Determined Grandmothers by Determined Grandmothers

The Determined Grandmothers A Community Magazine For The Next Generation

Just The Wright Look By Designer Glenn Wright L ol l i P o p

I Love The Holidays Carol Schultz

Determined Grandmothers Model ECCOCI Fashions H

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Greetings From The Determined Grandmothers to the community, our families, and the readers, may you enjoy this Holiday Edition. Our desire is to reach the youth during this season by extending an open greeting to all family members. It is our hope that all generations join together this year to reach the heart of everyone. It is still our dutyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;yours and mineâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to give the youth a foundation and a guide whereby they can grow in their awareness of what is expected of them. This magazine will continue to offer family values and solutions. It is important for the youth to learn life lessons on gaining 1. Street-Smarts 2. Spiritual knowledge and 3. Academics. Positive development comes from community involvement in every facet of a young personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life. The Determined Grandmothers will continue to give guidance to the youth and their parents.

The Determined Grandmothers O C T O B E R ,

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:

N O V E M B E R ,

D E C E M B E R

Back to School Clark County School District is back in session and the Determined Grandmothers are there.

BACK TO SCHOOL FOR THE DETERMINED GRANDMOTHERS SECOND NEWS INTERVIEWS

Southwest Behavior School has allowed us to visit their campus and make a difference in the lives of students. Our goal is to continue to give the youth love, attention, words of wisdom and time to learn how to make better choices. During this school semester, we are working even harder to have a presence in more than one Nevada behavior school.

A Community Magazine Executive EditorLoretta J. Womack Managing EditorBrenda D. Ward Contributing EditorLynell Lucas Copy EditorHayley Bischoff

Second News Interview Channel 3 News is very interested in how Determined Grandmothers is giving back to community. Again, they were excited to know we are helping the students in Clark County semester.

The the that this

A second interview was centered in the home of the Determined Grandmotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder, Loretta Womack. Visit the website at www.news3lv.com and in the search box type in Determined Grandmothers and view the video.

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; Miesha Queen-Bass

To view this magazine online visit www.issuu.com

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Happy

Holidays Thank you for being committed to making this magazine a success. The Determined Grandmothers are thankful for everyone who said yes. We hope this will not be your last time but instead a continued acknowledgement of what we stand for in the community. Throughout the year, our children need us and we need you in order to acquire scholarship funds to support their education. Your cooperation has offered us a way to achieve fundraising dollars to support our cause of helping the youth stay in school, improve their academic knowledge, while teaching them to make better choices. During this season of giving, the Determined Grandmothers would like to extend a thank you to all those who participated and/or sponsored this Holiday Issue. Please accept our sincere thanks for your sponsorship page, written articles and your kind donations. Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season!

Loretta J. Womack Brenda D. Ward

Lynell Lucas

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Inside this issue:

Cover Designed and Magazine Layout Brenda D. Ward

Eccoci Magazine Launch

Rediscover Your Optimal Health

The Journey of Good, Better, Best

Jesus Is Our Model

The Gift of Proper Communication

I Was Born To Teach

Momma Said

Witches & Warlocks

Just The Wright Look

I’m Blessed

A Prophecy Written In Stone

Love, What Is It?

Motivating The Unmotivated

The Art of Discipline

Teen Suicide

Dealing With Healing

Children Are God’s Gift

Silver Bells

Who is Pastor Randall Cunningham?

I Love The Holidays

Jesus-Just Our Greatest Gift

Giving Credit to Whom it is Due

Photography and photo shoots by: MVP

The Youth Are Our Concern:

What People Are Saying “Your group, and all that you are doing for our youth and to reunite them with their families is so commendable……thank you for all that you ladies do! You all have touched my heart deeply, and I thank you for that. You bet I’ll keep you in my prayers. You are all very special and are being watched over……….God Bless!”

JoAn Greinert Las Vegas, Nevada

Please visit www.determinedgrandmothers.com or contact us at determinedgrandmothers@gmail.com

702 -706-6075

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Eccoci Collections Invites You To THE DETERMINED GRANDMOTHERS COMMUNITY MAGAZINE LAUNCHING

WE ARE LAUNCHING OUR HOLIDAY EDITION OCTOBER 17TH FROM 1:00pm – 5:00P.M. PLEASE COME OUT AND JOIN US AT THE

Town Square Mall 6671 S. Las Vegas Blvd Suite A-133 Las Vegas, NV 89119

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Founder of The Determined Grandmothers

J a t t ore

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Loretta Womack is an Author, Model, Runway Model Instructor, Clothes and Accessories Retailer, Inventor and a Youth Minister. She is married and the mother of 6 adult children, 25 Grandchildren, and 7 Great Grandchildren. Host of a radio show called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Did You Knowâ&#x20AC;? on KKVV.1060AM & 101.5FM, airing every Saturday from 6:00-6:30pm. Web: www.givememyflowers.com E-mail: loretta7@cox.net

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Co-Founder of The Determined Grandmothers Mother of two and grandmother of three. Owner of S-E-L-F- Publishing (Simple, Effective Literary Focusing on Publishing) in business since 2005. Author of the Stress Management book titled, “Improve Thy Self.” Speaker and Weekly host of two radio programs in Las Vegas “Forgiven”, broadcast directed to the youth, and “Open Book Radio”, live interviews with Authors, Music writers and Small Business. They are both on the KKVV 1060AM & 101.5FM Web: www.yourpublisher.org E-mail: publisher@ureach.com

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Co-Founder of The Determined Grandmothers

Lyn

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Inventor of the Spike Wrap and owner of Lucas Spike Wrap Enterprise. Lynell is the Author of “My Son Not The Systems.” She’s a Children’s Advocate and a Children’s Motivational Speaker. She is also a Board Director of The Village Foundation, founded by Dr. Linda Young. Mother of two and grandmother of seven. Web: www.lucasenterprise.com E-mail: lynelllucas@yahoo.com

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Who Are We? Who: (Who are we?) The Determined Grandmothers are advocates for the disadvantaged youth. We are coming to the community to mentor the family, by passing down our wisdom, knowledge, talent, experience and to give direction to those who want to achieve their goals. Our desire is to help families get back in order and bring unity within the community as a whole. What: (What do we do?) We volunteer our services at the schools, churches, recreation centers, and at like-minded organizations and charities. We do this by mentoring, training, and giving guidance to the youth and their parents. When: (When are we available?) Hopefully, whenever we are needed. Every chance we get we want to be of service for the youth. We are also on stand-by 24/7, if it is a life-threatening situation. Where: (Where are we?) In Las Vegas, NV; Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; New York City, NY; Atlanta, GA; Dallas TX, and anywhere else weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re invited, with financial assistance and support through donations. Why: (Why us and why now?) Our young people need our help. There will be no change unless someone teaches change; therefore we came together to make a change. There is a need for dollars for scholarships to provide education. We invest our time now, to prepare our youth so they will be equipped to take care of us in the future. How: (How will we do this?) One way to accomplish this task is through this magazine, radio programs, and feet on the ground. Our goals are to work with the youth in the schools one by one, and collectively.

