Ppw spring 2016 issue by S V Promoting Purpose

P P

Promoting Purpose

WOMEN SHE BELIEVED GOD COULD

FALL INTO SPRING

ARE YOU

READY TO LIVE A FIERCE LIFE? SHEKINA FARR MOORE ON BEING FIERCE AND HOW SHE’S EMPOWERING OTHERS…

ALSO PROPHETESS

BRITNEY BAKER

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO LIVE A BALANCED LIFE She Opens Her Mouth With Wisdom, And The Teaching Of Kindness Is On Her Tongue PROVERBS 31:26

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She opened her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31:26)

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CELEBRATING WOMEN OF GOD WALKING IN THEIR PURPOSE

UNAPOLOGETICALLY She believed God Could … And So He Did

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For we walk by faith, not b y sight. 2 Corinthian 5:7 NKJ 5

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

CONTENTS

2016

SPRING 10 MAINTAINING A BALANCED LIFE |Saviela Edwards Thorne

15 BRITNEY BAKER: DAUGHTER OF THE KING

19 SHEKINA FARR MOORE: FIERCE AND FABULOUS

23 STOP STARTING, START FINISHING | Sharnikya Howard

Credit: CPURPOSE edric Pitts of Blacktie6 Photography SPRING 2016Photo | PROMOTING WOMEN

Promoting Purpose

WOMEN

EDITER IN CHIEF Sherrell Straker-Valdezloqui CONTENT EDITOR Tiff’s Editing Café GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT Sherrell Straker-Valdezloqui WEBSITE ADDRESS www.promotingpurposewomen.com WRITERS Saviela Edwards Thorne Sherrell Straker-Valdezloqui Sharnikya Howard COVER PHOTO CREDIT Cedric Pitts

SHE BELIEVED GOD COULD…

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A WOMAN WALKING BY FAITH DOES THINGS AGAINST IMPOSSIBLE ODDS.

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

MAINTAINING A BALANCED LIFE We live in a hectic and sometimes chaotic world. Everything seems rushed and it feels as if time is limited. It's easy to allow the activities of our everyday lives to control us and bring havoc to an already hectic life. This is why it's vital to stop and reevaluate what we are doing in order to create a stable and balanced life not only for us but for our love ones as well. It's important for us to find peace in a stressful environment. Below are a few ways to help balance our lives daily:

This father observed another father doing the same thing however he was completely consumed with other things to the point where his child had to act out to get his attention. How many of us have dealt with this same thing? We can't enjoy a nice meal with our family without checking our phone every 5 seconds. Or have a meaningful conversation without being interrupted by a phone call. We are missing out on what really matters, our relationships. Learn to limit your time on devices. Create a no phone zone in your home. Learn to appreciate real genuine quality time uninterrupted.

Get Organized A great way to stay ahead of the game is through organization. When we take the time to plan out our day it tends to run a little more smoothly even if everything does not go as planned. Having a schedule eliminates missed appointments and forgetting important dates.

Learn to shut down Social media is our ultimate means of communication. We are constantly checking our phones and iPads to get the latest information. I recently read an article about a man who was enjoying breakfast with his daughter.

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

There are phone applications designed for helping you keep up with your busy schedule. Checklists are another way to stay organized and it also helps you feel accomplished, when you're able to check things off your list. A fun way to keep your family organized is to have a chalkboard or a dry erase board in your home where the children can see their chores or tasks they need to complete. Reward them for accomplishing a task with a treat or a few extra minutes of playtime. Organization is the key to success.

Maintain structure In order to have a balanced life, there needs to be structure. The definition of structure is to construct or arrange according to a plan; give a pattern or organization to. Ask yourself, what is most important to you? Let those things take priority over everything else. Evaluate your time and schedule prior to accepting tasks and projects. It helps to have a consistent pattern to your days. There will be times were you may have to say no in order not to bring on too much stress in your life. Understanding the importance of priority will help you stay focused and structure your time well.

