Faith Based Journal Inspire, Inform & Educate
October 2012
15 th Edition
Expanding Your
INSIDE
Women at the Crossroads: How to Breakthrough Life’s Roadblock
Education and Community Involvement
By Dr. Grace Cornish Livingstone There comes a point in every woman’s life where she purposely pauses along her life path to deeply ponder: What do I have to show for all I’ve been through? PAGE 6
Hearing the Voice of God By Tuala Williams-Shields Many of us, were we to truly hear the voice of God and recognize it, would be like the Israelites, who begged Moses that he be their mediator...
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Out of Comfort and Into Purpose
HCC Board of Trustees come together with Faith-Based leaders talking about Houston Community College’s Bond referendum and why it will help better the community. From Left: HCC Board of Trustee Carroll G. Robinson, Rev. Hunt L. Harris, Bishop James W.E. Dixon II, HCC Vice Chair Bruce A. Austin
By Frenetta Tate For a long time, I prayed to understand my life purpose; why am I here and what am I here to do?
PAGE 10
Running after God – The Ultimate Pursuit By Dr. Josie Carr It has become popular to “pursue your passion”, “pursue success’, “pursue wealth”, “pursue what makes you happy”…. PAGE 12
Pastor C.L. Jackson and Minister Johnny Jerimiah embracing the Hip-Hop Generation
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ~ Nelson Mandela
Dr. Grace Cornish Livingstone, World Renown Relationship Expert is Coming to Houston
Event Photos on Page 13
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October, 2012
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October 2012
Behind The
Journal
3.
Publisher’s Message
Keith J. Davis, Sr.
SR. PUBLISHER Keith J. Davis, Sr. VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Davis
This month’s journal focuses on expanding your faith to be a blessing to your community. As we enter the fourth quarter of 2012, now is a good time to reflect on your commitments to yourself, your family, and your community. As faith-based individuals we should be life-long learners and continual servant leaders in our communities.
EDITING CONSULTANT Sharon Jenkins OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Johnny Ray Davis, Jr.
As always, thank you for your continued support of d-mars.com. When you support d-mars.com, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.
ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla
CONTENTS
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Onyebuchi Okoh C.T. Foster Eric D. Goodwine
Houston Community College’s Bond Referendum .................................................................... 4 Women at the Crossroads: How to Breakthrough Life’s Roadblock ........................................ 6 Dr. Grace Cornish Livingstone, World Renown Relationship Expert is Coming to Houston ... 7 Hearing the Voice of God .......................................................................................................... 8 Domestic Violence and the Faith Based Community ................................................................. 9 The Final Supreme Act ............................................................................................................. 9 Out of Comfort and Into Purpose .............................................................................................. 10 Running after God – The Ultimate Pursuit ................................................................................ 12
PHOTOGRAPHY L.C. Poullard Grady Carter Tony Gaines MULTIMEDIA DIRECTOR Andrea Hennekes LAYOUT & GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ferland Antwine DISTRIBUTION Booker T. Davis, Jr. Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sharon C. Jenkins Cheryl Donovan Dave Boehi Dr. Grace Cornish Livingstone Tuala Williams-Shields Linda Germain Dr. Josie Carr Frenetta Tate
MR. D-MARS Tip of the Month “Voting is a civic sacrament.” ~Theodore Hesburgh
D-MARS.com Business Journal 7322 Southwest Fwy, Suite 805 Houston, Texas 77074 713-272-9511 . Phone 713-272-6364 . Fax www.d-mars.com
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4.