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The Determined Grandmothers

We Wish You a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

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Rediscover Your Optimal Health In our society, people are being treated as if they are a cluster of SYMPTOMS and NOT a whole person capable of regenerating. The human body is a magnificent piece of art! Wouldn't you agree? A simple yet effective acronym to remember when trying to implement healthy lifestyle changes is N.E.W.S.T.A.R.T. which stands for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest and Trust. We will cover a few of the important ones in this article. NUTRITION Despite the thousands of thoughts that flow through our minds every day, there is one question that I am sure we all ask ourselves, “What am I going to eat?” We are bombarded with an endless amount of choices. Some good. Some bad. Eating organic foods is definitely a GREAT choice. When you choose organic foods, you are not only voting with your purchase but you are consuming no to low pesticide residue, consuming foods that are non-GMO, nutrient dense, better for the soil and does not negatively affect the body.

WATER Seeing that 65%-70% of the human body is made up of water, it is crucial to consume water on a daily basis. A good rule of thumb is to consume at LEAST half your weight in ounces. Various sources say that in a harsh environment you can live 3 days without water and 3 weeks without food. It is obvious as to why our body needs water! Similar to how not all supplements are created equal, neither are water sources. SUNLIGHT Another interesting piece of information is the fact that sunlight can be converted directly to Vitamin D. It is necessary for calcium and phosphate absorption and utilization. The Vitamin D we get from food sources require conversion by the liver or kidney before it becomes fully active; therefore, someone with liver or kidney disorders are at a higher risk of Osteoporosis. Liver and gall bladder dysfunction can even disrupt the absorption of Vitamin D. So… get out there and get some sun!

Exercise Exercise is, of course, an important factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our lymphatic system is also important. The lymphatic system does not pump like our circulatory system. The heart movement acts as a pump that assists the body in detoxification. Those who exercise actually aid their brain in growing in size as well as lower their levels of inflammatory cytokines; therefore, protecting your brain function. Some say walking about 10,000 steps a day can be helpful. Try using a fitness tracker to assist you. AIR Clean air and practicing deep breathing is essential for a healthy body. We need oxygen more often than we do a healthy meal so neglecting the quality of air we subject ourselves to and shallow breathing is recipe for illness to manifest. Fresh air and deep breathing does the body good! Carmen Adams, Holistic Health Consultant. Owner of Nature’s Habits Inc. and Healing From Within, Inc. Contact Information: Carmen@NaturesHabits.com Website: NaturesHabits.com

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Call Us: (702) 365-9100 1931 N. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89108 Mon - Fri: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Golden Wrench Service

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The Journey of Good, Better, Best Contributed by: Kathleen Taylor

Are you tired of hearing more bad news about Black people ALL of the time? Are the blues of the “Black experience” in America getting you down? If yes, join the party! Don’t get me wrong. Being informed about the “good, the bad, and the ugly” atrocities being committed against Black people is relevant and needs to be heard, said, and spread. But, what about the Good, the Better, and the Best that is from us and about us? What does this mean? Simply put, if we give each other our Good, we will receive our Better. If we give each other our Better, we will receive the Best in each other and from one another. I’m not suggesting living in a world of “sunshine and roses”. That is unrealistic. But, we could certainly strive and thrive to create a home, community, and world that integrate the Good, the Better, and the Best that is within each of us. When we see despair around us, collectively, we must strive to make a courageous effort to be proactive instead of reactive to change the cycle of despair. The practical meaning of insanity is doing the SAME thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

In order to change the outcome of any situation, we must strive to change the process in order to create a desired result. How? Endeavor to “flip the script and change the game” of insanity in order to thrive in a sacred space where sanity, success, and serenity resides. Be aware that the process of “Good, Better, Best” is a journey that takes time, patience, and healing. A wise person once said, “The one thing that we cannot get back is…time.” So, we must take and make the time to begin the journey within ourselves and gain momentum as we synchronize our energy to mirror the Good in each other, support the Better for one another, and praise the Best from each other. As a result, we will create an array of dynamic destinations in our journey to strive and thrive to honor the Good, the Better, and the Best within each other and from each other. So, wash the blues, despair, and insanity away and get onboard the party train that is going to the final destination of our journey to a special place called… Good, Better, Best!

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Loretta Womack Welcomeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s you to Eccoci

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Modeled by Loretta Womack

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Jesus is our Model

Paul Lowe

The world teaches us to compare ourselves to one another, therefore many generations are coming up without biblical leadership and teachings. Our men are being neutralized daily and the family unit is under attack. Our children are lost and have nothing to fall back on. We must make our decisions and evaluate our experiences based on biblical truths. As Christians or Born Again Believers, we need to turn away from worldly solutions, programs, and methods that appear to be the answer to spiritual issues. We need to use Jesus as our model and use the Holy Bible as a guidance to building a solid foundation on the solid rock of God. John 5:17-20 (NKJV) But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working ,” Therefore the Jews sought all

the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. This ministry is dedicated to helping our men, women, children, and families take a stand to teach the Word at home with a consecrated heart following the footsteps of our Savior leading all generations to God. Please join us and fight the good fight. (2 Tim 4:7-8).

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Modeled by Loretta Womack

2015 PHOTO SHOOT Eccoci Clothing Store Las Vegas

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The Gift Of Proper Communication! Counselor Kenneth Youngblood

The first and most important key for parents to learn (of “God’s Three Keys To Easy Parenting”) is the key to proper communication. Communication of course is the big word that most often simply means how we talk to each other, as that is how we most often communicate.

If the parent gives the child what they want (without the child asking for it and by the child making statements or demands), the position of authority is automatically and absolutely SWITCHED; the child making the statement or demand (and getting what they want) is now in control.

The key to proper communication is in teaching your kids to ASK for what they want (as opposed to them making statements or demands). It’s the difference between the child saying, “Can I have something to eat?” (a question), compared to the child saying, “I’m hungry” (a statement) or “Give me something to eat” (a demand). Note that asking requires questions, and questions (if you were to write them down) always have question marks after them.

The “Terrible Twos” (and behavior problems that will inevitably follow into adulthood) are basically the result of improper communication; the result of kids getting what they want without having to ask for it (and usurping their parent’s authority in the process). God commands us to “Ask” that we may receive, and He does so for good cause!

The reason it’s imperative to teach your kids to ask for what they want is that anyone (child or adult) who is asking of another, is automatically and absolutely putting the person being asked in the position of authority. As the parent, YOU are supposed to be the one in that position.

The most common reasons parents fail to teach their kids to ask for what they want are (1) that they (the parents) were never taught to ask for what they wanted, or (2) they give into the temptation to cater to (spoil) their children. Good parenting is accomplished by having fun with and loving our kids, while maintaining our position of authority and remaining objective .

