Black Buttafly Magazine by nifeesia harris

BLACK BUTTAFLY MAGAZINE

The Wi New th A U rb a Tw ist n Ma gaz ine

PHILADELPHIA’S 1ST CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

BLACK BUTTAFLY MAGAZINE Black Buttafly’s purpose is to educate, inform and encourage those women desiring to live a life in & for Christ. Inside each issue you will read encouraging stories of women living for Christ. Each issue will share life lessons and demonstrate biblical ways to live this life accordingly through faith and hope in Christ. We will also share candidly about each of our struggles and attacks, so walk with us as we walk with Christ and embark on the 1st publication of Black Buttafly Magazine.

#P LED G WORDS FROM FOUNDER: This was a very long journey for me. I have went through many mountains and valleys but the one thing I can say throughout this whole travel Is look…..I didn’t give up and kept hope in Christ alive,Black Buttafly is finally born!! Nifeesia Harris

CONTENTS: Her Story

DEALING WITH DRAMA

Faith or Fear

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COWORKER DRAMA Most of our days is spent working. Yep…we sleep a little, we play a little but we work A lot!! Much of that work takes place outside of our homes. Truly, just getting to work can be too much work! It is what it is and we do what we must. The Bible says that a man (and we understand that to include us Godly women too) that doesn’t work won’t eat. With that knowledge we compel ourselves to do what must be done to survive. We hum a tune and whistle while we work in order to get through the day and we’d probably make it out alright if it weren’t for that annoying…Co-Worker Drama!! For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…. Over and over again at my former place of employment I found myself having to remind myself of this truth! People that I trusted , shared and celebrated life events with, told some of my secrets to and worked with to accomplish common goals would whisper my secrets to others when I wasn’t around, sit in cafeterias tearing my family down. The me that everyone else can see couldn’t understand what was causing people to be so hurtful? Why the attack? But the Holy Spirit would not allow me to be ignorant. As Yolanda Adams so eloquently stated in one of

her songs recorded some years ago, “This battle is not yours, it’s the LORD’S! And HIS word tells us that our battle is not against flesh and blood. Spiritual enemies working through people in- fecting their spirits. This is a spiritual warfare that we are fighting! That might sound a little overwhelming but don’t be dismayed. See, GOD has already given us all that we need not only to fight this battle but to Win! Insert Hallelujah moment right here! The LORD is fighting this battle in us and through us and has already won it for us! Trust that GOD is in control and that there is a purpose and a plan being fulfilled in all of your life situations! YES, in Everything give thanks for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concern- ing you my dear sister! When you walk into a room be it the break room, the bathroom, the office or the cafeteria and see the enemy at work just think on the truth which is that he is already defeated! Be the light that leads those lost to Christ and give thanks that GOD has counted you worthy to fight on HIS TEAM! WE WORK FOR HIM!!! Be Blessed, dler Lynda Chan

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Every lesson unlearned gets repeated. Our flesh (selfish desires) must be crucified with Christ. My pride, my ungodly anger, my tongue, my combative attitude, my “You said what to Me?!”, My wartime stance- all must die. We often when confronted with negative behavior & actions from others use the term “They Hating!” but when we place proper perspective on what the bible teaches us: we look deeper & bigger(beyond ourselves).. The Bible teaches us that “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”.-Ephesians 6:12. What that means for us is that there is a battle going on and it’s much bigger than the coworker,the rude neighbor, the disgruntled cashier….It’s a spiritual thing, an enemy who wants us to take offense, to block blessings, an enemy who wants to see our plans delayed,destroyed and ultimately create havoc and discord and bitterness in our hearts. He (our enemy) is looking for us to be rebels…high treason soldiers. (Violators of Truth) So we think higher if someone’s negativity stands between me & my promises and growth…..Baby!!! I’m passing this- best believe that! Even when it feels like death unto me. Don’t worry if you fail the test; it will come up again. So Be Ready! LIVE #WE IFE! L IS H T

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PHILADELPHIA’S 1ST CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR WOMEN

