Blessed Magazine December 2015 / January 2016 by Blessed Magazine Ministries

December 2015, January 2016

BECOMING A PERSON OF EXCELLENCE THE KEY TO VICTORY WHEN STRUGGLING WITH SIN

6 WAYS

M A G A Z I N E

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS UNDER

$25

RAPED MY LIFE STORY OF ABUSE

FORGIVENESS LEADS TO A HAPPIER YOU

DOES PRAYER GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO STAND AGAINST SATAN?

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Powerful Prayers for Believers of the Faith When you feel like you have nothing to say in prayer, lean on the timeless Word of God. These life-giving prayers can kick-start your conversations with God

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Contents DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016

On the cover 15 Becoming A Person Of Excellence

The Key To Victory When

18 Struggling With Sin

22 6 Ways Forgiveness Leads To A Happier You

36 Does Prayer Give Us The

Strength To Stand Against Satan?

40 New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resolutions Every Christian Should Make

42 Christmas Gift Ideas Under $25

47 The 7 Things I Wish I Knew

Before Cutting My Thin, Fine Hair

53 14 Ways to Save Money in the New Year

56 Are You Feeding Your Soul Junk Food?

06 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

Model: Asher Keddie Photo by Nina Proudman

27 Raped: My Life Story Of Abuse

Also in this issueâ&#x20AC;Ś 34

A Word from the Lord by Evangelist Nancy Turner

Dear Blessed Magazine

We Heard You!

Letter from the Editor

One of the strongest foundations on this earth is FAMILY Steps for a Strong Foundation in Jesus Read the Bible Together Pray Together Go to Church Together Communicate with Each Other Blessed Magazine

Letter From the Editor

Praise the Lord My Brothers and Sisters in Christ! First giving all glory and honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ for without Him in my life, nothing I could ever do would amount to anything! And, I would like to render a praise report for the many souls who have accepted Jesus into their lives these past months. Continue praying for this ministry as it is all done to the glory and honor of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!! As we embark upon a new year, we encourage you to seek the Lord with all your heart. Keep believing God can and will bless you and your family With each issue, we select topics which we feel will enlighten and inspire your walk with the Lord. We have been operating for 3 years now and are blessed to have many subscribing each day to receive our publication 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 in this coming new year! Yours in Christ,

Laraine Turner 08 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

Editor in Chief

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Will Never Give Up On You!

Dear Blessed Magazine…

Dear Blessed Magazine, Why haven’t you posted another Bible Trivia Marathon? I used to enjoy those tremendously, but haven’t seen one since June or July – Bible Student Dear Bible Student, Thank you for contacting us about our past Bible Trivia Marathons. Every so often, we will host a Bible Trivia Marathon and we do have more of those days coming soon. Thank you for playing along and for your question. Remain blessed of the Lord Jesus always! – Blessed Magazine Dear Blessed Magazine, This might be a loaded question, but what does Blessed Magazine believe? – Just Curious Dear Just Curious, Thank you for contacting us and your question is not at all a loaded question. What we believe is this: We are non-denominational and believe in God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) as our Ultimate Guide Again, thank you for contacting Blessed Magazine. Remain blessed of

the Lord Jesus always! – Blessed Magazine Dear Blessed Magazine, I read an article which really enlightened me in my walk wit the Lord. It outlined the difference between being selfish or selfless and I discovered I was a selfish Christian. Keep posts like that coming as it is strengthening my walk with the Lord – I’m Learning Dear I’m Learning, We are blessed to be a channel God uses for His people. We appreciate your email and your words of encouragement for us. With the help of the Lord, we pray to continue being an outlet for inspiration to God’s people. Please continue to pray for us as we endeavor to continue doing what He allows us to do in Jesus name. Remain blessed of the Lord Jesus always! – Blessed Magazine Dear Blessed Magazine, I love the new look of your website and it is navigation friendly. I also appreciate your free eBook downloads. May I make a suggestion? Could you put together an eBook about spiritual growth with lots of pointers? – Excited

Dear Excited, Thank you for your email and your comments. In reference to your suggestion; we will see what we can do. Thank you for being a supporter of this ministry. Remain blessed – Blessed Magazine Dear Blessed Magazine, Me and my husband are new to the Lord and a friend pointed us to your page. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful we are to be apart of your ministry. We wake up every morning to see what you have posted and are always uplifted with something from your page. Thank you for being there for us. God bless you! – Godly Duo Dear Godly Duo, We can’t begin to express how we felt when we received the news about you and your husband giving your life to the Lord. We are blessed to know God is using us in your lives. Keep us in your prayers as we continue praying for you both. Remain blessed of the Lord Jesus always! – Blessed Magazine

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Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 11

Real People

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Model: Asher Keddie Photo by Nina Proudman

Becoming a Person of Excellence Joyce Meyer once said, "Excellent people exceed expectations." In other words, they go the extra mile, they do more than is asked, and they take extra steps in ensure the highest quality. If people were to describe your work, would excellence come to mind or simply mediocrity? Meyer declared that "You can run into mediocrity accidentally but you have to purpose to be excellent." Thus, exercising minimal effort will lead to a mediocre performance at best, but really going above and beyond the call of duty takes a conscious effort

Colossians 3:17 says, "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus . . . " and later Paul writes, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward" (Colossians 3:23-24) Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 15

