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scripture scripturepage page
Happy Father’s Day! A Father's Integrity
“I know, my God, that You examine our hearts and rejoice when You find integrity there." (1 Chronicles 29:17a)
A Father's Courage
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
A Father's Father
"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows - this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." (Psalm 68:5-6)
A Father's Compassion
"Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him." (Psalm 103:13)
A Father's Legacy
"The father of one who is right with God will have much joy. He who has a wise son will be glad in him." (Proverbs 23:24)
A Father's Wisdom
"I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." (Proverbs 4:11-13)
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June 2020
™
on the cover: Apostle Kenneth O. Robinson DreamLife Worship Center 4111 Deer Park Road Randallstown, MD 21133 www.dreamlifewc.com
Cover Story pgs 8-11 - For the month of June, we are saluting fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, godfathers, spiritual fathers, and mentors. This Father’s Day as we celebrate and honor our fathers and the men in our lives, we asked Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson Jr to share his wisdom on Faith, Family and Finances as it relates to Legacy with these men during an unprecedented time in history.
Healthy Soul 14 WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE
16 MONTHLY MANNA
Rhoda Turner
Minister Carenda Deonne
God is Fatihful
Stretch Yourself
19 TRINKETS TO TRIUMPH
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Tracey George
Father Figure: A Dad Like David
Healthy Mind 15 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH
Dr. Carla J. Debnam, (Founder, Renaissance Christian Counseling Center)
Life on Pause
In Every Issue
22 BE FIT FINANCIALLY
Crystal L. Morris
How Are Your Finances During The Pandemic
Healthy Body
Scripture Page........................................ 2 Contributors............................................ 6 From the Editor....................................... 7
18 HEALTH MATTERS 20 BODY BASICS
Dr. Denyce Watties-Daniels
Sleep
Charles & Ursula Harris
Get Ready! Get Set! Let Go!
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Meet the Contributors
JACKIE EPPS is co-founder and editor of Grace & Glory Magazine. Jackie's career in communications spans over 40 years in advertising sales, program sales, media planning and television production, working in radio for 11 years and shifting to television broadcasting in 1989. She also produces the Grace & Glory show, a faith-based television program that has been on the air for 18 years. For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jackie Epps EDITORIAL Dr. Carla J. Debnam Min. Carenda McCray Tracey George Dr. Denyce Daniels Charles & Ursula Harris Crystal L. Morris Rhoda Turner GRAPHIC ARTIST Claire Lesesne www.JandCDesigns.com WEB ADMINISTRATOR Andre Felipe for Arts Period www.artsperiod.com
Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction without expressed permission is prohibited.
Grace & Glory Magazine By Mail! For subscriptions go to our website: www.gracenglorymagazine.org
For more information contact 443-813-6547 • 410-370-2636 info@gracenglorymagazine.org Grace & Glory Magazine is the ideal publication for Encouragement, Empowerment and Inspiration. Follow us on facebook and twitter at: facebook.com/gracenglorymagazine twitter @gracenglorymag Check out our website at: www.gracenglorymagazine.org
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DR. CARLA DEBNAM
TRACEY NICOLE GEORGE
Tracey Nicole George is Dr. Carla J. Debnam is the a licensed minister and wife of Bishop Dwayne C. ordained deacon. She is a Debnam and an associate native New Yorker residing minister of Morning Star in Maryland and married to Baptist Church, Woodlawn, Danny George. Tracey works MD. She is a National Certified with her husband managing Counselor (NCC) and Licensed their inventory and asset Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland. She is a member of the American control company, George Imaging. She is the creator of Trinkets to Triumph, a Biblically-based blog and Counseling Association, the American Association of ministry, designed to edify and encourage individuals Christian Counselors and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, with a “trinket” of encouragement. She is a member of Inc. Dr. Debnam has contributed to two books, Those New Destiny Evangelistic Church. Sisters Can Preach: 22 Pearls of Wisdom, Virtue & Hope, and 7 Ingredients To An Effective Prayer Life Series, Vol.3-5.
CHARLES HARRIS Charles Harris is the owner of Chizel It Transformation Fitness. Charles is a highly effective fitness expert with a passion for health and wellness. He is a certified fitness trainer with the America Fitness Association of America with over 20 years of experience, and a certified Yoga Teacher at YogaWorks in Pikesville, Maryland. He is the author of I’m Too Cute to Sweat, What’s Your Excuse For Not Working Out?, and It Takes 21 Days To Get Fit. He currently teaches his mega cardio workout class throughout the state of Maryland.
