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EDITOR IN CHIEF JACQUELINE ANI ASSISTANT EDITOR TAMIKA PUSEY-SQUIRE CONTACT US magazine@empworedwoman.org.uk VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.wewmagazine.com
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Hi Ladies, As we say goodbye to 2021 and look ahead to 2022, I am pleased to bring you our Winter Issue of WEW Magazine. In this season's issue our writers share encouraging, empowering and equipping articles on Christian women embracing their call to leadership, Raising confidient girls, Finding peace, navigating life's crossroads and much more. Our feature cover of Women Stepping Out is on Vera Giles Norris, founder of Missing Please Come Home, a foundation to support Run A-Ways, Missing Persons and raise Sex Trafficking Awareness. Vera is also CEO at VGN Marketing/ Consulting Group, Radio/TV Host KATS Out Show, Life Coach and a Motivational speaker. Like me, I'm sure you will enjoy the testimonies and wisdom curated on these pages. Finally, we at WEW Magazine wish you and yours a happy New Year!
Tamika Rose Prophetess Tamika Rose Assitant Editor Women Empowering Women Magazine
Letter From
THE EDITOR
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Contents 8
WHOLENESS 8 Finding Peace 12 Seasons 16 The Importance of the Younger Woman Knowing Her Worth 20 Christian Women in Leadership 24 Transformation
SPIRITUAL ETIQUETTE 34 A Woman's Selflessness in Relation to her Mission 38 Christian Women and Leadership 48 Seeing Beyond You 52 Woman at The Crossroads
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LIFESTYLE 56 Financially Empowered 60 Raising Young Girls Into Confident Leaders
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COVER FEATURE 28 Stepping Out With Vera Giles Norris
SPECIAL FEATURES
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6 The Christmas Poem 44 Christian Women in Business: The Baby Cot Post Pandemic Success
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Christnas THE CHRISTMAS POEM
FROM THE EYES OF A CHILD By Katherine Ani Christmas is a great celebration. Having fun with family and friends. Gathering round the campfire, roasting, toasting marshmallows. Spread the holiday cheer to bring your loved ones so near! Baking down a family recipe and sharing loved memories. Cooking Christmas dinner is always a delight with crackers to share and cookies laid bare Tucking into homemade pie, dessert is on the list so high. Let’s spread the holiday cheer, People going around the table with presents to tear. I love Christmas, it’s a festive family affair.
Katherine Ani is an award winning published poet.
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FINDING PEACE 7 Steps to Overcome Disappointment By Pamla LaDon Klenczar
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here will always be ups and downs in your relationships and situations. Have you built up a fantasized version of what your relationships should be or how a situation should work out? What are your expectations, hopes? Disappointment is a feeling of sadness caused by the non-fulfilment of one's hopes or expectations, it is not the end of your life it is a component of your testimony. Rise up and resist with the force of prayer, you are not a loser. Disappointment is just an event, it is inevitable. You will always come up against it, what counts is how you overcome it. I hear advice to pray harder, fast more, and you will get GOD to change your situation. This makes me angry; GOD doesn't move because you pray harder. Praying harder when you are disappointed and feeling hopeless only increases your hopelessness. GOD wants to increase your hope and urge you to take a positive step forward into the blessings that already belong to you. When I asked people what their number one disappointment was, every single person answered relationships. It could be your spouse, parents, children, friends, or co-workers. In each case, their expectations of how they should be treated
or loved were not met. They found that the foundation that they thought they had only existed in their own minds. My own marriage has been a disappointment. I was angry all the time, I had been emotionally abandoned and nothing was like what I thought he had promised me. I couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel as the pain consumed me. I resigned myself to the fact that this was my life. I realized that disappointment had wounded my soul and only GOD could heal that. It has been a long journey! But it is now my testimony. I choose to believe what GOD believes about me and draw close to HIM! HE will never leave me! HE said I am the head and not the tail! I shall not fail at life! I am victorious! What is the gift that GOD brings you when you are disappointed? For me, that gift was love and knowing I mattered. I was worthy to be loved and heard. I was able to start standing up for myself in a way that was a gift of love to the abuser. Expecting to receive only disappointment while allowing yourself to be abused is NOT love. You were created to be loved and cherished. While my marriage does not bring me satisfaction or feelings of being cherished, it may never at this point. In seeking GOD'S wisdom, I have been www.wewmagazine.com
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figuring out what I want out of this life. I no longer allow another person to be the ruler of my peace because GOD is my source, the lover of my soul, and in HIM I will never be disappointed. 1 - Acknowledge your feelings and confess them to GOD This is a biggie as you have been trained from a child that you should not express your emotions, it is wrong, or you are bothering someone. GOD designed you with emotions and they are from HIM. 2 - Grieve You have lost something important to you. It is ok to grieve, there are stages of grief that you will go through. 3 - Take it to GOD in prayer, ask for healing HE is waiting for you. HE wants to heal the wound on your soul that disappointment has made. Believe in GOD'S plan for you. GOD loves you just as you are and HE believes in you, HE sees you as unique and special. Practice being in the presence of God, take communion and then praise him for one minute and then worship him for one minute. Have the assurance that you are already in God's presence HE is always with you. This exercise helps you focus on the fact that HE is there. 4 - Forgive Forgiveness is for you, not for the other person. When you are constantly disappointed and hold on to unforgiveness, you become bitter and angry. When you forgive someone, it doesn't mean you allow them to continue bad behaviour. We need to learn what forgiveness is NOT, but that is a discussion for another time.
5 - Ask God for discernment and wisdom HE will show you what the root of your feelings are and what you can change about yourself. Are they things only HE can change? God wants to tell you; He wants you to have wisdom and discernment. He wants you to use your disappointment to build your strength and be able to help other people overcome it. God turns all things to the good. 6 - Listen and wait Big things happen when we pray, soul wounds get healed and next time we face disappointment it will not devastate us. The next time we will respond with the WORD. GOD will adjust our expectations to not base our happiness on achieving that goal or depending on a person. HE will show us how to place our hope solely in HIM. HE is the only secure place! 7 -Search for the good Search the Bible for examples, for me I found great comfort in the example of Abigail. She knew her husband was a fool and he treated her and everyone else with contempt, but she took care of her household and she had peace about it. She made the decision to live with him in peace no matter how he behaved. FATHER, heal me of disappointment, bring about YOUR perfect plan for good in my life. YOU are the lover of my soul. YOU continually show me what the opposite of negative things in my life are, so I operate in YOUR fullness and never in deficit. I break all ungodly soul ties and connections and put into place GODLY boundaries wherever YOU direct, in JESUS' name!
Pamla Klenczar lives in the Ozarks in Arkansas, USA on the side of a mountain. In 2008 she discovered that being offended was a sin that wounded the soul and her dreams held the key to the areas in her life that GOD wanted to heal. She began seeking the LORD for the meaning of her dreams. It was like a treasure hunt of seeking out and interpreting not only her own dreams, but the dreams of others. Quite often, she interprets 30 or more dreams a day in a group that includes people from all over the world. Your dreams are one of the ways GOD speaks to you as He gives you direction for healing your soul. Pamla is currently working on a book called “Dream to Heal,” and a Masterclass to teach others to interpret their own dreams.
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Seasons
By Helena Cabral
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an you feel it? The change of a new season has begun. Fall is here. There’s a dramatic shift happening from the hazy diffused hues of Summer. What comes to mind for this season: vibrancy, boldness, texture, strength… transition. The days may be warm, but the nights soon will turn chill and crisp. The final harvest is brought in and what has been sown is reaped.
