May-June 2017
GOSPEL MAGAZINE
HEELS
MEET THE PENNYBAKERS "A Love That Won't Fail"
The Editor's Notes Each issue of Heels Gospel Magazine brings its own set of challenges. Whether it be missed deadlines, story concepts that fail, editorial changes or even the pressures of balancing family, ministry and business, our staff strives to bring you a quality publication that the entire family can read. We are grateful for our readers, our supporters, our sponsors and all of those that simply say that they were blessed by something they saw or read. Knowing that our work is not in vain is what pushes us to keep on going and going higher than we even think that we can go. We look forward to even greater stories, interviews and information within the next coming months and even years ahead. As I took time over the past few months to reflect on why I do this magazine, I even found myself feeling like I wanted to give up. But when I read the articles written by our contributors I knew that giving up can never be an option because they have some amazing stories to share. However, we would love to hear your amazing stories too in the hopes that you have something to share that will help someone to keep striving for greater. If that is you, send us your story at info@heels-magazine.com. Make sure that you put "inspired" in the subject line. Our staff will read over your story and hopefully we will be able to contact you to say that your story will be published.
Cheryl Jones-Ross Editor in Chief
SCRIPTURE READING:
I indeed baptize y! wi" water unto repentance: but he "at come" a#er me $
mightier "an I, whose %oes I am not wo'hy to bear: he %all baptize y! wi" ) Holy Gho*, and wi" fire:
Mat"ew 3:11
HEELS ON THE COVER Kara and Nathaniel Pennybaker
Editor in Chief Cheryl Jones-Ross
Style Editor Tyonna Singleton
Contributing Writers
Contents May-June 2017 Edition
8 11
The Facebook Call-to-Action Feature Sharvette Mitchell
Karesse Smalls Doss For God's Glory
Rev. Denise Wade
Satin Boykinds
Sharvette Mitchell
Connie Birth
Dr. Stacie N. Grant
Robin Sample
Staff Photographer Matthew Singleton SICQOGRAPHY
17 22 24
Author D. Angel Through The Test of TIme
Great is Thy Faithfulness Rev. Denise Wade
A Love That Won't Fail Kara and Nathaniel Pennybaker
27
Grace Under Fire Dr. Stacie NC Grant
30
Why Do You Stay Robin Sample
34
Kingdom Health 4 Life With Satin Boykinds
Feature Stories In This Issue
Author D. Angel Through The Test of Time Page 17
GRACE WON A TRIBUTE TO KARESSE SMALLS DOSS Page 11
In our May/June 2016 Issue of HGM I shared a story written by my friend Karesse Smalls Doss concerning her battle along with her daughter's battle with breast cancer.
A Love That Won't Fail Kara and Nathaniel Pennybaker
Her daughter Karesse Doss Ayer passed away last July 16, 2016. Karesse Smalls Doss my beautiful friend passed away on July 14, 2017. I wanted to reshare her story in the hopes that someone is blessed by her words. Rest with God, my friend I will always adore you. Cheryl Jones-Ross Learn how the Pennybakers not only overcame trials that nearly destroyed their marriage but, turned their story into a successful marriage ministry.
Page 20
I have worked on this book for almost four years. I had to go back, rewrite and edit it over and over again as the Lord continued to transform me in my thinking process during that time period. I had to rest for months at a time because of the heaviness of writing this book. I had to pray and ask God for forgiveness as I began to recognize all of the times that I had made a mess of things thinking that I was doing His will. I also had to decide if I really wanted to expose all of my weaknesses and my faults stemming from failing to really overcome the residue of my past. I certainly laid it all on the line in this book. But I needed to be transparent about my own life, so that I could tell why it took the Fire of God to come into my life to transform me. The Lord will send fire in our lives so that He can give us beauty for ashes. But we will not be beautiful until we first, shake off those ashes, and secondly let Him examine us and determine that there is no more residue on us from our past before we can arise out of the ashes into position and with the favor of God.
Cheryl Jones-Ross
The Facebook “Call-to-Action” Feature!
Have you seen or heard about the “Call-to-Action” feature on Facebook Business/Fan pages? It is pretty cool if you ask me! Don’t worry, if you have not used it yet. You will after reading this! What is it? The “Call-to-Action”blue button is located at the bottom right of the Facebook cover image and it simply links your visitors to another site, page or video. Let’s face it… people are bombarded with information while online. If you want them to take some ACTION, make it as clear and simple as possible. The “Call-to-Action” feature does just that!
How can I use it?
This is great if you are an Author because you can provide a direct link to where your book is sold on Amazon or on your website. This is great if you are hosting a seminar, conference or etc, because they can simply click “Sign Up” & go directly to your sign up link, webpage or Eventbright page.
This works well if you are an Artist and you want them to check out a Youtube video of your performance, they can simply click “Watch Video” and go directly to the video.