GENESIS 3:11 ~And HE said, ”Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”~ Many times we fall and subject ourselves to sin and from the result of that our mind changes, our confidence waivers and we believe that we have fallen far away from GOD’S grace and love. We often times begin to survey our inventory and we produce and allow the mindset to start highlighting our lack or error. We then hide from church family,friends, loved ones and even from GOD. HE begins the initiation by saying ,”Where are you”? Not because HE doesn’t know or lost us, but because we have roamed away and will begin to get lost ourselves. (Genesis 3:9) Just like Adam we hear,we fear, we cover and then we hide.(Genesis 3:10) Then GOD said ,”Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from”? In other words GOD want us to go back to the beginning of where we fell in error. Who told you that you were naked?? Who said that you had a lack?? Who told you to cover over your own nakedness alone?? Who is trying to fashion you after their likeness?? ~Where have you been eating from?? Whose words have you been digesting into your body?? This is not what I made and you talk different from what I instilled inside you...behold sin, shame, notice of lack and loss of confidence has given birth and caused a spirtual death inside our mortal bodies. GOD has always been the only garden since the beginning that we to eat from to live out our full and purposeful lives. With the fall of man,after Adam &Eve ate from a tree not purposeful to their wellbeing, we all now have eaten and dined from many trees & gardens. But GOD still merciful and loving and compassionate still strives with us, HIS goal is to simply have us admit error, turn to HIM and be once again restored and whole. May we all learn the valuable lesson of more eating and dining from GOD and partake in HIS presence in the fruitful garden of life that HE has given. “Let’s get back to Eden and live on top of the world”!

THE BUTTAFLY What The Caterpillar Perceived As Her Ending Was Really The Beginning Of Her Next Step In Life Transformation Into A Buttafly But If The Caterpillar Would Have Aborted Her Life Missions & Lessons She Would Have Never Known What She Was Created For If Only She Would Have Known …. She Would Have Rejoiced Through Every Life Stage!

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Black Buttafly Magazine Faith or Fear?? Stagnant or Moved?? To them each we all choose! In times of testing and trials, there are two options and only one choice…

LORD delivers them from them all”-

Psalms 34:19. I called and scheduled a The beauty of HIS word is that we all meeting with the dean cause no way have it to counteract and stand on was I going to sit out a semester beduring any trial we may encounter. cause of this professor’s lack of reHIS word once elevated and applied membrance. All the while I kept that to our lives no matter what physical scripture close and reminded myself evidence we see or hear,lasts eternal- of it daily and kept faith that it would ly. I recall a time in my life I was atonly be a matter of time before everytending school and the professor had thing would turn around. encountered serious health problems The meeting with the dean happened and could no longer attend class. I attended everyday and was expecting and he required my work in the class as evidence to reconsider my grade for my final grade to be an “B” or better. A week later final reports came request. Shortly thereafter while awaiting for the dean to contact me in and to my surprise the professor gave me a “F” in his class ,as if I had back, a letter appeared in the mail that said I failed and that I had to sit out a never semester. I tore that letter up and attended a remained on the word no matter day in my what I saw. I even had to seclude life. I contactmyself and not tell a soul what I ed the dean of was up against, I couldn’t risk the school to doubt or fear to enter into my get the matter spirit. Well ladies I am here to straightened report that for all that standing and he reportand never losing faith that victory ed that the was mines... professor wasn’t returnI got my grade and was back in ing to school class as if nothing happened to and the grade try to delay me at all. Victory was final. I was mines!! knew I was in the right and I went right to scripture and found my word for my life “Many are the afflictions Oh, did I mention the work according of the righteous but the To the dean wasn’t worthy of a passing grade ;)

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“We have had many victories! I have had to stand on just HIS word to come out” ~HIS grace & HIS favor never ceases to amaze me~

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“HE taught me to trust in only HIM. When the world turns their back on me, HE Will never forsake me”

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“The LORD has been my Savior , freed me from the bondage of sin & endowed me with Power to live a iller M righteous life” ka Eric ~HE’s been my friend when I’ve felt alone, My strength when I’m weak ;HE’s Everything to me~

“GOD has been my rock & my strength. GOD brought me a long way from where I used to be” Deni se B ro w n ~I thank GOD for saving me from What I thought was good. There is none like HIM, HE is everything to me~ #PHILLYFLOOD

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Exploring the life of Lakeisha Stanton in Christ- "Her Story" Lakeisha shared candidly about her life experiences to convey that although life has many twists and turns and ups and downs- #1 GOD always has your back. Walk with me as we take a look into the life of Keisha , president & founder of "I Am Acting Ministries". Lakeisha migrated from Jamaica to Philadelphia and recalls how that experience was a very bad time in her life. My mom left Jamaica when I was just 3 years old and I just remember looking at her and wondering "Is this really my mother?".When she would come to visit back in Jamaica everyone was so excited and happy to see her but I always wondered that. One day she came to visit and said she was taking me back to America with her. Wow, I said… “Was you scared ?” “Did you want to go?” “I had no choice”, Lakeisha stated as we laughed at the thought of a child stating to her parents what she didn't and did want to do. Yeah I said, “You had no choice,you coming back now!” I remember how everyone was so excited and happy for me to be going to America, that I then became excited. It was like a celebration and they were so excited it had me imagining a whole different life. When my mother went to America and would came back to visit everyone just believes that you made it," Lakeisha states. You become somewhat of a celebrity back home. So off Keisha and her mom went,everything she imagined about America was soon hit by reality.