Questions or comments may be sent to bloodidit@yahoo.com. Call 888-367-9830 for more information on all services offered by Always An Answer Counseling (in Las Vegas), go to: AlwaysAnAnswer.org.

U– CAN

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United College Action Network

U-CAN GO TO COLLEGE— FOUNDER ALAN ROWE & THE DETERMINED GRANDMOTHERS

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Eccoci Fashion

Modeled by Brenda D. Ward

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Fashion For The Holidays

Modeled by Brenda D. Ward

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24 By Alaina Criner

I was Born to Teach A

For as long as I can recall, I have been trying to grow up; more specifically catch up. Let me explain. I am the youngest of three children. There is five years between my older sister and brother, and two and a half years between my brother and me. I would sometimes feel there was this great announcement made when I was born: And coming in LAST place, Alaina! Although my parents told me that I was continuously trying to catch up and keep up with my older siblings, secretly, I was very competitive and wanted to surpass them. I learned to speak toddler babbling very early. I did have a problem, however. No one understood me. But, I believed that I was just as clear about what I was saying at seven months old as my siblings. I could explain in great detail most points, answer any question, or simply converse with anyone. By nine months old, before I had that walking-thing down well, I was running! At fourteen months, I played school with rows of dolls as students. And, I did not accept any excuses for incomplete homework. I would write stories for my students and parents. Both my parents lamented that they had to read pages of squiggled-lined stories. Yes, I emphatically complained they did not read the squiggled-lined stories correctly.

Both of my parents are educators. We watched my dad and mom complete their collegiate requirements; graduate, and get hired, respectively. There are so-called "military brats," but I am an "education brat." At age three, when my dad returned to college, our family spoke "education." After he was hired as a teacher, the entire family would help set up the classroom. He even m ent i oned t his on t he application when he was recommended for New Teacher of the Year--whi ch he ultimately received. The same year that my dad became a teacher, my mom left her job and went to college and majored in what? Elementary Education. My parents pushed education as a way to change circumstances. Of course our faith was the catalyst of any and all success that we have experienced. I was the child who enjoyed the idea of teaching and learning. When I was three, I cried as my siblings went off to school. My parents told me that I was born to teach. I didn't like television, I would rather teach my dolls how to read and write. I learned to march to my own beat. As my siblings grew into other areas, I adored learning and teaching-all things education.

For my freshman year, I did not want to go to the same magnet school that my siblings attended. So, I was allowed to choose my own high school. It was Clark High School, Academy for Math, Science and Technology. Finally, I was able to do something that was based upon my own choice. I wanted to take P.E., but my dad, being a Marine, placed me in Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC). I was so angry with him. I dreamed about walking around the track and talking with friends. Well, after I got over my extreme track-walking disappointment, I began to enjoy NJROTC. They kept me busy late into the evening after school, weekends, and with out-of-state trips. I was blessed by my Senior Year to become appointed Cadet Commander, the highest ranking student in the entire NJROTC Program at Clark High School. I completed college in three years and was hired by the Clark County School District as, you've guessed it, a classroom teacher. It finally happened. No more rows of dolls. I was really a fifth-grade teacher! By my second year, I was grade-level chairperson; I supervised an entire afterschool program, and served as a liaison between the school and community partnership.

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Story Continue from page 28

After my third year of teaching, I interviewed to become a project facilitator and was successful. This was a very exciting and challenging career choice. I loved every bit of it. I was very blessed to be made a lead project facilitator. God had put people in my life to allow me to realize my dream of teaching and working in education. And HE did more! Once I completed my Masters Degree program in Administration and Supervision, and five years in education, I applied to become an assistant principal, and it happened. I had a very successful experience as an elementary assistant principal. And, as much as I loved being an assistant principal, eight months later, God called me away from being a site-based administrator and I was promoted to a district level administrative position. As a coordinator III, I was tasked to rollout a large district initiative.

Of course, this is a team effort and there are people who work very hard to make the roll-out a success. I, sometimes, feel as if I am dreaming, but I know it is real, just as I know God is real. I mentioned my parents as role models, but there are many people who pointed me in the direction of success and I cannot list them all. But, I do want to mention the members of the Tabernacle Church that I attend, where my dad is the Bishop and mom is one of the Pastors. Their prayers and encouragement have been essential to my growth, both spiritually and naturally. Also, my surviving grandmothers are present and praying for me. One of them has called me her "little book worm." All of the hard work that I commit to would be nothing without the support of professional educators and support staff.

Another source of inspiration is the Determined Grandmothers. These ladies commit their life experiences to encourage all children to become successful in life, with God, and education. Thank you Determined Grandmothers for all you do to help families, teachers and students, and even administrators come together. Just to show you how wonderful God is I have just been promoted to Coordinator IV after being in this new position for four months. In my mind this is a miracle! But, it was not given; I do work hard for the teachers and ultimately students that our division and team support. Serving God is my life and I love education and learning. I was born to teach!

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The Bible says in Prov. 22:6, Train a child in the way he should go and when he is older he will not turn from it (NIV). Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night to hear your mother’s voice and she was not there or heard her talking to you in your mind? My mother joined the believers 44 years ago at the age of 55 and I am still either saying to someone, “Momma Said,” or “Momma Did.” I wish I could do it just like her or I did it like her. Either way, I am still passing on “Momma Said.” I would go so far as to say that training never stops! My Momma use to sing to me as a little girl, “Anything you can do, I can do better, I can do everything better than you.” My answer to her back would be “Yes I can,” and she would say, “No you can’t!” We would go back and forth until I would come out with the affirmative! Great lesson learned. Yes I Can! YES YOU CAN! Today I am passing that on to my children, grand and great grandchildren and you too! This song that has never left my mind has let me believe that I can do this because “Momma Said.” Now! Momma did not tell me to start out life as a single parent. I was born, raised and grew up the majority of my life in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I attended and served under the Leadership of the Rev. Dr. Clifton Rhodes Jr. for 34 years where I was licensed as an Evangelist.

Being a mother of three wonderful children, grandmother and greatgrandmother, and a single parent, I rose above life’s circumstances with an energetic, enthusiastic, positive, inspiring attitude about life. I refused to let life get the best of me, instead I chose, with the help of the Lord, to overcome and reach out to others. Being a single parent does not stop one from living a healthy life. It is all about what you want out of life. No one can make you do anything! God made all of us unique and with His help it is my belief that there is no limit to where or what one can do or be in this life!!! While raising my children, I once applied at Vocational Rehab to go to college. I was informed that I was not college material and was denied. It is a good thing that “No I Can’t” is not in my vocabulary because I went on and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and Development from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I received a Masters and Doctorate Degree in Ministry and Ordination from Jacksonville Theological Seminary, Jacksonville, Florida; Receiving a second Doctorate Degree in Christian Counseling also from Jacksonville Theological Seminary. Jacksonville Theological Seminary and Revelation Message Bible College and Institute are online accredited schools. The Accrediting Commission International Inc., is solely committed to Christian Education, where I am currently a Certified Facilitator.

