Ashes For Beauty Magazine Sept/Oct 2010 FINAL

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

MAGAZINE

EXPOSING the myth of more money MODESTLY

Sexy

Is there such a thing?

g n i y a r p Are yocutively? effe out! find

Tasha Smith

nd a z i u q e h Take t

Speaks on destiny, working with Bishop T.D. Jakes, and her new music project (yes, we said music)

INSPIRED TO ACT

PLUS: Why being a Christian in Hollywood isn't that deep

UNITING, STRENGTHENING, AND UPLIFTING THE EVERYDAY WOMAN The Real Women Summit is a non-profit organization whose mission is to unite, strengthen and uplift the everyday woman.

Our vision is to host events, create campaigns and initiate outreach programs for women, thus enhancing their knowledge, character and skills.

survivors

fuller figures

divine ladies

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entrepredivas

We’re currently seeking women who believe in the vision. If you’re her, contact us today!

(888) 630-6661 - http://www.realwomensummit.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

contents MAGAZINE 24 living suite 29 the rib shack 23 health

14 EXPOSING

the myth of more money

Tasha Smith Inspired To Act

32 VISIT www.AshesForBeautyMagazine.com

soul music 30 poetry 38 his scope 41 gourmet kitchen 37 ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

contents body beautiful

8 Heaven in 7:This Fall Go Smokey 9 The Calm Before The Storm 10 6 Tips for Common Hair Problems 11 Fitness - Move Forward

19 fashion MODESTLY is there Sexy such a thing?

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010

MAGAZINE

14 19 16

EXPOSING the myth of more money MODESTLY

Sexy

Is there such a thing?

raying Are yocutipvely? effe and find out! iz

Take the qu

Tasha Smith

Speaks on destiny, working with Bishop T.D. Jakes, and her new music project (yes, we said music)

32

INSPIRED TO ACT

PLUS: Why being a Christian in Hollywood isn't that deep

cover photo by derek blanks. content page photo by bobby quillard.

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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Editor/Publisher Traneisha Y. Jones Creative Director Kimberly Dale Multimedia Development Loverlie Business Concepts Chicago, IL http://www.loverlie.com (630) 888-7774 Health & Fitness Editor Candice McField Relationship Editor Minister Kenny Pugh Beauty Editor Kelli Cook Fashion Creative Director Charlotte Betts Assistant Fashion Creative Director Glenda Karen PR & Marketing Daylight Media 4710 Lincoln Hwy.-Suite 301 Matteson, IL 60443 www.daylightmediacorp.com (773)294-5476 Social Media Director LaTonya Richardson Broadcast Media Consultant Cheree Bevley Contributing Photographer Nuru Kimondo Contributing Writers Pastor Polly Sanders, Lynn Richardson, Chef Cordell McGary, Roxanne Hester, Christina Keaster, D. Cyber, Diondra Bradshaw, Dominique Burney, Lisa Newsome, Ashes For Beauty Magazine, September/October 2010, Vol.1, Issue 1. Published bi-monthly by Double Portion, LLC. Content copyrighted (c) 2010. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine, including without limitation, articles and listings, may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Please forward all manuscripts, drawings or photographs to submissions@ashesforbeautymagazine.com.

All manuscripts, drawings, or photographs sent to Ashes For Beauty Magazine will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to the magazine’s right to edit and comment editorially. Ashes For Beauty Magazine assumes no responsiblity for the advertisements made therein of the quality and deliverability of the products themselves.

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LETTER FROM THE

Editor

A small town pastor once told me, “A pulpit is not only the place in the church where preachers and/or pastors arise to deliver their message. A pulpit is also the platform on which you stand in life. It’s the stage God gives you to walk out your gifts and draw people to Him.” My question for you today, what’s your pulpit? In what arena does God desire to use you for His glory? Are you an aspiring model, a mother of three looking to return to school, or maybe even a future authoress?

Whatever your desire, whatever your goal, God wants to use you. He has a set destiny and purpose with your name on it. That’s what this premiere issue of Ashes For Beauty Magazine is all about.

Pursuing Destiny. With this issue we hope that you are empowered to fulfill your destiny. We also hope that you will be inspired by the stories of women who grace these pages. Women like Tasha Smith, who is a shining example of how to live out our daily walk as Christians, regardless of where we find ourselves in life, or Shirlandria Enoch who’s showing us how to walk in victory, with her new album titled the same.The road to launch Ashes For Beauty Magazine has not been an easy one. But with your support and the firm foundation of Christ, we are confident about the road ahead.

Walk with us on this journey; we have a lot of exciting things ahead!

Until next time continue to be a beautiful people, serving a beautiful God, faithfully… and as always…

Stay Royal,

Traneisha ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

5

Destiny Fulfilled

By Traneisha Y. Jones

Having a destiny and a calling is a lot like traveling by airplane.

Some of us plan ahead and arrive on time, while others lag behind, delayed by the happenings of life. Still, even in this, it doesn’t negate the idea of having a destiny.

Now boarding...

Everyone has boarded and the plane is preparing for lift off.

The doors have shut, and the pilot comes on the loudspeaker proclaiming, “Good morning folks and welcome aboard. This flight is headed to the land of promise and is scheduled to arrive on time. I should warn you that there may be some brief turbulence along the way, but no worries, I am your pilot and if you’ll trust me I guarantee a safe landing.”

Who is this pilot? Jesus Christ

They are limited by their own fears, doubts and insecurities . so they do everything in their power to impose those same things on you. Don’t fall for it. Greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

Remember that life is meant to be lived…so live it. Don’t live it half-heartedly, live life fully. Christ came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Embrace everything that Christ has for you. Everything.

2

Take the Plunge.

Step out on faith. Peter only sank because He took His eyes off of Jesus. If you keep your eyes on Him, you’re guaranteed to succeed!

What is he talking about? My purpose. My destiny. Your purpose. Your destiny.

There’s this full truth that’s seldom accepted, that truth is this, that God has a set purpose and destiny for our lives. What’s yours? What is your destiny? What’s hindering you from walking in it? Is it your lack of faith or those ever-present fears? Perhaps it’s the nay saying of those around you- whose thoughts and opinions on “your destiny” are more so shaped by the weight of their own insecurities than the Word of God. You have to go. You have to get up now and go after what God has for you. No more excuses. No more I’ll start tomorrow.

Tomorrow started yesterday, that means you’re already late.

Someone else’s destiny is hinged on your pursuit, your arrival.

As you go remember: 1

Never let people box you in.

It’s a daily struggle to overcome your own fears and inhibitions, do you really need the limitations of others placed on you too? Often people will tell you that you can’t do something because they don’t believe they can achieve it.

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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3

This will hurt a little bit.

Every step of faith stretches us and causes some discomfort and pain. But be comforted in the thought that even with discomfort, even with pain, Christ is ever-present and He is keeping you, leading you, and guiding you in the way you should go as long as you are pursuing the destiny he has set for you and not the destiny you’ve set for yourself. (sn: If you should get off track, God’s got you covered with grace and mercy. As long as you’re still breathing, and today is today, you have the opportunity to turn it around and get on the “good foot.”

4

Be Patient.

It may not happen overnight, and that’s okay. Fulfilling destiny is as much about the journey as it is about achieving the targeted end. God is not a man that He should lie, if He said it, if this is why He created you, then He will bring it to pass.

5 It’s Your Destiny, You Can Cry If You Want to.

I’m not saying be a cry baby, but it’s perfectly okay to shed a few tears every now and then. Those tears are watering your faith. In fact it’s most often at these moments, where you feel like you can’t make it, your faith is shaky, and everything in the world is against you,that God is really working a miracle on your behalf. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

6

Pray, Pray, and Pray Some More

You can never do enough of this. The Bible says the prayers of the righteous availeth much.

7

Praise Him in advance.

It’s coming, you’re almost there- praise Him! In fact let your pursuit of destiny, let the journey itself, be praise unto God.

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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body beautiful make-up

Ladies, the forecast this fall says “Fire & Smoke.” Not to worry though, this only pertains to one thing… Style! As we cosmetologists are mixing up a wide array of reds for this season’s fiery hair coloring trends, the best way to complete this look is with smoke. A smokey eye effect, that is. Though it may look tough to pull off, I assure you, this timeless look is simple to achieve for any skin tone or type. As the trends are changing with the leaves, so should the content of your make-up bag.

With “Fire & Smoke” in the forecast, change is mandatory. Here are a few tips to help usher in this style change as positively as possible:

1

Break The “Rules!” - Contrary to popular belief, the smokey eye shadowing effect CAN be worn as day OR evening make-up.

2

Don’t Limit Your Possibilities! - The smokey eye can be done with a range of cool colors. (I.e. Black, Grey, Brown, Blue, Plum, etc.)

3 4 5

For Starters -Typically, you would use between 2-4 different shades to create this look.

Heavy Make-Up Is Bad Make-Up! - When creating the smokey effect over the eye, it is always key to remember “less is more.”

Darker shadows speak loud against any skin color. So, to avoid “racoon eye,” be gentle with your color & brushes ladies!

“Child, Hush Sometimes!” - The best way to make this look pop, is by doing a high-gloss, nude lip. (minimal color) Remember: Your eyes are doing all of the talking for this look, so your lips need to say less!