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Black Buttafly I sat and thought about the thoughts that a child could dream up of a land that you never been to but only heard wonderful things about ...she probably thought .....(No pain, no worries, no pressures, endless toys, endless friends, streets paved of candy, never in want and definitely never need, life of big money and big dreams.. the American Dream.) So tell me about that experience , I asked.

I sat back and thought more about that experience and tried to imagine how that was for her. All alone in a strange land away from all she knew and all that comforted her back in Jamaica and now being alone and now forced to make this new land her home.

Shortly thereafter, Keisha would require babysitter's to watch her so that her mother could continue to provide for them. Keisha explained one of her bad experiences from one of her babysitters. Keisha had to move in with"Momma" the babysitter who also provided for foster kids and her grandchildren.

It was during these hard times that Keisha discovered her passion for stories,plays and acting out scenes in her mind. She recalled how at "Momma's" house there was a storage room upstairs and she would sneak away and sit for hours imagining different stories in her mind. Stories where she was the leading character, stories where she could bring positive,happy and joyful endings. Stories where life was very different and far away from where she was. Stories where she was not a broken spirit or child left all alone but stories where she could be anything and do anything in life. It was in her imagining these stories that she connected with her spirit of hope and it wasn't ready to give up or die. It was alive and would introduce her to a whole new life very soon. So what happened after that babysitter I asked.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good thingâ&#x20AC;?, I stated while shaking my head at all she had endured. That wouldn't end the tension at home or the fact that Keisha still was far away from Jamaica with all she knew and connected with. Keisha shared how she attempted suicide at age 12,and how she called her mother on the phone right after taking pills, to tell her mother what she had done and her words were . . Just hearing her share that experience my heart sank as I imagined how she had to feel,,,misunderstood,blamed and condemned and still having to contend with whatever daily issues were at school. The beautiful testimonial to it all is that despite all that, GOD was there even in the midst of her dark years even when she was unsure of a future. Keisha opened up about her teenaged years and how she terms that period as a time where she couldn't have loved herself. That right there is every woman's personal testimonial. Where we accepted less than we deserved,partially because we didn't know any better. When you know better (GOD), better (GOD) works in you and through you. â&#x20AC;&#x153;

PREVIEW OF 2ND ISSUE Biggest Life Lessons Her Story When Desperation Calls & You Answer Change of Heart

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Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978,1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All Rights Reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Photography provided by: Nifeesia Harris Ayana Alburg Editorial done by: Lynda Chandler it pir S Black Buttafly welcomes all oly correspondence eH h T : Feel free to mail or email: by Phillypledged@aol.com d e pir or s n tI n Black Buttafly Magazine e nt P.O. Box 1197 Co Lansdowne, PA 19050

Her Story continued: (Revelations 12:11) “That’s for sure”, I stated with a smile. As we continued our conversation over breakfast at a small North Philadelphia diner, I could see and hear the impact and healing process that Christ has done in her life. She shared her story candidly and courageously as if it wasn’t even her own. GOD really has a way of taking all the pain, hurt, low self esteem and making it our stories of personal triumph and victory. Stories where once we share openly helps free other women who felt as though they were all alone in their experiences. I asked her ...If given the opportunity to say some words to other young women experiencing similar or any rough experiences, what would be your words of encouragement?? Keisha simply stated" Today Keisha is doing quite well spiritually,emotionally and physically. She learned that GOD always has her back and that HE always is near. She can see how throughout all her experiences purpose and destiny was still being birthed. What the devil meant for harm, GOD turned it to good and for her personal victory. She now knows that she doesn’t have to be perfect and that she no longer feels the need to get it together before she comes to Christ. She shared how at times when she missed the mark her whole attitude would be to reach for perfection and then get back with GOD. Today she knows reach towards GOD and HE will bring perfection out by HIS power. Keisha also had to act out on faith when she plunged into her acting ministry. A time of job uncertainty and cancellations of her 1st project but today her acting ministry is flourishing quite well and she expects to take her ministry all over the Philadelphia area & churches very soon. Be on the #lookout for her stage play entitled “A letter to Satan” which acts out the Ephesians scripture 6:12 and highlights a young woman in preparation of birth. She also has a play entitled “Jewels”, which combines each individual actor to their own personal experiences in life. Black Buttafly celebrates Lakeisha Stanton and “I Am Acting Ministry” and wishes her all of GOD’S very best for her journey and for the bravery of telling her story. :) Lakeisha can be found @ Keishauncovered@gmail.com/Facebook/Instagram & Wordpress.

Black Buttafly Magazine

Publication #1: Black Buttafly Magazine P.O. BOX 1197 LANSDOWNE, PA 19050 WWW.BLACKBUTTAFLY.ORG