The other cool thing is that you can change this “Call-to-Action” button as often as you need! About Sharvette Mitchell As Creative Director of Mitchell Productions, LLC (Web Design & Social Media Coaching), Sharvette seeks to bring your BRAND alive and build something AMAZING! Contact her at hello@mitchell-productions.com and visit her website at www.Mitchell-Productions.com
For My Good and God's Glory Our church has recently been having in-depth teachings on grace and following the theme “Empowered Authority and Grace.” This is what should be on our lips from 2 Corinthians 9:15 “thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” His indescribable gift called grace is often defined as unmerited favor offered freely by God. Fortunately for us it comes with no strings attached. But you should know that grace is so much more than unmerited favor. If we continue to believe that it's only unmerited favor then nothing has to happen and nothing has to change. What I want to share through this article is about God's sustaining grace from my own personal testimony. But before I share this information I want to give you four words to feed on and those four words are to ACCEPT WHAT GOD ALLOWS. In your acceptance of what God allows we can activate our faith and more freely accept God's sovereignty. He's going to do what He wants to do, whenever He wants to do it and how He wants to do it. Sometimes we want to take on our burdens, carry that weight and control the outcome but, you must realize that it is all up to God and so we must accept what God allows. Learning to accept what God allowed and allows enabled me not to agonize over many of the circumstances in my life. The testimony I'm sharing with you was based from the very beginning on Psalm 139:13-16 and it says; “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you are breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” God's sustaining grace kicks in when our minds tell us to quit. It helps us turn that bend when our body tells us that we've had enough. His sustaining grace smacks us in the head when we think of throwing in the towel. God's sustaining grace empowers us to endure even when we think we can't. It's at this point that we should realize that we must cross the finish line void of our own performance because of God's gift of grace. The month of October 2013 was a life changing time for me and my family. Myself, my daughter Brittny and my granddaughter Micah were on our way home from the beach on a perfect beautiful sunny Monday afternoon when we got a call from my oldest daughter, Karesse. She was hysterical to the point where I couldn't understand a word she was saying. I quickly pulled over into a gas station to gather myself and to see if I could calm her down with my voice. My voice usually works to calm my four daughters when they are in their life issues so I had no reason to think that it wouldn't work this time. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, through her sobs she said, “I have breast cancer.” It seemed like the entire universe stopped and I felt as if my heart had been sucked out of my chest. In a few seconds, I collected myself long enough to say to her. “OK, so let's see what to do.” My calm hun voice wasn't working and I ended up screaming her name over and over trying to get her to breathe and talk to me. Brittny could hear the hysteria from her sister and snatched the phone out of my hand, a little peeved that I was yelling at her sister in the state that she was in. But I know my children. If I didn't get her attention and calm her down just a little bit she would roll in defeat for months to come and we, God and us, clearly had a work to do. Brittny was able to get the doctor's name and phone number and she hung up with her sister and immediately called her doctor. The news was not good. She was in stage four of breast cancer in her right breast and it had even spread to her lymph nodes. They needed her in their office the next day for further testing. Needless to say, the seven hour trip from the beach felt like an eternity and it was very quiet in the car. It was hard to breathe and I just wanted to punch a wall. I was angry and scared and my emotions were all over the place and I still had to drive. Brittny and I could not think of anything to say to each other that would make any sense so the deafening silence was the best solution. And it gave us an opportunity to pray. I thank God for Pastor Neecee (Denise Lewis) who after getting the call immediately went to my daughter's side and promised to stay with her until I got there.
Once we had returned to the city I immediately morphed to my daughter's side. She was lying on her sister Kami's couch still in a state of total despair sobbing and shaking. It was gut wrenching and heartbreaking. I gathered my mother voice pulled from the pit of my stomach and told her that this was the last day for this feeling of defeat. I just knew that we could not enter this journey like it was a death sentence looming like a black cloud over our heads. I told her that she was going to have to get up off her face and work towards her healing. “You have three children that need you,” I told her. “We all need you,” I added.
But she wasn't
ready to hear any of my reasoning so we just sat with her for hours, quietly soothing her and praying for her complete healing. And as I sat there looking at my daughter, my mind went to stage four breast cancer. Then it hit me that there are only four stages! Statistics say that once the cancer reaches stage four that it's not curable.
But
that's what they say. I began praying to the doctor of all doctors and was trusting and believing in His report instead and at the same time accepting what God allowed. I had no other choice. I wasn't ready to lose my daughter to this stupid inhumane disease. When I say we dragged Karessie to the doctor the next day kicking and screaming I am telling you that we literally dragged her. The doctors decided to begin immediately with chemotherapy treatments to shrink the large tumor in her right breast. But before the chemo could even start she had to go through a CT body scan, a biopsy and an MRI. They had to make sure the cancer had not spread to her other organs – the brain, the liver and the lungs. The waiting for the results was brutal. We asked our church and stopped people on the streets to solicit prayers on Karessie's behalf.
The prayers were heard and answered because it had not
spread. We cried. We rejoiced. We cried. We thanked God. We cried and thanked God for his sustaining grace. Because of my daughter's age, she was 39 at the time of her diagnosis, she had not started on yearly mammograms. The age for mammograms technically is age 40. She had felt the lump and visited with her doctors but they didn't detect it until the cancer was full blown. She insisted that me and her sisters schedule mammograms. The test results from her three sisters were good. Mine came back abnormal. I had to have a CT scan and a biopsy immediately. The results showed that I was in stage one breast cancer in both breasts. Just having the shock of my diagnosis wasn't enough. It turned out that each breast had a different type of cancer. I had triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast and negative invasive ductal carcinoma of the right breast. I had followed through with my yearly mammograms but no lumps were detected. Instead I had clusters of microscopic bits of calcium deposits that were cancerous.
Now I was
forced to eat my own words that I had confidently spoken to my daughter and work towards my own healing and to accept what God allowed. My daughter saved my life with her persistence for me to be tested and now I had to be dependent on my faith and God's sustaining grace.