Therefore, we are called to strive for excellence in order to be the best testimony for the Lord that we can be. Non-Christians are watching to see what kind of a difference Jesus is making in your life, and you can point others to Him by being diligent in your tasks and being above reproach in your ethics. Daniel exemplified this spirit during his service as a highly regarded administrator in a secular environment. The Scripture says that "he distinguished himself among the administrators . . . because of his exceptional qualities" so much so that "they could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent" (Daniel 6:3-4) Excellence does not necessarily mean the absence of mistakes, but it does mean the presence of faith and determination. To be excellent at whatever God has called you to do, you must first ask for His strength to accomplish the task and then, secondly, His endurance to complete it. Daniel was met with obstacles in his endeavor to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, but he remained steadfast to the course of action he believed the Lord set for him to take You must also recognize that there is a difference between striving to be perfect versus endeavoring to be excellent. Achieving perfection is an impossible task because it never makes allowances for errors or missteps. Consequently, condemnation and discouragement often follow one's pursuit of perfection because these unrealistic expectations lead to feelings of worthlessness and a sense of inadequacy A person who strives for excellence doesn't give up when he makes mistakes, and he doesn't avoid tasks for fear of failure. Helen Keller once wrote, "Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.â&#x20AC;&#x2022; The true goal of excellence is to do the best you can with what you have at every moment. Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are--be all there." Make it your ambition to live out your gifts and talents to the fullest. Andrew Carnegie said that "An average person puts only 25% of their energy and ability into their work. The world takes its hat off to those who put more than 50% capacity in, and stands on its head to those few and far between souls who devote 100%.â&#x20AC;&#x2022;

Ask the Lord today to help you walk excellently before Him in speech and in service so that you may be more effective in your ministry to others. Who knows--people may even stand on their heads in amazement at what they see!

LOVE ONE ANOTHER 16 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

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The Key To

When Struggling With Sin The key to victory in our struggles with sin lies not in ourselves, but in God and His faithfulness to us: ―The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth (Psalm 145:18; see also Psalm 46:1) There’s no getting around it: we all struggle with sin (Romans 3:23). Even the great apostle Paul lamented over his ongoing struggle with sin in his life: ―For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin 18 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

that dwells within me‖ (Romans 7:18-20). Paul’s struggle with sin was real; so much so that he cried out, ―What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?‖ (Romans 7:24). Yet in the next breath, he answers his own question, as well as ours: ―Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!‖ (Romans 7:25a). In this passage, Paul not only provides us with the very key to victory when struggling with sin, but explains the never-ending conundrum between our sinful nature and spiritual nature: ―So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin‖ (Romans 7:25b) Earlier, Paul said, ―For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin‖ (Romans 7:14). Paul is comparing our sinful nature, our flesh, to a slave. Just as a slave obeys his master, so our flesh obeys sin. However, as believers in Christ, we have become spiritual beings under the law of Christ; our inner selves are under the influence and ownership of God’s grace and the life of Christ (Romans 5:21). As long as we are living in this world, our sinful nature and fleshly desire will remain with us. But we also have a new nature in Christ. This leads to a struggle between what we want to do and what we actually do, as sin continues to assault our earthly nature. This struggle is a normal part of living the Christian life It’s interesting to note that Paul, the greatest of the apostles, declared that, of all sinners, ―I am the worst!‖ (1 Timothy 1:15). Paul affirms the struggles we all have as we battle with sin and temptation in our lives. The struggles are real, and they’re debilitating. We grow weary from the never-ending temptations and in falling short of God’s glory. Paul, in essence, is telling us that we need not pretend that we’re untouched by our struggles. He’s been there. He understands. Though our efforts to do right seem desperate, we do have hope ―through Jesus Christ our Lord‖ (Romans 7:25; Hebrews 4:15). And He, in fact, is the key to our victory over sin A true Christian will war with Satan and his daily

efforts to undermine us. The devil is the ruler of this world, and we are living ―behind enemy lines‖ (Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12; John 12:31). With our focus on Christ, however, we will be able to cultivate a mindset that proclaims we’d rather die than do anything to hurt God. When we give ourselves to Christ totally (Matthew 16:24), Satan will flee from us. When we draw near to God, He, in turn, will draw near to us (James 4:7-8) Our key to victory in our struggle with sin lies in the very promise of God Himself: ―No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it‖ (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Photo Credit by Vam Digital

As true believers in Christ, even when we ―face trials far beyond our ability to endure‖ (2 Corinthians 1:8), we can echo the reassuring words of Paul, who declares, ―God has delivered us and will continue to deliver us‖ (2 Corinthians 1:10). Finally, the psalmist gives us these words of encouragement: ―Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act‖ (Psalm 37:3-5)

Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 19

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6 Ways Forgiveness Leads To A Happier You Forgiveness can easily be one of the hardest things we as human beings have to deal with. How do you just let go and forgive someone who has wronged you? How do you let the pain wash away? Although it is one of the hardest decisions to make, it is also one of the most freeing. Think about how much time you waste on a daily basis loathing a certain person who has wronged you. What if you could take back that time and use it for more

By Colleen Woodward

positive change in your life? Forgiveness takes time; however, once you forgive, you are literally reclaiming a piece of your life. Not convinced yet? Here are six ways forgiveness can lead to an overall happier, healthier, and more positive you

1. No More Negative or Obsessive Thinking With the release of all negative thoughts surrounding the person or situation bringing you pain, you now have this huge space in your head for positive thinking. No one actually wants to sit around all day bashing an enemy in their head, so let it go and take on some happier thoughts 22 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

2. Forgiveness Means You Win — Yes You, The Sad And Angry Person Over There, You Win! By letting the person who has done you wrong swarm your every day thoughts and emotions, you are letting them walk free with your happiness in their hands. By forgiving them, you regain your happiness and you are the ultimate winner

