Kingdom Christian Magazine_ July 2018 Featuring Pastor Kodi Pride

JULY 2018

Christian Magazine

O HOW HE

LOVES US! BRIANNA TRIPLETT

EVANGELIST CARMELLA HILL

MENTAL HEALTH

PURITY OVER PLEASURE

ALIA WORTHY

MARRIAGE FRIENDSHIP MARRIAGE MATTERS

ELDER RD

ANDERSON-BAILEY

Pastor

Kodi

PRIDE “Dance Saved My Life”

CONTENTS ISSUE 31

JULY 2018

Pastor kodi pride

16

COVER STORY

4

4 YOU’RE NOT CRAZY Donna Renay Patrick 6 FOUNDERS PAGE Pastors Greg & Sharina George 8 MARRIAGE & FRIENDSHIP Elder RD Anderson-Bailey 10 THINK LIKE A BUSINESS OWNER Leslie Elia, July Financial Article 12 PURITY OVER PLEASURE Alia Worthy, Single & Saved 14 DRINK WATER DURING EXERCISE Angela Mosley, Physical Health

16 COVER STORY

Pastor Kodi Pride “Dance Saved My Life”

Minister Donna Renay Patrick

10

18 I AM A MISSIONARY Brooke Mitterhoizer 20 YOUTH AND MENTAL HEALTH Evang. Carmella Hill, Mental Health 22 OH HOW HE LOVES US Brianna Triplett, Precious Oill 24 DEATH IS NECESSARY Pastor Sharina George

LESLIE ELIA

18

26 TEEN CORNER Taylor Hauser & Archi Alexander

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BROOK MITTERHOIZER

KingdomChristianMagazine

Minister Donna Renay Patrick

YOU’RE NOT CRAZY,

But You Are Peculiar

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: (I Peter 2:9, KJV).

I’ve never really been what you might call a “conformist.” I mean, I’ve never been one to run with the pack. There was a time in college that I went certain places just to be with my friends, but these were not places I was comfortable being in. So fortunately, the club lifestyle never took hold in my life.

And I’m glad it didn’t because I am at a very different place in God now than I was then. Learning that God had a purpose and plan for my life came later in my Christian experience. And at that point there was no turning back.

This means that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are His prized treasure – His special possession. That should speak joy to your heart if you are in some ambiguity concerning your God-given purpose.

The assurance that you are God’s prized possession, costly and specially chosen should send you into your own private praise service.

When you have made the decision not only to learn what God’s purpose is for your life, but you then dare to operate in it, somebody will think you’re crazy. In the world we currently live in, it is much more popular to conform to what seems normal and comfortable, than to be different.

When you learn who you are in Christ, and what He has designed you to do to bring Him glory, those who In the Greek, the word “peculiar” is periousios, which are not on the same spiritual journey you are on means costly, treasured, select, or specially chosen. won’t understand.

The King James version fits the context of this article very well, but other Bible translations use the phrase, “God’s own possession,” or similar language.

Clearly, the child Samuel was peculiar. His mother, Hannah, prayed earnestly to conceive him, and made a promise to God that if He gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. When God answered her, she followed through on her promise, and took her young son to live and serve in God’s house with the priest, Eli (I Samuel 1:22).

King David’s family found out how peculiar he was when, years later, Samuel anointed him king of Israel right in front of his father and brothers (I Samuel 16:12-13).

Jeremiah was chosen by God to deliver His message to a nation who would prove less-than-receptive. But the wonderful thing is that God told Jeremiah when He commissioned him to expect opposition (Jeremiah 1:10, 17-19).

In my first book, At All Times (Westbow Press, 2012), there is a chapter entitled, Keep Headquarters Close. It talks about whether on a military base or attending a convention, Headquarters is the place where protection is found, or instructions are received. As children of God we are staying close to Headquarters whenever we approach God in regular worship, prayer, and study of His Word. As I have been intentional about walking in my purpose, it has cost me relationships, times of isolation, and being made to feel like an outsider because I refuse to accept the “business as usual” mentality. If you can relate, please be encouraged to own your peculiar status. Own it!

Accept it and trust God! Consider our reference text. It is not man you are called to please, but God.

Donna Renay Patrick is a transformational speaker, award-winning author, musician/choir director, and worship leader. She has authored two devotionals focused on making worship a lifestyle, At All Times, and It’s In Your Praise. Recently, she co-authored a devotional for women in the workplace entitled, Be Refreshed. She often teaches in three areas where she is most passionate: The priority of worship, knowing your purpose, and effective leadership.

