Untold Chronicles - Issue 20 by Untold Chronicles Magazine

I AM A KINGDOM BUILDER AUGUST 2020 ISSUE 20

DR. NIA GEE

Contents 12 Millenial Corner

Our Founder - Unconventional, unorthodox, and unapologetically me

Happy August beautiful people! By a raise of hands, who has struggled with identity? I know I have...

13 Artists and Covid19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on me as a musical artist.

14 -15 Dr. Nia Gee

MARRIAGE UNMASKED Maturity in Marriage

I am Kingdom Building. In life I have always had a bulldog tenacity, being as though I was small, like David in stature and size I had to have a ferocious nature...

16 Artist Showcase Feature

Joy Crum: Heal The Land

17 Joyce Hester

08-09

Patrice Graham, MSN, RN Health Check

If you feel scared, confused or you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around your partner,

10-11

Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020 2020 Untold Chronicles Magazine August

UC COOKING Bacon Pimento Cheese Won Ton Cups w/ Smoked Chaabani Olive Oil.

Our Founder Dr. Nia Gee

AUGUST 2020 ISSUE 21

UNCONVENTIONAL.UNORTHODOX.UNAPOLOGIC

THE

D R E A M

M AC H I N E

to engage the millennial with uncommon practices in ministry that actually appeal to them. She then equips them with The Word of the God and all the necessary armor that they need for today’s battles. Finally, she sends them forth, empowered that they may bring others into the Kingdom of God.

T H E

change how we convey the Word of God to this new generation. Nia’s ministry is to the downtrodden, the casts, and to those the church has given up on. She has a strong love and compassion for these types of people; she understands that deep feeling of rejection all too well. At one point, it was her. Her mission is

EDITOR’S

NOTE

“Be Ye Transformed, by the renewing of your mind.” Change starts with knowing who YOU ARE and WHO YOU BELONG TO, after that, everything else can fall into place.

P H OTO

BY:

Unconventional, unorthodox, and unapologetically me when it comes to ministry. She believes the Word of God as stated in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” However, she knows that the changes in society and time mean that we must

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OMEKIA MCNEAL Ma ga zi ne Edi tor

W W W.I A M J U S T N I A.C O M

THE PUBLICATION

P H OTO

BY:

G LO B A L

C O N N E CT I O N

“Bringing You Kingdom with NO Apologies” 4

Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020

Untold Chronicles Magazine is a faithbased publication created for leaders, men and women of God and millennial that have been tested, tried and at some point, felt defeated by the enemy. Our vision is a world where we edify, educate, empower and do Kingdom with no apologies. Our mission is to provide an outlet that shares intimate, transparent, life-changing events, experiences of victory over the enemy all while learning how to obtain, regain and restore relationships with Christ.

www.iamjustnia.com

FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS How much do you know about purchasing a new home?

eing a first-time home buyer is exciting, overwhelming, complicated and a stressful process. Buying your first home does not have to be overwhelming when you take one step at a time and prepare.

he first step to prepare yourself to purchase a home is to know your credit. It allow you to see exactly what you have on your credit report, your credit score and correcting any problems before you go to apply for a home loan. I recommend annualcreditreport. com. You get to pull one (1) free report annually from all 3 credit companies (Equifax, Transunion and Experian). Your credit score affects the rate and amount of mortgage loan you can afford. Second, Research a first time home buyer program in your area (city, county, etc.). Homebuyer classes are great and some come with additional perks, such as down payment grants or no down payment. Third, your budget. We have to be realistic when purchasing a home and how much we can realistically afford. I recommend a budget. For example an emergency fund of three to six months of expenses

ourth, save up for a down payment if needed. Fifth, Save for Closing Cost if needed at least 20% of the home. Sixth, talk with a Loan Officer/Get Preapproved for a loan. Seventh, hire a licensed realtor to assist you in finding a home for sale in your price range. Choose a real estate agent carefully. A good real estate agent will search the market for homes that meet your needs. Interview a few agents, ask about their experience helping first time home buyers. Eight, you found the home you want and can afford. Since you’re already preapproved for a loan, you’re ready to make an offer. If you’re a first-time home buyer, it may be hard to know how much you should offer. That’s when you can rely on the expertise of your real estate agent. Ask your agent to help you make sure your offer is competitive but also within your budget and the home’s value. Be careful not to make an impulsive offer that’s higher than you can afford just to knock out the competition. Ninth, Prepare for Closing, once a seller accepts your offer, the closing process will begin. The average closing process takes 43 days. A real estate agent will schedule the remaining steps from home inspection to final walkthrough, and they’ll keep you informed about any roadblocks.

