CHARACTER MAGAZINE: NOV-DEC 2012 by Character Magazine

“A Winning Season”

NOV-DEC 2012

Magazine

Accepted

By Shawn Boreta

the

of Forgiveness

by Marilyn F. Locklear-Winslow

What’s wrong with

Being

Get

Character

online www.charactermag.com

Grooming for in the stockades of struggle.

A publication of Hill Publishing

Available online: www.charactermag.com

Email: editor@charactermag.com

Character

Mail to: Post Office Box 5205 Saint Marys, GA 31558

magazine

“What WINNERS Live By”

Contents

NOV – DEC 2012 A WINNING SEASON!

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EVERY ISSUE 5| “A Winning Season” - Inner Sessions from the Editor-in-Chief 7 | Education: Success in the Making – College Student Highlight 12 | Family Bible Wordsearch

The Process: “Maintaining Through Difficult Times” Author, Shakeema Robinson

13 21 What’s Wrong With Being Single? by Lindsay Williams

F E AT U R E | Stellar Award Winner

VASHAWN MITCHELL

Shawn Boreta

Contributing Writers 23 | Accepted by Shawn Boreta 32 | Lil Johnny by Dorcas Williams

BACK COVER: Cynthia Green, Mary Kay® Beauty Consultant Photo by Charles Holloway, Sr.

It's difficult to experience how great it is... living in how great it was. @DonnaSneed on Twitter · via Twitter

Editor’s PIX Meet Tyora Moody Author. Entrepreneur.

One of my recent “finds” is a great short story by this Author, Tyora Moody, titled, “Shattered Dreams.” You will enjoy this great read! ~ Donna Sneed, Editor-in-chief, Character Magazine

Inner Sessions by our Editor-in-chief

Here we are… at the beginning of the end of another year. As I lay these words, I have no choice but to think about what this year has brought to my life and the lives of those around me. It is amazing how we are afforded many opportunities throughout the year to do a great work or perhaps to offer assistance to those who may otherwise feel helpless and hopeless. As you prepare to enter into a wonderful new Holiday season, it is my prayer that you take a moment of your busy schedule to consider the steps you have taken this year. If you find you have not accomplished at least one act of kindness or service towards others, maybe you will intentionally look for someone to bless with a long-awaited call or perhaps a hug.

“Pray without Ceasing”

‘Tis the season to be jolly and in spite of the recent news you may have received, be it good or bad, know that you can STAND through all of it --- with God. There is one thing you can be sure of … with God all things are possible if you believe. We are embarking upon a new year, new challenges and new victories. Remember, each day you are given is a day to rejoice and give God thanks. Do all you can to continue to have a “winning season” regardless of what comes your way. Be encouraged to “pray without ceasing” because the enemy – the devil – is walking about seeking whom he may devour. Don’t give in and do not faint. Trust that you will reap the benefit of prayer – through faith – if you make the decision to keep it moving! It’s time to get back to the Altar with sincere prayer; trusting and believing God for miracles, signs and wonders that follow them that believe.

God wants you to have the victorious, abundant life – right here, right now. Stretch beyond the limitations that may have held you bound.

Begin to take at least an hour of your time --- for prayer. Your life will never be the same if you give it a try! …men ought to always pray, and not to faint…Luke 18:1

Move forward in the divine purpose for which you are called. If you don’t know what it is, ask (God). He loves you beyond you and desires to reach through you ---- for His Glory! Until next time, do all that you do – with grace and character. © 2012 Character Magazine

EDUCATION

Create a GAcollege411 Account

Visit:

Gacollege411.org To begin your College Planning Timeline

SUCCESS in the makingâ&#x20AC;Ś. While funding cuts are threatening the progression of businesses, organizations and yes, even students, these collegebound students have a determination to

go forward. They have studied hard and with great expectation they made educated decisions to further their education and make something of themselves.

We honor these students for stepping out of their comfort zones; forging through all fear and doubt.

CONGRATULATIONS to these Future Leaders of America. They have made decisions to pursue higher education and we want to make sure they know how proud we are of them!

Spotlight on

College Students

Dionna Livingston, says “…study abroad. I highly recommend it to everyone. ” Senior at University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA Major: International Business Minor: Spanish

[Read more from Miss Livingston on page 18.]

