Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016

Single, Saved and Having Sex: A Young Woman’s Confession

BLESSED October, November, 2016

M A G A Z I N E

Say Goodbye To Belly Fat

Sell Out or Sold Out to Jesus?

Lower Your Blood Pressure And Cure Cholesterol With This Perfect Cure

Update Your Wardrobe Even on a Tight Budget Why We Keep Falling in Love with the Wrong Person Warning: Low Soul Battery!

Which One Are You?

Lose

10lbs In 1 Week This Military Diet Will Make You Skinny

Are You After God‟s Heart?

Do You Possess the Virtues of Christ?

CAN WE CHANGE GOD'S MIND WITH PRAYER?

64

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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

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate having this available to me. It has inspired me to develop a better relationship with God. You guys are the best and I pray others will be blessed by this book - Susan

Exclusively at Blessed Magazine Get Yours Today! No Purchase Necessary!

Contents October/November, 2016

Inside This Issue

27

Fitness and Wellness:

Relationships:  Single, Saved and Having Sex: A 27 Young Woman’s Confession– 27  Why We Keep Falling in Love with the Wrong Person– 31

Image wiseGEEK

13

 Lower Your Blood Pressure and Cure Cholesterol with this Perfect Cure -- 13  Lose 10lbs in 1 Week! – 17  Say Goodbye to Belly Fat – 21

Spiritual Wellness

35

68

 Sell Out or Sold Out to Jesus -- 35  Warning! Low Soul Battery - 39  Are You After God’s Heart? – 45  Do You Possess the Virtues of Christ – 49  Can We Change God’s Mind with Prayer?

– 53

Artist Spotlight:  withLove - 68

06 Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016

Single, Saved and Having Sex: A Young Woman’s Confession Cover Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock

Also in this issue‌ 08 Letter to the Editor 61 Update Your Wardrobe Even on a Tight Budget 59 We Heard You! Let’s Talk!

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

Letter From the Editor

Editor’s Corner

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!

With every issue, we strive to bring to our readers articles which can enhance and enlighten their walk with the Lord as well as articles to help with our every day lifestyles But even with all of that being said, if we donâ€&#x;t place God first in our lives, nothing we do will ever amount to anything because we need Him to bless our efforts and steer us in the right direction with our goals I want to personally thank all of our fans and readers for their continued support of this ministry which is striving and for that I am grateful 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!

08 Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016

Your Humble Servant in Christ,

Laraine Turner Editor-in-Chief

CHECK US OUT ONLINE We Are Completely Mobile Friendly For Individuals On The Go

What Youâ€&#x;ll Find Inside‌.

Packed with inspirational articles to educate, encourage, inspire and uplift, recipes, diet advice, health, beauty, nutrition and fitness, Blessed Magazine is the ultimate companion for individuals who want to look great, feel fabulous and enjoy the benefits of a healthy, spiritual life.

Subscribe for yourself or give as a gift to be blessed all year-long!

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Fitness and Wellness Lower Your Blood Pressure And Cure Cholesterol With

This Perfect Cure

By Richard Edwards

Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases (like heart disease and cancer), and promote your overall health Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 13

Fitness and Wellness This is a traditional Amish remedy for treating various ailments and boosting the immune system. Its effects are especially beneficial for the treatment of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

We present you the recipe of this powerful remedy.

Required Ingredients • • • • •

1 tsp. of lemon juice 1 garlic clove (grated) 1 tsp. of apple cider vinegar 1 piece of ginger (grated) 1 tsp. of organic honey

Instructions Mix all of these ingredients and refrigerate the obtained mixture for five days.

Usage

After this period, consume the mixture before breakfast and dinner.

However, make sure to take it up to 3 times per day. After a weekperiod, check your cholesterol levels and you will see the positive results. You will also notice your blood pressure is normalized.

Article Originally Featured in All People‟s Magazine Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 14

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 didn’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 Magazine‌..Thomas Y.

Exclusively at Blessed Magazine Get Yours Today! No Purchase Necessary!

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Fitness and Wellness

Lose

10lbs In 1 Week This Military Diet Will Make You Skinny

By Zoran Zlatanovski

What if you could lose 10 pounds within a week? If you think that this is impossible, keep reading. Namely, the Military Diet is a 3-day diet plan which provides amazing results and makes you skinny in no time.

Check it out!

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 17

Fitness and Wellness

Article Originally Featured in All Peopleâ€&#x;s Magazine Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 18

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

Being Single „A Great Opportunity‟ Get the compelling book that sheds light on the lies, feelings and truths about being single as a Christian Click Here To Download Your eBook “This book. Oh my God! This book answers all of my questions and concerns. It has given me a better outlook on being single and helps me to focus on what I can do while waiting on a mate if that is God’s will for my life…Get this book! You won’t regret it …..Julie R.

