Volume 3 Issue 2
WALKING IT OUT WITH PASTOR TAB Supernatural Faith SALTYMAGAZINE.COM
“So faith comes from hearing, and
hearing through the word of Christ.�
Romans 10:17
Volume 3 Issue 2
In This Issue SEASONED COLUMNS 10 Truth by Rochelle Sibucao 11 Beauty by Dayra Galarza 13
Purity by Ryan Galloway
FEATURED SALT 15
Introducing a Supernatural God by Taylor Duckett
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Supernatural Love by Veonne Lightburn
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Setbacks Produce My Comeback by LaBridgette Williams
QUICK TASTE (EXTRAS)
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SALTY Up Close Tray Herndon by Jenelle Campos
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Walking It Out with Pastor Tab by Sabrina Singleton
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SALTY Up Close Tray Herndon by Veonne Lightburn
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SALTY Up Close Heather Lindsey by Eboni K. McKenzie
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“Why I changed my high dating standards” by Justin Cox http://saltymag.tv/ And much more!
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Volume 3 Issue 2
Feed Your Faith You are not of this world. If you embraced the exchange of your sin for Christ’s righteousness, then you are no longer an earthling. You are an alien of this world, and a citizen of heaven carrying out God’s pleasures on the earth -- so act like it. While reading Trip Lee’s book, I was refreshed by his definition of “The Good Life” being nothing more and nothing less than “living by faith in a good God.” In one paragraph, he paints the image of a parent being bossed around by their toddler being similar to a believer being dominated by the perverted sway of this world. In both cases, there should be a righteous anger that gets stirred in us, because we know something is wrong with the picture. The parent is the one who should be in control, and the believer the one who has triumphed in Christ. As disciples, it’s embarassing when we neglect the authority of the Word or starve our faith, and instead allow the world to feed our fears. We become entangled in civilian affairs and lose sight of the battle plan, instead of . “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). The laws of physics are only a suggestion for you, and the systems of this world a guide to help you find the road less traveled. Food is a fleeting snack that will not satisfy, because your main entree is now the Word of God and completing His will. And your job is just a cover allowing you to infiltrate your coworker’s lives with grace, and God’s good news of reconciliation. But none of these things have a hold on you -- at least, they shouldn’t. Paychecks, pleasures, and power are God’s to give -- and He says “all that is Mine is yours” (Luke 15:31). So let’s abandon the weight and anxiety that comes from seeking them out, and let’s feast on the One who provides all good things. No need to seek out and stress over what you already have in your inheritance. You live from a higher authority and have been freed from the rut of sin and perversion. You are made for the supernatural, feed your faith and live!
Robyn-Ann Lawson 8
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NOSUCHTHINGAS
BUTTER-KNIFE TRUTH BY Rochelle Sibucao
In a self-seeking culture, there is nothing more inconvenient, more divisive, or more uncomfortable than the truth. We hide God’s word in our hearts and seek His truth in our lives, yet once we step out into the world, it’s so easy to slide the sword of truth back into its scabbard. We tuck it safely away where we know it can’t mess with the system or sever relationships. Why open the proverbial Pandora’s box?
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2 God calls us to be ready and able to speak His truth in season when it is popular and convenient, and out of season when it is not. For years I’ve struggled with this, both with society at large, and even more so with those dear to me. Sometimes the truth hurts. It’s safer and easier to keep the “peace” than uproot another’s ways. But here’s the thing: where are those ways headed? Do they lead to life or to death? The answer often impells me to open that box, draw that sword, and wage spiritual warfare on the enemy’s stronghold. Our hearts ache when we see loved ones being destroyed by the enemy’s lies, just as God’s heart aches for His lost and fallen people. He desires that His children know the truth, and by it, be set free. Thus, He calls us to be the salt that preserves righteousness, the light that illuminates darkness, the yeast that leavens bread. Too often we’re scared of the consequences. Rejection. Ridicule. Anger. We feel we lack the eloquence to present and defend the truth. We underestimate the power of just simple, naked truth. We treat it like a flimsy butter knife when in reality, it’s sharper than a double-edged sword.