DR. DENYCE WATTIES-DANIELS
Dr. Denyce Watties-Daniels has over 25 years of experience as a clinician and nurse educator. Her areas of expertise include critical care nursing, pathophysiology, pharmacology and the use of technology in the classroom. She currently serves as faculty and the Director of the Simulation and Learning Resource Centers of the College of Health Professions at Coppin State University.
MIN. CARENDA DEONNE
Min. Carenda was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She received her BA degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing a Master's in Law degree from Regent University. Min. Carenda was licensed to preach in 2007 and has been teaching, preaching, and declaring God's word through the power of love ever since. Min. Carenda is also an author of three books. Her latest book, Perfect Patty Messed Up, is a 40 day devotional that confronts the disorder of perfectionism and opens the door to self forgiveness and restoration.
CRYSTAL L. MORRIS Crystal L. Morris is the Founder & CEO of Be Fit Financially, LLC. Crystal has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry with the majority of her experience on Wall Street, in Internal Audit, Compliance and Risk Management and spent several years in state government as a Securities Examiner. Crystal’s passion lies with educating people to be great stewards over their finances and develop a healthy relationship with money. She is a native New Yorker and resides in Maryland with her husband, Steven Morris. Crystal is also an ordained Deacon.
PASTOR RHODA TURNER Rhoda possesses a spirit of humility. Her ministry style is graceful, her message is powerful and her presence is comforting. Being the 9th of 10 children, Rhoda has a deep passion for family and the wholistic development of children. She is considered by many as a mentor and mother figure. Rhoda and her husband Pastor Jason Turner, serve as senior pastors of Christian Faith Fellowship Church in Chandler, AZ.
Our Father This is the month we celebrate our fathers. It’s Dad’s turn to be celebrated – so we dedicate this month’s issue to our Fathers, Grandfathers, Godfathers, and Uncles. I know for some, Father’s Day can be painful, a sad reminder of growing up without a father present in the home or being active in their lives. The pain of growing up fatherless can sometimes leave a scar that is hard to remove. There may even be some situations or circumstances that warrant the absence of dad, but to a child without a father these things or reasons mean nothing. But, for every situation, circumstance or reason your father was not there, whether you realized it or not there was someone who was always there. . . Our Heavenly Father. We all may not fall into the category of growing up without a father, in fact the truth be told there are many fathers who are present in the lives of their children. Whether we grew up with a father present or not . . . there is one thing we all have in common, we all can claim the same Father; Our Father which art in heaven. We all share the greatest Father of all, and He has never been an absentee dad. Let me boast a little about Our Father. Our Father is omnipresent, He is with you at the same time He is with me, in fact He is everywhere at all times. Our Father is omniscient, He is the wisest of all, He knows everything about each one of us; He knows you better than you know yourself. Our Father is omnipotent, He is all-powerful. He is able to do exceeding abundantly more than you could ever hope or dream. Our Father is sovereign, He can do whatever He wants to do when He wants to and how He wants to. Our Father is a good provider, He supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19). Our Father is a protector; He is our shield and buckler (Psalm 91). Our Father is a comforter; He mends a broken heart (Matthew 5:4). Our Father is a healer; He will restore our bodies (Psalm 103:3).
from the the editor editor from the editor from
Our Father sounds like a pretty great dad to me. He is great and mighty. He is a friend that sticks closer than any brother. He loves each and every one of us unconditionally with the same amount of love. And let us not forget that Our Father loved us so much that He gave His only begotten son (Jesus) so that we would be able to live with Him forever! I could go on and on but I believe you get the picture, Our Father is whatever you need Him to be. This Father’s Day celebrate your earthly fathers, they deserve to be honored and shown how much they are loved for all they do. Celebrate Father’s Day, if for no other reason that without your father you would not exist today. And while you are celebrating, don’t leave out Our Father which art in Heaven, He is the Greatest Father of all! We are His children forevermore. Happy Father's Day!