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Fitness and Wellness

Say Goodbye to Belly Fat!!!

By Healthy Life Tricks

2 TABLESPOONS A DAY AND GOODBYE BELLY FAT! THIS DRINK WILL BURN STOMACH FAT

IMMEDIATELY!!!

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 21

Fitness and Wellness The main reason for that excess fat tissue around your abdominal area is the so called Lazy Bowel Syndrome. It slows down the fat burning process and it also slows down the cleansing process, for removing harmful toxins out of our body. Nutritionists say that there is answer for that problem and it‟s very simple. The answer is in this homemade drink, which you should drink it as a substitute for breakfast, and it‟s very simple and very easy to make.

Weight Loss Drink – RECIPE: Ingredients:  125 grams of horseradish  3 lemons (before you use them, you need to place them in a container filled with water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar for 10 minutes – to wash away the pesticides)  3 tablespoons of honey Directions: Put the horseradish into a blender and blend well. Then, cut the lemons in slices (unpeeled), remove the lemon seeds and add them into the blender. Mix again until you get nice and homogenous mixture. Then, add the 3 tablespoons of honey and mix everything again. Note: make sure you keep this mixture in a glass jar and store it in the fridge.

Directions: You need to drink 1 tsp. of this homemade mixture, 2 times every day, for 3 weeks Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 22

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 didn’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 Magazine‌..Thomas Y.

Exclusively at Blessed Magazine Get Yours Today! No Purchase Necessary!

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Relationships

Single, Saved and Having Sex: A Young Woman‟s Confession

By Crunkashell

Like most conservative Christian folks, I grew up believing, that sex was reserved for marriage. For years my sexual experiences were laden with guilt. I routinely went years at a time with no sexual contact, until I would finally, in a fit of weakness give in to my urges. I was caught in a continual cycle of self-denial, self-indulgence, guilt, confession, rinse and repeat, topped off by five years of celibacy. I was treating sex as if it were a bad habit that I desperately needed to break. All of that is a prelude to a confession: I‟m single. I‟m saved (as in born-again Christian). And I have sex.

Unapologetically!!!

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 27

Relationships At my former church, I spent at least one Friday a month, hanging with the dynamic, beautiful, thoughtful, educated sisters of faith who did ministry work. These women were not stuffy; they were totally real: about how lonely it is without someone; about how they never saw themselves at 35 or 40 still being alone with no prospects; about how frustrating the prospect of perpetual celibacy is. But I respect these women because they decided that “doing it God‟s way is best,” even if that means an indefinite period of celibacy.

And so inevitably there would be the roll call of who had been celibate the longest. 5 years, 10 years, etc… And because these women believed strongly in the Bible as a rule book, no extramarital expressions of sexuality are permitted, not even masturbation.

I, however, have had a long-standing offagain/on-again relationship with more than one B.O.B. (battery-operated boyfriend). And I simply don‟t believe that someone else should get to touch my clitoris when I don‟t.

So while I love these women and while I believe we love the same God, I do not love their sexual ethics. I do not think one can live and thrive in them. For me, Christianity is too much about grace, too much about freedom to engender the continual guilt, frustration, and anxiety, which I continually confronted merely for expressing my sexual selfhood. Surely there must be a better way.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 28

But when it comes to the sex life of the single Christian, it‟s hard to take the Bible as the gospel truth, because for us, their ain‟t no good news in it. Song of Solomon‟s erotic imagery notwithstanding, no scriptural loopholes permitting me to get my much-needed freak on presented themselves.

But a loophole is not what I needed. I needed a bigger view of God. For so many women, the biggest faith struggle of their life has been “believing God for a mate.” Year after year, these women serve, pray, and live chaste, believing that God just requires more faith, or alternately, that God is still working on them. And the Black church, in its refusal to consider the impact of over-incarceration, poor education, underemployent, violence, and AIDS, on Black families and heterosexual Black marriages, only makes it worse by reinforcing Black women‟s feelings of personal and relational inadequacy. The Church‟s parochial sexual politics and double standards have made it even harder for Black women to find the kinds of relationships they so desperately seek. My sister friends want dudes who are in church often, “know the Word,” love God, and are willing to court them for as long as it takes with little to no physical contact. Most preachers don‟t adhere to that standard, and while there are some men who would, there are many many, legitimately good brothers who won‟t. Our

Relationships churches rarely even preach celibacy to men. <Side Eye> So when I recognized the way social conditions and religious guilt shaped my options for partnering, I began to ask different questions about my relationship to God, to the Bible, and to faith. Because my friends were following the rules, to a tee, and yet the rewards elude(d) them.