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“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark 4:22-23 “[My word] shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11 The truth itself is powerful; it does not need any defense, additions, or qualifications. It may look like the truth fell on deaf ears and that we’ve just stirred up defensiveness and strife. But if we look past the physical and tangible, it is really the rulers, the authorities, and the powers of this dark world that work against the truth (Eph. 6:12). Have mustard-seed faith that what’s hidden will be revealed! Our call is to simply sow the seed. In a parable, Jesus explained:
“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself.” Mark 4:26-28a The sower doesn’t worry if the seed landed right-side-up or if the sun shines at exactly the right angle. The earth yields crop by itself, just as yeast naturally leavens bread, and light naturally chases away darkness. We don’t have to worry whether the seeds we’ve sown are growing - that’s God’s task. Our focus, rather, should be what WE do with the truth we hear.
“Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Mark 4:24-25 When we let God’s word work in us and through us, we’re blessed with even more godly wisdom. The fruit truth produces in us reveals its irrepressible nature. Just simply being who God called us to be speaks louder than any defense. His work in our lives alone is a testament to the power of the truth we speak and the sword we wield!
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I’m a Fashion Design student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and my goal in writing these articles is to show Christian women and men that you can be on trend yet dress modestly. Whether you like fashion but don’t know how to put pieces together, or you keep up with the trends but don’t know how to make them modest, I’m here to help you out! I believe that modesty is vital, especially in our culture. God created everyone fearfully and wonderfully, so why not let the outside be a reflection of your beautiful heart? 12
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Let’s be real, fall weather can be very awkward to dress in. It’s too hot to wear a sweater, and too cold to wear a sundress. Here are some tips and trends I found to help you stay modest, stylish, and appropriate for the changing temperature. In the first outfit we have a denim shirt, layered tulle skirt, and sandals. For accessories, we have a collar necklace and a bright orange purse. I love that the skirt is not only a fun piece, but is great for any body shape. It accentuates the waist, which is the smallest part of your figure - but if God blessed you with more junk in the trunk than the average female, this will cover it in a modest and fun way. This ensemble is just a concept, so you can replace any of these pieces with similar finds in your closet. Feel free to put your own twist and personality into your outfit!
fold of fabric at the hips, it’s either too tight or too loose. Unless there is a stylized drape to your skirt or pants, it should lay flat and smooth. At this moment you might be thinking, “Yeah, this is great and all, but where in the world can I find these pieces?” Personally, I love to go to thrift stores just to see what they have. If you’re not the thrift store kind of person, I’d check Forever 21, H&M, and Cotton On. However, don’t limit yourself to these stores. Around this time of year you can find amazing sales because stores are trying to make room for their fall stock. No matter what you’re wearing, let it be a reflection of how incredibly amazing God has made you inside. Have fun, have confidence, and stay classy salt shakers!