Jackie Epps
Jackie Epps
Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief www.gracenglorymagazine.org 77 www.gracenglorymagazine.org www.gracenglorymagazine.org
At the core of every man should be his desire to leave a legacy for the next generations. As a Spiritual Leader, I have seen several families experience the pain from the loss of a loved one during this COVID-19 pandemic. The most disheartening thing has been seeing many of them unprepared for death spiritually, emotionally and financially. The man is the foundation of every family and has the responsibility of establishing his family’s legacy. Now, we clearly see why there is such a blatant genocide against men in society today, and in America, especially against black men. There was a time when a man knew that his family’s name meant everything to him. However, his passion for legacy has dwindled and has affected the family in this generation. One of the mandates on my life and ministry is to see men restored in his God ordained place in the family and community. Having experienced many challenges as a young child growing up in New York, and as an adult experiencing financial devastation, a marital divorce and family breakup, I can tell you that Dr. Kenneth & Lady Lenyar Robinson. the road to restoring a man is not easy. However, with God it is possible, and is very much a part of His end-time plan. In scripture, Jerusalem and surrounding communities experienced many of the same societal ills that we see today; violence in the streets, proliferation of drugs, increase of marital divorces, false prophets and preachers, children straying away from homes and the absence of fatherhood. However, God spoke through the prophet Malachi and said, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6 NKJV
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According to this passage, there will be a restoration of fathers with their children in the last days, in other words, daddy is coming home.
When we define legacy, it capsules the components of faith, finances and family.
DEFINING LEGACY
DreamLife Men's Fellowship
When we fast forward to the New Testament, Jesus shares a profound parable about a prodigal son who leaves his father’s house. (Luke 15:11-20) At the heart of this story, Jesus uses the relationship of a Father and son to describe His redemptive grace despite our ability to stray from Him. This is a story not only of the unconditional, unfailing and redeeming love of our Heavenly Father but also about His power to restore a family legacy. What was dead and lost? His legacy. Here are (4) four profound truths that every man should know about legacy: The Principle of Legacy Originates and comes from God. It’s a God thing given to man to carry out His purposes and glory on the earth. The Promise of Legacy It’s what God sees in every human. Every human has the ability to create legacy. The Problem of Legacy - It was stolen from people of African descent and many have never recovered because they don’t know how to recover. The Power of Legacy - God only needs ONE man willing and obedient to allow Him to reestablish legacy.
• A gift by will, especially of money or other personal property. • An amount of money or property left to someone in a will. • Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past writings. (Intangible values; spiritual inheritance, wisdom, education) You should observe that a man’s legacy involves his faith in God, financial stability and solvency and family inheritance. Let’s look a little further into this idea of legacy.
WHY IS LEGACY IMPORTANT? Legacy is fundamental to what it is to be human. Research shows that without a sense of working to create a legacy, men lose meaning in their life. ... Being reminded of death is actually a good thing, because death informs life. It gives you a perspective on what's important. Family legacy means the beliefs, actions, accomplishments and guidance you demonstrate in your life – that carry forward to future generations leaving a pattern or trail for family members to adopt and adapt which allow those Dr. Ken, Lady Lenyar, daughters Chloe & Gabby family members to make their lives meaningful and fruitful. Living legacy is a way to capture life stories, lessons, Continues on page 10
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sentiments, memories, and traditions. Legacies convey what we want remaining generations to know and understand about our life experiences. They help us to remember and heal as we carry on important traditions. I can recall when my dad, having not seen his father since childhood, decided to look for his father in his 50’s. His dad, who deserted his mother and three small boys and fled to New York City for the big lights caused years of dysfunctions in his family. Yet, none of this stopped my dad from wanting to trace his family lineage. When he finally found his dad, it was the most beautiful thing you would have ever seen. There was much healing and restoration in our family’s legacy and my dad was with my grandfather the last years of his life. Personal Legacy is more than simply a statement of how you wish to be remembered after you pass on. It is something that enriches your life and reveals you and what your life is about to your family, friends, and your community. Any man who
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chooses to live his life with this legacy principle at the core of his existence and purpose will find explosive power in his life. Every man must make this declaration over his life, “LEGACY IS BIGGER THAN ME”. The real essence of the story of the prodigal son was the father’s pain in his potential loss of his legacy. The son wanted to have legacy apart from a relationship with his father, who is a picture of our Heavenly Father. Consequently, he discovers that his finances are affected by his faith. So legacy is built on relationship with God and should result in financial stability. This is a picture of a man’s life void of God and His wisdom. The scripture says, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” (Proverbs 13:22 NKJV) WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE PRODIGAL SON ABOUT LOST LEGACY IS THE FOLLOWING: • Wasteful living destroys legacy (wasting time being idle, not doing anything productive) • Money (finances) without a maturity can destroy legacy
• Dishonor can destroy one’s legacy, not respecting your elders • The absence of a long-term financial plan can destroy a legacy • A lack of self-discipline can destroy a legacy
shrewdness in the management of affairs. 3: skill and good judgment in the use of resources. 4: caution or circumspection as to danger or risk. The word comes from a contracted form of the Latin prōvidēns from the verb "to foresee." To act according to what you FORESEE...proper vision for his future.