3. You Now Control Your Own Path By letting the other person or situation take the wheel of your thoughts and emotions, you surrender control of your own life. Take back the wheel, kick that person or situation out of your car (by forgiving, of course), and start to move on in the direction that is best for YOU, not them

Photo Credit by Shutterstock

4. Feeling Anxious, Stressed, And Psychologically Ill Over This Hurtful Situation? Forgiveness Is The Key To Resolving This

No one enjoys that pain in your stomach and chest, or the anxiety that comes when we know we were wronged by someone. By saying those magic words, ―I forgive you,‖ you are taking back your once-happy and anxiety-free self. Do your body and mind a favor and let it go

5. Not Only Does Forgiveness Clear Negative Thoughts, It Erases Negative Energy As Well. (Aka: It‟s A Win-win) The energy you carry around you is so, so important. If you’re not attracting success, good Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 23

Embracing Singleness and Loneliness This booklet is compiled with inspirations to encourage you while embracing the Lord through those periods of single and loneliness

Click Here To Download Your eBook If I could give this eBook 10 stars I would because it has been an eye opener for me. I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know how to fully cope with being a single male and the ache of loneliness, but this book has inspired me to pray more and seek the face of God. Thank you Blessed Magazineâ&#x20AC;Ś..Thomas Y.

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people, relationships, it could be because you’re walking around with a backpack full of negative energy and no one wants to be near you. Forgive, take the backpack off, and you’ll attract the positive people and situations you most likely desire

6. New Doors Will Open Because you have freed yourself of negative thoughts, energy, and a lack of control of your own happiness, you are open to receiving new opportunities Even if you are unable to physically say the words, ―I forgive you‖ to the person, mentally say them to yourself. Write it down if you need to. It is important to find a healthy and positive balance in your life. Carrying around old baggage from someone who has wronged you is not helping you maintain that balance. Clear the space in your head and heart for new and exciting opportunities — and most importantly — happiness

Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 25

Blessed Magazine Volunteer Post Responders Wanted

Want to be part of a ministry to encourage, uplift and inspire individuals? Blessed Magazine is now recruiting individuals who desire to make a difference in the lives of others through responding to posts If you are interested, please send us a short paragraph outlining why you would be a candidate to become a part of the Blessed Magazine team Send inquiries to contact@blessedmagazine.org

Listen, If God is not glorified in everything we do, then we are simply wasting our time. God must be glorified in our walk and in our talk. If this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happening, wellâ&#x20AC;Śwhatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the point in existing?

Blessed Magazine

Tom Hanks is not affiliated with Blessed Magazine

Raped: My Life Story of Abuse

By Cotia Saunders Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 27

The evil fortuneteller’s voice rang out, slicing me like a knife, cutting deep into my soul. "Give her to me…if she was on my side, and work with me, we can have stronger power and work much evil against people, working curses.‖ He was looking at me with his dark, beady little eyes as if they were piercing right through me. I pulled back and held onto my mother’s hand tightly. I cried out, ―no!‖ With a loud voice. My mother just stood there, saying nothing in my defense. The silence was loud. Why wasn’t my mother protecting me? Why did he only want me? Why didn’t he want any of my other brothers or sisters? As he stared at me I shivered with fear. I told myself, ―I don’t want to be given to this scary, evil man.‖ I was afraid of him, and he knew it. He pointed his finger at me and said to my mother, ―she is afraid of me,‖ letting my mother know that he knew this too. I didn’t trust him. He looked evil, and I knew that he was up to no good…always talking about death. He was the most evil and wicked man that I had ever met in my life Looking back through the generations of my family’s history (as far back as i can remember), there has always been abuse, rejection, evil, hatred, division, and constant fighting, to say the least. It was much easier to hate and fight each other than it was to love one another; love was the hardest thing to do in our family. Hatred and division was the norm in our family. Affection was not natural The sad thing about it was that no one in the family wanted to break or change this vicious cycle of warring, hatred, and division that plagued the family. Each family member took pleasure in the division, strife, and constant fighting among themselves. Everyone hated everyone. It was as if each generation was cursed. That’s just the way it was, and no one truly knew why. My grandmother and aunt were just as wicked, mean, and hateful as my own mother was; my great grandmother was also very mean and hateful throughout the years too This curse of hate, abuse, evil, and rage that has plagued my family from one generation to the next raced through the family tree like a raging fire. My mother was the main one who fueled the fire of hatred, abuse, and division in the family…burning anger in our soul, crippling love, destroying harmony, killing peace, and happiness; leaving all in my family

28 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

“It seemed there was no way anyone could stop this raging fire that was out of control” wounded, and hurting The division was also brought on by the fact that there were three different fathers in our family, which consisted of ten children, six girls, four boys, and I was the middle child. The first four oldest brothers and sisters were by the man who was the only one ever married to my mother. Apparently he never lived in the house because he and my mother had been separated for years. The father of my younger brothers and sisters didn’t live with us either until he moved into the house (which was in the early 1960s.) The man who was my father I only saw once for a brief moment when I was around eleven years old. The only things my mother told me about him was his name, that she was twenty-five years old, and that he was nineteen when she got pregnant by him. I was the only one in the family who had a different father than any of my brothers and sisters, which brought more fighting between the other family members and me. Even though this cycle of abuse, hatred, and division continued throughout my family, all I wanted to do was love them, but I needed their love in return as well so that we all would be loving toward each other. I never wished evil on anyone. I wanted the best for everyone in my family. I was hoping they would see that love was a better choice. These things would bring peace, love, joy, and unity in the family and give us a better life. Then we could be like other families who would be loving, caring, and get along with each other. I was also hoping that love would break through, that it would spread and smother the raging fire of hate that has killed (both physically and spiritually) so many in my family; a love that would flow down through the ages and change things for future generations. No matter what, I wasn’t going to stop or give up loving my family, and I never have even to this day It was my mother who continued to promote this cycle of abuse, hatred, and division even after I was born. In 1950 I was born in a doctor’s office, yet all my brothers and sisters were born at home. After I was born, my mother then took me home in a taxicab the same day. She never took me into the hospital that day