Our second look is called “street style”. I love this look because the most important part is confidence. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true! You can wear two completely different patterns, but if you wear it boldly, people will think you look amazing - because you do! Here, we used a printed shirt, a black jacket, army green cargo pants, and white heels. For accessories we have a knitted navy blue and white beanie and a chocolate brown, knitted infinity scarf. This outfit is another one that will work on any figure! The pants are a great fit, and the top is loose and comfortable. Street style is meant to be fun, youthful, and catered to your personality. Don’t be afraid to take risks! If you’re ever stuck trying to figure out an ensemble, first; break it down to the type of clothes (i.e. shirt, pants, jackets), then add colors or prints (floral, stripes, etc). Finally, add accessories (necklace or earrings). Next, check the fit. If you see any sort of crease or 13
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BY Ryan Galloway
I am not a fan of the way that we do romantic relationships in America. We tend to bounce from person to person in an aimless search for emotional fulfillment, wholeheartedly believing the lie that being alone must also mean being lonely. We lap up romantic movies like Jerry McGuire that melt our hearts with iconic lines like “you complete me�, only to subtly convince ourselves that we are incomplete and inadequate while single. Whether it’s implied or just imagined, this perception is not true. In the end, it has distorted our view of ourselves and made us bad at math, or more specifically, the kind of math that God does. 14
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Strangely, the church has somehow gotten swept up in this misunderstanding of divine arithmetic, too. We must realize that God views us differently than we view ourselves. The Bible says that those who have been redeemed by Jesus are whole and complete in Him, even if their earthly existence is still being aligned with their spiritual adoption. We are no longer human fractions in pursuit of our “better halves” for fulfillment and wholeness, and that is Good News. As such, it is imperative that disciples of Jesus re-evaluate their outlook on relationships in light of their new identity. God doesn’t make two halves into a whole. That form of addition lacks His imagination and supernatural swagger. No, God brings two separately complete individuals together to become an entirely new entity. We’ve thought he was doing simple addition while the Master Craftsman confounds us with something that is part fusion and part transmutation, combining two beings into one and then transforming them into something different than before. Whole ingredients are necessary. In times past, I constantly fought the feeling of being patronized when the thing that people cared about most was the fact that I wasn’t in a relationship, as though my singleness was a hindrance rather than a gift. Were the miracles that God was working in and through me less beautiful without a spouse on my arm? I couldn’t buy it. Thankfully, I was encouraged by some spiritual mentors to pursue Jesus in my singleness and let Him handle the lingering romantic math in His own timing. That led me to an 8 year stint of singleness, but it was legitimately the most important spiritual formation of my life thus far. I didn’t feel incomplete and I certainly didn’t feel lonely for most of my time as a single man (although I did struggle at times). Thank God for disciples who developed the greatness that laid dormant inside of me and expected me to maximize my singleness while I was untethered to
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another human. Thank God for His unfailing wisdom in ordaining the seasons of my life. If you are an incomplete half, feel free to wait until your “better half” sweeps you off into the mythical realm of Satisfaction. However, if you belong to Jesus, remember the completeness of His work in you and start moving toward your destiny now. The time we spend as single men and women should not be underestimated. It is the time to surrender ourselves completely to the Creator who ordered our DNA sequences and designed our personalities. It is the season to work through our insecurities and become satisfied in who we were created to be. Our singleness offers the opportunity to face the deficiencies in our character with courage and be transformed into men and women of integrity. It is time to ask God for our role in His Kingdom and go on the adventure that he destined us for. Our singleness grants time to tap into our passions and fully come alive as we develop our talents. Yes, this season is hard, but not without hope. Develop friendships, pray fervently, love those who will never repay you, feed the hungry, serve God with passion, engage in adventurous community, live with integrity, make disciples who make disciples, have fun, repent quickly, and do it all knowing that you are fully complete in Jesus. As I close the chapter on my singleness and open a new one with a phenomenally good (and holy) woman, I can honestly look back without regrets. Surprisingly, Jesus was sovereign enough to hook me up with someone who was enjoying their singleness as much as I enjoyed mine and now we’re enjoying romance more fully. Stop minimizing the work that God is doing in you. You may be single, but you are still brimming with purpose and Kingdom potential. Embrace the season that God has set you in and choose to maximize your singleness. The adventure that you were made for awaits you.
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with PASTOR TAB BY Sabrina Singleton and Davona Williams
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Walk by faith, not by sight. We’ve all heard this Biblical saying before. Maybe you’re wondering how it’s possible to have faith in the face of adversity. Well wonder no more, because SALTY got a chance to sit down and talk with a pro in this area. She overcame a past of poverty, abuse, depression and anxiety to become a wife and a mother who confidently shows the goodness of God wherever she goes. In addition, she is a pastor at one of the fastest growing churches in the United States, Spirit of Faith located in Gainesville, Fla. The most striking thing about Pastor Tabatha is the way she carries herself. Upon meeting her and experiencing her hospitality, it is obvious as to why she is a role model to those in her congregation and throughout the community. Seeing Pastor Tabatha today, you might be shocked to learn about her remarkable personal story:
“My testimony is a crazy one but I was born and raised in the projects, my mother was born and raised in the projects, my grandmother was in the projects,” she began.