The Autumn Woman Are you an Autumn woman? The Autumn woman is one who is committed to the broader community, a giving woman. Once she discovers her value and heals from the sorrows she experienced in the winters of her life, she has a responsibility to give back. She recognizes the needs beyond the walls of her personal world and explores ways to give as she prepares a new dream or broadens the old. She also learns that her being is more important than her doing. She learns to renew her personal spirit by sitting quietly before God. This is a season
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of faith. That what she accomplishes has meaning. She begins to see the purpose for the winters, summers, and springs of her life. The purpose in former sufferings and in her own personal journey. I urge you to read Hebrews 12- the whole chapter- but particularly, Hebrews 12:11 (NIV): “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” There’s wisdom in this scripture. The Autumn woman has been trough the refiner’s fire. She has been disciplined and she yields in this season of “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” The Autumn woman is one who: • Understands the process of growth • Learns power and peace through personal discipline • Gives out of her storehouse of harvested produce for the benefit of others. She acts for the common good, not in self -interest. In which season are you at? It’s important to identify this, the season that best describes you. Only you can make that discovery. It’s a deeper understanding of
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self, of your personal walk with the Lord. I’ll briefly go over the other seasons. Perhaps it will resonate and help you rediscover
The Winter Woman Personally, I view this season as a time of slumber, grieving, decay, even death. The days shorten and the vibrant colors of autumn/fall turn rapidly to dark gray. Snow falls, plants are dormant. Trees drop their leaves and the animal world sleeps and withdraws. It’s a season of resting and waiting. The winter woman is grieving, plunged into times of transition and the upheaval of change. She has experienced loss, despair, helplessness, hopelessness, anger, depression. She sees life in shades of black, has more questions than answers. She faces a season of endings. We have faced many winters in life. We will continue to face many winters in life. The winter woman can navigate this season, knowing deeply that there is a purpose in accepting the changes in her body, her productivity, and her relationships. If the woman runs from this season, she may end
up bitter, depressed, and unfulfilled. The winter woman is one who: • Understands the nature of grief • Understands the grieving process • Prepares for her chronological winter season
The Spring Woman Springs creeps in, under cover of a lingering winter clouds and storms. When the skies clear, we are surprised by the brilliant yellows of blooming daffodils, forsythia, and acacia. Fields are tilled, fertilized, and seeded for summer harvest. As the weeks pass, spring unfolds in waves of color and birds singing… The Spring woman must face her fears and learn the process of forgiveness. She finds joy and excitement in new beginnings. Embraces new ideas and opportunities, dreams, discovers what makes her heart sing. She chooses life, lets go of sorrow, and embraces hope. It’s a season of joy, excitement, and seed planting. The Spring Woman tasks: • To move out of winter. She says goodbye to the old and welcomes the new, by embracing the “child” of the past.
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To formulate a dream by learning the power of praying, seeking support, friendship, and encouragement of others; also, by choosing a season of spiritual beginnings.
The Summer Woman Summer is a season of first fruits and early harvests. Storms don’t last long and are followed by the warmth of the sun. The summer woman is a woman of balance and self-confidence; she knows her limitations and abilities. This is a time she deepens who she is, what she wants, where she is going and with whom. Profound friendships, and a renewal of her spiritual commitment. It’s an active season. She is independent and interdependent, individuated and connected. She values herself, has a deep sense of self, and an accurate perception of her strengths and weaknesses. She is nurtured by the value others have of her. But the journey is a difficult one. She must successfully passthrough winter and spring. The main task of the summer woman is to develop her ego strength. She demonstrates it when she: • Weathers transitions, reevaluates her dreams, and celebrates her choices.
• Finds emotional balance • Finds her own unique voice • Discovers the mirrors that define her Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (New American Standard Bible) A Time for Everything 3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven— 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.
Helena Cabral is a writer, speaker, mother of three, and personal assistant to Jacqueline Ani, founder of The Mentoring Group for International Women. Born and raised in Portugal, and of Cape Verdean descent, Helena is a multilingual who speaks, reads and writes Portuguese, Spanish, French and English fluently and with flare. At the age of 19, December of 1991, Helena left her home to come to America and pursue her studies. She draws from her own life story to convey her personal life experiences, growth and of quest of a woman in pursuit of her identity. Helena’s journey of healing began trough fervent prayers, and mentorship through this multinational cohort of women, the collective engagement through powerful teachings, fellowship with like-minded believers, learning a deeper understanding of the Word trough her local ministry, and its relevancy in her life. Restoration, hope, and wholeness truly began and are evident in her writing. Driven by a passion for women’s development and elevation, Helena’s goal is to empower, inspire with the love of Christ, and encourage hurting and vulnerable women to “pursue, overtake and recover all”, according to 1 Samuel 30:8. She currently resides in Maryland, USA.
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The Importance of the Younger Woman Knowing
Her Worth
By Latanya Renee Maynard
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he words "Know Your Worth" is a personal statement of affirmation. The phrase measures how a woman values herself regardless of what others may think or say about her. It is also a personal declaration of confidence about one's beliefs and values. Frequently, younger women are challenged regarding their worth and well-being, particularly
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self-esteem, self-confidence, self-love, and relationships. Growing up, I was very slender and lean. My peers and family did not think that I was attractive; instead, they would call me Olive. Olive was a very skinny female cartoon character from "Popeye the sailorman" television show. Furthermore, some would even compare me to a female suspected drug addict in
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the community. The callous and insulting words had the potential to damage my selfworth and self-esteem but I did not allow these potent remarks to crush my confidence. During my teen years, I entered three beauty pageants. I was a final contestant in each pageant but did not win. After each loss, even though disappointed, I never doubted my abilities. I got up and tried again, and each time I developed stronger in my resolve to continue growing and loving myself. I am well aware that disappointment and defeat cause people to doubt their abilities and interfere with setting goals and accomplishing them. However, I did not allow those losses to lower my confidence, abilities or interfere with my value and self-love. During my adolescent years, I continued to experience more embarrassment and discouragement. I can recall two significant events that really challenged the way I viewed myself. First, at age 15, in front of my peers, a teacher told me to stop cutting my hair because it made me look like an older woman. For weeks, my peers taunted and ridiculed me with loud outbursts of laughter whenever I was present. My self-esteem was crushed and riddled with embarrassment; at that moment, I can remember being quiet for the remainder of the day. I continued to cut my hair because I was in love with short hair styles and liked the way mines looked on me. Similarly, a year later, while discussing my interest in competing in the Miss Bahamas beauty pageant, my aunt highlighted the imperfections and blemishes on my legs. At that moment, I truly felt unworthy, but I never openly expressed my feelings. However, since transitioning into adulthood and beginning the "Know Your Worth" movement, I have realized that when people do and say negative things, it does not necessarily have anything to do with you but everything to do with them. I have shared my past experiences because I had every reason to give up and lose myself in the process. I was not taught or made aware of my worth during my formative years, which is the story of numerous young women. Diminished by domestic and substance abuse, I witnessed my mother and other women in my immediate family's struggle
“When people do and say negative things, it does not necessarily have anything to do with you but everything to do with them.”
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with their self-worth. These women did not understand their worth, nor was there any support to affirm their value as women. However, I remained self-confident that I was valuable and worthy of attaining whatever I desired. I was going to succeed despite the odds that were against me. I often heard the comments regarding me, "Who does she think that she is?" but I never stopped dreaming, working, and pushing to be the best. It is my personal belief and opinion that relationship failures and dysfunctions often occur due to people not knowing their worth. I am convinced that until a woman discovers her worth, she will continue to struggle with herself and other relationships. On the other hand, I have observed the effects of thoughtless and harmful words and how the power of words leads to negative behaviors and attitudes among young and older women. As children, most victims and survivors have encountered situations that have caused them to spiral into cycles of failure, harm, and defeat which have developed into negativity and an undervaluing of their identity and image. Nevertheless, despite the negativity, I’ve experienced I survived because of the intrinsic value of self-love and what I believed about myself. Yet, surprisingly confident in my skin and convinced that I was beautiful, I never allowed words to keep me from moving forward and attaining the goals that I had set for myself. As a result, I felt compelled to help the ladies
I encountered, and in 2016, I branded "Know Your Worth Ministries," and an apparel store. I am currently a lead court victim advocate for a local domestic violence center in Jacksonville, Florida. My responsibilities include providing resources and advocacy for victims and survivors of domestic violence. The steam that fuelled my work, mission, and vision came from my personal story of domestic violence, abuse, and toxic relationships. I want women to know that they can arise from their brokenness and regain their strength. When a woman loses track of her self-worth, she can potentially lose herself. I was once that young lady, but I have found fulfillment in encouraging, sharing, and teaching young women the importance of knowing their worth since my metamorphosis. Furthermore, as an advocate, I have shared and promoted the "Know Your Worth" message through speaking engagements, table talks, conversations and monologues at schools, conferences, workshops, and various inspirational platforms. Also, promoting the message through merchandise and products reminds women of their inner beauty, value, and significance. Every woman should know and understand that no one will value her more than she values herself. Valuing oneself is the key to teaching others how to respect and treat you!
