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CHRIST IT UP Content New Year 2018
On The Cover
11| Contentment is Not a Crime Are you waiting in purpose for where God is planning to take you? 18| Cover Story Life Coach Lytia shares with us about her upcoming books, her marriage, as well as her #HIPPIELIFE. 23| Train Up a Child In this edition of “Words of the Lord”, Editor Darnica Gordon touches on trusting her son (and in God) with the teachings she’s instilled in him.
In Every Issue *Vessel's Note *Prayer for Salvation *Couples In Christ *Coffee with Sister Doris *Bookworm *Words of the Lord *What You Know About
...The Rest 12| How to Trust God When... A look at how to trust God when everthing around you looks crazy. 17| Greatest Gift As mothers, the greatest gift we can give is prayer. 22| A “1 Corithians 13” Holiday Great depiction of showing love during the holidays. 25| Aspiring Artist Artist Daiona Gordon is our Youth Corner’s Spotlight. 26| Among the Negatives 2017 didn’t as planned? 4|CIU New go Year 2018 What will you do?
Photos Provided By: Lytia Brock Styled By: Sonita’s Designs
Note
Happy New Year! I cannot believe it is 2018! First of all it was just the summertime, no wait, first of all it was just my birthday (April). How amazing it is to be able to see a new year? I pray for anyone who’s lost someone this past year. I know for the past few years my family has dealt with deaths back to back to back, so I pray for God’s undeniable peace and comfort during these times. With this year I have hopes and plans to make Christ It Up Magazine a magazine for the masses. Getting the gospel out to the nations. The writers I have are exceptional (wait until you read these articles)! Especially our Cover Feature Lytia. Yes, this is the same Lytia that writes for the magazine (catch her articles on pages 14-16). Be sure to read her interview on page 18 where she opens up about things such as teen pregnancy and entreprenuership in addtion to the topic listed on the cover. I pray that this issue bless you in some way. Keep a look out for upcoming events, contest, giveaways, and a lot of exciting things for this new year. Want to be the first to know? Be sure to join our mailing list at christitupmagazine.com.
Give your life to Christ
Vessel’s If you have read past issues of this magazine or if this is your first time, I am glad to introduce, The Sinner’s Prayer. Romans 10:9-11 (NIV) 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” To give your life to Christ, recite this aloud: Dear God, I come to you today as a sinner asking for forgivness. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are Lord. I believe that you died on the cross and rose on the third day with all power in your hand. And today I accept you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, Amen!
To God be the Glory!
Mz. CIU
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OWNER & EDITOR Darnica Gordon PUBLISHER Christ It Up Publishing
CHRIST IT UP WRITERS
Kellie Hudson Staci Bose
Lauren Webb
Abriana Mitchell
CHRIST IT UP MAGAZINE 1323 Superior Ave Pittsburgh, Pa 15212|| 412-390-9701|| christitup@yahoo.com|| www.christitupmagazine.com
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OWNER & EDITOR Darnica Gordon PUBLISHER Christ It Up Publishing
CHRIST IT UP WRITERS
Lisa Dorsett
Lytia Brock
Kimberly Fairley
Tiffiany Huff-Strothers
CHRIST IT UP MAGAZINE 1323 Superior Ave Pittsburgh, Pa 15212|| 412-390-9701|| christitup@yahoo.com|| www.christitupmagazine.com
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advertise to our growing audience! 9|CIU New Year Issue
Couples in Christ Meet THE IDEA BEHIND COUPLES IN CHRIST
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5
(almost 6) years and several couples later, “Couples in Christ” is still standing strong. When God gave me the idea of doing a magazine I remember being at my computer typing different things and “Couples in Christ” being one of the first articles. I have had many submissions and have enjoyed all of them. With the crazy stigma of relationships and this whole “side-chick” era, I love being able to display love the way God intended it. It is also important to showcase couples at different stages, I’ve had newlyweds and people who’ve been married for years! I also want to shine light on those who are courting or newly engaged. God plays a significant part in each one of those stages in a relationship. You can check out past issues at christitupmagazine.com. Do you have a “Couples in Christ” testimony? Share it with us!