6 7

Work Your Way From The Bottom Up! - When applying the shadow shades to the eye lid, work your way from darkest to lightest. Go from the bottom of the eye lid, to the arch of your brow.

Be Confident, Be Bold. - For a more dramatic effect, simply wet your wand or brush before you apply the darkest color. This gives your shadow a thicker, creamier, and bolder look.

Your make-up is only as good as the person who’s wearing it, so be beautiful inside and out! Enjoy. - Evangelist Rae’ Love Cos/MUA 8

ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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body beautiful make-up

The Calm Before The Storm

Plum, Fuchsia, Midnight Red, Fantastic Rust, Terrific Turquoise, Raspberry Red tumbled about on the left side of the sink. Crushed Kleenex and face cloths, petroleum jelly, eyelash curlers on the right. You have exactly 6 minutes before he arrives and the bathroom looks like a tornado hit it.

There are 3 shades of medium brown foundation that seemto be more medium than you remember your brown skin is.

What’s a woman to do? The clock is ticking and you must be flawless. After all, this just might be the “one”. You quickly rub the nearest brown foundation to your hand across your beautiful ebony skin and on to the eye shadows. You grab the Q-tip, dunk into the Terrific Turquoise and off to work on those lids you go! Back and forth, east and west, rub and rub and rub. Realizing that you have 3 minutes left, you lunge over to the lipsticks that you’ve had now for 2 years and off you go across the mouth like a car windshield wiper. There.

Whew! You made it with 45 seconds to spare! Yes! This will definitely be the greatest date ever! OMG! You step back and look.... something’s missing. BLUSH!!! You realize that you don’t have any, so you grab the peachiest peach lipstick on the sink and dot dot dot. Smooth, smooth, smooth. There. Done.

Doorbell rings, you suck the stomach in, do one last once over in the mirror by the door, and open....”Hi, Derrick! Let’s Go!” Sound familiar? This is what most women do right before the date of the century. I’m one of them. Guilty. You couldn’t have

by Kelli Cook

told me that I wasn’t fine as wine. This was about 15 years ago.

Now my regimen is definitely different. As should yours be.

Taking time to plan the preparation for your make up application is just as important as the make up application itself.

It starts months in advance learning and looking at what is current and stylish. Many women don’t think of make up as fashion. Many women don’t think of make up as a necessity. It definitely is. Make up is the final touch to any and all clothing ensembles, even the baggy sweatsuit worn to the grocery store to get that value TV dinner for the evening.

God made us just the way we should be. Our eyes, nose, lips, and jawbone are exactly placed by him. Our skin color, our shapes and foot size are no mistake. However, as with our size, we know what is becoming to our shapes. We know what is considered form fitting versus “hoochie”. This is also true of our make up ladies. We must wear what fits us. What’s becoming. I am excited to take you down this road from confusion, doubt, and frustration with your make up, to confidence, poise, and excitement. I want you to be comfortable with trying new and exciting colors and trends. This season of make up tips will have you very happy to accent your natural beauty and not feel as though it needs to be covered up. You will know the difference between fall cool and summer cool. Smokey eye and Cleopatra eye.

It’s time to take control of your beauty and appreciate what God gave you. Don’t like your nose? Are your eyes too small?

Too many pimples? Don’t worry. We all have something we wish we could change. This season I will show you how to apply make up in ways that accentuate your beauty. I will dedicate articles to my ebony dark sisters and my bold beige babes. We will do this together. I am very happy to be a p a r t of Ashes For Beauty Magazine and welcome you to a a new outlook on make up and beauty.

Kelli Cook is a Celebrity Hair/Make up Artist in Chicago, IL. With over 13 years in the beauty industry, Kelli is no stranger to the working class professional. This Maywood, IL. native has taken the basics of ordinary beauty and made it extraordinary with knowledge and teaching to the masses. As Founder and President of Souffle’ Enterprises Inc., parent company to “Mirror Mania”, “Kyla Bailey!”, “Souffle’ Style Loft”, and “Chicago Urban Line Dancing” Kelli Cook understands the importance of appearance and overall confidence in ones first impression. Now based in the South Loop/ Arts District of Chicago, Kelli Cook is definitely one of Chi Town’s Finest.

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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6

body beautiful hair

by Pastor Polly Sanders

4

If I relax my hair, can I color it too? And if so, when?

Yes, you can add color and relax your hair too! That’s the great news!

However, here are a few things to keep in mind: You should only use low volume peroxide, 5-10 volume and color after a few days or 1 week after the relaxer (give your scalp time to heal). You should never apply permanent color the same day you apply a relaxer, that is unless you

want to go bald. A temporary rinse can be applied the

same day as a relaxer. Use non- peroxide color when

you can. Try using all natural brands, with these for-

mulas you can enhance the color, add depth, and shine.

tips for COMMON hair problems

5

I want to start working out, how Have you ever wanted to take your hair-dresser can I keep my hair from drying home with you or ask how you can fix your hair and frizzing? problems? Well, here are the 6 most common When working out your hair will get wet and become a problems and questions I get in the salon: little frizzy. To reduce the wetness and the frizz, wear a

1

My hair is shedding, what can I do about it?

It’s normal for hair to shed 80-100 hairs per day.

When you find unusual shedding: A. Check your stress level.

B. Medications? Check with your doctor. Some medications can lead to excess shedding of hair.

C. Over processed hair: When hair is over processed and untreated it can result in severe dryness and breakage.

Consult with your stylist and treat your hair with a deep conditioner or moisturizer. Also,trim all dead ends.

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satin scarf.

Can you recommend any new products that are natural and good for my hair?

Phytospecific is one of my favorite all natural hair lines and they have my favorite all natural relaxer made of soy and egg.

There are two new products from this line that are absolutely phenomenal: The night treatment- this product is designed to eliminate dryness and breakage and the Hydra-repairing spray, this product eliminates split ends and helps to add softness. It also prevents your ends from drying due to styling tool usage. s er twenty-five year ov s ha s er nd Sa lly Pastor Po ained industry. She has tr ir ha e Hair Loss: How can I tell if I’m losing hair or just th in ce en ri hael expe hair designer, Mic s ou m fa ith w lly thinning naturally? at the internationa ith him for 7 years A. Thinning occurs naturally and with age. With hair loss, you can see Taylor. She also partnered w y hez Salon of Cherr C u D ne oi nt A ed patches and it occurs from within, (see doctor.) Using hair treatments highly regard enver, CO. and vitamins can aid in preventing hair loss. I recommend Creek located in D Phytospecific growth serum and specific cap energy.

2

3

My hair is excessively dry, what can I do at home?

Curly hair is always naturally dry and the chemicals we use and our hair tools can cause even more dryness. The best way to eliminate dryness is to use shampoo with conditioner. In addition to this, you should also use moisturizers to re-hydrate your hair. There are multiple moisturizing techniques that can be used: (1) use a moisturizer with an all natural oil to add shine and/or wrap your hair in a hot towel 2-3 times with the treatment on. Not only will this will leave your hair nourished, but it will also leave it with incredible shine and softness.

Bonus Tip: Apply leave in conditioner before styling hair; this will add even more hydration and protection.

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

To purchase Phytospecific and other great hair care products log on to www.pollyandco.com. Free shipping and discounts apply!

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body beautiful fitness

Move Forward

By Candice McField

Someone once told me, God opens doors to create opportunities, our job is to be obedient and He controls the outcomes as He plans.

I’m thankful to have the opportunity to be a contributing writer for Ashes For Beauty and for any future doors that may be opened from this one opportunity. Furthermore, I sincerely feel the true blessing is the chance to personally connect with you by educating, motivating and challenging you to reach personal new levels regarding anything dealing with your health. Notice I wrote the word personal because for each of us our goals will be different. One may want to begin training for a triathlon or someone else may just need to make a commitment to eating breakfast everyday. We are all at different points ,but the great news about being healthy is that the only person in your race is yourself. It is all about making personal strides, moving forward one baby step at a time. This is what makes my heart skip a beat…helping you take these baby steps, hearing your stories, propelling you through stagnant points. This opportunity is what I am beyond thankful for and look forward to.

I feel I owe you an introduction as you are trusting me with one of the most precious gifts you possess, your health. I hear you asking, who is Candice anyway, what makes her qualified, why should I listen and trust what she has to say? Let me start by saying it has been a long journey to get to where I am; entrepreneur, professional figure competitor, personal trainer and aspiring international fitness model. I worked in Corporate America for five years in the financial industry and never saw myself leaving but after surviving my first firm being shut down and not producing the correct sales numbers at the second, I found myself clinging to Jeremiah 29:11.

Most importantly, I humbly love Christ and truly try to live a lifestyle that glorifies the Lord. I fall short daily but I am so thankful for His grace and mercy. It’s funny because when I was reading through the Old Testament I found myself saying the Israelites are so retarded for falling to the same sins over and over. Why don’t they just listen and appreciate all the times God saved and redeemed them? Then it hit me, Candice, you are not any different than them! Therefore, I am humbled to even have this opportunity to help formulate and shape your fitness goals but to do so through a Christian perspective is even more of a delight.