Along with going to school, I worked in management at General Motors and Diesel Tech Co/Bosch. Owned and operated an Adult Foster Care for Mentally Challenged women group home, called Heavens Acers; Founder/ President of HUGSSS (Help Us Gain Skills Socially and Spiritually), a 501c3 empowerment group for single parents. After retiring and closing the businesses, I moved to Andros, Bahamas, the island where my father was born, to live and start another business. A couple of years later, I returned to Michigan and met with my now husband, my childhood friend. We had not seen each other for at least 30 plus years. We were married a couple years later on the beach in Andros. We exchanged our vows, with our feet in the ocean (that’s another story for another edition). In 2006, Rev. Dr. M. Annette Gentry a woman of God and an Ordained License Minister at Tabernacle of Faith, Las Vegas, Nevada, under Bishop Corine W. Claiborne, responded to the called to help in kingdom building at Tabernacle of Faith. Pacing up we moved and have not looked back. When God puts it in your heart to do something or gives you a vision, He will make provisions. Prov. 3:5-6 says, “...lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” (KJV) At Tabernacle I perform many duties, loving life, motivating others, is my inspiration and vision to help others to step into today’s world, guiding them in the right direction.

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WITCHES AND WARLOCKS VS. GOD’S SUPERNATURAL POWER

Witchcraft, Sorcery, Wizards, Psychics, Vampires, Black Magic or Magic By Gabrielle Moncrease

All of these practices mentioned have a common thread when the word witch is brought to our attention you may think of famous TV programs like Bewitched or Charmed or Sabrina. When you think of wizards one of the most popular classics come to mind The Wizard of Oz or more modern day shows with Wizards would be Lord of the Rings or Merlin and of course Harry Potter which came on the motion picture scene in 2001. When vampire movies come to mind again another classic that gets renewed all the time would be Dracula or Blacula then there is Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Whether we are talking about any type of power that controls others or people that want to suck your blood to survive (which is really gross) or we are talking about a mind altering spiritual power that only has a legal right under Gods authority. Its true power is attractive to most of us, no one wants to look weak and helpless but with power comes a great responsibility. Psychics have 800 numbers to call or websites to look at, they do have a gift but its limited. Their piece of advice could cost you your very life and I have seen people listen to them instead of trusting God and their lives have spiraled downward and out of control. There is no magic solution to life. Wizards, Witches, Mediums and Vampires are not heroes or gods. When you watch these programs or commercials, you must ask yourselves questions. You must be open to the truth and discern what is right or wrong. If you are reading this and thinking that life is no fun, if I can’t venture out and explore things that you’re curious about,

stop yourself and compare it to God’s Word, keep reading don’t give up on this article yet let’s do some comparisons. Did you know asking yourself questions is a very sane and wise thing to do? God has given all of us the ability to chose from right and wrong. There is an inner feeling you get that makes you uncomfortable when something isn’t right and that is called discernment. The dictionary says that discernment is the ability to make a good decision or judge well. Do you know how you can tell you made a good decision? You will have a inner peace don’t get me wrong making the right choices don’t necessarily make you feel better all at once especially if you are going against a group that is doing something wrong. They sometimes will pressure you into joining in with them against your inner feelings. TV is certainly a fantasy and makes things look glamorous and fun. Sure it’s exciting to see people use power to fly and turn people into different things then turn them back again after they have learned the lesson in the story. Just remember it’s a story made for your viewing it’s entertainment and leave it at that. Don’t try practicing these powers because there is so much deception in believing you can control others. In The Holy Bible which is full of supernatural stories that are exciting and real you can find the help and direction you need to resist the many temptations of practicing these illegal powers mentioned in this article. I

will list some scriptures to help you with this. Remember to connect with the spiritual leaders in your churches hopefully your parents are strong believers if not, connect to a healthy church, with a strong youth group. The Lord has many resources to help you grow so you wont be led astray by false teachers or illicit programs or commercials. Moses used his rod to part The Red Sea Exodus 14 chapter, 16th verse. Many supernatural Godly occurrences happened. Sarah and Abraham had a child past child bearing years. Genesis 21:1. A burning bush not consumed Exodus 3:3. Bitter water made pure Exodus 15:23-25 The three Hebrew boys that were thrown in the fire to die didn’t die. Daniel 3:23-25. You will find the truth in Gods Holy Word if you will just seek truth you will find truth. Matthew 7:7 and 3 John are often quoted to encourage and uplift you all. Chapter one verse two reads that you should prosper and be in excellent health this is Gods desire and his people he has watching over you, be at peace and be strong cause when you follow The Lord you can’t help but prosper.

Power and control, Understanding and trusting God’s Word and His plan for your life. Become Debt Free! Raise All The Money You Want! It’s Not A Grant Or A Loan! And You Don’t Have To Pay It Back! Contact Me G’Bell gabbysgospel@gmail.com Or (702) 754-0341

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Article Written by Carmen Adams

Being a designer who has found his niche that allows him to expedite the creative process, Glenn Wright has devoted the nucleus of his energy towards writing a curriculum and creating a foundation for “The Academy of Practical Tailoring” Here, he will train students to be an “Alterations Specialist” utilizing innovative training modules via a proprietary curriculum. Have you ever thought of becoming a tailor? Have you ever wondered how the designers can create a style in their mind and then it comes to life in beautiful material and color? Glen Wright is the person that can explain how his talents and abilities in the garment construction and fashion design field came about. Glenn C. Wright, Master Tailor, Dressmaker, Fashion Designer, Pattern Maker and Fashion Motivator has devoted most of his life developing, to maturing and refining the art of tailoring. He has studied several cultures of tailoring and has mastered just about every aspect of quality tailoring. He believes that tailoring is a dying art and within five years, this nation is going to reach a crisis point, the demand for tailors will be far greater than the supply. There are very few training programs available and around this time, 47% of the present workforce will have retired or passed away.