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We would love to hear your story! Send it to
christitup@yahoo.com
Contentment is NOT a Crime Tiffany Huff-Strothers
Happy New Year! I believe greatness is on the horizon for 2018, even in the midst of chaos and changes in the world. It’s challenging sometimes to balance embracing the season we are in as we look forward to the one to come. And so, I want to challenge you to start the year with an understanding of the power in active waiting. Yes, active waiting. It’s waiting in purpose. It is the type of waiting demonstrated in actively pursuing, praying, and praising God where you are as you prepare for where He’s taking you. Active waiting puts the power in contentment. When we’re outside of the flow though, when we are misaligned, folk will have us thinking contentment is a crime. If you’re not careful folk will have you believe that trusting in God’s perfect timing is a crime. Timing doesn’t get any better than divine.
Just as those August mornings heated up, so did the story I was telling. As the summer began to come to an end I started my search for an editor and the reality that I was finally going to be an author began to sink in. I expected that if I could write an entire book in a month so too could it be edited in a month. Let’s just say my timing was off. Way off. Then came fall. During the fall, many trees began to shed their leaves and they begin reproducing and spreading seeds. Animals begin to migrate and prepare for hibernation. The seeds lay dormant through winter, the animals sleep throughout the cold season.
The fall season brought with it uneasiness for me. I didn’t understand how things had gone so well during the summer months and now I was seemingly out of rhythm with the spirit. But God. God wanted me to be aware that within the seasons, my rhythm will ebb and flow in Don’t get so caught up in keeping up with cycles. I don’t know about you, but one The Jones’ that you get left behind by of the most challenging parts of being a what’s divine. Contentment is not a crime. woman is the monthly cycle. And if you aren’t keeping up with your cycle, things Seasons, Cycles, & Rhythm can get pretty messy. The hormonal, and Over the past two years, my life began to physical changes it brings impact our change at Godspeed once I surrendered. productivity and often times our peace. These changes started to happen just But God. Without our cycles there’d be no as summer was coming to an end in children, no milk produced to feed them, 2016. During summer the days are no release of necessary toxins from our much longer which for me leads to bodies. Cycles are a necessity for divine more productivity. During the month creation. As the fall approached my leaves of August 2016, I woke every morning had been to shed, and I was in a season and wrote page after page of a book I’d of reproduction. A shift was happening, buried way down deep inside me ten and God was preparing me to allow years ago. I was in awe of what I was myself to rest as He readied my seeds to writing and how quickly I was writing begin budding this spring. The rhythm I it. I’d found my rhythm. Your rhythm had with the Holy spirit hadn’t been lost, is often God’s response to your desire it had changed. He decided to change it for relationship with Him. Rhythm is up. The rhythm had slowed down a bit, the way the spirit moves in and through but He was still Moving in and through you. I woke up early every morning and me. I struggled with the wait though, I after spending some time with God, the struggled to see how the seasons, cycles, words would just flow. and rhythm were working for my good. I struggled to be content without becoming
complacent. The Pursuit of Happiness Here’s the thing, the line between complacency and contentment is a fine one. The three things that separate the two are perspective, position and pursuit. The way you see and think about yourself (your perspective), impacts how you move (your position) and what you do to get to where you’re going (pursuit). If your perspective isn’t aligned with the truth that all things are working for your good (Romans 8:28), because God has a plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11) then your pursuit might be pursuing the wrong things (Matthew 6:33). See the changes in seasons, cycles, and rhythm is actually an extension of God’s grace. He extends His grace to us to ensure our perspective, position, and pursuits are aligned with the power He’s placed inside us. As we maneuver through the seasons, cycles, and rhythms He extends us grace to allow us to pause in the pursuit. Because when there’s no pause we begin to live for what’s to come. When there’s no pause we miss what’s right now. But when you pause your perspective shifts and you recognize if you want to be in position for His promises to manifest, you have to pursue Him. This pursuit, this active waiting is how you live a life of contentment. The pursuit of happiness is about your willingness to pray, praise, and consistently pursue God’s will for your life in all seasons, in all stages of the cycle and no matter how the Holy Spirit moves in and through you. Complacency manifests when you’re misaligned, when your perspective (Romans 8:28), position (Jeremiah 29:11) and pursuit (Matthew 6:33) aren’t a reflection of His promises.
