TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN IN HIS PURPOSE FOR ME

By Lisette Balangue

Finding what God had purposed for me has been quite a journey. I remember being in kindergarten and being asked what I would like to do. At first, I responded that I wanted to work at a retail store with clothes, but the teacher smiled and asked, “Have you ever thought of being a teacher? I can see you as a teacher when you are older.” As I grew up, I carried those words with me that I would be a teacher or someone who works with children. I realized it was a passion from the inside to help people grow or feel better. My mother would always tell me that I should be a journalist and although I admire that occupation, I am unfortunately not a writer, per se. In high school, I had the best guidance counselor who was motivating and inspiring. She gave such great advice on growing in school and motivating you to do your best in school. She had such an impact on me that I knew after I was a teacher that I would be a guidance counselor to help others get to college and make the most out of themselves. After high school graduation, I set out for college, checked the box for the teacher track and was on my way to becoming a teacher. I completed all classes on the teacher track and was set to graduate. I had even been accepted to the credential program to start the following fall after I graduated.

As close as I was to my teaching career being almost complete, it was close to its screeching halt. The year was 2007 and America was in total recession. My step-dad had gotten laid off and my mom told me that

My life

as a single media 34 | professional in this

dispensation of the Kingdom

By Lola Ogunbadejo

University was an interesting period for me. I was an 18-year-old virgin, desperately trying to keep my purity whilst hoping to fall in love with a fellow Christian who shared the same values as me- a feat that seemed impossible at one point. It was challenging finding a man, that I was physically and mentally attracted to, who wanted to remain pure before marriage. I gave up hope of finding love right before my graduation and, believe it or not, I felt a sense of liberation. I was free from the idol I had created, the ‘relationship’ idol. Heartbreak and confusion plagued me so much that I had forgotten about the beauty of being alone and the importance of healing. Though I was emotionally exhausted by the time I left university at the age of 21, I was happy that I could now embrace my singleness and pursue my media career.

After graduating from university, I was looking for something else to occupy my time - a job. Despite filling in countless application forms and joining numerous agencies, I just couldn't get anyone to accept me. A fresh graduate with a huge debt and no experience, it was very easy for me to get into a depressive and lonely state hence why I felt the absolute need to be in a relationship - at least I thought that aspect of my life would be successful. I was convinced via external and internal pressure that I needed to be married soon. These steadily increasing thoughts of marital bliss filled my mind up until I started my career in television. Fast forward a few months after graduating with a degree in TV and Film

Shaking The Purpose in the

By Debbie Flores

When Catastrophe Hits, What is God Saying

Unprecedented is the word of the year as we are in the current state of the global pandemic. Unprecedented, according to the dictionary, means “never done or known before”. Dealing with this novel virus is unprecedented, but have we never dealt with a pandemic, emergency crisis, war, famine in our world before? Has there never been catastrophe in our world – on a global-scale, a nationwide scale, or let’s go more personal – on an individual level in our own personal lives? Yes, what we are dealing with the global pandemic is alarming, scary, and concerning. It’s not to undermine the seriousness of the corona virus and our global state, but that I know I have gone through personal storms and catastrophes that have been so disruptive, fearinducing, and catastrophic in such a manner that I can’t say that another catastrophe such as this is “unprecedented”. We do know what it’s like to go through crisis. We have gone through crisis, or at least, I have known catastrophe before, and I am sure that many can say the same. We don’t know why certain things like this pandemic happen. Many attribute conspiracy theories, cultural factors, anti-Christian establishments – all these things begin to surface as to the reason why something like this has occurred on our earth, but I’m not here to discuss that portion of this issue. My focus

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Shaking

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