I don‟t want the good stuff, sexual or otherwise, to elude me while I‟m over here dutifully following the rules, so I‟ve actively and painfully gone in search of a better way, filled with life affirming principles and enough grace to let me enjoy my life and some good sex, too. „Cause frankly, now that I‟m over 30, getting some, getting it good, and getting it on a regular basis is non-negotiable.

I refuse any longer to live a fear-driven life, based upon a set of rules that mete out punishment and reward based on how well I perform. I think Jesus came to free us from performance driven living. As women, we are no stranger to performance driven lives, which often leave us empty and unfulfilled as we try to be all things to all people. And then we turn around and try to do this same thing in our faith, and it isn‟t working. For Black women who are already forced to be superhuman in every other aspect of the world, our faith space, personal and communal, can only be liberatory when it permits us to be fully human, sexuality and all.

If we choose to be honest and intentional, we can build life-affirming intimate relationships, both inside and outside of marriage. But our conservatism has stripped women of the right to be intentional about engaging and enjoying their sexuality, even causing some women to avoid condoms and birth control, so they don‟t have to acknowledge their choices. AIDS is real, fam.

Sex is a form of creative power. And it is in the literal fact of its creative aspects that we feel alive, fully human, and connected. I think God wants nothing less than this for us, and that requires regular, intimate connections of bodies, or at the very least a very regular, intentional and unapologetic intimate connection with our own body.

So sex is back on the table for me in an emotionally safe intimate connection with another person. Because marriage or no, I am clear about this one thing: celibacy is not for me. I need connection. I need intimacy. I need sex. Period. That‟s why I‟m unapologetically single, saved, and sexin‟.

What are your thoughts on this subject? We would like to hear from you. Write us at contact@blessedmagzine.org The views expressed in this article does not reflect the views of our staff, volunteers or any of our affiliates

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 29

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Relationships

By Debi Berndt

Why We Keep Falling in Love with the Wrong Person Most articles that offer dating tips will tell you what you did wrong on a date by recounting the mistakes that are keeping you single: "Don't be too fat, but don't be too skinny." "Don't talk about your job, but do talk about your career goals." "Be interesting ... no, be interested.

No, act cool.â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Enough Of That Already!

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 31

Relationships The real reason you don't have the love that you deserve isn't how you acted on a date. It isn't because you said the wrong thing or that you smiled at the waiter. It isn't because you texted the guy after the date to thank him. It isn't because you slept with him too soon.

Here's the hard truth: you picked someone who would leave you before you even went out on that date. Before you even spoke to this man, your mate selection mechanism was set on heartache.

Why do we pick the wrong people? There is a subconscious part of us that draws us to particular people who trigger a familiar feeling. We think it's chemistry when the fireworks go off, but what's actually happening is that your inner drama queen is having a field day. You're bored with the nice guys and crave attention from the man who acts disinterested. Most people think they will never have chemistry with someone "nice" and that could very well be true. If you don't change your mate selection mechanism, you will subconsciously choose the same heartache every time. You will ignore the obvious red flags, believing, that "this relationship" will be different â&#x20AC;Ś but nothing changes.

The key to finding true love is to discover the mechanism in your subconscious (we call it your inner Adam or Eve), which fits like a puzzle piece with potential partners. You don't have to change how you act, your clothes, your weight, or your personality; you just need to shift your piece of the puzzle. When your puzzle piece shifts, you will see that the men or women you meet will start to change as well. You can have conscious chemistry with someone who wants commitment and love just like you. You will feel the fireworks, but it won't be followed by a night of Ben & Jerry's on the couch (unless you and your partner enjoy sweet treats together).

There are a few ways to change your "Love

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 32

Picker." In fact, your subconscious mind is always giving you clues on how to change it. It keeps bringing you heartache so that you can finally make an adjustment. You may not have known that you can change it before today, but here is how: 1. Break bad patterns. Look for common themes in your relationships and figure out where the patterns have their roots. Try to identify the underlying fear you likely have of actually getting close to someone. Face the fear so you can break the bad pattern.

2. Pay attention to your dreams. Your dreams are a treasury of insight and information to guide you on your journey to a fulfilling relationship. They speak to you in symbolic language so you need to journal about them and follow your inner guidance.

3. Create an inner dialog. Work with your subconscious mind by visualizing and facing the part of you that acts as the picker. Ask yourself questions and trust the answers that come to you.

4. Get a guide. Hire a coach that specializes in subconscious work. This is the fastest way to get yourself aligned with love.

Once you shift your subconscious even slightly, you will see a huge difference in who you're attracted to and who is attracted to you. You may even notice that more opportunities will show up to meet nice guys, and that friends will come out of nowhere to introduce you to someone worthy. The bottom line is that you don't have to worry about saying the right things or playing the dating game.