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How Do You Trust God’s Word When Everything Around You Looks Opposite of What He Promised? By Author: Staci Bose This is something that most Christians struggle with. We receive the word concerning our lives and what God is going to do in it. We read the word of God. We see God’s promises come to past for those around us. We have witnessed God’s promises come to past in our own lives. So, the issue is not that we haven’t witnessed God’s work, the issue is often, “Will He really do THIS thing?”, “Is THIS really what God wants me to do?” “I am tired of waiting to see His promises come to past”. We all feel or have felt this way at one point in time. But what we have to remember is that God’s time is not our time. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. There are some things that God promised and if He gave them to us when He promised them, we would destroy them, or they would destroy us. He waits until He knows that we can receive His promise and not destroy ourselves, others, or walk away from Him completely because He gave us what we prayed for. The scripture says, ‘without faith, it is impossible to please God’. What that means to me is
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God needs us to trust Him at all times in order for Him to be pleased with us. He is saddened when we, His children, do not trust in Him to provide everything we need and then some of what we want. So, as we are in the season of New Year’s resolutions, let’s set a goal to trust God more; to not grow weary in the wait, and to remember that whatever He said shall come to past! Be encouraged. God has not forgotten you!
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What You Know About.... Kevin McNair & 1Nation By Life Coach Lytia Brock
Photo Porvided By Kevin McNair
In life you make many connections, it is a blessing when you make connections with people who are making a difference. To watch the news is very disheartening and can leave us all with feelings of remorse and wanting to do more. I had the opportunity to interview someone who not only wanted to make a difference but MAKES a huge difference in our community daily, Kevin McNair. Mr. McNair has started a mentoring group among young people that helps to change their perspective and encourage a positive self-image. It is truly refreshing to know Mr. McNair and I believe that he will bless many with his gift. Check out his interview below. Life Coach Lytia: What is the name of your mentoring group?
needed a positive reflection of themselves, LCL: What do the Kings and Queens some children need additional learn? enrichment. We give the outside Kevin McNair: My mentoring group is KM: We discuss all the topics. We allow component with a holistic approach. 1Nation Mentoring. them to have open conversations about LCL: How do you refer to the mentees? their behavior and the opposite sex. We LCL: Where are you located? provide a judgment free space to give KM: We call them Kings and Queens. real life scenarios and they express their KM: We are located throughout feelings through their conversation Allegheny County in schools mainly LCL: Why do you do so? to have positive relationships moving Brashear and Sister Thea Bowman forward. KM: We encourage positive identity Catholic Academy. We do Tuesdays in the to remind them of the greatness they Hill District. LCL: How can people reach you? possess. LCL: What are the age groups that you KM: You can reach me through email or LCL: So, you mentioned QUEENS, serve? my website 1nationmentoring@gmail. that means there is an option for young com , or website 1nationmentoring.org. KM: The current age groups are 12-24 women? year olds. LCL: Thanks so much for this interview. I KM: Yes we mentor everyone. We have LCL: What need did you see in the partnered with female groups in Brashear. look forward to hearing and seeing more community to start a mentoring program. The guys are every Tuesday and the girls from you in 2018 and beyond. KM: Inside the school I noticed children
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are every Wednesday.
KM: Thanks for the opportunity.
Parrish Davenport
Photo Porvided By Parrish Davenport
Parrish Davenport is the Minister of Music at St. Paul Baptist Church located in Pittsburgh, PA. He is a native to Pittsburgh, and is no stranger to community outreach. His passion for music and fine arts has been evidenced through a variety of projects encompassing ministry and productions in theater and mime, and the composing and directing of music for several diversified groups. His musical journey began at the young age of eight, in the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church of Pittsburgh, where he served as Director of the youth choir. As his experience in music flourished, he began to branch out and explored fine arts through the ministry of mime. In 1998, he formed a community mime ministry for his peers called Anointed Mime Ministry of Pittsburgh.