• The absence of a father-figure can destroy a legacy • Poor company (selection of friends) can destroy a legacy
YOU MUST LEAVE CHILDHOOD AND BECOME A MAN TO LEAVE A LEGACY You are a man when you no longer need the pockets of your parents. When you Dr. Robinson Book Signing decide to stop the blame game and take full responsibility for your life; the good and the bad. You can begin to see it all as God’s plan to make you into His own image and likeness. Jesus could not leave a legacy as a child; a child was born but a son was given. Sonship positions you for legacy. (Full grown or maturity) GALATIANS 4:1-4
In my conclusion, a man’s legacy begins with a relationship with God. Why? because Legacy is God’s idea for every man, especially fathers. Family is restored by returning to Him, your Heavenly Father, just where you are in life. Lastly, without God you have no wisdom, without wisdom you have no prudence and without prudence you have no legacy. My prayer for every man that reads this, is that the passion and fires of legacy would be ignited and that he would start to rebuild his legacy today.
WHAT DID THIS YOUNG MAN LACK? KEY INGREDIENT TO LEAVING A LEGACY
Dr. Robinson & Motivational Speaker Les Brown
PRUDENCE Definition of prudence. 1: the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. 2: sagacity or
Dr. Kenneth O. Robinson Jr. DreamLife Worship Center Worldwide Randallstown, Maryland facebook.com/DrkennethorobinsonJr instagram.com/Iam_drken twitter.com/drkenrobinson LinkedIn.com/drkennethorobinson www.gracenglorymagazine.org 11 11 www.gracenglorymagazine.org
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woman’s perspective
Did you ever think that you would be part of an era in time where the world would stop for a period of time? I know that I didn’t. Even though it has been a difficult time for a lot people, for some in retrospect and with the right perspective, maybe it has been a much needed time of rest for others. In Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) it says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” A lot of us have never had this much time on your hands. Let me be clear that I’m not saying that God caused this to happen to force us to rest, but for whatever reason that He allowed it, it has afforded us some time. So the question has become, "What are you doing with this time?" What are you doing during this season so that you can come out better afterwards? This Pandemic brought the country to its knees, and as a result it has caused us to turn our face towards God. Psalms 121:1-2 instructs us and shows us where our help is from and how we access it by saying, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” During this season let's not forget where our help comes from. We have to keep our focus in the right place. The government cannot have more of our focus than the Lord. The news cannot have more of our focus than the Lord. No source should be able to pull our focus from the Lord. I don’t want to speak for you, so I will speak for me. My natural Father passed away 17 years ago, and since that time I’ve looked even more towards God to be both my natural and spiritual father because He responds to me as both. My natural father always had my best interest at heart. If it was in his power he would move Heaven and Earth on my behalf. He would climb the highest mountain for 14 June 2020 | Grace&Glory
me. He was a servant of God, the church and his family also. Just like my natural father was concerned about me my spiritual Father has the same concerns and cares. He was so concerned about me that He sent his son to die for me. That’s how much He cares. We serve a dope God who is concerned for His children. He was so concerned about Abraham and Isaac even after He asked for Isaac as a sacrifice that He provided a ram in a bush as a substitute for Isaac. That's how much He cared. Obedience in hard times will uncover the ram in the bush that you may not see. This pandemic may have rams for you in your obedience to keep your focus on Him. During this season it’s easy to give up and to lose faith when things around you are crumbling and drastic changes are happening. I challenge you not to lose faith. We serve a faithful God that cares for us. So, while you are looking to God, make your request known. My husband preached a message during this Pandemic called, "The Devil Wants You to Forget What You Say? Don't forget the promises that God has promised you. It may not look like it’s coming to pass, but trust and believe that God’s Word will come to pass. He is not a liar; you just need to not give up on God because He hasn’t given up on you. Pastor Rhoda Turner He’s Faithful. Christian Faith Fellowship Church Chandler, AZ Happy Father’s Day www.cffaz.org
to your good health
Life on Pause The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. Psalm 23:1-3 NLT We are all on a journey that has us restrained in order to make sure everyone is safe. For some this has meant their ability to move about freely, go to work and social events has been limited and they are beginning to feel stressed, depressed and isolated. All of these responses are within reason. It is important to acknowledge our feelings but also realize our faith is able to handle our distress. We are not in this by ourselves. Life on pause is temporary and it’s not about individual safety and security. It’s about what’s best for everyone. Sometimes our experiences may be overwhelming but then as we begin to settle ourselves we begin to see what God has been up to even in the chaos of life. God has promised to lead us in every season of life. The time we find ourselves in now can be used in our favor. This pruning season, this season of rest can be productive in prayer, in creativity and in nurturing our purpose. This pause is not permanent but is a part of a process of being more in tune with the will of God and caring for one another in an authentic way. While on pause our sense of community has expanded, our kindness has been manifested and our generosity has increased as well. We are living the