October, 2012
Houston Community College’s Bond Referendum
Dear Faith-Based Leaders,
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e are at an important juncture in the state of education in our city and country. Now, more than ever, our children need to be educated for the ever changing, fast-paced future and technologically advanced careers they face. Education is a pathway to success
and, for many of our children, the only path available to them to better their lives. Through the years, Houston Community College has proven to be the “opportunity institution” for all in our community who want to better themselves. In order to keep HCC strong, we must step up and show our support as the November 6 bond election approaches. Meanwhile, below are some important facts for your consideration. The Houston Community College 2012 bond program will provide each HCC college with new or renovated facilities and the modern technology required to meet student needs, especially in high
demand areas such as health sciences, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Houston Community College trains and educates over 75,000 students each semester; a 40 percent increase in the last five years bringing current capacity to 92 percent. Today, most HCC classrooms are at capacity and, as a result, many students cannot get the classes they need. State funding has decreased and further cuts are expected. This situation must be addressed in order to serve more students and businesses that rely on HCC to train and educate the workforce. For more information, visit HCC 2012 Bond referendum at hccs.edu/ community. Let’s help Houston Community College continue to keep Houston working by supporting the college’s November 6 bond proposal.
Did you know Houston Community College … We’re No. 1 • #1 Texas community college for placing students in jobs when they graduate. • #1 for international student enrollment among U.S. community colleges. • #1 in Texas with 25 workforce programs recognized as exemplary. • #1 in Associate Degree transfers to the University of Houston. • #1 in Texas and #5 in the nation in granting Associate Degrees, with 3,635 in 2012. • All 5 Early College High Schools (ECHS) earned “exemplary” rating.** ** Exemplary ratings by the Texas Education Authority Our Long-range Outlook • State funding has decreased by $64
million over the last biennium, and further decreases are expected • HCC’s 53 square feet per student in a classroom is only 66% of the national average of 80 square feet per student* • Unable to meet students’ needed scheduling demands • Need to upgrade classrooms and labs with latest technology to create the learning space of the future • Need to ensure campuses are as conducive to student learning as possible About the Taxpayers • Taxpayers save $1.7 million annually in costs the government would otherwise allocate to health, medical, crime and welfare. • Taxpayers benefit annually by $36.1 million from added annual tax revenue of educated citizens and from avoided social costs to government. • 95% of HCC alums remain in Texas and contribute to its economic growth. About HCC Funding • HCC introduced cost-saving measures
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for students by allowing them to rent textbooks to reduce costs by 40%. • The HCC Foundation awarded over $682,000 in general scholarship support for academic year 2010/2011. • HCC’s Associate Degree graduates earn an average of $63,800 annually, 35% more than students with a high school diploma. • Students enjoy an attractive 13.5% average rate of return on their HCC educational investment, recovering all costs in 11 years.
October 2012 • Past students contribute $2.2 billion in added regional income annually. • For every dollar of this support, taxpayers see a return of $2.60 (in the form of higher tax receipts and avoided costs). • HCC’s annual spending adds more than $164.5 million to the local income of the region. • Non-local student spending contributes $147.3 million to the annual economy. About the Students • Educates more than 75,000 students each semester. • Nearly 5,000 HCC students received degrees, certificates and GEDs this past academic year. • HCC’s dual enrollment/high school students now top 7,500 and online students exceed 14,000. * Economic data based on 2012 research conducted by Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc.
5.
This is what you will see on the
November Ballot Ballot Language
Houston Community College Bond Election Propsition The issusance of $425,000,000 school building bonds for construction, acquisition, and equipment of school buildings in the system, school sites and the levying of the tax in the payment thereof.