(or any day) for a ―well baby check-up ‖ or follow up on my health to see if I was healthy or not. Basically she had me at the doctor’s office then we went home. It made no sense because back in those days hospital visits were free for the mother and the baby When I was a little girl my mother told me I was born with a veil over my face. She said the doctor who delivered me told her I was a special child, that babies who are born with a veil over their face are able to see things in visions and dreams. She said that the veil was like a white, thin skin that seemed similar to the thin, white skin inside an eggshell. I didn’t know what she meant by what she said. After she told me these things, questions started flooding my mind: What would be the purpose of the visions and dreams? What will these dreams and visions reveal to me? I didn’t understand. Will they show me how to protect my family and myself from the constant fighting and division that went on each day among the family members? Would the visions and dreams show me that I would be the one who would break the cycle of this curse that was destroying my family? Would they change my family to love one another, to be a family with unity instead of being divided? I wondered if the visions and dreams would have a purpose in my life…but what purpose? From that day forward my mother said that I was different, and called me her strange child. She called me that name because out of all the children she gave birth to, I was the only one who was born with a veil over my face As I grew up my grandmother would tell me stories of how my mother did things to hurt me when I was a toddler. She said that my mother would abuse me by feeding me with hot food to burn my mouth, and then she would turn her backside into my face to reject me. Like I said earlier, my grandmother was just as evil as my mother, so she didn’t care that my mother was abusing me. It was the norm between all the family members. Not only did my mother hurt me by the things she did to me, but she also hurt me by the things she didn’t do. For instance, she never took me to the dentist. I never went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned, never went for a dental check up, neither did I ever get a cavity filled. Not only did my mother fail to take me to the dentist, she never took me to the doctor either. I never was taken to the hospital for a medical examination even when I was in need of medical attention. My mother never took a single picture of me

when I was growing up, so I don’t have any pictures of myself as a child. No matter what she did, her intentions were to hurt me, and because of her lack of love, and the rejection she showed me, I suffered many sicknesses, which attacked my body through out my life Medical attention was one thing my family never received. Then came the day when I severely needed it because I almost died. One summer afternoon when I was around three years old, my older brother and I were playing in a house that had been burned. Even though the house was condemned and unsafe to go into, we went in anyway. As we were playing in the house, something went wrong – the house collapsed on me and I was buried beneath wood, bricks, and lots of debris. My brother (who escaped unharmed) ran across the street to Joe’s Market and told the storeowner what had happened. Mr. Joe and my brother ran over to the collapsed house and dug me out of the debris. The ambulance arrived and took me to the hospital.

Photo Credit by Shutterstock I made the news, and I was on the front page of the local newspaper. My body was damaged all over – both of my legs were temporarily paralyzed, I had a deep crater ripped out of both my thighs, and the flesh on my legs was ripped away. Before the doctors could complete the medical care I fully needed, my mother came to the hospital and took me out At the time the house fell on me, my mother was gone on one of her drinking binges. She was a severe alcoholic. No one knew where she was (as usual)

Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 29

Eventually someone found her in a tavern and told her what had happened to me. When she came to the hospital to get me, the doctors repeatedly warned her not to take me out of the hospital. They pleaded with her to leave me in their care. They were afraid that if I didn’t get the medical attention I needed, I would either get pneumonia or die from my injuries. My mother immediately took me out of the hospital even though it was against the doctor’s orders. I don’t know how long I was in the hospital, but it didn’t matter. She wanted me out. Because of her decision, I have suffered excruciating pain all over my body, even to this day. Even though I had injuries all over my body, the worst of the pain has been in both of my legs, and in my back the pain has never completely gone away…some days are better than others The reason my mother gave me for taking me out of the hospital so fast had to do with a ―vision.‖ In her vision she saw me at a cemetery with a black cloth covering my whole body, which to her represented death (at least that is what she said). Since I was in the hospital suffering a near death injury, she believed in her mind that by taking me out of the hospital she was saving my life from the doctor, and from the medical care they were giving me. My mother never liked hospitals. She has no confidence in any medical profession. She thinks all doctors are bad, and doesn’t trust any of them Even so, who in their right mind would take a child out of a hospital, especially a child that is severely injured and in need of urgent medical care? I believe she took me out of the hospital because she didn’t want me to live. She never wanted me (or anyone in the family) to have the proper medical care that was needed. I believe that there were other reasons why she wanted me out of the hospital too – she didn’t want me to have three hot meals a day, nor did she want me to be in a clean environment. She didn’t like the fact that I was being taken care of or that I would be eating good food, to say the least My mother had a deep hatred for me, and she did many things to hurt me throughout my life. Out of all the children in the family, I was never accepted. She rejected me and showed me no love throughout my life. My mother knew God’s hand was upon me, but even so she sought out to destroy my life any way she

