Women of Significance March by Regyna Cooper

MARCH 2012

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Dr. Cheryl Hill Visionary

Hello Women of Significance, This month’s Communiqué is strategically designed to steer you towards making an assessment of your focus.Your mind is your thought life. What you think on is what you become and it is essentially what you do. Your decisions are a result of your thought life. Where you are today is a result of what you deem is important, who you deem is important and where you sense your purpose will take you. As women of “significance” let us become more focused, more passionate and worshipful in this season of great expectation. Please understand that you are valuable and that there are many lives that you affect. I am truly serious that we as Women of Significance will “change” our parts of the world as we walk together not just praying BUT praying and moving into Godly action. Where your focus goes the POWER flows.

Dr. Cheryl

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Is Your Mind Stayed on God? “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” — Isaiah 26:3 Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22). Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God. “We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . .” (Psalm 106:6-7). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright. By Oswald Chambers http://utmost.org/

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Heart-Healthy Living Kara Davis, M.D. Contributor

Most women I meet, if asked about their greatest health concern, would probably name breast cancer as the malady they most fear. But though breast cancer might generate a more passionate reaction than heart disease, the truth of the matter is this: More women in the United States die each year from heart disease than from all cancers combined. One out of five women in this country has some form of cardiovascular disease. It is the leading cause of death in American women, claiming more than half a million lives annually.

Heart disease is a greater threat to women than breast cancer. What can you do to lower your risk?

And it’s no longer considered an older woman’s disease. Even though women typically don’t show signs of heart disease until their 60s (roughly 10 years later than men), about 9,000 women each year under age 45 experience a heart attack.

In addition to the age at onset, there are other things that distinguish heart disease in women from heart disease in men. Women tend to do worse after their first heart attack. Forty-two percent of women who have a heart attack will die within the first year as compared to 24 percent of men. Heart disease often goes unrecognized in women. The symptoms may be unusual, ignored or attributed to something less serious, such as indigestion. And many women don’t experience any symptoms at all prior to having their first heart attack. I’m not telling you all this because I want to leave you worried and apprehensive; but I do want to stir up in you a desire to modify your lifestyle so that your risk of developing heart disease is lowered. Our lifestyles play a major role in our health and longevity. In America, 300,000 deaths each year are related to improper diet and inadequate exercise. If you add the deaths attributable to smoking, alcohol, illicit drugs and sexual indiscretion, the number becomes astonishing. Lifestyle is such a major factor in heart disease that an estimated 80 percent of cases are linked directly to unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits. Solomon said, “Where there is no guidance, the people fall” (Prov. 11:14, NASB). But when it comes to health, too many of us are falling, even in the face of reliable and readily available guidance. Information on health abounds and is more accessible now than at any other time in our history. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Heart-Healthy Living (continued) Medical research has increased the level of understanding for not only physicians and other health care providers but also the general public. Television, newspapers, magazines and the Internet provide a never-ending flow of data on health-related topics. The information is there; we’re just not implementing it. Of course, not everyone who suffers from a heart attack or finds himself in need of bypass surgery can shoulder the entire blame for his situation. Certainly there are people who have a predisposition to heart disease that is totally beyond their control. But in spite of the fact that some of us are in a position to change our risk for disease through modifying our behavior, too many (born-again believers included) are simply not taking any tangible steps toward change.

MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES So what are some ways to lower your risk? The majority of risk factors for heart disease can be positively modified through lifestyle changes. Only one risk factor—having a genetic predisposition—is completely beyond our control. Other risk factors include tobacco use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, all of which are influenced by the way we live.