Latanya Renee Maynard is a native of the Bahamas. Latanya is an ambassador of change, proud mother and author on a mission to create a legacy that will continue empowering, inspiring, and uplifting women for years to come. Her lifelong purpose is to help women who have endured untold pain stemming from traumatic childhood and adulthood experiences. The writer can be contacted via email at lrmaynard1979@yahoo.com or knowyourworthministries08@gmail.com Facebook (Latanya Maynard) Instagram (KnowYourWorthEnterprises)
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Christian Women in Leadership are...
CREATED FOR SUCH A TIME AS NOW By Lisa Trujillo
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hristian women in leadership, have you seen it? Have you notice the tide is changing or has it changed? This reminds me the current weather season we are in, Fall. As we get further into the latter months of the year, in some parts of the world there is a season called Autumn aka Fall. It's the bridge from summer to winter, where you experience cooler temperatures...crisp mornings, when we step outdoors in the morning and open our months to speak or exhale, we get to see our breath. I remember fondly doing that excitedly as a child, can I confess when I get the opportunity I still do so, it reminds me of the days of old, in Maryland. As the months come in the leaves from the trees change colors and they begin to FALL to the ground.
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“Christian women are answering the call of God and coming forward to fulfill their purpose.” www.wewmagazine.com
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Old things pass away, and a new creation begins. As we begin to wrap up the year 2021 the tide is turning the leaves are falling. What do I mean? If you take a moment when you are out and about with your daily chores or enjoying some downtime, look around you. In the different workplaces how many more women are in the workplace, not just, in the customer service fields, but in management positions and have you notice that things are getting done more efficiently and effectively? I have. I attribute this to more and more women, are being put into place of leadership. We have been created to for such a time as this. Christian women and non-Christian women, alike. But, as we dwindle down the second
year of the pandemic, Christian women are answering the call of God and coming forward to fulfill their purpose, their assignment and walk out the call from God on their lives. What is this looking like right now? We have more Deborah's arising. Deborah was a Judge and a Prophetess called by God. See Judges 4 and 5 in the Bible, find out why she is so important to women today who have been called to the Office of the Prophet. Christian women in leadership when they answer the call of God will succeed because we walk in favor and anointing from God and when we are called for an assignment, the desired result is always the same. God's will is done, for His glory.
Lisa L. Trujillo is a believer in Jesus Christ, a published author, Writer and Blogger. Lisa operates in the office of a prophet and the gift of healing and deliverance. She is a mentor, mother of 3 children and is based in Texas, USA.
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Transformation By Theresa Skinner
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ccording to Merriam-Webster dictionary, transformation is defined as an act, process, or instance of being transformed. However, the bible’s meaning of transformation, “change or renewal from a life that no longer conforms to the ways of the world to one that pleases God”. Romans 12:2 explains it this way, this is an accomplished by the renewing of our minds, an inward spiritual transformation that will manifest itself in outward actions. We can view transformation as a need or as a want, I desire both. I long for the manifestation of both equally divided in my life. Ephesians 4:13-15 Paul states “until we all attain to the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking
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the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” I believe Paul is saying Believers need to come to a spiritual maturity and be more like Christ. According to the explained knowing Jesus, its about the finished work of Jesus and the progressive sanctification. The biblical meaning of sanctification is to set apart. The way I view transformation is seeing a flower seed change into a beautiful flower, an infant growing into adulthood or a head of black hair changing into a head of beautiful gray hair. It’s a process from beginning to end. When God starts something in us, He means to bring it to completion, God never starts the process and then abandons it. Although it is a painful progression, the result is worth the wait. Looking back over my life and the pain of living out the abandonment, rejection and lack of love the enemy tried to kill me years
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ago, but God was always been there to protect me. What was so harshly implanted in me as a child manifested in my adult life. Life is a learning course a schoolroom where there is no graduation, only advancement. However, there was times I had to repeat the same grade, another trip around the mountain. God gives us seasons: A Time for Everything For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 Seasons are like steps towards advancements, seasons can also be long. Seasons move us towards a goal, when we look inward and upward. I have had many growing pains; I have had my life and heart issues revealed. Everything I thought was a secret God shone a light on the darkness and the darkness within me was exposed. But everything exposed by light becomes visible-and everything that is illuminated becomes light (Ephesians 5:13 niv). When God was transforming me into His son’s image, He used the very thing that I idolized the most, yet I couldn’t see that this person was an idol, taking the Lord’s place. I was blind to the truth therefore God had to uncover what was a deception.
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Exodus 34:14 (ESV) For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. I became the trees in the forest, the plank in my eye and the mountain in my path As I continued to believe I knew what was best for me, the fiery furnace got hotter and pain grew deeper. I continually disobeyed God. I didn’t know how to be a daughter, growing up without examples, searching for love. Making up and borrowing other peoples views and parenting skills. It amazed me, being in a life learning storm, my sovereign God, with all His love, mercy and grace, began to do the work on me. As I fought the Lord for many years, I finally surrendered knowing that fighting God was silly how could I win? God was telling me to let go, oh how I did not understand those words. I held onto everything tightly, control, resentments, anger, unforgiveness, people, etc. which gave me no joy. The days that I rendered happy were days I manifested in my head and the lies that came from my mouth, destroyed any hope of happiness I had. I couldn’t see that I was giving up every part of me to win unguaranteed love. I was asking silently for people to love me, I was met by abandonment, rejection and lies. How could I ask someone to love me when they obviously didn’t love themselves, as I didn’t love myself? How selfish was I? The real question was how to let go? Sometimes we can hold on to things so forcefully, God sometimes has to take it from us. I didn’t want to let go of things that kept me safe, truthfully, it only made me sink deeper into obscurity. Only shadows of self-left. Defeated by the goliath in my conviction. I shattered and damaged relationships
throughout my life. Left to my own devices, none of which were working. I suffered from a condition of weakness and disparity, lack of motivation, remaining in a state of idleness with no change. For God hath not given me the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). To be transformed into the person the Lord has called me to be, means I have to let go of past hurts of unforgiveness, shame and guilt, allowing God to make the necessary changes in me. Forgetting what is in the past and moving forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13). Finally, through the journey I have learnt valuable life lessons, my journey towards my destiny is a long and winding road, as is everyone’s. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 3:2 “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready”. Letting go and trusting God and knowing I can trust Him was the hardest experience I have been through this far. I have come to the realization, when I try to alter and control people, places or things, I hinder my growth and keep others in bondage of my control. I had to surrender the control I thought I had over my life and circumstances and begin to live free from self, that others may be set free. But this can only be achieved by letting go and allowing God through His Son, Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit to have full control over my life to transform me into the person He wants me to be.
Theresa Skinner, USA is a CDCA in addition services A part of a ministry through music 18 years delivered from addition. Theresa also enjoys reading and writing.