Visit her website at https://donnarenaypatrick.com. Follow her on social media: Facebook: Donna Renay Patrick, Author Twitter: @DonnaRPatrick Instagram: Donnarenaypatrick LinkedIn: Donna Renay Patrick, M.A.

CEO

Jesus

THE FOUNDERS

Publisher

Xcellence Publications

Founders

Pastor Greg George Pastor Sharina George

Chief Editor

Sharina George

Editor

Angela Wachsman

Graphic Designer Xcellence Marketing

Cover Photo Jeff Lawson

Contributing Writers

Donna R. Patrick RD Anderson-Bailey Leslie Elia Alia Worthy Angela Mosley Carmella Hill Brianna Triplett Taylor Hauser Archi Alexander Sharina George

Happy July!!!

This summer can be interesting if you make it interesting. Life has its way of throwing ice cycles in the summer and fire balls in the winter but if you keep the write perspective your nights can soon turn into days and lemons into lemonade. Isn’t it interesting that the right perspective can change everything about your situation.

God bless you, Pastors Greg & Sharina George

Genesis 1:28 All rights are reserved and no part of this publication can be copied or reproduced without permission from Xcellence Publications LLC.

Let’s Pray!

Connect with

Minister Jucinta Jones on Fridays @ 5:00AM Est.

Exhortation & Intercessory

Prayer

218-486-2948 Access code: 82310# Email requests: Sanctifiedbychristministry@gmail.com www.sanctifiedbyChristministry.com

1 Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing

MARRIAGE MATTERS

MARRIAGE:THE FRIENDSHIP OF A LIFETIME Elder RD Anderson-Bailey, MFT

Proverbs 27:9 AMP “Oil and perfume make the heart glad: so does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.”

In my line of work I speak to couples from all walks of life. All are ranging in age from Young Adults to Newlyweds and First Time Parents to Empty Nesters and even Great Grandparents. Yet, every time I encounter a couple in conflict, I find myself asking ‘Are you still friends?’ It doesn’t matter what the conflict is, if you started as friends then that is the foundation of your relationship. In hard times we often forget that we were friends first.

I mean, in most relationships you don’t just walk u to the other person and say “Hey you!

We’re in a relationship now.” On the contrary, individuals take time to find and share common interests; they build on those interests and expand them to include new experiences together.

They also enjoy one another’s company and take time to learn one another’s personalities, past present and future goals, as well as family life. The decision to move onto a romantic relationship is the culmination of having a well -balanced friendship and the desire to create a life of new experiences together. We tend to lose sight of the friendship that started it all when trouble arises. This truth is precisely what led me to ask this question of you today. Are you still friends?

Here are 5 things that will ground you for the long haul of your marriage.

5. Remember to remain curious about your mate. Be eager to learn them daily. Don’t be afraid to explore their interests. What they liked when you first met may be drastically different after 5 years or so.

4. True friends work through issues without attacking one another. They aren’t your problem. The problem is the problem.

3. Friends are not made overnight. You invested time, patience, and energy to get to where you are and you will have to invest even more time, patience, energy and love to continue the journey.

2. Enjoy new experiences together. That means go outside of your comfort zone. Plan an excursion or a trip to somewhere new. Take in these new experiences together. They help to create not only lasting memories but strong bonds through shared interactions.

1. Respect your mate. If you really respect your spouse then you won’t risk your friendship with harsh words or hurtful actions just to win a fight.

Remember, there is value in the connection you made as friends. The foundation of your marriage rests on the value placed on the friendship.

Keeping the value in focus even in times of conflict will cause you to fight for and not against your spouse.

Marriage is the friendship of a lifetime because when it is built on the firmest foundation of God, love, friendship and faithfulness it can truly withstand the test of time. Married couples that hold these elements tight within the grasp of their hearts won’t fade fast My prayer for your marriage is that you remember the days of your friendship.

That you recall the foundation that you built before the storms and that you rise above them with grace and favor! Amen.

Philippians 4:8 KJV “Finally Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be Marriage: The Friendship of a Lifetime any praise, think on these things.”

