Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

10 Good Questions to Ask on a First Date

August/September, 2018

The

Proverbs 31 Man

3 Reasons To Celebrate & Revel In The Single Life M A G A Z I N E

Fall/ Winter 2018/2019 Hat Trends

(What Are His Attributes?)

Spiritual Rape: An Acceptable Church Practice?

4 Facts About Faith To Remember In Tough Times

Simple Fashion Tips That Make it Seem as Though You Spent a Lot of Money

PUBLISHER LT ENTERPRISES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CHRIS LAWSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LARAINE TURNER SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR ZACHARY SANDERS DESIGN AND LAYOUT MICHAEL MURPHY COVER DESIGN LT ENTERPRISES CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/ARTICLES SHARED FROM CAMIELLE LAWSON-LIVINGSTONS JOYANN KING TIMOTHY K. O’NEAL JENN THE PASTOR’S WIFE TOSHIA HUMPHRIES MICHAEL S. HOUDMANN TUNDE AWOYELE VALOUR DIGEST ERIN LUKAS BROOKE OBIE MICHAEL AND CARLIE KERCHEVAL DOMINIQUE MAITRE GUIDEPOSTS BELIEVE GOT QUESTIONS PINTEREST YOUTUBE SHUTTERSTOCK PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR TIFFANY BOSTON WEBSITE WWW.BLESSEDMAGAZINE.ORG BLESSED MAGAZINE IS A BI-MONTHLY ONLINE PUBLICATION, SUPPORTED BY OUR ADVERTISERS FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT US AT CONTACT@BLESSEDMAGAZINE.ORG PERMISSIONS BLESSED MAGAZINE IS A FREE ONLINE PUBLICATION DEDICATED TO BRINGING IT’S READERS CONTENT THAT INSPIRE AND ENTERTAIN. WE STRIVE TO OBTAIN PERMISSION TO DISPLAY ARTICLES WITHIN OUR PUBLICATION. WITH ALL POSTINGS, WE WILL PROVIDE A LINK BACK TO THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR. FOR ARTICLE SUBMISSION CORRESPONDENCE, PLEASE CONTACT LT ENTERPRISES OR BLESSED MAGAZINE AT 917.310.7570 OR VIA EMAIL AT CONTACT@BLESSEDMAGAZINE.ORG OR CONTACT@LTENTERPRISES.NET

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Contents August/September, 2018

Inside This Issue

90

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

24 Ways Under $25 to Upgrade Your Beauty Bag for Fall - 26 Fall/ Winter 2018-2019 Hat Trends – 32 Simple Fashion Tips That Make it Seem as Though You Spent a Lot of Money – 44 5 Affordable Workout Ideas You Can Do at Work – 52 The Blessed Magazine Fall 2018 Look Book - 56

Spiritual Wellness ▪ ▪ ▪

Spiritual Rape: An Acceptable Church Practice? – 66 4 Facts About Faith to Remember in Tough Times – 70 Guest Columnist: Bro. Timothy O’Neal – The Myth of Greener Pastures - 73

Personal Wellness ▪ ▪ ▪

▪

How Far is Too Far – 74 The Proverbs 31 Man (What Are His Attributes?) – 78 3 Reasons to Celebrate & Revel in the Single Life – 82 10 Good Questions to Ask on a First Date - 86

Feature Story ▪

‘Black Panther’s’ Janeshia Adams-Ginyard Powerful Testimony on How God Answered Her Prayer – 90

Photo Credit: Elton Anderson

Beauty and Fashion

‘Black Panther’s Janeshia Adams-Ginyard Powerful Testimony on How God Answered Her Prayer

Interview(s) ▪ ▪

Interview with Bro. Kent Osbourne Author of ‘From Prison to Power’ - 97 Interview with Singer/Songwriter Chere Pepper – 102

Regulars ▪ ▪ ▪

Editor’s Corner - 24 Just For Fun – 109 Market Place - 114

16 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

KATRICE JONES I would love to share my scents with you!

Sprinkle. Snap. Share.

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17 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

We Need Your Help!

If anyone has seen or know the whereabouts of this little boy, please contact Bryan Keathley - pukydo@gmail.com 573-660-2346 cell – 573-785-3713 home Any Attorneys who would kindly help this family in need of assistance to get their little boy back is encouraged to contact Mr. Keathley

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Editor’s Corner

Praise the Lord My Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

First, I always give all glory and honor to my Lord Jesus Christ for without Him in my life, nothing I could ever do would amount to anything!

With the start of school and autumn leaves beginning to fall, we celebrate life with beauty, fashion and inspiration! We have changed the look and feel of our magazine and hope that you will find it more appealing as much as we do I want to personally thank all of our fans and readers for their continued support of this ministry which has continued to strive and for that I am grateful to our Lord,

Jesus Christ Our goal is to continue being a resource for Christians and others for years to come and with your support we can keep this publication available free of charge always on our digital platform Pray for us as we continue to pray for you and thank you for reading this issue of Blessed Magazine

God bless you!

Your Humble Servant in Christ,

Laraine Turner Editor-in-Chief

3 Steps Today.

Happier Skin Tomorrow.

Get skin clear, smooth, glowing with this simple, custom-fit routine.

2 4

24 Ways Under $25 to Upgrade Your Beauty Bag for Fall

By Erin Lukas E.L.F. Color Correcting Stick If dark circles or redness from a breakout are still visible under your concealer, color correctors will neutralize these tones so your makeup can mask these imperfections properly. New to the color-correcting game? Try these creamy sticks that come in shades to zap redness, sallowness, and dark circles. They glide on smoothly and blend evenly into skin without leaving a chalky finish that can show through your concealer

$4

$15

$25

Patchology Eye Revive FlashPatch 5 Minute Hydrogels They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and they're also a dead giveaway that you didn't catch enough shut-eye the night before.

To look instantly refreshed, slip on these patches infused with caffeine and hydrolyzed collagen to get rid of puffiness, reduce signs of aging, and brighten up the eye area

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation This brand may be responsible for your perfect brows, but with its first-ever foundation, it will keep your complexion looking #flawless too. It offers buildable medium-to-full coverage with a matte finish that never looks cakey or settles into dry spots or fine lines

Nyx Cosmic Metals Lip Cream Like everything else from the '90s, metallic lips are experiencing a resurgence.

If you've had your eye on a shiny lip, these budgetfriendly creamy shades will give your pout the heavy-metal treatment

$8 each

$24

$14

Bite Beauty Multistick In Cerise There's no denying it: Red makeup is having a moment. Swipe this multipurpose, creamy rust shade on your eyelids, cheeks, and lips for a cool, pretty monochromatic look

Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel While the pace of summer is slow and steady, fall always seems to go full speed ahead. When you have a jam-packed schedule, multitasking skin-care products are essential.

This cleanser removes dirt, oil, and impurities while simultaneously gently sloughing away dead skin cells with its exfoliating fruit enzymes and alpha hydroxy acid ingredients

26 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

With so many new products and trends to try (and room in your actual bag), you might not know where to start. The best part? Upgrading your fall beauty arsenal doesn’t have to break the bank. We’ve rounded up 25 new additions for your bag this season all $25 or under.