As this issue represents the launch of AFB, I feel inspired to encourage you to live your dream(s) and to take that leap of faith. (Recommended reading I Dare You to Embrace Life with Passion

by Joyce Meyers) Before I begin a personal training program with clients we speak about their goals and limiting factors in depth. I do this because it is critical for clients to have a powerful inner

Little did I know that God would create an opportunity for me to start my own company in the health & wellness industry. In 2005, I began competing in figure competitions (a form of bodybuilding that requires extreme training and dieting) and since then people have asked me numerous questions on what they should eat, what they should do for exercise, etc. In 2006, I won my professional card as a WNBF (World’s Natural Bodybuilding Federation) figure competitor. In 2009, I became an ACE (American Council of xercise) certified personal trainer and launched two companies, MFitness (www.candicemcfield.com) and iRISE Health & Wellness (www.iRISEhw.com). My vision is to be recognized as an internationally known fitness model and be the world’s premier health & wellness company that aids in reducing globesity.

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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body beautiful fitness

motivation. Otherwise, when they hit stagnant points they will not have the driving force to make it past temporary roadblocks. Similarly before I begin to educate you on a variety of health & wellness topics in this column, I challenge you in three areas: 1) Set 3-5 Outcome Goals. An outcome goal is the end result of a series of behaviors you consistently perform. You cannot directly control the accomplishment of the goals.

• Ex. I want to lose 8 pounds in 8 weeks.

2) Determine your Limiting Factors. These are the factors that are limiting you from attaining your goals. Are they social ones, environmental ones, or mental ones?

• Ex. I often have lunch meetings at restaurants and do not know what to order.

3) Set and Commit to 3-5 Behavioral Goals. These are the steps you have to take to accomplish your outcome. You can directly control the goal as it is an action you can choose to take or not take everyday.

• Ex. I commit to only eating junk food during one scheduled free meal each week.

In 2006, I had the honor to hear Dr. Tony Evans speak at the Kingdom Advisors annual conference. Fortunately, I bought the CD and have since listened to this specific message at least 30 times. One thing Dr. Evans states, that I love is, “I hope you do what you do as a calling and not simply as career, there is a difference. A career is a job, it is a salary. A calling is a divine reason for doing it. A calling is made up of four fundamental things, passion, abilities, experiences, and opportunities. Your calling is always bigger than you, always!”

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

My prayer is that you are living your dream and/or taking the necessary steps toward living your dream.

I would love to hear from you. Let me know what you would like to learn about in this column, send me your questions, share your stories, testimonies and please keep me on your prayer list as my calling is truly bigger than me.

Arise! ~Candice

20% off CMF Coaching Services www.candicemcfield.com

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c o m p l e t e

c o s m e t o l o g y

Rae’ Love cosmetologist ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ esthetics hair ♥ make-up nails fashion consultation 708-949-0684 rae@stylesbyrae.com

w w w. s t y le s b y ra e . co m

financial fitness

More money will never solve a money problem. If it could, millionaires wouldn’t go bankrupt!

That’s what I learned when, like many college-educated-makin’-ithappen-urban-professionals, I was making $20,000 or more each month and still found myself living check to . . . Monday. Like so many of my colleagues, I would get substantial pay raises only to match my pay raises with higher expenses! You see, check-tocheck would have been a blessing, since I would have at least had enough money to last until the next payday. But Check to Monday means you get paid on Friday, kick it on the weekend, pay on your past due bills, and by Monday, well, you’re broke.

So what do we do about it? What are you going to do about your money situation? And If money doesn’t solve a money problem, then what will?

I will tell you: wisdom and discerning choices. You must have the correct knowledge and then you must make the right choices. In other words, you must be willing to open yourself up to discovering the truth about the way money operates in your life, then you must make a choice to walk in obedience with the truths you discover. Have you ever wondered why you can pray to get out of a money dilemma, get your blessing, then end up right back in the same position you were in before, or even worse? Well, that’s because you haven’t passed the money test and until you do so – until you make a permanent change to your financial mindset -- you will remain in financial kindergarten.

The first step to making a permanent change in your finances is to live below your means and the easiest way to do this is to incorporate a budget into your lifestyle – I call it the “10-10-3050.”

Every time you get money from any source and for any reason, this is how you divide it: 14

ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

EXPO the m

yth o

SING

f "mo

re mo

ney"

By Lynn

Richardson

a. 10% = Tithing. That’s right, tithing is the first nonnegotiable law to achieving abundance. Besides, if you are already broke, then withholding your tithe won’t change your money situation. So when my back was up against the wall, I decided to start tithing so when I prayed, I would at least have God on my broke side! b. 10% = Saving. You must save in order to prepare for the famine . . . the recession . . . the rainy day that is sure to come. Statistics show that there have been more millionaires made in this economic climate than at any other time in the history of the world! These new millionaires were saving and living below their means while the rest of us were spending beyond our means and, you guessed, it, Living Check to Monday.

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financial fitness c. 30% = Cash in Your Pocket. This is what you get to spend on all incidentals like groceries, gas, transportation, lunch, hair, nails, movies, etc. If it doesn’t fit in your 30%, then you have to eliminate it! And you must use cash for this portion of your budget to avoid a spending addiction (this is what happens when you walk in the department store for toothpaste and walk out with one hundred seventy-nine dollars and forty-seven cents worth of stuff you don’t need!). Leave your debit card, credit card, and checkbook at home so you can break this terrible addiction that keeps you from being financially free. d. 50% = Money in Your Checking Account for Bills. Leave 50% in your checking account to pay your bills. If there’s not enough money in your account for your bills, DO NOT reduce your tithing or saving (I already know what you were thinking). You can reduce your 30%, contact your creditors to determine if there are less costly ways to maintain their services, or you can cancel some things all together. Who needs cable when you are living check to Monday? That’s what I thought!

No matter what your situation is, you can overcome your money woes if you are willing to face yourself and make changes in your life. I once helped a lady with four bankruptcies and two foreclosures become a homeowner with a six percent interest rate and only fourteen hundred dollars Handcrafted Jewelry down on a government insured, safe and secure mortgage. And it only took her nine months tobydo it. If she can do it, anyone can. This means you! If you are ready to roll up your sleeves and Tijuana Gipson get busy “undoing all the doing you have done,” then you can Owner/Designer and will see a change in your finances.

Visit our website

In closing, remember what a wise colleague once told me, “Rich www.tgeedesigns.com people stay rich because they act or poor, and poor people stay poor because they act rich!” Face yourself and make the change. www.tgeedesigns.etsy.com I’ll be here if youus need Follow onme! facebook @ T-Gee Designs

We specialize in creating one of a kind

pieces for special occasions.

Adorn yourself!

Call (773)392-0312 or Lynn Richardson is life/financial coach and the e-mail us aatcertified contact@tgeedesigns.com

About Lynn

Chief Operations Executive of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. She is the author of “Living Check to Monday: The Real Deal About Money, Credit, and Financial Security,” “Living Beyond Check to Monday: A Spiritual Path to Wealth and Prosperity,” and “Yes, You’re Approved! The Real Deal About Getting a Mortgage and Buying a Home.”

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Handcrafted Jewelry by Tijuana Gipson Owner/Designer

Visit our website www.tgeedesigns.com or www.tgeedesigns.etsy.com Follow us on facebook @ T-Gee Designs We specialize in creating one of a kind pieces for special occasions.

Adorn yourself!

Call (773)392-0312 or e-mail us at contact@tgeedesigns.com

ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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Are you praying effectively? take the quiz

1 I pray

( a ) several times a day ( b )several times a week ( c ) when I feel like it ( d )only when something really bad happens

2 I tend to pray

( a ) only at church ( b )often, I continually talk with Christ ( c ) habitually, at a set time using specific prayers and scriptures ( d )only when I think about doing it

3 If I go a few days without praying. I feel

(a) spiritually famished; out of fellowship with God (b) guilty (c) indifferent (d) better than when I do pray

( 1 . )If you answered a, keep up the good work. Continue to pray. If you answered b, c, or d- know that the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17” to pray without ceasing”, and Matthew 26:41 says, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into emptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” ( 2 . ) If you answered b then you are doing great. Continue to seek him! If you answered a or d - prayer is communication with God. Communicating with God is a way of growing closer to Him. If you’re only praying when you think about it or when you’re at church, then you may be a part-time Christian. There is no such thing! You’re either all the way for Christ or you’re not- there is no in-between. Learn to make God apart of your daily life, center your day around Christ, not Christ around your day. If you answered c, it’s good to have specific scriptures and prayers but also remember to allow the Spirit of God to lead you and make intercession for you as well. Romans 8: 26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself interceded for us with groans that words cannot express.”

4 After praying, I usually feel:

( 3 . )We were made to worship Him, to bask in His presence. He wants us to be close to him. If we go any amount time without praying, the Holy Spirit will convict us in an effort to prompt us to get back into right fellowship with Christ. If you answered c or d, sin may be hindering your prayers. Press and pray. Press to pray. If this doesn’t help, find a reliable prayer partner to help you as you seek God’s face.

5 I tend to pray to

( 4 . )If you answered c or d, try talking to your pastor or a fellow brother or sister who is strong in their faith. They should be able to help you assess why you are feeling confused or indifferent. You should also know that feeling confused or the same as before you prayed could merely be an attack of the enemy. Continue to pray, and seek the face of God.

(a) peaceful (b) energized (c) confused (d) the same way I felt before I prayed

( a ) feel better about myself ( b )give thanks for something ( c ) commune with God ( d )ask for what I need 16

?

( 5 . )All of these answers are good, but there should always be a balance. There will be times when you

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?