For the months that followed, my daughter and I clung to each other for strength and knowledge comparing notes and keeping a journal through our treatments. She was in a comprehensive research study and on a different chemo than I was on so our experiences were different. The chemo prescribed for me knocked me for a loop. Since my breast cancer was aggressive they put me on something technically called Adriamycin better known as Red Devil because of it's vibrant red color. What in the world? It was administered every three weeks through two Superman size needles over a 30 minute time span. I was also given steroids which bloated me and took away what used to look ankles. It's funny the things we take for granted like ankles but, I was a little distraught about them and prayed to God to have my ankles back and until he answered my prayers my vanity had me hide behind long skirts, pants and boots. By the time my body adjusted to the impact of the chemo it was time for another dose. The red drug boldly entered my body with side effects including fatigue, nausea, mouth sores and metallic taste buds. Hair loss was also in the cards. The doctors suggested that I shave my hair down to a stubble because it would be less traumatizing when it began to fall out. The nail beds on my fingers and toes turned black as well as the palms of my hands and bottoms of my feet. As my fingernails began to lift away from the skin they held a sour odor and I was advised to soak in vinegar and water. Looking in the mirror I hardly recognized myself because I was so bloated and a shade or two darker. The doctors watched for low red and white blood cell counts. Another major side effect was its predicted damage to the heart muscle which could lead to heart failure. I had to have something called a MUGA scan to make sure my heart was pumping properly. Thank God for his sustaining grace because heart damage did not happen. I did however develop a blood clot in my left leg and I had to give myself blood thinning injections twice a day in my stomach muscle so that the clot wouldn't take aim at my heart. I was moving at a turtle's pace but through it all I was “still above the grass” because of God's sustaining grace. From February 2014 to August 2014 I had four treatments of Red Devil then twelve weekly treatments of a different chemo called Taxol which was administered through a port that had been inserted under my skin on my chest. Three weeks after finishing up with my chemotherapy, I was scheduled for a bilateral mastectomy removing both breasts. From my lips to God's ears I can proudly shout that I am a breast cancer survivor. 1 Corinthians 15:10 says “But by the grace of God I am what I am” and his sustaining grace toward me was not without notice. I cannot ever look back and wish for the body parts taken from me because body and soul I am wonderfully made. God knows me inside and out and knows every bone in my body. I decided early in my diagnosis that cancer could not, would not have my life. My life belongs to God not to that disease. I decided cancer wouldn't wreck my spirit and turn me away from a God who I knew would heal me. I decided that my healing was 100% my faith attitude and I was not going to complain and make those around me as miserable as I sometimes felt. So I rocked my bald head, fat ankles and saved money not having a manicure every two weeks. I moisturized my darkened skin and my granddaughters gave me foot massages and pedicures. I love good tasting food so it was difficult not tasting what I was eating but eating I was. Trust me, this path of horror was no cake walk but I had to remember that the days of my life were prepared before I'd even lived one single day. So I had to accept what God allowed. We as a family were very often on our faces in prayer and fasting and believing that God would bring us through to puddle through to the next steps. There were days I felt like I was punched in the gut from the chemo and at times I didn't want to get out of bed because of the fatigue but I had to keep my faith in tact, and keep my mind trusting and remembering God's sustaining grace. My daughter and I still to this day have a village of support from friends, family and our church. That support is so important for our healing.
Accept what God allows.
Not accepting my diagnosis or my daughter's diagnosis would have stifled the
healing process and stifled God's sustaining grace. It would have meant that I thought he had overlooked me. Believe me, I'm still human and at times I would question where He was. I would close my eyes and mutter through my tears to speak life, speak life, speak life because our very lives depended upon it. I had to change my perspective and focus on the positive. We were both still above the grass. If someone would say “I'm sorry you have breast cancer,” I would correct them and say, “I am a survivor of breast cancer” even though I was still going through the process. And even though this season is behind me it will never be over. I can look in the mirror at my chest and it's constant reminder of my survival but I will not look at it as a constant reminder of the disease and I will need to continue to be proactive to make sure the disease does not return. Oh yes, I will do the maintenance but I will not live in fear. That would be like looking over my shoulder waiting for the other shoe to drop and I won't do that ever. That's not my faith. I would rather be confident that I am completely healed and live each day walking in God's sustaining grace. And here's what else I know for sure. What the enemy meant for evil God meant for my good and the glory is all His. Through the hair loss and blood clots.
Through metallic taste buds, nose bleeds and my nails falling off.
Through newly
revived hot flashes and neuropathy in my fingers and toes and through job loss. Yes, in May of 2014, the same year I was diagnosed I was laid off from a job I had for fourteen years and two weeks prior I had moved into a new apartment but His grace is still sustaining me. The Holy Spirit spoke one day recently and said “no more frivolous spending.” I heeded to that word and my bills are paid and I have not missed a meal. So going through those struggles I couldn't find it in my spirit to focus on the enemy's attempt to curse me. I had to focus on God's ability to bless, heal and sustain me in every area of my life. Spiritually, physically, financially. And he did just what he said he would do. Genesis 50:20 says: "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." Those are the words Joseph spoke when his brothers sold him into slavery. He endured for at least 13 years at the hands of the unjust while staying true to his God and His ability to sustain him. He believed God. So I tell you this from lessons learned. Don't focus on the enemy’s ability to curse. Focus more on God's ability to sustain you. And don't ever get distracted!
When I was a toddler my mom wore skirts and dresses and if I felt afraid I would grab hold and bury my face into the fabric of her skirt. It gave me a sense of security. I found a hiding place and safety in the folds of her material. In my brief moments of distress, everywhere she went there I was. This is what I would do with Jesus. In my moments of cancer distress. In the moments of my daughter's uneasiness. In the moments of my financial setback. If He moved I would attach myself to Him and move when he said move. My faith in Him would not allow Him to be out of my sight. Since the days of my life were prepared before my conception what would it have profited me to not be in acceptance of His will? To not accept what He allowed? It's not that I believed that I would be healed.
I believed that I am healed.
I am a
survivor and through my healing He allows me to touch and speak complete healing to my daughter. I have to be a witness of hope for her and anyone else who might need the words from this article! We are not immune from the circumstances that life brings. There was purpose in what I endured and it was to realize and grab hold to God's sustaining grace. I did not earn it or work for it and I certainly could never do enough to deserve it. I received this indescribable gift of grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and that grace is limitless and it abounds not just for me but for you too. That grace is my salvation and His grace is sufficient in my weakness and thank God I am still above the grass. Oh yes, I am what I am because of God's indescribable gift of grace. I am because He is! I am minus some body parts, my hair is taking its good ole time to grow back, my nails are brittle and still black but his grace abounded with me in my deepest waters and by the grace of God I am what I am. Marinate on these beautiful words from John Newton, the celebrated English preacher and hymnwriter of Amazing Grace. "I am not what I ought to be. Ah! How imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish to be. I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good. I am not what I hope to be. Soon, soon, shall I put off, with mortality, sin and imperfection. Though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was, a slave to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle and acknowledge, by the grace of God I am what I am.�
Written By Karesse Smalls Doss
I will always adore you. Cheryl Jones-Ross Editor in Chief
Going to the ends. Where no one else goes. Because Jesus is alive in the hardest places to be a child.