As early as 6-years-old Pastor Tabatha had to deal with the adversities that come along with growing up in a poverty-stricken community.
“A lot of things go along with poverty, such as ignorance, no one has a job, no one knows anything, no one knows how to do better, so they don’t do better. There is a lot of violence [and] people fighting a lot of addiction, alcohol, and drugs of all sorts,” Pastor Tabatha spoke of her childhood.
She experienced spouts of verbal, physical and sexual abuse to herself and her mother and siblings. The adults in her household suffered from alcohol addiction, which meant Pastor Tabatha had to assume the caretaker position for her younger brothers and sisters.
“Everyone I knew was an alcoholic. So it was really hard to find my identity and emotional grounding,” Pastor Tabatha said.
Because of her of her environment, she didn’t have any goals and aspirations for her life.
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“We weren’t taught to be doctors or lawyers. I didn’t even think I was going to make it to college,” she
said. But, by the grace of God she made it into West Virginia University. However, she could not focus on her studies as an art student because she was worried about her family and how they would cope without her there.
“The weight of that responsibility was too much for me to bear. The thought of what’s happening at home, no one’s there to protect my brothers and sisters, who’s going to call the police and ambulance? ....So I began to drink, smoke, party, all the things I said that I would never do.” Despite the pleas from her family to not to follow in their footsteps, Pastor Tabatha found herself coping with stress in the same ways that were modeled before her and found herself in an abusive relationship similar to theirs.
“I was picked up by my neck, tossed around, spit in my face, all kinds of things like that. The things that I said I would never [put up with], that’s what I did.” Her lifestyle in college led to a deep depression coupled with severe panic attacks.
“Thank God for the medicine at the time because I needed it, but I was taking heavy doses of [anti] depressants, and that’s what helped me to get through life. Until the point that I found Jesus.” While being treated Pastor Tabatha started dating who would become her husband, Kenneth Claytor. She also started to attend church. However, she was still lost and unhappy to the point of being suicidal.
“I remember going to church Sunday after Sunday depressed, sad and lonely. After church I would go up to the alter and cry. One day in the summer some gentleman came up to my door and witnessed to me and that day I got saved. I was 22 years old,” Pastor Tabatha said. From then on began her journey of faith. She went from being suicidal to free, all in that one moment.
“At that point, it completely changed my life. I felt loved for the first time, I felt like I had peace for the first time... At that point I never wanted to kill myself again. I thought
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now I could live because Jesus loves me…it was really a true conversion…I stopped doing a lot of the things that I was doing before then…but I still had a lot to know.” Though Pastor Tabatha was no longer suicidal, she experienced the effects from the traumatic experiences and memories of her past. She suffered through these issues up until she was 24 (after getting married, graduating from college, and moving to Washington DC). She started to attend a church that taught about the word and power of God and soon began to experience relief. It was at this time that she got filled with Holy Spirit and learned how to walk by faith. She began to read the bible, study scriptures like Jeremiah 28:11, and speak positively to herself in the mirror coming against the spirit of depression and telling it to leave.
“One morning I woke up and I felt the spirit of the depression…. it was gone…I felt free. I felt new, and from that point I was able to pick up the pieces of life, rebuild my marriage, and find out who I was.”