$24

$16

R + Co Cactus Texturizing Shampoo This shampoo makes achieving that effortless, undone texture almost effortles s. Its formula enhances your natural waves while adding a touch of grit to make strands easy to style

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask Now that fall is in full swing, your complexion isn't the only thing that's going to experience a drought: Hair can get dry and brittle too. Give your strands some TLC by slathering on Moroccanoil's argan oil–infused mask once or twice a week

$22

Urban Decay Razor Sharp Water-Resistant Longwear Liquid Eyeliner Whether you're in the market for a bold-colored liner like this electric blue or you need to stock up on a signature black, Urban Decay's new liquid liners have an ultra-fine tip that makes drawing your line of choice a snap

$19

Briogeo Rosarco Blow Dry Perfection & Heat Protectant Crème Soon it will be too cold to let your hair air-dry. Before giving your heat tools a workout, protect your strands by running a nourishing heat protectant cream throughout when hair is damp

Rimmel London Kate Sculpting Kit Whether you're a sucker for a killer highlight or for chiseled cheekbones, this handy compact with a highlight, contour, and blush shade can do it all

$7

Lavanila The Healthy Body Butter If your skin is extremely sensitive, fall's unpredictable temperatures can do a number on your complexion. This allnatural, fragrance-free soothing body butter will hydrate dry skin without aggravating it

$24 27 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

24 Ways Under $25 to Upgrade Your Beauty Bag for Fall

By Erin Lukas

$22

$21

$10

Honest Beauty Truly Lush Mascara + Lash Primer Get a mascara that can do both. One side of this tube primes lashes for longer wear and pigment, while the other creates dramatic length and definition

MAC Liptensity Lipstick in Hellebore You're probably thinking, "A berry lip for fall? Hardly groundbreaking." But consider this MAC bullet the exception.

The brand teamed up with tetrachromat Maureen Seaberg, who can see over 100 million more hues than the average naked eye, to create highly pigmented shades like this vibrant berry that's unlike any other lippie in its shade family

Simple Sensitive Skin Experts Hydrating Cleansing Oil In hot weather, an oil-based cleanser can be too slick, but now that the temperature has dropped, it's time to bring on the moisture.

This gentle cleanser clears skin of makeup, dirt, and oil while providing some much-needed hydration

$18

Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in Feed The Rich You've thought about your fall wardrobe—now it's time to think about your fall nail polish palette. This deep emerald by Smith & Cult is the perfect accent for the season's rich shades

Skyn Iceland Angelica Line Smoother Pen This handy pen is about to be the most-used product in your bag. This travelfriendly complexion perfecter allows you to target fine lines and dark circles anywhere, anytime

$25 Maybelline Volum' Express The Colossal Spider Effect Lash Mascara A few swipes of this mascara will give you super-long, defined lashes that would make any daddy longlegs envious

$6

28 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

With so many new products and trends to try (and room in your actual bag), you might not know where to start. The best part? Upgrading your fall beauty arsenal doesn’t have to break the bank. We’ve rounded up 25 new additions for your bag this season all $25 or under.

Soap & Glory Archery Brow Putty The tapered brush on Soap & Glory's pencil makes filling in precise spots and shading simple so you get a look that mimics actual brow hairs

$12

$18

$8

$16 Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel-Cream Come fall, there's no such thing as too much moisturizer.

This gel quickly absorbs into skin to refresh seasonally dry complexions

Maybelline Master Strobing Stick by FaceStudio The secret to an out-ofthis-world glow: a few swipes of this highlighting stick, which brings the Instagram makeup trend of strobing to create a litfrom-within effect offline

$9

$3

29 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Beautyblender Liner.Designer Pro Mastering a cat eye is no easy feat. This handy sponge will help you start off the season with the perfect flick. The triple-edged tool stays in place when pressed against the skin so you can draw a straight line every single time

Revlon Eyes, Cheeks + Lips Palette in Romantic Nudes The answer to streamlining your bag and your routine lies in this palette of warm neutrals, which includes complementary shades for eyes, cheeks, and lips

Yes To Coconut Ultra Hydrating Paper Mask During times of peak dryness, this coconut oil– soaked sheet mask keeps skin soft, smooth, and hydrated. Consider all this season's mask selfies sorted

Beauty and Fashion

Fall/ Winter 2018-2019 Hat Trends

3 2

Balaclava The balaclava made a surprising entrance on the runway as one of the top fall/ winter 2018-2019 hat trends. Sent down the runway to awe and surprise, the balaclavas chosen

by Alessandro Michele for Gucci offer full or moderate facial coverage against the wind and cold with a stylish twist. Calvin Klein and Chanel had a few options to show as well.

Knit Beanies Beanies are a cold-weather classic, so it is no surprise to see new fashionable options hit the runway and already gain status as a fall/ winter 2018 hat trend. Of all the fall 2018 headwear trends, this is the most must have, and the most functional for the upcoming cold seasons, and it comes in the most varied of options.

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Headscarves Headscarves will always be on trend, but the materials and aesthetics may change. The mood for headscarves in the fall 2018 hat trends seems to be ornate, with different and intricate designs adorning each one

Hoods Preen by Thornton Bregazzi really stepped out with Chanel, and Calvin Klein to bring out a real surprise – hoods. Independent hoods were on several runways in different materials, pins and more

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Fall/ Winter 2018-2019 Hat Trends

Beauty and Fashion

Lace Hats Lace, wrapped around and strategically worn was the surprise fall 2018 hat trend. Though the coverage is fashionable, the protection from the elements is minimal. As such, it is a feature more suited for fall than winter, but beautiful nonetheless

Bejewelled and Beaded Hats Gucci holds the title for the best of the beaded and bejewelled fall 2018 hats. Some are so intricately beaded that they show a moving pattern as the wearer walks. Others are sparkling nets on the crown of the head with long draping options that hung around the face like bangs, or down past the ears like earrings very reminiscent of an updated flapper era beaded cap

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Beauty and Fashion

Shaped Hats Some people prefer a look that gains a lot of attention, and interestingly shaped hats are one of the most anticipated fall/ winter 2018-2019 hat trends. Elie Saab showed a hat that looked to be a hybrid between a shorter top hat and a bowler hat with a cleverly curved brim, a whole new take on the classic styles of hats

Veils and Veiled Hats Veiled hats made a significant showing across several different runways. John Galliano’s very gallant options were eye-catching and chic with a bit of musketeer-style flair thanks to huge plumes of feathers

35 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Fall/ Winter 2018-2019 Hat Trends

Beauty and Fashion

Baseball Caps Baseball caps have always been accepted as the incredibly versatile, sporty-chic accessory as they are. They are lightweight, can be worn with a high ponytail and practically any outfit.

Fashion houses like Gabriela Hearst are going to change the way caps are viewed this year, as their all styles of caps have made the cut as one of the upcoming fall 2018 hat trend

Cowboy Hats Cowboy hats are known to be an acquired taste, but Naeem Khan, Vaquera, and Alberta Ferretti seem confident in their ability to bring them into the fall/ winter 2018-2019 hat trends. This hat trend will certainly shield you from the cold and comes with options like lace embellishments from Naeem Khan

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Bucket Hats Dolce & Gabbana sent embellished bucket hats down the runway that were covered from brim to brim on the outside with crystals. Prada sent a plethora of bucket hats down the runway in various colors, designs, and materials

Fedora Hats It will be hard to find a fall or winter season that could not be fashionably improved by wearing the perfect fedora. Thankfully, the fall/ winter 2018-2019 hat trends include fedoras thanks to options like Dolce & Gabbana’s label-embellished fedora. Michael Kors played with fedora styles as well as different patterns on each

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Fall/ Winter 2018-2019 Hat Trends

Beauty and Fashion

Wide Brimmed Hats The stunning wide-brimmed hats that have been sent down the runway have been exceptional, solidifying these as a fall 2018 hat trend. Even Panama hats with extended brims were shown, nudging them under the shade of the wide-brimmed hat trend. The materials and colors range to suit every aesthetic and wardrobe