Your picker, if well-tuned, will always give you the love match you most desire. Isn't that much easier than wondering if you should wait three days to call him?

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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

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Spiritual Wellness OR

By Bruce McLanahan

JESUS

Judas is known as a man who kissed the door of heaven, but never got in. Jesus had said, "I am the door of heaven: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.â&#x20AC;&#x153; Judas is known as a man who kissed the door of heaven, but never got in. Jesus had said, "I am the door of heaven: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.â&#x20AC;&#x153; The kiss of Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane was an act of betrayal. Judas should have been sold out to Jesus Christ, giving his all for Christ, but he was a sellout, betraying the Savior for 30 pieces of silver.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 35

Spiritual Wellness Judas is a Bible character that makes you scratch your head and ask, "What happened?" How could he do what he did after spending three years with Jesus? Judas worshiped with Jesus, followed Jesus, was involved in ministry with Jesus, was the treasurer for the disciples, but he threw it all away.

Judas reminds us that sin will always take you further than you want to go, cost you more than you are willing to pay, require more than you are able to give, and cause you to do things that you didn‟t think you were capable of doing.

Judas had his own plan and did not surrender to God‟s plan. Judas joined the majority of the world that wanted to get rid of Jesus so they could do their own thing. Instead of humbly welcoming and worshiping the Son of God, instead of embracing the long awaited Messiah, instead of falling at His feet in adoration and worship, Judas led the crowd that stubbornly put Jesus Christ to death on the cross. Jesus was the perfect Son of God; He had done nothing immoral or illegal. This crowd had no idea what they were doing; they were just doing what everyone else was doing. The unbelieving world will have a hatred and contempt for the name of God, the Word of God, and the things of God. Judas was a sellout instead of being sold out. Judas opened himself up to Satan‟s presence and influence.

As horrible as this picture of Judas betraying Jesus Christ is, God knew this was going to happen. God had sent His Son to die for the sins of the world.

Whatever you are going through and will go through, God knows, God cares and nothing takes Him by surprise. God always has a plan for you and this world. In spite of Judas trying to fake his devotion before the One who knows everything, God had a plan that by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world, man could be saved from sin and receive eternal life.

You must understand the times in which you are living. The fact that you are alive on planet earth

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 36

right now means that you are here for a reason.

God created you for this time in history to make a difference in this culture. You were born for such a time as this. This is a time of cultural emergency, but believers in Jesus Christ have always used the Bible as the standard for belief, doctrine, and practice.

The standards of God must be the standards of the believer. Whatever God says about creation, marriage, salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, and moral standards for living cannot be compromised or sold out to the world. Believing the Bible does not give a Christian the right to be hateful, but challenges you to be an example of Jesus Christ.

These are not the days to sell out Jesus Christ, but these are days to be sold out to Jesus Christ

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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

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you how much I appreciate having this available to me. It has inspired me to develop a better relationship with God. You guys are the best and I pray others will be blessed by this book - Susan

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Spiritual Wellness

Warning: Low Soul Battery!

By Cassandra Lane

We go to the hairdresser to tame our hair, the dentist to whiten our teeth and the gym to tackle our muffin top.

But where do we go when we need to give our soul a workout?

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 39

Spiritual Wellness Each day, we have the choice to indulge in activities, thoughts and behaviors that either nourish our soul or strain it.

We choose whether we go for a walk at lunchtime to reconnect with the earth, or if we stay indoors and work through our break. We choose whether to think positively about a situation or to pander to negative thinking.

Every single day we choose, both intentionally and unintentionally, whether or not we will feed our soul or fuel our anxiety.

So, ask yourself now: lately, have you been feeding your soul or fuelling your anxiety?

WARNING: LOW SOUL BATTERY! If you‟ve answered this question with „fuelling your anxiety‟, don‟t feel too bad. Sure, it‟s not the ideal way to react, but nor is it unusual.

Because if you‟re like most people, taking care of your soul has probably been one of the last things on your to-do list recently.

A typical 9 to 5 working day or 9 to 3 school day doesn‟t really cater for soul nourishment and in fact, can even encourage us to feel anxious and indulge in soul depleting activities.

WHY YOU NEED TO RECHARGE YOUR SOUL Okay, so I‟m not suggesting you ditch your responsibilities (all the time), but I do think that taking care of your soul is vital for healthy and happy living.

There‟s this old saying that encourages „sharpening your saw‟, with the premise that you can hardly cut a tree down with a blunt saw, so you‟re better off taking the time to sharpen your tools before you start work.

In life, our „saw‟ is our soul. It helps us tackle difficult projects with clarity, focus and energy.

Our soul allows us to interact with others on a deep and meaningful level. It assists us in stress management and in handling those bad days. And at the very basic level, it is our essence: our life source.