30 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

could. All my life she treated me differently than my brothers and sisters as if I were an outsider, as if I were invisible. I never felt welcome or safe in any of the places I lived in with my family. She was never affectionate, never hugged or touched me in a loving manner throughout my life

Photo Credit by Shutterstock The only thing she was interested in was drinking and getting drunk. When she wanted to drink, my mother would leave the apartment and be gone for days or weeks at a time. Eventually she would come home…drunk. She would stay for a while and then she would be off again to who knows where. She was more of a transient than a mother. I didn’t miss her when she was gone, but when she was home I wanted her to stay. I would wish that my mother would go to sleep…sleep so she can be home more so I could see her, and that she would stay home for a long time. I figured maybe if she stayed home more maybe she would change her life, stop drinking, and be a mother to us, but she never changed

TENT MEETINGS The things that I experienced at the tent revivals were things I didn’t have at home, and I looked forward going to each revival that came into town. Since I was in my teen years, I was freer to move about, and therefore I went to each revival that came into town. Every time I went to a tent revival I would feel loved. I also learned why I was singled out for the work that God had called me to do. I learned that God had his hand on my life; that God would use me to reveal these

dreams and visions to my family hoping to break the curse. From then on I became hungrier for someone to love me. I needed real love, a true and deep love, a love that will love me for who I am. I was open, trusting, and vulnerable because I did want to be loved. I also needed revival from the pain my mother brought into my life

Love – that has power, that is self sacrificial, a love of choice, a love of devotion, a healing love, a love that heals my heart, a love that takes away the pain, the anger, and the depression, and brought restoration to my soul, a love that brought forgiveness so that I can become whole and continue to forgive others, and overcome the pain that was crippling my life Joy - that brought happiness and a sense of well-being, a gift from God that restored my life Peace – that gave me inner calmness, and confidence in myself. Patience - that gave me the ability to forgive, and endure injuries inflicted upon me by others, and the willingness to accept irritating or painful situations. Kindness – that gave me a tender concern for others, reflected in a desire to treat others gently. Goodness – moral, and spiritual excellence manifested in active kindness

Photo Credit by Shutterstock The Evangelist quoted the scripture verse John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” And then he gave an alter call to those who wanted to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. I wanted this kind of Love from God, I wanted to be his child. Then I went up to the front where the Evangelist was; I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my life to be my personal Lord and Savior. After the tent revival was over, I went home feeling like there was hope for my family and me Looking back on my life, I needed the love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness to deal with the difficult issues in my life that I was going through that had been inflicted upon me from both my family and others outside my family. But what I received was so much more than I could imagine I also received:

Faithfulness – that brought loyalty and trustworthiness toward others Gentleness – which is a meekness that gave me a humble and gentle attitude that is patiently submissive in every offence, while having no desire for revenge or retribution, and to have consideration for others. Self-control – trying to be self-restrained, and not allowing myself to be controlled by my pain or the difficulties that were trying to destroy my life These were the things that I needed, which were a blessing to me, and others. I did not receive these gifts from having money, prosperity, success, material things, or being a good person, I also knew the things of this world weren’t going to give me a better life, Peace, Joy, Happiness, or Comfort – I received these blessings from God through His love, and His power, when I asked Jesus Christ into my life as my Lord, and Savior when I was twelve years old I received these blessings in my heart by praying:

Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 31

“Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins, I want to turn from my sins. I believe you died on the cross, and shed your blood for me. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I now trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name I pray these things. Amen” After I received Jesus into my life as my Lord, and Savior, my fears were turned into peace, my impatience turned into patience, my pain turned into joy, and gave me His love. And He restores me each and everyday, as I live for Him John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly John 14:6 Jesus said to him, ―I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast

32 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

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A Word From the Lord by Evangelist Nancy Turner When you are feeling lonely and seem like no one cares You don't even feel good about yourself you need a word from the Lord…

WE NEED A WORD FROM THE LORD WE ARE IN THE HOLIDAYS AND SO IS EVIL: WE ARE UNDER ATTACK MORE THAN EVER BEFORE: WE ARE IN NEED OF A WORD FROM THE LORD: 2 Corinthians: 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we are perplexed, but not in despair. Romans: 8 B We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 1 Corinthians 15: 57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God for his Words Remember God is your God even doing the time of pressure and in the holiday this is: THE WORD FROM GOD. My Sister and my Brother that is a Word from the Lord…..Amen 34 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

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Does Prayer Give Us The Strength To Stand Against Satan? By Anna Diehl

With so much bad teaching about spiritual warfare in the Church, we need to be careful about the terms we use. You should never be talking about your strength against demons because you don’t have any. The phrases ―spiritual armor,‖ ―spiritual warrior,‖ and ―standing against Satan‖ all encourage mental images of you and demons battling it out. This is very problematic, for if you were to ever try and take on demons by yourself, you’d be instantly torn apart. You are simply no match for them. When it comes to defensive posture in spiritual warfare, you need to picture yourself hiding behind the Holy Spirit’s back or locked in His protective embrace. The Holy Spirit is the One who protects you from demons. Without Him, you have no hope at all. But here’s the thing about the Holy Spirit: He doesn’t take orders from you 36 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