Are you praying effectively? will pray because you need God to fulfill a need, but there should also be times when you pray merely to commune with God and/or thank Him. As for praying to feel better about ourselves, when you pray and seek the God who created and knows all about you, you will feel much better about yourself. It’s a domino effect, if you exalt Him, if you seek Him, then He’s going to give you the confidence, peace, and strength you need to make it daily.

of others] flows from close fellowship with God.” That fellowship begins with prayer.

Need help getting started, follow these steps:

1 . ) Just Do It. (Men Ought Always to Pray and not lose heart (Luke 18:1), pray consistently (1 Thessalonians 5:17). No matter how tired, burdened, or unworthy you feel, just do it, just pray. Press.

“Depend upon it, if you are bent on prayer, the devil will not leave you alone. He will molest you, tantalize you, block you, and will surely find Are you praying effectively? some hindrances, big or little or both. And we sometimes fail because we are ignorant of his devices…I do not think he minds our praying about If you’re not praying at all, you need to start. If things if we leave it at that. What he minds, and opposes steadily, is the you’re someone who says you pray often and fre- prayer that prays on until it is prayed through, assured of the answer.” quently- pray more. You can never pray enough. We - Mary Warburton Booth often look around the world and criticize it for the shape it’s in. We become angry when we think about 2. ) Pray in faith. ( James 5: 15) prayer being taken out of schools, annoyed when we see little boys and men sporting baggy pants, white 3 . ) Pray for yourself and others. ( Matthew 6: 9- 13, Ephesians 1: tees, and volatile intentions, and disgusted when 15-23) Don’t be a selfish believer. This walk is not just about you- it’s we see girls and women voluntarily enslaving them- about your family, your friends, your neighbors, and that selves to perversity; but yet we still fail to pray. homeless man you just passed on the corner. Make it a habit to pray Sometimes it can be difficult to pray. Truth be told, a lot of us struggle to pray for ourselves, yet alone those around us. Either our schedules are too busy or we’re so burdened by the pressures of life that we feel we don’t have the energy to do it. We may even feel unworthy of seeking God- so we continue pressing our way through life without ever fully experiencing God in an intimate and personal way.

Whether you realize it or not- prayer is essential to your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Prayer is communication with God- you don’t have to do it at any specific time- for God neither slumbers nor sleeps. Neither does it require you to always bow with eyes closed; prayer can take place as you dress for work, drive to the local grocery store, exercise, or even walk to the mailbox. Prayer is important if you want to be the woman or man God has called and destined you to be. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, praying and fasting before he began his ministry. Throughout his ministry he would often set aside time to pray alone to the Father. If Jesus did it, then surely we must do it. Prayer draws us closer to God and ultimately is a funnel from which we gain clarity and direction. As Dale Fife wrote in his book, The Secret Place: Passionately Pursuing His Presence, “All ministry [a service to meet the needs VISIT www.AshesForBeautyMagazine.com

for the needs of others. For example, when you see an accident, or an ambulance zooming down the street, pray for those for which the ambulance is racing to get to. Pray for your community. Pray for your co-workers, especially the one who makes it her prerogative to get on your last nerve.

4. ) Pray boldly. ( Hebrews 4:16) Why wouldn’t you or better yet, why shouldn’t you? He has given you authority to tread upon the head of the enemy, use it!

5. ) Pray for God’s will to be done. ( Pray the scriptures) What does the word say, pray that, anything else is irrelevant.

Let’s Go Deeper Beyond just praying for our daily needs and the needs of others, we must also pray in an effort to search out the heart of God. What is it that He wants from us? How would He have us to pray? For whom would He like us to intercede?

This is our prayer…

Lord we thank you and we praise you for this day.

We thank you that you are an awesome and forgiving God- who is great in mercy and abundant in grace.

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Are you praying effectively?

Father what is your will for us on today.

What is your will for this city (name of your city) and what role would you have me to play in your will being carried out? Beyond that Father what is your will for my household, for my neighborhood. Father use me today, to be a blessing to those I encounter. When people see me, I pray that they would see you. Help me to let my light so shine that men might see my good works and glorify you which are in heaven.

What Happens When We Pray - Things Change.

-Closer fellowship with God. - Our hearts are set on fire for

the glory of God. - Revival.

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Chic and sophisticated at best.

fashion

Model: Alana Black Satin Dress (Chelle Lee Design) Gold and Black Suede Belt (Vintage) Earrings (Forever 21) Peep Toe Lace Bootie (Charlotte Russe)

modestly sexy is there such a thing? mod’est∙ly: decent sex∙y: highly appealing or interesting

Christian women are sexy. These are three words you thought you’d never see in the same sentence, unless of course you were adding the word not. The truth is any woman who’s loving God and herself is well…sexy. After all, being sexy isn’t so much about how you dress but rather how you carry yourself; your swagger, your confidence, your faith, your passion for life.

Being modestly sexy isn’t about exposing skin, but rather exposing your inner beauty. It’s about being attractive, not provocative. And, as one man put it- you can be sexy, just don’t be obvious.

Creative Director: Charlotte Betts Photography by Nuru Kimondo Hair by Hauntis VISIT www.AshesForBeautyMagazine.com

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fashion

Get curve appeal without curb appeal.

Model: Tenia Black and White Strapless Dress (Chocolate Sushi Couture) Faux Snake Skin Shoes (Dollhouse) Bib Necklace (Forever 21)

t a woman a h w t u o b a is sexy body, r e “ I don’t think h s t c e p s e r t an tha wears… a wom g she has, in h t y r e v e t n u o fla y because doesn’t have t it r g e t in h ig h rself in to me!” y x e and carries he s ’s t a h t w serves…no of the God she ayne, IN – S.B., Fort W 20

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fashion

Leather and lace and everything nice, that’s what fabulosity is made of.

Model: Glenda Cream Lace Dress with Leather Details (Chelle Lee Design) Opaque Tights (Marshalls) Earrings (H & M) Shoes (Model’s own)

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health

Not Too Young- Get the facts!!!

If you think you’re too young to be diagnosed with breast cancer, think again. According to the Young Survival Coalition, the only international non-profit organization dedicated to the specific concerns of young women diagnosed with breast cancer, many people, including doctors, are under the impression that young women are not at risk for breast cancer. The facts however are that: • Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54.

• Breast cancer in young women is more aggressive and results in lower survival rates.

• 1 out of 229 women between the ages of 30 & 39 will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next ten years.

• The 5 year survival rate in young women with breast cancer is 82% lower than their post-menopausal counterparts.

Now that you know- TAKE ACTION… How? Give yourself a breast self-exam once every month. The exam should be done a few days after your period ends as this is the time in which your breasts are less tender or swollen. Do your exams at the same time every month!

What should I be looking for when I do a Breast Self- Exam?

• lump or swelling • skin irritation or retraction (turning inward) • redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin • a discharge other than breast milk >> Continued on page 39

• There is no effective breast cancer screening tool for women 40 and under.

• Young women are often diagnosed at a later stage than their older counterparts.

• There is very little research or educational material focused on issues unique to this younger population, such as fertility, pregnancy, genetic predisposition, the impact of hormonal status on the effectiveness of treatment, psycho-social and long-term survivorship issues, and higher mortality rates for young women, particularly for African-Americans and Latinas.

• Young women diagnosed with breast cancer often feel isolated and have little contact with peers who can relate to what they are experiencing.

• As the incidence of young women with breast cancer is much lower than in older women, young women are underrepresented in many research studies.

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living suite

State of Mind Design

By Lisa Beckford

What state of mind do you find yourself in when it comes to the design and decor in your home? Your “State of Mind Design” defines the mood that you’re in, the mood of your home, and simply how you feel about particular spaces in your home. Your home and its current condition can affect how you feel emotionally and mentally. The State of Mind Design is about more than your home. It also includes your heart, body, and your soul; therefore making a reflection to the world through your personality as well as your attitude towards others. A peaceful environment starts with a peaceful person. When you let go and let God give you ultimate peace, you are content and happy with all of the things around you, then and only then are you able to create a masterpiece. But first you have to seek the guidance from God, let Him lead you, and study His word.

Romans 5:1- Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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living suite To begin this journey, I invite you to take the State of Mind Quiz, to see just where you stand and what your next step should be.

RESULTS

1 When was the last time you moved your furniture around? a. last night b. last week c. last month d. last year

Mostly D’s: Feel the symptoms of losing your mind yet?

If not, you are certainly on your way. You need to have a sense of identification for each room in your home to even begin to figure out what goes where and how.

Mostly C’s: You are having issues. You thought you had things figured out, but when it was all said and done, something was just not right. Take the time and sort through items that are cluttering your space. This may be a great time to get rid of items, try a yard sale or simply donate the items to your local Goodwill.

2 How often do you feel like painting a room? a. all of the time b. never c. I don’t know how to paint d. Does painting crafts count?

Mostly B’s: Okay, okay, not much to say here, well, let

3 Is your garage/storage unit cluttered with household me re-phrase that, little to be said here. You have things items? somewhat together, but you can use your own two a. yes hands to add personality to your home. No one wants b. no to visit the “Plain Jane” house, or the house that looks c. my house is cluttered with garage/storage items just like theirs. Use what you have to add a little pizzazz d. my entire house is cluttering me, please somebody help me! to your space. Use your creativity.