When you don‟t take care of your soul, you‟re essentially hacking at a tree with a blunt saw.

And while it might seem like taking time out to soothe your soul is a luxury rather than a necessary part of your day, the truth is that if you feed your soul everything else will become easier – just like a sharp saw slices through wood effortlessly.

HOW TO SOOTHE YOUR SOUL

Add on homework, long days, presentations, making dinner, social commitments, housework and everything else that pops up each day and it may feel like taking care of your soul is your very last priority.

Now onto the fun bit, and I promise you it will be fun because taking care of your soul always is.

Because you see, nourishing your soul and retooling is all about doing things you enjoy.

And let‟s face it, with all of the other stuff taking up time in your day (and in your mind), who has the energy, patience and forethought to consider soothing their soul?

Things that make you happy, energetic and joyful.

The things that you look forward to but often put off because you don‟t have time or feel that there‟s something else more important to do.

The fun stuff.

Well… While you might not have time, you definitely have the need.

So to get you started and help you think about what

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 40

Spiritual Wellness you really enjoy doing, here are some of my top ways to soothe your soul:

But what if you could release all of those negative emotions?

#1: Indulge In The Creative Arts

This is essentially what journaling allows you to do. By writing down your thoughts, feelings and musings you are transferring your negative energy onto the page.

You‟re releasing your bad feelings and working through your anxieties. And you‟re also fuelling your soul, allowing it to break free from the prison it‟s been kept in all day. #3: Go For A Walk Outside

When we are involved in activities like drawing, painting and creating we get into a state of being referred to as „flow‟.

This is the state responsible for focus and what some experts believe to be a true state of happiness.

We release all of our anxiety (and even transfer it onto our art) and allow ourselves to be in the moment. It‟s like kale for the soul.

It‟s also super exciting to see something you‟re physically creating emerge at the end! #2: Write In A Journal During an average day, there‟s bound to be things that annoy you, aggravate you and make you feel crappy. And usually, these things all impact your mood so at the end of the day you‟re irritable and stressed.

There‟s something about being outdoors that makes your soul sing. And this is coming from someone who is attacked by nature more often than not. And it still makes me feel good!

I don‟t know what it is, perhaps a combination of the fresh air, scenery and wild life, but a jaunt outside always helps me shake off a bad mood and refocus on the positives.

If you want extra soul points, turn your adventure outside into a walking meditation. You can do so by switching off all your technology that you usually bring with you and walking with intention.

Pay attention to your breath and focus on things that are directly in front of you. Make an effort to be in the moment and notice all of the sights, sounds and smells that surround you.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 41

Spiritual Wellness #4: Laugh It Off

You might choose to donate your time by taking the dogs at your local pound for a walk. Or you might help out your local community with a charity event.

You can also spend time at a children‟s hospital making them laugh (and helping feed their souls), at a soup kitchen or at your local school.

We all have different interests and different talents that we can offer the world, so choose something that truly makes your soul sparkle.

If there‟s one thing you soul loves doing, it‟s laughing. Laughter is pure joy. Bottled, it would be worth a fortune. In fact, I‟m pretty sure Monsters Inc. had the same thought, didn‟t they?

Anyway, if your soul‟s energy is feeling a little low, one of the best ways to top it up is to feed it some laughter.

Want extra soul points? Bring a friend who is having a hard time. You‟ll both walk away from the experience feeling both humbled and inspired. #6: Meditate

You can watch a funny movie, go to a comedy show or even call your best friend for a good old giggle session. Whatever makes you laugh and tickles your giggle pickle! #5: Donate Your Time While giving money to charity always makes us feel good about ourselves, an awesome way to feed our soul is by giving our time. Having hands-on involvement in a project that offers you no extra benefits feels absolutely amazing.

When was the last time you sat quietly without doing anything at all? That means no checking your Facebook, no scrolling through your Twitter feed and no talking.

Hmm? I‟m guessing it was before the Internet was invented.

Seriously though, it‟s so vital for our soul that we spend time each day being quiet and peaceful.

Even if for you this means lying on your back watching the clouds rather than a full-blown meditation, this is still an awesome way to feed your soul.

If you want extra health benefits though, I really, really, really recommend trying out meditation. Just

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 42

Spiritual Wellness 20-minutes a day has been scientifically proven to help your health and wellbeing so much it‟s practically magical.

You‟ll also work through some of those annoying issues that keep popping up in the back of your mind and help ease your stress.

Really, there‟s no downside of meditating besides the fact that as a beginner, and I fear I will always be a beginner, I can sometimes get quite agitated when my „crazy monkey mind‟ doesn‟t settle down. #7: „You‟ Time And last but not least, remember that soothing your soul is all about having some „me time‟ and taking time out to do things you enjoy.