orders from you If you had it your way, demons would never come within a hundred miles of you. Yet in real life, you find that the little rats keep gaining access to you and sometimes they are quite troublesome. This is because your Protector—the mighty Holy Spirit— is intentionally giving demons access to you Now God always has good reasons for what He does, and everything He does to you is for your spiritual best. One of the biggest mistakes Christians make in spiritual warfare is to fly into ―Make it go away!‖ mode instead of choosing to be teachable. Demons can’t touch you without the Holy Spirit’s assistance. If He’s giving them access to you, the first thing you should be asking is, ―What positive spiritual lesson do You want me to learn from this?‖ There are always positive lessons to be learned. The Holy Spirit loves you and He isn’t letting demons toy with you just to amuse Himself or because He doesn’t think you’re worth protecting. If you are willing to submit to God’s will for your life and let Him direct you, then you will greatly benefit from your bouts with demons. If you always freak out and frantically start praying for God to drive your enemies away, you’re not going to learn anything that He wants to teach you. You’ll either think that He’s heartlessly abandoned you, or you’ll come to the arrogant conclusion that your persistent prayers forced God to increase His protection of you. Both of these conclusions are going to have damaging effects on your relationship with God in the long term

be able to move through the miserable parts of the journey

Now let’s talk about how prayer factors into spiritual warfare. Prayer simply refers to our soul’s communication with God. When we pray, we are focusing on God, and this is certainly going to help you stay calmer during a demonic attack. Focus is powerful. If you stare at the size of the needle that a doctor is using to give you a shot, the shot will feel more painful to you then if you turn your focus elsewhere. When you focus on demons, your fear of them will escalate, and you will be much easier for them to torment. When you focus on God, you will have an easier time ignoring demons, and without your attention, they will have a much harder time attacking you

Photo Credit Pinterest You just can’t progress to a good place with God as long as you’re thinking you’re some awesome prayer warrior who the Holy Spirit lives to serve. Always with God, the keys to success are attitudes of trust and submission. Whenever something doesn’t make sense, or you find yourself in some kind of crisis, ask yourself, ―Am I trying to trust in God’s goodness? Am I fully submitting to His will for me right now?‖ These are the questions that are going to help you stay in alignment with the Holy Spirit. God is for you, but to give you as much of Him as you want to have, He’s going to have to do some ugly things to you. The more you stay focused on trust and submission, the quicker you’ll

That last paragraph made things sound rather simple, didn’t it? Of course in real life, things get far more complicated. If I tell you not to focus on the fact that you’re getting wet while you run through some light rain, you can probably do pretty good at ignoring the drops for a short period of time. But if I start pouring buckets of water over your head, you’re no longer going to be able to ignore the fact that you’re getting wet. In the same way, once demons are given certain levels of access to you, ignoring them is no longer an option. Just as you can’t ―just think of other things‖ when someone hits your toe with a hammer, you can’t

Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 37

―just focus on God‖ when demons are screaming in your brain, manipulating your physical body, or showing up in visible forms

Photo Credit by Pinterest We need to be realistic in our expectations. We also need to realize that each of us is on a unique eternal journey with God, and He has created us each for a different purpose. A man who is destined to be a soldier needs to go through military boot camp if he’s going to be properly equipped to succeed in his calling. But a man who is designed to be a painter doesn’t need the boot camp experience, and he’s probably not equipped to survive it. Those of you who are getting constantly pounded by demons need to understand that you are not spiritual weaklings, nor is the constant harassment evidence that something’s wrong with your faith. On the contrary, you’re being equipped by God with experiences that you’re going to need to excel at the calling He has given you. Right now it’s easy to believe you’ve been given a pretty crummy assignment because your training is so brutal. But if God has you on the front lines, He has also equipped you with what you need to survive this experience and thrive because of it. What are our two keys to success? Trust and submission. You need to try to turn your focus onto trusting that God loves you, that He is for you, and that He is moving you towards a wonderful destination. You need to submit to His training and ask Him to help you learn everything He wants to teach you. You don’t want to be stuck here any longer than you have to, and you certainly want to get the most benefit you

38 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

can out of this misery So then, does prayer give us the strength to stand against Satan? No, it doesn’t, and we don’t care. Nothing will ever enable us to stand against Satan on our own—we will always require the protection of our Creators. But that’s alright, because it isn’t our goal in life to stand against Satan. Instead, we are focused on pleasing our three glorious Creators, and we do that by fully submitting to Their will in our lives. Sometimes we’ll feel like we’re standing strong against demons, other times we’ll feel like we’re eating dirt while demons walk all over us. But even our apparent defeats will be counted by God as victories if we are choosing the path of total submission We do not try to stand against Satan because we know that we are frail, powerless weaklings who are totally dependent on the Ones who made us. We count on our Creators to protect us from demons and we try to keep our focus on Them as much as we can. When demons are allowed to attack us, we trust that there are good reasons, and we look to the Holy Spirit to help us learn everything He wants to teach us. Life is about pursuing a deeper bond with our Creators, not about conquering demons. Demonic harassment is simply another tool which God uses to draw us closer to Him

Photo Credit by Share Faith

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New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Resolutions Every Christian Should Make By Eric Corpus

With Christmas soon to be behind us, 'tis the season for hoping to live a better, more fulfilling life in the following year. I'll save you the work of coming up with a list of resolutions for 2016. Here are 10 New Year's Resolutions Every Christian Should Make 40 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