Pastor Tabatha believes that what she learned from overcoming depression can be applied to any challenging situation in life, whether it is something difficult like an addiction or something common like balancing a full schedule or living a healthier lifestyle. She attributes the key to success to walking by faith comes from researching information about the challenge and implementing it to your life. So there you have it. Pastor Tabatha is a true example of the boldness and victory that we all stand to inherit through Christ Jesus. We asked her what SALTY meant to her and this was her response:
“To be SALTY means to be you, to do you, to be proud of who God called you to be. I think that if we’re going to be the salt or the flavor of the world, we can’t be like everyone else…God hasn’t made us to be an imitation. He’s made us to be an individual.”
She now describes herself as unashamed, confident and courageous.
“If I could look back and talk to my 22-year-old self I would say you’re going to be okay,” Pastor Tabatha explained. “Just believe God.”
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INTRODUCING A
SUPERNATURALGOD BY Taylor Duckett
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”- Hebrews 13:8 From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, God’s character stays the same. As believers, we can take comfort in knowing that no matter what, we have the ability to hold on to Gods unchanging hand. One thing about God that will not change is that He is supernatural. Supernatural when broken down means to be above the natural; God is above the natural in every way shape and form. The natural has to submit to the authority of God, not the other way around. When people think of miracles, many skip ahead to the New Testament in order to focus on the ministry of Christ. While there were many miracles performed in the New Testament, the supernatural power of God are also evident in the Old Testament. The first example of the supernatural is in Genesis 1:1 when by a series of commands, God created the Heavens and the Earth. In the natural, being able to 19
create everything from nothing, in six days, would make no sense and appear to be impossible - but for God, nothing is impossible. Many try and reason and dissect the supernatural in order to explain events such as this but, the supernatural power of God and reason do not go together; in fact the more you try and understand the supernatural with your mind, the less of the supernatural you will actually understand. It’s something that has to be understood in your spirit and accessed by faith. Another supernatural act of God is Israel’s deliverance. You see deliverance in the New Testament as well; the only difference is that in the New Testament, you saw the casting out of demons whereas in the Old Testament, the Israelites were delivered from their human oppressors, not demonic influences. In Exodus 3, when God spoke to Moses via the
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burning bush, that was not a normal occurrence. Typically if a bush is burning, it is going to be completely destroyed. In this case, the bush was consumed with fire, but, it did not burn. “And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked and behold, the bush was not consumed. The Moses said, ‘I will turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.’ So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, ‘Moses, Moses!’”-Exodus 3:2-4. After seeing that the bush was not burning, Moses wanted to know why; he was intrigued because he realized that something out of the ordinary was happening. Sometimes, God uses the supernatural in order to get our attention, but also in order to reveal 20
to us the plans and purposes that He has for us in that moment. The supernatural is meant to change you; when you have a genuine encounter with the supernatural power of God, you know that what you experienced was not just coincidental. Your testimony is unshakeable. The supernatural is not just for us to be touched but for us to be permanently changed so that God can take us to the next level. Moses’ life was radically changed as a result of this supernatural encounter with God because it was here that God revealed His purpose for his life, to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. When it was time for the Israelites to leave Egypt, two notable supernatural events took place. The first was the crossing of the Red Sea. The majority of us have seen large waves in our lives, but it is safe to say that no one has seen a large body of water open in order to create a path way. God could have
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lead them over the land (Exodus 13:17) but He chose not to do so. He chose to lead them across the sea in order to demonstrate that He is in fact God to both the Israelites and Egyptians, and so He and no one else would get the glory. God also took them from slavery to prosperity instantaneously. “Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. And the Lord had given them favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” It is not typical for a person to go from rags to riches in an instant. God showed his supernatural power by not just blessing the Israelites, He went above and beyond. One common characteristic of the supernatural is that it goes above and beyond; above and beyond the natural, your understanding, your abilities, and the list goes on. The New Testament miracles are the evidences of God’s supernatural power that we are most familiar with. The Gospels record numerous accounts of healings, miracles, provision, and deliverance. “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.”- Luke 17:11-14 During this time period, there was no cure for leprosy and if you were a leper, you were a social outcast. Lepers were not allowed to enter the city or associate with other people until they were cleansed. The healing of these ten lepers was used an example of God’s power working through His son. Another example of the supernatural power of God is when tax money was found in the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:24-27). When God provides for us supernaturally, it may come from unlikely sources because He wants you to know exactly from whom the help came. 21