(continued on page 7)

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Women of Significance / JANUARY 2012

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Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Heart-Healthy Living (continued) Besides cigarette smoking and a family history of heart disease, all the risk factors listed above are impacted by our eating and exercise habits. As I mentioned before, poor diet and a lack of exercise are the cause of 300,000 deaths each year. Even if a risk factor cannot be entirely eliminated by practicing healthier habits (there are plenty of people, for instance, who diligently follow a low-salt diet but still have high blood pressure), lifestyle modification is still recommended and is highly beneficial. Lifestyle modification may also impact a risk factor I haven’t yet mentioned—an unhealthy emotional state. The scientific community continues to confirm what the Bible has taught us all along: There’s a compelling link between negative emotions such as anger, anxiety and hostility and an increased risk for heart disease. The connection between heart failure and anger is especially strong. Anger and hostility evoke physiological responses in our bodies that are potentially life-threatening. All of us at times respond in anger to such things as criticism or frustration. But many women have a tendency to respond angrily with little or no provocation. Those who have this personality type not only are at increased risk for heart disease but also are prone to develop it at an early age. One study conducted on people receiving heart scans showed an association between angry facial expressions and abnormalities in heart function. Another study showed the converse—that humor served to protect the heart. No wonder the Bible tells us that “a happy heart makes the face cheerful” and “a cheerful look brings joy to the heart” (Prov. 15:13,30, NIV)! As Spirit-filled believers, we have the power to lower our risk for heart disease. So why aren’t we using it? I’ve spent many years in clinical practice and in seeking insight from the Lord on matters pertaining to health. Needless to say, I’ve treated numerous Christian women who have been successful in taking charge of their lifestyles to improve their health.

TOO GOOD TO RESIST The second reason for failure is that we aren’t serious enough about subjecting our flesh. In my years of practice, I’ve had female patients with high cholesterol tell me they refuse to cut back on hamburgers, pork chops and steaks. I’ve seen women with diabetes who would rather increase their dosage of insulin than walk for half an hour each day. And I’ve watched women with high blood pressure pour on the salt for no other reason than to satisfy a craving for salty foods. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Heart-Healthy Living (continued) Throughout Scripture we’re admonished to keep our flesh under subjection. But the reality is this: We have become so cozy with the self-indulgent tendencies of the world that we hardly notice when they rub off on us. For many Christians, the attributes of self-control, sobriety, discipline and moderation have yielded to a mind-set that says, “If it feels good (or, for that matter, if it tastes good)—do it!” Often when we speak of issues such as self-indulgence and yielding to the flesh, the first thing that comes to mind is sexual sin. But there’s more to lust than fornication. Giving in to the cravings of the flesh in any way, including indulging ourselves with food, is a dangerous venture. The Bible links this form of sin to self-indulgence and gluttony, as this vivid description of Israel’s rebellion shows: “Jeshurun [Israel] grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior” (Deut. 32:15). A heart-healthy diet is different from the typical American diet. It is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and legumes. It requires that we cut back on foods high in saturated fat and trans-fatty acids, and instead eat more foods containing monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids. Living in a heart-healthy way also requires us to exercise regularly and strive to maintain a healthy weight. These dramatic changes cannot be realized if we are unwilling to deny the flesh. Finally, to have a healthy heart, it is crucial that we purge ourselves of any unhealthy emotions. We must take Paul’s advice to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice” (Eph. 4:31). His words aren’t simply a formula for maintaining peaceful fellowship. They are a recipe that could save our lives. So don’t hang on to deadly emotions. Let go of bitterness, be slow to anger and be quick to forgive.Your obedience will not only be pleasing to the Lord; it will also protect your heart. As Christian women, we must remember that God calls us to subject our flesh for our protection, not as a punishment. His grace gives us everything we need to say no to our cravings, our laziness and our negative emotions (see Tit. 2:11-12). Unfortunately, not many women are compelled to do this until after their first heart attack. My prayer is that you avoid such a tragedy. The Lord demonstrated His unfailing love for us in fulfilling the promise to “give [us] a new heart and put a new spirit in [us]” (Ezek. 36:26). Let’s honor Him by taking care of our whole persons—body, soul and spirit—including our hearts.