For
Against
The $425 million bond program will provide each HCC college with new or renovated facilities and the technology to meet student needs, especially in high-demand areas such as health sciences, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Why Now? • The institution is at 92% capacity • Deographic projections of students show a significant ghrowth in the near future • HCC’s Coleman College for Health Sciences was originally built to accommodate 1,500 students, but now serves 3,500 • Requires 3 years to build necessary infrastructure to support needs • Increasing cost of college and need of students fo a high quality, econonmical option • Adds $1 billion to local economy • Current skilled labor deficits in Houston Experience Our World of Marketing and Communication
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October, 2012
Women at the Crossroads: How to Breakthrough Life’s Roadblock and Move Forward with Purpose By Dr. Grace Cornish Livingstone, Contributing Writer
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here comes a point in every woman’s life where she purposely pauses along her life path to deeply ponder: What do I have to show for all I’ve been through? Am I on the right path? When will I receive my breakthrough in life? Whether she is referring to financial stability, the right husband, a ministry, a certain career position, a child, a successful business, the ideal body weight or simply peace of mind, this soulsearching reflection can be a major turning point. After investing years, tears, hard work and self-sacrifice and not achieving inner contentment, she finds herself at a crossroads in life adamantly declares, “Enough is enough, it’s my turn now!” Recently, three prominent girlfriends asked for advice for their crossroads experiences. I knew how to effectively help them though the process because I had already successfully overcome my own and had also helped hundreds of women at
conferences. First, Margaret called: “On paper it looks good that I am a respected professor at a prominent University. But in reality I am overworked, underpaid and overwhelmed by people constantly using me as a sounding board, yet never once asking how I’m doing. I’m fed up and will set boundaries with my time from now on.” Her crossroads experience: Tired of being taken for granted. Next, Deborah confessed: “I feel so depressed that I have to talk this out. I have an influential job [as a media executive], good standing in my community and I live in the suburbs, yet I still struggle to make ends meet financially. I have worked so hard all my life, but I don’t have enough money to show for it. Sometimes it gets really rough. It’s time for a change.” Her crossroads experience: Tired of being undervalued and underpaid. Then, Belinda shared this: “My last
relationship took a toll on me emotionally. He cheated on me for a year before I found out. I left three months ago and it still hurts. I invested two solid years of my life with him. I’m tired of always being the second choice. I am not going to be with another man unless he marries me. At 39, I thought I would be happily married and with two children by now. Her crossroads experience: Tired of being in unhealthy relationships. Though different, they share a common bond: They are smart, contemporary Christian women who have come to a point where they no longer will accept inadequate treatment. They will require— even demand—that they be treated with appreciation and respect. These women are not alone. We all have crossroads experiences. Whether you are an actor, doctor, preacher, or teacher, at some point you will go through a deeply soul-searching period. Those on the outside may see you as the Woman who has it all together while not knowing that on the inside you are silently screaming for a personal breakthrough, deeper understanding and a change for the better.
When you reach your crossroads and are ready to take control and move on to a better life, you will start shedding many old beliefs, habits and acquaintances you once considered friends. Your spirit will declare to God, the Universe, and all Humanity that you want and deserve better. There will be a cleansing as you prepare for the blessings that are about to emerge in your life. When God closes one door, He always opens another. But sometimes we have to spend a little time in the hallway. When you’re in the Hallway of Life, between exiting one door and on the threshold of a new one, this crossroads experience may seems lonely and discouraging at times because you can’t see the new opening right away. Remember: The darkest hour is just before dawn. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock; if you will open it, I will come in.” By opening the door to a deeper relationship with Him, you’ll effectively pass through your crossroads hour; your new dawn will surely come. Here’s to celebrating the new you and to receiving every blessing that your heavenly Father has waiting for you.
Dr. Grace is an award-winning relationship specialist, ordained minister, former TV talk show psychologist and the author of 10 bestselling books. She has an anointed and dynamic relationship ministry that helps and inspires tens of thousands each year. For more information, please visit her website www.GraceLivingstone.org.
