Overflow 02 | February 2010 by Overflow Magazine

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OverflowMag.com February 2010

How

SEAN HUGHES overcame addiction through JESUS CHRIST THE HEART OF

Spa Moritz On assignment

from GOD

14 LOVE expressions Real People, True Stories, In Your Backyard

Contents

Expected

12 16 24

Featured 12

Louder Than Words

If you really love someone, then show them.

Heeding God’s Direction

A Servant’s Heart

14 Ways to Love

Happily Ever After

Through obedience comes reward. An assignment from God to help a local women’s shelter.

On The Cover

From the Editor

Meet Overflow

Magnify Him

Healthy Life

Salvation

Resources

Business Spotlight

My Rock

Contributors

Events

www.OverflowMag.com

A spa owner who puts God first in her business.

Valentine’s gift and date ideas

Happily ever after does not have to be fantasy; it can be the reality of marriage with God’s help.

From the

Editor tions (page 12). For great ways to show your love this Valentine’s Day go to pages 34 and 35. I also want to share with you what The Lord laid on my heart for 2010. This is for all the children of God.

Dear Friends, I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year’s with your families. As 2010 kicks into high gear, we find ourselves with full schedules again. Some days I wonder why I can’t have more hours in the day…I am ready for another vacation! If you feel like you just want to get away for a day of relaxation and pampering, then I recommend checking out “A Servant’s Heart” on page 30. This inspiring article tells of a spa owner who puts God first place in her business and her life. Our cover features an awesome Magnify Him report, “Freedom Through Christ,” a testimony submitted by Sean Hughes (page 24). I encourage you to read this moving story of how Sean Hughes overcame addiction and preserved his marriage through Jesus Christ. We want YOUR Magnify Him reports. You can submit them through our website or by emailing us at Magnify@OverflowMag.com. We would like to share with Tampa Bay the amazing things God is doing in your life. These stories can be long or short, and even anonymous if you prefer. By sharing your story, you give hope to others in our community who may be going through similar situations. Let’s tell Tampa Bay how great our God is! Most of us are telling others we love them, but are we actually showing them? Chris Cherp’s article, “Louder Than Words,” touches on loving others through our ac-

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Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” God wants you to diligently seek Him, and when you do—He will reveal Himself to you in ways you never dreamed of! God has a future for you: He wants you to prosper, He wants your body healed, He wants your relationships healed, and He wants you to have peace. These things have already been bought and paid for by Jesus Christ; all we have to do is receive them by faith. It is time for the Body of Christ to rise up and be who God intended us to be! We are children of the Most High God. If you don’t yet know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then please go to our salvation section (pages 22 and 23). Accepting Jesus as your Lord is the most important decision you could ever make. This February as you spend time with your loved ones, remember the gift God gave you when He brought them into your life. With Love in Him,

Amie Cherp

Why Overflow? Our main purpose at Overflow Magazine is to glorify God and to share the good news of God’s marvelous works from the lives of people in our local community. By spreading this good news, we believe the material you rest your eyes on will show you that God is good and faithful to those who come to Him and believe on His Word through Jesus Christ. As a result, we believe that we will begin reaping the harvest of men’s and women’s souls whom were in the dark, making disciples, and teaching all nations. (Matthew 28:19)

ofmag love+faith+hope

EDITOR

Amie Cherp amie@overflowmag.com

SALES & MARKETING Chris Cherp chris@overflowmag.com

CREATIVE

Brady Wright brady@overflowmag.com Amanda Wright amanda@overflowmag.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Tommy Burrus

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ty Williamson Stephen T Photography

HOW TO REACH US

27251 SR 54, Suite B14-605 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 813.915.6700 Phone 813.463.0275 Fax www.OverflowMag.com

Magnify Submissions

magnify@overflowmag.com

General Info Inquiry

contact@overflowmag.com Overflow Magazine is published monthly by Eternal Holdings LLC, a Florida limited liability company, d/b/a Overflow Magazine. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced or copied in any form without prior written permission from a representative of Overflow Magazine. We cannot be held responsible for statements made by advertisers or contributing writers; however, we do make every effort to ensure the accuracy and truthfulness of the information we print. Overflow Magazine cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors made by advertisers and/or contributing writers. All images, photographs, e-mails and letters sent to Overflow Magazine will be allocated for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted rights to edit. Overflow Magazine is distributed free of charge to local supermarkets, churches, businesses, family events and other locations around the Tampa Bay area. For information on where to find Overflow Magazine or if you would like to become a distributor, please call 813-915-6700 or e-mail contact@ overflowmag.com.

Overflow

Ty Williamson, www.pixelsoftime.com

Meet

It is by the grace of God and the non-stop faith in His powerful Word that our inaugural issue of Overflow Magazine was not only put together, printed, and distributed but also received so warmly by believers throughout Hillsborough and southern Pasco Counties. If you are someone who has heard from God and been obedient to His guidance, then you will understand that moments come when you think to yourself… WHAT AM I DOING? Praise God! He always comes through for us when we don’t give up. Overflow Magazine has been a faith building experience for every member of the team and has allowed us to continually depend on guidance from The Lord to meet our needs and deadlines. This past December and January, Team Overflow was able to meet many great people, learn about amazing ministries, some well known and some that aren’t so well known, and actually help touch the lives of others in our community. These are some of the ministries and churches that we wanted to say thank you for supporting Overflow and allowing the magazine to be a part of their outreach: Victorious Life Church (free Christmas gift wrapping at The Shops at Wiregrass), Salvation Army (Christmas gift wrapping at University Square Mall), First Baptist of New Tampa (Community Christmas Concert on the lawn), River of Life (Lights in the Manger), Tampa Covenant Church (Christmas Coffee House), and New Life Ministries (Not just feeding the homeless but also getting them off the streets, filling them with Jesus, and helping them back into main stream society). Thank you for being willing and obedient to the call of God on your lives. We also wanted to thank all the churches and local businesses who have supported Overflow and the vision God placed in our hearts. Our God is an Awesome God and a Rewarder to those who stand in faith! We believe Overflow Magazine will continue to give glory to God and touch the lives of those in our local community bringing them closer to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

© 2009 Eternal Holdings LLC. All rights reserved. Photo Credits: ©iStockphoto.com/TerryJ, p. 35; ©iStockphoto.com/sjlocke, p. 35; ©iStockphoto.com/Akirastock, p. 35; ©iStockphoto.com/DeniseTorres, p. 34; ©iStockphoto.com/Romko_chuk, p. 43; ©iStockphoto.com/duckycards, p. 36; ©iStockphoto.com/Zocha_K, p. 11; ©iStockphoto.com/madisonwi, p. 8; ©iStockphoto. com/digitalskillet, p. 9; ©iStockphoto.com/MSRPhoto, p. 5, 38; ©iStockphoto.com/ Stalman, p. 5, 12; ©iStockphoto.com/pastie, p. 22; ©2009 Blessings Unlimited, LLC., www.blessingsdirect.com, p. 34

God Bless you! With Love in Christ, Team Overflow Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Magnify

Him

Testimonies submitted by YOU!

Psalm 9:1 “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all of your marvelous works.”

God Provides

Healed I broke my toe running into something when I was goofing around with my nephew. I couldn’t believe how one little toe could create such agonizing pain! My family and I prayed on my toe once we realized it was injured. Matthew 18:19 (NIV) says “…if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” We prayed that my toe would receive supernatural healing in the Name of Jesus Christ and we declared Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV), “…by His stripes we are healed.” I went to the doctor the next day and he taped me up. I was told that it would be painful for a while and that it would take up to 8 weeks to heal completely. I was instructed to wear a post-op shoe for the entire 8 weeks to protect my toe. I smiled and thanked the doctor, while I was declaring in my heart, “I am healed in Jesus’ Name.” I took over-the-counter pain medication for a day and a half and within only a couple of days I had no pain at all. In less than 2 weeks the bruising was gone and my toe was completely healed. Praise the Lord; I took that ugly shoe off just in time for the cold weather! +++ AW, Tampa

“I am healed in Jesus’ Name.”

I own a business where I create inspirational products based on the Word of God. When I got the vision to start my business years ago, it didn’t make much sense to me because I did not feel as though I had the means to do it. But when you are obedient and walk in faith, God truly DOES PROVIDE. I have several ministries connected to my business, and I needed a landing page designed for my website to incorporate all of the various ministries together. I received a price quote from a web design company for an amount that I simply did not have. I decided to pray and ask God to help me. Literally, five minutes later I received an unsolicited e-mail from a design company wanting to help me redesign my website. I forwarded the quote I received from the other company, which detailed what I needed done and the amount they wanted to charge. I asked what they would charge me for the same work and an additional logo design. I shortly received a response that they could do all the design work I needed, including the landing page for an amount that was only about a third of the cost I was previously quoted. They wanted to do this project to help me in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God provided a way for me because I was willing and obedient! +++ Leslie, Tampa

Gift of Life My wife and I were trying to have a baby for months. Prior to this I never gave it much thought as to how perfect the timing of everything must be for a woman to become pregnant. Growing up you hear about so many young girls getting pregnant that you think if the wind blows a certain way then it’s likely. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Finally on a Friday night in July my wife and I went before the Lord with our Bible open reminding the Lord what He promised in His Word about the gift of children. We prayed, gave Him thanks for hearing us, and then did our part. Two weeks later the test came back positive and nine months later we were blessed with a perfectly healthy baby boy. Praise King Jesus! +++ CC, Wesley Chapel