s you prepare for closing, make sure you read every document carefully and ask your real estate agent to explain anything you don’t understand. Do not sign the official contract for the home transaction if you do not understand. It’ll be your signature on the documents, so you’ll be the one responsible for anything you sign. Finally, while you are in the process of purchasing a new home remember not to go and open any new accounts.

EQUIFAX Equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services. 800-685-1111 EXPERIAN Experian.com/help. 888-EXPERIAN 888-397-3742 TRANSUNION TransUnion.com/credit-help. 888-909-8872 Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020

while they are in their process to maturity. In this process you are also allowing God room to continue His perfect work within you.

in place. The budget allow you to have room in your monthly housing expenses/costs (including HOA fees (if any), taxes, insurance, etc.) which should not be no more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay.

CREDIT BUREAUS

Apostles Johnnie & Tonia Foster

There comes a point in one’s life whether married or single that you grow to maturity. Maturity means to come to a place of experience; when one mind and decisions comes to full age. There is mental, physical, and emotional maturity that takes place in marriages. In fact, many tend to believe women achieve the place of maturity before men. Some marriages suffer due to lack of maturity on their spouses’ part. When one lacks maturity, it can cause marriages to be shaky and trust issues can seep into the relationship. Maturity allows us to see and understand our differences of opinions and to value those opinions whether we agree or disagree. Maturity allows us to see where each of us needs to grow and do better. In marriage, it’s always about how can I do better for the common interest of the marriage and not just how to appease oneself.

behavior patterns we once entertained must come to an end. However, now as you mature, you begin to take off the old man and begin to walk in the new man. Apostle Paul says

It’s never the intention for any married couple to not stay together and build towards purpose and destiny as a single unit. The intention is to become one flesh, to become a team willing to accept the faulty characteristics of their spouse, but at the same time walking with them through to the place of maturity. We can truly say, it’s not easy to walk this thing out called marriage. But every step of the way it’s worth it! Apostle Johnnie and I have been married 25 years and had to endure the process of maturity in many areas of our lives. It would seem as though, when God was working on one, the other would be worked on at the same time. God would pull back layers that we needed to die from, exposing uncrucified areas in our flesh. Because we allowed God to have His way, our relationship has produced fruit of righteousness that has deepened our love for one another in an entirely new way.

MARRIAGE UNMASKED:

Maturity in Marriage

There comes a time in our lives when the childish things and

in 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” Maturity also means letting go of past mistakes. You grow realizing the person you are married to is not perfect but is being perfected by God. It’s you allowing God to do His perfect work in your spouse without holding resentment or ill feelings

Allow your marriage to grow and mature. It doesn’t happen overnight but if you stay the course and allow God to be the center of the relationship, He will do amazing things in your marriage. Die to those habits that deplete the progress of moving your marriage forward. A marriage will go as far as you and your spouse are willing to allow it to go.

www.iamjustnia.com

YOUR HEALTH DESERVES EXTRA CARE

Tis the season….Flu season that is. Flu season is upon us, and being able to distinguish the Flu from COVID-19 or even the common cold may be challenging. Knowing Flu symptoms, and when to seek medical care, is as important as any other illness. The Flu vaccine is completely free and is available at various outlets such as Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and your primary physician. Symptoms of the Flu: · Fever (temperature of 100.4 or higher) or chills · Cough and/or sore throat · Runny or stuffy nose · Headache or body aches · Extreme tiredness · Nausea/vomiting (more in children than adults) Individuals experiencing Flu symptoms should: · Stay home · Rest · Drink plenty of ﬂuids · Take fever reducers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) Important signs to look for and/ or experiencing: · If unable to drink enough ﬂuids (dark colored urine)

Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020

· Feeling dizzy when standing · Fever for more than 3 to 5 days · If feel better then gets a fever again CALL a health care provider! or · Experiencing shortness of breath · Coughing up blood · Chest pain when breathing · If individual has cardiovascular disease such as angina or congestive heart failure and experiencing chest pain · Unable to walk, sit up, or carry out activities of daily living (especially in the elderly)

UCMR RISING STAR

GO and SEEK medical care RIGHT AWAY!! General COVID-19 rules still apply: · Wear a mask · Cover cough and/or sneeze with inside of elbow · Practice social distancing · Wash hands/use hand sanitizer More information can be found at CDC.gov. Remember you, your life, and your health are a treasure so protect it!

www.iamjustnia.com

UC COOKING:

Bacon Pimento Cheese Won Ton Cups w/ Smoked Chaabani Olive Oil.

Bacon Pimento Cheese Won Ton Cups w/ Smoked Chaabani Olive Oil. q Cut the sheet into your desired shapes.

q Cut corners off wonton wrappers to

(5 inch squares are perfect for egg rolls. 3

make an octagonal shape.

v Ingredients

inch squares or circles are great for won-

q 2 cups all purpose flower

tons or dumplings.)

q 1 egg

q Repeat with the remaining dough.

cooking spray.

q Use the wonton wrappers immediately

q Transfer the pans to the oven and bake

or freeze them.

until the wrappers are starting to turn

q ¾ tsp salt q ½ 1 cup water

q In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, salt, and water. q Create a well in the center of the flour and pour in the wet ingredients. q Mix everything together with a spoon

Bacon pimento cheese v Ingredients cheese

to come together.

q 1/2 cup shredded extra sharp white

q Turn the dough onto the counter and

cheddar cheese

be firm but silky smooth when you are done. (If your dough is too tacky, add a little extra flour to your counter.) q Cover the dough with a damp towel and let rest for 1 hour. (Letting the dough rest will make it easier to roll thin wrappers.) q Divide the dough in half. Cover one half of the dough with your towel. Lightly dust your counter-top with cornstarch (NOT flour), and roll half of the dough as thin as you can, aiming for a rectangle roughly 20”x10” if you are cutting 5” wrappers, or 15”x9” if you are cutting 3” wrappers.

then turn out onto a rack to cool completely. q Place pimento cheese in wonton cups and drizzle with smoked Chaabani olive oil.

q 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese q 8 ounces cream cheese q 1/2 cup mayonnaise q 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder q 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper q 1/4 teaspoon onion powder q 4 pieces cooked bacon, crumbled q 1 (4-ounce) jar pimentos, drained q sea salt, to taste q freshly ground black pepper, to taste

v Instructions q Place all ingredients in a bowl. Stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. q Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat two 12-cup mini-muffin tins with cooking spray.

bling, 8 to 9 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes

q 1 cup shredded extra sharp cheddar

(or your hands), until the mixture begins

knead for 3-5 minutes. The dough should

muffin tins. Lightly spritz wrappers with

golden brown and are crispy and bub-

v Instructions q Place flour into a large bowl.

q Gently press 24 wrappers down into the

Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020 2020 Untold Chronicles Magazine August

By Brandin Blakely

Wonton Wrap

D I V I N E H O U S E O F S O U L 205-470-4854 D I V I N E H O U S E O F S O U L@O U T LO O K.C O M

www.iamjustnia.com

MILLENIAL CORNER

ARTISTS AND COVID-19

THE ENCOURAGER

ANDREW POTTS, JR.

now months pen in hand......pad in front of me...yet still no words. It was as if the light that burns within my passion had dimmed.