Updated Pillbox Hats Nina Ricci showed a veiled pillbox hat that was beautifully shaped and joined the ranks of the updated pillbox hats for fall 2018. Moschino had several very Jackie O reminiscent pillbox hats in a variety of materials from orange leather to soft pink

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Beauty and Fashion

Military and French Berets The resurgence of berets as a headwear trend led to the reappreciation of this whimsical hat design in fashion a couple of seasons ago, making the French beret the favorite winter (and spring) accessory of many an It girl and fashion icon from around the world. Berets stand firm as one of the hottest fall/ winter 2018-2019 hat trends, but this time around we see both military and French berets in a number of styles and interesting design interpretations

Fluffy Fur Hats Winter means lots of (fake) fur used for outerwear, bags, and ultimately cozy headwear to keep you warm. The fall 2018 hat trends don’t lack fur either, mostly going bold utilizing bright colors, patterns or shaggy finishes. Fur hats for fall 2018 were the brightest at Undercover, where we saw options in bright green or neon lemon colors that would instantly brighten up your gloomy cold days

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Fall/ Winter 2018-2019 Hat Trends

Beauty and Fashion

Turban Hats There are turbans as favorite hair accessories, and then there are also turban hats as perfect fall 2018 hats. We love the eclectic vibe turbans can give to any look, be that an evening number like in the case of Saint Laurent or a casual fall outfit. Speaking of Saint Laurent, we loved their sleek velvety black turban hat that ideally matched the model’s total black look

Baby Bonnet Hats One of the most unexpected and surprising fall/ winter 2018-2019 hat trends was the revival of baby bonnet-inspired hats, ones that look both slightly childish and bold, since not every fashionista can pull off the look

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Beauty and Fashion

Logo-Printed Hats Apparently logo motifs make huge fall 2018 print trends, since we saw them decorating everything, from outerwear to shoes to bags to hair accessories, and now fall 2018 hats. Some designers love to state an additional time that those are their own creations, while we know it pretty well that fashion icons aren’t against showing their branded pieces off either. Logo patterns were used to give an extra edge to the fall 2018 hats of Anna Sui, Emporio Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana among others

41 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

4 Simple Fashion Tips That Make it Seem as 4 Though You Spent a Lot of Money

Dress in Tonal Colors Like all White or All Black Not only is it incredibly elongating, but a monochrome outfit always looks intentional and put together. (Tip: Just make sure your whites are bright and your blacks match.)

Get it Tailored Taking the extra two days from purchase to have your neighborhood tailor nip and tuck your latest great find, versus ripping the tags off and wearing right away, will elevate the final product way beyond its original price tag.

44 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Elevate the Wardrobe You Have with These Editor-Approved Tips

Make Sure Everything is Freshly Pressed This seems like something your mother would say and we all know time in the morning is precious. Taking the extra five minutes to steam or press your look will add instant polish to even your most worn-in wardrobe MVPs

Add Gold Accessories There is just something about structural, gilded extras— whether a bag or jewelry or both—that make you look like you stepped out of the pages of a magazine

45 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Simple Fashion Tips That Make it Seem as Though You Spent a Lot of Money

Add a Belt and Tuck in for Polish

Keep Handbags Shiny and Clean

Insouciance is something we're always pursuing in the style department, but in the case of looking like you know what you're doing, tuck in any shirttails or a baggy sweater hem and cinch your waist with a chic belt for maximum impact

Use Windex on patent leather, unscented body lotion on all other leather, re-stuff easily malleable shapes when storing and always, always pack your purses in dust bags when traveling

46 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Elevate the Wardrobe You Have with These Editor-Approved Tips

Beauty Matters.

Polished Hair and Makeup Elevate any Look Sleek blowout, red lip, flawless skin—these are the ultimate finishing touches

Layer—a Great Jacket is Your Best Friend A tailored jacket is an editor's secret weapon. It elevates denim, polishes flow-y dresses, looks chic thrown over the shoulders and takes slim pants to the board room

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Simple Fashion Tips That Make it Seem as Though You Spent a Lot of Money

Dress Up Your Denim Who doesn’t love wearing jeans? Just make sure you always add heels and keep the silhouettes and washes classic

Buy Timeless Outerwear Forgo the trends each season and focus on purchasing coats that are forever: classic camel, navy pea, black moto, belted trench, raw denim—every time you reach for a topper, you won't regret it

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Elevate the Wardrobe You Have with These Editor-Approved Tips

Match Your Shoes and Your Bag

Avoid Prints—except Leopard

When in doubt, keeping your accessories in the same color palette will ensure your look comes off as intentional, not haphazard

Prints are the easiest way to make an outfit tired. What you love one season will make you dated the next. Stick to solids— with a healthy dose of spots here and there

49 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

5 Beauty and Fashion 2

5 Affordable Workout Ideas You Mini-Size-It Mini exercise bikes, elliptical trainers, and steppers are compact, portable, and an easy way to get some aerobic activity right at your desk. They do the job of their fullsize counterparts to get your heart rate up while fitting under your desk. You can pedal off calories while fully focusing on your work for a price as low as $35, with hightech options available at higher costs.

52 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Beauty and Fashion Think you don’t have the time or the money to fit in a workout or be more active? Not so! For New Year New Rear Week, we’ve got five great workout ideas from TOPS Club that you can do at work! They’ll not only help you cross “work out” off your todo list, but they’ll also give you a total energy boost! Far better than that third cup of coffee …

Can Do at Work Sneak in Strength Training

Hand weights and resistance bands are a discreet and affordable way to introduce fitness into your workday. They can help build muscle tone and target areas you’d like to focus on. Keep them in a desk drawer or cabinet, and do curls between tasks or during your lunch break

53 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Beauty and Fashion Have a Ball Exercise ball chairs are a step up from simple exercise balls, as they often come with a base or back rest.

Consider trading your desk chair for one, as long as you’re able to safely balance on the ball. They improve your balance and can even tone core muscles while you sit. Use the fitness ball for wall squats or other workplace exercises. Many can easily be found online within the $50 to $60 range

5 Affordable Workout Ideas You Can Do at Work Step It Up Step boxes may seem a bit outdated, but they are still a great aerobic workout. Getting your heart rate up can fight afternoon fatigue and keep you energized throughout the day. You can find step boxes for as low as $15 and easily bring them to work for midday cardio breaks.

For an even more affordable option, use the stairs if your workplace has them Continued on page 70 54 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

5 Beauty and Fashion 6

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6 Spiritual Wellness 6

Spiritual Rape: An Acceptable Church Practice?

I was at the salon one day and I was giving my testimony to one of the ladies who frequent the shop with me every month. Her statement of faith was that she had no faith in the church at all because of what was done to her now deceased mother. I will get back to that later. In the middle of giving my personal testimony I told this woman that my husband and I had been spiritually raped at our former ministry, and this caused her to physically recoil. I did not stop there, but finished giving the testimony as God instructed, and then she told me her mother’s. Today I was thinking back on that conversation and I wondered why she recoiled the way that she did; that prompted me with the desire to know just how rape is defined by Dictonary.com (2011): 66 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Spiritual Wellness As a noun; 1.the unlawful compelling of a woman through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse.

2.any act of sexual intercourse that is forced upon a person.

3.statutory rape.

4.an act of plunder, violent seizure, or abuse; despoliation; violation: the rape of the countryside.

5.Archaic . the act of seizing and carrying off by force.

As a verb;

Photo Credit: Video Blocks

6.to force to have sexual intercourse.

7.to plunder (a place); despoil.

8.to seize, take, or carry off by force.