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Seed for the Sower Visit www.OverflowMag.com to SUBMIT your testimony and tell your community what God has done in your life. They Shall Bear Me Up This past Christmas break we were traveling back home after a great week spent with family. The drive home was about 15 hours. We decided to drive straight through. After several hours of driving (around 8:00am), my wife opened her Bible and we both refreshed our minds with the Word of God by declaring several scriptures out loud, including Psalm 91. Within minutes of us closing the Bible, the vehicle in front of us, which was towing a large trailer, began to whip around violently. Before I knew it the trailer ripped off the vehicle’s hitch and smashed into the bridge’s concrete wall, blocking traffic. With God’s help, we (and the other cars around us) completely avoided the accident. We then pulled over and with the help of several others (who pulled off to assist), we were able to get the trailer off to the side of the bridge and clear all traffic. The only issue that arose from the accident was a damaged trailer hitch. Thank God for His supernatural protection and awareness! He not only protected us but also those around us. Before leaving one of the men that stopped to help began sharing his love for Jesus Christ. To our amazement, he was part of a Christian band traveling to Georgia to perform in a concert and minster to the youth. It turns out that almost all of the individuals at that particular spot in the road that morning were all believers in Christ. Thank you Father God for the full Armor of God that we had put on moments before the crash, Your ministering angels that bear us up lest we dash our feet against a stone, and for Your divine appointments. Needless to say we made it home safely and had a great trip. +++DD, Tampa

I learned in the Bible from Mark 11:24 and 2 Corinthians 9:10 that I could ask God for seed to sow and that He would supply it. Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” 2 Corinthians 9:10 says, “Now God who pro-

“I believe I will receive a hundred fold” vides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.” So, I asked for $1,200 to sow into a ministry that had been on my heart. Just so you know $1,200 is a lot of money to me. Praise God, He delivered! Even though I was tempted to use that money for other things, I didn’t. I sowed it into that ministry and I believe I will receive a hundred fold return very soon. +++CP, Wesley Chapel

Overcoming Obstacles

My husband and I came to Florida on July 3, 2005 from New York. The second week we got here my husband got very sick. He had to drive to the Veterans Hospital in Tampa. In the third week he was diagnosed with stomach cancer that was very advanced and the doctors said nothing could be done. By July 30th he passed away. Despite losing my husband, God has been so good to me. I did not know anyone in the Tampa area and I could not drive a car. I had to take driving lessons. Finally, I received my license in April of 2006. I had to be at the mercy of God. I believe God brought angels into my life to help me. I don’t know where these people are now; they were there when I needed them and now they seem to have disappeared out of my life. The enemy has tried to push me into leaving Tampa, but all of the obstacles just brought me closer to God. When I lived in New York I knew God, but never attended church. Now I am faithfully serving my God and he has brought me through it all. My Savior is forever with me. I will always praise my God, because He said He will never leave me nor forsake me. +++ Petra, VLC Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Tap your business into the Body of Christ throughout Tampa Bay

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www.OverflowMag.com 10 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

Healthy Life Keep it Simple

any times at the beginning of a new year we tend to make unrealistic declarations for our future, especially when it comes to diet and exercise. Then by the time February or March rolls around we have already fallen off the wagon, and the wagon is no longer in sight. If you desire to make a physical change to improve your body this year, here are a few words that can help – Keep It Simple. Instead of starting some boot camp type of diet, make a simple change to what you eat and when you eat it. If your goal is to shed some unwanted pounds, then simply eliminate complex carbohydrates in the evening (6:00pm and beyond) for five out of seven days per week. Instead of eating potatoes, bread, and pasta (examples of complex carbohydrates) in the evening, replace the complex carbohydrates with proteins and simple carbohydrates (see next paragraph). Choose two days per

week that are your “freedom days.” A freedom day is a day that you can enjoy any type of food, whenever you want (within reason). An example of “Keeping it Simple”: Sunday through Thursday, during the day choose to eat like usual until 6pm. After 6pm have protein as your main dish (such as fish, chicken, or beef) and a side salad or green vegetable (simple carbohydrates). Then on your freedom days, Friday and Saturday, eat like normal during the day and in the evening choose to have bread, pasta, ice cream, or whatever you please (in moderation). By following this simple lifestyle, you can gain control over your desires to eat sweets and complex carbohydrates. Freedom days allow you to stay on the wagon because you are able to continue eating your favorite foods; you are just limiting them to a couple nights per

week. You will be encouraged by the improvement you see in approximately 6 weeks. No matter your progress, I would recommend keeping at least one freedom day per week. Also, decrease the size of your meals while increasing the frequency of your meals. By eating smaller meals more often, your body will have a steady energy source, so you won’t have the afternoon crash. In time, your body will understand that it gets fed every few hours, so it will begin to release any stored up carbohydrates thus reducing your fat cell volume. In other words, it will speed up your metabolism enabling you to lose fat. Finally, adding exercise to this style of eating will compound the results. Even if it’s just taking a walk after dinner – it will help. The information you receive from the Healthy Life section is not meant to substitute for medical advice. Before starting a new diet or exercise routine consult your doctor.

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Louder Than Words »BY CHRIS CHERP

“I Love You.” Most of us hear that phrase quite often, which is good, but it’s nice to see those words in action. I have personally experienced those words in action in my life from people I love and hold dear to my heart, as well as from those who preferred to stay anonymous. Either way, I was grateful to receive the love

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those people chose to express toward me. Since it’s February and Valentine’s Day is approaching, let’s begin showing the special ones in our lives how much we love them by doing something kind for them. I know what you’re probably thinking, I’ll buy her roses or I’ll get him that doodad he wanted from Home Depot. No, that’s not what I’m talking about. Please understand, I’m not saying there

is anything wrong with buying roses for her or purchasing a doodad from Home Depot for him. However, there is something more special you can give than a purchased gift. Sometimes by just doing the most common thing for each other, we can express our love for one another better than anything else. Well, almost anything else (diamonds for women and tools & TVs for men), but you get my point!

ing them how their day went when they get home and then actually listening to their response. By carrying out these simple tasks, you will be amazed at the loving response and atmosphere that develops in your home. Watch how the ones you love begin to shine simply because they can actually see the interest, care, and love you have for them. Please don’t limit yourself only to what I have mentioned. By all means, let your own creative juices begin to flow. I have never heard of a woman that didn’t like her feet being rubbed, being surprised with a hot bubble bath, or even receiving a nice massage. Additionally, ladies I know I can speak for most guys when I say bring on the massage and please don’t stop after only 5 minutes; put some muscle behind it and enjoy each other! It’s so important to keep romance alive in marriages especially after the family begins growing and little ones are demanding most of your time. Remember back to your wedding day, your spouse was and should still be your best friend. Doing nice things for each other will help strengthen your relationship. God blessed our lives with spouses, friends, and even neighbors, but sometimes in this crazy world we live in we can become overwhelmed with work or stresses from other areas and overlook these blessings.

This Valentine’s Day you can start a new tradition by doing things for your spouse you might not normally do. For instance, clear off the table after dinner, put up the dishes, do the laundry, or even offer to make dinner. If you don’t usually do the outside chores, you can help your spouse by cleaning the pool, taking out the trash, or mowing part of the lawn. Other ideas include calling your loved one during the day just to see how they are doing, or simply ask-

During this Valentine’s Day (and all year through), let’s not only show love for our spouses but also for our neighbors. The Lord states in Luke 10:27 to love your neighbor as yourself. You can share God’s love with your neighbors, friends, co-workers, or random strangers by doing acts of kindness (even anonymously if you care to). For example, take your neighbor’s garbage can up to their garage after it’s been emptied. Offer to lend an ear to a co-worker that might not have anyone close to them that cares. Purchase the groceries for the stranger behind you in line just to let them know that God loves them and that His love is real.

they did to me.” You’re right; I don’t, but understand that no one is perfect. By swallowing our pride and releasing all past offenses, we can walk in God’s love and live in the blessing because of it. By adjusting our attitudes slightly, humbling ourselves, and making time and effort to show those around us that we love them, we can begin to see God’s Word come to fruition. “If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving––large or small––it will be used to measure what is given back to you” (Luke 6:38, NLT). Be the more mature man or woman and love those around you. Don’t be offended if your spouse, friends, or neighbors don’t respond the way you think they should after doing something nice for them. Don’t give up. Continue doing kind things for them throughout the year.

...” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ “

God loves you and His grace is all you need to succeed at what He wants you to do. “…‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power Luke 10:27 (NIV) is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). God’s grace and love is what gives us strength to love those around us even when we really don’t want to. Start showing others the love you have for them through your actions. One final thought, “Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!” (Luke 6:31, MSG). Glory!

You might be thinking, “You don’t know my neighbor or my spouse and what Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

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Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

WRITTEN BY: AMANDA WRIGHT PHOTOS BY: TY WILLIAMSON

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him.” Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

s children of God, we are all called to do His good work. It is truly a blessing to complete an assignment God has given me, especially when it turns into several more.

Led by the Lord

Almost two years ago an invitation was given to me to attend a breakfast fundraiser for the Alpha House of Tampa, which is a place for pregnant and parenting women in crisis. I was moved and overwhelmed with compassion during this breakfast. I felt led to give a financial donation, but left that day with a tug on my heart. Weeks and months went by and the Lord kept the Alpha House on my heart and finally I realized…God was assigning me a job to do. After visiting the Alpha House for a “Lunch and Learn” and a touring of the maternity home, I was speechless. Stories were told of women who had been through the most terrifying situations a woman can imagine. Many of the young

women who endured violence and abuse by “loved ones” were only teenagers; some had even been homeless, with no where else to turn. Then I heard wonderful success stories of women who had completed Alpha’s program. I saw where these women live and how grateful they are to have a bed to sleep in, food to eat, and a clean, safe environment to call home. I witnessed how warm and caring the staff at Alpha are towards these women and how they provide not only a place to live, but also a family to love them and share their lives with.

