TRINKETS TO TRIUMPH

Arise Anointed

nd Abl ze

Now is the time for God’s anointing to arise and become ablaze in you. The current climate and the recent state of the country could cause alarm in some people. This is not the time to curl up and take cover but to stir up the gifts that God has placed in you (2 Timothy 1:6), arise with God’s anointing ablaze, and fulfill His will for your life no matter the current circumstance surrounding your society. You have been anointed and equipped with unique gifts and talents that were tailor-made for you to use to represent your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in the Earth. What better way to commemorate and celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus than to awaken and set ablaze your gifts and talents that are lying dormant, or that need to level up, in you. This is the season for a revival to take place along with renewal, restoration, and recovery not only in your surroundings but in your mind, body, and spirit also.

God is calling you to action. He wants you to arise and go forth on fire for Him and promises to be with you and provide everything you need to do your assignment. Whether you are a young or a seasoned saint, it is time to take authority and rev up or revive the gifts that God has blessed you with. Throughout the Bible, you can find examples and encouragement from people God called and who arose to action. When He calls you, you need to arise in His anointing and power and move forward fearlessly and on fire for Him destined to win. 10:27). When Samuel, the prophet, was a young boy, God called him and shared with him what He would do for Israel and the dread and doom that was to come to Eli’s house (1 Samuel 3:11-14) but initially Samuel didn’t know it was God who was calling him. It was Eli who helped the little lad learn the voice of God and help him give the correct response to God, “speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). Samuel’s response to arise was anointed by God, He was with him always, and everything He prophesied indeed came to pass (1 Samuel 3:19).

God can call you to arise anointed and ablaze out of a situation where there seems to be no hope. Jairus’s daughter was assumed dead but Jesus assured Jairus and the others that she was not dead but asleep (Mark 5:39). Jesus took the dear little damsel’s hand and said, “talitha cumi,” which translated from Aramaic means, “little girl, I say to you, get up” (Mark 5:41). Jesus called out to the little lady and told her to arise. What seemed like a dead situation was deemed a miracle. Jesus also called Lazarus from the dead and told him, “Lazarus come forth” (John 11:43-45). Lazarus was still bound in grave clothes but He heard Jesus’s voice and got up and arose out of the tomb and Jesus said, “Loose him and let him go” (John 11:44). God has loosed you to arise anointed and ablaze to go forward in your purpose.

Tracey Nicole George www.traceystrinketstotriumph.com Jesus is our ultimate example to arise anointed and ablaze. After His death, burial and resurrection, He rose early on the third day just like He said He would with all power in His hand (Matthew 28:6). Now it’s your turn to arise anointed and ablaze. Jesus called each of these Biblical examples by name. He knows your name and is calling you to arise anointed and ablaze. His anointing is within you and the fire of the Holy Ghost is ablaze within you. Like Queen Esther, you have been called to arise anointed and ablaze to take action “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Sing the song lyrics, “I will arise and go forth in the name of the Lord of Hosts for He has conquered every foe by His name.” Let those lyrics be your testimony and daily affirmation to encourage you to arise anointed and ablaze. Arise!

Coronavirus: What You Should Know

You’ve seen information on news broadcasts. You’ve read information on the internet. You’ve seen the posts on social media. You are keenly aware of the international pandemic of the coronavirus. The global spread of this virus has changed the way we travel, work and interact with people. This modern-day plague has given birth to phrases such as “social distancing” and “self-quarantine”. The presence of the virus in our communities has changed our perspective on how we spend our time at home. Previously we considered being at home on a Friday evening was a type of cocooning or nestling in with family. Now we consider our time at home as sheltering.

The coronavirus or COVID-19 is a very strong virus that is spread by air droplets and direct contact. It is a virus that can live on surfaces of common objects such as doorknobs and tables for hours or days. Individuals most vulnerable to developing severe and devastating cases of the disease include people with weakened immune systems, on certain kinds of medications, have pre-existing conditions including hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes and people over 60 years old. Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the common cold or flu, but only worse. Victims may complain of fever, chills, stuffy nose, coughing, difficulty breathing, and body aches. The COVID-19 virus can rapidly develop into devastating pneumonia, leading to death.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and Maryland State Health officials are recommending individuals avoid large crowds to protect themselves from the potential spreading of the disease.