“In any project I’m involved with, I just want people to see God and not Parrish.”
In 2010, his first musical stage play, “The Company You Keep” premiered at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School, located in downtown Pittsburgh. The play featured many performers from the local gospel community. Currently, he is the Founder & Executive Director of the Family & Friends Initiative, which is a new community organization whose mission is to transform lives through holistic ministry. This initiative offers an approach through music and fine arts, together with community outreach to advance development of the community workforce. Parrish enjoys serving the community and offering his services to help those in need. Outside of the music department, Parrish is the Co-Owner and Operational Manager of Events by Elaqui, an event planning company located in Pittsburgh.
Share your, “What You Know About...” testimony with CIU by emailing your submission to christitup@yahoo.com
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Family & Friends Initiative of Pittsburgh Family & Friends Initiative is an organization whose mission is to support, encourage, and empower communities, is led by Executive Director Parrish Davenport. Through a variety of outreach and mentoring programming has been designed to foster individual and family growth. In April of 2016 a few members traveled to Flint Michigan to supply 400 cases of water to the residents through their own mission project, “United We Stand.” This past September Family & Friends Initiative participated in the “Heart for Houston” Benefit ,a collaboration with other organizations/ministries to collect items to ship to Houston. Members of Family & Friends Initiative have the opportunity to volunteer to work with Evangelist Beth Ann Crawford Ministries to provide basic essentials to the homeless population here in the City of Pittsburgh with a goal to empower them and help them to improve their living condition. The Family & Friends Initiative is comprised of a variety of mentoring components. At our core is music & Fine Arts Department has been recognized throughout Western Pennsylvania. A musical single entitled, “I Can Depend” was released during their 2nd anniversary concert. The single can be purchased online at Amazon.com, and CDbaby. In 2018
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the music department plan is to release a full project featuring music written from members of the choir. Enrichment Workshops have been offered to the community under the, Designing My Future Program. Under this umbrella quarterly community workshops will be hosted to provide resources from finances, career building, and ministry. In the past Family & Friends Initiative had the privilege to host a Community Workshop with Penn State Greater Allegheny entitled, “State of Employment”. Participants were able to build their resumes and engage in an Open Panel Discussion regarding the State of Employment here in Pittsburgh. Holistic Ministry is a very important mission in this organization. Our goal for 2018 is not only to capture the needs of members but to continue to build sustaining relationships with the community and provide resources from employment referrals, ministry counseling, and training to create an atmosphere of a positive transformation. For More Information or to book the Family & Friends Choir for your next event contact info@ffipgh.org or (412)313-4022.
THE GREATEST GIFT IS BEING A PRAYING MOTHER By: Kellie Hudson Oh motherhood! The successes and the failures, the happy moments and the sad moments, the ew’s and the ahh’s, the times we are worried and the times we are proud, and most importantly the LOVE. Motherhood comes with so many emotions and moments. Children are an amazing gift from God. I once heard a quote that stated, “No other love is closer to God’s love, then that of a mother’s love for her children”. It’s probably one of my favorite qoutes. It helps to humble me when my kids are acting out and I’m feeling overwhelmed with the gift and hardships of motherhood. How awesome is it that God made us as women, the lovers and nurtures of this earthly world, trusted us to raise His children and love them as He loves us?! In my opinion there is no blessing greater then being a mother and raising a child. On the other hand we can all admit that motherhood is hard! It takes so much from not only our bodies but our souls and minds. We gain weight and lose our memory all for this beautiful little miracle from God that we know is a blessing but sometimes doesn’t always seem so. We become tired and overworked. Each stage of our children’s childhood is filled with different joyful and proud moments but also sorrows, challenges, and speed bumps. As Christian mothers we are trying to raise humble God loving and fearing children in a world that is anything but. A world filled with greed, hate, and the lost. I could go on and on. Even though God tells us not to worry we all know there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t worry about our children.