Golden Rule – treating others as we want to be treated and the Greatest Commandment – loving our neighbor like we love ourselves. We have not thought of ourselves better than others. This pause has been for everyone not just a few select people. We have been challenged to decide if this new norm will be a positive or a negative experience. We have to take this pause and see how our purpose can be used to encourage one another to be more like God. Do not waste this time but use it to be proactive in pursuing opportunities that you may have dismissed in the past. Use this time to grow closer to loved ones or to check items off of your ‘to do’ list. Being on pause may be inconvenient but you can still work on projects that have been put off for just the right time. Take a break and use this pause for reconnecting with your hopes and dreams. Life on pause does not have to be negative. It can be just Dr. Carla Debnam, Founder, what is needed. Let God order Renaissance Christian your steps and find peace in the Counseling Center pause. www.gracenglorymagazine.org 15
monthly manna
STRETCH Yourself!
Now, just for the record I am not that Yoga girl. I own very comfortable yoga pants that I do my household chores in, but that’s pretty much the extent of it. Don’t get me wrong, I have tried one or two yoga videos but even the basic stretches were too advanced for me. Stretching has never been something I enjoyed. Personally, I have always felt that stretching was uncomfortable, painful and to be quite honest a little on the boring side. To stand there and hold a pose or stretch for a period of time just doesn’t keep my attention. However, if we are honest, stretching is viable. If you ever had a reputable trainer, they will always make you stretch before a workout. Why is that? According to wyofitness.com, the purpose of a warm up is to prevent injury by increasing the body’s core and muscle temperature. Warm muscles increase the rate of energy production which increases reflexes and lowers the time it takes to contract a muscle. So simply put, if you take time to warm up, your muscles do not have to work as hard to contract! My goodness, when that revelation hit me, I never looked at stretching the same from a physical, mental and spiritual perspective. How many of us went right into starting that business or ministry and didn’t stretch first? We didn’t research, pray diligently, or seek wise counsel. How many of us jumped into that relationship and didn’t stretch first. We ignored red flags, our intuition and jumped right on the treadmill. I don’t know about you, but it’s time to stretch! Can I ask you a question, why are you still putting new wine into old wine skins? If you didn’t know, sooner or later they will burst. I want to challenge you NOT to bring the old into the new! I feel it all over me that something new is happening within you. It may not feel like it, but keep stretching! Believe me, you are NOT the same person you were even a month ago. I have personally started stretching my body more and let me tell you, I am tighter than tight! However, the purpose of stretching is not just for physical benefits, but stretching will cause you to be more flexible! It will cause you to let some things go, so that you can make room for what’s next! You may ask, Carenda what’s next? I can’t answer that for you, but what I can do is confirm that it is refreshing, revitalizing and refined. So please do me a favor, let the old wine skins go. Let the old mentality and rusty mindset go, it’s time to stretch yourself into what’s next! You will need more energy for what’s next. You will need more flexibility for what’s next. You will need more room for what’s next. Trust me, I am in no means setting you up for just an emotional high. I am setting you up to think differently, and to see that you are enough if you just take time to STRETCH! If you take time to stretch your mind, your spirit and your body, you won’t have to work as hard and you won’t have to recover as long. Remember, all things are working together for your good! Even when you stretch Carenda Deonne yourself! www.carendadeonne.com If you are ready to stretch, I admin@carendadeonne.com dare you to TAKE AIM! 888-473-2221
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Sleep
health matters