1. Resolve to stay faithful to Jesus Christ. He is the one Truth, Way and Life. There's no reason to look elsewhere 2. Resolve to not let anything â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a career, a significant other, social media, a house â&#x20AC;&#x201C; become an object of worship 3. Resolve to watch your language and not speak any destructive talk, especially involving the name of God 4. Resolve to prevent burnout by putting aside work one day a week. Trust God to provide for your needs that day and just enjoy the time He's given you 5. Resolve to talk to your parents on a regular basis, and show them love and respect 6. Resolve to be angry less. Channel any feelings of rage, which Jesus said are as severe as murder, into worshiping God and serving others 7. Resolve to honor your commitment to your spouse. Whether in thought or in deed, stay pure and loyal in the union God made 8. Resolve to not take anything that's not yours, including stuff you can hold and put in your pocket, and plenty that you can't, like music downloads, streaming movies and hours on your timecard 9. Resolve to speak about others only with truth and love, not gossip 10.Resolve to be content with what you have, and not worry about that others are amassing If these sound familiar, good! SHARE these New Year's resolutions to encourage people to live a life that honors God Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 41

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Embracing Singleness and Loneliness This booklet is compiled with inspirations to encourage you while embracing the Lord through those periods of single and loneliness

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Being a Lukewarm Christian Marlene Morris So many area's we as believers need too pay attention to His word of how we should live. Don't give up keep reading and listening to His voice. When I fall short I hear Him telling me too be very careful. Gale Barr Brenda Mock Very good reading, we should all strive to be on fire for god, being lukewarm makes god sick, we should try our best to live as close to god as we can, after all he is giving us an eternal home rent free, and more than we will ever need. Our minds cannot imagine the glories and beauty we will have Kimberly Wright – It’s going to be a sad day for those who are straddling the fence because it is written He will spit you out of his mouth. Be ye ready and chose the right side

Henry Barton – This article shedded a lot of light on some of our behaviors. I appreciate the straightforwardness you gave us because it’s important to know where you stand and if what you are doing is contrary to the word of God Victoria Locklear – I’m not sure if this article is on point in it’s depiction of who is right and who is wrong. My best advice would be to seek the Lord. He would not lead you astray Robert Kirby – This was a pointless article. All it did was attempt to scare people into believing they are going to hell if they do certain things. Who are you to tell us what we are doing is wrong. Get your head out of your *ss

Monica Carter – I’ve been a fan of your page for quite some time and have found your articles to be a blessing to me in my walk with the Lord. I however, have a request. Please address those that are lost and searching. Your articles address only Christians, but not everyone is a Christian yet and your ministry could help someone if they could read articles about how to find the Lord as much as you post about how to keep the Lord in our lives. Just a suggestion. I think you guys are awesome. God continue to bless you in all you do!

Please note: the views and expressions expressed are not necessarily the views of Blessed Magazine or its affiliates Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 47

Real People

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The 7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Cutting My Thin, Fine Hair By Jamie Stone

My childhood is otherwise known as the time when I had thick, gorgeous brown hair that naturally dried glossy, smooth and straightâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;those were the days, let me tell you

Over the years, my hair got finer and thinner as a result of dyeing it blonde, heat styling it pin straight and, of course, aging. But I eventually learned a few tricks of the trade to make things just a tad bit easier. Ladies, learn from my mistakes Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 49

I recently got a cut from Jill Crosby, a celebrity stylist who also works with Women's ROGAINE, and was really impressed with her take on cutting this particular type of hair. "Women with fine or thinning hair tend to default to styles that are almost non-styles," Crosby said. "They often grow out their hair and refrain from ever cutting it—even the slightest trim. And when I see a woman with thinning hair get to the point when she is willing to cut away the breakage and damage to find a cut that really enhances her face and utilizes her stronger qualities, they are typically elated and realize what they have been missing." When I was 22, I thought that flat ironing my hair until it almost burned off was a fabulous look. And yes, I'm holding an apple martini because what else does a 22-year-old drink when she thinks she lives in an episode of "Sex and the City?―

RULE 2: DON'T GET BANGS, EVER

layers." The answer? Absolutely not. It seems great in theory, but similarly to bangs, it will simply take away from the precious hair you actually have. And, believe me, it takes forever to grow back. Instead, ask for a few angles in the front or even a singular layer is fine, as long as it's just in front.

RULE 4: BLUNT CUTS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND I used to think that blunt cuts were boring—that is, until I actually tried one. Nothing, I repeat, nothing makes fine hair look fuller than a straight line going across the bottom. "A strong weight line with a fresh, blunt cut can actually give hair a longer appearance. So while you're cutting, you're creating an illusion of length and volume," Crosby explained. Even when I wore my hair shoulder length, which was shorter than I liked at that time, it looked incredibly fuller and healthier

I jokingly tell my friends how I've stopped "trying to make bangs happen" as the line goes in the quotable movie "Mean Girls." I, like I'm sure many of you, have gone through cycles where I'd wake up one day and say, "Hey, maybe I should try bangs again" or "Let's give bangs one more go!" The answer? Just don't do it. I have a fool-proof plan should I ever be tempted again: Simply look at the photos from when I attempted bangs in high school and again in 2006 "If you have thin or thinning hair, I'd recommend avoiding a heavy bang," said Crosby. "Instead, ask your stylist for long layers or wispy angles to frame your face. Creating bangs takes away from hair you have on the top of your head and, in turn, gives you less volume

RULE 3: NEVER ADD LAYERS IN THE BACK! I've fallen victim many times to a stylist telling me that I need more depth and volume in the back, then convincing me to try "just a few layers." The answer? 50 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

Courtesy of Jamie Stone

RULE 5: PLAY WITH YOUR PART Stylists usually cut your hair based on the part that you like to wear your hair. So before they actually start snipping, talk about where they think your part should be. You never know what a simple switch of the part might do for your

volume or perception of thickness. Crosby agrees, "It gives instant lift at the root and can completely change a style for the better.―