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FEATURE INTERVIEW
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Stepping out With
a r e V
GILES NORRIS
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met Vera Giles-Norris on a social media site called Club House. Vera was talking about her foundation called Missing Please Come Home Global Alert. Not only did her stories of people who were found through her foundation grab the hearts of listeners, it pulled at my heart. No one wants to experience their loved one missing for any reason, but it happens everywhere. Those missing can end up never coming back. Vera’s mission interested me and I wanted to share her stories and experience with our readers. WEW: When did you realise that you had a purpose and how did you start to walk in it? VGN: I realize that I had a purpose for my life when I was three or four years of age and my grandmother who would remind me often about the veil that I was born with over my entire body she would tell me about how when I was born, I was gift wrapped. I was not a normal birth and how I would be different from most people and how God would use me to do a mighty work and that one day I would find out exactly who I was and when I found out to never be afraid because it’s nobody but God who had and would keep me covered in such a mighty way. I started walking in my purpose when I was young 4 to 5 years of age I would dream of things before they happened and I could speak with people and know things about them that would encourage them and help them feel better and more empowered it was as if after www.wewmagazine.com
30 | people spoke to me they received a complete download from God speaking through little me and they would have a clear path and would be more empowered. I use this gift now to help motivate and inspire other women & children to walk in their gift and to not be afraid of what they were gifted with and the powers they have right in their hands they were born with the blueprint and teach women how to discover what’s hidden or blocked in them and how to release and let it flow. WEW: Tell us about Missing Please Come Home, what service does this organisation offer? VGN: Missing Please Come Home Global Alert going on 4 years old started by me as a Group on Facebook and soon turned into a movement globally with helping Missing people mainly Women & Children, Domestic Violence, Bullying, Child protection & Sex Trafficking awareness. MPCH had over 20 thousand members around the Globe and growing daily. We’re now on YouTube, Instagram and Clubhouse. We offer media coverage, strategic planning for search parties, toll free anonymous tip line, prayer mental support teams for the family, create and help circulate flyers throughout all social media platforms, victim social media wipe down for all clues and connections, working closely with the family to get answers fast. Domestic Violence Support teams to help with an escape plan, and support platform to report abuse, bullying prevention & awareness, sex trafficking education & alerts I would like to personally thank my good friend and partner Martin G Johnson (The Crime chaser) for his help & support with his help in getting this movement started. He was one of the very first calls I made asking for help and he didn’t hesitate to support and continue to operate the booths on the ground team. WEW: What has been the percentage ratio between people missing and found and those who have never been found? VGN: On an average just based off of what I've personally seen 95% of people are found sometimes either dead or alive but we find them it's only a small percentage of those
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that are just missing, and we have no word of where they are but keep in mind that’s just in my experience. WEW: How long would it take for someone missing to be found? VGN: It varies, we do our best to say within the first 48 hours when it gets to 72 hours or longer that's when it becomes a great concern. Anything from 72 hours and longer may indicate that the individual is most likely being held against their will or we find them deceased. WEW: What areas in the USA does Missing Please Come Home Cover? VGN: M.P.C.H.G.A covers all areas in the USA as a global platform we cover all areas in the United States and other countries such as United Kingdom, Cambodia, Canada, Nigeria to name but a few; because we are an online platform, we use social media to reach the world globally. WEW: Can you give us an example of a success story about someone who was missing and is now found? VGN: I would have to relate back to Tia Robinson who was 15-year-old when she ran away from home the family reached out to me after she continued to run away. She was young and didn’t see eye to eye with her mom like a lot of teenagers today and she would run off and find herself in compromising situation where she was being exposed to a wild street life, drugs, sex, & seeing friends killed in the streets right in front of her. Tia really didn't realize how much danger she was in until my organization had a chance to talk and connect with her and share stories with her about other young girls that didn’t make it out. With my help and family support Tia eventually stopped running away from home got out of the lifestyle; and went on to graduate from school get a job and now as grown woman she helps educate young girls when needed through MPCH / KATS OUT platform. WEW: Apart from obvious reasons such as kidnapping, why do you think people go missing? VGN: People go missing because they run away, sometimes they want to get out,
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| 33 especially young women who want to grow up before their time they're deceived and enticed from their homes by what I called the ‘baiting’ system when either another female or young man deceives them out and use them for their own means. Such people use money, nice clothes, cars, hair, items these girls are missing at home due to lack or family issues.
community, and her business. She has a master plan because she’s connected to her Father, God Almighty and in her intimacy with God, that master plan develops. Her connection with God embraces true identity in Him. This woman knows whose she is and uses her gifts and skills to serve her household, her community and her ministry.
WEW: What was the inspiration behind Kats Out Foundation? VGN: As a mother to 5 girls, I have a passion to empower women Also my amazing mother Ruthie Marie GILES is my inspiration behind The KATS Out Foundation My mom has always been a Kingdom builder & seeker, she would do things to help take care of her family help take care of the community and complete strangers
WEW: Tell us about your book and the idea behind why you wrote it? VGN: The Book Of Ruth: Success Principals to Creating New Chapters In Your Life, is dedicated to my mom and forward by Les Brown will be available in Summer of 2022 pre orders on sale now on my Amazon Bestseller. Also, Embracing Imperfections is available now for Autographed copies. I coauthored this book with 32 women from five different countries. You can order both book on my website www.wisewomenwinning.com
WEW: I believe many women are coming out from underneath the shadows their minds have kept them, what is your advice to women in developing countries such as Africa and Asia and how do they become economically viable? VGN: My advice to women is to tap into their purpose and passion. Women have greatness in them and are created with something special that only they carry. Once they identify what they have in them to create wealth, their gift will make room for them If you can’t identify your gift find an empowerment coach that can help you identify your gift. The KATS OUT online Coaching Program help women break through their make believe blockers so they can identify and take ownership of the power they carry right in their own hands we empower and inspire them to take a quantum leap into new chapters in their lives and become the trailblazers for their own tribe. Once you identify who you are and what your purpose is nothing can stop you.
WEW: How can our readers connect with you? VGN: You can reach me on all social media platforms search for Vera Giles Norris www. thekatsout.com To support the foundation towards Women empowerment and www. wisewomenwinning.com to book me for speaking events, coaching, or book writing projects Or call us toll free 800 440 0978
WEW: Who is a Kingdom Minded Woman? VGN: A Kingdom Minded Woman is a Proverbs 31 Woman, she is a virtuous woman, she understands the importance of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and knowing that everything else will be added. A Kingdom Minded Woman is a woman that has family goals that benefits their growth, her www.wewmagazine.com
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SPIRITUAL ETIQUETTE
A Woman's SELFLESSNESS In Relation to Her Mission By Oyinlola Bukky Akande
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elflessness is to forsake oneself for the benefit of another and by this act, legacies are built along the way. It is very important to know that “Self”, is who we are as human beings, our ego, nature, and flesh. We can easily assume that our biggest enemy is Satan, but it is “SELF”. It is a lot easier to blame the devil and others than oneself. A selfish person relies on himself not God and will glorify himself but not God. Pride and selfishness produce strife and disharmony with God and people. The Bible makes us realise that selfish people have no thoughts of God. The trait of wanting our own way is woven into the fabric of our fallen nature. We human beings can be persistently
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selfish. Insisting on our own way is at the very heart of most of our conflict, and at the bottom of almost all the way humans abuse others. This lack of love is a source of much human heartache and suffering. The Bible help us to understand that selfish acts cause strife Learning how to love is an antidote that cures it. A Selfless person looks not only to his own interest but also that of the others. 'Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.’ Philippians 2:4 For people will be lovers of self (narcissistic, self-focused), lovers of money (impelled by greed), boastful, arrogant, reviles, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, (and they will be) unloving (devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane), irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control (intemperate, immoral), brutal, haters of good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of (sensual) pleasure rather than lovers of God. Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant.’ 2 Timothy 3:24 (AMP) In the book of 1st Corinthians, the Bible makes us realise that Love is not Selfish, envious, nor prideful. It is known that selfish people seek only to satisfy their flesh. Selfishness and Love cannot coexist together for they are opposite. Selfishness can be infectious and likely will incite others to also be prideful and selfish. Having God in our lives will give us the power to not be enticed by selfish acts of others. It is extremely important to know that Selfishness stinks in God ‘s nostrils just as it was expressed in the Book of Ezekiel. ‘But your beauty went to your head, and you became a common whore, grabbing anyone coming down the street and taking him into your bed. You took your fine dresses and made “tents” of them, using them as brothels in which you practiced your trade. This kind of thing should never happen, never. Ezekiel 16:15
Case Studies Cain Cain is an example of one who had no concern for others (Genesis 4). God rejected his sacrifice while accepting that of Abel, his brother. Cain, jealous of his brother and having no regard for anyone but self, murdered his brother. When God afterward asks him where Abel was, Cain said “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9). But according to the Bible we are supposed to be our “brother’s keepers.” We are to look out for the interests of others and to esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). We must love one another (1 John 4:7). Cain’s selfishness caused him to hate his brother and kill him. Examples of Selfless People: These ones had proper perspective on self and others. In each example, the one who manifested selflessness was blessed by the God of heaven.