Sleep… It is a vital element to our health and well-being. To some people, it can be as elusive as money. To others, sleep can be as valuable as gold. Sleep is one of the few activities that we can do at any time and in almost any place. It was through sleep that God took Adam’s rib and created Eve. Abraham saw visions of God while he was asleep. Throughout the bible, God spoke to men and showed His greatness during times of sleep. Each of us at times has experienced difficulty falling or staying to sleep. Stress, illness, physical and emotional pain can lead to sleeplessness. We are aware that adults require about 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per day. Realistically, most people obtain approximately 5-6 hours of sleep each night. During the vital hours of sleep, the body has the opportunity to repair and rejuvenate itself. The short term consequences of inadequate or poor-quality sleep are obvious. Individuals feel tired and often experience a loss of productivity the following day. Lethargy throughout the day leads to a lack of focus, concentration, and a decrease in physical energy. Research studies indicate that the brain uses periods of sleep to categorize and store information. This allows individuals to recall information better. Throughout our lives, our need for sleep changes. Infants require 10-11 hours of sleep per day. School-age children require about 8-10 hours of sleep to support their growing bodies. Adolescents often experience day time sleepiness due to irregular bedtimes. The elderly usually require less sleep. Many elderly individuals experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. These periods of sleeplessness often lead to napping during the day. Unfortunately, difficulty sleeping is not limited to sleeplessness; many individuals experience various forms of sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can include difficulty breathing during sleep (sleep apnea), sleepwalking, uncontrollable twitching (restless leg syndrome), falling to sleep at unpredictable times (narcolepsy), and difficulty falling to sleep or staying asleep (insomnia). Often, individuals with sleep disorders are unaware they have a problem until family and loved ones identify the presence of certain behaviors. Several websites offer questionnaires to help individuals identify sleep disorders. Two websites https://www.webmd.com/ sleep-disorders/sleep-disorder-quiz and https://claytonsleep.com/ adult-sleep-quiz-sleep-disorder/ offer consumer surveys that ask questions to identify the quality of sleep and situations that may affect sleep. Stress and worry can contribute to sleepless nights. Concern about family, finances, and world problems may impact our ability to relax and rest. As Christians, we need to ask ourselves, “Are we holding on to the cares of the world, or are we letting go and
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letting God handle our problems?” Many tips are offered to stimulate and support sleep in individuals. Suggestions such as going to bed and waking up the same time every day, engaging in relaxing activities before bedtime, eliminating light and sound distractions in your bedroom, and engaging in light exercise during the day can help promote sleep. The COVID-19 crisis has caused widespread concern. The uncertainty of the future and drastic changes in our daily routines may impact your ability to rest at night. We must believe that God will supply our need for sleep. God understands our need for sleep and rest. Genesis 2:2 states God rested on the seventh day. During a period of extreme personal stress, I used the following prayer, taken from the book Prayers That Availeth Much Vol.II (1989, World Ministries) to help me to sleep. I hope it will bless you as it has blessed me: “I bring every thought, every imagination, and every dream into captivity and obedience of Jesus Christ. Father, I thank you that even as I sleep, my heart counsels me and reveals to me your purpose and plan. Thank you for sweet sleep, for you promised your beloved sweet sleep. Dr. Denyce Watties Daniels Therefore my heart is glad, and Assistant Professor my spirit rejoices. My body and College of Health Professions soul rest, and confidently dwell in Coppin State University safety, Amen.” DWatties-Daniels@coppin.edu healthytips 025@gmail.com
trinkets to triumph
The Father is trying to find you! As you celebrate Father’s Day to honor all of the fathers and father figures in your life, remember that your Heavenly Father is looking for you to fill you with His love, loyalty, and an everlasting life. You are not only blessed to have a natural father but you also have a Heavenly father that loves you too. Both of these fathers care for you, cover you, and continuously show you love. Both of these fathers want to fulfill all promises to you, fight for you, be your friend for life, and fill all of your voids. All natural fathers are not perfect and some make many mistakes. Even if they mess up and miss the mark, your Master and Heavenly Father is always there to make up the difference. Fathers and father figures are on the frontline of every family. You are blessed to have many meaningful men in your life that can be a father figure to you. Even if your natural father isn’t in your household or not in your life, you can have a father figure in your life in people like your pastor, uncles, mentors, and most of all your Heavenly Father. King David was a father figure as a result of King Saul and his best friend Jonathan losing their life in battle (1 Samuel 31:1-6). He kept the covenant he made and decided to be the father figure to his friend Jonathan’s son. He made a promise to Jonathan that he would always take care of and look out for his descendants (1 Samuel 20:14-17). Although his life wasn’t perfect, David was determined to be the perfect father figure when he initiated a search for his friend Jonathan’s descendants in order to show them kindness like he vowed to do. His search resulted in finding Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:1-13). Mephibosheth was at a low place in his life and felt like a dead dog (2 Samuel 9:8). King David discovered him and made