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Who Are You Trying To Please? “If you are trying to prove your worth by pleasing people, it’s time to change your focus.” People-pleasers are everywhere. They can parade as successful pastors or as top-of-the-corporate-ladder executives. The most easily identified are the passive, co-dependent types. All pleasers are out to prove they are valuable people—trying to quiet the voice within that says they aren’t. People-pleasers play a tape that says, “People will love and accept me if I please them.” Their myth says, “You are somebody when you please others.” Pleasers believe that a failure to please will result in rejection and the false assumption that they are not valuable. As a result, they go about trying to make everybody but themselves happy. This frequently requires pleasers to keep their own thoughts, desires and needs locked away in their inner selves. They believe their mission on Earth is to drive themselves into an emotional breakdown, if necessary, to make sure others approve of them. When they fail to please someone, they feel guilty or believe (probably unconsciously) that their world is going to end. The paradoxical dynamic that takes place is that the very individuals to whom people-pleasers try to prove their worth very often use and abuse them. Instead of gaining respect as a pleaser, you often lose it. So trying to please everyone to feel you are “somebody” is a dead-end street.You will eventually find yourself exhausted, disillusioned and feeling less like somebody than ever. Instead, resolve with God’s help to redirect your life and energy toward becoming a whole and healthy person who does not require the acceptance and affirmation of others to say, “I am valuable.”

ARE YOU A PEOPLE-PLEASER?   The first step toward freedom from “people pleasing” is to determine if you are a people-pleaser.You can do this by honestly answering the following questions: • Do you accept responsibility for the happiness of others? • Do you believe you can make others happy? • Do you feel guilty when you think of yourself instead of others? • Do you feel guilty when you tell someone no? • Do you believe it is un-Christian to think of yourself and your own health and emotional well-being? • Do you feel better about yourself when you give in to the desires of others rather than pleasing yourself? • Are you able to set boundaries when it comes to your own health and emotional well-being? • Do you understand what it means to set boundaries? (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Who Are You Trying To Please? (continued) A people-pleaser would answer “yes” to the first six questions and “no” to the last two. If you conclude that you are a people-pleaser, then what are you to do? If you are a people-pleaser, you need to redirect your need to please.Your focus needs to change from horizontal to vertical. In other words, you need to become more concerned with what pleases God than with what pleases others. They are not the same thing, as many people believe. Paul tells us in Romans 12:1 that we are to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (NKJV). But if we are going to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice (and people-pleasers literally do this), then it must be to God alone. We are to please Him first, and He is the only one we are to worship. The flip side of this truth is that when we give our all to please others, we are in fact engaging in a type of worship toward those we want to please. Many pleasers believe this kind of behavior is “virtuous,” but it isn’t—because it is done with the unconscious motive of getting approval and acceptance in return. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Who Are You Trying To Please? (continued) Are we to please God hoping to get something from Him? No, we please Him by recognizing what we have already received from Him. When God brings us into relationship with Himself, we become somebody. The full realization of this comes with time as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s efforts to “grow us” into the persons we were meant to be. Once our minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit, we begin to see and understand that it is God’s will for us to seek to “be somebody” in His sight rather than in the eyes of others. We can also find an answer to the question I am asked so often: “What am I supposed to do when I am asked to do this or that?” For the Christian, the answer is simple: Focus on pleasing God by seeking to know His will for each situation as it arises. It is not necessarily God’s will for us to do everything we are asked to do, even in the church! When our heart’s desire is to please God, we will be able to put others’ needs and desires in a healthy perspective. Weary people-pleaser, ask God to forgive you for trying to please everyone else besides Him. Begin to believe you are now somebody in the Kingdom of God because God says so. We change our beliefs about our personhood by believing the truths of God’s Word rather than by continuing to believe our myths. This is the first step toward positive change. Next come the behavioral changes.

CHANGING PLEASER BEHAVIOR People-pleasers need to budget their time and energy as they would financial budgets. This means they must prioritize their lives and determine how much time will be allotted for specific people and activities, including themselves. I suggest the following order (in order of importance): relationship with God; family (marriage, (continued on next page)