4 Does your home gym look more like a home office? a. yes b. no c. it is certainly getting there d. home gym??

5

Your bedroom works _____________ duty

a. single b. double c. triple d. bedroom?

Mostly A’s: Change is good, and you like change, but too much change can wear you out and turn into a decorating/design horror story. Pace yourself and think your schemes through before jumping into action. Also, think of ways to update what you already have, go ahead and refresh one room at a time, get used to it and then move on to the next space.

Remember, with God all things are possible, good design and good decorating comes from within, use your creativity and don’t be afraid of change.

6 Your kitchen is _________________ a. outdated b. factory/standard c. identical to my neighbors d. undefined VISIT www.AshesForBeautyMagazine.com

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SIMPLY REDEEMED And you will ask… Am I redeemable?

And God will simply say…Yes.

by Traneisha Y. Jones Each time I hear the media talk about Chris Brown or Michael Vick I get utterly p---d off !

Why? Because these are two individuals, who have seemingly paid their dues for the acts they committed. Were they right in what they did?

Of course not. But, if they have taken steps to do right, who are we, to continue to lambast them and bring up their past. We all make mistakes.

We all sin and fall short of God’s glory. We all have things that we’ve done to hurt the heart of the Father. But the good thing about God is that He is great in grace and great in mercy. So no matter what you’ve done, God is faithful to forgive you if you will repent, and turn to Him. The thought that you can not turn back or even approach God for the first time, is an attack of the enemy. Christ died that we might have life and have it more abundantly. If you’re holding on to your past, that’s a stronghold, Christ has redeemed you from that. Except his offer of grace and mercy. Walk in His righteousness and truth.

Walk boldly in Christ’s love, because He lives and He reigns, and He stands waiting to fellowship with you.

In Isaiah 3, we see God stripping the Israelites of several things as a result of their disobedience. But in Isaiah 61, we see Him proclaiming the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who will restore all of the things that were lost. You no longer have to live in mourning, He’s given us gladness. You don’t have to carry the weight of despair, He’s replaced it with praise. For ashes, all of those sins, all of the bondage from your childhood, the residue of sins you’ve committed as an adult, He’s given you beauty. Walk in it.

“If the beautiful see themselves, they will love themselves.”

- Amiri Baraka See yourself the way God sees you.

Simply Redeemed.

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10/24/10 Join us for the premiere launch of Ashes for Beauty Magazine.

To purchase tickets, visit

http://www.ashesforbeautymagazine.com 28

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the rib shack

Dear God’s Good Girls

By Kenny Pugh

This is written to the many women who are trying to do things ‘right’ according to God’s Word. I know I am NOT a woman and I definitely enjoy my masculinity, but I do recognize your current frustration in today’s environment of male-female relationships. Just so we are clear as to what my definition of doing ‘right’ is, allow me to further explain. Here are the characteristics of how a God’s good girl should operate based on MY interpretation of God’s Word.

4. God’s Good Girl has forgiven all of her ex-boyfriends for their relationship failures and has purged all hurts. This includes acknowledging your contribution to the demise of the relationship. (Matthew 18:21-22) 5. God’s Good Girl recognizes that her body is a temple and protects (doesn’t give it away sexually), adorns (dresses respectfully) and preserves it (exercises). (1 Cor. 6:18-20)

1. God’s Good Girl has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of her life. (1 John 5:12-13) 2. God’s Good Girl serves faithfully in ministry and enjoys doing God’s work. (1 Cor. 7:32) 3. God’s Good Girl is actively working to improve herself in ALL areas of life in preparation for the mate God has for her (i.e. spiritually, financially, socially, professionally, mentally and emotionally). (Proverbs 31)

Many of my Christian sisters are dedicated and consistently operate according to the principles outlined above. I also want to emphasize that nowhere did I mention that you have to be perfect so don’t place too much pressure on yourself to do so.

As we see in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This includes the many pastors, preachers, evangelists and prophets who act as if they have the ability to walk on water. >> Continued on page 39

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soul music

Shirlandria

A message of hope, determination, and well, victory is what you’ll get when you listen to Shirlandria Enoch’s debut album Victory. In her new album, Shirlandria gives us a sneak peak of her spiritual journey as a follower of Christ. Here at AFB we’re always inspired by testimonies. Shirlandria’s is no different. After reading her interview we hope you’ll be encouraged in knowing that despite your circumstances, despite your past, God can grant you victory over defeat.

- How long have you been singing?

I have been singing since the age of 3, but seriously singing for God, as in ministry, for 7 years now.

- When did you realize you had the gift of singing?

I realized the calling at the age of 15, but it wasn’t until I rededicated, at the age of 20, that I began to understand the magnitude of the gift.

- Did you run from it or embrace it?

Both…when I was younger, I was on fire for God and wanted to use my gifts to glorify him in any and every way possible, but I wasn’t ready. I made God a promise that if I ever sang, I would not take my gift to the world, but that I would do it for him. I began writing songs in my notebook. Then, there was a time period, when I totally ran away from God all together. In all honesty, during this time frame for about 2-3 years, I forgot all about the gift. I literally forgot that I could sing. When God started dealing with me about my lifestyle, he reminded me of the promise that I made to him years earlier, and I would literally wake up in the middle of the night hearing the songs I had written. From that point on, after I rededicated, I embraced it. I knew that what God had put inside of me was something huge, that he wanted to use me and I told him yes.

- From the time you first realized you had the gift of singing... to now... how have you grown?

Wow, I have matured spiritually, mentally, emotionally; I have just grown up in all areas. I now realize that even though God may give you a promise and a calling or a foresight or vision into what he has for you, there is still a process. I now understand that it is just as important that not only the gifts be developed but more importantly, that your character be developed. God has humbled me so much through these years and I understand that my gift is not for me or about me at all. I didn’t get that before, it was all about what I could do or what I could be. It’s his gift, not mine and I choose to be a vessel that he can flow through and use however he sees fit.

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- The Bible says we overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev: 12:11).

What’s your testimony?

I have many testimonies; God has been so good to me and shown himself strong in my life many times. What some would consider my “main testimony’ is that I was molested at a very young age, by a female and it wasn’t a one time ordeal, it happened many times. I was exposed to things that no one that age should experience. This clouded my understanding and as I got older, I began to act out. I became very promiscuous and began searching for love, and affirmation from males. I thought if I had sex with guys, they would accept me. I saw how guys would only use girls to get what they wanted, so I started doing the same thing to them.

I thought it was ok. There was a very strong lustful and manipulating spirit operating in me and I didn’t realize it then. In my freshman year of college, I was hurt very deeply by a guy I was in a relationship with and in my time of devastation or when I was most vunerable, I guess the seed that was planted years ago, when I was molested, resurfaced. I fell for it. I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t attending church anywhere and I had backsliden so far, that I guess it didn’t matter to me. I was in a relationship with a female for two years. Those were the worst two years of my life. I was so depressed I lost weight, my grades started falling and I totally lost who I was. I had forgotten about God and the gifts he’d given me and the promise that I made to him. I would drink heavily and began smoking weed to block the pain, but >> Continued on page 40 VISIT www.AshesForBeautyMagazine.com

Un-Khained Productions was birthed out of a desire to create a different Christianthemed product – a product that would have Holy boldness (Philippians 1:20); a product that would proclaim the Kingdom of God in a way that is not watered down, nor flowery, nor dull (Hebrews 4:12). We want to deliver a real message to address real life-issues and present the living God to a dying world.

We at Un-Khained Productions realize that in many cases the funds needed for youth groups, Christian Schools, Mission Trips and other ministry needs must be raised primarily by the group members themselves. We have developed a fundraising program (Releasing Riches) that is profitable for your group and easy to implement.

As we move towards expanding the brand to encompass other avenues, we are currently in search of graphic artists, musicians, and lyrical artists. If you are gifted in these areas and are looking for a platform from which to display your talent and reach the nations, please e-mail a sample of your work or a link to your portfolio to us info@un-khained.com.

Un-Khained Productions: Evangelizing the world‌one shirt at a time Visit us online at www.un-khained.com.

TashS photo by derek blanks 32

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ha Smith

By Traneisha Y. Jones

Meet Tasha Smith. She’s no cougar, but she does play one in the upcoming film “Jumping the Broom.” Set to be released Mother’s Day 2011, the romantic-comedy, produced by Bishop T.D. Jakes and starring Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Paula Patton, Laz Alonzo, and Mike Epps, amongst others; follows the clashing of two Black families from “opposite ends of the track” at a weekend wedding in Martha’s vineyard.

Known best for her role as the feisty, loud, and dare we say “crazy” Angela, in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married (I & II)?, Tasha is definitely making waves in Hollywood.

When she’s not acting, she spends her time coaching aspiring actor’s with her Tasha Smith Acting Workshops in Los Angeles. She’s also writing a book- Inspired to Act, and recently produced the foot-stomping, handclapping, sho-nuff “We havin church in here” single- So Good, for new artist Holy Boy. Ashes For Beauty recently caught up with the actress to discuss faith, her latest movie project (Jumping the Broom), and her newest roles as author and music producer.