Devlyn Cousin (left) Iowa State

Jarvis J. Small Albany State University Harold D. Small, Jr. North Greenville University Marissa Anderson Junior at Georgia South Western State University - Americus, GA Major: Accounting; aspires to be a CPA

Alexus Carthan College: Georgia Southern University Major: Aerospace Engineering

Buddy Patterson (right) Dean College Franklin, Massachusetts

Janard Hill Oral Roberts University Tulsa, Oklahoma charactermag.com

"Through the lens, there's a life of color!"

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All Natural Sisters styling their “naturals” here and featured in the NEW 2013 Elegant365 “MyNatural” Calendar Purchase Yours Now! www.hill-publishing.com

Character Magazine | www.charactermag.com

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Who Gets Your Vote? It’s that time of year again…who will get your vote? We have watched the debates for several weeks and the time has finally come to “put your money where your mouth is.” On which side of the coin will the presidency fall?

OBAMA vs ROMNEY One thing for sure, your vote will certainly count for something.

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Mental Illness: The Reality of It – in Today’s Church

For far too long, "The Church" has turned the other cheek to what has come to be known as mental illness. Back in the day as we say in the African American community - the "saints" would recognize persons who seemed a little "touched" or different and begin with sincerity the long, tiresome process of casting the devil out. Still today, there are those who have the testimony of having been set free from demons and all demonic activity in their lives after such an encounter with the (real) saints. At the same time, we must face the facts that all who seem possessed may not be but they are proof that mental illness is a real struggle - even within the church. Many families have dealt with the secret shame of being related to someone in their families who doesn't quite fit in to their desired family structure. They have quietly "hushed" them up by leaving them at home; hoping no one ever finds out they are related. Often these same family units experience the stresses of trying to keep their secret while attempting to maintain a level of sanity and dignity by connecting with other (so-called normal) people at church, work or the marketplace. Mental illness is real and until "The Church" gets bold enough to get educated, we will find ourselves faced with more and more cases without real solutions. All hope is NOT lost. It is our responsibility to stand up to the temptation of secrecy (darkness and fear) and expose the truth about what is going on in our families. That is, connect with educators, counselors and organizations such as the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), who can provide clarity, understanding and support. There is help and hope for you and your family. According to the Mayo Clinic, (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-illness/DS01104/DSECTION=symptoms), mental illness symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts and behaviors. Sometimes symptoms of a mental health disorder appear as physical problems.

Abnormal thinking, behavior and emotions These types of mental illness signs and symptoms can include: Feeling sad or down; Confused thinking; Excessive fears or worries; Withdrawal from friends and activities; Problems sleeping; Detachment from reality (delusions) or hallucinations; Inability to cope with daily problems or stress; Alcohol or drug abuse; Significant changes in eating habits; Sex drive changes; Excessive anger, hostility or violence Suicidal thinking;

Physical symptoms Physical signs and symptoms of mental illness may include: Fatigue; Back pain; Chest pain; Digestive problems; Dry mouth; Headache; Sweating; Weight gain or loss; Rapid heart rate; Dizziness If you have signs of mental illness, see your doctor, mental health provider or other professional for direction and care. If you're feeling suicidal but you aren't immediately thinking of hurting yourself: Reach out to a close friend or loved one - even though you may be reluctant to talk about your feelings. Seek help from your doctor, a mental health provider or other health care professional. Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community. Call a suicide hot line. If you are a pastor reading this, do not allow negative thoughts or conversations to make you feel guilty. You do a great work by keeping your congregants honest about what's really going on and an even greater work by referring them to professionals who can serve them at greater levels.

Other resources and links: mayoclinic.com OCT – NOV – DEC 2012

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Family Time means Family Fun.

FAMILY CHRISTIAN CROSSWORD PUZZLES

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Shakeema Robinson:

Wife, Author, Evangelist, Leader

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ISBN-13: 978-1432791339

Get Your Copy ! www.amazon.com/The-Process-Maintaining-Through-Difficult/dp/1432791338

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS We encourage you to remain vigilant . Take time out to offer love and support to all who may have been affected by this disease. Every day is a day of awareness.

Give Yourself a Chance. Get Your Checkup. Do it for you and your family. ÂŠ 2012 Character Magazine

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Sharing Your Table

As you open your home – open your heart.

Give THANKS with a Grateful Heart.

Thanksgiving helps bring our will and personal agendas into submission to God. Our gratitude keeps us continually aware that the Lord is close by and reminds us of the need to rely upon him.