Connect 1.888.511.6548 World Vision P.0. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063
I met this young man at a conference in Pittsburgh several weeks ago and I was impressed by his story as he sat on a stage with a panel of professionals talking about helping men who had been incarcerated to have opportunities for gainful employment. This young man held a great job and was apart of the union, but he was also an author with a recently published book. I spoke with him briefly after the conference as he shared with me, a little of his story. Heels Gospel Magazine is honored to present Author D. Angel.
"The book wasn't really planned, it came out of nowhere. I talk about it a little in the book as to how it began. As I kept writing more and more it gained a purpose. I already had things in my mind that I wanted to come out, but all of a sudden it came to me with a purpose as to why I was writing it. I wanted to help other guys like me who had been in prison, guys before they went to prison, guys after they got out of prison, and women in prison because I did not want to discriminate because being in the system is pretty much the same for everybody. It is all the same for everybody coming out, hard to get employment hard to get a place to stay. I was done with prison and parole in 2011 but, right before I got incarcerated the first time, my son's mother and I had lost our son to Children and Youth Services. There was nothing that I could do about it at the time because I had already been sentenced and was going upstate. It was a trial going through the prison system and I had a pile of crimes but, I wanted to make it home so that I could get him out of the system. I made it out and was doing great, had a job, got my son back, but my life took a turn. I ended up with a DUI and ended up back in prison and my son went back into the system. Over the years I was fighting the DUI case and because of certain situations, I ended up getting it dismissed. I got my son back and we have had some real successful moments together. It took me over a year to do the writing of my book. I would be reading it and see something to add, or subtract things from it that did not go with the purpose of the book.
AUTHOR D. ANGEL THROUGH THE TEST OF TIME
I was never a writer, but I would post self-help quotes and uplifting posts, but that is about it. But what is strange is that my grandfather gave me one gift before he passed away. It was the only gift that I have every gotten from him. I was about 13 years old thinking that he was going to get me some type of toy, but what he gave me was a gold plated pen incased in a box. I didn't appreciate it then. However, as I was writing, that moment splashed in my mind and I remembered him giving me that golden pen. My grandfather also had a rough and troubled past. But, he was one of the co-founders of the drug "rehab" houses. He was a heroin addict, but he co-founded the program in Atlantic City that people use today. Right now, I am focused on getting my book out there and promoting the book. I have no real plans of writing another book, but if you are reading the book you will see quotes and poetry that I wrote that will put the reader in the frame of mind to understand the chapter. I am content where I am at, with what I have accomplished, but may want to be further in my life in writing. I would like to be done with construction but, I want to help guys to get into construction who also were incarcerated. I would like to help people in the way that I was helped by putting the construction tools down and helping others to get in the union, provide for their families and not just be doing the dead-in job that is on the excon list. And not just surviving but living, pool in the yard, vacation and family stuff instead of always paying for their past."
It’s Greatfulness The Webster Dictionary description of gratitude is warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: (Psalms 103:2, Bless the lord, o my soul, and forget not all his benefits) The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. Grateful comes from the Latin word gratus, which means pleasing, agreeable, welcome. During the Lenten Season of this year, I was asked to give a message on Grateful. This year, another Vision of Bishop Mack’s has come to fruition and that is to be able to hire, mentor and train college interns, during the summer to work in the church as well as offer them professional workshops to help prepare them for the real world following graduation. What a blessing this has been so far. Part of their scheduling is that they must begin their work day with 30 minutes of meditation and following their 20 minute meditation, a minister comes in and expounds on what they have meditated on with scripture or an inspirational topic. The past week, we let them choose their own word to meditate on and one of the students chose “gratefulness.” Whenever they were asked to explain their gratefulness, some of the things they were grateful for included their parents, families, homes, being able to wake up every morning, being a part of the Internship program, having friends, always having the things they needed, being loved and having Jesus in their lives, was just a few. So with that said, I would just like to share the brief message that I delivered about my gratefulness. And I do this because God has been so good to me and my family each and every day. I can’t help but Praise God for how He has answered my prayers, healed my body and made provisions for us and restored our family. My son, who has not been home with us for over 25 years is living back home with us and doing well. He recently received employment and has just been a blessing to my husband and myself in every way. I think about how I never gave up hope or stopped praying for this day to come and in God’s own timing and whenever God seen fit to answer a mother’s prayer, my son called and said he wanted to come home and restart his life. I am a witness that if you let go and let God do His thing, He will do the impossible and whenever God does it, no man can undo it! Please look past the Messenger and receive this message from the heart and receive this testimony that I am not only grateful for what God can do, but I’m just grateful for God!
With gratitude, I am able to look back over my life and think about how the Lord looked beyond my faults and saw fit to patiently wait for me to get over myself and for me to fall down on my knees in a state of humility and offer myself to be a living sacrifice, that I may be Holy and acceptable in His sight and that makes me grateful. When I consider that every time I wake up, God is giving me brand new mercies. Because I didn’t do all the right things the day before, but when I opened my eyes on the day after, it was a sign that Jesus had forgiven me one more time and allowed me to have another opportunity to get it right, and that makes me grateful. For some of us, 2016 was a year that brought much confusion, disappointments, losses and even rejection, but through it all, we survived. We walked by faith and not by sight. We have learned to trust him even when we can’t trace him. We have learned to stand on the Word of God, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” Our enemies are paralyzed with curiosity, because what should’ve taken us down or completely cancelled us out- didn’t. They look at us knowing what we’re going through and yet, we don’t look like what we’ve been through and all the fires of life we’ve had to endure, there is no smell of smoke. They don’t understand it, but we have learned to lean and depend on Jesus. We have a mustard seed faith and we are convinced that when we live according to the Word of God, when we study to show ourselves approved and when we pray and fast, then we are confident that there is nothing too hard for God. We’ve witnessed the protection of God for His chosen; so when the enemy comes in like a flood, Jesus raises up a standard and for that reason, we are grateful. 2 Corinthians: 6:14 ( ERV), “You are not the same as those who don’t believe. So don’t join yourselves to them. Good and evil don’t belong together. Light and darkness cannot share the same room.” We are grateful that we serve a God who can give us peace, not as the world gives, but peace to overcome the world and all the turmoil and difficulties it tries to bring. We are concerned about the Donald Trumps of this world, but we are not afraid of what they can do to us. Because we believe that we serve a God who is more powerful and He is in control of heaven and earth, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Some of us are grateful, because in 2016 when we lost our jobs, and we didn’t know how we were going to make it, God showed up as our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. He opened doors that no one else would’ve. He showed up m our seasons of lack and we received overflow and we wanted for nothing He was an on time God and was everything we needed Him to be in our difficult times.