Abraham When the flocks and herds of Abraham and Lot became too large for them to live at the same location, instead of telling his nephew where he could locate, Abraham, acting with regard for others before regard for self, told Lot to choose wherever he wanted to live. Facts tell us that he was older, Lot probably owed his wealth to him, and that God had said all the land was his, Abraham could have rationalized that and insisted he should make the choice. Instead, he selflessly deferred to Lot. Because of it, Abraham was greatly blessed. (Genesis 13)
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Joseph Even though his brothers had sold him into slavery, when they came to Egypt seeking food, he forgave them and then helped them. If he had been selfish, he could have demanded his brothers be punished.
The Good Samaritan Unlike those who were outwardly pious, he took the time to help a person in need using his own resources and time to gain no advantage for self but only to help a person who needed help. (Luke 10)
Barnabas He saw the needs of his brethren, so he sold his land, gave all the money to the Lord’s cause so that those in need might have relief. (Acts 4)
Paul Paul selflessly gave himself to the Lord setting an example for all those who would be the kind of disciples the Lord wants. Apostle Paul said he was no longer living, but that Christ was living in him. This meant that he had selflessly given control of his life over to Christ and became obedient to Jesus in all things. We can, and must, do the same.
He asks us to walk in his footsteps and follow his example of good character. If we are truly living a life of faith, we will also strive to build good Christian character: One who exercises proper self-control is one who brings every thought and action into conformity with the will of God. (2 Peter 1:6) One denies self by esteeming others better than self and humbling oneself before God we must remember that our choices affect our self-esteem. (1 Peter 5:6)
Self-control God wants us to be the best we can be, we need to be more like him in our actions and WINTER 2021 WOMEN EMPOWERING WOMEN
words. Putting self to death is a continuous habit. (Galatians 2:20) Jesus, The Son of God selflessly left heaven and came to this world to give Himself as a sacrifice for man’s sins. He had no selfish motives in His actions. (Phil. 2:1-8 Putting self to death is the total cure to selfishness Self-denial and low Self-esteem are never the same. The people with low selfesteem feel poorly about themselves and are convinced that they are inferior to others.
Self-Sacrifice Christians are to be “living sacrifices” unto God, living each day to accomplish the good works for which they were created so that the Father and Son might be glorified in them. When it comes to sin, who is our biggest. (2 Corinthians 8:5; Romans. 12:1-2)
Lesson
I learnt that Love is many things but is not self-centred. The Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God selflessly left heaven and came to this world to give himself as a sacrifice for humanity and there were no selfish motives in his actions.
Oyinlola Bukky Akande, is a LifeCoach, Speaker, Author, Publisher, Opportunity Broker, Bridge Builder and Event Co-ordinator. She has served in the Retail & Sales industry and her experience spans over 25 years’. OBA's lengthy experience and refined interpersonal skills have made her a customer service expert. She has authored two books titled 'Diary of the Unique Woman’ & The Life Wires Coupons. OBA has also co-authored and published two books titled ‘Unique Insights’ & ‘Unique Foresight's’. She is the President of Unique Women International and runs a women's only mentor-ship group called Unique Legacy. The heart of Unique Legacy is to aid the development of ideas of women, young women and connect them with professionals in their industry or field. Co - Founder of Rapha Nurturing Academy. OBA is a Certified CBT Trainer; she holds a BSc. in Events Management. Co-Pastor of Shalom Church. She is married to Kenny Akande, Head Pastor and they are blessed with children.
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Christian Women & Leadership By Sarah Holloway
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ave you ever wondered if you've missed the promise of God? Maybe you can relate to that moment when you wake up one day, like me: staring at the ceiling above my bed, empty of emotion, having cried until the tears ran dry for yet another night, questioning, "How did I get here?" Remember how your heart leapt when the Holy Spirit placed that promise inside you? You knew you were called; chosen for something BIG. But then things never quite panned out the way you expected. That was my journey... ...King Carl and Queen Sylvia of Sweden looked radiant. The Queen wore a beautiful crown that glistened in the light, but all eyes were on me, a young 20-year-old girl from the UK. South East London to be precise. Looking into the eyes of the royal couple just below me on the front row, and then out to the sea of faces filling the stadium, I lifted the mic, commanding their attention. As I spoke, my eyes pierced through the spotlights into the TV camera lens and out again to the faces of the crowd, compelling my audience to hear the voice of the Spirit. I paused to allow the compere to interpret, before continuing to explain how Jonah had chosen to rebel, by refusing to go to Nineveh, as God had commissioned him. One year after the honour of sharing my faith and performing before royalty, I was commissioned. Tears streamed down my face and my heart raced in response to the prophetic call uttered by Jean Darnell at the NEC, Birmingham in the late 80’s. A trumpet call, to rise up and be a voice through the Media & the Arts. I knew that was my call. One year later, I joined the band Heartbeat. Two of our songs were in the UK pop charts, declaring the name of Jesus across the airwaves. As we toured, we experienced the anointing of God in numerous ways; witnessed thousands of people saved, saw miracles, healings, and lives completely transformed with manifestations of the Holy Spirit that many only dream of. I had made myself
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available and He'd responded to the cry of my heart; I was a dancer & choreographer, but first I was a missionary. We performed to thousands in venues around the UK & Europe, and television, but remaining faithful to the call and to know Him, was what I yearned for most. God had taken me out of obscurity, having been radically saved, and given me a voice; I had purpose. I was no longer the introverted young person gripped with fear and anxiety. I was called... to be a voice to the Nations. Yet somehow, I found myself several years later, wondering if I’d missed it? What had gone wrong?
"How did I get here?" As I continued to stare at the ceiling, my body had lost all strength, but my mind was tormented. "Was I rebellious or so full of pride that I was deluded?" "What mistake had I made?" One moment I was proclaiming the gospel and walking in my gifting, and the next, the rug had been pulled from under me, BANG. How had my life come tumbling down like a pack of cards? How did I find myself in a situation I hadn't asked for and didn't want? I couldn't understand how God had allowed a series of events to happen in my life that left me traumatised and confused. Although deep down I didn't doubt God's Word, my mind was troubled. As the years passed by, every hope I tried to cling to, seemed to vanish into thin air. Nothing made sense, but I kept holding on, or at least by His grace I sensed Him holding me, by what felt like the thinnest thread. “A bruised reed He will not break”. Isaiah 42:3 (NIV, NKJ) Maybe you recognize some of my journey? Perhaps you've never had the privilege of experiencing quite such a move of God, but you do know a depth of the Spirit in your life that hasn't been acknowledged. You've watched others be raised up, but you feel passed by. As the years have rolled on (no matter how old or young you may be), you wonder if you’ve missed it, or afraid that you will. Each time you seem to be moving forward another obstacle appears before you. Have you faced almost insurmountable challenges; feeling as if the enemy has your name on his ‘to do’ list? We certainly have a very real enemy, and I don’t want to underestimate the attacks that both you and I have experienced. But let me reveal to you a different perspective.
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You are all familiar with the scripture regarding Joseph who was betrayed by his brothers, being thrown in a pit and left for dead; sold into slavery; lied about; put in prison and left passed over. Sit and think about each one of those situations for a moment. Like me, I know many of you have also been rejected, abused, abandoned, gossiped about, had your character defamed, and been passed over. “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 (NKJ). Now let me ask you, was that the enemy’s hand or God’s? Who knew that a famine was about to take place and the family that were to become the Nation of Israel would need saving?
God or the Enemy? You may have been hidden, like Joseph, for a time. But in that place, God hasn't allowed you to be broken, just to let you see what's on the inside. For He surely does allow us to go through trials that reveal our own hearts to us. To allow us to see if we will walk the truth that we preach. Do we walk in that forgiveness, humility, and love? Press ‘pause’ for a moment and let the Holy Spirit touch that part in you that you don’t want to face. Let Him bring His light into any dark area. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJ) “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another...” Romans 13:8 (NIV) But this is why you have walked your journey: He has trained you for battle, as He did David. Before David ever encountered Goliath, he'd overcome the lion and the bear, whilst in obscurity caring for the sheep. When he faced his biggest giant, guess what? He wasn't afraid! He had learnt to have faith in God because He had learnt how to overcome. Joseph wasn’t a wise steward or powerful leader when his brothers tried to kill him. He learnt how to overcome adversity, to forgive what seemed unforgivable, and how to steward honourably in the secret place, being put in charge of the other prisoners (Genesis 39). Sisters, it is time for the leaders to arise. We have shifted into a new dispensation. It's not a new season, because seasons come and go; they rotate. This is a time that has never been before and never will come again; it is a divine reordering
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of natural things. God has been re-ordering your life and removing the slave mentality of Egypt. Let me tell you a secret, you weren’t ready before! Like the children of Israel, you’d have fainted in the battle. “God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” Exodus 13:17.