In the World English Dictionary it has the definition, 3. any violation or abuse: the rape of justice, and that will be my focus for discussion. If you look online for the different types of rape you will find many varieties like spousal, acquaintance, statutory, prison, war, gang, etc. Rape is used for a variety of purposes as well; power, control, anger, and sexual gratification and sadism are a few of them. No one really 67 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Spiritual Wellness wants to touch spiritual rape and its purpose, effect and residue. But I do. I am a survivor of spiritual rape and as such, I feel that my story can help someone else who may be going through it, or who has escaped it and does not know where to turn.

First, let me finish with my salon friend mother’s story; she stated that her mother attended the same church for more than 20 years and was extremely faithful to it. This lady had five siblings and they could all see that her mother was in a spiritually abusive church, but she would not listen, she was faithful even unto the end of her life. The daughter told me that her mother gave the church her life savings, she had nothing left upon her death, and although she seemed happy, the family never saw her that way.

They saw their mother broken, battered and bruised by a ministry that cared nothing about her soul, only her wealth. What eventually happened was this faithful woman of God probably went home to Jesus, but her six children harbor resentment to the church and possibly God for what they saw their mother suffer.

do this may not even be aware of what they are doing, but at heart they are narcissistic, ego-maniacal control freaks who were most likely not sent and just went. In my case it started innocently enough, having my husband and I become “servants” of the Pastor and his wife, and once that was successfully implemented we had to be publicly humiliated in front of the church (homeless and the Pastor offered us a two room shack with no kitchen for us and our 3 children at the time), and when that mission was completed the final phase was to make sure that every service we were guilted into giving a sacrificial offering because we owed him. We had been initiated into the ranks of the spiritually raped victims who came before us. Why were they successful you may ask? The same reason why a date rapist may successfully conquer his “prey”; these people will have you both adore them and on some level fear them and those emotions will make you let down your defenses and leave you vulnerable.

Spiritual rape.

My (our) story is a little different in that the church did not end us, God made a way for our escape, healed us and allowed us to live and tell the tale. Presently it seems like a vast number of ministries are allowing these spiritual rapists to run rampant. They are ravaging God’s people and leaving them for dead spiritually. Please understand that rape is a violation that is intended to strip a person down to their very core and leave them vulnerable; many church leaders who

Photo Credit: Baby Q

I have a confession. I am a huge fan of the show “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”, and last night I remembered an

68 | Blessed Magazine August/September, 2018

Spiritual Wellness episode where this young lady was targeting these men and desecrating their bodies by scarring them. When she was finally caught in the act she made the statement/question when asked who she was: “I’m nobody, who are you? Are you nobody too (a poem originally written by E. Dickenson)?” The detectives did not understand the meaning behind those questions until they figured out that the men she was targeting were the men who had raped her as a young teen. They victimized and told her that she was a “nobody”. Sound familiar?

Photo Credit: fortherich.net The spiritual rapist will have you questioning everything that you previously believed, even your identity in Christ, and possibly destroy any trust in God that you had built up. I can honestly state that after we were spiritually ravaged, God Himself delivered us from the evil hand that victimized us and it took YEARS to heal. It has only been in the last two years that I have been able to loosen up around most pastors because of the one that I came up under.

To answer my initial question on why the lady in the salon recoiled, it was because the word “rape” is still taboo and a lot of

women do not want to even discuss it.

However, spiritual rape is a true phenomenon and many women AND men have been victims. The good news is that Jesus Christ is a healer and 2 Cor. 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. He is also a restorer; if he can restore my faith, he can also restore yours.

In light of the spiritual rapists like wellknown Eddie Long/Creflo Dollar, Jamal Bryant, Pastor Ed Young, and others of their ilk, scandals, and even the lesser known wolves like my former pastor, I urge their members to recognize their abusers, empower yourselves and flee!

If you are reading this and you are wavering because it is hard to trust any person in the pulpit, please send me an email and I will pray with you that God will lead and guide you into all of His truth. I cannot tell you how many nights I cried over how hurt and deceived I felt. No, not at God because my faith may have wavered at times but it never failed. I cried because the first man of God (I thought) that I trusted violated that trust. I consoled myself not with evil thoughts of vengeance, but I know that God’s Word will not return to Him void, but it will accomplish that which he pleases (Isa. 55:11), and God said that he would repay.

That is good enough for me!

Article Shared From - A Pastor’s Wife Question: Do You Know

Jesus?

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Spiritual Wellness 5 Affordable Workout Ideas You Can Do at Work Continued from page 54

You know what to do!

Jump, Jump Jump ropes are not only extremely affordable but extremely effective.

A jump rope workout is still one of the best cardio activities you can do. You can pick one up for under $10 and either step outside for a quick jump, or if your environment allows, an indoor session Article Shared From – Jenn

Photo Credit: WireCutter

4 Facts About Faith To Remember In Tough Times Faith, as we know, is a necessity for our lives. In fact, along with hope and love, it is the most vital. And, as such, we must have faith with regard to every aspect of our lives and trust that God has our best interest in mind, while doing our part with regard to free will.

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But, as with hope and love, we sometimes have difficulty holding onto faith. When doubt arises, it is important to remember four facts about faith that will help keep us anchored and unmoved by fear.

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Spiritual Wellness Faith, as we know, is a necessity for our lives. In fact, along with hope and love, it is the most vital. And, as such, we must have faith with regard to every aspect of our lives and trust that God has our best interest in mind, while doing our part with regard to free will.

1.

Faith Has No Fear

First and foremost, faith is based in love, not fear. Fear (the opposite of faith) is of darkness. It is actually darkness, itself – a fact that can be easily proven by observing fear-based reactions.

When we react from fear, our actions look nothing like love or light; they are behaviors that don’t align with Christ’s teachings.

More to the point, they are typically destructive to others and self-sabotaging as well. However, faith (like love) is of the light. So, when we respond from a place of faith, we shine light to all around us, showing compassion, acceptance and unconditional love to others while empowering ourselves.

2. Faith Is Faithful Like love, faith will never betray us. Of course, it might be easy to scoff at that statement, since many find themselves betrayed by romantic partners all too often.

But, regardless of the experience, it is never love that is responsible for the betrayal. In fact, it’s typically fear. Faith is based in love. Furthermore, when we have faith in God and ourselves, we cannot feel betrayed by others because we know we are simply being shown a mirror or a

valuable lesson. We don’t personalize it. We simply trust that what has happened is serving a purpose – one likely meant for our personal growth and spiritual evolution.

3. Faith Never Fails Having faith will never disappoint because it allows us to see things from a love-based perspective. We begin to recognize that there’s a bigger picture we simply cannot yet see, and we trust the process of the pieces of the puzzle being placed for us, rather than by us. In that way, faith never fails us. Even if the outcome isn’t what we desire, we trust that what occurs is in the interest of the highest good for all involved.

4. Faith Is Filled With Love Most importantly, when we have faith, we are filled with love rather than fear. Again, fear is a destructive force which harms others, including our planet and all its inhabitants. Fear of lack, failure, rejection, the unknown, death, poverty, etc. cause individuals to react in ways that have no basis in love and do not align with the true, fundamental teachings of Christianity.

However, love – the most important of all Christ’s teachings – is an enlightening force.

It is light itself. And, of course, when we act from a place of love, we fill the world with light. As such, when we possess the lovebased quality of faith, we make the world a better, brighter and safer place for everyone.

So, the next time doubt tries to creep in or fear begins to take control, recognize that as darkness and shut it down. Take a deep breath. Inhale love, exhale fear and focus on and have faith in God’s words: “Fear not, for I am with you.”

Article Shared From - Toshia Humphries

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Spiritual Wellness The Myth of Greener Pastures

By Timothy K. O’Neal

Amid the muck and mire of collective society, resplendent in all the apparentness of its dysfunction, and labeled quite exhaustively by its pernicious faults, it is too common to justify sin in the pursuit of contentment. There are, of course, many vices readily available to inoculate the mind in its tedium and saturate it with the empty mirth of amusement, but how few actually see the hidden charge attached to influencing the mind and, if possible, quenching the reasoning of the soul.