a decree that he would always have a seat at his table, the king’s table (2 Samuel 9:11-13). David became like a dad to Mephibosheth and was the man to manifest the meaning of Mephibosheth’s name, “one who destroys shame” or “the end of shame.” He came into his life as a father figure and fulfilled his promise to his forever friend, Jonathan. Mephibosheth always had a seat at the king’s table and went from a low place and a place of shame to sitting at a royal place at the king’s table. There are many dads like David ready to show you love and kindness. God will always send a substitute and give you a father figure that you can depend on. He works in and through fathers and father figures to pull you up and out of your low place and place you at His table so you can dine sufficiently and have everything you want and desire (Psalm 37:4). King David had several sons but still made room for Mephibosheth. Your Heavenly Father always has room for you. There is a seat waiting for you at your Heavenly Father’s table. He prepared a table just for you (Psalm 23:5). Fathers and father figures, strive to be a dad like David and always make room at your table to impart your wisdom, wise counsel, and whatever else is needed to those in need of a father figure. Your Divine Dad and Heavenly Father designed you in His image and likeness and built you to be bold and to stand in the gap for Him. Sons and daughters, you have a dad like David. Your Heavenly Father is trying to find you! Let Him know you are ready to experience all of the blessings He has for you and are ready to experience His demonstration of being a forever father figure and divine dad.
Tracey Nicole George
www.traceystrinketstotriumph.com
www.gracenglorymagazine.org 19 www.gracenglorymagazine.org 19
body basics
Get Ready! Get Set! Let Go! You are too Blessed,To be Stressed Does anyone else out there feel like Covid 19 is just a bad dream and we will soon wake up to the life we were accustomed to? We all have experienced some difficulties and challenges in our lives, but this is uniquely different from anything else we’ve ever been faced with. It’s bad enough when we are battling with an enemy that we are acquainted with, but it is very difficult to fight an enemy that we can’t see. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (NKJV) I believe this is a time when we will totally discover who we really are. Difficult times will either make or break you. The good news is, we are not going through these uncertain times alone. This is a global pandemic and everyone is being affected in one way or another. No matter who you are, we all have to start over or look at life in a different way. This is the perfect time for us to do some deep reflection and soul searching. There are many ways and techniques we can use to help in this process. However, there is one thing we all can implement right now. The first thing we can start today is a breathing exercise routine. I KNOW IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE that something as simple as taking a few deep breaths can transform your body and state of mind. Yet, science shows it does. Deep breathing sends a message to your brain that has a calming effect. It can lower your heart rate and breathing rate, decrease your blood pressure, reduce muscle tension and help you feel less stressed overall – all essential for your health, mental health and wellbeing, especially during this pandemic. The best part is that breathing is something you do naturally every day and requires no additional work. With very little effort, your own breath can become a source of deep relaxation and stress relief. Deep breathing is a tool people can use to overcome stress reactions. A consistent breathing routine can help improve sleep, 20 June 2020 | Grace&Glory
digestion, concentration, enhance relaxation and mood. Studies show deep breathing can help people of all ages with a wide range of health conditions, including: depression, heart disease, stress and mental illness. Deep breathing can also help eliminate some pain and anxiety, while increasing comfort and invite calmness as well. Other benefits include feeling more peaceful, releasing negative thoughts and reducing anxiety. Many people find that deep breathing, when done regularly, makes a big difference on how they encounter fear and uncertainty. The amazing thing about having a breathing exercise routine is that you can practice anytime and anywhere; you can be home, work around other people or all alone. It’s a great gift to have. It will save you from a lot of unnecessary situations by taking a deep breath before we speak or encounter fear. I have discovered when I take about 5 minutes out in the morning to do my breathing routine; my day seems to flow much more smoothly. Here are a few tips you can use every day to develop a breathing routine. 1. Bring your awareness to your breaths without trying to change how you’re breathing. 2. Allow your whole body to become relaxed with each deep breath. 3. Note how shallow breathing feels compared to deep breathing. 4. Let out a loud sigh with each exhale. 5. Begin the practice of breath focus by combining this deep breathing with imagery and a focus word or phrase that will help you feel relaxed. 6. You can focus totally on the breath or mentally concentrate on a positive affirmation. 7. Imagine that the air you exhale washes away all stress, tension and anxiety. And on every inhale, you are taking in love, peace and joy. Get Ready! Get Set! Breathe and Let It Go!