Listen to your body. Treasure your temple (body) by taking good care of it. Take time off from work to just relax and regroup. Enjoy a vacation with your family to disconnect from the everyday grind. We often think that things will not go right if we aren't there to do it ourselves but the truth is, it will function with or without you. God has blessed us with the life we have and he let's us know what he wants for us. "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" – 3rd John 1:2 KJV. Being able to live a balanced life is a blessing. It takes effort and consistency to ensure one area doesn’t lack. Value yourself and your relationships and you will learn to appreciate your life much more. Take time to enjoy the life God has blessed you with. We will always have chaos but chaos does not have to have us. You have the power to control your life. Take charge and Enjoy! By: Saviela Edwards Thorne

Relax I had to learn how to relax the hard way when my body decided to shut down on me. Your body will give you signals to let you know when you need to take a break and relax. 11

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

Britney Baker

DAUGHTER OF THE KING

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

Britney Baker: Britney Baker is a woman that is the epitome of what society would consider a “church girl.” she was born into a family of preachers and pastors including her parents. However, she figured out a long time ago that just being a church girl wasn’t good enough and was not fulfilling to her personal destiny and relationship with God. she had to overcome a lot just to find her identity. "I overcame bad relationships, my father’s (whom I was really close with) death, was admitted in the mental institution, and countless rejections from diverse places. All of that just to find out I was a woman with a strong prophetic gift, beautiful relationship with God, confident, creative, business savvy and possessed an unstoppable will power." she says Britney is called to the office of a prophetess in which she says she was not confident in at first. "I begin to have dreams that would come to pass immediately but never said anything. I remember dancing at a function my grandmother hosted and I remember she yelled, “Dance Prophetess!” I almost stopped in the middle of my dance and I heard God say, You are my prophet that I called! Then my mom which is my Leader sat me down and said God told me to license you as one of the first prophets in the house and God has been molding me ever since!

DAUGHTER OF THE KING

Britney admits that being a prophetess can be a lonely walk. "God will separate you from friends, associates and even family members consistently just so you can stay in a clear place to hear His voice," she said. "As a prophet God won’t allow people to get common with you because you are His mouthpiece in the earth. Sometimes when people can’t get common with you they will make up things about you which has constantly kept me on my knees in prayer. As a woman I am not accepted in every environment because unfortunately male dominance exist in certain parts of the church arena, but I have become confident in knowing that as long as God called and accepts me that is good enough."

“God is the fixer of our mess.”

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

Britney Baker:

DAUGHTER OF THE KING

PPW: Often times as women we want to present ourselves in a way as though we have it together. What would you say to our readers who feel as though they have to fix themselves up prior to going to God for a life-changing experience? Britney: RUN from that idea! God is the fixer of our mess! He waits with open arms for us to bring all our flaws to Him. There is nothing wrong with confidence. However, never bury your downfalls because the word of God even declares that we are overcome by our testimony and your downfall just might help the silent woman that is going through next to you. PPW: As women we often times have a lot on our plates and in our mind. What do you do to clear your mind when it seems as though it’s beginning to get cluttered in order to focus and clearly hear from God? Britney: I will go in my room, shut the world out, put my earphones in and listen to worship music. It works every time and God instructs on how to manage the clutter in that quiet time

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Shekina Farr Moore FIERCE AND FABULOUS

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

Shekina Farr Moore Shekina Farr Moore is best described as Fierce, Beautiful, and Ambitious. When we first laid eyes on Shekina Moore, she was doing what she does best, and that's running on FIERCE MODE. For those who may not know Shekina her ambitious ways did not come over night. Shekina tells us that fierce and ambitious wasn't an easy grasp for her. In fact before her fierce kicked in she was Broken, hard-headed, disappointed, angry and stuck. She was at rock bottom feeling isolated with no inner-circle, no familiarity and no hope. “I was in a new city with a new baby with new weight. It was so cloudy I almost forgot who I was…until I opened the Word of God and reminded myself who I was and whose I was. It was then that I realized that I had the power to command in my life whatever I desired and the grit to work for it. I, soon after, signed up for a Women’s Conference called WEN that totally changed the game and showed me I was not alone—I had a real, transparent breakthrough! That’s when I DECIDED to be fierce and I haven’t looked back.”

She feels so strongly about this word, that she founded the FIERCE GIRL EMPOWERMENT MOVEMENT. Shekina wants all women to know that no matter how blah your past has been you can lead a fierce life. It all starts with one decision. So what makes a woman fierce and how can she live a fierce life? Moore didn’t hesitate to answer. “Great question! I offer action steps in detail when referring to this question in my book, Blah to Fierce. A fierce woman chooses daily to be courageous enough to own her purpose. How? Simply by choosing daily. I often find that when we take things one day at a time, we look up and before we even realize it, we’ve accomplished our goals. It is how I accomplish every major goal, daily.” She continues, "Leading a fierce life is a mandate. It shows up when you allow yourself freedom to make mistakes but learn from them and grow," she said. "It’s the antithesis of perfection. It’s living unapologetically, authentically, abundantly and on purpose."