“.And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He caller her to Him and said to her, ‘Woman thou art loosed.’ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God.” –Luke 13:11-13 The supernatural power of God can set the captives free. It can set someone free from any bondage, physical, mental, emotional, or financial. It is not Gods will for us to be oppressed, if it were He would not have sent His son to bear everything on the cross for us. The early church, as seen in the book of Acts, was a supernatural church. Unfortunately, many churches in today’s society have lost the supernatural. It’s dismissed as a thing of the past, no longer applicable to our lives. It is common to hear phrases such as, “Yes Jesus healed but He doesn’t do that anymore” or “Yes, I know that Jesus cast out demons but that was then, there isn’t deliverance anymore.” God has not changed, He still heals, He still sets free, and He is still supernatural. The Gospel has been reduced to just the letter without the spirit, there is no demonstration of the power of God. God never wanted to become a nice motivational message or a theological concept, He wants to be experienced by His children. He wants for us to have supernatural encounters with Him. Jesus told His disciples that, they would do the same as and greater than He once He left them to go and be with His Father (John 12:12). We are supposed to walk in the supernatural; we are called to pray for the sick, to minister deliverance, and move in the other gifts of the spirit and our calling. You don’t have to be a well-known pastor to move in these things, God has equipped all believers to do it. The key is just to rely on His guidance, walk by faith, and not be limited to reason only. Regardless of what people may say, God always has been and always will be, a supernatural God – and we are called to do all things with excellence by his supernatural power that is in us.
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S
UPERNATURAL
Love
BY Veonne Lightburn
To be transparent, if “The Dating Game” television show were still on air, I would have been on all episodes, every season, for each year. Though I wasn’t living a sexual lifestyle fit for Girls Gone Wild, before I gave my life to Christ, I was a young girl that was missing the love of a father. Because of that deep void within my heart, I remained in relationships just to hear the words “I love you,” which I longed to hear and feel from my father. After every broken relationship, there was another wound and another wave of distrust that would take root in my spirit. The only thing that I thought would fix my heart was true love. Being a 90’s kid, I’ve always gravitated to romance movies. What 90’s kid wouldn’t desire a love life such as Aladdin and Jasmine on the flying carpet? Who wouldn’t want to find their soul mate on the beach such as The Little Mermaid? Every attempt I made to find love, such as these movies, ended like the movie Titanic. Unfortunately, what I’ve come to realize is those movies, with the amazing love scenes and happy ever-after, were fantasies. Love is not running in slow motion, holding hands and kissing in the rain. The true love that people are searching for is unfailing, sacrificial, unconditional love. 22
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You are probably wondering, “I’ve never met a person like that a day in my life and I probably never will.” Well, let me tell you about someone that meets those characteristics. He’s a keeper, and the greatest father you’ll ever come in contact with. Allow me to introduce to you Almighty God; He is the epitome of love. His love is sacrificial and obsessive – just for you. The love of God is so strong that He knows the numbers of hairs on your head and bottles every tear that you cry because He cares about you. God desired to have a fatherly relationship with humanity, so He sent His only son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for humanity’s sin. This love is supernatural and sacrificial love, not the superficial love presented by religion. Jesus didn’t manipulate us in regards to love; His death on the cross was a gift to us. He didn’t say, “If you are good, I will die for you.” Scripture lets us know that everyone is loved by God. No matter what you’ve done, Jesus died on the cross for you – because He loves you. “God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” – John 3:16
“All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6 “Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us.” – Romans 5:8 I don’t know about you, but this love that Jesus exemplifies is a love that we will never find in the world. No one in the world will ever love you the way Jesus does. His love is supernatural, meaning, it goes beyond our reasoning. No matter how much we believe that we understand God’s love for us, we will never completely grasp it. What’s so great about His love is nothing can ever separate us from this supernatural love
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:37-39 I’ve found that every relationship I’ve encountered and every substitute that I’ve tried to substitute with God has failed me; I’ve found that the love of God will never fail me. Nothing can ever satisfy me like God can, because God is eternal. And since God is eternal, His love is eternal - so it will never end. Who else can beat that offer?