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Dr. Grace Cornish Livingstone, World Renown Relationship Expert is Coming to Houston By Sharon C. Jenkins, Contributing Writer
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V’s beloved advice expert, Dr. Grace Cornish-Livingstone (affectionately known known as Dr. Grace), is the bestselling author of ten enormously popular books, a dynamic keynote speaker, a minister of The Word, and one of America’s foremost relationship consultants. She will be the keynote at the 2012 Author’s Networking Summit’s Inspirational Writer’s Breakfast on October 27, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. (www. authorsnetworkingsummit.com) After overcoming the early childhood tragedy of witnessing the brutal murder of her mother (an international fashion model), by an obsessive ex, Dr. Grace became determined that her life’s mission would be helping women and men in unhealthy relationships to overcome all forms of abuse, build self-worth, and find equal balance of respect and healthy love, with God at the very center. Dr. Grace’s current position in life is heavily influenced by her first love, writing. She “stumbled” into TV as a result of the demand for the pearls of wisdom she shared in her bestselling books. She has been many things: relationship expert,
minister, advice columnist, and author, but her passion for writing self-help books is at the center of all that she does. Over the last seven years, she has been concentrating on ministry, primarily because churches both mega and mini, have presented her with numerous opportunities to do so. Her global influence has opened many doors for her internationally at universities and church women’s groups. Her relationship books and CD’s really work. Thousands of marriages have benefited from her no nonsense approach to building healthy and whole relationships. Her philosophy combats the lack of endurance couples experience during the hard times in a marriage. She states, “Fear comes in and breaks up a lot of marriages. When two people are in a situation and they don’t know how they are going to make it, that’s the time to join forces not separate. Marriage is a personal choice for loving, not a public requirement for living.” Once fear is introduced into a marriage, than the negativity starts, her advice has helped turn these “marriages on the rocks” to rejuvenated relationships. She testifies that her advice has “Got a lot
of people married and kept a lot of people together,” and the proof is in the national love affair that her fans have had with her continuously over the years. Dr. Grace holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Social Psychology and a Masters (M.P.S.) in Urban Ministry. As a much sought-after relationship consultant, she is known to millions of television viewers and radio listeners for her trademark brand of charismatic, compassionate, and smart counseling. Her advice, which is always down-to-earth and highly-effective, has yielded her repeat appearances on a wide-variety of programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, BET, and FOX-TV. For two years, Dr. Grace served as popular the on-air and after-care staff psychologist for the Queen Latifah show. She has also served as the relationship columnist for The New York Beacon weekly newspaper, Belle and Upscale magazines, the popular London-based Pride and the Caribbeanbased She Caribbean magazines, and is frequently featured, interviewed, and
quoted in such magazines as Ebony, Jet, Essence, and Heart & Soul. Check out her article on page __ of the d-mars.com Faith Based Journal.
For more information about Dr. Grace Cornish Livingstone go to
w w w.gracelivingstone.org
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Modified from www.selfgrowth.com
8.
October, 2012
Hearing the Voice of God By Tuala Williams-Shields, Contributing Writer
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any claim they want to hear the voice of God, but it isn’t true. Many of us, were we to truly hear the voice of God and recognize it, would be like the Israelites, who begged Moses that he be their mediator, lest they hear the voice of God and die. This is because their hearts were contrary to God’s heart, therefore they did not savor the things of God, but the things of man. God is always speaking, to saint and sinner alike. The word of God tells us that wisdom cries out everywhere we go to turn sinners from their ways and show us the path we are to take. This wisdom is the voice of God. While many may challenge this, most of us have said at some time or another, “Something told me….” Often, it is after a wrong turn or a missed calamity. Unfortunately, most will also tell you that our sensitivity to that “something” is rather hit and miss. Sometimes we are saved by it; at others, we are remorseful for having tuned it out. It’s sort of like picking up the frequency of one station while listening to another. During those times when we have tuned it out, it is because we would rather listen to the programming we have chosen and view the interruption as an annoyance that is robbing us of our pleasure or plans. Later, we are filled with regret and sorrow because we heard the warning or instruction, but did not realize it was from God. We can avoid these hit and miss situations by having our hearts tuned in to the spirit. This starts with surrender or commitment. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it,” Luke 9:23-24. We must surrender lordship over our own lives to Jesus. We must renounce our own right to lead and choose to follow. We must say, “Not my way, but your way, oh, Lord. Not my will but your will.” And we must do this every day. Then, we must tune our hearts to his frequency. We must seek God’s leading. To recognize his voice, you must learn his heart. It is important to understand that there are many voices out there. Not all of them are from God. There is our own voice, the voice of the enemy and the voice of God. The word tells us the heart is deceitful above all things. Who can know it? So, we cannot trust or follow our heart. Our own heart, unyielded to God, is an enemy to God and its passions are contrary to the desires of God. The word also tells us Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. This means he presents lies, masquerading as truth. In order for us to
God is always speaking, to saint and sinner alike. identify the lie, we must know the truth, the whole truth. Jesus said He is the way the truth and the light. Thus, to know the truth, we must know Jesus, otherwise, it will be difficult to know when to trust what we hear, or even to trust God. God promises us that whether we turn to the right or left, there will be a voice behind us saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” But we must be able to identify this voice as being from God in order to discern it. Paul, in Romans 10:17 said, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” In other words, according to the Greek translation, the ability to trust God comes from hearing or discerning God’s voice, and that ability to hear is on account of the rhema or spoken word of Christ. In order to have faith in what God is calling us to do each day, we must be able to discern God’s voice. In order to discern God’s voice, we must take heed of the preached and written word of God.