The mind and soul ought not to be reckoned as figurative coincidences of no certain definable reality. Rather, they are a fertile garden that produces very real fruit.

Looking at the fruits of your life, ask: How does this fruit taste? Is it satisfying?

Or have you already gone numb to questing for satisfaction, and thus have sacrificed the eternal on the altar of the immediate?

The gravity of the circumstance is that we all remain restless until we find our purpose in Him, that is so long as we actively resist Him to the peril of our own souls.

So, dear reader, I urge you to take a sobering look at your life and determine its fruit. If the fruit is bad, till up the soil and sow in righteousness that you may also reap in righteousness, bearing forth works meet for repentance, and thus bear much fruit for His Name's sake, and His Kingdom's sake.

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How Far Is Too Far? Many young people enter the dating world completely unprepared for the powerful emotions, desires, and temptations awaiting them. Even Christians firm in their conviction that sexual activity before marriage is off limits can be caught off guard by all the steps in between celibacy and intercourse. Abstinence teaching often fails by not being specific enough about the complexity of sexuality and the hidden dangers of “messing around.”

There is no definitive answer to the question “how far is too far?” If our goal is to go as far as we can in good conscience, we may already be facing moral defeat. Anytime we approach sin with the attitude of “how close can I get before I have to repent?” we are setting ourselves up for failure. For a Christian, the question should be “how can I keep my heart and my thoughts honoring to God in this dating relationship?” And better still is the Christian who wonders, “How can I protect the purity of the person I am dating?” (Philippians 2:3–4).

All sexual expression was designed by God for the marriage relationship. Period. No exceptions (1 Corinthians 7:2). All romantic expressions before marriage are steps leading to a culmination in intercourse. From first glance to final act, sexual tension builds with every step, so the “too far” point is wherever that expression changes from showing affection to desiring sin.

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Personal Wellness Sin begins in the heart, so, rather than just evaluating outward actions for their appropriateness, we should evaluate our heart motives. Jesus said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:20–23).

Sexual purity must begin in the heart. When the desire of the heart is to honor God and our dating partner, then boundaries will be drawn in our attitudes, clothing, activity choices, and the words we speak. For example, sexting has become wildly popular even among teens too young to date. But by exploiting words and images, we violate moral purity without ever physically touching the person.

This is sin (Romans 14:13).

Photo Credit: CNN

We have sinned when we intentionally create lust in another, whether through improper clothing, flirtatious behavior, or physically touching body parts that are not ours to enjoy. An engaged couple who enjoy a long, passionate kiss before parting for the evening may not be sinning if their desires

are pure and the kiss is an expression of selfless love. Longing for the wedding night is not sin because the desire is for a God-ordained consummation of committed love. However, make-out sessions as a normal part of a dating relationship create lustful passions that cannot be righteously fulfilled. This is also sin.

Wise singles decide ahead of time what boundaries they need in order to keep themselves pure (Matthew 5:8). Those boundaries may not be the same for all people. For example, some couples choose to save their first kiss for the wedding day, limiting their physical contact before marriage to hand-holding and quick hugs. Others believe long, passionate kisses are appropriate for those approaching marriage because the commitment is already in place. But never is it acceptable to remove clothing, fondle beneath clothing, simulate the sex act (even with clothes on), or speak in dirty or vulgar terms (see Ephesians 4:29). All such behavior is designed to elicit sexual desires you cannot righteously fulfill, which is the same as encouraging someone else to sin (see 1 Corinthians 8:12).

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Personal Wellness First Thessalonians 4:3–8 is a guide for those who truly want guidance: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

A sincere Christian who desires to honor God in dating relationships can enter every situation with the conscious awareness that Jesus is present. Whatever we would not do with Jesus watching is best to avoid altogether. The Bible calls that awareness “the fear of the Lord” (Proverbs 16:6; 14:16). We keep away from evil when we develop the fear of the Lord, because we don’t want to sin in His presence. Rather than fear we are “going too far,” we can eliminate the possibilities by inviting Jesus on our dates with us. In doing so, we keep far away from danger points, protecting our purity and that of our date.

Article Shared From – Michael S. Houdmann

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THE PROVERBS 31 MAN What are His Attributes?

Photo Credit: Valour Digest

Several articles and books have been written on the Proverbs 31 woman, the woman that the Bible refers to as the virtuous woman.

I love what the Bible says about this virtuous woman and I have used it several times to counsel many of my female clients/subscribers.

Each time I read and meditate on the story of the virtuous woman, I don’t fail to pay attention to what was said about her husband. I envy that man and I want to learn from what was said about him. If you would imbibe the qualities that the husband of the virtuous woman was said to possess, then you would have a virtuous wife. It’s that simple.

I will be sharing with you in this article what the Holy Spirit helped me to discover about the husband of the virtuous woman.

Apart from the unnamed woman in Proverbs 31, Ruth is the only woman in the Bible who is specifically described as a virtuous woman. So we will also be learning from Boaz, the husband of Ruth.

THE HEART OF HER HUSBAND SAFELY TRUSTS IN HER, SO THAT HE SHALL HAVE NO NEED OF SPOIL (VERSE 11) If you want a virtuous woman, you must have a heart that trusts. It is not all men that can trust a woman but a man who is born again has a heart that can trust (a heart of

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Personal Wellness flesh, not a heart of stone). So the husband of the virtuous woman is a born again man. Boaz the husband of Ruth, the virtuous woman, was from the tribe of Judah and we know that Judah’s descendants are people of God. The virtuous woman has a God-fearing husband just like she’s God-fearing and her husband’s heart trusts safely in her. You need to be God-fearing if you want a virtuous woman. You need to have a cordial relationship with God and keep his commandments. It is God that can give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Every man born of a woman has a deceitful and desperately wicked heart (Jeremiah 17:9) but any man who has given his life to Christ has a new heart (a heart of flesh).

just any man. Such women are meant to be helpers to men of vision and purpose who want to make a difference in their world. If you want a virtuous woman, you need to be known wherever you are for your positive impact and great influence. The Bible talks about Boaz’s influence in the city. He even called 10 important men in the city when he was planning to marry Ruth and they obeyed him (Ruth 4:2). The descendants of Judah were leaders. It was from the tribe of Judah that Jesus was born. Jesus is a great leader, a solution provider.

What are you doing to impact the people around you? Do you care about the welfare and progress of the people around you? Are you impacting people positively for God? Are you solving people’s problems or are you the one creating problems for people? You need to start changing your thinking and start living a life of influence and impact if you want a virtuous wife.

HE CALLS HER BLESSED AND PRAISES HER (VERSE 28 & 29)

Photo Credit: Analytical Mind HER HUSBAND IS KNOWN IN THE GATES, WHEN HE SITTETH AMONG THE ELDERS OF THE LAND (VERSE 23) The husband of the virtuous woman is a leader, a man of influence and great impact.

He’s a purposeful man. He is well known in the city. A virtuous woman is not meant for

The husband of the virtuous woman is a blesser, he celebrates and speaks better things to his wife. He doesn’t curse or say negative things about his wife. I know he usually renews his mind with the Word of God. It takes a man with a renewed mind to say positive things. That means he’s a man of the word. He reads, meditates and practices the word of God. He is also proud of his wife because he praises her. He appreciates and

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Personal Wellness compliments her. If you want a virtuous woman, you must be a man of good words and a blesser, a man who celebrates others especially his wife. Don’t talk down on ladies or see them as inferior to you. You must celebrate them and also celebrate your wife.