For many of us, this means spending time indulging in our hobbies and passions. Which may vary from go-kart racing and kite-flying all the way through to bird watching and painting.

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Because at the end of the day, I don‟t really need to tell you how to sooth your soul, you already know.

It‟s ingrained in every fibre of your being and if you just take the time to listen closely, your soul will tell you what it wants.

Light and love, darlings!

Question: Do You Love

Jesus?

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 43

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Spiritual Wellness

By Global Christian Center

Shepherd boy, mighty warrior, musician, poet, sinner, saint. These words all describe King David, yet he will always be known best as 'a man after God's own heart.â&#x20AC;? What was there about David's heart that distinguished him from his contemporaries, setting him apart as God's man, a man in whom God chose to confide, sharing both His secrets and times of intimate communion (Ps. 25:14)? What did God see when He looked at David's heart? How do we become a man or woman after God's own heart?

Like David, our heart's response to God will determine whether God sees us as a man or woman after His own heart. Let's examine David's heart.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 45

Spiritual Wellness A Believing Heart David had a believing heart. He wrote, 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” (Ps. 23:1, NASB).

David recognized his need for God; he admitted his dependence on God to provide for him and to watch over him, much as David did for the sheep under his care. He continued, 'He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters” (Ps. 23:2, NASB). David knew quietness of heart and the spiritual rest that comes from being right with God. Solitude afforded David both time and opportunity to worship, pray, and meditate on the Lord.

A Bold Heart

temple rather than David, David bowed his knee and his heart, acknowledging God's sovereignty (2 Sam. 7:18-19).

A Repentant Heart Despite David's heart for God, he failed miserably when faced with temptation, choosing the passing pleasures of sin over obedience to God. We read these fateful words, 'In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, . . . David remained in Jerusalem” (2 Sam. 11:1, NIV). As we continue reading, we learn of David's adulterous relationship with Bathsheba, his lying, and the murder of Uriah the Hittite. Through all of this, David failed to keep one thing in mind: 'The thing David had done displeased the LORD” (2 Sam. 11:27, NIV).

David also had a bold heart, trusting God would deliver what He promised. He faced his Goliath, focusing not on the enormity of the enemy before him but on the promise and power of His God. As he stood before Goliath, he said, ''You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty'” (1 Sam. 17:45). Obstacles did not deter David.

When confronted with his sin by Nathan the prophet, David humbled himself under God's mighty hand, and acknowledged, ''I have sinned against the LORD'” (2 Sam. 12:13, NIV). He repented, writing in Psalm 51:10, 'Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (NIV).

What Goliaths do you face? Like David, do you trust God to defeat the giants in your life? Are you applying the weapons of God's Word and prayer to defeat the power of the enemy in your life?

Though David faced the consequences of his sin for many years to come, he humbly bowed his knee under God's sovereignty and continued in praise, worship, and devotion to his God.

An Inquiring Heart

In Conclusion

David actively sought God's will for his life.

Repeatedly, we read these words, 'David inquired of the LORD” (1 Sam. 23:4; 1 Sam. 30:8; 2 Sam. 2:1; 2 Sam. 5:19,23; 1 Chron. 14:10, NASB). With humility of heart, he brought every decision before the Lord in prayer, waiting for God's leading and direction before acting.

God still seeks those whose heart is completely His. Scripture tells us, 'The eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His” (2 Chron. 16:9, NASB).

David accepted God's 'no” as graciously as he accepted His 'yes.” When God spoke through the prophet Nathan that Solomon was to build the

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 46

What Does God See When He Looks At Your Heart?

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Spiritual Wellness

Do You Possess the Virtues of Christ?

By Mormon.org

During the Last Supper, Peter asked the Savior, “Lord, whither goest thou?” Jesus responded, “Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards” (John 13:36). Still confused, Thomas replied, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5).

Sometimes we may feel, like Thomas, that we are lost, not knowing the right way to go. But we can trust the Savior‟s sure answer: “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

As we study these 10 characteristics of Jesus Christ and try to develop them in ourselves, we can know that Jesus Christ is the way to true happiness and joy.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 49

Spiritual Wellness Faithful To be faithful is to hope for and act on things which are not seen, which are true. In mortality, Jesus Christ did all things by faith, even performing mighty miracles such as walking on water

Jesus taught, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). As we look to the Savior‟s example, we will submit our will to God in humility and trust in His plan.

Obedient

He asks us to exercise faith in Him and His purposes by trusting Him and keeping His commandments.

Prayerful Prayer is pure communication with our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ prayed often for friends and enemies as well as for help during trials. We too have access to divine help and guidance through prayer. We can follow the Savior as we pray daily, expressing thanks and seeking divine assistance in our lives.