My Assignment

The first task the Lord assigned me was to organize a diaper drive at my work with the help of a friend. One might think that it would be awkward to ask people that you work with to give, but the Lord guided my steps and we received an amazing response. We collected over $800 and an abundance of baby items that filled my SUV to the brim. We were delighted and very excited to bring the fruits of our labor

Direction to the Alpha House. As the donation room door opened, my heart leapt. We were greeted with towers upon towers of unorganized donations all over the room. I thought to myself, ”Someone needs to put this place in order so the women can actually get to the donations that are here for them!” Then I heard a small voice inside me say, ”You.” Honestly at first, I didn’t think it was possible and I wondered, ”Who would pay to renovate this space? Who has the time to do this?” Again, I heard a still small voice say, ”You.” At this point in my walk with the Lord, I was beginning to understand when He was leading me and actually talking to me. My heart was softened and receptive to the voice of the Lord. I don’t mean I heard an audible voice; it was a voice deep in my soul, it was the Lord guiding me. I left that day with a lot of ideas to work on for this project.

Showing God’s Love

In the meantime my friend and I decided it would be great to interact with the women and teach them something fun. The holidays were coming up, so the obvious choice was to teach a baking class! We took them through step by step how to bake chocolate chip cookies and brownies from scratch, and the women re-

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Amanda Wright

ally seemed to enjoy themselves. At that moment I knew God wanted me involved with this organization to show these women God’s Love through acts of kindness. The Pastor’s voice, at my sister’s church, rang in my head, ”Show God’s Love in practical ways.” I smiled and knew we were doing just that. A few weeks later we showed up again with pizza, sweets, hot chocolate, and Christmas movies. We wanted to just hang out with the women and their children and get to know them better. I decided to bring my camera that day and it dawned on me that they probably don’t have cameras to take pictures of their babies in front of the Christmas tree. Many of us take for granted simple things like having Christmas pictures of our children, but these things meant so much to these grateful women. I was blessed to witness how such small gestures of kindness can greatly affect someone’s spirit.

The Mountain

I knew God had much more in store for me at the Alpha House. So, I heeded the voice of the Lord in my heart, the unction that I had received several weeks prior while in the donation room. My assignment became the job that no one had the

time or the money to execute. I remember walking into the small space for the first time and not even being able see the floor to make out the actual size of the room. Others might have turned away from this wonderful opportunity, but my spirit cheered for the chance to magnify God in that place. Before this adventure began I asked the Lord to guide me in this assignment and to bring physical and financial help across my path. I could not complete this task on my own, but I knew that with God, all things are possible. I put my trust in Him to make it happen. The donation room at the Alpha House is a very important place for the women. This room is one of the first stops a new Alpha resident makes to gather items that she needs for herself and her child. Often times women enter the Alpha House with only the clothes on their back and must start over completely. This room is filled with women’s and children’s clothing, baby items, and other necessities that have been donated by people in the community. The residents have access to these items throughout their stay at the Alpha House. The Lord continued to move and lined up a team of wonderful volunteers that were excited to be a part of the vision God placed in my heart. Our first plan of action was to clear out the entire room down to the bare walls. To do this we needed a space to put all of the items from the room, and the Lord provided yet again. Some of our volunteers paid for a storage unit for the two months that we needed to complete the project. We worked weekend after weekend, and hour after hour sorting through the mountains of donations, organizing all of the clothes, shoes, toys, and baby items. This was the most daunting project I had ever been involved in. Each week when we came back to continue sorting through the donations, we would find yet another truck load of donations from the previous week. It seemed never ending, but I knew the best thing to do was have a great attitude and do it as unto the Lord. I was doing this work for the Alpha House, but ultimately I was being obedient to the Lord’s guidance.

Direction

Amanda Wright

Our next step was to organize a garage sale to sell the excess items that the Alpha House could not use, nor had the space to keep. The money raised would be used to purchase the supplies needed to renovate the donation room. The only day we were all available to help was not considered the best day for a garage sale. Some said, “Oh you probably won’t raise that much money,” and other discouraging words were said. However, 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV) says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” We must learn to ignore the negative voices, especially when the Lord has said that He will supply everything we need for any good work that we put our hands to. The weather forecast called for rain the day of the garage sale. Well, praise God, the rain held off and we raised hundreds of dollars for our renovation supplies. Another blessing from God happened that day; the Lord enabled us to give to a woman who was helping a friend in need. Her friend’s home burned down and absolutely nothing was salvaged. We filled the bed of her truck up with clothes, shoes, housewares, bedding, and even a mattress for next to nothing in cost. It is truly amazing to witness how the Lord will put you in the right place at the right time to not only fulfill your needs, but also fulfill the needs of others.

Abundant Blessings

Throughout this assignment, God began blessing my husband and me financially. The Lord led us to sow into the project and together with the garage sale money, we were able to purchase all of the shelving and organizational items needed for the entire project. One of our volunteers was able to get all of the paint for the project donated for free, praise the Lord! We also had hundreds of dollars worth of items donated for everything else we needed to complete the space. A volunteer found a great company that made three special scriptures into decals to place on the walls just below the ceiling. After walking into the space, your eyes are immediately drawn up toward

God’s Word. The Lord led us to choose these scriptures, as it was important to show the women at the Alpha House, not only where the blessing of this renovation came from, but also who is the One watching over them. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV) The vision of an organized space designed to inspire and motivate the women of the Alpha House came to life. When new women walk through those doors for the first time, they will read these scriptures when they just may be at their lowest place. The Lord’s presence is most certainly in the Alpha House and He wants to show them a life without suffering. This is truly a place for women to make changes in their lives and the lives of their children that will last a lifetime. The final touches of greenery, inspirational art, and other accessories were just about complete and my heart rejoiced

bringing a smile to my face. I have heard many people say that renovations never go as planned and they always take much longer than anticipated, but I don’t believe that is the case with God on your side. It all worked out in the time frame expected and the room turned out more beautiful than we all had hoped. It was my desire to do this project well, to magnify the Lord. After the response we received from the Alpha House staff and women, it was known that we had done an excellent job. I thought of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and I knew the Lord was looking down upon us saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant[s].” The whole renovation project has blessed me tremendously. The Lord confirmed in my heart that He is my supplier. I learned that if I was willing and obedient He would bless me and give me more than I needed. We can never repay Jesus for what He did for us on the cross, but we can live to serve God and continually do what pleases Him. Psalm 35:27 (NKJV) says, “Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, ‘Let the Lord be magnified who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.’”

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Direction

Amanda Wright have come into contact with are gracious and continually surprised by the kindness of complete strangers. Their smiles warm my heart and are all the thanks I need to keep going back. I am truly blessed to be a blessing.

New Lives Breakfast

Last May, I had the honor of attending the New Lives Breakfast fundraiser for the Alpha House as their volunteer speaker and table captain. Along with a friend of mine we invited as many people as we could to fill our tables with potential donors. The butterflies were turning in my stomach and the nerves were setting in as it came time to walk up to the platform and stand in front of the microphone. I had never given a speech before in front of anyone, let alone hundreds of people! The realization that I was, again, doing the Lord’s work hit me and an overwhelming sense of peace came over me. He was using me to help this organization. The Lord moved through me during my speech and helped me get through every word with grace and sincerity. The Lord is so good; I learned a week later that our tables alone raised almost $10,000 that morning for the Alpha House. Romans 8:28 says “We know that God will work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

Blessed to be a Blessing

The Lord also led me to volunteer my time to babysit for the women at the Alpha House one evening a week for six months. It gave them the opportunity to take a class offered at the Alpha House that helps them get through the painful events of their past. That experience gave me a better understanding of what these women have been through. It is hard for many of us to comprehend the terrible things these women have experienced in their lives at such a young age. They come in week after week with a positive attitude

20 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

and a determination to make a change. They want to fight for a chance at a better life and their driving force is the precious children they are carrying or already raising. Alpha illustrates to these women that they can achieve their heart’s desire and they show them how to set goals to do so. Alpha also teaches the women parenting and life skills which help them grow into successful self-sufficient families. The more time I spend at Alpha, the more I have seen spirits lifted, hopes renewed, and love in their hearts restored. Every time I leave Alpha I am making a new list of things I want to do to help. It is endless, but the amazing thing is, the women I

I’ve learned that one of the amazing things about our awesome God is that He will not only bless the work you are doing for Him, but He will simultaneously bless you in the process. My husband and I were sowing our money, time, and energy into the Alpha House and God has been blessing us ever since. The Lord has helped us pay off several debts that seemed impossible to tackle, kept our jobs safe in this time of recession, and has opened the door to an amazing future serving Him. We continually have faith in God that He will supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19, NKJV), and He does...again and again. GLORY! If you’re interested in attending this year’s free New Lives Breakfast fundraising event on May 5th, volunteering, or finding out more information about the Alpha House of Tampa, please visit their website: www.alphahouseoftampa.org or contact Cathi Hardesty at 813.875.2024.

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Salvation It’s FREE!

“Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull. Here they crucified Him, and with Him two others -one on each side and Jesus in the middle.” John 19:17-19 (NIV)

You’re not alone. In the Word of God (the Bible), God says He will never leave you nor forsake you. No matter what you’re experiencing in life now or even what you may have done in the past, God loves you and wants you to be His child so He can take care of you - forever. If you have an empty feeling that can’t be filled by anything that you’ve tried (alcohol, drugs, sex, food...) then please let me introduce you to the only thing that can fill that void, Jesus Christ. If you want to invite Jesus into your life then say this prayer out loud in faith: Father God, I come before you in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” and “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9). Father God, I believe your Word is truth and I stand on it now. Please forgive me for all my sins and unrighteousness. Today I make Jesus my Lord and Savior and I believe God raised Him from the dead, and He is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Father I ask that you fill me with your Holy Spirit to guide and teach me as I walk this earth and grow spiritually (Luke 11:13; Luke 12:12). I thank You for making a place for me in Your Kingdom, please guide me in the direction that will eternally please You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Freedom Through Christ A testimony submitted by

Sean Hughes

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Magnify

Him

Testimonies Submitted by YOU!

I pray that this testimony of God’s amazing grace in my life will be an encouragement to those who are suffering from an addiction or have been praying for a loved one battling an addiction.

rom the time I was a toddler, addiction has devastated my family. In the first three and a half years of my life, we lost three close family members. My uncle, who was in bondage to drugs and saw no way out, took his own life at just twenty-two years old. Four months later my father, who battled alcoholism, fell asleep at the wheel and was killed. Eighteen months later, my seventeen year old sister was walking down the street when a drunk driver ran off the road and killed her. I also watched the ongoing destruction that other close family members caused through their addictions. I could not understand how people who had been so affected by other people’s addictions could make the decision to use drugs and alcohol themselves. I remember feeling so irritated when they would say things like, “I wish I could stop.” I would reply, “No you don’t, or you would stop.” To say I lacked compassion and an understanding of bondage would be a serious understatement. I made a personal commitment that I would never touch drugs, and I threw myself into sports as an alternative. When I was fifteen years old, one of my baseball teammates asked me if I was going to heaven. I assured him that I was, since I thought I was a “good person.” He shared with me that we are saved by grace, through faith, and not by works, so I prayed to receive Christ as my Savior. Unfortunately, my “prayer of faith” was not preceded by a godly sorrow for my sin which would have brought about repentance leading to true salvation. I’m afraid to say that had I died during the next nine years of my life, I believe I would have been one of the many to whom Jesus will say, “I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:23, NKJV)

I kept my commitment not to touch drugs throughout high school and college, and I went on to play baseball at the University of Tampa. Due to a careerending injury, I transferred to Penn State at the end of my senior year and started working in financial services for a large company. Within one year, I was promoted to vice president, opened a new office for the company in Philadelphia, and married my college sweetheart, Jessica. I thought life just couldn’t get any better, but little did I know it was about to all fall apart. While on our honeymoon, I aggravated an old back injury from my baseball days for which my doctor prescribed an addictive narcotic painkiller (oxycodone-acetaminophen). The next month, I went to a pain management specialist who prescribed me 180 pills per month of another addictive narcotic (hydrocodone-acetaminophen). It was not long before the person who swore he would never take drugs was totally dependent upon narcotics and scared to death to admit it. I began to have panic attacks, so my doctor decided to add an anti-anxiety medication (alprazolam another very addictive substance) to the mix. I would go to work so high that I lost the respect of all my associates and clients. What used to be a very successful business was falling apart, and the panic attacks just got worse. The next month my doctor recommended I see a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with an anxiety disorder and prescribed more medication on top of the two addictive substances I was already on. The more medicine I took, the more my life fell apart, but I had become so dependent upon the drugs that I couldn’t imagine living without them. Every month it seemed that I was diagnosed with another mental illness and prescribed more drugs. By the time it was over, I had been admitted to three Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Magnify Him

Sean Hughes

different psychiatric hospitals, diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, BiPolar Disorder, Schizo-affective Disorder, and Fibromyalgia, and was taking nineteen different prescriptions every day. I had lost our business, our apartment, our cars, and all of our money. My pastor at the time advised my wife to divorce me and move on with her life, but by God’s grace she decided instead to move in with a family from our church and pray that God would somehow restore the life we once had. Like my uncle twenty-five years ago, I saw no way out, and I prayed for death every day. One day in May of 2002, my prayer was almost realized, and my family received the phone call they feared would come eventually: “You better come down to the hospital; we don’t think he’s going to make it tonight.” The nineteen different medications that I was on had a negative interaction in my brain and I went into seizures, experienced temporary blindness, and felt a deeper sense of fear than I ever knew existed. After six hours of uncontrollable seizures, I finally fell asleep. The most terrifying part of this whole experience was that I felt a deep fear that had I really died that night, I would have gone to hell. That really shook me up because for the previous nine years I had not only believed that I was saved, but I was also sharing my faith with others and even had a part time job in college as a youth pastor. The next day, I finally came to true repentance and completely surrendered my life to God in total brokenness. I almost dared Him to take the life I destroyed and turn it into something that could bring Him glory. At the time, I looked at it as rededicating my life to Christ. However, looking back on it, I believe that was the time that I truly became born again. My eyes were opened spiritually in a way they never were before, and I realized just how desperately I needed a Savior. I turned to Jesus to not only save me from the consequences of my sin, but also to save me from the power of sin in my life. It took time to cleanse my mind and body of all of those mindaltering substances, but that day God began a work in my heart and life that still continues today. My wife saw that my repentance was sincere, and though she knew I still had a long way to go, she became willing to go through it with me. We moved in with her parents in Wesley Chapel, Florida to start a new life with no money, no jobs, and no idea what God had in store for us. I began working full time as a case manager for troubled youth and was given permission to invite them to a weekly outreach that I did on my own time at a public park consisting of sports, crafts, worship music, and a Bible study. God blessed that outreach, and we had the joy of seeing many kids give their life to Jesus Christ as a result of it. The transformation that Jesus made in their young lives was unmistakable. Some of them went from skipping school every day and dealing drugs to straight ‘A’

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The Hughes Family: (from left to right) Jessica, Chaella, Josiah, Sean

students, varsity athletes, church youth group leaders, and college scholarship recipients. Years later, I still receive emails from some of them, now in college, expressing their gratitude for what God did in their life during that program. In May of 2005, the month of my three year anniversary of being in recovery, God opened up a door for me to help others struggling with addiction by working part time as an addiction counselor at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. Besides the individual counseling I performed there, I was also able to start a program teaching the entire Gospel of John, verse by verse, to every resident of the center. God’s Word never returns void, and we had the joy of seeing many men come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ through those Bible studies. In May of 2006, I left my part time position at Salvation Army to accept the part time position of Assistant Pastor at my church. That same month, God also blessed us with our first child, Josiah Sean Hughes. For a few years everything in life, work, and ministry seemed to go so smoothly. With the exception of one miscarriage (that God clearly gave us the peace and grace to get through), there really were no “trials of faith.” However, 2007 was about to change all of that. One day, after several years of working full time as a case manager and doing the outreaches to the youth, it all came to a screeching halt. The executive director brought me in for a meeting and told me that he thought the outreach that I do on my own time at the park was great, but that from now on I had to turn away any of the kids on my caseload that showed up. He also said that if anyone on my caseload shows up at my church on a Sunday morning, I had to turn them away from there as well. I told him that regardless of the consequences there was no way that I could do that, and I was terminated immediately. Within just a couple months of that, God made it very clear to us that He was calling us out of our church and that I had to resign as the Assistant Pastor, which was one of the most dif-

Magnify Him ficult things God has ever asked me to do. First of all, I still have a great love for the people of that church and I really enjoyed ministering there. Secondly, I had just lost my full time job, we had no savings, our second child, Chaella Anastasia Hughes, was due in a month, and my income as the Assistant Pastor was all we had left. From a human common sense standpoint, I could not understand what God was doing. Though I resisted it, the leading of God’s Spirit was so clear and was confirmed over and over until I had no choice but to obey Him. A couple years earlier, my wife and I had founded an addiction ministry called “Freedom Through Christ Ministries,” but working full time as a case manager and part time as an Assistant Pastor did not leave us any time for that ministry. Through much prayer, we decided to become full time servants of Jesus Christ and trust Him to provide all of our needs. Not only did we begin to work on the addiction ministry, but we also felt led to plant a church called “Freedom Through Christ Church,” which currently meets in our living room. Over the last couple of years we have run meetings in churches, recovery houses, homeless ministries, and sometimes even out in the middle of the woods where some of the homeless people live. We have hosted youth camps for other churches here in our home and backyard. We have provided individual counseling, marriage counseling, child/youth counseling, family counseling, and addiction counseling as there has been need. We have provided temporary housing here in our home for people going through homelessness and/or addiction, and have brought in one person on a long-term basis for a recovery program. It is our desire to make ourselves available to the Lord to do whatever He calls us to do.

Sean Hughes Therefore, all of our support comes from individuals who believe in what we do and are led by the Spirit of God to support us. This does wonders for our prayer life. I highly recommend it! One of the things that we believe will make our church/ministry unique will be our focus on residential (live-in) ministry. In our experience, we are able to have a much greater impact on people that we actually bring into our home to live with us than we do on people who come here for church only once a week. Look at Jesus’ Ministry; He took the twelve disciples with Him just about everywhere He went for three years. They were not only taught by Jesus and ministered to others with Jesus, but also ate, drank, slept, lived, and breathed with Jesus.

“Through much prayer, we decided to become full time servants of Jesus Christ and trust Him to provide all of our needs.”