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TRAY HERNDON by Jenelle Campos
“I wanna be A BOSS”…is how Traviers Herndon responded
when he was asked how does he see himself in 10 years. While only in his 24th year of life, Tray has already accomplished so much. He’s a comedic 6th grade science teacher, while also coaching in his 2nd 24
season of football for the Matthew Gilbert Fighting Panthers. Whenever he isn’t lecturing on major global landmarks or calling time outs, he’s playing recreational sports, engaging in outdoor activities, or just playing a good ‘ol round of video games.
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Born a Jacksonville, Florida native, Tray has seen and experienced his fair share of tough surroundings, but he was determined to make it out of the city, vowing to never become just another statistic in society. “I work hard at what ever I do. I can’t sit down and relax. I’m always trying to meet another goal or accomplish an ambitious desire I have.” Which is exactly what he did. After graduating from The Bolles School, he went on to the University of Minnesota where he started as a freshman on the football team; he soon went on to pursue the remainder of his academic and football career at Vanderbilt University. Once he receive his Bachelors in Human and Organizational Development, he sought out the opportunity to take part in Teach For America, which is a non-profit organization that give professionals and college graduates and opportunity to teach and make a difference in low income schools across the U.S. “My desire for the program wasn’t strong until I was actually placed in the scenario. I realized it was my calling. It was a hidden passion that now fuels my ambition”. Tray explained that he wasn’t very sure about how he felt when he was chosen for the program. He admitted that he wasn’t sure if he was the man for the job, but he soon realized how much the experience actually opened his heart towards working with children. “I encourage my students and players to use me as a resource and someone to emulate when they need direction”, he explains while speaking of wanting the best for his students. This optimistic educator prides himself on living as a god-fearing man who uses his talents and gifts to make a difference in the lives of youth. “I enjoy being a mentor. I believe the biggest problem regarding our youth today is that they have a false sense of how to reach their dreams; they think that they can just push a button, and it’ll all come true, but I want to be the one to guide them and help them have a stronger work ethic.” While we conversed about his life and his efforts to accomplish his goals as a teenager and an adult, Tray took a moment to reflect on his time as a freshman in college, and while doing so, he opened up about
when he realized he needed Jesus. Describing feelings of being incomplete and at times wanting more out of life. “I felt like I attained everything I thought I wanted. I was a starting freshman on the football team, I gained popularity, and my finances weren’t so bad either, but I wasn’t satisfied. I realized I had a huge hole in my heart. Now I realize my own selfish ambitions and petty desires will never take the place of where God should be first. It wasn’t until I submitted my life to his will, when I realized his plans will always be better than my own.” Now having full knowledge that working with the youth is Gods will for his life, he admits that because he has a major influence in his students lives, he lets the Lord dictate every aspect of his teaching and coaching. “I let him dictate my words, my actions-reactions, and my advising. I may be the only representation of Jesus they see. I am called to be different.” Tray seemed very enthused when he spoke about his passion for teaching and coaching. He says the reason why he takes his role as an educator and a mentor so earnestly is because he understands that he is being used as a vessel in the kingdom, and he intends to take his role further. While sharing his vision that he has for his future endeavors he said that he would like to start his own charter school for boys. “I want the opportunity to encourage and empower several generations of youth. I want to build a team of individuals who want to teach the next generation of youth in a god-fearing way.” I truly don’t think he will have a problem accomplishing that goal. He’s already well on his way pursuing his Masters in Educational Leadership through the Urban Principles Academy, at Lehigh High University. When asked what does being SALTY mean to him, he replied, “We are the salt of the world, and we should represent Christ in a way that would make others want to be his followers as well. To the world, being saved is often misconstrued, often thought of as something to do when you’ve done everything there is to do. But I believe that keeping God first is the most profitable thing in life.”