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AFB: Tell us about your new book TS: I’m not only an acting teacher, but also a motivator. The book is entitled Inspired to Act. It’s about putting your dreams in motion; and utilizing all the different dimensions of who you are to accomplish what God has put you on this earth to do, whether it’s professionally, relationally, as a mother, a father, a friend. We all have to utilize what’s within us in order to create the relationships and opportunities we need in life. It’s called Inspired to Act because in everything, and act not as a negative, but you put on a different energy when you’re teaching. Like right now you are the journalist interviewer, that’s who you are, that’s the role you’re playing in this interview, but once you hang up, and you go home to your mother’s house, you’re the daughter or if you’re with your husband ,you’re the wife, if you’re with your children, you’re the mother. It takes several different parts and dimensions of who you are to make all of those relationships and the dynamics of those relationships work and be successful in your life. We use tools from my teaching as far as acting is concerned.

Everything, as I feel as an actor, in life, is objective driven. You have to know what your objective is, you have to be clear on what your goals are, and you can’t let obstacles stop you but you have to allow yourself to be stronger to leap over every opportunity of an obstacle. So it’s dealing with objectives of life, it’s dealing with the obstacles that may come and may try to block you, but at the same time those obstacles empower you, after you get over them you get something out of it.

AFB: When can we expect it?

We’re still finishing it up but it will be out soon.

AFB: What role does prayer play in your success?

TS: First of all, prayer, not only does it play a role in my success but it also plays a role in my everyday life. It’s like when you have a computer, in order to use your computer it has to be charged up-and when start seeing that red light come on, what do you do? You plug that thing up, right, so that you can use it in the way that you need to. I feel the same way with life; we have to stay charged up. We go out and we allow ourselves to be used in our everyday life through work, through communication, through family, through friends, everything that we do. We’re out there, we’re putting out, we’re giving, and then we have to go and get charged up through prayer.

AFB: What do you feel God’s will is for your life as it relates to Hollywood? How do you feel being a Christian plays out in Hollywood? How does that connect to the people around you?

TS: I don’t really look at as if I’m just called to Hollywood. As a Christian in life I am to walk in God’s love and also to allow God to be glorified in my life from day to day. And since I do work in Hollywood and the people that I encounter a lot are the people in 33

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my business I live the life that God has called me to live. That’s part of my purpose to glorify Him and to empower people to want to get to know Him. But aside from that, it’s utilizing every gift and every talent that you have on the inside of you. You know how God talks about the talents and how people bury theirs. My whole thing is to not bury anything that God has given me but to use everything that God has given me for His glory and to live the best life that He has called me to live on this earth realm. And while I’m living that life- part of living that best life is glorifying God, is ministering God’s love to people, and just hoping that day comes when He says “Well done my good and faithful servant.”.. Really it’s just to serve god, to serve people, and to live the best life that God has called me to live. It’s like God said he gave gifts unto men- some preachers, teachers, evangelists, apostles, prophets, and its all for the work of the ministry. I do believe that there are people in the marketplace that have those gifts on their life. The apostle whether it’s in Hollywood, the prophet whether it’s at a law firm-but God will utilize that calling on people’s life to minister in whatever place they’re at. I think the thing that is so interesting to me is whenever I talk to people about being a Christian they act like “oh” it’s this deep thing to be a Christian in Hollywood. It’s like, why is that so deep. Like to me, being a Christian is just who you are. It’s not like you can’t be it in the environment you’re in, that’s just who you are. You have people that are Muslims, that are Buddhists, and they don’t only become what they are or what they’re choice of belief is because of their environment, but people act as if being a Christian is this big deal because you’re in Hollywood, no. I just feel that we have to stop being so religious and just be committed to God and who we are in God and understanding that our environment is not going to change us, but if we are rooted in Christ, we’re called to be atmosphere changers. So we don’t change because of the environment that we’re in.

Wouldn’t care if you’re dropped off in the middle of one country to another, wherever you are you have to be authentic and true to who you are and the fact that you’re a Christian and rooted in Christ, and that’s that. Regardless of what environment you’re in. And it’s not anything to make a big deal out of, it’s just a fact.

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job of evangelizing, but when it comes to discipleship we fall short. What do you think the church can do differently to adequately disciple people- to connect them to Christ moreso than the church itself ?

TS: At the end of the day, the key is discipleship. We used to have a lot of discipleship programs back in the day. People were definitely involved in discipling people and helping them to learn who they are in God. We’re probably losing a lot of people within the church now than ever before because some people may feel they don’t have their needs met, their everyday needs met within the church when it comes to marriage, relationships, finances. And just the everyday things that people need in order to live, sometimes its like they’re not getting it, they’re not being taken care of like they were back in the day. Something has definitely changed. But I do agree, we should step up our discipleship game to help meet the needs of the people and not just ourselves.

AFB: There are a lot of young women struggling with relationships, what kind of advice would you give to women on reclaiming/maintaining their virtue.

TS:If we allow ourselves to fellowship with God more and allow

ourselves to have that intimacy with Him more,then we won’t look for that intimacy outside of God through sexuality. I think a lot of times young girls they try to define themselves through sexuality not through who they are and how God created them in His image. I think that the only way we can really see who we are is if we fellowship and spend time with God and spend time in His Word. As we do that, what did He say, His word is like a hammer unto a rock- whatever those images are that we have, whatever those self-defining moments that we’ve had in our lives whereas we feel that we can only be great, or be loved, or feel attractive, if we allow ourselves to give up our virtue to the different men that we encounter, we’re never going to get strong in that area.

Instead of having this fellowship with all of these guys. , trying to define who we are as women, I feel like if we can put our focus and our fellowship with the Lord, we’ll find ourselves being stronger than ever, being more beautiful than ever, because I’m telling you When I didn’t think I was attractive, when I started spending time with the Lord, when I came out of from prayer, I would look in the mirror and be like you one fine, good looking chick.

You know what I’m sayin, I think it just comes back to fellowship with God, I really do. And even if a woman

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makes those mistakes, you have to get back up in forgiveness and in righteousness. Because we know that it’s by grace that we’re saved through faith, not through works, not through what we do or don’t do, but it’s the fact that we have given our lives and our hearts to Jesus and part of our relationship with the Lord is repenting. That’s a gift that he’s given us.That’s something that the devil can’t even take away from us. When you repent you get back up so that you’re not living in condemnation, because you’re walking in the Spirit of God. And I think that sometimes with young girls like that when they make those mistakes they live in condemnation and guilt … and sometimes immature people will sit and try to condemn them to hell, but that’s not what Jesus is doing, Jesus is pulling them right back into His bosom and is covering them. He says that if you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. so it goes right back to us pouring ourselves into God. And letting Him cover us, knowing that after we repent, guess what, it’s over the enemy can’t bring it back in our face, you know, it’s just like if a person is on trial, and if the jury says that they are now not guilty, there’s no such thing as double jeopardy, you can’t bring a crime back up and try to reaccuse them if they’ve already been found not guilty.

AFB: How did you get involved with the music project, producing the song “So Good” by Holy Boy? TS: Well, I love worship and along with my acting school I’m forming a management company with my soon to be husband, and he had already been managing different gospel artist (and we were also going into managing actors and actresses) and it’s about empowering people to pursue their purpose in life, in the arts, and in what God has called them to do and be. So when I met with Holy Boy, I just loved his music, I loved his worship, and I just got an opportunity to be a part of this project, and I’m so excited about it. He has so many amazing songs, and “So Good” is just one of them. We’re going to go back and do some old school, some new school, some worship, some just ministering through song, it’s just a blessing. And really its just about me loving worship and wanting to help other artists to get their music out there and their ministry out there.

AFB: I went and listened to the song “So Good”, and when I saw the name Holy Boy, I initially thought he was a Gospel rapper, so the name threw me off a little bit. And then when I really listened to the song, I was actually surprised to know that you would even like traditional gospel, especially since you’re from New Jersey.

music , whenever we’re hanging out, I’ll say let’s turn on the IPod, and they’re like noooooooooooooooo, cause all you’re gonna be playing is your gospel music and we gon be in here praising the Lord. Like, can we get some Marvin Gaye?

AFB: Who’s your favorite artist?

TS: Holy Boy, a new artist that I’m getting ready to work with- Tanya Baker, she comes from the Shekinah Glory group, and I love Israel.

AFB: What type of advice would you give to women who may be battling their own fears or doubts about pursuing destiny / the things that God has called them to do?

TS: I would say live life like you have absolutely nothing to lose! And if God gave you the dream, if God gave you the passion, it must be for a purpose. A lot of times, some people say that they’re fearful, but sometimes people are just lazy and not risk takers in life. We want to sit, we want to pray and hope that something’s going to drop down out of the sky, instead of working. Faith without works is dead and a lot of times it’s like we kinda live in this entitled society, we feel entitled to things. We just want to sit back and wait for people to give us something instead of getting out there, getting down and dirty, I mean even with people in ministry, I’ve seen so many people, going to church saying I want to preach, and the Pastor should give me the pulpit, why don’t he let me get up and preach today, why can’t I do the offering, cause God called me to preach but they don’t want to go out and do the work that that Pastor had to do in order to even start that ministry. Go start a Bible Study in your house, in your garage, in your backyard, go out there and take some tracks and minister to the homeless in the city. A lot of times we want things to be given, but we don’t want to work. And I would say , to work, to work, and to work. And then look at Galatians 6:9 when He says to not grow weary while you’re doing good because you gotta due season, ok,that you will reap if you faint not ;and people are so quick to faint then wonder why they’re not getting the blessing because they give up too soon and they’re not willing to put in the time and the perseverance. Go for broke, that’s my advice.