The CDC recommends the following additional precautions: • Avoid areas and events where you may encounter sick people. • See your doctor and stay inside if you develop symptoms of a cold. • Avoid traveling over 75 miles away from your home. • Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the tissue as soon as possible. • Wash your hands frequently. Wash hands when you leave your home, and when you enter and exit a building. Use warm water and plenty of soap. Lather well, hold your hands downward to rinse. • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer between washing your hands.

Use at least a “nickel size” drop of the sanitizer, rub vigorous over all surfaces of your hands and let your hands air dry. • Wash your hands with soap and water every 3rd time you use hand sanitizer. • Avoid touching your face, eyes, and nose. • Use social distancing. Leave at least 6 feet between you and another person.

As believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we know that we must resist the spirit of fear. We must embrace wisdom, love and a sound mind. We gain wisdom and a sound mind by receiving knowledge and accurate information. We know that the love of Christ gives us a peace that surpasses understanding in today’s world.

Let’s vow to use this community crisis as an opportunity to spread the Love of God. • Make an effort to call on your neighbors, family, and friends to check on them. • Offer to donate food to a local community program. • Limit your use of technology and spend time reconnecting with your family.

For more information and updates on the COVID-19 virus visit the CDC website: www.cdc.gov https://governor.maryland.gov/2020/03/12/ governor-hogan-announces-major-actions-toprotect-public-health-limit-spread-of-covid-19- pandemic/ https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/ Dr. Denyce Watties Daniels Assistant Professor College of Health Professions Coppin State University DWatties-Daniels@coppin.edu healthytips 025@gmail.com

CHARLES & URSULA HARRIS, Fitness Experts Chizel It Transformation Fitness Center 9006 Liberty Rd • Randallstown Md 21133 443-253-0090 • www.chizelit.com In America, we have been experiencing one of the most devastating times in modern history with the spread of the coronavirus. It has totally changed the way we live our lives as people. All of the luxuries and the conveniences we once took for granted have literally been stripped away. Something as basic as sports, gone. Men who live for sporting events and watch ESPN are at a lost. No nightly ESPN updates is devastating for some. Children are unable to go to school. Moms are having to care for their families 24/7 without any outlet for going out. Shopping in brick and mortar stores are shutdown. Restaurants and gyms are closed. We are being forced to live simple lives again. Home cooked meals, sharing family time, checking on our elderly family and neighbors, husbands and wives spending quality time together. Men stepping up to have a positive impact in the community. How can anyone keep their sanity with such radical and sudden lifestyle changes? I’ll be the first to admit, as a local small business owner and a motivator being at home is paralyzing for me. My whole life has been based on ready, set and go! I’m pulling my hair out, and I have been bald for almost 20 years. However, we are responsible for the temple that God has blessed us with, and there are ways that we can alleviate this sudden stress and anxiety that we are all experiencing. There are two ways to keep fit at any fitness level without violating the social distancing guidelines. I would suggest Walking and Meditating during this crucial time.

WALKING 1. Burn Fat and Calories Walking can help you burn calories. Burning calories can help you maintain or lose weight. Walking is a great outlet to relieve stress and anxiety and can be done inside or outdoors. 2. Build a Strong Heart Walking at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week can reduce your risk for coronary heart disease, and your risk may reduce even more when you increase the duration or distance you walk per day. 3. Lower Your Blood Sugar Taking a short walk after eating may help lower your blood sugar. A small study found that taking a 15-minute walk 3-times a day (after breakfast, lunch, and dinner) improved blood sugar levels more than taking a 45-minute walk at any other point during the day. 4. Eases Joint Pain Walking can help protect the joints, including your knees and hips. Walking helps lubricate and strengthen the muscles that support the joints. Walking may also provide benefits for people living with arthritis, such as reducing pain. Walking 5 to 6 miles a week may also help prevent arthritis. 5. Boosts Immune System Walking may also reduce your risk for developing a cold or the flu. One study tracked 1,000 adults during the flu season. Those who walked at a moderate pace for 30 to 45 minutes a day had 43 percent fewer sick days and fewer upper respiratory tract infections overall. Their symptoms were also lessened even if they did get sick as compared to adults in the study who were sedentary. During this restrictive time for everyone, try to get in a daily walk to experience some of these benefits. No excuses –walking can be done indoors or out! STAYING FIT THROUGH A CRISIS!