I will admit that the last two years of serving the Lord have been far more trying than the previous three, but the reward is that it draws us closer to Jesus Christ because we are more aware of our desperate need for Him. Previously, our lives were very structured for us. I was going to wake up every morning and go to my full time job all day. Then at night, I had scheduled meetings as part of my Assistant Pastor duties. I really did not need to seek the Lord daily to see what He would have me do, but now I must seek Him every day for direction. Also, our financial life was far more structured. We knew exactly how much we were going to bring in every month, and barring some emergency, we knew we would be fine. However, that is far from the case now. We have absolutely no idea how much support we will receive every month, and we are in a position where we literally need to pray for “our daily bread.” We never charge for any ministry or counseling service we provide since the Scripture states “freely you received, freely give.” We accept donations, but realistically the majority of people that God has called us to work with (the homeless and/or addicted) cannot afford to donate anything.

As the Lord provides, we believe He is calling us to have a property on which we would not only have our church and ministries, but also have homes available for our staff and those seeking help. We believe we would also have a great variety of residential ministries, such as 12 month addiction programs for single men, single women, families, and youth; homeless mission; orphanage; battered women’s home; Bible College; and any other residential ministry that God calls us to and provides the leadership for. We appreciate any prayers of support to make this vision a reality.

As I look back at the absolute mess I made of my life, and all that God has done and will do since I surrendered my life to Him, I am amazed by His Grace. God shows no partiality towards people, and what He has done in my life, He is willing to do in anyone’s life. It is just a matter of us becoming broken enough to lay down our own life and let Jesus live His Divine life through us by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is what we call living the “exchanged life.” That is what Paul was speaking of in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “For I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” God does not ask us to live the Christian life on our own because we never could. Instead, He does a miracle. He places the Spirit of His Own Son within us, and the moment we come to the end of self and surrender the control of our life to God, it is the Spirit of Jesus Himself who begins to live in us and through us. I pray that Jesus will be glorified in and through your life! If you would like more information about Freedom Through Christ Ministries, counseling, how to get involved, how to support us, or if you just need someone to talk to or pray with, please feel free to call me or my wife, Jessica, at (813) 2353183. You can also e-mail me at seanhughes12@yahoo.com, or my wife at luvgod12@yahoo.com. Our mailing address is 8320 Quail Run Drive, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544.

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Resources

Ephesians 4:23 (NKJV) “… be renewed in the spirit of your mind”

For Your Spirit

It is vital to our spirituality that we continually renew our minds with the Word of God and meditate on His Word. Our Bibles are the most important resource we have to accomplish spiritual growth; however, we do believe in the importance of feeding our spirits with edifying books, sermons, and music that will build us up and keep Jesus Christ at the forefronts of our daily lives. Each month we will share impactful books, CDs (old and new), and even websites that are inspirational and foster stronger relationships with our Father.

Extraordinary

The Life You’re Meant to Live

John Bevere

“I see a generation comprised of all ages inclusive of men and women, awakening to the extraordinary qualities hidden within. The power to accomplish remarkable feats and live an exceptional life is not defined by an individual’s family, education, or occupation; it’s a disposition of the heart. Unless it’s suppressed, there is an innate desire to rise above the norm. I encourage you to step into the unknown, embrace the divine empowerment, and live your extraordinary life.” -- John Bevere

Find it at:

www.MessengerInternational.org HELLO

my name is

GOD

Jeremy Pearsons “This book helps us take a giant step forward in our journey toward a deeper understanding of Jesus and our true identity in Him. There is nothing more important than that.” -- Rick Renner “Prepare yourself as you journey into this book to move from knowing who God is to truly knowing God.” -- John Bevere

Find it at: www.HelloMyNameisGod.org

28 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

Find these albums at:

Focus on the Family’s

pluggedin™ online

www.TampaChristian.com

pluggedin™ online is a “publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate, and impact the culture in which they live” (About Us section, www.Pluggedin.com). The site includes reviews, articles, and discussions about TV shows, music, movies, and games.

Find it at: www.pluggedin.com

Live

Jeremy Camp www.JeremyCamp.com

CCM

Christ.Community.Music. A resourceful site that includes news, upcoming music releases, feature artists, videos, reviews on music, movies, books, and much more.

Find it at: www.ccmmagazine.com

The Outsiders

NEEDTOBREATHE www.NeedToBreathe.net

Fireproof

by Provident-Integrity www.fireproofthemovie.com Rated PG - Approx. 114 minutes Fireproof is “an action-packed love story about a firefighter, his wife, and a marriage worth rescuing! At work, inside burning buildings, Capt. Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) lives by the old firefighter’s adage: ‘Never leave your partner behind.’ At home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules. His job is to rescue others. Now Caleb has to face his toughest job ever, rescuing his wife’s heart.”

Find it at: www.TampaChristian.com

Until the Whole World Hears Casting Crowns

www.CastingCrowns.com

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

A Servant’s Heart By: Amie Cherp

s you enter Spa Moritz Salon and Spa, there is an overwhelming sense of peace that is not motivated by the serene music or dim lighting, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. You find yourself in another world. The exterior deceives what the visitor will encounter within this exquisite space. You are welcomed by a warm environment reminiscent of Rome with a classical motif. The rich brown stained concrete floors pull you in as your eyes are drawn up to the soft hue of the stone walls, columns, and the beautiful tray ceiling in the lobby. It is obvious that every interior detail was chosen with extreme care to produce an atmosphere conducive to a luxurious experience that will leave you wanting more. The interior is beautifully done, but the true treasure of Spa Moritz rests within the hearts of Dyan Piller and her staff of 31. Dyan Piller is owner and operator of Spa Moritz. She is also an Esthetician and Permanent Make-up Artist. Dyan has

30 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

been in the Beauty industry for the last 20 years. She worked 8 years for Pevonia, which is one of the largest skin care lines in the world. While at Pevonia, Dyan was mentored by Sylvie Hennessy, who is one of the most renowned individuals in professional skin care products in the world. Dyan has visited some of the most grandiose spas in the world. “A lot of what you see here [at Spa Moritz] is bits and pieces of her history in this industry,” states Dyan’s husband. Dyan’s husband, Dennis, handles public relations and marketing for Spa Moritz. They have been married for 11 years. Their interaction with each other reveals that they have been together for a long time, but they still have that “newlywed” type of love and chemistry between them.

They also enjoy working together. Dennis is very supportive of Dyan’s dream. He states, “This was her dream and so she asked if I would support her in it.” Dyan quickly adds, “I couldn’t do it without him.” They talk several times a day. Dennis reveals, “She is a relationship builder and I’m more business-minded. So, it makes for a great marriage….” It is easy to understand why Dennis refers to Dyan as “a relationship builder” because the joy and serenity of the Lord is apparent in Dyan’s gentle spirit, which immediately puts you at ease.

Services and Awards

Spa Moritz offers a wide variety of luxurious spa and salon services including: body treatments, facials and peels, massages (for couples too), manicures, pedicures,

‘09 Spa World Guide: Spa Moritz was selected to be published among the most Elite & Prestigious Spas in the US.

How It All Started

Dyan explained, at the time there wasn’t a European day spa in this area. A dream arose from Dyan’s heart for a luxurious spa where people could go and be treated like royalty. She knew they would not only give the best services, but also show their clients warmth, compassion, and sincerity. Dyan desired to create “The Perfect Experience,” a place of refuge from the hectic world where clients would feel like they don’t want to leave. With God’s help, Dyan’s dream started to take form. From the leasing of the space to the interior construction of the spa, God’s hand was upon Spa Moritz. Dyan mentioned that this was the last space left in Tampa Palms (at that time), and God enabled them to get it. Dyan and Dennis heard stories of it taking many months to build a spa, but it only took 90 days from start to completion. The amazing part was that the contractor was done right on time. Some small issues did arise during the construction process, but they were quickly worked out through the favor of God. Dyan’s dream of creating a spectacular spa was realized in September 2005 when they opened Spa Moritz.

What Makes Spa Moritz Stand Out? spray tans, professional teeth whitening, cuts, color, conditioning treatments, and much more. There is definitely something on the menu for everyone, and they offer affordable gift card packages for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. You can check out their Valentine’s Day special, My Treasure, on page 35. Spa Moritz has served more than 30,000 clients in the last four years. “Everything they do begins with having a servant’s heart, wanting to be a practical example of a Christian principled company in a secular world,” states Dennis. God’s faithfulness is shown in Spa Moritz’s several awards—Vive Magazine ‘06: #1 European Spa in Central Florida; Tampa Bay Metro Magazine ‘06, ‘07, ‘08, and ‘09: The Best European Salon & Spa in Tampa Bay; &

Dyan gets a lot of compliments on the beautiful interior, but she emphasizes that the real beauty comes from within everyone who works at Spa Moritz. Dyan and Dennis explain that they prayed for amazing technicians that would have a servant’s heart and a passion for what they do. They stood in faith for the technicians, and the Lord brought the right people in. Since Spa Moritz opened, they have retained most of their technicians and continually trust the Lord to bring in the right people. Dyan comments that people love Spa Moritz’s technicians because they have a passion for what they do. In addition, all of the staff work well together and respect one another, which makes for a very peaceful atmosphere. Spa Moritz truly desires to serve their clients with excellence, while creating a comforting environment.

What truly makes Spa Moritz different than other spas? “Dyan makes the difference,” remarks Dennis. “She has the servant’s heart; she has a kindness that is genuine that people feel. She has a calmness that could diffuse a bomb. She is accessible; she listens to everyone. She has an open-door policy.” Dyan helps those in need. These qualities are a true representation of a child of God. Wherever you find a child of God, you find the presence of the Lord. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that Spa Moritz stands out from other spas and businesses – the presence of God makes all the difference.