CHARLES & URSULA HARRIS,
Fitness Experts Chizel It Transformation Fitness Center 9006 Liberty Rd • Randallstown Md 21133 443-253-0090 • www.chizelit.com
www.gracenglorymagazine.org  21
be fit financially
HOW ARE YOUR FINANCES DURING THE PANDEMIC? Ecclesiastes 7:10-14
to self-reflect on our finances and identify our shortcomings to determine if we are fit financially. Regardless of your economic status, this pandemic has revealed plenty of hard truths and lessons for ALL of us. A few lessons that we all could benefit from: 1. An emergency fund is a necessity not an option. The goal is to save up to three to six months of income. There are regular monthly bills and then unforeseen bills, such as a major car repair or uncovered medical expense emergencies. Think about how much harder it is to suddenly lose your income and have nothing to fall back on. Please do not get caught up in the amount you are able to save, even if it’s only $5.00 – start there! The goal is to get the momentum going. If the three to six months of living expenses is intimidating, make your first goal been over two months that the world $1,000.00 in savings; 69% of Americans have less than $1,000.00 in has been hit with the most paralyzing modern- savings. day plague …. The Coronavirus or better 2. What’s the vision for my financial future? Stepping back every known as COVID-19. Besides our world being now and then to see how your financial decisions are affecting your turned inside out, it also has put a major impact overall future is necessary. Maybe you have made minimum payments on our finances or at the very least, it has given on your accounts not realizing that hundreds or thousands in interest us pause to look at our finances from a different charges are racking up over time. Re-evaluate all of your current perspective. financial habits and goals to see if they will get you where you want to For about 800,000 Americans, 60 days be in the future. probably feels more like an eternity as they 3. It’s better together (Teamwork). If the recent pandemic has taught work without pay or are furloughed until us anything, it should show us how important teamwork and cooperation further notice; not to mention the 36.5 million is. When both parties are on the same team and are unyielding, it can that has filed for unemployment. create a serious roadblock and have many ramifications. If you are in We begin to ask ourselves these questions, do a marriage or other shared money responsibility situation, consider I have enough money to sustain me through an ways in which you can change your mindset. This will require honesty, emergency (how long is that and how much do self-reflection and compromise. Communication early on about each I need???); do I really know what my monthly person’s approach to money will help to expenses are; do I have a budget in place and solidify which financial approach should be more importantly, is it in WRITING; do I have taken. Everyone’s point of view is different the proper insurance and coverages in place; so there is no room for assumptions. Money and IF, I lose my job – are the insurances and isn’t as hard as we assume it is. Debt, coverages affordable. financial stress and embarrassment does not have to be a part of your story. DO I REALLY KNOW WHERE THE
It’s
MONEY IS GOING?
You owe it to yourself to live the life you This time has given us the perfect opportunity have envisioned. 22 June 2020 | Grace&Glory
Crystal L. Morris, Founder & CEO Be Fit Financially
VISION Where there is no vision... PROVERBS 29:18a
NEW SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr., Pastor
Worship Opportunities SUNDAY • 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. (as scheduled)
Mid-Week Worship
Early Morning Prayer DAILY • 6:00 a.m.
Educational Ministries
WEDNESDAY • 7:00 p.m.
Saturday Church School • EACH SATURDAY, 9:00 a.m. The Carter School of Music • MONDAY-SATURDAY
Holy Baptism
Broadcast Ministries
FOURTH SUNDAY • 5:30 p.m.
Holy Communion
FOURTH SUNDAY • 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Morning Service • Live Stream, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. via our website newshilohbaptist.org Sunday Morning Joy • Sundays, 8:00 a.m. -12:00 noon, Magic 95.9 FM Grace & Glory • WMAR, 5th Sundays, 7:00 a.m.
2100 North Monroe Street • Harold A. Carter Way • Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Phone 410-523-5306 Fax 410-523-9812 Email info@newshilohbaptist.org For more information visit us online at www.newshilohbaptist.org
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24 June 2020 | Grace&Glory