The Promised land Now the promised land is in sight, but there are defeated giants to overthrow. Through the hard place, you have been honed; you have come through the fire to be brought forth like gold. God is raising up an army of warriors, He is raising up the prophetic, the creative, and the entrepreneurs to pioneer something new that will communicate God's heart through our work-based ministries; leaders that know how to walk in their anointing, humility, and grace. If this resonates with you then, it’s time to ensure you are equipped and prepared to shift into your destiny. You know you're carrying a promise that is too big for you to birth alone. It's as if you've been pregnant for years and now you can feel the labour pains. But we were never meant to do this alone. You may have carried this baby alone in the wilderness, but we all need spiritual midwives to help us when it comes to
our time of delivery. We will reap if we walk in step with the new rhythm. Can you hear the call of the trumpet, the shofar, and the beat of the drum? It's time to join together to shift into the Promised Land; to walk in your anointing; and fulfil the call of service to see the harvest fields reaped for eternal purpose. God has anointed me to equip and train this arising generation of creatives and entrepreneurs. I coach those who feel misunderstood and overwhelmed to help them activate the call and provide training to help you rise in your business and sphere of influence. If your heart is moved, and you sense the Spirit stirring, then get in touch today at sarah@provisioncreatives.com Download my free gift to you
Sarah Holloway is a multi-award-winning documentary film director, qualified teacher, and the creatives’ coach, called for such a time as this.
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Christian Women in Business
THE BABY COT SHOP Post Pandemic Success
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any new parents struggle to find high-quality nursery furniture that is both unique and safe for their baby. The Baby Cot Shop delivers beautifully crafted and safe furniture giving parents complete peace of mind. The boutique store, which launched in 2008, has gone from strength to strength and this exciting collaboration is a true reflection of the business journey entrepreneur Toks Aruoture has been on. Like many others, The Baby Cot Shop has faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic but has kept their promise to providing a five star service to customers and going above and beyond. In 2020, the store was recognised by the UK government as one of 80 inspirational businesses, they helped more international mums than ever find their perfect nursery and the company had a full rebrand. In January 2021, the company launched their collection of multipurpose nursery
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Spotlight on
Toks Aruoture furniture, bed linens, and elegant decor alongside its Interiors of Hope campaign. The BCS collection features calming colours with uplifting symbols of optimism and new beginnings. Giving back is an important aspect of business for The Baby Cot Shop. For this reason, its charity partnership with Fertility Network UK sees 15% of sales from the new Chelsea Cot donated to the organisation. This
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will help to aid the charity in continuing the crucial support and advice it provides. Currently The Baby Cot Shop’s founder can been seen lighting up billboards across London’s roads, buses and shopping centres promoting Sage, with the words ‘The Baby Cot Shop is bossing Chelsea’. This campaign proves that business isn’t just about the numbers, it’s about the presence in your local community too. The Baby Cot Shop is proud to be business that makes a big impact in Chelsea, consistently lifting community spirit and guiding
mums-to-be and new mums towards their dream nursery. “It’s an honour and privilege to be the campaign face of Sage, especially as we owe part of The Baby Cot Shop’s success to using their software,” says Toks. “In my career I’ve always held onto my business vision but remained flexible to how it all comes together. I’m so proud of this collaboration.”
About the Baby Cot The Baby Cot Shop’s aim is to help mums create a magical nursery space for little ones to sleep, play and explore in. From the enchanting Notte Fatata Castle Bunk Bed to the ultra-stylish Tribeca Tufted Cot Bed, each piece of handcrafted furniture exudes elegance and charm. The premium service doesn’t stop there – the Chelsea boutique offers a bespoke approach to nursery shopping, allowing shoppers to customise every corner of their child’s room – from fabrics to hues. Amongst the most popular services is The Baby Cot Shop’s Interior Design Service. With over 10 years’ experience, The Baby Cot Shop’s Interior Design Service brings your nursery or kids room vision to life through consultations, mood boards, fabric samples, styling and fitting, providing tradesmen and making sure your dream room becomes a reality. The Baby Cot Shop has been featured in the likes of Tatler, The Times, Vogue Bambini, Architectural Digest and Hello! magazine
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Lizete Capontes design@thebabycotshop.com thebabycotshop.com @thebabycotshop 408 King's Road London SW10 0LJ 0203 3717530
@thebabycotshop www.wewmagazine.com
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SEEING BEYOND YOU by Prophetess Anne Simpson
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“What do you see?” Jeremiah 1:11
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n the book of Jeremiah God asked the prophet “what do you see?” Many times in our lives and especially as leaders, God asks us “what do you see?” As women especially we tend to see all our faults and failings, our imperfections both in the natural and in the spiritual. We want to try to improve how we look by applying a new hairstyle or make up and none of these things are wrong, but they can become wrong if they are done to cover up a sense of unworthiness of not being good enough. In the same way if we cannot see beyond our weaknesses and into Gods supernatural strength and abilities, we will never be able to achieve the best that God has for us. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they became used to being told what to do, being oppressed every day so that even when they were released, they were not able to enter into the promise land because the image of themselves had not been restored. When they faced opposition, they saw themselves as grasshoppers and they shrank back. Because of their wrong image, they were not able to move forward into the destiny that God had for them and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. I wonder how many things have been delayed in our lives because we were not willing to take a step of faith and see beyond ourselves. In ministry God is always calling us to see beyond ourselves and come up higher into the supernatural realm of his glory and into the place of his power and ability. Throughout the bible we see many people that thought themselves to be weak and yet God chose them. Many had made mistakes in their past and thought that God would never use them, but God raised them up. 2 Corinthians 4:7 “but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” Often God chooses imperfect people to show us and the world that it is all about him and not about us.
When we consider women in leadership in the bible there are several that come to mind. Esther was a lady who was an orphan and a Jew which should have put her at a disadvantage, but she was chosen to become queen and positioned in a strategic place to save a whole nation from the wicked plan of Haman. I believe that in this season God is realigning and repositioning us into the right places where we can be used by God in this end time hour. Another lady that we see is Abigail who was very beautiful and intelligent and yet she was married to a foolish man whose decisions nearly destroyed her whole family and yet this lady used wisdom and courage and without wasting time she went to King David to bring an offering and apologise on behalf of her husband. Her actions appeased the king and saved her family. Many times, we see hindrances stopping us from serving God effectively and sometimes we may even be tempted to use our difficult situations as an excuse to not serve God fully, but these situations show us that if we will step out in faith then God will back us up and honour us. Zechariah 4:6 “not by power, nor by might but by my spirit says the Lord” In seeing beyond ourselves we must recognise that whatever God asks us to do, he will equip us to do it through his power, anointing and ability. If we look to our own ability, we will often feel that we don’t have enough ability but when we understand that our ability is in him then all things become possible. One thing that I have learnt in ministry is to be totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Whenever I am about to preach or do anything for the Lord I always pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak and minister through me. In this way ministry becomes easy rather than a burden as it is his power flowing through you and not your own strength. God has often stretched me beyond what I thought I could do but I have seen that God always backs me up and gives me everything that I need. Coming to Africa was something that I never expected
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or even wanted to do but from that first trip 10 years ago now God has built a ministry that is reaching the world, but it began with one step of obedience to go and God has slowly unfolded the rest as I have kept taking more steps of faith over the years. I truly believe that we are now entering the season of the suddenly for those that have been faithful to keep serving God. Just like Joseph who held on to his dream, he went from the prison to the palace in one day but behind the suddenly was 20 years of struggles and pain, but he kept using his gift even in his darkest hour and God caused a suddenly to come in his life. He looked beyond himself and his situation and God rewarded him with the fulfilment of his dream. I want to encourage you to keep on dreaming but to also keep on being faithful in the waiting time because in the perfect time it will happen suddenly.