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Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Who Are You Trying To Please? (continued) children, parents); employment; personal time (time alone with God, time alone with self); self-care; church; community; other. God asks for the No. 1 position in our lives. We commit to that when we make the decision to become a disciple of Jesus Christ (see Luke 14:25-33). The problem is that some people-pleasers wrongly believe that being “a good Christian” means pleasing others. They believe they are putting God first when they say “yes” to a good cause, especially if it is a church-related activity. They have not confronted this myth with reality. When God reigns at the top of our list of priorities, we can trust Him to show us where to place other people, ourselves and all other involvements. When our vertical relationship with God is right, then our horizontal relationships will naturally fall into their rightful places. The same is true of the commitments we make. So how do we divide or budget our time commitments according to our priorities? First, we must recognize that God wants us to make our families our No. 1 priority under Him. When over-commitment begins to rob us of time that should be given to our families, it is time to say “no.” You may notice that after employment I listed “personal time.” It makes sense to me that if you don’t take some time for yourself, then the time you give to others won’t amount to much! If there ever was a person with a vision, a purpose and a consuming passion, it was Jesus the Son of Man.Yet He was not a people-pleaser. Have you noticed that when He needed time for Himself, He took it? The Gospel of Luke records, “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place” (Luke 4:42, NIV). Since the Lord had been up all night healing the sick and casting out demons, He was exhausted. Instead of expecting His heavenly Father to give Him supernatural strength to continue, the Lord recognized His need for rest and rejuvenation. We need to designate time in our busy schedules for us to nurture our relationships with our heavenly Father. We must be fed from the Word of God and energized by the Holy Spirit to be fruit-bearing Christians. We also need time to minister to ourselves. This means taking time for reflection, time that is used to get in touch with ourselves to find out where we are, where we want to go and (sometimes) where we have been. These times of reflection should always be under the direction of the Holy Spirit. We must become still and quiet to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit that is so vital to our spiritual health. The Scriptures tell us He knows all about us, and He knows the mind of God (see Rom. 8:27). We need this information to confront our myths with reality. Quiet times provide the vital opportunities people-pleasers need to get things into perspective. A clear perspective can help pleasers make wise decisions about all the requests and demands put on their time by others. This helps bring order and control to their agitated lives as they sort out their priorities and allocate their time. By spending time with God and with themselves, people-pleasers will be able to put the obligations of home, church, community and other areas in their rightful places in their time budgets.

(continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Who Are You Trying To Please? (continued) People-pleasers often experience guilt when it comes to saying “yes” to themselves. But it can prove to be one of the best investments of time you will ever make. Another vital step needed to break free from people-pleasing is to learn how to set boundaries. Boundaries differentiate us from other people. People-pleasers have difficulty-erecting fences between themselves and others. They lack the ability to set limits that declare what they will or will not do, or what they will or will not tolerate. People-pleasers can be unaware that certain things belong to them personally, such as the right to say “no” when they want to say no, and “yes” when they want to say yes. They can also be too afraid to build personal fences for fear of hurting others or of somehow displeasing God. The truth of the matter is that when we allow others to take advantage of us, we are encouraging and assisting them in their disobedience. God is not pleased with anyone who uses and abuses another! People-pleasers can gain the respect and sense of personhood they are searching for by setting firm boundaries regarding their involvement in the lives of others. When it is necessary to tell others “no” to choose what is best for ourselves (according to our God-ordained priorities), or even to submit to our own valid needs or desires, we should do it graciously but steadfastly. People-pleasers can effectively change their self-defeating behavior once they begin to view themselves as separate from others, sharing equal standing in the kingdom of God with everyone else. Each individual person bears the image of the Creator Himself. Everyone enters the kingdom “by grace...through faith” (Eph. 2:8). Grace is “the unmerited favor of God,” and we don’t receive it by our “works” or good deeds (see v. 9). We all enter God’s kingdom through the same gate: Jesus Christ. None of us is good enough to enter on our own merits. Our real value depends solely on our potential in Christ. You and I have every reason to accept ourselves once we are convinced that we are children of God and that we are loved, forgiven and accepted by Him. When we are self-accepting, we don’t have to seek the approval and acceptance of others to confirm our personhood. As pleasers accept the truth of their value in Christ and learn to budget their time according to their priorities and limits, they will soon feel positive new feelings about themselves. Their old behavior of looking to others for affirmation will fall away, and they will find themselves seeking out God rather than people for the satisfaction that only He can provide.

