LIVING
Frugal
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lilies city
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from the Authorized Version of the Bible (The King James Version) Photo credits (pg 2,13,14,) : Ricky Skrzepa Associate Editor: Delnita McDavid
The
Gospel Seed
EDITOR'S NOTE
There are pink and red roses
that sit on the desk in my office. I often touch the soil to test the moisture level and prune the withered leaves to redirect the nutrients to the living ones. The roses often sway in the fresh oxygen that flows regularly from the outside doors. I noticed one morning that in spite of my diligent care, the roses were looking dim and tired. I double-checked the soil, they had not been overwatered; no withered leaves were visible either...but they were not getting enough sunlight! I placed them in the sunniest spot in the office and within hours they shone with their original vigor. They are beautiful. For a tender plant to blossom, the proper care of the environment that nourishes the plant and soil is so important. How are the plants in your heart soil? Are they breathing deeply of fresh oxygen because of your vibrant prayer life; bathing in the light of the Son of Righteousness; drinking deeply of the water of the Holy Spirit and feasting their roots in nutrients from the Holy Bible? This month we focus on the gospel seed and the different aspects of the environment it needs to flourish: just like my pink and red roses.
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Contributing
MINISTRIES
Almarie Hill and Sarah Victor (Wholly Whole) Natural health is Almarie and Sarah's passion. Together they run Wholly Whole a wholistic health ministry geared to women. It explores how to partake of Christ’s complete restoration – physically, mentally, spiritually and socially. It is preparing a people to be completely whole and ready to soon meet our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Almarie and Sarah are a part of the Lilies in the City (LIC) administrative team.
Akilah Ballard (every thing Beautiful) Akilah specializes in skin and natural beauty, amongst other things. She’s found that He who transforms the butterfly and the sin-polluted heart from degradation to purity also provides nature as a restorative agent for physical beauty. The goal at every Thing Beautiful is to employ natural resources to provide skin-loving, chemical free beauty care products to help renew and maintain natural beauty. At Lilies in the City, Akilah is head of “lily glows” the section dedicated to health and beauty.
Rochelle Willis Rochelle provides strategic guidance to ministries in their marketing and development efforts. She has always had a passion for ministry and the furtherance of the gospel. When not working on various projects, she can be found in nature, doing a bible study or writing. Here at Lilies in the City, Rochelle organizes the “lily lifestyle” section.
Janelle Louis (S.H.I.N.E Global Ministry) Janelle is a firm believer that while Christ was on the earth, it was the healing ministry that He used to bring the gospel of salvation before the people, yet Christ focused on the wholeness of man. To Christ, without spiritual restoration, physical healing would have been meaningless. Christ’s mission is the same as S.H.I.N.E Global Ministry. At Lilies in the City, Janelle organizes everything for “the practical lily” section of the magazine.
Xavia Le Xavia is well versed in food and nutrition and organizes “lily eats.” She brings with her a love for God, people, science, health and restoration. Her kind spirit has given her the privilege of sharing these loves and mentoring many. She currently teaches children and toddlers and can be found disassembling thoughts and ideas.
Have Any Questions For The Lilies Staff? Contact us: admin@liliesinthecity.org
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Adam, made in the image of God, once had a mind in complete harmony with his Creator. This was demonstrated when God tested Adam’s mind to see what he would call the animals. The Bible says, “and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof”(Gen. 2:19) The knowledge of evil however, tarnished God’s image in man and as a result our minds have become proportionately debased and enfeebled with increasing intimacy with sin. Yes, some great minds are housed by persons outside of Christ yet their knowl-
edge, as far as that knowledge is true, is only a dim reflection of the Sole Source of wisdom (John 1:.9; James 1:5,17). Still, of greater value than mere academic astuteness is nobility of character. Enjoined upon every believer is the call to have the mind and character of Christ; who became obedient unto death – not for friends, but for enemies. Who saw every soul not for the message their appearance bore, but as one whom it was His mission to save. Who so perfectly abided in the Father that He un-
equivocally recognized the daily unfolding of the Father’s providences and will for His life. Yet, there is a struggle for many Christians to hold unbroken communion with heaven, to forgive as Christ forgave, to overcome depression or feelings of hatred and strife. What is the answer for these maladies of the mind? The remedy can only be found in Christ. For as a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Just as the natural seed
THE GOSPEL HAS NEVER BEEN ABOUT BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION OR OUTWARD CONFORMITY. RATHER IT’S ABOUT CLEANSING OF THE HEART.