Boaz said good things about Ruth and treated her with dignity and honour. In fact, it was Boaz that said everyone in the city knew her to be a virtuous woman (Ruth 3:11). So you need to be a man of positive words and praises. Celebrate your wife and sisters. Don’t condemn your wife, celebrate her.

home. He gives her freedom to fulfil her dreams and purpose. And we can see that in the way she praises her. If you know you want a virtuous wife, don’t limit your wife to the kitchen. Give her freedom and permission to succeed. Even though the virtuous woman was industrious, she was still in charge of her home. She prepares food for her husband and children. She takes care of her family and people working for her. So don’t be scared of releasing her to be her best for God. Support her vision and help her to fulfill God’s purpose for her life.

A MIGHTY MAN OF WEALTH (RUTH 2:1) Looking at the book of Ruth, Boaz was regarded as a man of wealth. He is an employer of labour. He has fields where people work for him and he paid them wages.

He solved unemployment in his vicinity. He wasn’t a lazy man. He was a businessman and very wealthy. Boaz’s wealth was from God because we know He’s God-fearing and the bible says it is God that gives power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). The husband of the virtuous woman is an industrious man. He works and provide for his family. If you want a virtuous wife, don’t be lazy. Be creative and innovative. Be hardworking and be merciful to people.

Photo Credit: The Plumbette Dear men, I believe with these few things I have shared, you can now see that the virtuous woman has a great husband. Wives are usually a reflection of their husband. So try and work on yourself. You can have a virtuous wife if only you will permit her to be virtuous

HE DOESN’T CAGE HIS WIFE One of the things I noticed about the virtuous woman is that she does a lot of things and I believe her husband doesn’t cage her in the

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Article by Philip C. Jones Photo Credit by: Shutterstock

3 Reasons to Celebrate & Revel in the Single Life

Finding yourself single again isn’t always the best feeling. The grief that typically accompanies the end of a relationship usually makes the transition quite daunting. However, once the grief is addressed, the single life is truly something to celebrate. So, rather than feeling ashamed or fearful, have faith and focus on these three reasons to revel in your new-found independence.

Freedom Is Yours The single life means you are no longer held to another individual. Therefore, you are

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Personal Wellness

untethered and can easily fly free. You have the opportunity and availability to explore all you desire and pursue your dreams without consideration or concern for another adult individual’s needs.

For this reason, the single life can be the chance of a lifetime – an opportune moment to follow your heart and do, go, be or achieve whatever or wherever it desires.

Time To Travel Has Arrived Additionally, the single life offers an

opportunity to travel the world, discovering new people, places and cultures. Moreover, it allows you the time and space to travel inward, going inside the self to explore the vastness of the soul, clearing the blocks away and discovering new or buried treasures of the self.

The latter is a journey we all need to take, and it’s one that requires no passport, travel arrangements or cash flow. But it does require focus and commitment, as well as quality time with self. And, as you know, the single life allows for all of the above.

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Evolution Is At Hand Finally, the single life gives you a chance to change your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self for the better.

It allows you the opportunity to feel and face pain, heal and grow.

The single life gives you time to hit the reset button and restore any needed balance to your life. It gives you the chance to begin focusing on your physical health via healthy eating and exercise and often spurs people to seek counseling to deal with the ending of the prior relationship.

If you so choose, a beautiful process of spiritual evolution is at hand the moment you begin the single life again.

Sitting with the pain, spending time with yourself, traveling inward to learn, explore and love more about you, making choices to pursue lifelong dreams or goals that might have otherwise been set aside ‌ these are all aspects of spiritual evolution. The single life affords the perfect environment and circumstances for this process to take place.

The single life is not to be confused with a lonely life. Being alone has nothing to do with being lonely. In fact, people can feel alone even while in relationships.

Why is that? Because loneliness is a result of a lacking relationship with self, not others.

If you find yourself single again, shift your perspective and celebrate the gift that is this time in your life – an opportunity and a catalyst for positive change.

Article Shared From - Toshia Humphries Question: Do You Know

Jesus?

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Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/DMEPhotography Are you looking for some good questions to ask on a first date? You’ve come to the right place! Oftentimes the first date can be awkward for one or both people as you are both trying to get to know one another and feel comfortable along the way.

You are both being cautious not to say too much and want to be on your best behavior, giving your date your undivided attention. But what happens if you are both so nervous that you don’t know what to say?

That’s where we can help.

We remember our first date like it was yesterday. It was a tram ride through a beautiful animal-filled forest over 20 years ago in the Pacific Northwest. Not only was the breath-taking scenery of God’s creation the perfect backdrop, the conversation couldn’t have been any better.

We had several long chats that led to a wonderful time of consecrated conversations that fueled the start to our Christ-focused connection. It was a date that we’ll never forget as long as we both live.

If you are out on a date with someone, it is likely someone that you are considering for marriage. So having some deep thought provoking questions in the queue is a great way to see if the person you go out with is someone that you could see yourself creating a lifelong marriage with.

After talking to many couples over the years, we’ve realized how many couples benefit by having some good conversation ideas going into their first date rather than winging it. By having an idea of what to talk about, it helps ease any nervousness that may surface.

Here are 10 good questions to ask on a first date.

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Personal Wellness What Is Your Favorite Thing To Do In Your Spare Time?

While this question may seem rather insignificant, it really cuts to the core of who a person is. You can tell a lot about a person by what they choose to do when they are not under the obligation of work or school. And it is always great to start the conversation with a non-threatening question that can break the ice

What Is Your Favorite Movie Of All Time?

This is always a fun question. People tend to relax when they are able to share about something that they enjoy but isn’t seen as too personal. Knowing what people like to watch for entertainment also gives some great insight into who they are as a person.

We both learned a lot about one another having this very same conversation on our first date! We learned that we both loved military and historical films as well as clean comedy films. And those are the very same movies that we watch together to this day

Who Are The Most Important People In Your Life?

Knowing who is important to someone gives you keen insight into his or her world. This question provides a wonderful opportunity for your date to express their passion for those they value most. This question opens up the possibility of more conversations about family, friends, and love, which ultimately lead right to Jesus. What more could you want?

What Makes You Laugh?

Questions like this one usually lead to lots of laughter and lighten up the atmosphere.

Knowing that your potential partner has a great sense of humor is a really great way to help steer the conversation. We laughed a lot on our first date, so much so that we cried a few times. And do you know what the best part is? We still laugh together (and cry from laughter) over 20 years later!

If You Could Meet Anyone In The World Right Now, Who Would It Be And Why? This is always a fascinating question to ask.

It opens up a space for heartfelt conversation about what is important to each of you. It gives you the opportunity to explore a bit beyond the surface without probing too deep.

This question also opens up the opportunity to learn more about each other’s worldviews.

And of course this question can lead to a series of other questions because it’s hypothetical. It’s a crowd pleaser for sure.

What Is Your Favorite Book Of The Bible?

Most Christians love to talk about their faith and this question is an easy way to open up that discussion. Even if your date doesn’t have a favorite book of the Bible, that’s okay. It is likely that they will be able to answer question #7 with ease.

Story Continued on page 89

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Personal Wellness What Is Your All-time Favorite Bible Verse?

helping them visualize and speak life into their dreams!

A lot of people get really excited to share their favorite verse in the Bible. And most of the time they don’t have just one. This is an awesome way to see what fuels them as a Christian. And an added benefit is that if they can’t pick just one, then you have a great opportunity to keep sharing God’s Word. And as you already know, God’s Word is the best thing you could possibly talk about!

What Is Your Most Memorable Experience With God?