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Enjoying Your Uniqueness Greg Baker Contributor

Teenagers sometimes crack me up. They go around spouting platitudes that they want to be unique, different, their own man or woman-and then dress like their friends, do their hair the same way as their friends, adopt the same mannerisms as they do, listen to the same music, pick up the local slang, adopt the popular color coordination, and exhibit the same attitudes as their friends. In effect, they become carbon copies of each other in their quest for individuality. The truth is, God made us all individually unique. That does not mean that we are mature within that uniqueness. Someone with a short fuse can’t just say, “That’s the way I am.” Are you blaming God for your temper? That ought to be an interesting debate. No, our uniqueness and individuality comes through the totally unique experiences that are seen through a totally unique point of view. That makes us different, along with the strengths and limitations of the body God made for us. And it is nothing to be ashamed about. Look, I’m tall, skinny, and have a long nose (‘beak’ for those of you with that wry sense of humor). I’m never going to be Mr. Universe (thank God), never win any popularity contests, never have raving, drooling, lunatic, screaming fans running after me with wild eyes and cameras snapping away to catch me eating with my mouth open! How utterly disappointing, I’m sure. I just enjoy being me. I think I can improve. I believe I have plenty of room to grow. But, I have long since stopped worrying about if people like me or not. I don’t make it a goal in life to be popular, but rather to please God and live the purpose that I believe God made me for. It gives me tremendous freedom. I don’t assume that people are insulting me, nor do I think that people are out to get me. It often comes as a complete surprise when I learn that someone really meant to hurt me with a particular comment-one that I laughed away as a very good, but harmless, teasing insult. I flaunt my skinniness—no matter if some think I have chicken legs—I revel in how God made me. And never wish I was someone else or had so and so’s looks. Besides, so and so probably wishes to be different too. How absurd! Wishing to be like someone, who wishes to be like someone else, who just might wish to be like you. Life is full of irony. And I love noticing it. Even about myself. Some of you read these Hollywood magazines and look at the sculpted looks of the men and women therein.You wish you looked like that.You’ve let Hollywood define beauty for you. Have you ever considered that when these people die, that a large portion of their body will never decay? Too much plastic! Enjoy being who you are. Stop trying to be someone else. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Enjoying Your Uniqueness (continued) A person who has the capability to laugh at themselves is a happy person.You don’t worry about being self-conscious, stared at, made fun of, or laughed at. Because if you are laughed at, you join right in! There is no freedom like the freedom from your own preconceptions. So what if my hair is prematurely gray? It’s just one more thing to laugh about, flaunt about and pretend it means that I actually have some degree of wisdom. In fact, I can demand respect, can’t I? Perhaps. I think the Bible says so. Somewhere. Maybe. See? When you enjoy who you are, acknowledge that you can grow and improve, but are satisfied with who God made you, you have exceptional freedom. It makes it fun to be around others and to live with yourself. It’s all something to think about anyway.

Women to Watch Every month we will feature on our on-line website “Women to Watch”. This is important to us to showcase women around the world who are impacting their sphere of influence. These women do not necessarily have to be famous but they must have qualities that are integral, reaching women and setting godly examples. They can be housewives doing great things, CEO, farmers, etc. Please let WOS know if you know of any women in your sphere of influence or women you have heard of that should be showcased. They may be local or international. WOS would also love to showcase “emerging” leaders. Send your nomination to cheryl20081@hotmail.com

Women of Significance / JANUARY 2012

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Fill Your Home with L O V E: 4 Simple Ways to Create a LOVE Filled Home Kathleen Ellis Contributor

LOVE is what makes your house a HOME. A home filled with love is just about the best place to be.

It’s common to think of the physical aspect of putting your house together… the paint, the furniture, the appliances and window coverings, what to put on the walls, etc. All of these things are very important in creating your home, a home that is comfortable and beautiful for your lifestyle, a home that reflects your unique sense of style and serves as an oasis from the outside world. And so, those elements should be given careful thought and consideration. Another important consideration in creating a home is the spiritual aspect. This is where you need to put on a special pair of glasses to be able to see and create those elements that are not necessarily “seen” in the physical sense, but are demonstrated by those who live in your home. For example, a family may live in a million dollar mansion, expertly designed and decorated with every possible amenity, however, if the members of that house are constantly arguing and hurling hateful insults at each other, tearing each other down, and only out to please themselves, then what good comes from them living in a big beautiful house? On the other hand, a family may live in a tiny two room efficiency apartment with not enough room to turn around without bumping into something, however, the members of that home constantly help and encourage each other, speaking love filled words, and looking for ways to bring joy and laughter to each other, then does it matter to them that they live in a tiny apartment with no luxuries? Which family do you think is happier? It doesn’t really matter if the home is large or small, expensive or a cheap rental, in a desired neighborhood or not…without LOVE filling that home it is just walls, floors, and a roof, and not a very pleasant place to be. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Fill Your Home with L O V E: 4 Simple Ways to Create a LOVE Filled Home (continued) Here are 4 easy ways you can fill your home with L O V E: L - Listen – to make a conscious effort to hear.