NOV- DEC 2012 “A Winning Season”

One of the best parts of the meal is the

THANKSGIVING DRESSING WHAT YOU’LL NEED: For the Broth and Pieces to add to Dressing: Pieces of the chicken and/or turkey giblets Chicken bouillon cubes or granulated chicken bouillon Pepper to taste Cook these ingredients – adding more water or actual chicken broth if necessary **You may use a little salt but keep in mind, the chicken bouillon/cubes are salty** For the Sauté’ Onions, Celery, 1-2 stick(s) of butter

For the bread part: DRY INGREDIENTS Dried bread (toast) - 3 pieces or more depending upon how much dressing you want to make 1 sleeve of Saltine Crackers Cornbread Binder – to “hold it together” 3 eggs – scrambled together Favorite Seasonings: Sage, Thyme, Poultry Seasoning, Salt, Pepper MIX IT UP: Crumble the saltine crackers, dried bread (toast) and cornbread together in a bowl. Add Sautéed Celery and Onions Add Chicken pieces (as much as you like) Add Chicken Broth from the cooked giblets/chicken *be sure to stir* Add sage, thyme, and poultry seasoning, add pepper to taste Add eggs (this binds it all together!) Pour mixture in your favorite holiday dish and place in the oven for approximately 45 minutes

for Christmas

ÂŠ 2012 Character Magazine | 16

ÂŠ 2012 Character Magazine | 17

Jamin, Isai, Saiah (order of picture)

Isai April Mays and Saiah Brittni Mays attend Columbia University in the city of New York. Jamin Joel Mays attends Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Children of Pamela Gantt

We asked a College Senior, Dionna Livingston (pictured next page), of the University of West Georgia (UWG), about her experiences…. within seconds, she was able to articulate exactly how she felt and shared her heart with us…. CM: Dionna, now that you are a Senior at UWG, please share your most challenging AND greatest experience in in college.

Most challenging experience… …being a bit introverted and being so far from home. I had the hardest time putting myself out there; trying to get to know people, get involved on campus and learning to deal with other people’s behaviors and attitudes – especially with roommates.

My greatest experience…Studying Abroad. The college experience in itself is amazing but having the chance to see a part of the world that you have never seen before is even more so. It is really an eye-opener which forces you to assess yourself, your values, your morals, ideals, goals and desires. It basically makes you more (self) aware.

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COLLEGE LIFE: Challenges and Greatness

“I had the opportunity to visit Barcelona, Spain to visit a few companies (multinational corporations). It was intended to give us a better idea of how other countries conduct their businesses and give examples of how another country’s company culture is different from American companies’ culture.”

This December (2012), I am going to Mumbai, India… to present on the topic of “India: the next Superpower” for an International Economics Convention.

