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Power of Prayer By Jessica Lee Ann There is not a doubt that prayer changes things. Prayer not only changes situations, but it heals the sick, mends broken hearts, uplifts those who are down and even saves lives. Prayer is your direct contact to God and He hears and answers every single prayer that we send His way that is in alignment with His will. Prayer is so powerful that you don’t have to speak. Your tears, moans and groans is also a prayer. One of my favorite things about prayer is that it can be whatever you want it to be. It’s not hard to do and you can do it whenever you feel moved to do so. Your prayer can be short or long. You can speak it, write it or sing it. The length of your prayer doesn’t matter just as long as it’s sincere it will reach God’s heart. Almost anything goes when praying. There’s only one condition that you must consider when you do pray: you have to believe with every ounce of your heart, mind and soul that God will answer your prayer. The measure of your faith will determine the outcome of your prayer. The Word of God tells us that we have to ask and believe in order to receive. All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed and God can make anything possible. If you wholeheartedly believe that your prayer will be answered, it will definitely be answered. And not only will it be answered it will exceed whatever expectations you had during the time of your request. So, what exactly is prayer? Prayer is the way that we communicate with and speak to God. It’s nothing fancy and doesn’t require much of anything but your time and authenticity. It is one of the many ways that we can connect to, praise, glorify, and give thanks to God at any given moment. Prayer is our direct way to request whatever we may need or desire from Him for ourselves or others. Prayer is also the way that we cultivate our relationship with God. When we pray consistently, we develop a sense of unexplainable peace and joy that can only come from God. Now, I have to reiterate, God only answers prayers that He knows will be beneficial to us. God will not answer a prayer that will eventually leave you in a situation that will harm, hurt, or hinder you. So although your prayer request may seem valid to you, it may not be in God’s eyes. God will give you two other answers besides yes when you pray and that’s no or not yet. Hearing the no’s and not yet’s can be frustrating and discouraging. However, I want to encourage you to not get frustrated or discouraged when you get this type of answer form God. I know it sucks to hear this but God’s no or not yet is for your own good. Rather than be upset, disappointed or frustrated when you don’t receive a yes, ask Him what you should do instead. I can guarantee He’ll give you another solution for whatever you asked of Him through prayer. What makes prayer so powerful? It’s the spiritual connection to the Divine Creator. Prayer allows us to step outside of the realm of the flesh and tap into heavenly things. it allows us to operate in the spiritual realm, receive wisdom, knowledge and future assignments that we can’t get without talking to God. Prayer is powerful because it is a direct word from the Most High. Prayer is not only the way you connect to God but it’s also the way that we receive blessings into our lives and are able to speak life into dead situations. It’s how we ask God to move on the behalf of other people as well. Prayer is so powerful that if you pray for someone else God will answer that prayer and bless whoever you prayed for. How amazing is that!
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When You Love Something, you Trust it! By Shawnie Russell My name is Shawnie Russell. I am a wife, mom, mentor, coach, speaker, and writer. My entrepreneurial journey began almost 2 years ago when my family and I partnered with this amazing bio-tech skin care company Nerium International whose focus was like nothing I had ever seen. Health and Beauty Products that focus on the renewal of the overall texture of the skin and elasticity naturally. While having the opportunity to share my products with large groups of people. I remember the first time I was asked how did I get involved with motivational speaking. And, Well like most things they were shocked to find that I had got involved based off of lessons I had learned and wanted to somehow add value to others based off actions I had implemented. I’d realized early on, naturally we simply just don’t trust people before having an emotional attachment. So I began to implement that thought very much in not only my personal life but in my professional life developing a few techniques of my own. It became very eye opening and empowering building relationships and working with people who not only wanted to work with me but it became just as a pleasurable for me working with individuals who inspired me! I notice I was beginning to fall in love with this thing called The Process! I’m sure many can relate especially as an entrepreneur. But I can remember this one point at the beginning of my journey being in this place of uncertainty. I was unsure with the how’s and why’s? How I was going to build this legacy that resonated in my heart! Where was I going to find visionaries who would share the same vision and passions as I did? How was I going to wing out the No's and gain more possibilities and maybe. Like anyone I got wrapped up into details. First, I got wrap into what I was saying. Then it was my approach. At the end as much as I wish it was just one thing or a collection of just a handful of things that could’ve been done in one day. But the truth of the matter it turned out my husband was right on a few things! He is quite the philosopher himself. His favorite solution for any problem that could draw up more than one way to do it is, “All of the above!” He definitely was right and once I understood that there was always more than one way to get something done and nothing was going to happen overnight. I begin to implement daily habit that would help shape my decisions to lead me where I wanted to be. I truly fell in love with the process focusing on the milestones within my journey! Mastering my mundane by putting my thoughts into action and over time The How and Why’s were answered in my activity. I want to encourage someone reading this article maybe another entrepreneur to Fall in love with this thing called the process trust your dreams and take it one day at a time.