Listen. That’s right, listen! Listen to your spouse and your children. Listen with your ears, your eyes and your heart. Everyone wants to know that someone cares about what is going on in their life, what they’re concerned about or excited about. So stop what you are doing and LISTEN. O - Observe – to celebrate, to notice, to pay

special attention. Observe the members of your family. What are their gifts and talents – pay special attention to those traits and they will blossom and bloom. Celebrate each others successes and notice when someone needs a bit of encouragement or a helping hand, and then give it to them. V - Value – honor, esteem, prize, appreciate. Value each other showing honor toward one another. Look for

ways to show your appreciation of one another, using words that are encouraging and uplifting. Treat them the way you want them to treat you. E - Eliminate – remove, get rid of, omit. Eliminate all thoughts, words and behaviors that do not promote

LOVE in your family. Plain and simple…eliminate unkind words, yelling, selfishness and criticism, and replace them with kind words, laughter, thoughtfulness, consideration and encouragement. Anyone can fill their home with LOVE! It is not a difficult task but rather one that takes determination, intention and patience. In the end the reward is peace, joy, happiness, hope and so much more. Go on now… Fill your home with LOVE!

Women of Significance /MARCH 2012

The Change Agent Challenge The Women of Significance is proud to introduce the “Change Agent Challenge”. Change agents are individuals who influence a people, cause or society. Change agents cause many times the status quo to change for a greater cause or if they are not in Christ it may be for an adverse cause. Our desire is to challenge you to become ALL that God has for you to do and to walk with you in your season of change. A Change Agent is not limited by age, culture or gender. Change agents can be CEO’s who are integrating policies and procedures to govern various systems. Change agents could be a collaborative of farmers working together to change the process of exporting goods to change the economic forecast of a community. Also, change agents could be the school teacher who develops a breakfast feeding program to ensure healthy eating for her students in distressed neighborhoods while increasing their chances to learn. A Change Agent for our purpose is an individual who is an effective advocate. Being dissatisfied with and/or complaining about a current situation does not make one a change agent. Telling people how things ought to be can be is just a change agent action. A real change agent must be active in the challenge that they are grieved by. A change agent in simple terms should be a problem solver! People who merely criticize are critics from the bleachers and they are not “reachers”. To really understand a problem that is in need of change you will need to become actively involved in trying to change

or create something. Only through “doing” will you appreciate why things are the way they are, how they got that way, what they might potentially become and how they might get that way. Most importantly through such interaction your opinion of what ought-to-be will change for the better. The change agent challenge comes in three steps. You must learn to see things as they truly are. 1. The real change agent challenge comes once you have clearly seen what is wrong and what could be better. You must define the “it” that should

be changed 2. You must “become” a part of what the change will be. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

The Change Agent Challenge (continued)

3. You take steps to “Change it!”

Change agents are ones that PRAY and DO!

You should be an effective change agent in your family, Church, community and then your nation.

Here are some things that you can do as a change agent.

Change Agent Challenge Exercises:

people who can start a movement of positive change. Decide what God is leading you to change and BEGIN a process of changing it.

1. The next time someone describes to you what is wrong with the world (or some small part of it); say something like, “Then change it!” or “You’re right.” Make sure you do

this to encourage them to think about how. Let them know you take their concern seriously enough that you really want to discuss how things can be changed. Many people will say something like, “It’s too big a problem for me.” Or they may simply laugh. Don’t let them get out of it. You can say something like, “Well if you could change it, how would you do it?” Or, “If not you, then who?” Work with them to either recognize how it can be changed or that they are wrong about what needs to be changed. 2. On another occasion when you hear someone say what is wrong; ask, “How do you

suppose it got that way 3. Identify how you can facilitate change and what you have a passion to do. Once you

have done these steps . . . DO SOMETHING to solve a problem or provide a need.