His vision is to prepare students to master all basic alterations on ready-made garments via various training workshops he offers to have them ready to enter the employment market. With an unparalleled ability to create, Glenn is the kind of seasoned designer men and women seek out to collaborate with in order to tap into his distinctive knack for original designs. He is a visionary who has spent a majority of his career creating one-of-a-kind garments that meticulously accent ones individuality and hits all the right spots in terms of proportions. He believes that when you dress and look your best, you feel and are at your best. Glenn has truly captivated the sensuous qualities of clothing and calls that “Just The Wright Look!” Outside of constructing unique designs for his affluent clientele, for instance Celine Dion, Glenn creates three very distinct fashion lines with unabashed ease using his inherent innate ability. His particular brands embodies grandeur. The Couture line is titled “Esoteric”. He creates most of the fabric including fiber content and weave of the fabric in addition to creating the garment and you can learn to do it too. With his many years of working in the field of tailoring he was able to create different lines of clothing. In his second line dubbed

the name “Flirtatious”, he has produced scrupulous clothing that appeals to women who are less demure as well as to men of all body types. These designs include but are not limited to colorful short dresses and nice smooth slack suits for men. The younger generation will definitely find interest in this assortment of attire. Glenn also has a third fashion line entitled “Just Wright Denim Collection”, a custom jeans collection that includes jeans with Swarovski Crystals embedded in the seams via a technique developed by Glenn himself which reinforces his rare and unprecedented creative potential. Last but not least, Glenn has pinpointed and articulated what he thinks is beautiful all the while remaining sensitive to the desires of his customers by inspiring them to emit confidence. Bear in mind, Glenn’s one-of-akind designs are also available to others wishing to experience the gratifying sophisticated simplicity that comes along with the luxury of being clothed in “Just The Wright Look”. As a young person looking for a career in fashion this may be just what you’re looking for. An opportunity to be taught the art of tailoring and then maybe one day you will have your own line of clothing and you will know that tailoring was just right for you!

For more information about Glenn C. Wright’s designs, please email Glenn@JustWrightInc.com or visit www.JustWrightInc.com

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Glenn Wright Fashions

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More Glenn Wright Fashions

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Glenn Wright Fashions for Men

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New Fall Fashion

Modeled by Loretta Womack

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I’m Blessed Lydia Boyd Grandmother of one

am blessed not to have many life regrets but one regret I do have, which is extremely important is I never asked or received our historical family information from my mother who died at 93, and unfortunately from my family down to my daughter there is no historical accounts. At age 80, I have forgotten many events. My daughter has a wonderful mind and remembers many events but without children, she has no one who is interested.

It does mean “don’t let the opinions of others become your reality.” Take what we hear, blend it with our own truths and then make your decisions.

I encourage, no I implore grandmothers to write about their experiences so the young people in the family have history they may build on and improve upon.

When we are considered a trustworthy person, we tend to draw other trustworthy people to our lives.

We know that “common sense” is not common. Common sense is knowing what to do, and when to do it, with solutions that will work.

Family is the most important thing we have. This doesn’t mean we let family members take advantage of us. It does mean we should try harder with family members to teach them how to treat us and others.

The most important thing we have is love. Treating people with respect, doing for others when you can, and not expecting anything in return. Because we have to think for ourselves, does not mean we can’t listen to others.

Treat failures like learning experiences. Failures teach us what will not work, so we can keep finding solutions for things that will work. Find work that you enjoy and if you do, “You will never work a day in your life.”

Lastly, when we honor our mothers and fathers all of the above things that make us loving people is easier to do. May God continue to be a blessing to you!

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A prophecy written In Stone If what you believe is not true, do you want to know it? Unconsciously we determine the consequences of bad information as we consider our answer to this question. When discussing doctrinal and denominational issues, I often see someone thinking to themselves before carefully answering my inquiry. I might ask, "If you are driving along at night at 70 miles-per-hour, do you want to know if the overpass ahead is missing?" Without hesitation, they inevitably answer, "YES, ABSOLUTELY!" Other situations may require more time and consideration of personal objectives and relationships. Such is the case with the question, "If your spouse is cheating, do you want to know it?" What an odd deliberation. Do you want to know what you don't know? Do you want to investigate what you always thought true, but ISN'T… or, what you thought wasn't true, but IS? Am I saying it is okay to distrust our understanding of the Bible? To answer this question, I must go to the red words: Matthew 5, "Ye have heard that it was said …Thou shalt not kill…Ye have heard that it was said … Thou shalt not commit adultery… It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement… Again, ye have heard that it hath been said …Thou shalt not forswear… Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth… Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.""BUT I SAY UNTO YOU…" Jesus was saying, "I know what it SAYS but THIS is what the Father wants to accomplish in you…this is who He wants you to BE!"

Instead of looking at the Commandments as a list of "Thou-Shalt-Not," the Spirit of God allows us to view them as prophecies. Listen closely! Throughout the Old Testament when reading the law one can hear, "This is not WHAT I want you to DO, this is WHO I want you to BE." The promise and hope in this prophecy are futuristic, "When you are properly situated in Christ, you will [thou shalt] not steal, you will not commit murder, you will not commit adultery, you will not lie…" We must revisit the Scriptures using the paradigm of Jesus; allow the founder of the faith to reveal the secrets of the book. Do you know Jesus answered the question, "How shall I obtain eternal life?" like no one else? He simply said, "Keep the Commandments. This do and thou shalt live." Jesus experienced difficulty with the religious leadership of His day because they worshipped the Scriptures instead of the God who authored them – and so it is today. If you like the book, you'll love the author! Don C Harris, Author “THINK RED INK” Areopagus Publishing (09/2015) The contributing author, Don C Harris, is a former Pastor and Director of a Children's Home Ministry. He has dedicated the later years of his life broadcasting his message and writing books. Don is the host of Red Letter Edition Live! radio program, where he shares daily insights on the recorded words of Jesus Christ. Don is the Director of Think Red Ink Ministries International and broadcasts around the clock and around the world.

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Modeled by Loretta Womack

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LOVE, WHAT IS IT? Love is an elusive creature that all of mankind seeks for? From the very moment we are born until the last breath we draw, we hunger for love and acceptance in this world. Many will sell their very soul to be accepted by others. They will yield to peer pressure, or commit acts they would never normally consider just to receive what they call love. It is a fleeting emotion that can leave you empty or confused if not returned by the other party. We are drawn to it and its mystery like a moth to the flame, and often with the same results if we get too close and get our wings burned. We grow Leary as we grow older and sometimes even become cynical towards it. The youth of today are often confused with the entire concept of “love”. They, many times come from broken homes where there hasn’t been much if any love at all. They are exposed to Hollywood’s warped ideas or depictions of love, and that becomes the standard they measure it by. They know they hunger for this emotion/feeling and as a result many times they misinterpret sex for love and as a result they engage in premarital sex acts as early as middle school or even younger. They are left unattended or unsupervised and to their own devices after school. This is because our society which craves materialistic things and often they think that children are a burden to one’s own personal wants and desires.

As a result, they throw money or things at them to simply get them to leave us alone, so we can seek our own personal peace and affluence. When, what they really want and need is us. Every child hungers and craves for time with the parent and when they don’t get it early on in their development then they will seek it somewhere else and they will find it. Too many times they will find it in gangs, drugs or sexual experimentation. What we need to ask ourselves is do they need the latest smart phone or electronic device or do they really need our undivided attention and total love. When was the last time you just spent time with them and listened to what they had to say or actually expressed an interest in their daily life? It is better to do it before there is a problem than to wait and wonder what happened when they are in radical trouble or worse. How many parents ever really believe that their child could commit suicide? Or that they would be a bully? A child who feels true love would never willfully hurt another child much less themselves. Learn to love your fellow man.