Blessing Missionaries

“When we opened we really wanted to bless missionaries,” remarks Dyan. “We want to bless the people that don’t expect it, and we want to give back.” Dyan feels that God has blessed them with a miracle – a platform to bless missionaries. When missionaries from their church come into town, Dyan has them come to Spa Moritz. “They are out there constantly working so hard in other countries,” explains Dyan. “They come here and we don’t ask them what they like, we just book services [for them] because they’re going to say: ‘I don’t want anything, I don’t need anything.’ That is who they are—givers. So, we just say: ‘Why don’t you change into your robe and slippers, and we’ll take care of you.’” Dyan serves the missionaries by lavishing them with a day of pampering. What a great way to give back to people who have dedicated their lives to serving the Lord abroad!

“Everything they do begins with having a servant’s heart, wanting to be a practical example of a Christian principled company in a secular world.”

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Servant’s Heart

Amie Cherp

Spa Moritz is giving back to the community as well. Dyan supports many local and national charities throughout the year. Even some of Spa Moritz’s staff donates gift certificates for their services to various charities so that they can auction them off and raise funds. Luke 6:38 reveals when we give, it will be given back to us multiplied. Dyan, Dennis, and the Spa Moritz staff will see a return on their giving. Glory to God!

Spa Moritz Perseveres

“As people are closing left and right all around us, we have just believed God to take care of us,” states Dennis. “It isn’t about religion; it’s really about having faith in God.” Spa Moritz perseveres during this economic downturn because Dyan and Dennis put God first place in their lives and their trust in Him. They have their priorities in order. Dennis and Dyan even tell their staff that “by putting God first, family second, business third, everything always works out.” In Matthew 6:33, we are told if we put God first in our lives, then He will always provide for our every need. These are the scriptures that Dyan and Dennis stand on for success in their business: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV), and “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4, NIV).

BOTTOM: View of the spa pedicure area TOP: Dyan Piller & Sheila Ayers

Spa Moritz is actually growing during this economy. Dyan remarks, “it’s just a miracle and a blessing, and to me it’s – Thank you Lord, every night.”

Spa Moritz adds 8 Shepré Stylists

“In a market where most are struggling to survive, two women join together and give glory to God for an answer to prayer,” states Dennis. In October 2009 Spa Moritz brought on all 8 stylists from Shepré Color & Hair Design. Dennis has provided the exciting story below: “Sheila Ayers was faced with a decision to either close her salon or sign another lease. Sheila owned and operated Shepré Color & Hair Design for 5 years. In 2009 Sheila’s successful salon had struggled along with so many other businesses and it was time for a new lease. Sheila prayed for God’s direction but that quiet still voice was hard to hear in the midst of a storm. She had gotten married in April, and they had been trying unsuccessfully to have a baby. Sheila didn’t have peace about signing a new lease, and her thoughts turned towards her family of 8 Color Specialists who would join the growing ranks of the

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unemployed in Tampa Bay. However, Sheila still had faith that God would provide a way for her. On that next Saturday morning, she found out she was pregnant. Sheila knew it was her answer to prayer. Sheila felt lead to approach Spa Moritz with a proposition of taking on all of her stylists and allowing her time to just focus on doing hair and growing her baby. Spa Moritz had a couple of top stylists, but had struggled in growing their salon side. Sheila’s proposal answered years of prayer. Dyan and Sheila worked out the details before Sheila approached her stylists with the choice of either going out on their own or following her to Spa Moritz. Dyan was overjoyed to welcome all 8 stylists. Isn’t that what our Lord does for us too? He offers us a choice to follow Him or go our own way. We serve a God who is moved by faith and is unmoved and untouched by the economics of the world. He has His own economy and has promised to take care of each of us as we put Him first in our lives, but it doesn’t always come in the package we envisioned. This is a perfect example of eleventh hour faith that proves God will provide a way where there is no way.” Dennis and Dyan both had peace about

Servant’s Heart their decision to bring on all 8 stylists even though they had never done anything like this before. They had known Sheila for years, but had not even met Sheila’s stylists. Sheila had made the proposition to them on a Tuesday, all the staff met together on Thursday, and all 8 of the stylists started working at Spa Moritz on the following Monday. They just knew it was from God, or as Dennis and Dyan like to say, “It was a God deal.” Sheila coming to them was an answer to prayer. Many of Shepré’s clients came

Amie Cherp

to Spa Moritz for spa services, and now everything is under one roof. So, it works out great for their clients too. God’s hand was apparent throughout the whole transition. The new stylists’ personalities fit right into Spa Moritz. Dyan comments, “Isn’t that a complete miracle.” Dyan and Dennis both feel as if they hand picked Sheila and all of her stylists. They all get along great together, and this shows the blending of their personalities and similarities. “We have so much in common because we all are professionals and we all respect one another,” says Dyan. Even Sheila’s salon furniture blended right into Spa Moritz! It is awesome how God even had the little details taken care of long before this union took place.

Advice to Christian Business Owners

“During the whole planning stages [of your business] constantly be in prayer because you are making decisions that will affect your business and your life,” says Dyan. Also, pray for the Lord to bring in the right people. Dyan remarks, “There are so many things that can go wrong if you are not walking in faith.” Dyan also advises, “Constantly have a servant’s heart, and be open and ask for direction [from the Lord]: ‘What is the next step? What would you like us to do?’”

Dyan also has some good advice for business women. A very strong and successful business woman (who also works with her husband) once told Dyan, “When you come home at night, your husband is the leader of your home.” Dyan explains, “Even though there are things that I make decisions on here, at home he is the leader. You see that there are a lot of strong business women, and when they go home they don’t switch hats and then they’re strong wives.” This causes “a lot of friction in the house because God didn’t intend it to be like that,” remarks Dyan; “the man is the head [of the family].” So, Dyan’s advice is to allow your husband to be the leader of your home as God intended (see Ephesians 5:22-24). The Lord’s presence is very apparent at Spa Moritz and in the hearts of Dyan and Dennis Piller. This is precisely what makes Spa Moritz stand out and prosper during these difficult times in Tampa Bay. I highly recommend going to Spa Moritz for one of their relaxing spa treatments or a shampoo, cut, and style, either way you will come out rejuvenated! GLORY! Spa Moritz is located at 17401 Commerce Park Blvd, Tampa Palms, Florida 33647. www.SpaMoritz.com or call 813-971-4772 for more information.

TOP: Dyan & Dennis Piller BOTTOM: View of salon area Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

14 Ways to Love Valentine’s Gift & Date Ideas

1. The Most Important Meal of the Day

You know…they say the best way to a man’s heart is through his tummy. Start this romantic day out by making your honey an adorable, tasty breakfast! Break out the heart-shaped cookie cutters or pancake molds. Then, set your hearts in the frying pan and pour the batter inside. Once it sets, you can remove the heart. Stack up different sizes and dust the plate with powered sugar. (*Hint: slice strawberries and fan them in the shape of a flower and put a raspberry in the middle for a sweet side to those cakes!)

2. Valentine’s Everyday

Why should you celebrate your love only one day a year? Try this project and your affections will bloom all year long. Find a jar that has a large enough opening to fit your hand. Decorate the outside with a love theme. Cut hearts for each day of the year (365), week (52), or month (12), out of various decorative papers. Write on each heart encouraging words, scriptures, poems, song lyrics, quotes, or notes explaining why you love them. You can even include date notes, such as “movie or restaurant of your choice,” or promises, like “make dinner for a week,” “clean the bathroom,” and

34 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

“mow the lawn.” Fold the hearts in half and drop them in the jar. Your love can pull one out of the jar every day, week, or month to make the excitement last year round.

3. Bring on the Sweets!

Want to give that special person something more unique than a box of chocolates? Try these scrumptious edible flower arrangements made of fresh fruit and chocolate at Flowers to Eat (12838 N. 56th Street, Tampa - (813) 341-2328 – www.flowerstoeat.com). They have many healthy fruit and vegetable arrangements, as well as decadently delicious chocolate dipped strawberry, apple, and banana creations. Surprise your Valentine with a bouquet that not only looks great but also tastes wonderful! Delivery in Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as well as nationwide shipping.

4. Find an Inspirational Gift Try buying your love an inspiring gift with scripture

that will be meaningful all year. Blessings Unlimited by Stephanie Cherry (Be.Blessed@ ymail.com - 813.322.3892) has art, journals, home décor items, and much more! Visit her on the web: www.Steph.BlessingsDirect.com for the complete catalogue.

You could also surprise her with a handcrafted, one of a kind, “Heart with a Message” (www.Heartspirations.com). Within each heart, you can hide a picture, scripture, prayer, or promise in the secret pocket of the pendant that will be specially designed for your lady. These unique pieces of jewelry will be sure to steal her heart! Contact theheartlady@heartspirations.com for more information.

5. Picnic… Inside

Try this romantic twist on an evening picnic for two. Instead of finding an outdoor location, transform your living room into an unforgettable “park” for your loved one! Stick glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, light several small votives, and string up white Christmas lights for a twinkling night. Lay out a few comfy blankets on the floor, and set up your picnic basket full of their favorites. Then relax, eat, and enjoy each other under the stars!

6. Puppy Love!

Bring home a cuddly addition to your family, a little puppy! Tampa Bay Australian Labradoodles (tbalusa@gmail.com – www. tampabaylabradoodles.com) breeds miniatures, mediums, and standard size dogs that are non-shedding & allergy friendly.