RULE 6: WHEN IT COMES TO COLOR, OPT FOR A SLIGHTLY DEEPER ROOT As a blonde for nearly 15 years, I've always had just one rule when it comes to color: Don't let your roots show ... ever. Turns out, I was completely wrong. "When dealing with a client who has fine or thinning hair, I always recommend adding a deeper root with just a few highlights, which helps hair look fuller and thicker—especially at the roots where you want some volume," celebrity colorist Erick Orellana explained. Orellana is actually the colorist who did the color in my "blunt cut" photo and it took him months to convince me that darker roots were better for the illusion of density. He was 100 percent right. If you look at that photo and then look at my color in my "bangs" photo above, you can absolutely see the difference. "Highlights are great for adding volume, but if you go too light at the root you can actually cause more breakage to the hair, which means thinner hair," Orellana said. "You can still stay very blonde, especially on the ends, but try to avoid the root.―

RULE 7: WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, WEAR CLIP-IN EXTENSIONS I'm the first to admit that I wish I had full, thick hair that magically dries in 10 minutes and never gets frizzy. Doesn't heaven sound great? But when you finally accept the reality that "the grass is always greener," you can start to appreciate the fact that there are tons of clip-in extension options that won't damage your natural hair. They're great for special occasions or even for everyday (if you're not as lazy as I am)

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14 Ways to Save Money in the

New Year

Think you don't have enough money to save? We've compiled a list of our best tips to find extra money in your budget to sock away. These strategies won't require you to take a vow of poverty -- we know money's tight already. Rather, they're small and simple cost-cutters that'll help you get started saving as soon as possible Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 53

Give yourself a raise and bank it. Boost your take-home pay by adjusting your tax-withholding and have the difference in pay automatically transferred to an online savings account. Kiplinger's tax-withholding calculator can help you revise your W-4

Enroll in a 401(k). If your employer offers a 50-cent match for every dollar you contribute, even adding $60 a month will net you over a grand a year. Plus, you defer paying taxes on your contributions, so they take a smaller bite out of your paycheck

Raise your car insurance deductible. Upping your out-of-pocket outlay from $250 to $1,000 can save you 15% or more off your premium

Pay off your credit card. Carrying a $1,000 balance at 18% blows $180 every year on interest that you could put to use elsewhere.

Go green. Control energy costs with a programmable thermostat. Prices start around $50, but you'll cut your heating-and-cooling bill by 10-20%.

Bundle up. You may be able to save by getting a package of phone, Internet and cable from one provider

Get a credit card with rewards. Spending $80 a week on gas and groceries? Putting it on a card with 5% cash rebates will earn you nearly $200 a year.

Kick the cigarette habit. Smoking is hard on your health and the wallet. Someone who smokes a pack a day will spend $2,200.95 annually.

Brown bag it. Instead of spending $8 on takeout every day at work, bring a bagged lunch for $5. You'll save $60 a month and $720 a year.

10. Make media free. Dust off your library card and enjoy DVDs and books for free. If you'd normally rent a movie a week and buy a book a month, you can cut costs by $30. 11. Park your car. Why pay $25 a week in gas when you could pay half that to use public transit? Check out carpooling at www.erideshare.com, or see how much you could save by biking or walking to work

12. Ditch your gym. Forget the $40/month gym membership that'll cost you almost $500 a year and check out community centers in your area. Some may be free or charge a minimal fee such as $100 a year. Or buy a good pair of running shoes and work out the old-fashioned way. 13. Learn to cook. Cooking at home saves on your food budget and it could even improve your dating prospects -- who isn't impressed by someone who can prepare a great meal? 14. Keep track of your money. The best way to save is to know what you spend. It might not be pretty, but detail every expense for a month to get an idea of where you can cut back. Nearly everyone has some fat they can trim from their spending to put toward a savings goal 54 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

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Are You Feeding Your Soul Junk Food? Article by John Grant

56 Blessed Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

All I needed was a loaf of bread, so I turned into one of those gas stations on steroids where you can buy most of the necessities of life. I looked up and down row after of row for a simple measly loaf of bread. Finally, in the back corner on a bottom shelf, I found a loaf or two. But, what amazed me was all the other food offerings There was row after row of all sorts of snacks containing high fats, carbs and sugar. I started looking at the nutrition disclosures on individual packages. Why, the calorie intake on some of those small packages was more than half of a recommended daily caloric diet. No wonder American’s have an obesity problem You are what you eat, and what you eat influences virtually everything in your life, from how much energy you have…to how well your brain works…to how long you live. If you want to have a great brain, you must consistently give it nutrient-rich foods. I know it sounds almost too easy, but it’s a scientific fact: Change your diet, and you change your life

praise God for and be glad about.‖ Truth, goodness, righteousness, purity and loveliness… think about these things. Let them be the object of your careful attention and study, so as to practice them. Think what they are; think on the obligation to observe them; think on the influence which they would have on the world around you. Esteem them highly, recommend them heartily, and practice them fervently. Lord, I don’t want to feed my soul on junk food. Help me to not only change my pattern of eating to get physically fit, but to also change your pattern of thinking to get spiritually fit. Help me today to think on the good things You have provided and have done in my life. I cast my thoughts on You, Jesus and my desire is to become more like You. Amen

But, those same principles dealing with our nutritional food diet apply to our spiritual diet and effect our life just as much…..change your thoughts and change your life. Garbage in, garbage out, or so the saying goes. We tend to become what we think about al day long Paul gives us some worthy advice in Philippians 4:8: ―And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can

Blessed Magazine Dec 2015 / Jan 2016 57

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