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Raising the Bar on Academic Achievement By Dr. K. Staten, Ph.D.

Motivating the Unmotivated Most of us know that “You can give students an opportunity but you cannot make them take action.” They must have the desire to learn. With all of the different distractions for children today, parents and educators alike are facing many challenges to motivate the unmotivated student. There are many problems that continue to overshadow the process of providing quality education for all children (i.e. economic crisis, salary cuts for educators, overcrowded classrooms, behavioral issues, etc.).Today, parents are blaming schools for not doing enough to provide a quality education for their children. On the other hand, educators know that parental involvement is critical in providing a quality education for children, which is often times missing in action. These issues lead to frustrated educators who feel that they are not valued by parents or lawmakers. This creates a “nobody wins” situation and the biggest losers are the children. It takes a village to not only raise a child but to educate a child. The village is made up of parents, schools, and the community at large working together toward the common goal of student’s success. What is needed are practical ways for parents and educators to engage students inside and outside the classroom and to encourage a positive learning process for student success. In most cases, educators have willingly tried to make lessons engaging and interesting for students by reducing lecture time and investing more time in interactive activities. What educators noted about students while interacting with inspirational speakers during assemblies were that unelected student leaders exerted influence on other students. These students imitated the patterns of speech of the unelected student leaders but had no regard for the academic work involved. Of course, this scenario is not limited to schools in Clark County. Many educators from both small and large schools around the United States have observed this type of behavior in the classroom. If educator’s despair is left unresolved, it could quickly spiral out of control where educators are de-motivated which may lead to lowering the bar of academic achievement—expecting less from

students, students doing less, and educators accepting an environment of hopelessness. In order to ensure student engagement for student success, we must stimulate their desire to work in school. The top three practical ways to help motivate the unmotivated student: give them challenges with high expectations, choices, and feedback. We must realize that challenging students and setting high expectations are more motivating than low expectations. Two out of three high school students experience boredom in the classroom— typically, students say, it’s not interesting or why is it important. Although students complain about being bored and do not complete assignments; if given the opportunity, students will rise to a legitimate challenge. An educator must create these opportunities for students. For example, writing an essay sounds more like a chore; but publishing an essay is a more challenging activity. Solving 50 math problems may be very boring for most students; challenging a student to solve one problem multiple ways requires active participation. Memorizing the necessary steps of how an idea evolves into law may not be very interesting; a student presenting testimony before a legislative committee or local governing body creates a challenge that requires active participation. Give students choices. One way to give students’ choices in the classroom is to create a class project that allows students to choose from a list of different topics. The best way to engage students in the classroom is to allow for diversity of student responses and active participation rather than requiring students to memorize academic material through repetition. Provide feedback that is clear, relevant, constructive, and designed to improve student performance and outcomes. Providing feedback to students is the most important act of teaching. This concept is very evident with music teachers who are

masters of feedback. Have you ever watched a music teacher provide feedback that leads immediately to improved performance? The immediate feedback provides a gauge for students to understand how well they are doing and what needs to be improved on to master the process. In this case, it is not necessary for the music teacher to make everything count for a grade to motivate students; but rather, they provide feedback that is clear, relevant, and constructive to encourage students. The end result is improved student performance.. There are no guarantees with these three practical techniques but they represent a place to start to motivate the unmotivated student and to encourage student success. Students regardless of age follow a similar motivational pattern. It is a fact that students learn better when challenged with high expectations, given choices, and receive timely feedback. References Yazzie-Mintz, E. (2007). Voices of students on engagement: A report on the 2006 High School Survey of Student Engagement. Retrieved from Indiana University Center for Evaluation and Education Policy website:http://ceep.indiana.edu/ hssse/pdf/HSSSE_2006_Report.pdf Dr. K. is a published author who is an education reform activist and currently serves as the academic advisor for the Determined Grandmothers, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit faith-based organization. As the mother of a child that successfully completed high school in Clark County Public School system in Southern Nevada, she knows parents are vital to the future success of America's public schools.

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During the Holiday Season, let us not forget to thank our Lord and Savior for the many blessings that He has bestowed upon us. This is a time of giving thanks to others. Family and friends should rejoice and always love one another. Reflect on the good things in life and think about your purpose for being on this earth. Happy Holidays to All! From: Mayor Pro Tempore Pamela Goynes-Brown

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The Art of Discipline

Brenda D. Ward

When you hear the word discipline, do you think of self-control or restraint? Is it possible that in this 21st century we have no need to teach our young people a vital way of living in this chaotic world? I believe the word is misunderstood every time I hear the youth say, “I don’t want to be controlled or limited. I want to be free to do as I please because this is my life.” Successful parents understand how important it is to teach and incorporate discipline in their family. These parents enjoy the wonderful fruits of success as they watch their children grow and become successful adults in their own rights. Proverbs 22-6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.“ ESV, (English Standard Version). This means that the young will remember how they were taught as a child. They will experience life on their own, but will come back to a life of discipline, having morals and a positive outlook of the future. Life is always better when one is trained to live with self-control. Learning to discipline yourself helps you to anticipate and recognize incorrect information; you will instead conform to facts or truth rather than artificial claims. You can and will visualize success when your life is in order.

Successful also means you can identify with being grateful for many things relating to your life. Young people will become more motivated to do well, to learn more, and to extend a hand to help others when disciplined. The youth will learn to take advantage of the freedom that discipline offers by keeping them grounded and focused. Once you've adopted the right mindset it is easy to block out negativity. You are able to say no when you need to separate yourself from those who want to manipulate, distract or influence you with false teachings. It’s important for our society to understand that proper discipline should be a natural way in the homes of the youth. Our youth will understand the importance of needing to follow a particular pattern or family structure, rather than deviating from living a life with proper rules. An undisciplined person may be prone to a life of trial and error consistently. Life can be difficult, disappointing, stressful, unpleasant and very confusing when there is no human control in cities, states or countries. It’s easier if we choose to conform to a set of standard within our homes, schools, workplace as well as the community in which we live. Help us to teach the youth to be disciplined.

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More Fashion modeled by Brenda D. ward

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By Veronica Gray, MA.

Teen Suicide has become the norm in society. With social media supporting negative behavior, many teens are seeking social acceptance even at the expense of their lives. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It’s not the end of the world even if it temporarily seems that way. Suicide is self-directed violence, which includes suicidal behavior and can be defined as threatened or actual use of physical force against oneself which results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury or death (Krug, Dahlberg, Mercy, Zwi, & Lozano, 2002). African American adolescents and young adults have the highest number and the highest rate of suicide of any age group of African Americans. Among African American adolescents and young adults, it is particularly the males that have the highest rates. It's a hidden crisis and it's killing more young black men then ever. Suicide is a taboo subject among many cultures, but the denial of mental health disorders runs rampant among African Americans. The Centers for Disease (CDC) reports that 60 percent of high school students claim that they have thought about committing suicide and around nine percent of them say that they have tried killing themselves at least once. While suicide does not seem terribly common, it is nevertheless a major cause of death. Teen suicide statistics show differences in the ways boys and girls handle suicide. While girls think about attempted suicide about twice as much as boys, boys are actually four times more likely than girls to actually die by killing themselves.