So, in every situation God is calling us to look beyond ourselves and to see God and to also see who we are in Christ and to know his power, his anointing, his ability and to allow him to heal the areas in ourselves that hold us back and to step out in faith into all that God has called us to do. Today I want to encourage you to take a step of faith. When God called Moses, he said “who am I that I should go?” And God replied by saying “I will be with you”. When we hear the word of the Lord telling us to go then we know that he will go before us and prepare the way and all we must do is to walk by faith. I pray that today you will be encouraged to step out and fulfil everything that God has for your life without fear and doubt and trusting in his power in you.
Prophetess Anne Simpson from UK is founder of World Arise Ministries and is taking the gospel to the nations with signs and wonders. She has a mandate to teach, preach, equip, and empower through teaching of the word of God through conferences and crusades as well as bringing practical assistance to the poor and vulnerable predominantly in Africa where she is building a women’s refuge in Malawi. Anne moves in a prophetic and healing anointing and has seen many people healed and set free through her ministry. Anne is also the author of 6 books Her desire is to see people come into a revelation of who they are in Christ and to fulfil all that God has for them to do. Further details of her ministry can be found at:-Worldariseministries.org
by Prophetess Anne Simpson
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W O M E N AT T H E CROSSROADS By Dr Sherry Ann Dixon
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T
his word “Crossroads” covers so many areas, the multiple roles that women are subjected to and play, the common myth that women must give up life's multiple roles in order to be successful professionally. I reflect at a time in my life when I was standing at many crossroads. I was choosing a new career which meant less time at home. No longer was I running to catch the 6pm train, worrying what to cook for dinner. My boys were grown up and all this new woman behavior led to divorcing my husband because of conflict in the roles I was adopting. But yet I was feeling guilty because women at that time did not leave the marital home, the men did! Another serious crossroads moment was wondering whether to leave a very well respected job to take on another. I had to leave the UK to live in the Caribbean and this time of my life spoke to the professional woman, making choices for betterment, providing a framework for growth and development as a high- achieving leader. But whereas in the UK I was respected and referred to as a strong leader, the same was not promoted in the Caribbean. Its super weird that men in several cultures still hold on to traditional views of the roles women should fill and how women should behave around men. Lacking a framework for dealing with females who hold substantial responsibility and make important decisions, they could behave awkwardly when dealing with women in positions of authority. Chances are that some of them might avoid interactions altogether. Even when they seem a bit more forthcoming, men in many countries may still openly or secretly disapprove of women filling what they view as ‘male’ roles. Accordingly, businesswomen often remain relative outsiders in these cultures. It can be difficult for them to win the trust and respect of their male counterparts. So how was I supposed to navigate mixing and mingling or networking in order to meet potential clients? One of the recommendations told to me was that I should excuse myself from
business entertainment and dinners unless confident that you I will be welcome. Most of all when attending, make up an excuse in order to leave at the end of the meal, usually after coffee or tea has been served and/or when the men in the group are starting to consume strong liquors. That was certainly not the way I knew it in England! Through the many roles I have played, I have always had this question thrown at me. Can a woman lead her team and yet be vulnerable? I know leaders feel a constant pressure to perform at a higher level than others. Well, not only does vulnerability allow us to be our authentic selves, it is a powerful tool that we can use to empower others. Vulnerability is the best measure of courage because effective leaders shoulder a lot of responsibility. Managers need to be sure about their decisions – but the right level of vulnerability can help make leaders more human, says Matt Chittock. But when she is at her crossroads how can she make decisions for herself and/or her team without offending? ‘As leaders expect that we won’t always gain approval from everyone, be comfortable knowing that you are leading ethically, with integrity and truth - that’s how leaders gain respect.” says Lyndell Danzie-Black, Managing Director - Cerulean Inc “I think there's definitely room for leaders to be vulnerable in the right situations,” says Kim Morgan from Barefoot Coaching Remain aware that showing too much assertiveness or competitiveness could turn both males and females against you says business mentor, Rona White.
Conclusion:
Whether you consider yourself a leader or not, there is a dissonance that plagues many women. Feeling misunderstood, resisted, or hesitant — believing you’re too much and not enough all at the same time. If you’ve ever felt
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it, you’re not alone. Don’t lead too big. Don’t come off too strong. Don’t get in trouble. How I should dress to be well-received. Gosh it can certainly be stressful; at home or at work. There are a lot of controversial perspectives out there about women. But even the best of us sometimes shift from coaching mentality and supporting to anger, judgment and blaming. My conclusion is ignore the noise, get closer to your team, engage it in problem solving be transparent, and share your concerns. A leader whose actions provoke fear in others may unwittingly shut down team members’ creative and strategic. Manage disappointment by seeking to understand shortcomings without judgment and by enlisting your team in collaborative problem solving. Set goals and expectations with your team. Discover where they want to go and make
sure they have an opportunity to weigh in on the plans and commitments they are going to be held responsible for. Make it safe for people to be honest—to freely share their thoughts, concerns and perspectives. Finally, never give up. Be authentic. The bottom line: as a woman, unless you happen to be the Secretary of State of a powerful nation, you may want to come prepared to deal with culture-specific expectations and practices in business situations.
Dr. Sherry Ann Dixon is a Multi-award winning Transformational Coach, Journalist, Public Speaker and Lecturer
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LIFESTYLE
Financially Empowered
For Good Leadership By Tokunbo Osunbayo
I
’m loving what I see, these days. Women all over the world are finding their voices, stepping out with confidence, dignity and gaining much-needed visibility. As a woman who runs a community designed to empower women, it warms my heart to see the direction women are taking in the world today. We are truly coming into our own. However, it’s not us stepping out to dispose men but us collaborating with them to make society wholesome. As Christian women we must confidently walk in the place that God originally designed for us at the beginning of creation. Our role is to work in harmony with men to create a better world for all. Yes, this is how I believe we as women are meant to be - for all and not for one or the other. I know the fight for women to take our rightful place has been long and we still have a quite a way to go. But let us celebrate how far we have come and how the world is changing for us. In this article my focus is on the Christian woman in leadership and her financial life, but I just had to celebrate our journey so far.
As Christian women our guide is God’s word, the Bible, revealing to us how we are meant to do life. Yes, the world is working hard to move us away from obeying God, but it cannot change the truth we believe. The world promotes a focus on our independence, trying to get us to turn away from our need for God and even from men; this can be damaging to our soul, and the enemy is capitalising on this phase of womanhood dangerously. We are aware, more women are doing better financially, and many are quite comfortable going the road alone. This is not just happening in the world but also among Christians, a strategy the enemy is again using successfully to derail God’s plan. So, I say to all Christian women in leadership let’s not forget who we are in Christ, for we are meant to be the light of the world, like city on a hill that cannot be hidden, Matt. 5:14. Let me share five ways a Christian woman in leadership can be a financially empowered for good:
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1.
Decide Who You Submit to Financially A Christian woman in leadership must decide who she will submit to financially. Is she going to oversee her own finances or is she going to allow God to guide her? What does it look like when God guides us financially? He will help us make good financial choices and decisions both in our personal and professional life, once we learn to hear His voice. The percentage of women who are sole breadwinners is rapidly rising and many are finding it challenging to follow the original plan of God for their lives, especially when they use the mirror of the world to determine how they live. When a woman functions with the help of the Holy Spirit, she will find it easier to submit to the leadership of God, financially. The Proverbs 31 woman is a good role model to follow. 2.
Reflect Who Christ Is A Christian woman in leadership cannot use her position and financial status to intimidate others. The way Christ treated his disciples and people around Him is a good example of how we are to treat others, including those we lead. John 13:34 (NIV) says: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Jesus exhibited humility, compassion, kindness, and love wherever he went and to whoever he met; that should be how we show up daily, being empowered in the Kingdom starts with being Christlike. 3.
Be A Financial Role Model Understand that being in a leadership role makes all the difference to how we show up and behave. A Christian woman in leadership must be a role model to those she leads. She must not misappropriate money but be financially responsible in her role, whether in the home, workplace, community or in society.