scriptures to arrive at this place, but we must be willing to walk in the light that we do have. This peace (inner quietness, peace of mind) is to be our internal arbitrator (umpire of our heart). We are called to walk in peace. When we lose that sense of peace, it’s the umpire calling a foul. We must discover the source, through prayer and get back to that place of peace. The more we stay connected to the vine (Jesus), the more we become familiar with that peace that passes all understanding. This peace, which comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit will lead us in the direction we are supposed to go. The more we find ourselves making the right turn, the more we are able to identify God’s leading.
To know God, we must learn His word and hide it in our hearts through prayer and meditation. David said, Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. He tells us elsewhere in Psalms that God’s word is a light unto his feet and a lamp unto his path. God’s word shows us the direction we are to go. Once we hide that word in our heart, the Holy Spirit will give us understanding and is able to bring it to our memory when we need it (John 14:26). But we are not only to read it and memorize it; we are to speak it continuously (Joshua 1:8). Then, when a thought enters our mind, we will recognize His leading, because it will line up with what we have already learned through the word. But if it doesn’t, we will dismiss it. But sometimes, God’s word literally comes to instruct us to turn left or right. Such instructions are not found in the scripture. So, how can we know when this is the voice of God? It is hard to identify the voice of God when we are in an emotionally involved state. When we come to a place of surrender (denying ourselves) by aligning our thoughts and actions with the scriptures, (God’s revealed word), it is then we receive the peace of God that passes all understanding. We need not know all the
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Many of us never arrive at this place because we view God’s word as a buffet and we pick and choose what we will obey. We don’t mind when the Holy Spirit leads us to our dream home or a great job. But we have a problem when He leads us out of our comfort zone to do His bidding. We all want to sit around the table and enjoy God’s bounty, but we don’t want to work in his field. So, when we hear His voice calling us to service, we either brush it off or we start putting out fleeces and waiting for two or three confirmations (Judges 6:11-. But if you bastardize the process, you’re going to get bastardized results. The more we feed our spirit, the weaker our flesh will be. But the more we feed our flesh, the weaker our spirit will be. And our well-being will line up with our choices.
October 2012
Domestic Violence and
the Faith Based Community
9.
The Final Supreme Act
BREAKING NEWS
“Jesus is not a curse word!” By Linda Germain, Contributing Writer
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By Cheryl Donovan, Contributing Writer
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hile not commonly referred to in many domestic violence presentations, spiritual abuse is very prevalent in the lives of domestic violence victims who are also believers. Often used by abusers as a way of controlling their victims, scriptures justify physical, sexual and other abusive behavior. Abusers make oppressive demands based on their interpretation of scriptures or other religious teachings (e.g., “The scriptures say that you need to obey me because you are my wife”). Abusers instill religious guilt in victims for not doing what they want them to do (e.g., “How can you call yourself religious if you don’t forgive me?”). While prayer may change things, a person’s life hangs in the balance until the manifestation of the change. Victims advised by ministry leaders to pray or become more spiritual are often left feeling hopeless-unworthy of love, respect and dignity. Faith is questioned and the victim is often moved to choosing between their faith and their safety. Hearing that their faith tradition does not condone the abuse against them, and that their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being is important, provides the victim with a foundation of faith from which to move forward. Domestic violence occurs just as often in the community of faith as it does in the secular community. Often however, in the faith based community ministry leaders can be blinded by familiarity or “perfect” families. Abusers know no titles. They can be preachers, teachers, evangelists, deacons, etc. Abuse is no respecter of person. Believers generally reach out to their faith community first in times of trouble. Therefore, well-informed and committed faith leaders are often in the best position to provide immediate support and referrals to domestic and sexual violence crisis centers and other community resources. Appropriate response is crucial. To avoid feeling shamed or re-victimized, victims of domestic violence need validation and support in addition to a coordinated response to their safety needs. The community must jointly deny abusers’ justifications and hold them accountable for their actions. This is the only hope for preventing further abuse.