ÂŠ 2012 Character Magazine

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What’s wrong with Being We are living in a society where being single is the new “plague”, people tend to think there is something wrong with you if you are single, they tend to label you and want to put you in a category separate from the rest of the world. These stereotypes can cause major problems in the lives of single men and women of God. It causes you to wonder if living for God is the right thing to do is “waiting on God” played out, am I really going to find somebody at my age. Have you had those feelings and questions running through your mind? I know I have, but I take comfort in knowing that having standards and living my life according to the standards of God is the thing to do, it is not played out, and it is going to be worth it. I know what it is like to live the single life, because I have been single for the vast majority of my life. Being brought up in a very strict Christian home I was not allowed to do a lot of things, and dating was one of them until a certain age and I think a lot of the boys stayed away from me because they thought my father was one of those father’s with the shot gun. It was difficult at first, but when I started seeing some of my classmates become parents at very young ages, and hearing them talk about their struggles, I decided that I was on the right path. It does not mean that I do not have desires; it surely does not mean that I do not want companionship, but it means that I am willing to wait on the Lord and nothing or nobody can convince me that he won’t come through and give me just what I need at the right timing. So what do I do in the meantime? One of the main things for me is establishing myself as a person; having my own job, my own career, my own money, so that way I am not waiting for a man to come and take care of me, but I have something to bring to the table. A lot of women get themselves in trouble because they have nothing of their own and when the man decides to leave, they are left with nothing. The second thing is, find yourself busy for the Lord. There is a saying and I find it to be very true, “A woman’s heart should be so lost in God until a man has to be in God to find her.” And that is the way it should be; find your purpose in life and pursue it like there is no tomorrow, establish a personal relationship with God, get a prayer life, and the spirit of discernment so that you can know and see through the “Mr./Mrs. Wrong” and that you can know when “Mr./Mrs. Right” is there. Some of the things you want to watch for is who you confide in and take advice from. It should not be from the desperate housewives, the old and bitter, those that are already married, and especially those that have always had somebody in their life and do not know what it is like to live a true life of singleness. And for the record, there is an easier way to deal with your desires than the all famous line “Just take a cold shower” coming from people who have probably never have tried it before themselves. Why take a cold shower and catch pneumonia when all you have to do is find yourself in the presence of God, ask him to get in this with you, the desires are there for a reason but know that God has a foolproof way to get you through and that is with him right there by your side. With that kind of advice and other things, I have heard so many people discourage women from desiring companionship; I have seen people sow bad seeds about men and women that caused people to totally loose that desire. Ladies: NOT ALL MEN ARE DOGS AND CHEATERS, Men: NOT ALL WOMEN ARE GOLD DIGGERS. God still has a remnant to true men and women that desires to live right and desires to be in a Godly relationship and you cannot allow the hurt of your past and the ignorant advice from people cause you to loose heart and give up on the love God promised you can have. My advice to you today and a word that God placed in my spirit is while you are single, seek for wholeness. Truth be told you cannot embrace the relationship God desires for you to have when you are broken, your heart is shattered, you have so many soul ties that need to be severed; ask the Lord to make you whole from past hurts and failed relationships, ask him to fill the emptiness with his love and grace, ask him to build your self-esteem and self-worth back up to mint condition, as him to put you back together so that your mind, heart, and spirit can be free and ready to embrace your good thing. Another thing is do not settle, ladies know your worth, know that you are a queen not a doormat or a punching bag; men ask the Lord to guide your steps and lead you to your queen, know that you are a mighty man of valor and you deserve to have a woman that you can trust and that will be your perfect fitted rib. So to answer the question, What’s Wrong with Being Single? Absolutely NOTHING! There is nothing wrong with waiting on the Lord, there is nothing wrong with taking time to work on self and getting yourself in position to embrace the man/woman God has for you; there is nothing wrong with having standards especially living by the standards of God’s word. Because when you are looking at other people relationships you do not know what is really going on, so many people front because they got somebody on their arm that they are so happy but sometimes that is not the case especially if God did not ordain it. Do not be discouraged while you are single, waiting and ready, your/our turn is coming sooner than we think! -Lindsay © 2012 Character Magazine

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NOV – DEC 2012

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I barely remember the details, but peripherally there were smells of fabric, that starchy, sizing smell, saw dust tickling my nose, making my eyes water, the steady hum of his sewing machine and the soft voice of my dad saying "Baby Doll, grab that end, will you?" My Poppy, actually everyone's Poppy, my dad was the gentlest in voice and spirit. Only once can I remember him raising his voice in anger, and the details are nonexistent. He was good at the no talk discipline. I, on the other hand, always talked; talked back on occasion. I vividly remember the snatch of my three-foot ponytail, as I tried to run from his reach - you know those pre-teen nudges to a parent? It amazes me how I have spent a lifetime trying to remember the little things, because it's the little things that are such a big thing; the words, the expressions, the images - to envision a life passed to a place I know to be heaven, where we will be together - my dad is always with me. My fondest memories are of spending time with my dad in his workshop, our garage; where he resurrected the dead - chairs, sofas and the discarded furniture of Southern California. Whatever could be picked up on garbage day or from an empty lot; other's trash, my dad's glorious treasures and that is how I see all of his life. I was placed in his care, broken, tattered, tiny and alone; dependent in every way. An infant, whose birth parents could not care for, but loved enough to make sure she was cared for: no words, no past, no cry; left out of love to be resurrected, reborn and accepted - to be the recipient of an ordinary life. They had finished their careers as foster parents, until the baby Foster arrived. When I arrived in the arms of Mrs. Barnette, I was to be temporarily placed with this family. The bundle delivered - Shawn Delia Foster - tiny, in a brace for the congenital hip dysplasia and still in an infant seat at over a year old. As a baby with great needs, there are many things to consider in the care and feeding of. Not even a concern for the woman, Justine Therrien, whose arms I ended up in. She grabbed that challenge and fell in love with her new daughter. Their home was home to many other children who had come through those same doors and eventually went back out. Some stayed for days, others for years and a few for decades.

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Accepted | Shawn Boreta

We really have no choice of our beginnings, but we do have a daily choice to be His, and like Him. I am grateful for all the gifts my Father in heaven gives me, but I am mostly grateful for the new beginning I had through His death on the cross.. through the cross we have the choice to be “accepted”, to be “born again”. What a gift… an ordinary life, through an extraordinary God.

May we come together and remind our brothers and sisters that hope is YOU Jesus, Your work and our eternal destination. In Jesus' name, we come to You and request Your presence and wisdom in our lives. Amen. “You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called today." If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn.