Some of us are grateful because when our relationships took a turn for the worse and we didn’t think we could live without that person, we discovered in that loss, we were able to develop a deeper relationship with the Lord. And this relationship is with someone, who will never leave you, nor forsake you; a relationship with a God, who will stick closer than a brother. This relationship will be everlasting. This relationship is with someone who loves us despite of ourselves, and looks at the heart and not the outward appearance. This relationship is not judgmental but instead it is based on unconditional love. This person knows all there is to know about us and still loves us, still shows up in our lives in times of trouble. This person provides shelter in times of a storm, and never sleeps nor slumbers. Therefore, there no time that is too late or too early to be called for help. The only requirement to stay in this relationship is obedience, faithfulness and to love walking in the ways of the lord. Melody Beattie, in her book “A Day In My Quote Book”, writes that “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” We may not have all the things that our neighbor has, we may not have a large bank account, and we may not have a new car. There are times when we have more month than money, and there are times when we are disappointed in the cards that life deals us. But one thing we can attest to is that our gratefulness is predicated on the fact that we serve a God who will never leave us nor forsake us. We serve a God who demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We can be grateful for everything in life, but none of those things would be possible without having the blessings and favor of God. Everything that has been, that is and that will be is because we serve a God who is faithful. My gratefulness is because I serve a God who has spared me from what I deserved. Death; and instead He has given me what I didn’t deserve and that is life and life more abundantly. In closing, one of my favorite songs is, “Grateful.” I am grateful for the things that He has done I am grateful for the victories we’ve won I could go on and on and on About your works Because I’m grateful, grateful, so grateful Just to Praise you Lord Flowing from my heart Are the issues of my heart It’s Gratefulness
Rev. Denise Wade
A LOVE THAT WON'T FAIL Kara And Nathaniel Pennybaker
My husband and I have been married for ten years and it has been an amazing transformation from the day we decided to marry until now. I moved to Columbus and was in Columbus for a month when I heard the Holy Spirit say, on my way to work, that you are going the wrong way. I was on the highway and turned around and by the time I got back home, I was packing my bags and bawling my eyes out. I can say that this was a life changing moment and I was married a year later. When I arrived back home, I made two stops, one to tell my friends that I was home and the other stop was at Nate's house and we never were apart again for the rest of that year. We were just friends but, I ended up getting pregnant and Nathaniel told me, "I will not marry you, just because you are pregnant". I said, "You don't have to marry me just because I am pregnant, I can take care of this baby myself." But he never left my side. I got very very sick, had a terrible pregnancy, but he never left my side. There was a time in our friendship that I got up in the middle of the night and wrote this long journal and said, "God, I can't do this anymore, you know the desire of my heart is to be with my child's father, however, my desire is to please you more. So either take him away from me or allow him to see me the way that you see me". He came to me about a month later and said, "Kara the reason why I want to marry you is because God has shown me who you are". I just started crying because, I knew that was my prayer. However, my desire for God had to be greater and I had to ask God to take the desire for sex away from me the same way he could take the desire for cigarettes, for drugs and for sex. That had to become my prayer and I had to set up my relationship in a way that I didn't fall into that place. God also had to fill me in places that Nathaniel couldn't, if I was just waiting for his "yes". It was as if I was in a place of rejection with a hole of rejection inside of me. The only person who could fill that hole was the Lord. I would also tell ladies who may be in that same place, if you have already started sleeping with that other person, then try your hardest not to because what you do before marriage takes intimacy out of your marriage.
Even though there is now a newness in our marriage, when we first got married, there was not because the marriage bed had already been defiled by our sexual relationship before. Therefore, my desire and heart for a woman would be for her to experience this for the first time on her wedding day. After marriage, we went through five years of ups and downs, just learning who each other was. The first year, I found out that my husband had extreme anger that I had never ever experienced. When we were just friends he could get away from me if he was angry. He would just go home. But the anger that I saw in the first year, made me think that I had made a complete and total mistake and that my life was in danger and that my child's life was in danger. He also went through learning that I had extreme anxiety and depression. Depression was something that he ran from. He would not stay around a person who was depressed because he feels like they are dark and that they bring him down. But, he couldn't run from me because we were married. However, we were going to our single friends for help and advice and they couldn't couldn't help us because they were trying to help us from a single's prospective. We then opened our house and started inviting pastors in to come and teach other married couples and we called it "A Love That Won't Fail". So when Nate and I were going through really ugly seasons, the same people that taught us, were the same people that would come and talk to us and say, "No you are not leaving, you are going to get through this". They would give suggestions, advice and help in any way that they could. As couples in our group began to have children it was hard to bring people together. And then Nate and I fell into really bad marital problems making it impossible for us to pour into anyone else. This was around year seven and I just had my third child. I found myself in a really bad postpartum depression but I didn't deal with it because I did not know that it was postpartum depression. So I went through about a year of darkness. During three or four months of that time, I told my husband that he could take the kids and go or I would just go because I didn't care. In that time, I made some very bad decisions about my life and about my marriage. I had completely shut myself off from my husband who to me, was no longer my husband. However, my husband said, "I'm not leaving, I am fasting" and he fasted from May of that year all the way until December 31st of that same year.