Wise

From His earliest moments, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). In many cases, the Savior used the scriptures to rebuke offenders and teach important principles. We can likewise increase in wisdom as we study the scriptures.

Virtuous The scriptures teach that “no unclean thing can dwell with God”.

Jesus Christ is pure and virtuous. If we are to be virtuous like the Savior in an unclean world, we must turn away from things that pollute our minds, bodies, and spirits.

Choosing carefully our entertainment and actively avoiding pornography will greatly increase our virtue and cleanliness before the Lord. No matter the past, choose to be virtuous today.

Humble

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 50

The Savior was perfectly obedient in all things. He promises, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love” (John 15:10). Obedience is a choice to trust God more than we trust our own limited knowledge,” We can strengthen our obedience one good choice at a time.

Patient The Savior patiently waits for us to choose to follow Him. The scriptures teach, “Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden”. We can follow His example by exercising patience with others and ourselves in our efforts to improve.

Charitable Charity is Christ‟s pure love, which He gives freely to us each day. He admonishes us to love God and love our fellowmen. We can show love to others each day through small and simple acts of kindness. Each time we reach out to another in love, we reflect Christ‟s love.

Giving Jesus Christ‟s ministry was filled with service, often given along the way. He healed one woman as He journeyed to raise another from the dead. To be like Him, we should open our eyes and hearts to the needs of others along our way and give meaningful service each day.

Spiritual Wellness Forgiving With open arms the Savior says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against meâ&#x20AC;?. We can develop this trait as we sincerely forgive those who have wronged us. To forgive is sometimes difficult. But to withhold forgiveness is bondage. As we forgive and trust the Lord, our hearts will soften and we will be freed to become more like our Savior.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 51

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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Spiritual Wellness

Can We Change Godâ&#x20AC;&#x;s Mind with Prayer?

By Matt Slick

This is a difficult question to answer. How do we reconcile the idea that our prayers influence God as James 5:16 implies, yet God knows all things as 1 John 3:20 says?

James 5:16, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 53

Spiritual Wellness How is it possible for us to influence God who has always known all things from eternity? Does God interact with us in some sense of knowing what we will do and decides to do things in response? Or, does God decree whatsoever shall come to pass including our prayers, so that all our prayers are ultimately within his will?

The debate within Christianity is deep. However, Scripture is clear. We know that God works "all things after the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11). This means that he includes our prayers in the counsel of his will - from all eternity. But, does God look into the future to see what we are going to pray and then decide what to do based on that?

This can't be, because it would violate the sovereignty of God who does not react to man's desires and offer "a backup plan" when he "changes his mind." Furthermore, looking into the future to see what would happen would imply that God was learning -- which contradicts 1 John 3:20 that says God knows all things.

Furthermore, our prayers come from our hearts and the Bible tells us that God "moves the heart of the king where He wishes to go," (Proverbs 21:1).

On the other hand, James 5:16 says that our prayers can accomplish much. So, we have to ask how our requests to God can accomplish anything if God not only knows

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 54

what we are going to pray, but has also ordained our prayers from the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:11)?

The simple answer is that it is beyond our ability to comprehend. The Bible does not tell us how our interaction with God works, but it does tell us God hears our prayers when we pray according to his will (1 John 5:14). Such is the paradox in which we find ourselves.

Paradoxes occur only when there are absolutes. It is absolutely true that God knows all things and has ordained whatsoever shall come to pass (but this does not mean that he causes people to sin). It is also true that God desires that we pray. So how do our prayers influence God when he has ordained those very prayers to occur? Again, we don't know.

It would seem, however, that we "influence" God when we are in his will. In other words, if we are walking in the will of God and we ask God for something in prayer, then we are more likely to receive an answer because we are doing what he wants. In contrast, if we are out of the will of God and we ask him for something, he will not give it since it is not in his will. So, if we are walking in the will of God and we pray, we are praying according to his will and our prayers are answered in the affirmative.

However, if we are not in his will, they're

Spiritual Wellness not answered in the affirmative.

Therefore, the issue isn't if God answers our prayers, because he does. The issue is whether or not our prayers, and ourselves, are abiding in God's will so that our prayers will be answered.

We are the ones who need to have our wills changed according to his desires, not his will changed according to our prayers.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 55

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Your Thoughts

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do Angels and Demons Have Souls?"

Jo Grace Goldsmith This is so very Awesome feature!! My personal belief is yes, they do have a soul. But it is a spirit.

Kind of like the nut inside of a peach. Thank you for directing me to the scripture I had been searching for- for days!! The Lord said what he said. Jesus is the breath. And the Angels and Demons can't be anything without the breath. In my opinion anyway Lorece Johnson Angels and demons do not have souls because they were created as spiritual beings to serve God in the heavenly realm. They do not have a physical body, nor do they have bones or flesh and blood. They are disembodied spirits with no control in the physical realm.