sown in the earth will spring up and bring forth fruit above the ground, so the thoughts that seed the mind will bear its fruit in the character. Thus the quality of one’s thoughts has a direct influence on their character. How then do we foster ennobling thoughts? Like the body, the mind will assimilate to whatever it feeds upon. By indulging our mind to behold immorality: violence, backbiting, revenge, vainglory, emulation and the sort, we weaken our minds to the same debilitating state. Philippians 4:8 details the optimal “foods for our thoughts”; things that are true, honest, just, and pure are among the few listed. Jesus is the perfect embodiment of all these virtues. Let Him – His matchless love, righteous character, and humility- be the theme your mind grasps and ponders. I had a beautiful experience as I came to Christ. Without consciously being aware of it, I stopped the habit of constantly criticizing myself. This practice, I initially thought, was only
an expression of my “perfectionism” and would encourage ambition and greater achievements. After years of doing it however, I realized it wrought little motivation and proved to be self-destructive, leaving me with depressive feelings and an inability to grow socially and otherwise. As I beheld the Sun of Righteousness, and as feelings generally follow thoughts, the darkness that enveloped my mind was dispelled and I became much more joyful. As light is contrary to darkness, it is impossible to simultaneously entertain both. For the Bible states: “what communion hath light with darkness?” ( 2 Corin. 6:14). This method of shifting the mind’s focus to obtain pure, healthy thoughts is counseled in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” After their encounter with Jesus,
the Demoniacs of Gadara who were once naked and dwelling in a graveyard, were now clothed and in their right minds (Luke 8:26-39). Additionally, of two unlettered apostles was this record given: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Act 4:13). Through fellowship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit working upon our hearts, we too can have the testimony of men of old. By a strengthened intellect, a refined and ennobled character, for God’s glory, we will bear the signet that we have been with Jesus.
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– Janelle Louis
Bandaid Cleanse
A
mericans
are slowly waking up to the reality that the prevailing diseases plaguing our society are due chiefly to lifestyle. In the generation that birthed Whole Foods; produced a plethora of health awareness documentaries such as HBO’s The Weight of The Nations and Forks Over Knives; inspired whole industries which craftily marketed words such as “all-natural” and “organic”; and spurred the growth of health-food stores: there is seen a robust response to the health crisis which is disrupting our social, economic and spiritual health. More and more studies are emerging, which not only advocate the healing properties of the original Genesis diet (Gen 1:29; 3:18), but also substantiate the toxicity of high8
– Akilah Ballard
ly processed and flesh foods. It is with this focus that natural remedies are increasingly used to prevent disease. Yet, even among the growing awareness and impetus towards healthier lifestyles the majority of Americans are by large nowhere near the similitude of health. One does not need to cite the alarming disease statistics, but can look inside their own families as a living reality of those numbers. While many reasons can be provided to explain the impediment of optimal health, there is one widely held belief that I presume much damage can be accredited to: the idea that “everything is good in moderation.” I sometimes cringe when I hear the concept being promoted because it
is a Band-Aid approach that endorses a happy medium between virtue and vice. At best it offers a temporary solution, at worse, an answer that seems to be a solution but has no real effect. What’s more, the same attitude towards the cleansing of our bodies is the same being embraced by mainstream Christianity in regards to spiritual cleansing. The “moderation-like” practice of perpetually committing the occasional sin being permissible by Christ is a branch that stemmed from the theology that Christ’s sinless character cannot be perfectly reproduced in us. This teaching thwarts the power of the gospel. In the documentary, Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock explores the ef-
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Make crust and set aside in pan. Except the cheese, onion and spinach blend all base ingredients on high speed in a blender. Over medium heat, add blended mixture, onion and spinach. Combine well. Pour combined mixture into prepared crust. Sprinkle Daiya cheese liberally over the mixture. Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Recipe adapted from e Better Way Cookbook by Samantha Edwards.
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Frugal LIVING
– Delnita McDavid
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“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful� (1 Cor 4:2)
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