MEDITATING 1. May Reduce Inflammation Inflammation is a natural reaction your body produces in response to harm, such as bacteria, viruses or even your nervous system’s stress response. Left unchecked, inflammation can lead to chronic disease. Many diseases appear to have a direct relationship with long-term inflammation, including inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis and autoimmune diseases. For people with inflammatory diseases, controlling and managing inflammation is key to living a high quality of life and keeping symptoms at bay. Meditation is an excellent tool people can use to help manage this condition. A few studies found that mindfulness programs led to reduced inflammation markers in participants from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The study examined people with chronic inflammatory conditions and compared MBSR training with a basic health education program. The researchers found participants who underwent the MBSR training had lower post-stress inflammation responses than the group that didn’t meditate. Meditation may also reduce inflammation in people without inflammatory conditions. UCLA found that participants of a three-month yoga and meditation retreat had lower inflammation levels in their bodies. 2. Relieves Stress and Anxiety As a mind-body intervention, meditation also has benefits for mental and emotional well-being. Because the mind and body are so interconnected, physical stress can cause emotional stress and vice versa. Meditation appears to be an effective method for calming our physical, spiritual and mental state of mind. A 2018 study from New York University and Virginia Tech found that meditating for just 13- minutes a day reduced anxiety levels and negative moods in participants over eight weeks. The researchers concluded that even brief meditation sessions, when performed over a multi-week period, have benefits for anxiety and mood similar to longer-duration meditation sessions. Meditation may also benefit people with anxiety disorders, as one 2016 study published in Psychiatry Research found. Seventy patients with generalized anxiety disorder underwent either an 8-week MBSR training program or a control intervention. Researchers found that the group who had received the meditation training had significantly reduced stress scores as well as lower levels of stress hormones compared to the non-meditators. 3. Help Alleviate Pain

For people with chronic illness, meditation may provide a natural way to cope. Several studies have looked at how meditation can help reduce symptoms of various diseases, including self-reported pain. Because pain is a subjective experience, it’s usually difficult for researchers to quantify how meditation might reduce pain. Researchers from Wake Forest University in North Carolina looked into the relationship between meditation and pain by examining the study participants’ brains. The researchers compared pain responses in the participants’ brains before and after undergoing meditation training. After just 4 days of meditation training, the participants experienced a 40 percent drop in pain intensity compared to their pre-meditation pain levels. 4. Improves Memory and Concentration Today’s fast-paced world is leading to a collective drop in attention span, with many people feeling distracted by social media and multitasking. To help improve attention span and increase memory retention, mental disciplines like meditation may be beneficial. Several studies have looked at what effect meditation has on working memory and concentration. In workplace, researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle examined the effects of mindfulness meditation training on human resources staff. Researchers divided the participants into three groups, with one group receiving 8-weeks of meditation training, one group receiving relaxation training and another group receiving no training. At the end of the 8-weeks, the meditation group demonstrated not only lower stress levels but also an improved ability to remember and stay focused on their tasks longer.

Even brief spurts of meditation may be enough to improve your memory and concentration. The same Wake Forest University researchers who examined the benefits of meditation for pain looked at what effect the same 4-day meditation training had on attention span.

Whether it be during a pandemic or any other time in your life, taking time for yourself to just walk and mediate can be very beneficial to your well-being.

He Is Risen ...

Matthew 28:1-6 (NIV)

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!