A role model is not a person who has it all together but a person who lives in a way that people want to emulate. It’s important that we do not behave as if we are perfect, as no one except Christ is perfect. Let us not deceive ourselves, perfection does not make us role models. 4.
The World Is Not Our Mirror As Christian women in leadership, we must accept that the world is not the mirror of our lives. We are meant to manage our finances from a Christian perspective and not as the world does - forcing people to do our bidding, intimidating, or terrorising those we lead because we are financially well off, is not the Jesus way. Our financial empowerment is to make the world a better place. John 17:15-16 tells us that although we are in the world, we are not of the world. Let Christ be our mirror. 5.
Be Generous Christian women in leadership must be generous financially and must allow the Holy Spirit to guide their money. Our generosity cannot be for showmanship. The motive behind our generosity counts a great deal in the God’s Kingdom. Only the generous person knows the motive of their generosity. When we make our finances available to God, he can use us to do wonderful things and that is the true meaning of being Christlike, for the good of all. In conclusion, Christian women in leadership are ‘empowered to empower.’ We are Christ’s ambassadors, and we must see it as a privilege to serve God financially. I must say it has been the greatest decision of my life to hand over to God, financially and I believe you can do the same too, if you haven’t already.
Tokunbo Osunbayo is a Christian, Mother, Widow, Empowerment Life Guide and Event Host who loves to inspire, motivate, educate and connect people. She trained as a Business Administrator, Budget Coach, Debt Specialist and Information & Guidance Advisor. She also has qualifications in Conflict Management and Safeguarding. She has written 2 children’s books on Money. As an Event Host she runs online and offline Christian, Life and Business events. She resides in London, UK with her family. Visit www.tokunboosunbayo.com for more information.
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Raising Confident Girls into Great Leaders By Rita Okoye
"All the money in the world can make you rich and all the power in the world can make you strong but these things can never make you a leader.’’
W
Myles Munroe
hat makes a good leader is attitude. My passion is to equip girls with the tools to help them value themselves and become great leaders anywhere
in the world. Every girl can be a leader if she believes in herself. Most girls are not leaders because they don’t believe they can be. Who is a leader? And why raise girls to become great leaders? Contrary to popular belief a leader is not a title reserved for a few but rather an attitude.
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SPIRITUL ETIQUETTE
There is often an assumption that an outwardly, spoken, outgoing girl who is more confident will make a better leader than a girl who is reserved and who doesn’t say much. That is a myth because what is being displayed are personality traits rather than leadership traits. We should not make assumptions on either. What is important is for girls to develop inner confidence and belief that they can be great leaders. Below are ways to train our girls to become great leaders:
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Self-love: You can often tell when a
girl has self-love. It is not hidden. She will take care of herself. She will nurture herself. She will not put herself down because she knows that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. She also takes steps to look after herself and her body by eating well and exercising. When a girl shows strong selflove, she’s looked up to by her peers and is a natural leader. As parents when we fill our daughter’s buckets with enough self-esteem from the home and unconditional love, she can stand up as a leader anywhere in the world.
Self-knowledge: A girl who has strong self-knowledge has strong leadership skills. She can reflect on her feelings, thoughts, and behaviors and she is interested in knowing how she is perceived. A girl with self-knowledge is aware of her strengths and her weakness but focuses more on her strengths. She also has a strong sense of her values and is less likely to do anything that she doesn’t want to do. Amanda is self-aware because from early her parents encouraged her to ask questions. She just doesn’t follow the crowd. She makes very good choices, even with her choice of friends because she knows what is good for her. When our girls become true to themselves, they will naturally be leaders. Clear goals: Every great leader sets goals and has a strong sense of purpose. From a young age, our girls should be encouraged to set goals and to go for what she wants. She should get into the habit of setting goals which will lead to more energy and more motivation rather than just coasting. Edna is 12 and loves tennis. She practices nearly every day and has even written in her journal that she will be a great tennis player. Her parents saw her passion from a young and encouraged her. They also assist her in writing down other important goals for her life. Edna is now a habitual goal setter and leader in her school.
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Positive thinking: The most powerful
thing that a human has on this earth is her thoughts. Great leaders are positive thinkers. Some girls tend to have a habit of putting themselves down. They don’t step out as boldly as boys because they are afraid of what others think. A girl with strong leadership traits looks on the bright side of life. She expects good things to happen to her. She always believes in the best possible outcome. She doesn’t worry about negative outcomes because her mind is focused on doing her best. Ada is a great example. She's great company because she is always happy. She thinks the best in others and you hardly hear her complaining. She is an optimist and believes that something great will always happen to her. Leadership is the capacity to influence others through passion, a great vision, conviction, and purpose. Ada displays this impressively.
Communication Think of any modern great leader and you will observe that they have great communication skills. They listen accurately, calmly and are empathetic to other people. Girls that are raised to be leaders will be able to make small talk with all people and of all backgrounds. They will be able to speak in public without feeling inadequate. Kelechi was such a girl. She was a good communicator and was the type of person that everyone liked. Not only was she kind but she also listened to her friends and helped them solve their issues. She stood up to bullies on behalf of others and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. How can we help our girls communicate better? Why not strike a conversation with them. Ask them how their day went or ask them to describe what they did in school? Help them to be aware of other people’s body language and tone of voice when communicating. Teach them to wait their turn when others are speaking and not to interrupt.
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Assertiveness An assertive girl has a spirit of leadership. She knows that she is just as important as anyone else in it and has a right to success and happiness. A girl that displays assertiveness skills is self-assured. She is neither aggressive nor passive. She knows her rights and speaks up when she needs to. An assertive girl gives and receives compliments easily. She doesn’t break down when given criticism because she knows that feedback does not define her. We can teach our girls to know their rights and speak up. Also as an assertive girl should learn how to ask effectively for what she wants. A girl should be able to give and take compliments assertively and cope with criticism. She should not be crushed by the slightest remark. Assertiveness are great signs of a great leader.
Self-presentation Unfortunately, the world does judge on appearance. We shouldn’t focus too much attention on self-presentation to please and impress others but girls should be taught to look after themselves. Great leaders look good. When you look good, you feel good and you attract others. As a girl grows older give her choices of what clothes she wants to wear. This will help her express her individuality and style. When a girl has good self-presentation, she will know the dress styles and colours that suit her. She gains credibility by making a good first impression because she knows how to look great. She will be comfortable in her skin and display great leadership traits.
Emotional control Emotional control is an attitude our girls need to cultivate as great leaders. When a girl has good emotional control she trusts herself. She takes on more risks because she is not afraid of failure. She can openly express her emotions whether she is happy or sad and knows how to cope
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effectively. She can let her hair down without being so bothered about how she is perceived. A girl with good emotional control will seek out friendships that give her deep joy love and happiness. We need to help young girls manage their emotions. We can start by teaching a girl that she does have a right to feel any emotion but to take responsibility for them. None of these essential life skills happen overnight but with guidance from adults, we will raise confident girls into great leaders.
Rita Okoye is the CEO of Majestically Rare Events and Training which has been around for nearly 10 years. She’s also a Business Skills Coach and has a track record of delivering excellent training to business owners on behalf of banks like FCMB, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank through Building Capacity Campaigns for over 6 years. She also runs High Impact Business Workshops for entrepreneurs through her company Majestically Rare. She created the Confidence Revolution Workshops which takes place in Lagos and London. RiRi is also the creator of the 7 Figure Business Mastery Series where she invites top business owners to speak to her audience. RiRi has hosted a radio show called Business Growth with RiRi which took place on Inspiration FM 92.3 She is a mentor for the global TEF (Tony Elumelu Foundation) Mentor Guild and She Ventures, FCMB. RiRi is committed to social causes and is the founder of Raising Confidence Girls. A movement with a vision where every girl is confidentto her audience. RiRi has hosted a radio show called Business Growth with RiRi which took place on Inspiration FM 92.3 She is a mentor for the global TEF (Tony Elumelu Foundation) Mentor Guild and She Ventures, FCMB. RiRi is committed to social causes and is the founder of Raising Confidence Girls. A movement with a vision where every girl is confident
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