Moore describes FIERCE as owning your power, which can only come in knowing who you are and remembering not to apologize for it.

“A woman’s greatest competitor should always be herself.”

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Shekina Farr Moore : FIERCE AND FABULOUS It must be noted that Shekina is very passionate about helping women understand their worth and gain their self-esteem. A powerful lesson Shekina has learned about embracing her worth is knowing and understanding that her worth doesn’t lie in her cute shape, social status or even her network, but her willingness to live out her life’s purpose so that other women and girls will catch fire and live out theirs.” She goes on to say “A woman’s greatest competitor should always be herself. The question is are you doing better this month, this year, this season than you were last month, last year, last season? Comparing ourselves to others is pointless. No two women have the same journey and the variables will always change. Improve you.”

Shekina also helps girls tap into their leadership capacity by teaching them the importance of positive esteem and body image. “Positive esteem and body image keeps girls from “playing small”. It’s difficult to accept yourself as a leader when you hold on to crippling insecurities. Those insecurities usually show up as high self-image cloaked in low self-worth. Young women and girls must know who they are and that they are not only capable, but worthy to dine at the table. Otherwise, they will settle and talk themselves out of quality opportunities, positions, credentials, qualifications and even relationships.” She says

A typical day for Shekina starts off like most moms she tells us. “I get my kids ready for school, I make meals and I love on my family. But I have a calling to empower one million girls with healthy esteem and I spend a great deal of time immersed in my passion. Whether writing a girls empowerment article, coaching a client, hosting a training call or planning an event, I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I used to try to balance my time but I can’t balance something I don’t control. So, I instead live my life! Sometimes I am in full force and other times I am kicked up in my PJs sipping tea at 2pm. I am having a ball living each day like it’s golden.”

year. . “Our Annual AuthenticiTEA is coming up in April 23. We will have tea, crumpets and conversations around modeling healthy esteem for girls. Our B2F Girls! Roundtable for women will be amazing and the Tween Star Awards (3rd Annual) is heading to Hampton, VA! We have planned an amazing cruise retreat for women who empower girls and we are heading to Bermuda! People leave our events empowered, emboldened and inspired to be more and do more for themselves, their community and girls.” Says Shekina By: Sherrell Straker- Valdezloqui

Moore is very busy this year, she’s either a keynote speaker for a conference or hosting her own. She tells us what she has plan for this

SPRING 2016 | PROMOTING PURPOSE WOMEN

STOP STARTING, START FINISHING

it kept me from focusing on a specific task and doing that one task well, seeing it through to completion. I’ve found the ability to focus to be a lot more beneficial. This means limiting distractions and context switching so that we are more inclined to finish the things we start, accomplish the goals set forth, etc. So how do we limit distractions?

1. Identify Your Main Distraction

3 Ways to Limit Distractions Stop starting, start finishing! This is a principal used heavily in the world of software development, particularly when discussing agile velocity; but this can be applied to our daily lives. Multi-tasking tends to dilute focus, and when we do so, we neglect opportunities to do one thing more effectively and efficiently. I used to see multi-tasking as a skill but later in life I found it to be much more of a distraction as 23

Identify your main distractions – Over the next few weeks, note what stops you in your tracks as you’re trying to focus. Pay attention to the thoughts, people, phone apps, social media platforms, calls, feelings, etc. that thwart your progress and when it happens, write it down. In doing so, you will be able to better identify your weaknesses and largest distractions. While this is often the most difficult step because we don’t like to admit that certain things are keeping us from focusing on our goals; it is necessary because if we aren’t able to call something out as a distraction, there is no way we will be able to get rid of it.

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STOP STARTING, START FINISHING

2. Start Slowly

Start slowly – Once the main distractions have been identified, choose one or two and begin working to eliminate. It’s important to adopt small changes that you can commit to initially and gradually increase over time as opposed to going ‘all in’ only for a short period.

Set Boundaries

Set boundaries- Your space can only be invaded if you allow it. Be willing to set boundaries for yourself and others as necessary to get rid of distractions. This may mean saying ‘no’ a lot more, disabling apps on your phone, being less social, etc. For example, If you find that every time you start to read the bible or devotional, spend time with your family, work on a business plan, etc. you get an urge to pick up your phone to check for text messages, it might be a good idea to set your phone to ‘do not disturb’ for periods of the day so that you can better focus. (Galatians 6:4) “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else” (NLT). The ultimate goal is to be good stewards of the time we are given. Limiting distractions is a sure fire way to ensure that we are making the best use of our time.

Article by: Sharnikya Howard

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