So if you’re feeling stressed or worried about your children or motherhood the best thing you can do is sit down with God in prayer. Trust him with the lives of your children and your worries. Know that no matter what you are going through and whatever stage you are at in motherhood that there is always a loving God who knows exactly what you need and are going through. Know that motherhood is a blessing and your children are a gift. The fact that you worry about whether or not you are doing it right is a sign that you are doing it right. Know that you won’t always get it right! It’s okay to not be the prefect mom, to not be the Pinterest mom. Just be the best version of a mom that you can be at that moment. Believe me when I say you are prefect even on the days you feel that you aren’t. Continue to pray and love. Those are the greatest gifts a mother can give her children. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29
We are praying mothers trying to do our best for our children and God. We know that prayer is our biggest weapon against our worries. There is no greater gift then a praying mother. We know that loving our children and praying for them is the best thing we can do for them. That trusting God to guide our children’s lives, if only they will listen, cancels out every worry we may have and in that we may have peace.
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LIFE COACH LYTIA
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Interviewed By: Darnica Gordon
Lytia Brock and I met back in 2009 or 2010. I was constantly out with my husband Don who does Music Ministry and is known as Church B. and that’s how we met. Lytia has always been a woman who has amazed me by all that she is capable of doing. She is able to balance being a businesswoman, a pastor, an author, while playing the very important role of a mother. She just exhibits incredible strength, as well as, what a Proverbs 31 Woman looks like in real life. She has been super supportive of Christ It Up for several years now. She has purchased mags for her events and then volunteered her time as a contributing writer. If you don't have her book, "Making the Most of Life’s Lemons”, please visit Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com to purchase your copy today. Lytia has a lot of great things in store for 2018 so let’s get right into it!
Christ It Up: So Lytia, tells us, how did you begin your walk with Christ?
at a service and he told me that God said, “Write the books”, and I looked around and he said, “No, I’m talking to you Lytia.” At first, I was just like okay, you know sometimes we just brush Lytia Brock: I made a personal choice when I was nine, it off. I sat down and thought about it and said I’m going to but of course throughout my life there were multiple write the books. That word came and three years later the book rededications because I feel, for me at nine, I didn’t have the full came. It was a long process. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it understanding of what it took to have Christ as my personal was going to be, but the book came about through my own life savior. So, at about 18 I rededicated myself and this was after experiences and by an unction of the Holy Spirit. a few bumps and bruises. After becoming a teen mommy and taking time to realize I couldn’t do it on my own. CIU: When did you know writing was something you wanted to do or something you were good at? CIU: You and I share that we were both teen moms, what was most challenging for you? LB: When I was 12 I began writing poems. That was my first book though it’s not published yet. LB: First of all, people don’t tell you that it’s hard. They don’t tell you that there are certain things you shouldn’t do. One of CIU: What are some things you have planned for 2018? the things I encountered as a teen mom was debt. At 18 I got my first credit card and it was maxed out within a couple of LB: For the new year the goal is to focus on the spiritual and months, because the money that I didn’t have for Pampers, or the natural. There are a series of events, workshops, and classes wipes or other things such as, gas and household items, were as well as providing people with employment through my now easily accessible through this charge card. Another thing various companies and my nonprofit. I also plan on publishing that is not told is that you will have to provide for the child a new book on marriage. alone. Though there are assistance programs sometimes they are not accessible. It was my first baby, my parents had recently CIU: Is there a release date for this new book? separated, and I was learning the ropes by myself. Finances were definitely a challenge; taking care of the child and being LB: No release date yet, I’m actually shopping around for a new an adult responsible for another person. publisher. I love my publisher but I’m weighing my options. CIU: What advice do you have for teens? LB: I have a preteen, I’m the mother of four daughters. I always encourage them to wait. Please wait. I’m not going to lie and say that sex wasn’t created by God to be a wonderful experience between a husband and wife, but I will say it does complicate things, it does cloud your judgement, it affects you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. And if you’re a teen, that shouldn’t be your focus. Focus on school, travel the world, live your life before you bring another life into the world. CIU: Amen! Let’s jump into your first book, “Making the Most of Life’s Lemons”. It has done very well. It is on Amazon’s Bestseller’s list; how did this book come about? LB: Through blood, sweat, and tears. My father was preaching
CIU: You definitely are a busy woman! You are a mother of 5 children, how do you balance it all? LB: I would have to give away my little secret; prayer, eight hours of sleep, and meditation. CIU: I want to jump back to your nonprofit, tell us a little bit about it. LB: My nonprofit is Cloaked in Favor Outreach Ministries which is geared towards those who are not the status quo. We provide food, housing, baby items, baby food, and we also have a scholarship program coming in 2019 for Higher Education. And just overall wellness through inspirational material, the books, letters that are mailed out to the prisons, as well as life coaching.