TS: What! Yeah girl, I love gospel! I love traditional gospel and I love praise and worship. That is like what I live off of ! My friends are always cracking on me because whenever I play my 35

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Holy Boy New artist chasing the heart of God and teaching us to do the same.

After hearing Holy Boy sing, one would truly understand why Tasha Smith decided to produce his newest single, So Good. His music radiates praise, and leads one directly into the presence of God. The Mobile, Alabama born and bred artist, has firm roots in the church. His music is not only a reflection of his southern upbringing but it’s also a result of his being a “MK”- ministry kid; his grandmother is a pastor and his mother a church administrator. In his debut album with Era Music Group- Out of Time, Holy Boy admonishes listeners to live a sanctified and holy life. Check out tunes like God Chaser, Hold On, and Church Tonight when you purchase Holy Boy’s Out of Time cd on iTunes.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of RKD Music Management

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gourmet kitchen

Eating with WellChef Cordell BREAKFAST ON THE GO

Have you ever calculated how many times you hit the snooze button before actually getting out of the bed? You get out of bed, in just enough time to get to work without being late. On the way out, we remember to grab our keys, wallet, coffee, and briefcase/ bag; however, we tend to forget the most important part to a great start of the day, breakfast.

Breakfast gives our bodies the fuel it needs to help provide energy, better concentration, emotional stability, and problem-solving ability throughout the day. Our blood sugar (glucose) levels are at the lowest point of the day when we wake up; glucose is the basic fuel for the brain and central nervous system. Breakfast helps curtail and control hunger, and helps you reach and maintain your ideal weight, as it satisfies your appetite longer, aiding in preventing binge eating. For children, eating breakfast is paramount, and has direct correlation with focus and better grades. Several studies show that children who eat a good breakfast tend to perform better in school, have better attendance, and decreased hyperactivity.

Among many options, including fresh fruit, whole grain cereal, yogurt, bran muffins, vegetable omelets, and more, challenge yourself to eat breakfast everyday for the next couple of weeks; you will see the positive difference! And, if you happen to arise without hitting snooze, try this recipe: Heat the canola oil over medium high heat in a sauce pan. Add the bell peppers and garlic, and sauté until the peppers are soft (about 3 minutes). Add the scallions, and continue to sauté for 1-2 minutes. While sautéing, crack and whisk the eggs together in a bowl. Add the cumin, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to the bowl. Fold the eggs into to pan, and continue to move the eggs around the pan until fully cooked. Remove pan of eggs from the fire and fold in the cilantro and cheese.

BREAKFAST BURRITOS Serves 4 8 eggs

1 green bell pepper, diced

In a separate pan, over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of canola oil, and quickly cook the tortillas for 30-45 seconds on each side. When done, roll the egg mixture in the warm tortilla shell; enjoy!

1 red bell pepper, diced ½ bunch scallions, sliced

REMEMBER, if you want to serve more/less people, the recipe can be divided/multiplied accordingly (If serving two people, cut the recipe in half; if eight, double it).

2 garlic bulbs, minced 2 Tablespoons of cumin, ground ½ bunch of cilantro, chopped ½ cup of Cheddar or Monterrey- Jack cheese 4 Whole wheat tortillas 2 Tablespoons of canola oil 1 Tablespoon of cayenne pepper 1 Tablespoon Kosher or sea salt 1 teaspoon of black pepper

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ASK THE CHEF

Do you have any questions for me? Please forward any questions to chefcordell@passionscuisine.com, and we may feature it (along with the answer) in the next article!

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poetry

Fear in Love by Christina Keaster

Victorious Purpose by Dominique Burney Take a look at the sunrise beaming gently through the trees Can you imagine the pain if left without its beauty Keep your eyes on the horizon and its glorious appeal If your foundation were to crumble, how far could you see It is clear that there is a reason for all these things Not only for pleasure but neccessity A crime to be ignorant, a shame if you can't see Everything is his creation created purposefully Each step we take, every thought we make Brings us closer to pure perfection so rejoice Made in his image we'll conquer, no doors locked before us We hold the keys and we walk purposefully Take a look at this world with all its ugly negativity With eyes of man there's so much you don't see But with eyes of a child beauty becomes reality Everything on this Earth has a reason to be Your ups and your downs captivate you with fear But believe what I tell you the lesson he'll soon reveal If you're strong in your faith you'll know the meaning of this Everything is his creation created with purpose in it.

Each step we take, every thought we make Brings us closer to pure perfection so rejoice Made in his image we'll conquer, no doors locked before us We hold the keys and we walk purposefully Can I Walk With You? By: D. CYBER © 2004 Can I walk with You? Hand in hand Over the fields, through the streets, on the white beach sand.

Can I just walk with You? I won’t lead or dictate, Just watch as an attentive child.

Please let me walk with You...

I am unable to be without You while still so unworthy to be near You, Too uneducated to realize this overly crafty world without You, Let me not be too stubborn to follow just You. What was that, did You say that I could walk with You? I promise not to disappoint You, Yet only by following You will I learn what it means to keep a promise.

So I Can Walk With You! I don’t know what to say.

This is truly my happiest day.

Better than that wonderful day in May On which Mexico was able to liberate and my father was made.

I get to walk with You. Not another day blue I can just smile with joy and gaze at Your Glory.

Sit attentive to every story Kneel at Your feet and for everything say sorry Lay prostrate and just bask in your Son. *Whew*! I’m gonna walk with You.

She puts love in her pocket on those lonely days and lays it on her pillow at night.

Between the tears that fall gently from her tired eyes, she rests in a fear of never loving another. And each night as she lays it there, her comfort is solely focused on your name. Memories sweep through her mind and countless thoughts develop her emotion of regret. But she fights her regret with hope and trust until her dreams capture her eyes dimming into her black room. She dreams of you sometimes and wishes with all her heart she was yours. She would love you if you would only love her back.

In the mornings he awakes slowly, covers up the tears, and begins her day. Free of you, her thoughts denigrate with every smile. Her ambitions become worthwhile.

She grows with confidence and strength. No one knows it is you who haunts her every night. You are not what she wants but only what she thinks she needs. She desperately asks for you to leave but without your forgiveness she is binded tightly to all you are. Faith in God is her only hope and she clings to it day by day, night by night.

She puts love in her pocket on those lonely days and lays it on her pillow at night.

Walking In My Destiny

by Roxanne Shereia Hester Lord where am I going?

How long must I wait?

Am I really equipped for this journey You’ve destined me to take?

Lord how can I learn to run this race When I’m just learning to walk?

How can I speak my destiny when I’m just learning to talk?

How can I stand really bold When I just learned to crawl?

I hear you gently tell me, “ My child I’ll help you through it all.

I know the plans I have for you as time goes by you too will know.

My grace and mercy is all you need to take with you on the go.

You will have trained for this exercise and continue everyday to train.

When you get tired, take a drink of my living name.

Next thing you know, you’ll be surprised as your spiritual eyes do see That your life was training all along for you walking in your destiny.”

"I'm Not Conceited" by Diondra Bradshaw Too unique to describe Too intelligent to understand Too beautiful to know Too original to command Im a diamond in the rough But im not conceited.

Im just highly aware Of the standards I've exceeded My color is not a disgrace Or a description of me It is not a certain race Its just all you can see My character is disclosed Key locked in my mind Im not an open book You must read between the lines Not too vague and not too shy Not too tough yet not afraid to cry Out of the box but not over the top I go straight for the best and I dont stop There's only one of me Im full of details Im too original Im not for resale Originality is the beholder of my beauty I glisten in the sun and shine through the night Being defeated is not my forte, Confidence is golden My intellect is pure, My being is quite a surreal sight My success is not far ahead of me My story is being planned My love for myself is infinite Respect is my demand

Are you poet and you know it. Submit poetry to submissions@ashesforbeautymagazine.com.

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Continued from page 23>>

Continued from page 29 >>

How is the breast self- exam done?*

If you fall in the God’s Good Girl category and consistently find yourself frustrated because you still encounter relationship challenges, I say don’t let your faith waiver, remain focused on the ‘main thing’ (salvation and Christian living) and allow God to orchestrate the rest. Believe me…I know this is easier said than done. Especially, as you continually watch those around you who operate in a less than godly manner get married. Is there something wrong with you?

Should you simply give up on the lifestyle you’ve chosen to live and go back to ‘dating as usual’? It depends…

1. Start by standing in front of a mirror. Inspect each breast separately. Note any asymmetry of size, contour, color, or shape.

2. Raise your hands over your head. Note any changes, particularly in the skin, such as wrinkling, dimpling, or retraction in a specific area.