And, the story begins, as He continues.

Where is your hope? Is it in your good day, or great results? Father I pray for those who are leaning on the world for being content. I pray for hearts to change and see where true hope and joy comes from. I pray for the unwavering strength of the Holy Spirit to increase the awareness in our lives so we can truly see You Father in all things. Let us be continually reminded that it's through Your eyes we need to see and Your promises we stand firmly on.

We were sure about Christ when we first became His people. So let's hold tightly to our faith until the end. The Scriptures say, "If you hear His voice today, don't be stubborn like those who rebelled." “Who were those people that heard God's voice and rebelled? Weren't they the same ones that came out of Egypt with Moses?” ~Hebrews 3:13-16 (Contemporary English Version) All I desire LORD is for others to see You, and to realize that they can see You in themselves too. For so long I saw life through eyes of despair and helplessness and I never want to look back through those eyes. Every day is a testimony of the miracle of His changes and His mercies. Continued on page 28

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I was privileged to speak with six-time Stellar Award Winner, Grammy Award® nominated, Gospel Artist………

CM: How are you? VM: I’m glad to be here. I’m doing well. CM: Tell us a little about you, where are you from? Where did you grow up? VM: I am VaShawn Mitchell everybody. I’m from Chicago, Illinois. I grew up in a suburb of Chicago called Harvey, IL where I got my first start at gospel; attending the St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church. I was afforded the opportunity to bed the assistant to the Minister of Music, Lonnie Hunter (at that time). I learned how to teach “parts” from him.

VM: Correct. I have a passion for praise and worship. I believe God created us to worship and he wants us to get back to the place of the Garden (of Eden). The place He made us in - the place of His presence. So I believe my first assignment is praise and worship. When I was younger, I used to study (watch) Israel Houghton and Byron Cage – wanting to do what they do. I allowed God to use me and grow me in that area because I have a “sound” and a direct relationship that will birth praise and worship around the world. CM: That is exactly what I wanted to bring up because you don’t just make a noise but you have a “sound” that breaks barriers; a sound that breaks through mindsets. We recognize the Anointing upon you and you have a sound that is there to break through.

I wanted to know more about the industry and be a part of (this) God that I serve. I grew up, went to college and I was able to meet Bishop Larry Trotter and “Fruit of the Spirit.” From there, I joined his music department and that’s when it all started for me.

VM: Wow.

I was able to direct, teach songs and record with church choirs. I never knew those songs would leave the church but choirs around the world are singing the songs that I wrote. It was (just) the beginning of my musical career. People like Smokie Norful, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Bishop Paul S. Morton started calling me for songs. I thought, whoa…ME? You want ME to write a song for you? It started a long time ago. I’m 35 now so I’ve been doing this since I was about 18 and I believe God still has more for me.

VM: You know what…. It’s always going to be forever evolving – what God is doing in me and through me. One thing I did pray about and I asked Him a long time ago to allow me to write songs and produce music that can live longer than I can. That will have long life and birth those sounds, inspire, encourage and lift people everywhere. You know, it’s amazing --- some people are just becoming familiar with me and it’s great but even when I used to write songs for others… like, “Cry Your Last Tear” or “Only a Test” or “My Worship is For Real” – those songs will be around long when I’m gone. Because that is what it’s all about; birthing that music that will inspire, encourage and uplift the listener whenever they pull it out.

CM: Wow. I never would have guessed that you were 35. I thought you were a lot younger. [laughter] You have been doing this for quite some time. VM: Yeah. A lot of people think that NOBODY GREATER and Triumphant was my first CD. It was probably my sixth CD. I did about three independent CD’s. Triumphant was my first on EMI Gospel. CM: NOBODY GREATER. I have to admit, it was a little hard for me – as a worship leader – to get away from that one and sing something else. I read that someone had tagged it as “the Worship Anthem.” VM: Wow. That’s good. CM: You are a worship leader at heart. Am I right?

CM: Have you always known this? Did it take you a while to really grasp what it was that God wanted to do in and through you?