Teen suicide warning signs may include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• •

Dramatic changes in personality. Issues and trouble with friends and loved ones. Difficulty concentrating. Signs of depression. Signs that your teenager may be involved in substance abuse. Change in quality of schoolwork. Listlessness. Expresses the thought that no one cares. Talks about suicide. Considers running away. Difficulty coping with a teen pregnancy. Expresses a desire to stay home from school frequently. Complains regularly of being sick. Visits Web sites and joins social networks that discuss suicide, or associates online with people who are making suicide pacts. Writes poems or stories, or draws pictures of, death. Makes plans to take own life. Previous suicide attempt.

*The most serious signs are those that indicate a concrete plan for taking one's own life.* Sometimes it can be difficult to separate teen suicide warning signs from normal teenage behavior. Some of the signs are common to normal adjustments made during the teen years. Other times, few of the signs appear, and it seems like a surprise when a teenager commits suicide. Be on the lookout for behavior and signs that may indicate a more immediate need for help. Help is available at Freedom Therapy Centers, LLC at www.freedomtherapycentersllc.com .

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RONALD MCDONAL HOUSE CHARITIES AT SUNRISE CHILDREN HOSPITAL

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Dealing While Healing Loretta Womack

Dealing while healing is one of my biggest challenges when it comes to teaching my immediate family. I still have so many things that I am definitely learning to deal with so I can continue to heal, grow and keep moving on through my journey in life. I only try to teach them what I know that works from my experience. The reason it is so difficult is because they may not get the message the first second or even third time. Of course, that is frustrating while I am dealing and healing through my own growth. However, I must make it happen because it is my responsibility as their mother. Of course they have a father and it is his responsibility to do the same. But if he doesn't I still have to. I do get tired and weary because I am human but I never give up. I always think about this question and I want whoever is reading this article to think about it too. “WHAT IF I CAN'T GO HOME TO HEAVEN, UNLESS I HONESTLY HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY LEARNS WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME TO TEACH THEM, HOW TO DEAL AND HEAL, (ESPECIALLY MY HUSBAND), FROM MY EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM? I KNOW I AM SUPPOSE TO DO MY BEST AND GOD DOES THE REST.” I know I am their mother and my husband’s wife for a reason. They are also my family for a reason. So many times in my past, I have wanted to cop-out on my responsibility and give up. But this is now, and I know better so I do better.

I learned there is no divorcing family and I must figure out how to work out our issues and differences without getting abused. I wish to pass this on to you, those of you who are reading this article. You may find it as useful as I do. I heard it from, Joyce Meyer, “The best way to learn how to get along with people is by, allowing them to be who they are.” Remember, you’re not them. This lesson took and is still taking me a mighty long way. I can not change people and they can't change me. I learned only God can change people and then they can change themselves. I have learned how to love from afar if necessary, especially if they intend to, or don't care if they hurt me. I learn not to depend on any human being to make me happy. If they happen to make me happy what a blessing, but I don't depend on them. Last, I learned I only need to validate God and keep him first in my life and everyone I deal with will benefit from that. Just these simple lessons that I have learned in my life have caused me to be at peace. I have learned it controls my stress level so much that I hardly ever stress after a stressful situation has occurred. I wanted to share these things in this quarterly issue because this is our holiday issue. This is the time of year when it is most sensitive and hard for some people to get through. However it is the most happiest time of the year for others who have learned this verse, Philippians 4:13, in the KJV. Please look it up, it works for me and I am a witness, it can work for you too. May we all be blessed and keep learning how to love like Jesus loves.

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Modeled by Lynell Lucas

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Modeled by Lynell Lucas

Day or Evening Fashion

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Children Are God’s Gift By Lynell Lucas

Parents are defined as a father or mother. They are responsible for their children’s safety, to show them love, teach them self – discipline, making them accountable and providing them shelter. However, losing your parents at a tender age of twelve or thirteen can be devastating for a child. They are confused about their identity. They feel alone and lost, because they don’t understand what death mean. As a child, I experience those emotions. I lost my father when I was twelve. A year later, I lost my mother at the age of thirteen. The Principal of my school stepped in and mentored me and my sister, who was fourteen. He gave us guidance, counseling and made sure we had finances. My mother instilled in us at an early age, that education is the key for a better future. I have taken her legacy and implemented this concept within my life and graduated from high school and college. I am a parent, who has carried my mother’s legacy into my childrens’ lives.

Dr. Cormier would always express to me how parents are the role model for their children. She said and I will quote, “Our children are born into this world fashioned like a book with blank pages, everything printed thereafter, is the result of adult exposure.” I totally agree with her. Parents, you should be mindful of what you say and do in front of your children, because they will mimic everything they hear and see. Parents LISTEN to your children, they do have a voice. Show them RESPECT. We as parents DEMAND respect….well they need respect too. They are little human beings. I wanted to share those words with the parents, because I almost lost my youngest son to the system. With GOD directing my footsteps, a Judge giving my son a second chance, and me forgiving the School District for giving my son an expulsion, has made me a better person and my son, a productive citizen. Parents always remember that your children are a gift from GOD and they belong to you -----not the SYSTEM.

Modeled by Lynell Lucas

Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fashion By Eccoci

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Lolli Pop As the holiday season approaches our thoughts turn to food, family and friends. Gathering around the table, seeing each other, sometimes for the first time since last Thanksgiving, watching the football game, and taking that after-turkey nap are all part of our holiday tradition. But not everyone has family or friends to share holidays with. Not everyone looks forward to the season with joy and expectation. Not everyone will have a hot meal or a sofa to nap on. Not everyone has the luxury of a flat screen TV to watch the game. Such is life, and we must work with the cards we're dealt.

Love, hope, encouragement, kindness, patience, joy; these are the threads that run throughout our lives, uplift us, and bind us together. Holidays are tailor-made for get-togethers, and family is always the first group that comes to mind. But keep in mind that God doesn’t always look at blood relations to determine family. Jesus’ family tree is filled with gentiles and He’s the Messiah! When God told Abraham his descendants would be as numerous as the stars He didn’t just mean the Hebrew nation, He meant everyone who accepted Christ as Savior and is grafted in, adopted, into the family of God.