By Eld. R. D. Anderson-Bailey, MFT GROW.LOVE.LEARN. @RelationshipDecoder

@TheRelationshipDecoder

www.RelationshipDecoder.com

Leslie Elia Life Leadership

Thinking Like A Business Owner Ecclesiastes 11:2 – “Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land”

One of the best books on understanding money is by Robert Kiyosaki.

Check out The Cash Flow Quadrant. His explanation of the four legal ways to make money is outstanding, There are four quadrants called employee, selfemployed, systems type business owner and investor.

For most of us, we work a J.O.B. That is a simple equation of trading your hours for dollars. Even if you started your own landscaping company and considered yourself in the self-employed quadrant, you are still trading hours of time for dollars. Oh yes, it may be fun at first, picking the clients you want to work with and making your own hours, but eventually, you realize that if you have 14 contracts to mow lawns, you now have 14 bosses! In addition to that, if you are sick or need to fly out of town for a wedding, do you have a system in place for your clients while their grass grows?

The place you really want to be is on the right side of the quadrant where the residual income or passive income lay. In keeping this article brief, let’s save the “investor” quadrant for another time and focus on the “System” type business.

In your Green Box book, we will look at Principles 15 and 16, which talk about becoming a business owner. Do not think you must save up a couple of million dollars to purchase a McDonalds or Pizza Hut franchise, although they are considered Systems type businesses. Start small and think of a business you

Financial Article July 2018

The Magic Green Box would like to do on the side while you are still doing your regular job. Have a goal in mind that perhaps eventually your passive income can exceed or even replace your existing income.

As an example, I have a friend who just loves her pink Cadillac she earned from selling Mary Kay products.

I have another friend who cashes her home-based Vitamin company checks each and every Friday. I still get a small residual check each month from royalties of selling a book and naturally, I love my involvement in my personal development and financial literacy group.

Think outside of the box and have fun discovering the perks of business ownership. If you would like more information or want to join a Financial Fitness Class, please contact Leslie at ironleslie@ sbcglobal.net.

For more information about obtaining the Finance Kit that will aid you in your journey, please contact Leslie at ironleslie@sbcglobal.net or call 440-591-8750.

Purity over pleasure

Remaining Pure in Singleness

P

urity tends to be one of those topics that we stray away from in hopes to not expose ourselves or even our desire for sex. Remaining pure as a single and saved Christian can be tempting and difficult at times.

It’s as if everywhere we turn, whether via the television, internet, or even the environment we may at times be around we notice that our need to remain pure is difficult. As Christians and believers, God has given us the authority and power to overcome every temptation and promises to give us a way of escape.

Despite it being hard, we can rejoice in the fact that through Christ it’s possible.

Throughout this article, I’ll identify three ways to remain pure in singleness.

1. IDENTIFY YOUR TRIGGERS Triggers are those things and situations that easily tempt us to sin. Ephesians 4:27 discusses the need to not give the enemy any foothold. The truth is, the enemy knows how to tempt us and most times he usually sends distractions to easily entice us causing us to give into temptation. Psalm 1 gives us an example and instructions that best help us not be enticed by the enemy. We must first be willing to acknowledge the areas in which we are weak in.

2. PRAYER & THE WORD There’s nothing better to utilize when the

enemy is tempting you than prayer and the word. Prayer, being direct communication with God helps us to rely on Him in those times when it’s tough or challenging to really live for Him. The Word helps us to combat any thoughts of impurity that may not align with his will or words and makes it submit to God’s thoughts. Why not utilize this powerful weapon against the enemy? It’s vital that we know his word so that we’re able to use it in times of temptation. Prayer helps us to focus more on God rather than our weaknesses and really puts things in perspective that despite the weakness or sin we may struggle with, God is greater. God is our number one defense waiting to assist us in overcoming the enemy.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY After being able to admit and identify the triggers that lead us to pleasure rather than purity, we must be willing to submit those things to God.

Alia Worthy

Alia Worthy Understanding that we are accountable to God best helps us in remaining pure.

James 4:7 says, Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee. Our submission and obedience to God will cause the devil to flee. As we continue to submit to God, and overcome the enemy, we gain more strength to walk in pureness and holiness. In order to remain delivered and walk in purity, we must be willing to do what it takes despite the opposition.

I know some may some say, well I’ve already given into this temptation of fornication. Please, ask for forgiveness and receive his grace to now help you walk in purity. There’s no condemnation for those in Christ. His grace empowers us in our weaknesses to live a life pleasing to Him. Christ says, that He will keep us from falling and present us faultless before him. Be sure to seek out leadership at your church and get around a group of believers that can hold you accountable to your actions.