You must know how to respond, for the safety of the victim, the victim’s family, and your faith community. It is important to develop an action plan before there is a crisis. The plan should answer the following questions: • How will our congregation respond to victims of domestic violence? • How will we respond to those who choose to use abuse or violence against their partners or families? • How will we respond if the victim/ abuser is a leader or staff person in our faith community? For more information visit
The Texas Council on Domestic Violence
www.tcfv.org
either is he a piece of stained glass, a myth, or just one of many philosophers in ancient history. He is real. He is alive. He is the SON OF GOD. My grandmother was never embarrassed to share Jesus Christ with anyone who would listen. I grew up knowing about Him. For some unfathomable reason, I convinced myself that since I sincerely believed He was who He said He was, that I was a Christian. Not true! James 2:19 (NKJV) You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! So, even the most evil entities in the universe acknowledge that Jesus came to earth, died for OUR sins, was crucified, buried, and then rose from the grave. We can know facts about a person, say George Washington, but that doesn’t mean we ever sat under an old apple tree and chatted with him while Martha baked his favorite pie. Knowing about someone
is not the same as knowing him. The kind of pseudo-theology that shows up in movies, even old favorite ones, tends to blatantly compromise the truth. Those re-written scripts of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit need to get derailed and plunge down a treacherous ravine and burst into flames. When we die, we do NOT become angels...ever. Many times a character tries to give comfort to a grief stricken person by spouting something about the deceased winning his wings. My point is, if mankind is so easily taught the WRONG thing about death, how are we going to learn the truth about who Jesus is? As a nurse, I have seen many patients take that last breath on earth. Every time I witnessed the one drama in which we are all destined to star, I had more questions than answers. All the goofy Hollywood misinformation, mixed with a dollop or two of what I had been taught as a child, created a thirst to find the truth. Now, from a lifetime of experience and absolute firsthand knowledge, I can say unequivocally, “Yes, Virginia, there IS a Jesus!” He is the ONLY key to the gates of Heaven. Not one person escapes the death scene. Bodies die, but the spirit will live forever... somewhere. There is no way God can let us slide into a perfect Heaven if we’re covered in the world’s sewage. The good news is, we have a get-out-of-hell-free ticket: Jesus. He took on the Sins of the world. He received our punishment. He paid the price for us. Is it too simple to just repent and accept that amazing gift? The only thing, dear friends (and you know this deep in your hearts), TIME IS RUNNING OUT. Once you meet Him in person, not just learn about him, or walk an aisle, or say some words, you will be so excited to find out He is REAL. He is ALIVE. He loves you. http://www.faithwriters.com/ http://www.faithwritersjesuspage. weebly.com/ Linda is a freelance Christian writer of tongue-in-cheek humor and betweenthe-eyes serious fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. A former nurse with an English Degree, she edits for others, reviews books, and makes observations from a place of experience and wisdom that finally comes with a little age. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters. com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
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10.
October, 2012
Out of Comfort and Into Purpose
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t is time to rise up and fulfill your destiny upon this earth. God has already qualified you for your position of destiny but you must walk it out with purpose and determination.
