TRINKETS TO TRIUMPH

from Grace & Glory Magazine May 2022

JOY BRINGER

Tracey GEORGE

trinkets to triumph

A Moment with Mom

May is for mothers so have a moment with your mom! Mothers and mother figures include women who birthed, been there for, or blessed someone in a motherly fashion. Mothers are marvelous, magnificent, and mean the most to those that love them. As you celebrate Mother’s Day this month, muster up much, much love and adoration for your mom and the mother figures in your life. Mothers make a major impact on the lives of their loved ones by mentoring, molding, and making up the difference when there is a need. A mom would move a mountain to make their loved ones feel safe and secure. Take a moment and thank your Master, Jesus Christ, for your mom.

Mothers are the first ministers you meet. Mothers not only use their time and talents to serve and minister to and for the Lord, but they also minister to their family by leading in prayer, scripture reading, and being the example of someone who serves the Lord. Mothers, along with fathers, train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Hannah, as she promised the Lord, even went as far as taking her son, Samuel, to the temple to live and be raised by the priest, Eli, to ensure that he would grow up and be a man of God in service to the Lord (I Samuel 1:21-28). Most mothers are on a mission to make sure their child’s life mirrors that of the Master.

Many people can look in the mirror and see their mother staring back at them. Whether or not you look like the splitting image of your mother, you can see her morals, values, and standards she’s instilled in you through your actions and demeanor. Mothers are the masters at molding, mentoring, and making sure that you are the best version of yourself. Even though Naomi was just Ruth’s mother-in-law, think of how much of Naomi’s guidance and advice to Ruth led her to marry the family’s redeemer, Boaz, and as a result, play a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ (Ruth 3:1-6 & Matthew 1:5). After Ruth lost her husband, she could have left Naomi and went about her business, but Ruth knew that Naomi was an amazing motherin-law and mother figure to her. When Naomi tried to get Ruth to go about her business, Ruth didn’t want to miss a moment with her. So, she told her, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

Have a moment with your mom. If your mom is no longer with you, meditate on a moment or memory that made you proud to have had precious moments with your mom. Meditate on what your mom means to you. If you are not in a good place with your mom, consider ways to mend the relationship. Even in the midst of mistakes, you can rest assured that your mom is always there for you and ready to extend mercy to you.

Mothers mean a lot to the Master too. Think of how Jesus, even in His time of agony, took the time to make sure His mother was taken care of when He was dying on the cross (John 19:2627). Have a moment with your mom. It would make her day for you to demonstrate in love how much she means to you. Many may mislead you, but you and your mother are a match made in Heaven until eternity that together can conquer any situation or circumstance in Jesus’s name and power. This month, make a million moments with your mom!

Elder Tracey Nicole George

It's Mother's Day:

The Importance of Prenatal Care

It's Mother's Day! Whether you are an expectant Mom, grandmother, dear auntie, or best friend, the anticipation of a baby can be exciting. God ordained that life must spring from the female species. New life is nurtured and grown deep within the female body. The human female provides nourishment, blood flow, and protection that provides internal support for the growth and development of the unborn baby. However, this internal support is not enough to ensure the optimum development of the baby. Getting early and regular prenatal care improves the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and promotes safe births.

Prenatal care reduces complications during pregnancy and prevents problems during delivery. Prenatal care is especially crucial for women with high-risk pregnancies. Being over 35 years old, being overweight or underweight, having preexisting health problems such as diabetes or other endocrine disorders, hypertension, HIV, autoimmune disorders, cancer, addictions to drugs or alcohol, pregnancies with twins, triplets, and other multiple births, or a history of miscarriages, may increase the risk of problems during pregnancy. Consistent prenatal care is most effective in reducing the chance of low birth weight among high-risk women and women of color. As grandmothers, aunties, and best friends, we must support and encourage women to get proper prenatal care.

Prenatal care includes regular office visits, screening, and diagnostic tests. The healthcare provider may schedule the pregnant mother for ultrasounds, lab tests, and fetal monitoring. Visits to the provider's office can include counselling, education, nutritional, emotional, and social support.

Traditional prenatal care begins with the initial visit with an obstetrician or midwife. A detailed patient history is taken, including a family history of genetic disorders. The provider will conduct a pelvic exam and will order and evaluate blood work, blood pressure, weight, and urine screening for proteins and sugar. The second office appointment is usually a month after the initial visit and will continue each month until ten weeks before the delivery. As the expectant mother approaches her delivery date, the office visits become more frequent. The mother and the provider will discuss the delivery experience. Together they will decide if a home birth or delivery in a birthing center is appropriate for the impending delivery. The provider will discuss medications used in delivery. Now the appointments occur more frequently.