Confess your faults one to another that you may be healed. There’s safety in accountability.

What is The importance of drinking water While Exercising?

By Minister Angela Mosley

Whether you exercise a little or a lot, it’s important to stay hydrated.

Good hydration means getting the right amount of water before, during, and after exercise. What does water do? It regulates your body temperature and lubricates your joints. It also helps transports nutrients to give you energy and keep you healthy. When your body is not hydrated, your body cannot perform at its highest level. You may feel tired, experience muscle cramps, dizziness, or other serious symptoms.

One easy way to make sure your staying properly hydrated is to check your urine. If your urine is usually colorless or light yellow you are most likely well hydrated. Dark yellow or amber-colored urine can be a sign of dehydration.

So how much water should you drink while exercising? There is no one rule for how much one should drink because everyone is different.

You need to consider factors including your sweat rate, the heat and humidity in your environment, and how long and hard you are exercising.

Here are 4 suggested guidelines for drinking water before, during, and after exercise:

1. Drink 17-20 ounces of water 2 to 3 hours before you start exercising.

2. Drink 8 ounces of water 20-30 minutes before you start exercising or during your warm-up.

3. Drink 7-10 ounces of water every 10-20 minutes during exercise.

4. Drink 8 ounces of water no more than 30 minutes after you exercise.

I get this question asked a lot, What about sports drinks? Well for most people, water is all that is needed to stay hydrated. However, if you will be exercising at a very high intensity for longer than an hour then a sports drink may be helpful. The reason I say this is because the calories, potassium, and other nutrients in sports drinks can provide energy and electrolytes to help you perform for a longer period of time.

“

Here are 4 suggested guidelines for drinking water before, during, and after exercise:

“

Minister Angela Mosley

There is one main concern I have about these sports drinks, they often are high in calories from added sugar and may contain high levels of sodium and caffeine. So please be careful.

Dehydration happens when you lose more fluid than you drink. When your body doesn’t have enough water it cannot work properly. I want to give you some symptoms of dehydration: dizziness, or lightheaded feeling, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, dry mouth, lack of sweating, a hard and fast heartbeat. Severe dehydration can include mental confusion, weakness, and loss of consciousness. You should get emergency medical attention immediately if you experience any of these severe dehydration symptoms.

Please note that water is involved in all our bodily functions: digestion, assimilation, elimination, respiration, maintaining and regulating our body temperature. So with that being said, during these hot and humid days ahead of us, I would suggest you purposely stay well hydrated to have optimal health.

Just remember the importance of drinking water in the natural we also must drink water in the spiritual. John 4:14 (KJV) says, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” BE BLESSED

jULY 2018 Cover Story

DANCE SAVED

MY LIFE

Pastor Kodi Pride

I rejoice not in who I am but in Whose I am! As a minister and servant of God, I chose to tell my testimony through the art of liturgical dance.

Before I ever preached and prayed, I danced my words to God. I had so much I had to tell him, to ask Him, and I found Him in dance. It was in the moments when I had no words to say and no tears to cry, I found movement that intertwined me in God’s peace, grace and love.

HIS DANCE SAVES ME: Dance saves me! Dance says what I can’t articulate; it sings worship w h i l e dismissing worry and releases pain into praise. Dance is the place where my truth is set free and my mind is at ease.

No pressure, no stress—nothing but a platform to express that I am blessed.

In dance, there is a message in the moves ordered by God after complete submission to His Will. In dance, there is no place for me— only a place for the Me in Him. He alone can sustain me, contain me and rearrange me. In Him, I find truth and freedom from the noise of the world. In Him, my soul can rest, my mind can pause, my heart can beat to the rhythm of His love

Pastor Kodi Pride

and my spirit can intertwine with His spirit. In Him I can abide, I can hide in a secret place where there is an overflow of His joy, His strength, and His peace. Dance is where I find Him leading my every step and every move. He is my dance partner who never tires as He leads; He never drops me and He holds me close so that every step is unified. For in Him my mourning has been exchanged into dancing. In dance my Savior saves me!

Truthfully, in silence I hear dance, in the valley I need dance, and on the mountaintop, I release dance. Liturgical dance is where I find freedom in ministry. Prayer, fasting, reading and living the Word of God is essential to liturgical dance. As a vessel of God, I stay at His feet and

seek His face in hopes that He may use me to express His Word without my words.