I finally ended up going to counseling and realized that I was grieving my grandfather's death from a year before. He was like a father to me. I also realized that all of my hormonal levels were extremely low which also contributed to the way that I felt. So I went through medically getting everything back together and emotionally I went through counseling and then my husband and I went through counseling together. We were finally able to deal with a lot of stuff that we had not dealt with before such as hurt from when we were dating. I felt as if though he had rejected me for four whole years but, he was doing everything with me like I was his girlfriend, but telling me that I was not good enough to be his wife. And he was also telling me that I was not good enough to be his girlfriend, but he married me and I wondered how I was supposed to believe that he did not simply marry me because of the child. We also discovered that I was manipulative and vengeful and we were able to get all of these things out and work on them as a couple. My pastor then sent me to Orlando for a conference. I went into that conference and I could see the worship, I could hear the worship, I couldn't feel it, but I knew that God was there. The next morning of the conference, there was a Shekinah glory cloud in the room that was so thick. I laid on the floor because there was nothing else that I could do. Every single time that I would try to get up, I could feel the hand of God trying to push me back down. I laid there for forty-five minutes until David Binion got on the stage and said, "I just saw demons flee". I got up and every weight from the past year, I felt lift. I felt every pain break and I knew that was it. That time of intimate worship freed me for what God had for me and for my marriage. I went home and our marriage shifted so quickly and has never returned to the way it was. I began to ask how can I give to wives what God gave to me at that conference. So on Friday nights of our retreats the atmosphere has already been prepared for worship and the women are reminded that today we are getting rid of the dead things. By morning they are able to realize that things have shifted.
ACTION ACTION DESPITE THE DISTRACTION with Dr. Stacie NC Grant GRACE UNDER FIRE
\ #FaithpreneurFootnote "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrawise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:9KJV. #FAITHPRENEURS it is very tempting to want to retaliate when we have been wronged in any way, especially when it is unfounded, unwarranted or untrue. Our knee-jerk reaction can be to fight back, lash our or at the very minimum, give the offender a good tongue-lashing. After all, everyone needs to know you are innocent! How dare someone mistreat YOU!! Trust me, I have had my fair share of situations. The frequency of such has no bearing on how much each instance burns you deep down in your soul. I have been on the cusp of a few choice words bubbling up in my throat, fighting to keep them from rolling off my tongue in such situations. When you work hard to treat everyone with the same courtesy you extend to others, it really can take a toll when you someone does the opposite. I have had to grow into a person who can avoid "getting in my feelings" with knee jerk reactions. Instead, I say a prayer asking for God to calm my emotional response & strengthen my capacity for empathy. Typically when people "act out" it is because they have been hurt or damaged in some way. What they really need is to experience love - even in spite of their bad or even evil behavior. They may have never experienced unconditional love before so they don’t know how to give it. If all they have witnessed is dysfunction in relationships, they won’t know how to function or interact with normal loving behavior. However, they can learn through your example. Be careful not to get caught in the trap of wanting to defend or prove your innocence as a solo mission. Let God fight your battle while you extend grace under fire. Their behavior is just another DISTRACTION to take you off course.
As #FAITHPRENEURS we grow in grace when we can pray for those who do us wrong and not take it personally. We inherit blessings when we can share God's love even in the face of evil. You will meet and work with many people in business. Some interactions will be awesome and others will leave you scratching your head but at the end of the day, always seek to add value & share love - even in the most challenging of situations. This is part of the mandate we have as #FAITHPRENEURS.
Remember ACTION ACTION DESPITE THE DISTRACTION!!!! …this is not only our battle cry; it’s a way of life! I want to hear from you! Write in and let me know what you plan to fall in love with YOU and what areas you would like to receive support in. Email your questions to Support@DestinyDesignersUniversity.com Please note, all questions, comments, suggestions, and stories submitted will possibly be used in future articles. All personal information (name, gender, race, etc.) will remain confidential and will not be disclosed. I can’t wait to hear from YOU! Remember, I am counting on your success!!! Yours in service, Dr. Stacie NC Grant www.DestinyDesignersUniversity.com Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter @DrStacieNCGrant Join me in our FB Group Community @DestinyDesignU/
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“Why Do You Stay?”
“Why don’t you just leave?”
Those are two very common questions that victims of domestic violence (DV) are frequently asked. The answers to those questions may vary depending on the victim and their individual circumstances. However, there is one answer that is very common among victims of DV, and that is, because it is safer to stay than it is to leave. This answer isn’t always easy for others to understand, especially if they have never been a victim of DV and have little to no knowledge about the Cycle of Violence. Perhaps you were the one asked those questions or maybe you asked someone else. Or perhaps, you have always wondered why victims of DV remain in abusive relationships. Hopefully, the answers to both of those questions and any others related to why victims stay in abusive relationships will be answered in this article. So, why do victims of DV stay in abusive relationships and why don’t they just leave? It seems like it would be an easy solution, to just walk out the door and not look back, right? Wrong! Truth be told, the most dangerous time for victims of DV is when they leave or attempt to leave the relationship. Why is this, you might ask? This is because DV is all about power and control. Therefore, when an abuser realizes that their victim is attempting to leave or has left the relationship, they immediately feel a loss of power and control, which causes a flurry of emotions, ranging from anger to rage. That flurry of emotions often times leads to danger for victims. That danger plays a major role in the mindset of a victim; it’s what keeps them from leaving and it’s also what causes them to flee. I know that sounds strange or maybe even unbelievable; however, it is very true. It is very difficult to understand the mindset of DV victims unless you have been a victim or you know someone who has. It is a very terrifying situation and equally as terrifying for the victim to share their reasons for staying. Everything a victim does and says is fueled by fear and their efforts to remain safe and more importantly, alive. The interesting thing about DV victims is that, contrary to what a lot of people believe, they are very intelligent people, many of whom possess exceptional survival skills. Those skills are a result of studying their abuser’s behavior (s) and attitude(s) and learning what triggers them.