The CDC recommends pre-pregnancy care. The agency encourages women to seek medical care and advice before becoming pregnant. A pre-pregnancy care visit can help women take steps toward a healthy pregnancy before they even get pregnant. Women are encouraged to discuss pregnancy time frames. These potential personal and family health issues may impact pregnancy. Women need to stay as healthy as they can immediately before, during, and after pregnancy. They must stay up to date on all healthcare appointments and follow all instructions by the doctor. Eating right, exercising, and taking proper medication are also crucial.

How can you help an expectant mom stay on tract with her prenatal health care? Volunteer to accompany her on her office visits. Encourage mom to eat a balanced diet, watch her weight and balance exercise, work and rest. Give mom a break by caring for her other children when she seems overwhelmed or tired. Listen, watch and pray for mom. Pregnancy can be stressful. Moms need an effective social and emotional support system.

Pregnancy is crucial, but it can be safe if expectant mothers engage in prenatal care. Women need to stay as healthy as they can immediately before, during, and after pregnancy. Regular visits to the obstetrician or midwife Dr. Denyce Watties-Daniels can support a healthy and safe Assistant Professor at delivery. Coppin State University DWatties-Daniels@coppin.edu healthytips025@gmail.com

Ericka J.4040 May 2022 May 2022

Kingdom Business The Series

BET + has released a new series with singer, Yolanda Adams and Serayah leading the cast, Kirk Franklin is one of the executive producers and also plays the role of “Deacon Dwayne”, other featured talents include Tamar Braxton, Michael Jai White, and Devon Franklin. The series premieres on Thursday, May 19, it’s an insider to the world of gospel music behind the scenes; the challenges of money, fame, secrets, and success. The trailer is available, which I have had the chance to check out, and I’m excited it has 8 episodes! Who’s having a watch party?!

JJ Hairston

JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise will be doing their Live Recording on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at All Nations DC, where he and his wife Trina Hairston serve as pastors, if you know anything about THIS MUSICAL AGGREGATION, you know they have always delivered timeless good gospel music, and I’m so looking forward to hearing the sound they’re releasing in this season. The live recording will feature guest artists, Travis Greene, David Wilford, Benita Jones, and Adriann Lewis Freeman, the recording is free but you must register. https:// allnationsdc.churchcenter.com/registrations/ events/1266368

Chrystal Rucker

Chrystal has officially signed to Bishop Norman Hutchins label, IR Music Group and has new music coming out titled “Your Grace”, this songstress is undoubtedly one of the most noted voices in gospel music and I can’t wait to hear it!

Patrick Riddick & Dvyne Worship

The choir master Patrick Riddick and his choir Dvyne Worship have a new single titled “Jesus Is With Me”, and he’s newly signed to Bishop Hezekiah Walker’s label Hez House Entertainment, which has become the home to this wave of choirs,

News keeping gospel music alive. The single is available right now at all digital media outlets.

Ron Summers

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, this vocal Powerhouse relocated to Baltimore from Houston, Texas and has certainly made his presence known, and we absolutely claim him as “Baltimore’s Own”, he is undoubtedly the total package. Ron is noted for his work with choirs and even praise teams creating a sound to be reckoned with, while he is very major in the COGIC arena, his resume has broadened beyond any denominational barriers. He started a solo career in 2006 and was signed to Matthew Knowles’ label Music World Entertainment, needless to say with all the groundwork he’s laid over the years it’s time for him to launch back out into the deep! His lead single “It Is So” featuring Sunday’s Best Winner Tasha Page Lockhart is absolutely a great song! You will Thank me after you download it, I promise you will want more and the EP! The single is Available NOW at all digital media outlets.

Therron Fowler

Therron Fowler has released a new single just in time for Mother’s Day! He dedicated it to his mother but certainly we all can relate! It especially speaks to the strong single mothers and the sacrifices they’ve had to make for their children, without much help. I absolutely love this song and its one I believe will take wings specifically for Mother’s Day, much like “Grandma’s Hands”, “Sweet Sadie”, “Better Days”, etc. Therron’s voice is so soulful much like his dad, the late great Ricky Fowler, it’s definitely no surprise Therron is following in his father’s footsteps giving us good music.