CM: Did you have a “light bulb” moment when you realized you had a “gift” that can reach beyond your town? VM: you know what…. I did. But it was funny because I wasn’t the one on stage. I went to a Gospel Music Workshop of America. I sat in the audience and I watched like three choirs back-to-back sing one of my songs. I was like… wow… you know… ‘God, you gave me something that can go beyond the four walls of church in Chicago and to the world. That’s when I went home from that workshop and began to perfect my personal craft. It is my assignment to birth songs that are to be sung; to birth those timeless songs. You may not know the song but when you hear it, you know it is a song from God. Continued on page 33 >>>>>>>>>

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Forgiveness The

POWER of

By Marilyn Winslow

Forgiveness

is one of the first lessons we learn as Christians. We learn that Jesus died for our sins, and that if we confess our sins and repent to God, He will forgive us. When Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, a key point in the prayer was that we ask God to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us” (Matthew 6:12). As a matter of fact, Jesus delved deeper to say that if we do not forgive those who have trespassed against us, we cannot expect our Heavenly Father to forgive us (Matthew 6:14-15). It would seem that because Jesus spelled forgiveness out so plainly, it would be easy to do. We make it hard, but the fact of the matter is that it is very easy, although our personal issues can make it seem hard or even impossible. We can be so wounded from ministry hurts, personal issues, employment issues and other hurtful things that it seems that forgiveness is out of the question. Some people even feel that forgiveness is a copout that shows weakness and opens a person up to be hurt all over again. However, when Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother if he sins against him, Jesus answered and said, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:22) People have left this earth, never to return in the natural body, and people here on earth are still holding things against them. Unforgiveness is a terrible thing that keeps us in bondage. We must get rid of everything that would hinder us from reaching our fullest potential in God. If we are not practicing forgiveness, we are holding on to the negative and reliving it all over again. A lot of times we do not want to let things go because we are so used to holding on to them. It is my prayer that after reading my testimony, you will allow forgiveness to become something you put into practice daily. I was brought up in the church and I can remember going to church with my mother and grandmother as a child. When I got older, I strayed away as a lot of young adults do when they get that first taste of being “grown.” I can remember how I felt living at home with my mother. Being a typical teenager, I felt like I was being mistreated. At the age of seventeen, I left home. I was dealing with a lot of issues. I remember writing a letter and giving it to my mom, telling her my feelings and letting her know that I felt she was mistreating me. The letter was harsh – not because of a particular thing my mom had done, but because I was being a rebellious teenager. I had begun to harbor unforgiveness toward her. I meant every word of the letter and I meant to give it to my mother. I do not recall what her response to the letter was, and I honestly did not care at the time. Unforgiveness had set in and the root of bitterness had begun to form. I moved out of the house because I wanted to do what I wanted to do and I knew I couldn’t do it there. Read more

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NOV – DEC 2012

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Fasting forward, a few years later, my mother was looking for some paperwork, and in her stack of important paperwork (life insurance, deeds, etc.) I was looking for a piece of paper and ran across the letter I had written to her. I reread it and was amazed that she had kept it all those years. I had to say this at this point because I want you to understand how our words can be taken to heart. We must be careful what we say. Going back to the timeline, several milestones occurred in my life after I wrote the letter to my mother. Over the next several years, I had a child, I had an unsuccessful marriage, and I divorced and remarried, and became a First Lady. During this time I was still walking in unforgiveness. So often we sweep things under the rug and go on about our business – but the very thing we sweep under the rug is the thing God brings right back in front of our faces. I can remember sitting in Bible Study and being taught from the book Pigs in the Parlor by Frank and Ida Mae Hammond. As I began to read the book, I began to see that the spirit of unforgiveness was toxic, and the letter began to pop in my mind. Around this time, I was diagnosed with cancer. This was something that on one hand was a generational curse but on the other hand was something that God was going to use to teach me how to forgive. This was more about what God wanted to do for me than it was about what Satan planned for me and for my bloodline. I remember going to my first treatment at Duke Hospital. I remember walking into the cancer center alone, smelling the scent of flesh. People who worked there thought I was with someone not knowing that I was there to be treated. I kept saying, “I’m healthy. I don’t belong here.” After taking the first treatment, I remember asking God what I needed to do to be totally healed. God brought the letter right back to my mind. It is amazing that even as a First Lady I still harbored unforgiveness in my heart. I didn’t think it affected me. When I began to grow in God and meditate on His Word, I realized that unforgiveness could not reside in my heart. Conviction set in. On my mother’s birthday, I remember buying a huge card and writing on each side of the card. I had so much to say that the overflow turned into another letter. I asked my mother to forgive me for writing the first letter. I told her that I knew the letter meant something to her because she kept it all of these years. At this point, it was about eight years from the time I wrote the original letter. My mom and I were still in contact, and it would have been very easy for me to sit down and talk to her. However, because I wrote the first letter and I knew I had damaged and hurt my mother by writing the first letter, writing the second letter was how I needed to rectify the situation. I went on to say in the letter that I understood that what I thought she was doing, she really wasn’t doing – she just wanted me to have a better life. I mailed the letter to my mother. A few weeks later I went back for my next cancer treatment. When the doctor came in the room, he informed me that there was nothing to treat. I was cancer-free! As I walked out of that building and to my vehicle, it took me a little while to get myself together. Once again, God brought that letter and the issue of unforgiveness to my mind. In that moment, I realized the power of forgiveness and I embraced it. Now I practice forgiveness in my everyday life. We often wonder why certain blessings, miracles, promises, etc. are held up, and so many times unforgiveness is the reason. I encourage each of you today to FORGIVE. Don’t allow the enemy to trick you into thinking that it is hard to forgive. Don’t allow him to make you think you are weak because you choose to forgive someone. Forgiveness is not for that person – forgiveness is for you. If that person confesses to God, God will forgive them even if you don’t. They will go on with their life and you will still be bound because you chose not to forgive. Don’t let the enemy win so easily. Forgive. Embrace the power of forgiveness and watch God change your life! Marilyn Winslow serves as the Chief Apostle at EMI New Covenant Global Ministries © 2012 Character Magazine