Shawnie Russell Nerium International Independent Brand Partner srrussell.nerium.com shawnierussell1@gmail.com 810-956-5211
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THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP: WHAT PEOPLE DON'T TELL YOU Written by: LaShina Mack, CEO of Premier Marketing Experts LLC and Owner of Resume Renewed
So, you want to start a new business . . . Where do you begin? Is this something you really want to do or did you see someone else doing it and decided it did not look that difficult? How serious is your commitment? Are there more things you need to know before starting? Let's find out. Working for yourself is the American Dream for many. Not having to clock in and out every day. Not having an annoying boss breathing down your neck. Not having to fight traffic every single morning for most of the week. While this may sound attractive, it may not all be true. Starting a business is not easy. There are restaurant owners that work 14-hour days and have not seen a weekend off in years. There are building contractors who get up at the crack of dawn almost every day to ensure their business is running smoothly. There are solopreneurs who get calls and emails all hours of the day and night, 7 days a week. Every single business owner always has someone to answer to . . . their CLIENTS! There is no middle-man owner or manager or supervisor that will protect you from the ugliness of customer satisfaction gone south. No, as the owner, you deal with all of it. All the profits, all the losses, and all the headaches. Let's look at some solid advice from multimillionaire investor and star of CNBC's The Profit and The Partner, Marcus Lemonis. "One piece of advice that I would give every entrepreneur in America: that owning a business isn't for everybody. It takes a different kind of person. It takes somebody with a thick skin and a tough stomach. It's not a glamorous job." (Lemonis, M. Interview by Marguerite Ward. CNBC.com. The Definitive Guide to Business with Marcus Lemonis, 2016. Web. 10 March 2017.) Lemonis believes that there are 3 things that must be in place in order to run a successful business— People, Process, and Product. However, long before getting to those staples in business operations, you must start a business first. Once you have completed that gut check that Marcus recommended and have decided that you want to start your own company, make sure you are aware of the potential ups and downs of business ownership and what people don't tell you. 1. Credibility is King. Yes, you are brand new. Of course, you are wondering, ‘Well, how will I have credibility if my company is brand new?’ It's not as hard as you think. We live in the Google Age. People use it all the time for their "research" and will certainly use it to learn about you AND your company. If you think your escapades on your personal social media will not negatively impact you, you're wrong. They most certainly can. Inappropriate photos, comments, etc. can follow you all the way to your business. Just use proper etiquette when posting publicly and leverage your friends and family as often as you can for online reviews. This is the beginning of establishing a good reputation online. You will need it. 2. If People Act Like They Don't Care, They're Not Acting. Sometimes you will not get the support you expect when you start a new business. This often includes friends and family. Don't let it discourage you when you shout from the rooftops that you started or are starting a new company and get little to no response. It's more common than you think. It's not that they don't care about you, they just don't care about what you are doing at the time because they are wrapped up in their own lives. Anyone can be guilty of that. Try not to take it so hard. Focus on spending more time with like-minded people. Join a few local Meetup groups as well as Facebook groups that are filled with entrepreneurs like yourself. It will surprise you how much that can help. 3. You Will Work Harder Than You Did At Your 9-to-5. "Create a life you don't need a vacation from." -Anonymous No one likes hearing this one. However, it does not make it any less true. You will work on your own business harder than any company you have ever been at. It is a must in order to be successful. This is not a bad thing at all. It's a great thing. Sometimes it might not even feel like work because you are building for yourself. It truly does makes a difference in your efforts. Your business will fuel you. 4. Profitability Takes Time. Do some people make money immediately in their new business? Yes, they do. However, this is not as common as you may think. Most restaurants are in the red for at least 5 years before they are in the black— if they even make it 5 years. You can be profitable as soon as Day 30 or as far out as Year 2. Every business is different. You must ask yourself if it is worth it to tighten up your belt for 2 to 3 years or would you rather suffer at the job you hate another 20? Your choice. Upfront and prepare yourself for the potential of lean months here and there. Proactivity will save you a ton of heartache.