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CIU: For those of us that follow you on Social Media we will frequently see your #hippielife, how did this start and what does it mean exactly? LB: It ultimately started after writing my book, where the scripture says, to seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14 NIV). Unfortunately, I went through a trial within my marriage, I lost a series of key people in my life through unexpected deaths and suicide, and it really made me think about why we are here on earth. Another scripture that sticks out is: follow peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14 KJV). Life is too short. I may not have all the money I want, or travel as much as I want, or do everything on my list, but one thing I’m glad to have is peace. My friend Sasha and I coined the term “Hippie Life”.
CIU: You spoke earlier on trials in your marriage, how old were you when you got married? LB: Oh Lord, I have to do the math (insert laughs here). I was 25 when I got married. CIU: And what were some of those challenges you faced in your marriage? LB: Lack of communication; lack of understanding. I am writing about it in the new book-being on the same page. I think so many times we allow outside influences to creep in forgetting that the relationship is supposed to be three people: God, your spouse, and yourself.
CIU: Speaking of social media, a lot of times entrepreneurship CIU: How can CIU readers link up with you? is glamourized, what is your take on entrepreneurship and what advice do you have for entrepreneurs? LB: I’m on Facebook and Instagram under @lifecoachlytia. My email is lifecoachlytia@gmail.com. For Cloaked In Favor you LB: Even though I have multiple companies I always advise can call 412-326-8525 for prayer or counseling sessions. people to start with one idea. Cloaked in Favor is a nonprofit, but my other companies work hand in hand because they CIU: Thank you so much Lytia, for sharing with us. We will provide additional services. One thing to focus on if you want keep our eyes open for everything you have going on this year. to be an entrepreneur is to think about if you really want to do it. It’s not for the faint of heart. There will be times when things LB: Thank you! go great and times when things aren’t going so great. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of your money. Of course, there are loans and grants in place but if you’re really working toward your dream be ready to put in those long hard hours as well as your finances.
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A “1 Corinthians 13” Holiday By Lauren Webb
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And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV).
With the holidays right behind us, it was easy to be so busy with the cooking, decorating and shopping that we forgot why we’re doing all those things in the first place. Sometimes, the very people we love get lost in the hustle and bustle of packed schedules, holiday parties, Christmas musicals, and New Year’s resolutions. Show love. Love is action and you can show love anywhere you go. When others are losing their patience in the stores, this is the best time to show the love of Jesus. Remind yourself to not join in the craziness. Satan has done a good job at capitalizing on Holidays and it’s our job to remind the world WHO and what is truly important! Let’s try practicing the holiday version of 1 Corinthians 13 to help us keep focus on what Paul deemed most important of all…love.
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1 Corinthians 13 When decorating the house perfectly with lovely strands of twinkling lights, and shiny glass balls, remember to show love to your family, or you’re just another decorator. If you work at the soup kitchen or give to a charity, but do not show love to your family and friends, it will profit you nothing. When your trimming the tree with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes or attending a holiday party but do not take a moment to focus on Christ, you have missed the point. Love should stop the cooking to hug the child. Love is kind, though agitated and tired. Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of
your way. Love rejoices in giving to those who can’t. Love bears all things. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure. Let’s Pray Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus. I am still amazed at Your great love for me. May I never lose sight of the true meaning of the Holiday, but celebrate Jesus’ with joy! Help me to give as You gave—with love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Now It’s Your Turn. What are some ways that you can make sure to love your family well through the holiday season? Are there any activities that you need to eliminate from your busy schedule in order to alleviate over commitment? If so, what are they?