7. Tokens of Love

Make a coupon book for your mate full of kind acts that you are ready to perform. You’ll need some card stock or construction paper. Type your messages and print them out, or hand write them for a personal touch. Decorate each coupon with glitter, stickers, and other embellishments. Cut them to the size of a coupon and hole punch the end. Thread a pretty ribbon through the hole to tie them together.

8. Love Letters

Buy a blank card, make your own card out of card stock, or purchase some nice stationery to hand write a special note to your spouse. Spray a touch of your perfume or cologne on the card or stationery and mail it out. For a great surprise, mail the special note to their office or leave it in a place they will be sure to find it.

10. Send Thoughtful Flowers

Find that perfect arrangement that will touch her heart at Carrollwood Florist (11707 N. Dale Mabry Hwy – 813.962.1917 – www.carrollwoodflorist.com ). New customers receive $5 off on their first order and if you place your order by February 5th, receive $10 off.

11. Bake with Love

Get those heart-shaped cookie cutters out again and bake their favorite cookies or brownies for a special treat. Instead of spooning out the cookie batter, spread it in an 11x13 pan to bake. Once it cools, use the heart cutter to make individual cookies or brownies. You can also roll out the cookie dough and cut the hearts prior to baking. After baking, wrap them up in decorative cellophane and tie a ribbon at the top.

12. Get Crafty

Buy an unfinished wood or craft box and paint it white, pink, or red. Line the inside with velvet and lace. Paint an inscription inside the lid to your sweetheart. Embellish the top by gluing on ribbons, gems, silk flower petals, or painted wooden hearts. Use for a unique gift box or fill it with her favorite candy.

Or get that special someone a “My Treasure” Valentine’s Day Gift Certificate, which includes: Facial or Back Neck Shoulder Massage ($45 Value); your choice of Strawberry Pedicure, AntiAging Manicure, Hair Cut or Conditioning Treatment ($58 Value); and a Spa Moritz Boutique Gift Certificate ($10 Value) for only $90.

13. Romantic Meal for Two

Instead of fighting the crowds this year, cook at home and your sweetheart will be sure to appreciate your efforts. To make it even more special dress up as if you were going out. Put some beautiful linen over the table and light a few candles. Place your best plates and glasses out, and sprinkle red and pink rose petals all over the table. Check out page 37 for a delicious recipe of Chicken Marsala with pasta.

14. Enjoy a Spa Day Together

9. Seek out a Special Gift Certificate

Pamper your sweetie with a gift certificate to Facial Accents Boutique by Leanne Carter (15241 Amberly Drive, Tampa – 813.979.9893), where she can experience a relaxing facial or buy her favorite skin care products and mineral make-up. Leanne will lovingly bring out her natural beauty.

At Spa Moritz (17401 Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms – 813.971.4772 – www.SpaMoritz.com)

Try a Couple’s Swedish Massage ($168), indulge in a Chocolate Pedicure ($58), which includes chocolate soak, cuticle treatment, buff, file and shape; followed by a chocolate scrub, chocolate mask, and a massage with chocolate oil and lotion for your legs and feet!

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Recipes Sweet Shares!

Semi-Homemade

Chocolate Cupcakes adapted from Betty Crocker® Submitted by Cira Ruggiero, Tampa

Ingredients: 1 box German chocolate cake mix 1 1/3 cups water 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 (14oz) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (16 oz) jar fudge topping (not chocolate syrup) 1 (12 oz) container fluffy vanilla icing or 1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping

Directions: 1. Pre-heat oven to 350° 2. Combine the cake mixture with water, eggs, and oil according to the box directions 3. Put decorative cupcake liners in tins 4. Fill cupcake liners to about 3/4 full 5. Bake 17-22 minutes 6. Let cool COMPLETELY 7. Poke 3 holes in each cupcake using the end of a small wooden spoon 8. Pour sweetened condensed milk in each cupcake and let absorb; repeat as necessary 9. Microwave fudge topping for one minute 10. Pour fudge into each cupcake and let absorb; repeat as necessary 11. Add topping to each cupcake and decorate

For Valentine’s Day use red food coloring to make the white topping pink or red. Buy alphabet cookies or Sweethearts® Conversation Hearts to add a personal note on the cupcakes or just add Valentine-themed sprinkles.

36 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

Chicken Marsala Submitted by Jim DiMillo, Tampa

Ingredients: Main dish: 1 egg 1/4 cup all purpose flour 1 lb chicken tenderloins 1/2 stick of butter 1/2 of 8 oz package of pre-sliced mushrooms 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/3 of a bottle of Taylor Sweet Marsala Wine 1/2 cup water 1 tablespoon all purpose flour Side: 1/2 package spaghetti noodles (about 6 oz) 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup fresh parsley 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

If you have a recipe you’d like to share, go to www.OverflowMag.com to contact us.

Directions: 1. Set out 2 small mixing bowls; beat egg in one bowl and add 1/4 cup flour to the other 2. Dip the chicken in egg and then flour, set aside 3. In a smaller frying pan melt 2 tablespoons of butter 4. Add mushrooms and garlic to the pan with a 1/8 cup of wine 5. Sauté mushrooms until soft, place on another burner on low heat 6. In a larger frying pan melt 2 tablespoons of butter 7. Boil water for noodles 8. Brown chicken in pan with a 1/8 cup of wine – turn after 8 mins. and add another 1/8 cup of wine until cooked through 9. Boil noodles according to package directions 10. Remove chicken to plate and cover 11. In a separate cup, mix 1 tablespoon flour and 1/2 cup of cold water 12. Add another 1/4 cup of wine to pan 13. Slowly add a little flour-water mixture and continually stir until it gets thicker (will not need the whole mixture – this takes just a couple of minutes) 14. Pour the mushrooms and marsala sauce over chicken 15. Drain noodles and put back in pot 16. Pour extra virgin olive oil over noodles 17. Sprinkle fresh parsley, Italian seasoning, and grated parmesan cheese 18. Toss and serve

Happily Ever After Beyond Fairy Tales

>>BY TOMMY BURRUS

remember the first Valentine’s card I bought my wife. We were not dating yet. The card said, “You need me…You may not know it yet, but you do.” Ironically, it wasn’t until I asked someone else out that she got interested in me. She later told me that I had grown on her. O, the eloquence of young love! After seventeen years of marriage, we still are devoted to one another and still laugh about the unique way that God brought us together. Every year, February 7-14 is designated National Marriage Week. This is a time to take a good look at where we are in our marriages and what can be done to improve our marriage relationships. Taking stock of our marriages will help us renew our commitment to our spouse and family as well as to ourselves. When we seek our mate’s best interests, we enhance our own well-being. As

38 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

Ephesians 5:28 (NIV) says, “…He who loves his wife loves himself.” Marriage plays an important role in our society and offers many benefits. Research suggests that married people enjoy better physical and mental health and more satisfying love lives. In addition, married people earn more money, and the children of married couples are more likely to be safe and successful. We should not be surprised that God’s way works best. Marriage is a gift God has given humanity to allow us to find fulfillment and support. God created Adam in His own likeness. Adam was unique among God’s creations, but he was alone. Genesis 2:18 (TLB) says,

“And the Lord God said, ‘It isn’t good for man to be alone; I will make a companion for him, a helper suited to his needs.’” God designed marriage for our benefit. The Lord joins us together in a way that allows our similarities to make us compatible and our differences to be complimentary to one another. The marriage relationship is most satisfying when the couple exists in harmony with one another. In Matthew 19, Jesus explained that God joins a husband and wife together as

flies, the weak knees, and the sweaty palms. We find ourselves missing that special person and longing for their presence. Over time, those chemical fireworks are less intense than in the stage of infatuation, allowing the relationship to bridge the way to intimacy and commitment. The fantasy of fairy tales does not prepare us for the reality of marriage. Fairy tales end with the marriage of the prince and the princess as they ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after. By that point, all adversaries and challenges have been conquered, and the words happily ever after summarize their entire married life. Happily ever after does not have to be fantasy; it can be the reality of marriage with God’s help. The best way for us to achieve lasting love is to make use of the owner’s manual for love and marriage, God’s Word. The Bible declares that “God is Love” (1 John 4:8). He is the essence of love. We frequently hear people refer to 1 Corinthians 13 as the “Love Chapter.” In the description of the characteristics of love, we see a reflection of God.

one flesh and no one should work to divide what God has joined together. It is not just a legal or emotional union, but a vital spiritual bond. This can be complicated in a society that values independence, but those who yield themselves completely to one another enjoy a rich and rewarding relationship. We can reclaim that marriage bond knowing that God can heal and restore that unity. New love is accompanied by a rush of chemicals in the brain that produces the fireworks, the butter-

Healthy love values honesty, loyalty, trust, open communication, demonstration, commitment, selflessness, forgiveness, kindness, and mutual respect. Love sacrifices to serve and seeks the benefit of its object. Love does not envy, boast, bow up, or misbehave. Love sees the flaws, but puts a spotlight on the best qualities of its object. Love finds fulfillment in two people working in harmony as one flesh. God wants us to value, respect, and honor one another in the marriage relationship. In 1 Corinthians 7:3 (NKJV), the Bible says, “Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.” We were created

in God’s image, and marriage gives us a means to reflect the qualities of God toward our spouse. In fact, in Ephesians 5:25-33 the relationship between a husband and wife is compared to the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church. Marriage is intended to enhance our best qualities and provide a help-mate to compensate for our areas of weakness so that we can grow together even in the challenges we face. Even those who have a stable and healthy relationship would do well to give extra attention to it, especially in these times. Don’t underestimate how a little romance will stir the embers of hearth and home. No matter how tight your budget may be, the investment you make in your marriage now will continue to pay dividends for years to come. Candlelit dinners, flowers, and/or a walk on the shore can be inexpensive but still valuable in strengthening that relationship. Tap into your inner poet or write a love letter to your spouse. Find a creative way to serve your spouse in a way that appeals to their five senses. Whatever the state of your relationship, it can be improved and enhanced. Look for ways to compliment your mate every day. Speak kindly to and about your spouse. Go out of your way to do things for them without being prompted. Biblical love is selfless and giving. Looking back, I realize now the sage wisdom of that Valentine’s Day card. My wife and I needed each other to be the people God created us to be, and I hope we never quit “growing” on one another as we live happily ever after. Glory!