Triggers…a very loaded word. All of us are triggered to behave, feel and respond in certain ways to various stimuli. There is nothing wrong with that, it’s called human response, which is normal for all of us. Where this process takes a slight turn to the left is when our triggered responses result in others being placed in danger or in fear of imminent danger. When this is the norm in a relationship, it is most likely a DV relationship. For those of you who have never been in a DV relationship or don’t know anyone who has, it is difficult to understand the fear, the terror, the anxiety, the feeling of constantly walking on eggshells, the daily task of trying not to ‘set your abuser off’, and the list goes on and on. Imagine living with someone who seems to be two totally different people in one, changing from day to day and sometimes from minute to minute. You never know what to expect, things could be fine one minute and the next, you’re being yelled and screamed at, items are being thrown across the room, or maybe even at you; punches, kicks or slaps are landing on various areas of your body and there is no visible means of escape. How do you get away? How do you make it stop? Who will hear you if you scream? Those are just some of the questions that go through the mind of a DV victim once their abuser is triggered. In most incidences, it all usually happens so quickly, there is very little time for the victim to think, there’s only time to react. What you just read was a description of the reality of the life of a DV victim…watching and waiting for the next incident to occur and hoping and praying that they make it out unscathed and, more importantly, alive. Recall, I mentioned the skill that most victims have to study their abusers’ behavior(s) and attitude(s) and learn what triggers them to become abusive. Well in that same way, abusers also study their victims, which makes it so easy for them to gain power and control over them. It also makes it easy for the abuser to notice when the victim is making plans to leave the relationship, therefore, increasing the level of danger for the victim. It is for this reason that victims often stay. Victims have a strong desire to leave abusive relationships; however, there need to be several things in place prior to that happening.
First, the victim needs to have a safe place to go upon leaving an abusive relationship. This can be anywhere from the home of a relative, friend or acquaintance, to a shelter/safe house for DV victims. This may sound like an easy fix; however, there are several possible drawbacks to this plan. Secondly, abusers often times isolate victims from everyone, which limits their options when trying to find a safe place to go. There have been incidences where abusers have placed tracking devices on the victims’ vehicle and/or cell phone, making it easy to find them upon leaving. There are also financial obstacles. Often times, abusers control all of the finances in the relationship, leaving victims with little to no financial resources to assist with their escape. Then there are the incidences where the abuser has made all of the decisions for the victim throughout the course of the relationship, therefore, leaving the victim feeling fearful of making the wrong decision. Often times, abusers belittle, degrade and humiliate their victims, damaging their self-esteem so much so that they don’t have the confidence to leave, even if they have a safe place to go, a support system in place and the financial means to support their plan(s). There are several reasons why victims stay in DV relationships. The reality for most victims is that they know what their abusers are capable of for the most part, and because of that, they stay for fear of the unknown. What will really happen if they do decide to leave? How far will their abuser go to make them stay? Will their abuser kill them if they leave or attempt to leave? Living with all of those questions running through their minds on a daily basis often times, unfortunately, results in victims staying. What’s even harder for victims than staying in abusive relationships, is being asked why they stay in abusive relationships. The judgment, ridicule and criticism can sometimes be much more damaging, debilitating and crippling than the relationship itself. What victims need are encouragement, support and empowerment, and that is difficult to offer when you don’t understand the Cycle of Violence or the elements of power and control. For more information on DV or to get help for yourself or someone you know who is in a DV relationship, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline which provides support services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including weekends and holidays. 1 (800) 799-7233 (SAFE) or 1 (800) 787- 3224 (TTY) www.thehotline.org Robin M. Sample, BA, CSC-AD Family/Victim Advocate MSW Candidate
Beautiful Brooklyn is a precious little princess who was born on July 15, 2016 to Timothy Mallard and Airman First Class Sheltaya Williams. Unfortunately she was born with a heart in dire need of a healing. Brooklyn's undeveloped heart has caused some life threatening systemic issues requiring multiple surgeries and a treatment plan that involves many more procedures. We have watched her transition from our lively little princess into a very sick tiny one. We are grieved to see her struggle through all of her challenges. This struck inspiration to create BROOKLYN'S HEALING HEART CHALLENGE.. As our country deals with many turbulent issues such as civil unrest, disunity within our communities, a tense and uncertain political landscape, racial and ethnic intolerance, we feel many individuals could contribute to a movement that desires to heal an ailing heart much like our precious Brooklyn. So allow her personal battle to inspire you to make a difference. Brooklyn's Healing Heart Challenge consists of three things 1. DO A RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS- your actions may help heal the heart of someone you may or may not know. 2. LET US KNOW ABOUT IT ON BROOKLYN'S SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS- we want this to become contagious! Post to the Brooklyn's Healing Heart Challenge Facebook page with the #BeautifulBrooklyn #PrayersForBeautifulBrooklyn and #BrooklynsHealingHeartChallenge 3. DONATE TO BROOKLYN'S HEALING HEART CHALLENGE! - All proceeds from this fundraising challenge will be equally split between the two entities that have blessed her family. CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH- The hospital that provides exemplary care for Brooklyn and continues to love her through her trials. and ALLEGHENY CENTER ALLIANCE CHURCH CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES- This is where her mother Sheltaya has both attended as a child, and then served as an adult. This ministry was very insturmental in making Airman Williams the upstanding individual she is today. Both of these entities continue to do great work on behalf of children and we are forever grateful. This entire article was taken from Brooklyn's Go Fund Me Page. Heels Gospel Magazine encourages its readers and supporters to share Brooky's story as well as the challenges requested by her family. Please help us as we offer continued prayers for little Brooky. We still believe in miracles.
KINGDOM HEALTH 4 LIFE with
SATIN B.
Greetings! Teas, Herbs and Oils Greetings, this article is will enlighten you on different teas,herbs and oils that are beneficial to the body. In a works filled process food's people are now going back to basic in fighting aging, health, obesity and different diseases. Let's get started shall we Chamomile One of the most common herbal brews, chamomile has many benefits. "It soothes the stomach, and can be helpful for diarrhea, nausea, reflux and abdominal cramps including period pain," she says. But the benefits don't stop there. "It was recommended in the 1600s to 'comfort the brain'," "If you are an anxious type, swapping coffee for chamomile tea is a good move."