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Words of the Lord
Train Up A Child Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. By: Darnica Gordon Although we don’t want our children to experience any of the trials we had to go through, those trials are what shaped us. As we go through different trials and situations our children are picking up on how we react and respond to those very things. Are we trusting in God or are we stressing ourselves and everyone around us out? I recently realized that I was trying to shield my children from everything. You know the three that always want something? Yeah them (if not, check out my blog on the Christ It Up website). And in this season, I am in I cannot shield them anymore. Walking by faith includes sacrifice. We have to be on a tighter budget so it has been “no” to a lot of things. And when the holidays quickly approaching I started feeling the weight of my faith for the sacrifice I was making. I love gift giving, so being in a position to not be able to do Christmas shopping as I please, was weighing heavily on me. God gave me a peace that I can’t explain. It was like, “It’s okay, just do what you can and see if there’s help for the rest.” And with that I was able to gain more peace. I still had the urgency to do more but I knew that I couldn’t. So, allow your
children to watch God work through your life. Be sure you are also praying over your children. My son was becoming very agitated with the fact that he was always around me and his sisters. I prayed that he would find good friends with good heads on their shoulders and be able to go out with them and have fun. This prayer was actually answered, and I wasn’t ready for it. But I prayed for this and prayed over him and reminded myself of the things me and my husband have instilled in him and that the Godly wisdom we’ve given him will direct him in any situation on where he should go. We have to be sure we are training our children in the word of God so that no matter if they try to run from it, it will already be in them.
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Are you ready to share your story? 24|CIU New Year 2018
Youth Corner Daiona Gordon
Daiona Gordon is a 16 year old young lady who loves to draw. She has a natural talent. She states that she started drawing at the young age of 7. When asked who isnpires her this is what she had to say, “At first I wasn’t inspired at all. I use to draw just because I was bored, plus I wasn’t any good at it. I remember one day my mom was showing me how to draw a face with sunglasses on and a body, and from there I used what she taught me and over time my skills developed.” She explains that drawing and design is definitely a career choice of hers. “Either that or I’ll be working in the library (laughs).” It was encouraging to hear that she has a great support system. We’ve seen it time and time again, whether on a movie or in real life, where artist don’t receive a lot of support from their families. “My family is very supportive, especially my mom. She is always excited about my drawings and always asking about this sticker collection we are suppose to be doing. She knows I have the potential to go far and is always encouraging me.” Her family is Christ-centered but she was going to church well before mom and dad. “I started going to church when I was about two years old with Eia (Grandmother).”
Aspiring Artist
You can check out her new comic at www.webtoons.com under “Us Weirdos”. Her little sister wanted to feel included.
Want to share your story? Email christitup@yahoo.com
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Among the Negatives An Open Letter to the woman I’m abandoning in 2017 for the woman I am ready to be in 2018 By: Abriana Leeper It’s the least wonderful time of the year, the end of it; arriving once again like it always does. Reflecting is always appropriate, yet unwelcomed at this time, and you find yourself looking back through all 364 days, sifting through for every mistake you made. This year went exactly as you planned, didn’t it? It doesn’t end with a new transition, or in a new place. Those toxic relationships are still in place, the vision board you meant to create lay in pieces hiding in a folder with the board pushed towards the darker parts of the closet. Every good and perfect disaster emerged like an unwanted house guest, arriving with plenty of baggage and no exit date. None of this, however, surprised you. You fearfully walked hand in hand with each disaster, unwilling or unable (or both) to muster up the courage God already gave you to simply say no to this life and walk into the promises God has given. This is not your life, you do not belong here. 2017 went according to the plans you hoped would not come to pass, but in no way made sure did not. A precious life was lost, but in its wake a new life has to emerge. Yours. In a short time, everything looks like it’s falling apart, but that is simply God’s way of letting you know these pieces have no business in your future. They are replaceable and therefore need no mourning moment. Your children need you to stand up and be the woman God has created you to be. You are more than equipped for the task, you are ready.