By Frenetta Tate, Contributing Writer
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alph Waldo Emerson said, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” It starts with a decision. For a long time, I prayed to understand my life purpose; why am I here and what am I here to do? As a result of my prayers, my purpose began to unfold. The more I stepped out of my comfort zone to speak and encourage others; the more my purpose unfolded. I realized then that my purpose was always in me; I just had not tapped into my potential. I had not risen to the point of actualization. Rising up was what I had to do to fully embrace my purpose. I had to Rise out of my comfort zone fully! Rising is springing up into existence, coming into action, moving from a low position to a high position, moving upward and onward, advancing to a higher level of thought, action or feeling but most of all rising is proving oneself to be equal to a demand, occasion or opportunity. When you choose to rise up, five things are likely to occur: 1. You give yourself permission to be a success 2. You allow your dreams to come forth unhindered 3. You direct your aspirations toward purposeful goals 4. You are alert to, acknowledge and embrace opportunities presented to you. 5. You abandon fear and use your God-given gifts and talents in ways that positively impact the world. So, how do you rise? How do you position yourself? How do you reach the point of actualization? I share ten purpose points that will help to guide and empower you as you step out of your comfort zone into purposeful living. 1. Face Your Fears. Beyond your greatest fear lies your greatest life. When you face a fear, it becomes nothing. 2. Make a definitive decision. You have to decide and what you say and do lines up with that decision. You are aligned body, mind and spirit. 3. Let go of negative talk and people. You must surround yourself with positive people that love, encourage
and empower you on our journey. You must be resolute in this action. Watch your alignments with others and make adjustments as necessary. 4. Stay focused on your goals. No matter what; you can succeed, and you can beat the odds. Have an internal determination and a No Matter What attitude. 5. Stop resisting God’s calling on your life. Settle the matter and agree about what you believe you are called to be, do and have. Embrace it. You have a finesse that no one else on this earth has. Use your God –given gifts. 6. Avoid the ‘It’s too late’ trap. It is never too late to go after your dreams and pursue success. Tell your mind to stop checking time. 7. Everyone will not go with you. Everyone will not understand, embrace, celebrate or accept your goals, dream, or calling. They don’t have to because it is your dream, not theirs. 8. Build yourself up. In every area of life; spiritually, mentally, financially, socially and physically. We must take care of your mind, soul and body so that we can have the physical and mental energy to do all that is purposed for you to accomplish in your life. 9. Develop an accountability and dream team This team is made up of people who will encourage, empower and support your dreams and aspirations. These people hold you accountable to what you say you will do, encourage you to keep going and help you work through any challenges you might face. 10. Don’t settle for or be mediocre You were created for much more. You didn’t come to this earth to simply exist. You came with a P.I.E.! You came with a purpose. You came to make an impact, You came to have an effect. You’ve got work to do, people to bless and lives to change. It is time to rise up and fulfill your destiny upon this earth. God has already qualified you for your position of destiny but you must walk it out with purpose and determination.
Frenetta Tate is a Motivation Speaker and President of Global Empowerment Enterprises. frenettatate@gmail.com
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October 2012
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11.
12.
October, 2012
Running after God – The Ultimate Pursuit By Dr. Josie Carr, Contributing Writer
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n our culture, people are pursuing many things. It has become popular to “pursue your passion”, “pursue success’, “pursue wealth”, “pursue what makes you happy”…. While all of this is wonderful, I have discovered none of these pursuits promote ultimate fulfillment nor do they have a positive eternal impact. The only pursuit in this life that ends in ultimate fulfillment is the pursuit of God and His plan for our lives. The unique thing about pursuing God is what happens when you find Him. An amazing discovery is, it is He who has been pursuing you. You will discover that He loves you beyond description and articulation. It’s difficult to pursue Him and just walk away. His love and mercy toward you will keep you running after Him more and more. He is incredible! As you pursue God you will fall deeply in love with Him as He is with you. This, my friend, is a love affair that NEVER ends. When I was first impressed to do Bible studies that would help women to be all they can be and do all they can do according to God’s will for their lives, I knew God wanted me to study pursuing Him simply because that was His desire for me…to continue running after Him. Recently, I was in a meeting where Julie Meyer ministered the Word of God. Upon completion of her