If You Could Travel To Any Place In The World Right Now, Where Would You Go? Dreaming together has been such an important part of cultivating a strong marriage these last two decades. By sharing your dreams on a first date, you are opening up the lines of communication to really share your heart.

Heart connection is the first step to getting to know your potential spouse. It is an important part of the “getting to know you” process. And it is also a great way to connect with your date in a meaningful way.

Where Do You See Yourself Five Years From Now? While not everyone is futuristic in his or her thinking, people love to talk about their passions and love to be heard. It’s fun to imagine yourself in the future because it allows you both to explore your God-given dreams. If this ends up being the person you marry, you are already

This is always a good one. What Christian doesn’t want to share about the goodness of God? From our experience, this is always a great question to ask if the date is going well. We definitely don’t recommend starting off with this question, but if you are both comfortable, it’s a no brainer for great connection!

First dates can be awkward. However, if you are armed with some great questions going into your first date, it can ease into the situation for both of you. Remember that just because you brought the questions doesn’t mean you need to dominate the conversation. Keep the golden rule for communication that we learn in James 1:19 at the forefront of your mind, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…”

As you listen intently to your date’s answers, you will make them feel heard and accepted.

Before you know it the date will be going smoothly and you will be enjoying one another’s company without floundering for what to say next.

We’re excited for you! Who knows, you may be going out with the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with! No pressure. Just have fun and enjoy that first date!

Article Shared From Michael + Carlie Kercheval

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Feature Story: Janeshia Adams-Ginyard

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Powerful Testimony on How God Answered Her Prayer

By Brooke Obie

Ask and it shall be given unto you‌ Stuntwoman and actress Janeshia Adams-Ginyard took that Scripture to heart when she started thanking God in prayer every day for landing a role in a blockbuster film that hadn't even begun auditions yet. "[Every day my prayers] always started off with, 'Lord Jesus, I thank you in advance for Black Panther,'" Ginyard tells Guideposts.org of her ritual praise to be a stuntwoman in the big-budget superhero movie whose pre-sale ticket sales have sold more than any other superhero film to date. But she didn't just pray.

"In April 2016, my stunt mentor comes to me and she says, 'Hey, they're gonna be doing this Black Panther movie, and you get that TaeKwonDo stuff up, get your kicks and everything up because they're gonna need you. They're gonna need your skills.'" Ginyard hadn't heard anything about casting for Marvel's newest tentpole film, but she trusted her mentor, who had just wrapped working on the Marvel film Captain America: Civil War, where the superhero Black Panther is first introduced. Ginyard went to work, strengthening her skills and believing God had a stuntwoman role for her in what was sure to be a hit franchise of its own.

In September 2016, Ginyard got the email she and her church family had been praying for.

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Feature Story "I had an audition with Sarah Finn Casting, who is the casting director for basically all the Marvel Movies for an 'Untitled Marvel Feature.' Well, I already knew what that was. I'm like, 'It's Black Panther!'" She says. "Next thing you know they flew me to Atlanta to meet [director] Ryan Coogler, and I had the audition in front of him and a lot of the big wigs."

Ginyard showed off her TaeKwonDo skills and learned the choreography they taught her for a fight sequence during the grueling auditions.

"And then I get a final email: 'Hey, if you're receiving this email you've been selected. You made it," she says, "So, from the time I auditioned in front of Ryan, to the time I flew down to Atlanta to start shooting, was probably less than two weeks.“

country, Wakanda. Gurira is the breakout female lead of the film, with the most screen time and action sequences.

Ginyard was chosen to double for her.

"And by doubling [Gurira], I have been able to cross over and do doubling on Avengers. Oh, I get chills! [God] is always working on my behalf," she says.

Not only does Ginyard now get to be a stunt double in two Marvel franchises, she also plays a role as a member of the Dora Milaje in Black Panther and stars in a Lexus commercial for the film that aired during the Super Bowl.

"I would be on set I would, every day, [saying] 'Thank you, Jesus for this opportunity. Thank you so much for blessings, overflowing.“ To gain the faith she had that God would work her dreams out in her favor, Ginyard only had to look back over her life.

She'd gotten the job she'd prayed for, but God wasn't finished blessing her for her faith.

Once she found out that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o was going to star in Black Panther, Ginyard had been praying to be her stunt double.

"The Lord was like, "I've got something bigger and better for you.“ Though Nyong'o is fantastic in the film and has her fair share of action, The Walking Dead star Danai Gurira steals the show as Okoye, the general of the Dora Milaje army of Black Panther's

Photo Credit: All Things Ankara

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Feature Story A lifelong athlete, the Los Angeles native competed on the U.S. national bobsled team from 2006-2007 before making the switch to stunt work. Just as with her role in Black Panther Ginyard spoke her career into existence.

"Every time somebody asked me, 'What do you do?' 'I'm a stunt woman,'" she'd answer, though she'd never done a stunt in her life.

"You have to speak life and positivity," she says to those pursuing their dreams against the odds. "Surround yourself around people who want to see you grow, who help you, who speak life, who encourage you, who motivate you."

Ginyard was able to hold onto faith and positivity, even at a particularly low point in her life, before her career took off.

"I almost lost my life in a car accident where a lady T-boned me, and I was riding my bike for 10 months. I was riding my bike to church, getting on the Blue Line, walking places, you know what I mean? So, I feel like He rewards His children when you are faithful to him.“ Even after landing the role of a lifetime, everything wasn't smooth sailing for Ginyard on set. She soon learned that she would have to shave her head for the role, taking on the iconic image of Wakanda's bald-headed all-female warriors.

"I'm telling you, I tried every way possible to get out of it," Ginyard laughs.

"I emailed the coordinator. I said, 'Can they put a bald cap on me?'" But the coordinator wasn't having it. "I was crying, I was boo-hooing." Then, she called her pastor who had been praying with her for this opportunity before, during and after auditions. "When I told him about me having to shave my head he says, 'Wait a minute. Jesus sacrificed it all on the cross. You mean to tell me you can't sacrifice your hair?' He says, 'I will tell you this: your sacrifice will never be more than the reward.' I said, 'Ooh wee, bring on them clippers.' I was juiced!

I did not shed one tear when those razors hit my head."

Through all of the valleys and roadblocks on Ginyard's path to living out her calling, Scripture has helped her to keep the faith.

"He said in Psalms 23:5 He will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. Hebrews 1:13, I believe, says, 'Your enemies will become your footstools,'" she says, remembering the naysayers who tried to deter her from pursuing her dream of becoming a stuntwoman.

"Because people who didn't like me, or people who tried to set up roadblocks and hurdles for me, they can't turn on [a] media outlet without seeing me. I'm all over the place! So, you know, He's gonna always fight your battles for you. You ain't gotta do nothing but sit back and laugh," she says.

Article Shared From - Brooke Obie

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Guernsey-Knit CrewNeck Sweater for Men

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Interview

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Interview Upon viewing her Facebook messages, Editor-in-Chief, Ms. Laraine Turner came across a sponsored ad about a young man who went from being imprisoned to becoming a motivational speaker to the youth and others by sharing what she calls a ‘powerful testimony’ of ‘From Prison to Power’. We contacted Mr. Kent Osbourne and offered him the opportunity to continue sharing his testimony with others through our platform here at Blessed Magazine Blessed Magazine: Mr. Kent Osbourne, please tell our readers who you are?

Kent Osbourne: My name is Kent Osbourne. I’m a convicted felon that was sent to prison twice and gave my life to God in prison Blessed Magazine: Where did you grow up?

Kent Osbourne: I grew up in Melbourne, Florida Blessed Magazine: What do you do for a living?