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You were not crushed, destroyed, ruined or left without hope. You did not die from all the pain and disappointment, and your heart did not break after the most inconceivable happened. You survived through everything you believed was sent to take you out. 2017 was not simply filled with forgettable disasters you wished never happened. In fact, there is no wishing--they happened, and you cannot get rid of the choices made. You can live and thrive beyond them. You spent too much wasted time in such a negative place and now is your moment to go beyond it. After all, negatives are nothing more than an unfinished piece of artwork, full of light and shadow that has been processed into a position, for a positive piece of work to arise.
Coffee with Sister Doris Sister Doris, I stumbled across this magazine on the Internet and loved the Coffee with Sister Doris section. I've been battling for a while if I should ask my question. Okay so here it is. I was born a male but feel more like a woman. I love the clothes, shoes, and hair. So I'm always dressed that way. So I guess my question/problem is that I know God and love Him so why do I feel this way. If he created me and he doesn’t want me to be a woman, why am I battling this? I don't want to be male. I could go on and on but..... Please help! Signed, Not comfortable in my own skin. Not comfortable, Come have a seat at the table. I’ll grab your coffee. So, first give me a hug because I can imagine that you need a hug today. I want you to know that nothing that we discuss is going to come from a place of judgement from me. I just want to share with you what the Bible says about your situation. God loves you and cares for you. But there are some things that God says He will not allow in the kingdom of Heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate(a man having or showing characteristics regarded as typical of a woman; unmanly), nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
John 3:16 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. But don’t be deceived. If we do not repent of our sins and turn from our sinful ways we will not spend eternity in Heaven. The Bible also tells us how to be saved from sin and hell. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. I hope that our chat helped. Until next time, Sister Doris will be praying for you.
You have to remember that God made us all and we all have one or two things on that list that we battle. We cannot decide that we were just born this way and can do whatever we want. We have to choose to love what God loves and if there is anything in us or about us that God does not agree with, we need to go before God and ask Him to deliver us. Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor (hate, dislike, despise) what is evil; hold fast to what is good. I say “we” when I’m speaking to you because we all have sin in our lives. The difference is that your sin is visible. Do not feel shame. God does not wish that you would perish. He wants you to have life eternal with him.
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Book Worm With the New Year freshly upon us I felt it appropriate to share this book by Emily Ley. Though it may be common knowledge, if you have clutter you probably need to get rid of some things, but for whatever reason that was so hard for me to grasp. I felt I just needed more storage. This book helped change that.
A Simplified Life By: Emily Ley
A Simplified Life is a great tool to use to live a more simplified life. The sections include: • Simplified Space • Simplified Style • Simplified Meals • Simplifed Schedule • Simplified Finances • Simplified Hospitality • Simplified Technology • Simplified Self • Simplified Motherhood • Simplified Faith I think the section that was most crucial for me was Simplified Space (big surprise right?). The reason being, I have a lot of clutter and wonder why, but it’s because I’m not cutthroat when it comes to getting rid of stuff. I just had to be real with myself and say, “Nica, you are never going to wear that again.” Or, “You had that since 1989 (I’m exaggerating! LOL) throw it away! If you pick this book up let me know what section affected you most.
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continued from pg. 11
Contentment is not a crime
feel like you’re in the midst of a blizzard when your seeds should be beginning to The new year is upon us. Here’s what I bud. You’ll find yourself doing the same need you to do during these days of cold old two-step, when the spirit is trying to and winter. Get your mind right. God is do a new thing. Once I shifted my pursuit not gonna play you, but you’re playing of happiness from publishing the book yourself if you refuse to respect the to pursuing God, I recognized that His seasons, cycles, and rhythms of your plan was much better than mine. When life. God is not gonna play you, but He’s you’re willing to surrender, Godspeed not playing with you. If you’re not aligned ensures you’re right on time. My seeds with the power of His promises, you’ll
began budding right in time for spring and once again as the days became longer in summer it was the perfect time to give life to and celebrate my published work. The struggle ends when you align with the power of the seasons, cycles, and rhythm within. The struggle ends when you choose to be content. Contentment is not a crime. Start this year off aligned with the divine.
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