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…Continued from page 23

ACCEPTED by Shawn Boreta

MANAGING YOUR PERSISTENT FEARS, ANXIETIES, AND STRESSES By: Stanley Popovich

“You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called today." If you don't, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. We were sure about Christ when we first became His people. So let's hold tightly to our faith until the end. The Scriptures say, "If you hear His voice today, don't be stubborn like those who rebelled." “Who were those people that heard God's voice and rebelled? Weren't they the same ones that came out of Egypt with Moses?” ~Hebrews 3:13-16 (Contemporary English Version) All I desire LORD is for others to see You, and to realize that they can see You in themselves too. For so long I saw life through eyes of despair and helplessness and I never want to look back through those eyes. Every day is a testimony of the miracle of His changes and His mercies. “The LORD rules forever and always! The nations will vanish from his land. “LORD, you listen to the desires of those who suffer. You steady their hearts; you listen closely to them, to establish justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that people of the land will never again be terrified.” ~Psalm 10:16-18 (Common English Bible) My friends we must be diligently seeking to dwell in hope and experience joy in all things. Resist greatly the feelings of doubt, despair, fear, fret and worry... and know that doing that on your own is a lot of effort, and not a lot of gain, but when you allow God to be your strength, it is already accomplished. Choose to resist, and then ask God to cover the decision. He is faithful. My hope is that when I am down, and someone else notices they will remind me of all the things I am to hope in... the answer is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus and yet more Jesus. He is everything for me, all that I am and will be. He is my God, my Father, my God, my Jesus.

Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a difficult time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success. Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the problem. A person could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things. A person should visualize a red stop sign in their mind when they encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, a person should think of a red stop sign that serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. A person can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought. Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your small notebook and read those statements. This will help to manage your negative thinking. Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference. BIOGRAPHY:

Stan Popovich

is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

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ÂŠ 2012 Character Magazine

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“I am elated and humbly honored to receive two Stellar Award nominations,” says Kierra. “I am thankful to all who thought of me and voted for me. To God be the glory. I will continue building the www.karewrecords.com Kingdom through my music and my life.” (Detroit, MI – October 29, 2012) – Multiple Stellar Award-winning recording artist, songwriter and producer, Kierra Sheard receives two 2013 Stellar Gospel Music Award nominations for her current CD project, Free. She is nominated in the Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year and the Contemporary Vocalist of the Year categories. Free debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and was produced by her brother, J. Drew Sheard II (JDS).

Kierra is currently in the studio recording material for a new CD, as she continues to tour at venues across the country, including engagements with her mother, Karen Clark Sheard, and her aunts, the legendary Clark Sisters. Contact: Gwendolyn Quinn | GwendolynQuinn@aol.com |

917.769.7808/718.622-4100

Pep Talk: Your Purpose is Not an Option - It's a Calling Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverb 13:12 This is one of my favorite Proverbs. The truth of these few words is what inspires me as a coach: I’d much rather help people create a tree of life stemming from their passion than watch them become heart sick. I see it all the time, especially in women who believe that they have to put their dreams, purpose, and passion on hold. Marriage, children, finances, family members, a real career all can become excuses to detour into a carefully constructed crevice of mediocrity.