Kent Osbourne: I’m the owner of K.O Trucking LLC, Generation Changers International, and Prison to Power Inc. Blessed Magazine: What brought you to this point in your life?

Kent Osbourne: Being obedient to God. Blessed Magazine: What is the objective of sharing your testimony with us today?

Kent Osbourne: To be able to free others out of their mental prisons that have so many people stuck in life, that makes them make bad choices.

Blessed Magazine: Has life been a challenge for you because of your home life as a child?

Kent Osbourne: My home life as a child wasn’t great for me so I went out into the streets looking for love, which caused me to make terrible choices.

Blessed Magazine: If you could play the ‘Blame Game’, are there any specific individuals you would blame for the direction of your life before your break-through?

Kent Osbourne: Yes, I would blame losing my parents at an early age, and my aunt not stepping up to the plate as a loving and concerned parent.

Blessed Magazine: What positives can you point out from your life that has led to who you are today?

Kent Osbourne: I would say becoming a Christian, my hard work ethics, and ability to learn.

Blessed Magazine: Do you have any regrets to any actions which caused others to suffer?

Kent Osbourne: I regret selling drugs to someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, grandma, granddad, etc.

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Interview Blessed Magazine: Your book, please describe what was your objective in writing it?

Kent Osbourne: My objective was to help free others out their mental prisons and to learn from my mistakes that there is a consequence for each action taken, that if you go this way what could happen, and if you go that way what could happen.

Blessed Magazine: Why the title ‘From Prison to Power’?

Kent Osbourne: Because the Prison starts in your mind, and God is the One Who allows us to have power over our lives. So, once I was set free out of that mental prison I was allowed to gain power over my life through Jesus Christ.

Blessed Magazine: Who are your targeted audience?

Kent Osbourne: At risk youth Blessed Magazine: Please describe what you are doing today to impact the lives of others Kent Osbourne: I’m doing empowerment tours geared towards at risk youth.

Blessed Magazine: What do you like most about what you do?

Kent Osbourne: I like inspiring people and giving them hope.

Blessed Magazine: What do you dislike?

Kent Osbourne: Seeing so many people lost Blessed Magazine: What is most challenging about what you do?

Kent Osbourne: Breaking people out of their mental prisons, getting them to believe in themselves.

Blessed Magazine: What is most rewarding?

Kent Osbourne: To see people inspired and take action.

Blessed Magazine: Have you received any negative feedback from those who might not understand your objection?

Kent Osbourne: People didn’t think that me sharing my testimony was a great idea.

Blessed Magazine: Where do Mr. Kent Osbourne go from here?

Kent Osbourne: A world changer.

Blessed Magazine: Are there any lastminute words you would like to share with those who will be reading this article?

Kent Osbourne: If I can do it you can do it.

Question: Do You Know

Jesus?

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1 Interview 0 2

Chere’ Pepper is prolific songwriter and a Grammy Considered Nashville Recording Artist. She resides in Dansville Michigan with her husband and four boys.

Chere’s music is a mix of several different genre labels. An industry reviewer once said she is “too unique and uncategorizable” but that has not stopped Pepper from continuing down her own road of originality and prolific writing. She writes all styles of music and her vocal stylings reflect the change but her soulful Country roots can be heard through the pop/rock music stylings of her recordings. She performs acoustically, most often described as an Acoustic artist with a Contemporary feel, appealing to all ages.

We caught up with Mrs. Pepper and conducted an informal interview…

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Interview Blessed Magazine: Please tell our readers who you are?

Blessed Magazine: What is your all time favorite gospel song?

Chere Pepper: Chere' Pepper, Singer/Songwriter, Christian and Country Music artist. Child of the most high God

Chere Pepper: Amazing Grace my chains are gone, and The Old Rugged Cross Blessed Magazine: Why those songs?

Blessed Magazine: Where did you grow up?

Chere Pepper: Ypsilanti Michigan

Chere Pepper: The lyrics touch me most.

Blessed Magazine: Describe your first live performance.

Blessed Magazine: What do you do for a living?

Chere Pepper: Grammy Considered Nashville Recording artist /Professional Singer/Songwriter. I am a prolific songwriter and also write songs for people.

Blessed Magazine: Why did you choose a music career?

Chere Pepper: The Lord called me when I was 8 years old. It is my calling Blessed Magazine: Why gospel music?

Chere Pepper: Singing for the Lord is what I have done professionally for 20 years, but recently I have crossed over into the Country market with my last 3 Country CD's

Chere Pepper: I was 8. I sang with a bar band at the Red Door in Belleville Michigan. The band was Paul Webb and the Young Country. Loretta Lynn’s cousins band. Funny how Loretta Lynn is my Idol.

Blessed Magazine: Do you write your own songs?

Blessed Magazine: Have you ever forgotten the words to your song? How did you improvise?

Chere Pepper: Yes, the Lord writes through me. I have 8 CD's in all and I share who I am through the gifts and talents the Lord has given me to encourage and uplift the body of Christ.

Chere Pepper: Yes, I just make new words up, and skip a few lyrics.

Story Continued on page 119

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at Blessed Magazine

Interview Blessed Magazine: If you didn’t become a musician, what would you be doing instead?

Chere Pepper: Hard to say, I paint, I help people. I’m a very creative person.

Blessed Magazine: What song is your favorite to date that you’ve produced?

Chere Pepper: "Ill See You Again" a song I wrote for my mom. Very powerful.

Blessed Magazine: What’s one thing you would want your fans to remember about you?

Chere Pepper: How my music makes them feel. Its uplifting, encouraging, and I want to leave people knowing the Lord loves them and cares about them so much.

Blessed Magazine: Who Are Your Musical Influences?

Chere Pepper: Loretta Lynn. Stevie Nick, Karen Carpenter.

Chere Pepper: Because I am in both the Christian and Country markets, I have a broad audience. My music appeals to all ages because we are all human. My music is about Life, Love, and how to treat people, how to live our lives.

Blessed Magazine: What do you like most about what you do?

Chere Pepper: I am if control of my schedule and I love what I do. When you love what you do, its not work.

Blessed Magazine: What do you dislike?

Chere Pepper: People trying to put me in a box. I am unique as all of us are. We need to embrace our uniqueness.

Blessed Magazine: What is most challenging about what you do?

Chere Pepper: Walking by faith. Going into a city many miles away with ministry expenses but the Lord always provides.

Blessed Magazine: What positives can you point out from your life that has led to who you are today?

Chere Pepper: I’ve known the Lord has been with me from a very young age. I always see the good in people. I try to point out the positive and encourage people to be thankful for who they are and what they have, and that we need to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Blessed Magazine: Who are your targeted audience?

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Interview Blessed Magazine: What is most rewarding?

Chere Pepper: Knowing that I am operating in my gift.

Blessed Magazine: Have you ever been booed?

Chere Pepper: No

Blessed Magazine: That’s actually an accomplishment. Good for you! Besides the guitar, do you play any other instruments?

Chere Pepper: Drums, Bass Guitar, Ukulele, and Mandolin.

Blessed Magazine: Where do Chere Pepper go from here?

Chere Pepper: Where the Lord leads. I have begun to do a few more Country shows. I sense the Lord pulling me more into the secular market. This is a very dark world, and I feel him calling me to be a light.

Blessed Magazine: Are there any lastminute words you would like to share with those who will be reading this article?

Chere Pepper: I Have 5 Christian Cd's and 3 Country Pop Cd's and depending on where I am, I share from all of them but always share from the heart to hopefully make a difference. I usually don’t charge to come into a church. I have primarily run my ministry off donations and love offerings.

God has been very good to me and I will continue to share his word and message as long as he calls me.

Question: Do You Know

Jesus?

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