Man is the only being created by God who became a living soul when He breathed into his nostrils..

human form, it is temporary for those who need to see them.

Likewise with demons, they need a host to survive in the physical realm.

Donna Fielder Demons and angels do not have souls. They both were created as a spiritual being.

Linda Poppa No, because they were created as spiritual beings.

Demons are the fallen angels who rebelled against God and were thrown out of heaven with Satan.

Doris Jean Wren Angels have souls, they have bodies, they can be seen, they can eat, they feel and have emotions. demons are spirit only they can take up residence in human bodies if permitted, they can do things thru the human body, they don't have a soul.

Renita Newell I don't think they have souls, but they have spirits.

David Rodriquez It's pretty common sense that angels have souls and so do demons.

A soul is nothing but a spirit of energy in the universe because the soul is energy then the spirit is a soul. If God is energy of the universe and God is a soul then why wouldn't demons and angels be the same type of energy Spirit Souls. .WAKE UP. Angels must have a soul because that is the energy Spirit of them ..soul = spirit of energy. ...that's how they live I think people actually manipulate a lot of what the Bible say it's pretty Common Sense how to understand the Bible only if you're saved blood Christ Christian follower that is the only way your Holy Spirit can interpret the truth

Please note: the views and expressions expressed are not necessarily the views of Blessed Magazine or its affiliates

When angels are sent by God in Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 59

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Shopping

Update Your Wardrobe Even on a Tight Budget

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 61

Shopping We always tend to think that in order to enhance our wardrobe or update our look, we have to spend lots of money or buy really cheap clothes. That is absolutely false.

Really, all you have to do is make minor adjustments to your own clothes and accessories. If there is a need to make purchases, you will have to learn to shop smart and have a plan in place before you go on your shopping trip. Check out these quick tips and tricks to help you freshen up your wardrobe for less!

the end of each season to make room for the next season's goods. You can find out about these sales by joining a store's mailing list..

Typically, a store will start spring sales in March and have clearance in April. July is prime time for summer sales to start, running straight through August in clearance mode.

Fall sales will start in September through October. Winter sales will start directly after Thanksgiving. Sales will continue through the Holiday season and clearance starts the day after Christmas through January.

Difficulty: Easy

Shop at consignment shops or other secondhand stores for brand names. Some of these stores may have frequent shopper cards to aid you in your shopping. You can also take your old clothes to the consignment shops and hopefully get money back to help you make minor updates to your existing wardrobe.

Time Required: Taking a wardrobe assessment should only take a day; adding good pieces to a wardrobe takes time.

Here's How: Take an assessment of your existing wardrobe. Your wardrobe should have at least the following basic easy pieces: a little black dress, a white blouse, a neutral cardigan, a knee-length skirt, black dress pants, a pair of jeans, a solid color tee shirt, a solid color turtleneck, a jacket, a pair of heels, a pair of boots, a pair of dress flats, a pair of casual flats, and a basic handbag. This list is the foundation to any good wardrobe.

Typically, a woman can mix & match these items to create outfits for any occasion without spending a lot of money to buy new clothes. Make sure you have these items in your wardrobe.

Take advantage of "end of season" sales.

Stores are practically giving things away at Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 62

Another easy way to update your wardrobe is to use trendy accessories. Inexpensive, trendright jewelry and shoes can totally enhance your look without breaking your budget.

Shopping Tips: Mix & match to create new outfit combos. If you always tend to wear the same outfits, try taking these few easy pieces to mix and match for great style, for example: tailored black pants, black sheath dress, pretty cardigan with feminine details, colorful blouse and a great tailored jacket. You can easily mix & match these few key pieces to create different outfits.

Recreate your jewelry. For example, take your long necklaces and double them up. Then tie a pretty ribbon on the ends, creating a newer, chunkier version of your old necklace. This will instantly jazz up your outfit.

Click Here To Download Your eBook

Change your handbag. You can easily visit your nearest bag repair shop and have them take off your current strap or handle and replace with another type.

Doing so will have minimal expense.

Understand your budget. Just because something's on sale does not mean you have to buy it. Save your money.

However, if you have to buy a pricey item, get your money's worth by investing in a classic shape and color.

This way you can get more than a season's wear out of it.

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 63

64

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Artist Spotlight

These young people from the streets of Baltimore who are doing it â&#x20AC;&#x153;withLoveâ&#x20AC;?. The new Christian group, withLove, is on a mission to share the love of Christ through song and unite believers in the process. Featuring amazingly talented musicians, withLove combines their love of jazz, Gospel and Contemporary Christian Music to create a very unique and moving worship experience.

The new CD, withLove, set to drop in October 2016

To

Blessed Magazine October/November, 2016 67

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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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