message she called for people to come to the altar for a time of worship and prayer. She began to lay hands on the people and when she got to me she laid hands, prayed, and moved on. Then she backed up, came to me again and said “God is calling you Josie”. He’s saying come up higher, come up higher…” She began to prophecy about my family and some things God was going to do there. Later she said God was going to use me and give me a name in the city in which I live. Since that day, my pursuit for God (the things of God), has gotten stronger. I want to please Him with and in all I do. This may sound a little bizarre to you, but I am falling in love with Him, more and more. He is so awesome! In my pursuit after Him, I have discovered that prayer – praise and worship are key components to intimacy with God. When we spend time in praise and worship it focuses our minds on Him. It gives Him a place to dwell and it opens heavenly portals over us that release His presence. We begin to hear clearer, see farther, and get answers to our daily dilemmas. The Word is another major component of running after God. The scriptures testify of Him. They inform us of who He is, His will and His way, and of His unconditional love for us. The Word of God reveals His
desire for us to make Him the focus of our pursuit. Running after God simply means getting to know Him, having intimacy with Him, putting no one and nothing above Him. It means total surrender to Him. It means getting up when you have fallen down. It means not quitting when you have made a mistake. It means repenting when you have violated His Word. It means pleasing Him is the objective and purpose for everything you do. There are several examples from the Word that highlight others who ran after Him. As you read these accounts you will realize what they did, you can do as well. You may think you are not holy enough or good enough for such a pursuit, but not so my friend. Your past is just that, it is your past. You must forget the past and focus on the present and future that God has for you. Philippians 3:13-14 Paul writes, “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. Jeremiah 29:11 assures you that God has thoughts of peace towards you to give you hope and a future. Hallelujah! In the scriptures we see that God referred to David as a man after His own heart, Acts 13:22 and I Samuel 13:14. Amidst all of David’s mistakes and mishaps, in I Kings 14:8 God said David kept His commandments and followed Him with all his heart to do that only which was right in His eyes. I Samuel 16:7 says the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. I looked up the word followed in the dictionary and found to my pleasant amazement, it means to: pursue, be guided by, accept the guidance of; imitate; obey; stick to and observe closely. That says it all….it is as plain as day! You are to pursue God, be guided by Him, imitate Him, obey Him and observe Him closely with ALL of your heart! This is a perfect example of a person in hot pursuit of their lover. After all, isn’t Jesus the lover of your soul? Abraham is another example of one who ran after God. He was a God chaser indeed. His chief joy was to obey God. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness (Romans 4:3). Whatever God instructed Him to do, he did without question. When God told him to leave his family and He would show him where to go (Genesis 12:1-9), Abraham did not question God, He obeyed Him. When God told him to sacrifice his only son, (Genesis 22:1-12), He did not hesitate,
He obeyed. Of course you know we have the greatest example of all, Jesus. He had a zeal for God. He was passionate about seeking the Father and obeying His every command. Even as a young boy, He was found saying, “…I must be about my Father’s business”, Luke 2:49. He would at oftentimes slip away from the multitudes to spend quality time with the Father (Matthew 14:22, 23). He and the Father had an intimate relationship. Jesus did nothing outside of the Father’s will. Even when obeying God was difficult in the flesh, Jesus said, “not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22: 3946). Wow! My friend, God has called you and me to this very same passionate pursuit, to know and obey Him, and to make Him bigger than anything else in our lives. A thirst for
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more of Him should drive us to a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him. The mantra of our lives should echo the words of King David in Psalms 63:8 “… my soul follows hard after thee…” I urge you to not just go through the motions, but to become a part of the quest to pursue God…to run after Him with all your heart. Focus on Him. Hear what He is saying to you in this season. I believe He will take you places you have never been in Him and He will show you things you have never seen. Be sure your shoe laces are tied because you are in for an exhilarating experience! Running after God is the Ultimate Pursuit! I love you, Dr. Josie Carr
October 2012
The Church of
Hip-Hop A modern day revolution for our children. The Church of Hip-Hop is a relevant response to the youth in our neighborhoods today. It is a modern day answer for ground-breaking youth ministry. The community would like to celebrate Minister Johnny Jeremiah for his innovative and creative initiative to reach the youth in our neighborhoods.
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