8 5. Enjoy Yourself. What is the point of leaving a job you hate to start a business you will hate? Make sure that whatever you decide to do, that it is something you love. Don't do it because Tom or Janice are doing it. Do it because it is something you want to do. When you are doing something you are passionate about, it will hold your interest. Take pleasure in the business you have started. You should be proud of taking the steps that you did. Now get out there and reach for the stars!
LaShina Mack
LaShina Mack
Owner/Designer Owner/Designer Resume Renewed Resume Renewed
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The Art of a Poet Being a writer, I look closely at words, phrases, sentences and how they all tie together. Writing is an art and poetry – oh my; I think of poetry and think of some of my favorite words, phrases and sentences. It wasn’t until recently where I realized there were months in the year dedicated and identified for writers. I found out recently November is National Writer’s Month. All I knew was I loved to write and the words would flow like water most times; and other times I would be stuck and claw my way out by putting the words on paper whether they went together or not. I became an author later in life – early 40s to be exact and I still had so much to learn. In addition to National Writer’s Month, I learned the month of April is National Poetry Month. Initially I said: “Is this for real?” All of these months dedicated to the many writing causes and then I thought: “Great! What a way to celebrate writers.” Of course my inquisitive and research spirit started getting the best of me and I wanted to know more so I started digging – especially when it came to poetry. Now, I’m a writer and not so much a poet and when I think of poetry, Langston Hughes most definitely comes to mind. Born in the early 1900s, Langston Hughes was a poet and social activist during the Harlem Renaissance period and what an impact he had then and now. Langston Hughes did it best – the combination of writing, poetry, social activism, a playwright, and a columnist, he mastered the art of a poet and left a legacy which lives on today in his writings, stories and as part of history. I sit back and think and wonder how he did it during the 1900s. How did he make poetry and art? Was it his words alone or his experiences? Langston Hughes’ work resonates with me today – the storytelling of real lives and how the everyday person lives each day. He spoke to working class African Americans especially and confronted social issues not only through his storytelling, but in his actions; pure realism. I sometimes think about if I were alive around the time the Harlem Renaissance was born or during civil rights. How would this have shaped me as a person? Would I have still been a writer? A poet perhaps? Back in those times, writing may have been the only way to get through some of the injustices which plagued our communities. Reaching out to other people through words meant the world to people and gave them hope through the toughest of times. I’ve always wanted to stretch my writing into an art form and there is still time to do this. In thinking about April as National Poetry Month, I began looking at ways where I could participate and get involved. The Internet has an abundance of ways to be part of the many celebrations including visiting your local library, participating in small writing events, and also speaking and connecting with other poets. Poetry is a type of flow, an art form like no other. Words, phrases, experiences which tell a story at a point in time, throughout history and over time. So how can you get involved? Even if you are not a writer or poet, you can still participate in National Poetry Month by honoring some of our great poets in addition to Langston Hughes. With a search on the web, I found 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month and many of the ways to celebrate align with what I do often as a writer. For you to get involved in honoring the great poets or even in your local community, sign up for specific events at your local university or book store. Many of the events are free of charge and this is a great way to meet other writers, authors and aspiring poets. Some people have a genuine interest in poetry as an art and enjoy the arts and want to be surrounded by like people. Other ways to get involved include signing up for a poem a day or ordering a poetry journal. Specifically, April 27th is “National Poem in Your Pocket Day”.
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�. While still growing in my writing, I see how writing is an art form and hope to one day branch out into poetry. I look to the best poets and the ones who have the flow when they speak and write – the art of words to touch your soul. For more ways to participate in National Poetry Month in April and beyond, stop by www.poetry.org for the 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month and join in the celebration. Remember to celebrate the many great poets like Langston Hughes, local poets in your community and others striving to share their poetry and writings. Share with others how you celebrated via social media, in person meet-ups, or by writing about your experience. It all begins with a thought, an idea; and the words just flow.
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Meet Lauren Pryor Lauren Pryor studied Architecture at Hampton University then switched to Neuropsychology. She won a 25,000 scholarship from Atlantic Records and Wale. Lauren made an appearance on 106 & Park . Starting her own business in 2014 ,she was 19. She got her own mobile app , 757VaConnect at the age of 21. Now studying Wealth management and Neuromarketing , Lauren is very into teaching the community about accumulating wealth and protecting wealth and investing
Making a difference, one step at a time!
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