So, what exactly have we been dealt? What do you really have to work with? Let’s take stock. If you are blessed with good health you are able to go out and help others who may not be mobile. If you have transportation maybe you can pick someone up and bring them to church. If you have a 20 pound turkey you can invite someone whose family is elsewhere and can’t be with them to share the holiday. If you have an overflowing closet you can bless someone with that nice winter jacket or coat you haven’t really worn. Now let’s get to the really real stuff! If you have a smile you can brighten up someone’s day by sharing. If you received a Word from God today you can share it with someone who needs encouragement. If you have faith you can walk alongside someone who is dealing with loss, and if you have hope you can share that hope and show the light of Christ. We so often look at the tangible, visible things in life and overlook the intangibles that are the source and sustenance of life.

At our house we have a saying, “Family is what you make it, and we’re making up ours as we go along.” This holiday season share God’s blessings with someone less fortunate. Invite the widow next door to Thanksgiving dinner. Babysit for that single mother across the hall and give her the opportunity to let Calgon take her away. Give that homeless man more than a dollar, share a meal with him and give him the opportunity to share his name and story with you. Visit a nursing home and sing Christmas carols. Take gift and goody bags to the children’s ward at the hospital. It’s not only good for them but it’s been proven to be very beneficial for you as well. And when December 26th rolls around make a commitment to continue to reach out. You don’t have to commit to something big; every small act reaches someone. Just make the choice to reach out, once a month, or maybe once a week. God will honor your commitment and you’ll be really surprised at the difference one person can make as you follow Christ and serve your fellow man.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!

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Who is Pastor Randall Cunningham? Someone who teaches that God is love Someone who teaches Jesus is our Savior Someone who teaches how to love family and others by example Someone who is passionate about coaching our youth Someone who is very humble Someone who teaches from the Bible, John 3:16 (KJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Someone who teaches I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 (KJV). Someone who teaches, I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live. Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV). Yes I am Pastor Randall Cunningham of Remnant Ministries 325 E. Windmill Lane, Las Vegas, Nevada 89123 Phone 702-269-7803 Come Join The Family!

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I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS Carol Schultz

I love the holidays. For me, it is a time of being reminded and thanking God for all His blessings and a time of family gathering. As a grandmother my kids have grown and moved but we still make the effort to get together. Sometimes it is the only day of the year that we clear our schedules to do so But, not all holidays have been filled with joy and so the holidays also bring many memories to be reckoned with. Most of us will have a few of these in our lifetimes and it is my hope to bring these to mind as you plan for your special events. Years ago as a single mother trying to continue to pay the bills AND purchase presents for my 3 kids seemed an impossible challenge. It was not that I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to buy gifts but rather that the heating bills were high and there just wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough money to go around. One year, after all my scrimping there was only $20 available for buying gifts for my 3 children and mother. The shopping day was miserable as I walked through the Wal-Mart store racking my brain and heart to decide how best to use the money. Finally I settled on a board game and then stopped at the bank and got a crisp new $2 bill for each of them to either spend or save. There are few times that I ever felt so much sadness and shame as a mother having so little to give, yet knowing I was giving my all each day. Fortunately, their grandmother and others came through with the usual gifts. I worked hard to

turn the kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention to the plenty and not focus on the lack. In the long run the Christmas gift giving experience was the hardest on me rather than them. Another year when the kids were all grown their trip home was cancelled because of the weather making the 2 hour drive dangerous. We rescheduled our get together for June and they made other plans for themselves to do things locally. They were starting their own family and had two sets of grandparents to try and see. I cried all that day but tried to keep up a good front when they called to wish me a Merry Christmas. Why in the world would I want to share such horrible and lonely holiday moments? It is to remind us all, as Determined Grandmothers, that all around us and maybe right next door there may be lonely people and families who have very little for the holidays. Cheery smiles are a good first step but why not take it a step further and set an extra plate or 2 at the dinner table or pick up a couple gifts for those whose families cannot or will not be with them? There are many ways to reach others in the community so all can participate based on their time and funds available. There are never enough good cooks on the holidays. As Determined Grandmothers who have years of memories maybe we can take a look around now and seek to work to make the famous last line of the story come true for others:

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Minister Gerald Z. Harper,

Oh thank God for His wonderful blessings! It’s the best time of the year again- Christmas! As we plan our celebration this year I hope we will sincerely make it about the birth of Jesus our Savior since He is our greatest gift from God to humankind. Especially with all the unusual changes taking place around the world and in America; we definitely should be seeking our Savior. As Christians, our future and all our hope is based on Jesus Christ, the only Savior and Mediator between God-the-Father and sinful humankind. As such, Christianity is unique among all the religions of the world. Most of them emphasize the life of their founder who offers no plan of salvation; just rhetoric and philosophy. But Christianity is faith based: on the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who offers His followers a simple plan of salvation. Without this birth and resurrection there would be no life; as we all would still be dead in sins and trespasses. There would be no redemption; because Jesus was the only one worthy to redeem us from our curse; not to mention offer us forgiveness and a plan of salvation for our eternal life. You think about it!

This Savior Jesus did no wrong but He came to earth so we could live. In fact we can say that under the old agreement [the Law] almost everything was cleansed by sprinkling it with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins [Hebrews 9:22 LBT]. God accepted the finished work of Jesus for our redemption. Isn’t that worth shouting and praising God for our forgiveness? So, comfort and encourage each other with this news: Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth, peace, and goodwill toward men! Let’s not diminish this praise worthy memory with “Happy Holidays” or “Merry X-mas” as the world does, trying to remove God from their life. But! I issue a challenge to all believers of the only Begotten Son of God—Christ our Savior. Let’s proudly and loudly proclaim “MERRY CHRISTMAS!” to believers and non-believers to show our God given joy as we thank God for Jesus! After all- Jesus is just the Greatest Gift we will ever receive on earth. God Bless you all until the next time; with tears of joy.

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Acknowledgement From The Founder GIVING CREDIT TO WHOM IT’S DUE

As the founder of the Determined Grandmothers, I and the other grandmothers would like to acknowledge the following staff members and leaders of the CCSD Southwest Behavior School. Dr. Caryl Suzuki is an outstanding Principal there. I have never seen a principal who will go so far beyond the call of her duty. She cares so much about the students that attend her school. Dr. Suzuki is known to go way out on a limb to provide and protect the students under her supervision. She is very aware of the concerns the students have and the reason they are at the school. The teachers and staff under her leadership respect and comply with her instructions which causes the school to run very professionally. I would like to thank the other members of the school, which consists of Counselor Cliff Steele, FASA Sheila Preston, Security Guard Matthew Padovese, OS II Maria Singer, English teacher Toi Ethridge and Custodian Alejandro Caballero, just to name a few. We are proud and blessed to work with the above name staff and their students at Southwest Behavior’s Jr. & Sr. High School. The Determined Grandmothers wish to take the time to say thank you so much for inviting us into your school and for the great work you’re doing with the youth, and most of all for the hospitality. We thank each and every one of you for opening your doors and your heart to us.

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