appy August beautiful people! By a raise of hands, who has struggled with identity? I know I have. And honestly, those lies will try to creep up every now and then. But, in the world we live in now, with everyone having an opinion and trying to tell us what’s “right” and what’s “wrong”, I wanted to share some truth with you. This is a message I had to tell myself one day when I was just going through it (cause that happens every now and then) and I hope it helps you too... Your identity doesn’t lie in a degree. It doesn’t lie in how many people are close to you, or even what others say about you. Your significance doesn’t lie in what you do for others or how many people you can help. It’s time to stop hiding behind always being busy and actually sit, rest, and deal with who you see in the mirror. If your friends left, you lost your job, you

Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020

BY NAOMI E. JOHNSON

didn’t have those degrees, or you lost your house. WHO would you be? Seriously, who are you without all those things? A CHILD OF GOD, that’s who! Your identity/significance doesn’t lie in anything, but God. He is the only one that is consistent and will forever stand. And everything that you need, is in Him. Love, Nai

HISHOPNATION.COM

he COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on me as a musical artist. Numerous music events, including music festivals, concert, tours and award shows were cancelled or postponed which caused a financial burden and a shortage in income. While some artist were able to use the time to create new songs and albums I endured a writers block.

fter months of enduring the detrimental effects of the coronavirus I still believe that GOD IS IN CONTROL.....I believe that God is using this pandemic to change how I create songs to where I am totally relying on hearing his voice so in order to reignite my passion for songwriting I plan on fasting, praying and consecrating myself to gain inspiration directly from God that will take His kingdom to the next level through my songwriting.

normally get inspiration for songs through life experiences and you would think this pandemic being a major new impactful life experience would allow me to birth out powerful songs but yet as I sat in my music room for hours...days....weeks and

www.iamjustnia.com

DR. NIA GEE

I AM KINGDOM BUILDING

In life I have always had a bulldog tenacity, being as though I was small, like David in stature and size I had to have a ferocious nature. Do to being what my family and society deemed as being not the “norm”, I had to figure out how to navigate through life on my own. My environment gave me no choice other than to be a natural fighter and when I turned to the Church where I was supposed to have solace and refuge in order to not have to fight alone, it was quickly revealed that the difference between what I was accustomed to “in the world” and what I was now being subjected to “in the church” was the words because the actions were exactly the same. I found and dedicated my life to Christ in April 1994 while serving in the United States Navy, Honolulu, HI. See, I was born into an environment where I was predisposed for failure, teen pregnancy by multiple fathers and an impoverished lifestyle. Over the course of 23 years the experiences and encounters that I was faced with set the stage for me to be able to take an honest look at myself first and then be willing to

be transparent about my own interactions. Those events paved the way for me to have the courage to expose the enemy concerning the interactions of those that were supposed to lead me through this journey. Throughout this journey I have experienced a high-level of

The word of GOD is for everyone that will accept Him but my assignment to the “Body of Christ” (because everyone has been given a particular assignment, gift and calling) is to the Millennials. Those in this era that are misunderstood, downtrodden, talked about, given up on, ridiculed, hated and shown extreme amounts of prejudices need a voice to speak to them and for them. Luke 14:23… Also, my niche by GOD design has been to those already in a relationship with him but have suffered at the hands of those that lead them. This epidemic continues to plague the “Body of Christ” in a way that casts a dark/derogatory image over US. See we all have played a role at some point in this infection diseased community… (Isaiah 65:8…) The Hurter (the one who did the hurting), The On-Looker of the hurt that is being done (the one watching the hurt being done to someone) and The Hurtee (the one that has been hurt but is yet giving out the hurt that they themselves once experienced).

LUKE 14:23 ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

“...I was predisposed for failure...”

spiritual warfare with a great level of non-comprehension, just extreme amounts of hurt. These experiences have allowed me to grow into the person I currently am and the entire reason that I do what I do for the “Body of Christ”…I NEVER want to see anyone endure what was thrusted upon me. My level of admiration, love and compassion for people continues to overwhelm me so much so I will give all I have and all of my time to forever serve them and bring them into a level of understanding of where they are and what GOD has called them to do as well.

Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020

GET TO KNOW GOD FOR YOURSELF!

www.iamjustnia.com

Artist Showcase Feature

oy Crum, an Independent Artist from Jacksonville, FL loves to sing! Joy has been singing since I was 18 months old. Joy’s mother had a recording of her singing a song. She comes from a very rich musical background on my mother and father’s side of my family. Her mother, the late, Venetia L. Mazeke-McLemoure sung in the church choir for years. Joy’s uncle, Emmanuel was the saxophonist player in the legendary Count Basie’s Orchestra! Joy’s uncle, Ozzie Lee, was the lead vocalist on the Song, “Searching for my Baby” by Bobby Ross and the Rhythm Aces.

Joy Crum: Heal The Land

WE WORK FOR YOU www.pwlawlor.com 561-372-3500

Identifying Emotional Abuse If you feel scared, confused or you feel like you have to walk on eggshells around your partner, or maybe you doubt yourself when you are talking with them. In my opinion, you could be experiencing emotional abuse. In my experience, an abuser’s goal is to destabilize another person’s feelings of self-worth, confidence and independence. In an emotionally abusive relationship, you may feel like you are stuck in that relationship or that without your companion you will have nothing. Hear me clearly on this emotional abuse is a form of domestic and family violence. If you feel or you know that you may be in an emotionally abusive relationship, there are many things you can do to get support. Like any form of abuse, it is important to know that if you are being abused emotionally it is not your fault and it’s NEVER acceptable. You have the right to feel safe, respected, supported and loved in your relationships.

Be aware if your signiﬁcant other does any of the following: ◆ makes you feel like you are not good enough ◆ constantly threatens to leave you unless you do what he or she says ◆ threatens to hurt you, your loved ones or themselves if you leave ◆ feel he has to tell you what to eat, how to dress or where you can go ◆ always find fault with you no matter what you do

What is emotional abuse? Emotional abuse can be just as destructive and damaging as physical abuse and can severely impact your mental well-being. It is often used as a way to maintain power and control over their significant other. Emotional abuse may be accompanied by other kinds of abuse: sexual, psychological, financial or physical. However, it does not have to include any of these to count as abuse. Take it from someone who has lived through it, it is serious enough on its own to be a concern.

Types of emotional abuse Emotional abuse can involve any of the following: ◆ Verbal abuse: yelling at you, insulting you or swearing at you. ◆ Rejection: Constantly rejecting your thoughts, ideas, opinions and at times your love. ◆ Gas-lighting: making you doubt your own feelings and thoughts, and even your sanity, by manipulating the truth. For more information on how gas-lighting works, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800799-safe. ◆ Put-downs: calling you names or telling you that you are dumb or stupid, publicly embarrassing you, blaming you for everything. Public humiliation is also a form of social abuse. ◆ Causing fear: making you feel afraid, intimidated or threatened.

Joyce “Lady Joy” Hester IAMJUSTL ADYJOY@GMAIL.COM

◆ Isolation: limiting your freedom of movement, stopping you from contacting other people (such as friends or family). It may also include stopping you from doing the things you normally do – social activities, sports, school or work. Isolating someone overlaps with social abuse. ◆ Financial abuse: controlling or withholding your money from you, preventing you from working or studying, stealing from you. Remember that Financial abuse is another form of domestic violence. ◆ Bullying and intimidation: purposely and repeatedly saying or doing things that are intended to hurt you.

Emotional abuse causes harm like physical abuse Physical violence is seen as being more serious than emotional abuse I believe, because more likely than not there are scars associated with that level of abuse, in fact, this is not true. Believe me when I say that the scars of emotional abuse are real and have the probability to outlast any scar you can ever get through physical abuse. The effects of emotional abuse can have a negative impact on your self-esteem, confidence and how positively view yourself. Emotional abuse can also leave you feeling depressed, anxious or even suicidal. Everyone needs help and support If you are experiencing emotional abuse, it is vital that you seek help. Do not be driven into isolation and feelings of abandonment. More people know what you are going through than you probably know. Reach out to friends and family for help. There are also a number of services you can contact if you need someone to talk to dial the

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES @

1-800-799 - SAFE

and they can direct you to further help. Most importantly, if you feel afraid or believe you might be in danger, contact the emergency services (911) immediately.

Untold Chronicles Magazine August 2020

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