HIS DANCE SUSTAINS ME: Every storm in my life has pushed me to dance. The strength of the storm never compares to the strength of my Savior. Even when the strength of the waves come forth to overtake and the fire intensifies to consume the very existence of my being; it amazes me how the deeper I sink, the deeper I dive, and the deeper I explore the very depths of the deepest ocean I still find GOD. I find myself right in the eye of the storm and this is where the Center of Joy still abides. In the depths of my emotions and in the suffocation of my situations and in those around.

At my church home, I minister with an amazing team of consecrated vessels and our goal is to move under the authority of God, the anointing of Jesus and the Guidance of the Holy Spirit! Every facet of the ministry is based on HIS Will and HIS Way! I have been blessed to minister in dance with teams from Messiah International Ministries, Errin Ministries, Language of Faith, Greater Faith M.B. Church, and Mount Ararat Mime Ministry of Pittsburgh.

I am beyond grateful for every ministry. I am grateful for every opportunity I have had to share with God’s people. Simply, the ministry of Dance is my language to my Daddy and a glimpse of my relationship with HIM.

Feature Article

I Am A Missionary

Brooke Mitterhoizer

“T

here are tremendous challenges and pressures that compete for the minds and hearts of college students today. According to CollegeResearch.net, suicide is currently the second most common cause of death among college students with 1,100 students committing suicide each year in the United States. I believe these numbers reveal the lack of hope that so many college students are experiencing.

At the beginning of my freshman year of college at Ohio University, being a “believer� to me meant that I simply had to believe logically that God is real, and then I would go to Heaven when I die. When the pressures of college hit hard, I escaped to partying, drinking, and promiscuity in hopes that these would fill the void I was experiencing. I soon realized these pleasures that promised fulfilment only increased that void and increased my questions about whether or not God had a purpose for me. In the midst of these questions, my roommate invited me to a Cru event on campus where I was exposed for the first time to people who were truly following Jesus. A Cru staff member met with me soon after and shared the Gospel with me. For the first time, I confronted the immense shame I had been carrying for who I was and the life I was living. I was met with the life-changing truth that Jesus died to pay the debt that I owed for my sin, and his death and resurrection made it possible for me to have a personal relationship with my creator. He wanted me. And I wanted Him. I prayed to God that I was ready to receive forgiveness and fully surrender my life to Him. Over the next several years of growing in my relationship with God, He placed a strong passion in my heart for reaching lost college students with the Message of Christ. It burdened me to see so many college students, like my former self, who were searching in places I once had, not knowing true life is only found in Christ. My desire is to

give every student, every person, the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.

As a full-time missionary with Cru, my goal is to introduce people to Jesus, build them up in their faith by helping them to grow in their relationship with God, and send them out as mature Christ-followers to have Gospel influence in every segment of society and every corner of the world. On a more specific level, we talk with students about Christ through spiritual conversations, larger-scope outreaches, and digital and social media. We help our students grow in their relationship with God through conferences and retreats, small groups, mentorship and summer mission trips in the U.S. and overseas.

I am excited to work on college campuses in Cleveland and NE Ohio as it is an unreached population with less than 4,000 of the 200,000 college students gathering with other Christians amongst all church groups. It is an unreached population.

I am currently in the process of building a team of ministry partners who would like to be a part of winning, building, and sending college students with me through their prayers and financial generosity. Would you prayerfully consider investing $100 a month or some other monthly amount into my ministry with Cru? If you would like to meet with me in person to hear more about my ministry, I would love to meet with you. You can contact me with the contact information below. If you feel led to invest in my ministry financially to be a part of reaching college students with the Gospel, you can give at give.cru.org/0948820. Thank you for considering being a part of what God is doing in the lives of people who are our next generation of world leaders!

Blessings, Brooke Brooke Mitterholzer brooke.mitterholzer@cru.org

Mental Health CORNER YouthHelp, & what Mental Health is going on with my child!

While children and adolescents are growing and developing, it may be challenging to distinguish between a normal process of development and the beginning signs of mental health issues. Children and adolescents, unlike adults, may demonstrate mental health issues in more behavioral ways. It is imperative that parents have some understanding about how their youth may be handling life.

