demise of their mother. Frustrated, Lara leaves home with nothing but the clothes on her back, the slippers on her feet and her mother’s Bible in her hands. She tries to seek help from the church, but she is turned away by a young overzealous preacher. Years later, Lara becomes a celebrated and sought-after evangelist. In this elevated position, she meets with the preacher who had turned her away from church and the sister who had sent her away from home. Can she truly forgive all that has happened?

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Let us know what you think

We hope you've enjoyed reading this re-launch edition of DOZ Magazine If you have questions or comments, please contact us at

eturuvieerebor.com Thank you!

Eturuvie Erebor For: DOZ Magazine

DOZ Magazine | September 2016

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