3. Lie down with a pillow under your right shoulder and place your right arm behind your head.

4. Place the finger pads of the three middle fingers of the left hand on the outer part of your There are a lot of people who are married, but not necessarily happily married. Don’t bare right breast. allow your temporary seasons of loneliness 5. Using small dime-sized circular motions cause you to make a decision that will make without lifting your fingers, press first with your life miserable. We often get caught-up light pressure then with medium pressure, in the celebration of two people coming toand finally with firm pressure. You should be gether, but rarely share in their misery of a able to feel different layers of breast tissue us- bad mate choice until the relationship is viring these different pressures. Make note of any tually over. You’d rather continue persevering with expectancy in the God who is able to masses or abnormalities that you feel. meet your desires, than to give up and rely 6. In this same fashion, examine all areas of on yourself to make a flesh-led decision that the breast and chest area from the collarbone may lead to further misery. What about the to below the breast and including the arm- guys who don’t want to live with your decipit. You can do this by going in lines, circles sion to be celibate? The reality is many guys around the nipple, or wedges from the nipple. won’t necessarily embrace the idea (this isn’t Whichever method you choose, do it the same the traditional minister answer). You have to make the decision whether you are open each time. to giving someone access to something they 7. Once you are finished examining the breast, don’t have a license to operate. A LOT OF gently squeeze the nipple and look for any dis- WOMEN AND MEN DO! The problem charge. (Note: Overstimulation of the nipple is the attachment and bond that is formed through the sexual act and the inability to may cause a normal discharge). see clearly after the act is completed. I DO 8. Switch positions and examine the left side NOT recommend you eliminate a man just because he makes an advance at you. I DO in the same way. recommend that you better manage your boundaries so you don’t find yourselves in Stay BodySmart and pass the word… situations where you have to deal with those (All statistics courtesy of youngsurvivalcoali- advances. tion.org./ * blackwomenshealth.com) If you’ve made the decision to follow God and His directives expecting things to operate in your timing, then you’re setting 39

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yourself up for failure. Everyone I’ve known that has tried to walk in alignment with God’s principles have all reached a point along the journey where they became a little frustrated and began to petition God for direction. However, they remained fully engaged in ministry and God placed someone in their path who they ultimately grew to love.

I know the journey can be somewhat lonely and another “Keep the faith,” “Keep hope alive,” and “God has someone perfect for you” proclamation from a preacher may not do the trick. Just remember…there are some God’s Good Guys out there who are going through a similar journey in their quest for relational happiness. The prayer is for God to continue preparing His Good Girls and Good Guys and allowing them to cross each other’s paths.

As an unmarried man, I share in the same challenges as you to manage my fleshly desires while pursuing after God’s righteousness. It’s not easy and was never meant to be after the fall of man, but that is what will make each of us appreciate the treasure at the end of the journey.

About Kenny Kenny Pugh is a minister, coach and sought-after speaker on relationships. The founder of Chat Kafe Radio http://www.chatkafeonline.com, Kenny is also the creator of the Chat Kafe blog, http://chatkafe.blogspot.com and is a frequent guest on various radio broadcasts.

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Continued from page 30 >> it never went away. I remember sitting on my bed one day and thinking, If I die right now, I’m going to hell. The sad thing about it was, I accepted it. I told myself that I wouldn’t be the only one. God started sending people my way to plant seeds and invite me to church and I would never go, I thought that the people wouldn’t want me there and that I wouldn’t be accepted. One person in particular, was a guy I had classes with.

He would invite me to the noon luncheons at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry on campus and I kept telling him that I would come. It was during this time that God really started dealing with me about what he’d call me to do. I couldn’t sleep at night; all I could think about was music. I started writing songs to God telling him that I wanted to be delivered and I wanted to change, but I didn’t know how. It was December 2003, I was home for Christmas break and I remember telling God that I wanted out, but I wasn’t strong enough to do it on my own. I said “Lord, if you make her let me go, I’ll never go back”. A few weeks later, I got a letter in the mail from my then “girlfriend”, telling me that she felt like God was trying to do something in my life and she didn’t want to hold me back.

I knew that was God, telling me it’s time. I rededicated my life to him on New Year’s Eve, sitting in my room.

- Describe your first encounter with God? My first real encounter with God was when I was a junior in high school. I started going to some youth services at a local church on Wednesdays. It was so different from what I knew church to be. There were kids my age that would worship God unashamed, lift their hands and cry out to him. I had never seen anything like that before. You would literally feel out of place if you stood around looking. I loved to sing anyway, so I closed my eyes, lifted my hands and began to sing to God and I felt this overwhelming feeling that I had never felt before; I began to cry and sing. I didn’t know it then, but I was worshiping God and I had entered into his presence. Things like that never happened at the church I was attending and I never heard anyone talk about worship. All I knew was that I loved it and I wanted it all the time. It was like heaven on earth; I fell in love with God and wanted to know more about him from that point on.

- If you had to describe your ministry... what would you say God has called you to do?

God has called me to minister to the youth, through song and the Word of God. As we are all ministers of reconciliation, I believe God has called me to win souls for the Kingdom of God. God has shown me that with music being my dominant gift, my calling is to exhort and encourage his people through music and to usher his people into his presence where they will find liberty.

- What does it feel like to have a gift that ushers others into the presence of God? It is an awesome responsibility. When I say awesome, I mean it can be overwhelming, especially in a church setting. I have been the Minister of Music/Worship Leader for 3 years now. A lot of people don’t realize that you can’t lead people somewhere you haven’t been. In order to be effective, you have to live a lifestyle of worship and really live the life you are singing about. When I was first approached for the position, I didn’t want to do it, I was afraid.

Just the thought that I’m responsible for leading God’s people into his presence was too much responsibility for me. But God began showing me that it’s not me, it’s him using me. All I have to do is keep my heart right towards him, stay humble, stay yielded, and be sensitive to the spirit.

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- Your cd is called Victory? Why? How has God given you the victory?

For some reason, I am only able to write songs that are true and personal to me. Every song on this album was birthed out of some type of trial and in some instances pain. Writing has always been one of my outlets; it’s just something about getting it out of my mind and putting it on paper that liberates me. As I look back at the songs he’s given me, I see a journey of spiritual growth. Not to say that I have arrived or that I’m perfect, but through each song, I am able to look back and remember the pain and what I was going through at the moment and sometimes remembering that I didn’t think I’d make it, but I am still here and I see how God has given me the Victory over those circumstances.

- Rock N Roll: What inspired this song?

This is actually a song that was co-written. When I started the process of recording, I told a producer friend of mine that I wanted my album to have variety. I told him that I wanted a rock beat and he laughed at me, but he said that he would make one for me. He actually came up with the hook “He’s my rock, that’s why I roll with him” and I wrote the verses. For the verses I just thought about who God has been to me throughout my years and he’s been faithful and constant; never changing, the one who’s keeping me, he hides me, protects me…He’s My Rock.

- Taking the title from one of your songs, encourage the readers/ The bible says that life and death are in the power of your tongue; speak life to your situations. There is power in your words. To those who may be facing hard times, no matter what type of situation it is whether you’ve lost a love one, or your having financial problems, or problems within a relationship tell yourself until you start to believe it that “Im’a Make It”. Know that there is no problem that’s too hard for God and there is no hurt that he can’t heal. You may not see a way out now, but put your hand in God’s hand and know that with him, you will see yourself on the other side of that problem.

- What advice would you give to other aspiring artists/ What words of encouragement would you offer to other women who may have hesitations about pursuing their calling/dreams?

I would say be patient and know that there is a difference between our will or desires and God’s will for our lives. The key is submitting to his will for your life and doing it his way, not our own. Continue to be faithful where ever God has you serving now, continue to grow spiritually. It may take some time, but God knows what he’s doing. Let him fully develop you so that when you are released you will represent him well and bring glory to him. Our gifts are not about us, so don’t use the gift (to bring attention to you), let God use you. To those who God is speaking to about pursuing your calling, He will let you know when it is time. If he’s telling you to move out, step out on faith. Sometimes he’ll show us the end result, but he may leave out the steps because he wants you to trust him. Sometimes you may not see the next step until you take the first one he’s given. Trust him and know that he knows what he’s doing…He knows more than we do, so don’t try to figure God out in your own understanding. Simply trust him.

husband? How did you know he was the one?

What was that journey like (the preparation time)?

It’s awesome firstly to say that I’m married to a Man of God, who loves God, fears God, who’s not afraid to worship him, It really is a blessing. There have been times when I have been low and he has encouraged me, he has pushed me to continue. I thank God for him.

We served as youth pastors for about 2 1/2 years at our church, but God has recently released us from that assignment to focus more on the music. We work so well together, I think we complement each other. I knew he was the one because there was a spiritual connection; he was unlike any guy I’d ever dated before. God was literally the focus of our friendship (we never actually dated or became boyfriend and girlfriend). I told God that I didn’t want to be in anymore relationships that weren’t of him and I didn’t want to waste any more time with guys who weren’t “the one”. I had honestly come to the point in my life where I was content being single and I didn’t need a man to complete me and all I wanted was to pursue God. When Josh came into the picture there was something totally different about him. He felt the same way I did, which many before claimed to, but he genuinely loved God and wanted to please him. I saw his heart for God and it made me want to pursue God even more. The best way to describe it is, it was merely spiritual. God began dealing with me about him and showing me that he was it, I guess at the same time he was talking to him about me. We both knew it…we were put together for purpose.

We went from being friends to being married within 5 months. We celebrated our 4 year anniversary this year.

Purchase Shirlandria’s cd “Victory” when you log on to www.cdbaby.com/cd/shirlandria.

- I know that you also work alongside your husband w/ a youth ministry. How does it feel to be in ministry with your

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his scope To get there, you must go this way.

photograph by Nuru Kimondo

Psalm 23: 4: " Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."

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ASHES FOR BEAUTY MAGAZINE | SEPT/OCT 2010

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