Recognizing and Identifying Changes in Youth

Parents and caregivers play a significant role in identifying when their child may need some help. If your child shows one or more of these behaviors, consult with a mental health or health care professional (www.mentalhealth. gov).

• Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks • Seriously trying to harm or kill himself or herself, or making plans to do so • Showing severe out-of-control behavior that can hurt oneself or others • Experiencing extreme difficulty controlling behavior, putting himself or herself in physical danger or causing problems in school • Showing drastic changes in behavior or personality

While these things may be obvious to identify, understanding them in relationship to a child’s environment is critical. Some things may appear to be a “normal” process of growing and developing, however, it is critical to understand how things are impacting the child’s functioning, relationships, and his/her environment. Consider what may be triggers to these things occurring.

Evangelist Carmella Hill

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with supervising credentials (P.C.C.-S). & Founder of Empower to H.O.P.E. Services, LLC.

The Impact of Change on Youth

Children and adolescents are like sponges and absorb things that are happening in their environments – good, bad, ugly or indifferent. It is their normal way of understanding and making sense of their world. However, the problem arises when what they absorb is toxic and mental health issues develop as a result. Youth may not understand why they react or behave in certain ways, but having parents and caregivers who are attentive to their youth’s behaviors is beneficial in identifying issues early. It is helpful for parents and caregivers to consider the impact of family dynamic changes on their youth. Youth may not have control of what is happening around them, but he/she can develop ways to handle how they react or respond to those things.

Mental Health Tips for Parents and Caregivers Be a listening ear!

Parents and caregivers may want to foster and encourage their children to talk to them about ANYTHING without being judged or made to believe that he/she is a horrible child.

Be aware of how family dynamic changes impact youth!

As parents and caregivers make changes in their lives, understanding how those changes impact their youth is critical. It might help explain sudden behavior changes in the child.

Increase family time & conversation!

With the exploding use of social media, family time seems to have disappeared and faded to the background. Consider reintroducing the “dinner table” moments where parents and children can talk about their day or how they are doing.

The conclusion of the matter It would be helpful if parenting came with a detailed manual. However, there are things that could help create and foster a good parent/child relationship and encourage healthy growth in youth. Parents/caregivers are a critical part of helping a child develop mentally and emotionally. Identifying mental health issues early could decrease the lasting impact later. See issues? Seek Help! SELAH

OH HOW HE LOVES US

By Brianna Triplett

I

Understanding God’s Love for us is essential to living truly fulfilling and

victorious lives. Within the past few months there has been a number of surprising suicides amongst celebrities. According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC, suicide rates have gone up steadily since 1999 and is the nation’s 10th leading cause of death. How do celebrities, whose feet have been buried in the sand of some of the most beautiful beaches the world has to offer, whose bodies have been covered in the finest fabrics, whose ears have been overwhelmed with the sound of applause and accolades, whose tongues have tasted the most flavorful foods at the finest restaurants, who have been in a position to financially help so many people through charitable donations, who have access to the best healthcare professionals to ensure that they are able to live the healthiest, longest lives possible, how do they commit suicide?

As humans we look to so many things to make us feel fulfilled, career’s, spouses,

degrees, awards, children, activities, ministry, none of these things will ever make us feel complete because as stated above, understanding God’s love for us is essential to living truly fulfilling and victorious lives, and the Bible states this right in Ephesians 3:17-19, “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And you may have the power to understand, as all Gods people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. THEN you will be made COMPLETE with ALL the FULLNESS OF LIFE and POWER that COMES FROM GOD.” Did you catch that?

Once you experience the love of Christ, THEN you will be made COMPLETE. How many of us are still walking around broken because we don’t believe that God can truly love us? Maybe we don’t understand how he can love us because of

the things we have done, said, thought. Romans 5:6-8 says “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners... most people would not be willing to die for an upright person…But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Psalm 139 1-4 says “O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.” Who will ever know you that intimately and still love you unconditionally?

Only Jesus. It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter what you have done, just come, the bible says in Matthew 11:28 “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” God’s love, is a love you can rest in, you don’t have to work for it like you have to for the love of people. Healing, transformation, restoration, will come, but it can be a process, understanding that God is our portion and nothing else will satisfy and that he loves us, in spite of, is the first step.

Let’s embark on this journey one step at a time.