“But I need to be responsible,” you say. What about your responsibility to: • the vision you were given? • use the gifts and talents you were given? • the people you were meant to serve with those gifts and talents? • live authentically and with integrity in your purpose? Pay the bills, take care of your family, be an excellent wife and mother, AND find a way to pursue your purpose-based passion. Why? Because hope deferred will make your heart sick. Not pursuing your passion can lead to depression, despondency, burn-out, bitterness, frustration, anger, and jealousy. It can also have an impact on you physically and spiritually as you look for substitute fulfillment in things that will never give you the life you desire.

On the other hand…longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Pursuing your purpose-based passion feeds not only your soul, but the lives and souls of all the people you were meant to touch. Whether it’s through your speaking business, the web-app you dream of designing, the clothing line you want to bring forth, or the book of words that runs through your mind every time you close your eyes – what’s in you has the power to transform your world and the life of others. So what are you waiting for? If your heart is sick because you are avoiding your calling, the one person that can begin the healing process is you. If you have been waiting for a sign or message – this is it. There are hearts, lives, families, and communities waiting for exactly the gift you are called to bring into the world. Remember...the world needs you. Live on purpose, work your passion...be brilliant! Stay Brilliant,

Visit charactermag.com

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Holiday Favorites

Hi boys and girls! This is your friend Lil Johnny. Just coming back to give you a simple message and that message is to turn that frown into a smile. You can find a whole lot of reasons to frown: you feel no one likes you, no one will be your friend, you don't have what your friends have or you can't do what your friends do. You sometimes feel like you are out here by yourself, you ask what's the use.....believe it or not we as boys and girls struggle with these issues which causes us to want to frown . But boys and girls let me tell you what keeps a smile on my face. Romans chapter 8 verse 36 tells us that we are more than conquerors.. Knowing that eliminates fear, doubt, discouragement, what people have to say or what people think about me.. You see boys and girls it's not easy but when we read the word, hide it in our hearts and believe what his word has to say concerning us, it brings on nothing but smiles .

Liz Lange®

You have a reason to smile boys and girls, you may not have a lot of friends but Jesus is a friend, you may not be popular with people but God knows your name and that's reason enough to smile. You have life health and strength, it's not that bad, Put your smiley face on. A smile makes you feel better!!!! Playskool® Walk N Roll

Hello Kitty Girls 4-piece Pajama Set

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**Neither Character Magazine nor any employee or owner is to be held liable or responsible if any of the above shown apparel is NOT available at the local store. At the time of publishing, some or most of these items were available.**

Continued from page 25 | VASHAWN MITCHELL

Random Question from a young person for VaShawn Mitchell: Q: How do you keep your head clear to do good when “haters” are all around? A: You have to see beyond what you see. That is, know that with every great call, there is going to be a great obstacle. Those obstacles are haters or people who want to start rumors; people who are jealous or don’t want to see you succeed; or want to be where you are. In doing that, you really have to keep your focus your focus and remember; it’s not up to me to try to track or justify rumors or blogs. It is up to me to live a life that is bigger than that. That makes the focus on God and not on the negative things. I can’t deal with the “little” stuff. I told somebody the other day, ‘I can’t fly with the Eagles AND walk with chickens. I’ve got to choose one of them.’ [[laughs]] I like to fly so I’m going to fly with the Eagles. CM: That’s what I’m talking about. I like that. So there you have it young people; if you want to soar with Eagles, you cannot walk with chickens. You must step it up and make them step it up. VM: Alright. CM: Tell us about V-Man Entertainment. VM: Yes! I am excited. Created4This is my 7th CD and the last two projects are on my own production company – my own label. I pay for the records and I partner with EMI Gospel to put them out by marketing and distributing them. I learn from my mistakes.

“God is a God of Order” VM: I’ve become more of an Entrepreneur. I believe that as much as I love God, I know that He is a God of order and I’m just as much of an Entrepreneur as I am a worshiper. I’m a part of the marketing media, the distribution team. God has put me in the position where I’m able to own the Masters of my records and just to be able to live a different type of life than before. I was on a label before where I didn’t own anything and I had to do what they say. Now I can be as creative as I want to be because I pay for the Masters. I try to encourage other artists to try to learn all you can about the industry you want to be a part of. Don’t just want to sing. Everybody can sing but try to own as much as you can. CM: Speaking of business. How are you able to manage all that you do? VM: It’s definitely about listening to the voice of God; but also having a great, great team. I’m surrounded by people who know as much as I do or more. It’s very important that we learn the balance of it. I sing because I love God AND it (sing) is my career. For more of this (recorded) interview, visit: www.blogtalkradio.com/flolive

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