Cinnamon Not only is it a delicious ingredient in apple pie, cinnamon in herbal tea helps improve digestive problems too. "Cinnamon is a warming tonic, wonderful for easing winter chills, and also or people who feel the cold.
Ginger"Ginger is one of those wonderful plants that double as medicine and food,". "It is a tummy tonic excellence in treating for nausea, diarrhea, indigestion and cramping." Ginger is also a terrific circulation tonic and can help reduce stress and anxiety levels.
HibiscusHibiscus flowers contain high levels of antioxidants, and in tea, it is helpful for the inflammation of mucus membranes such as sore throats, gum disease and cystitis. "It has recently been found to reduce high blood pressure.
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Juniper Berry in teas for urinary tract problems and especially as a diuretic," Juniper Berries assist in a healthy heart." Lemon Balm - a member of the mint family, is considered a calming herb. a stress reducer and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort from indigestion (including gas and bloating, as well as colic.
HERBS... CINNAMON Habitat: Cinnamon is native to India. Cultivated in Indonesia, Africa and South America. Cinnamon is most often used to soothe digestion, treat colds, nausea and inflammation. Cinnamon’s essential oil has antifungal, antibacterial and antispasmodic properties.
BASIL Contains Disease-Fighting Antioxidants. Acts as an Anti-Inflammatory. Fights Cancer. Contains Antibacterial Properties. Contains Antimicrobial Properties that Fight Viruses and Infections. Combats Stress by Acting as an 'Adaptogen' Promotes Cardiovascular Health.
CILANTRO Rich in phytonutrients, flavonoids, and phenolic compound. Cilantro is very low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and the caloric value is nearly nonexistent. It is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A, C, E, K, calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Just a ¼ cup of fresh cilantro provides 270 IU of Vitamin A, and 16% of the daily value recommended of vitamin K. The vitamin K and calcium content of cilantro help to build strong bones, teeth, and hair. Cilantro is considered the “anti-diabetic” plant in some parts of Europe, and research shows that it helps to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, supports healthy cardiovascular function, and much more.
KINGDOM HEALTH 4 LIFE with
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ROSEMARY One of the most interesting and unique health benefits of rosemary include its ability to boost memory, improve mood, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, protect the immune system, anti- cance properties,stimulate circulation, detoxify the body, protect the body from bacterial infections, prevent premature aging, and heal skin conditions. Rosemary leaves pairs well with lamb, chicken and different varieties of foods. THYME Thyme is an herb with culinary, medicinal and ornamental uses. The flowers, leaves, and oil of thyme have been used to treat bedwetting, diarrhea, stomach ache, arthritis, colic, sore throat, cough, including whooping cough, bronchitis, flatulence, and as a diuretic. Thyme is often used in soups, stews, gravies and marinated meats and veggies. BAY LEAF A herb often uses in soups, dressings, Creole dishes, Mediterranean dishes, beans but the bay leaf has other medicinal purposes. Some of the most impressive health benefits of bay leaves include their ability to detoxify the body, slow the aging process, speed wound healing, protect the body from bacterial infections, manage diabetes, improve heart health, reduce inflammation, alleviate respiratory issues, optimize digestion.
CURLY PARSLEY Deep green, slightly serrated leaves that curl up from the stem with a potent fragrance reminiscent of carrot leaves and parsnips. Parsley offers a mild, but very clean flavor similar to that of parsnips. Use it in: Braised Turnips with Parsley, Preserved Lemon and Parsley Tapenade, Cream of Chicken Soup, Springtime Salad Medicinal Uses: Parsley’s medicinal effects rest in its volatile oils and flavonoids: Parsley offers therapeutic uses in the treatment of urinary tract infections as well as kidney and bladder stones. Traditionally, parsley was not only used for treatment of urinary tract and bladder infections but also as an treatment for gastrointestinal problems. TARRAGON is a low-lying plant with long stems and thin oblong leaves. It has a flavor reminiscent of anise. Tarragon offers a faintly anise- or licorice-like flavor – sweet and slightly stringent. In medicine, tarragon has been traditionally used to treat toothaches, upset stomachs and some intestinal parasitic conditions in children. Tarragon is often use in cooking such as Fried Chicken.
KINGDOM HEALTH 4 LIFE with
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OiLS...
Coconut Oil - is a super food, coconut oil is used for cooking, baking, facial care, hair care food. Coconut oil cont 12 fatty acids, can help with weight loss, aging skin, dry skin.
The meat of the coconut can be eaten and made into varies forms such as coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut flake coconut flour. AVOCADO OIL An extremely hydrating oil, combats dry skin eczema, heart health oil, rich in oleic acid, healthy fat. Reduces cholesterol and Improves heart health. High in lutein, an antioxidant that has benefits for the eyes. Avocado oil uses for cooking (high heat point), skin care and hair care ( smooth hair folices).
WALNUT OIL -Walnuts and their oils are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Walnut oil, promotes hair growth, fights hair loss, fights fungal infection, wrinkles, cardiovascular diseases, cuts belly fat, and boost blood vessels. Use in cooking or drizzle lightly on salads.
GRAPESEED OIL A product of turning grapes into wine, grapeseed oil can be used in salad dressings and condiments, skin care and hair care. Purchase food-grade oil so you know it’s safe to eat. You can also apply grapeseed to scalp to fight dedermatitis. Grapeseed oil lower's high blood pressure, strengthens immune system, delays inset Alzheimer's diease, improves cholesterol and reduces swelling. OLIVE OIL -
We all know olive oil has been around and in our homes a very long time, er use it for cooking and on our hair and s Olive oil is very high in antioxidant polyphenols and oleic acid these acids promote heart health, weight loss, and glowing skin. All oils are not bad, they can be very good for you. All oils should be use in moderation. KINGDOM HEALTH 4 LIFE WITH SATIN B.
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