PRECIOUS OIL About Brianna Brianna Triplett currently resides in Lockport NY. Brianna has a master’s degree in Psychology and works as a Children’s Care Manager at Salvation Army. Brianna is a spoken word artist who is a part of Crossover Ministries and is a writer for Kingdom Christian Magazine and an active member of the Chapel at Crosspoint, a nondenominational church in Getzville, NY.

July 2018 Article

DEATH IS NECESSARY Sometimes we think we are in control.

If you think about it for just a moment, we are not really in control of anything.

Our life in the hands of God. Death is letting go or separating yourself from something. When we place our life in the hands of God we must separate ourselves from ourselves. We have the potential to try and live after we have died. The Bible says in Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. For our lives to truly be hid with Christ, we must die to “self ” and take on the characteristics of Christ. This is not an easy thing to do. All of our lives we grow to develop into these people that have been shaped by our culture, family and life’s decisions and we continually try and find identity. I found that my true identity was hid in Christ. When I die to self I uncover who I really am in him.

One part of me says hate while another part says love, one part says don’t forgive while another encourages me to give. In order to live to the “true me” I must die to the aspect of myself that does not reflect Christ.

My death is necessary and in order to become who Christ is calling me to be. In life, choices will be many, but impact will be a selfless decision. When self is in the main picture, others tend to slide to the background and we begin thinking about ourselves more than others. Jesus lived the life that was selfless. He became a servant to others that they might grow to be who He saw they could be. Let’s walk out the Christ-centered lifestyle.

Pastor Sharina George

T EEN

STAND UP!

CORNER

As you grow up, every summer there will be more and more opportunities to get involved with the community. During the school year it may be hard to do this but in the summer there are lots of ways to give back. I know that community service sounds boring and sometimes you’re not going to feel like doing anything but if you don’t have a summer job then you have plenty of time to help out. Doing community service is for the greater good. So what can you do? You can help refurbish your community park or build one that you never had. You could participate in walks to raise money to build houses

Taylor Hauser for people who can’t afford them. You could even volunteer at church. There’s always something to do at your church or help out a friend or family member at their church. Community service doesn’t have to just happen where you live you could go on a missions trip and help people in a different part of the world who are less fortunate than you. An easy way to get involved is by volunteering with an organization or group that works in the community. Just google whatever you want to do that may be fun and usually you will find a group that’s already doing it. If not then start your own group!

The Lord wants us to spread his love through service and love one another all the time no matter age, skin tone, how much money we make or where we live. By helping people out you could make connections with some godly people or even be the example of a godly person to someone who’s watching. The bible says in Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This means that two people working together can have an influence or impact on each other’s life. Sometimes getting involved in the community is as simple as smiling at someone who walks by.

You never know what’s going on with someone in their mind or life. They may have gotten some bad news and not be in the right mind set. The fact that you smiled could save their life. As Christians we have to take more opportunities to spread the word of God and the love of God. We can do this by being nice to people and helping out in the community.

TAYLOR HAUSER

TEEN POWER! Are you honest? Are you true to what you do? The answer should be yes. It is very important to be honest and truthful in everything that you do. Like the old saying goes, “Honesty is the best policy!” and truly it is. In terms of being truthful, I’m speaking in regards to being real. Real with people. Real with God. Have you ever been the friend everyone comes to when seeking advice? I sincerely hope that you give them wise responses. I want to encourage you to tell what the people need to hear, and not what they want to hear. Though what they need to hear may be what they perceive to be harsh, trust me, it will benefit them in the end. God is the same way. He will never mislead you by telling you things that you necessarily want him to say. Especially if it isn’t in his will.

God is like a best friend. He’s a ride or die buddy, a company keeper, he can be your right hand man, and even your journal. Through all these

be true to what you do! different things that he can be, he’ll always be true and loyal to what he does. As teens, even people in general, we all ought to want someone who can tell it like it is, and be honest with us in any situation. Afterall, that’s the real definition of a true friend. And let me tell you, if you don’t have a person like that in your life, you might want to send you a true friend. For the time being, befriend God. Try him and know him!

Don’t sugar coat anything to make it sound sweet. You have to stand firm on the word of God no matter who wants to hear what you have to say. My uncle, Bishop Mathis always tells us to “Preach this thing in season and out of season!” (J.L. Mathis) Even if it means you’ll have to walk alone for a little while, you must be clear on one thing, holiness is still required! You must be true to God’s word and real to both he and yourself.

The bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 Be bold in God! Be honest in God! Be true to what you do!

ARCHI ALEXANDER