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Rock

Scriptures I stand on to overcome

Psalm 37:4 (NIV) “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” “Even in my darkest moments, I have learned that trusting (delighting in) God is the key to my happiness and success. Being self employed is a tough road without tapping into the insight and direction of the Holy Spirit. He knows what I need even when I want something else. My business continues to thrive in this difficult economy and with every knock, a new door opens. When I fully surrender to His will He provides in ways that I could not have dreamed. With God, all things ARE possible!”

40 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

James 1:12 (NIV) “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” “This has been my life verse. It’s what I have leaned on for so many years. Throughout all life’s trials, I always come back to this verse while on my knees crying out to God to just help me get through whatever is coming my way (from family business trials, to family issues, to all around life problems). The words in this passage mean so much to me and my heart; I don’t know what I would do without them, and most of all without the GRACE, LOVE, FORGIVENESS, & MERCY that God has lavished upon me! Nothing compares to OUR GOD!”

Rock

Scriptures I stand on to overcome

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) â&#x20AC;?For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.â&#x20AC;? Several years ago we faced extreme financial difficulties and everything we tried doing to change the situation failed. The harder we worked, the deeper we sank. We did not understand why this was happening to us. At some point, we just had to give everything to God and take comfort in knowing that He was going to deliver us. It took time, but in the end God knew the plans He had for us. The great result of this situation is that my wife only needs to work parttime and now is able to home school all of our children. We had always wanted to home school, but never were able to because my wife had to work so many hours. Putting our faith in God has taken the burden off of us and allowed our family to be closer to Him than ever before.

Contributors Inspired work from your neighbors

Ribbons from Heaven By David “Moose” Johnson Children wonder And spirits sing; God-like images In everything. Tingaling raindrops On glass-like sea, Birds of peace Soaring free. New life brought On downy soft, Love-birds cuddle high aloft. Promised word sent In sun-shower mist A glory of its own; A heavenly gift. Aurora Borealis In colorful display, Likened to Angels Quietly at play. Ribbons from heaven In splendorous array, Imagery of color Of a dawn’s new day. If you have an original work (poem, article, graphic art, etc.) you would like the chance to share with Tampa Bay, send it to us at:

Contact@OverflowMag.com

Events February 4-15

6, 13, 20, 27

7, 14, 21, 28

11am - 12pm

44 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

The Main Event at The River at Tampa Bay Church

with Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne 3738 River International Drive Tampa, 33610 813-971-9999 www.Revival.com

Red Heart Society Luncheon

A faith-based women’s organization Speaker: Susan Eaves; Film: “God Provides” 5th: 720 Dew Bloom Rd., Brandon 25th: Empress Tea Room 6810 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa Lunch/Registration: $8 Contact: TheHeartLady@Heartspirations.com

Gaither Vocal Band with Mark Lowry

3pm

Fri. 7pm - 9pm, Sat. 9am - 3:30pm

5, 25

Historic Ybor City - Centennial Park Corner of 8th Ave. & 19th St.

Lakeland Center 701 W. Lime St., Lakeland, 33815 863-834-8100

Leadership Rocks Student Conference

Speakers: Brent Crowe & David Nasser Band: Glory Revealed Bell Shoals Baptist Church 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. Brandon, 33511

Ybor City Saturday Market 9am - 3pm

Open 9am daily

Land O’ Lakes Community Center 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

9am - 2pm

Florida State Fair

Florida State Fair Grounds Off of I-4, 7 miles east of Tampa

Land O’ Lakes Saturday Market

9:30am

7, 17, 21, 28

Gospel Concert Series

Agape Baptist Church 39735 Chancey Rd., Zephyrhills 813-788-3330 7th: Rivoli Revue - 5pm 17th: Open Mic Night - 5pm 17th: One Nation Under God - 7pm 21st: Pure Heart - 5pm 28th: Great Day - 5pm

Valentine’s Day 2010 Luncheon with guest speaker Lysa TerKeurst

Sponsored by Window Genie & Island Computer Services Copperstone Building 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Ste. 108 Call Toni at 813-629-8230 *Come out to network & bring a new item to donate to their baby room

Presented by: Life Impact Network A La Carte Event Pavilion 4050 Dana Shores Dr., Tampa 33634 813-931-1804

11am

The David Crowder Band Concert First Baptist Church of Oviedo 45 W. Broadway St., Oviedo, 32765 407-365-3484

5:30pm - 7:30pm

15-21

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe Presented by: Eckerd Theater Co. Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 N. McMullen Booth Rd. Clearwater, 33759 727-791-7400

Mon. - Thur. 3pm - 11pm, Fri. 3pm - 12am, Sat. 10am - 12am, Sun. 12pm - 7pm

13th: 2pm, 4pm, 6pm; 20th: 10am, 12pm, 2pm

Hope for Hearts: A CHD Benefit Concert for the Children’s Heart Foundation Family of Christ Lutheran Church 16190 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, 33647

Come Alive Tour: Mark Schultz with Josh Wilson

First Baptist Church of Ocala 2801 Southeast Maricamp Rd., Ocala 34471 352-629-5683

7:30pm

5pm - 8pm If you would like to add an upcoming event to our calendar, please submit the event name, date(s), time(s), and a short description of the event to: contact@overflowmag.com or call us at 813-915-6700

63rd Annual Pasco County Fair

Pasco County Fair Grounds 36722 State Road 52, Dade City, 33525 352-567-6678

7pm

13, 20

Oasis Pregnancy Care Center Fundraiser

Idlewild Baptist Church off of Van Dyke Road, Lutz 813-264-1515 7:30pm

Victory Church 1401 Griffin Rd., Lakeland, 33810 863-859-6000

6:30pm

since 1999

Water Purification Systems For Home and Business Sales - Installation - Service Licensed and Insured Residential Financing and Commercial Leasing Available

For more information Terry Slovak terryslovak@tampabay.rr.com

813-996-5515

FREE

Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System CALL FOR DETAILS

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope

Events March 4-14 6

6, 7

Florida Strawberry Festival

303 N. Lemon St., Plant City Suite Caroline Concert, 1pm *Kids get in FREE on the 6th Switchfoot/One Republic Concert, 3:30 pm Michael W. Smith Concert, 7:30 pm

6, 13, 20, 27

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound Concert Countryside Christian Center 1850 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater 727-799-1618

Victory Church 1401 Griffin Rd., Lakeland 33810 863-859-6000

6:30pm

7, 14, 21, 28

The Main Event at The River at Tampa Bay Church

Heritage Village 11909 125th St. North, Largo

with Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne 3738 River International Drive Tampa, 33610 813-971-9999 www.Revival.com

9am - 1pm

9:30am

9am - 2pm

6, 13, 20, 27

Historic Ybor City - Centennial Park Corner of 8th Ave. & 19th St.

3pm

WELCA’s Spring Bazaar Atonement Lutheran Church 29617 SR 54, Wesley Chapel 813-388-6501

Ybor City Saturday Market 9am - 3pm

Sat. 9am - 6pm, Sun. 10am - 5pm

Land O’ Lakes Community Center 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

9am - 2pm

Gasparilla Festival of Arts Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park Downtown Tampa

Land O’ Lakes Saturday Market

Pinellas County Market in the Park

46 OverflowMag.com Feb 2010

13-14

Tampa Bay Area Family Expo Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall Off of I-4, 7 miles east of Tampa

by The Lions Eye Institute Foundation Centennial Park - Ybor City 1800 18th St. Tampa, 33605 www.active.com

Sat. 10am - 8pm, Sun. 11am - 6pm

Jeremy Camp Concert

First Baptist Church of Ocala 2801 Southeast Maricamp Rd. 352-629-5683

1 mile & 5K - 6am

Chasco Fiesta - Sims Park Amphitheater 6341 Bank St., New Port Richey

7:30pm

Victory Church 1401 Griffin Rd., Lakeland 33810 863-859-6000

6:30pm

The Little Engine That Could

by the Omaha Theater Company Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater

7:30pm

9th Annual Race for Sight

12pm

Until the Whole World Hears Tour: Casting Crowns & Kutless Calvary Assembly of God 1199 Clay St., Winter Park, 32789 407-644-1199

7pm

Disney Live! Rockin’ Road Show with Mickey & Disney Friends



Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater 727-791-7400

12pm, 3pm, & 6pm

20, 21

AirFest 2010

MacDill Air Force Base - Tampa www.macdill-airfest.com

9am - 5pm

26-28

Sonfest Winterfest 2010

Christian Event for Teenagers Featuring: Leeland, Phil Stacey, Matt Price and others Hilton Hotel 6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando 865-428-5787

Feb 2010 Love+Faith+Hope