• Host a breakfast in your home. Host a few

• Host a Conference Call to discuss your passion. If it is God He will send your help. • Develop a website. Whatever your passion

maybe dedicated a website to it and let it go viral to reach people around the world. • YOUTUBE. Speak about your passion and let

others hear it.

Change will always take place with or with us. Let us make a decision today that we will become “Change Agents”.

Women Womenof ofSignificance Significance//MARCH MARCH 2012

When Your Life is “Upside Him” This article is truly written for those of you who are Christians that are focused on your call/ assignment and sense the unctioning of God for understanding concerning the “faith level” that you are experiencing. Upside Him is a term I use for those whose lives look like it has been turned upside down or out of order. It looks as if the life of this person has been shipwrecked. Their normal has become displaced and yet at the same time the person experiences the peace of God and still declares the Word of God in the midst of earthly confusion. Their life is in Him while it appears their life is being turned upside down. Now they are “upside Him”. I have walked this earth over fifty (50) years and I have learned some phenomenal lessons that I want to share with those of you that are at the point in your destiny walk of wanting nothing less than what God has planned for you. One evening I was feeling a little discouraged about several things. It was as if in a thirty (30) second click of time a sense of discouragement came. It felt like it came out of nowhere. I was not dwelling on any issue or concern when this feeling came upon me. Within the next seconds encouragement from God came and overtook the spirit of discouragement and it was as if God himself opened a book to tell me some things concerning what I was going through and where I was going. Some of that revelation I will share with you. When God calls or unctions you to come unto Him the scripture in Matthew 22:14 which states “many are called but few are chosen” becomes in full effect in everyone’s life. Those who answer the call of God choose to walk a life through Jesus Christ and will go through levels of “faith” processes. Just as a baby grows to adulthood we also grow into the things of God. Those that are at the level of “tried faith” are at a place past believing that God is, or believing for things. Tried faith is for those who have a sense of a deeper knowing of the things of God. It is past what you see in the natural. (continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

When Your Life is “Upside Him” (continued) God is the ONE who allows your faith to be tried at this level because you are being prepared to walk into and be accountable for something you have not seen or done before and your family and friends have not seen it or done it either.You are going to “pioneer” something of great purpose. If you have been through a fire storm or great spiritual, financial and possibly a physical battle with your health or the like you may be going through the process of the “trying of your faith”. When God brings you to this level of faith it is God who brings you, it is God who allows the testing and it is God who will deliver and it is God who will get the glory. At this level of faith every area in your life will be tried. The most challenging part of this process is the unseen or the spiritual battle which take places that no one can understand or help you through the process but God.You may look good on the outside but many will not know that you are going through one of the greatest battles of your life! At this stage you are leaning into the Lord like you have never known before.You are seeing and hearing like never before while on the outside and to the appearance of others your life looks broken, disrupted and distressed. God is so wise that He has allowed it to appear this way so that you could begin to live “Upside Him”. When everything appears to turn upside down according to the world’s standard God takes you to a place of understanding why you are where you are. He will then begin to allow you to go through your emotional process of crying, asking why, begging to get out of this season and THEN His revelation will come and you will know that it is God allowing you to be made or in other words you are in the process of becoming. At this level of faith your emotions have nothing to do with anything.You are becoming what you are assigned to this earth for.Your hearing is sharpened and your vision is in alignment with God. At this stage of faith you are carried by the “word of God” only. Can you imagine how Noah felt when he got the word to build the Ark and no one around him understood what was ahead! He was pioneering something that has NEVER been seen before. It is so way out of the box to explain at that present time. For a season he must have been mocked, reproach became his friend and more than likely even his family must have had pre-intervention meetings concerning his thinking.

(continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

When Your Life is “Upside Him” (continued) It didn’t matter what the people thought because God’s plans were still going to take place. If it was a 5 year project where the people could see instant progress maybe that would have made it easier on Noah but nevertheless God’s plans were still going to take place. This type of faith level requires you to do some things. For the sake of the article I just want to list some of this things: • Don’t Quit • Stop praying about your stability (finances, family, etc) . . . pray about your assignment. Ask God to put you in an open heaven and to give you wisdom to operate into something divinely birthed. • Believe EVERYTHING you hear God speak (not want you want but what God speaks) and you will accomplish something that has never happened before • Allow God to provide you with a fresh anointing to accomplish a greater work and stop fighting God with “doubt” in your heart • Prophesy (speak) everything that you sense God is saying to you. You don’t have to speak it out to others but in your time alone you can speak the things that He has spoken to you. The entire process of being “tried” is that you will NOT FAIL in accomplishing the assignment God has purposed you for. By the time you have been tried you will be void of pride, arrogance, wanting YOUR success and wanting the approval of man. You would have confronted your adversarial opponents and you have confronted your flesh! NEXT you are ready for revealing, godly success and to hit the target of your purpose (s). When you get here your shame, your trouble will be turned upside RIGHT and you will walk into HIM (God) in a fullness that you would never have experienced unless your faith was tried!

(continued on next page)

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

When Your Life is “Upside Him” (continued)

Job, Moses, Abraham, Joseph all knew how to live Upside Him.You will find that your thoughts and ways are not the thoughts and ways of God and your ways will be turned upside down and God will bring you to know Him in the right way. Job stated something (Job 23:10) that is so appropriate for this level of faith which says, “But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for it, appreciates, and pays attention to it].When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous].” The sole purpose of this article is to encourage those of you who are steadfast in the CALL of God and to let you know that there are processes of faith that we must go through. It will take the revelation of God to help you to know where you are. I sense that I am writing to many of you who are truly being led by God and it appears in the natural that nothing is working. Let me assure you that everything is working on your behalf and not many days hence you shall see and know that the “trying of your faith” will reap AMAZING benefits for many lives because you stood the trial of your faith walk. I trust the Lord that an understanding will come to you and an ease that shall restore and establish you. I too understand this walk. I will say on the mountain top….to God be ALL the Glory. Amen.

Dr. Cheryl

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Women of Significance / JANUARY 2012

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Women of Significance

Women of Significance / NOVEMBER 2011

Spotlight Each month we will highlight our Women of Significance so that each of you can get to know one another. Please let us keep each other in prayer and pray that we all fulfill our destiny.

Lizane Basson

Mereani Deo

Lizane is a woman living life out loud! She is filled with purpose and is a go-getter. She work for ATKV and lives in Krugersdorp, Gauteng. She is a Woman of Significance.

Mereani is a Pastor at New Beginnings Love Fellowship in Haywood, California. She is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;weapon of mass destructionâ&#x20AC;? towards the Kingdom of Darkness. She loves family life and is a Woman of Significance.

Jenaya Parker

Daphney Gwynn

Jenaya is a great woman of faith and an up and coming leader. She lives in Philadelphia and works in Human Resources. She is a Woman of Significance.

Daphney is a mover and shaker of things in the Kingdom. She is a strategic prayer warrior. She is a leader being raised in this time. Daphney is a Woman of Significance.

Monique Washington

Oli Ipa Lutmailagi

Monique is a Master Sargeant in the U.S. Army. She exudes with passion and great JESUS joy. She is instrumental in modeling leadership to many. She is a Woman of Significance.

Oli works in the Hospitality industry, oversees 1,000 employees. She lives in Fiji. She is an upcoming international leader, wife and mother. Her wisdom is beyond her years. She is a Woman of Significance.

Women of Significance /MARCH 2012

Spring 2012 Trend: Cheerful Color-Blocking Spring runways were more colorful than the crowd at a Lady Gaga concert. Bold, solid-color piecesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;like a cardi and skirt, wrap dress or demure one-piece suitâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;make simple dressing look glam. Our style tip: Stick to three colors max to avoid the girly, Rainbow Brite look. Sophie Theallet, Marc . . . Read More http://www.glamour.com/fashion/2011/09/ spring-2012s-most-wearable-fashion-trends#ixzz1psK9uZv3

Women of Significance / MARCH 2012

Women of Significance “You are Valuable Right Where You Are!”

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