*To donate to the Matthew Gilbert Fighting Panthers, go to: gofundme.com/gilbertgootball 25
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SETBACKS PRODUCE MY COMEBACK by L a Bridgette Williams
In a world driven by success many people are wondering “What does it take to be successful?” I’ve heard responses such as you need more education, determination, or the ability to communicate effectively. However, over the years of evaluating myself and others there is one 26
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important characteristic that is often left out of the equation: your ability to comeback after a setback. A setback is something that causes you to go in the opposite direction of where you planned to go. It is an unanticipated change of events usually for the worse. We can agree that life will happen but it’s how we respond to life that makes the difference. People tend to look at setbacks as an event that will weaken them but it actually should be a time to strengthen who you are and cause you to keep your full trust in God. It is critical to remember during a setback that God will never let you down and the dream He gave you will come to pass. I know something about overcoming setbacks so let’s take a journey down my setback lane. I was born to a teenage mother with a father who abandoned me which is not the ideal start for anyone’s life. It left me batting identity issues, which was a setback for me for many years. However, in time I learned how to overcome those issues. However, like everyone, that wasn’t the last of my setbacks. My most recent setback took place in 2012. I worked 5 ½ years for a company in a career industry that I enjoyed. I was promoted several times with significant financial gain. After working hard and positioning myself to be with this company for many more years, my position was phased out without notice and I was forced to work less than 15 hours a week. Eventually, I was left without a job. I immediately had to live off my savings with no additional income coming in. I thought my unemployment would be a short term situation so the job loss was no big deal. In my quest find a new job I submitted resumes and networked but never received any real leads. As the months continued to pass, the income I saved was soon gone. I was left to figure out how I would maintain the bare essentials 27
for living. I worked part-time jobs and even sold my personal items to gain some source of income. My current situation at that time was not the life I had envisioned and my goals for that year seemed impossible. To make matters worse, I lost my vehicle and at times I had to walk to various places like work, home, and church. This situation lasted for six-months and it was as if I was watching my options dwindle away. But guess what? I never gave up! I didn’t get down or bitter. Instead, I believed Jeremiah 29:11 and I knew that God still had a plan for my life and that my ending would be great. And God stayed true to his word and restored everything I had lost. I got a shadowing opportunity at a company and after three days of simply shadowing, I was blessed with a new job. Since then, I have even been offered promotions at this company. I also purchased a brand new 2013 vehicle. I wasn’t even looking for a new vehicle but God gave me His best. So how do I overcome setbacks you ask? It’s simple. You walk through them by (1) Staying positive and having an attitude to overcome (2) Adjust your plan. Set new smaller goals and work your way back to the top (3) Focus on the future more than that past. What you may have lost will not compare to what you will gain. (4) Never lose faith that all things will work together on your behalf. (5) Learn from the experience and move forward. Failure is never final. It’s simply another teacher of life. Doing these simple things will help you comeback stronger and better just like I did! Your setback shouldn’t be the end of your story; it should be the stepping stone to your greatest victory and your ability to comeback after a setback will keep you successful and fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Remember, the attitude to overcome is a choice and you have to trust that all things will work out in your favor.
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For those who may not know, what is Pinky Promise and what is the vision you believe God gave you through Pinky Promise? Answer: I started Pinky Promise in January 2012 and it has grown to over 15,000 women that have made a decision to honor God with your life and body. Pinky Promise is an honor to give your entire heart and life to Christ. Whether single or married, this is what we believe: • We are committed to Jesus Christ and we believe that He died for our sins, rose again and reconciled us back to God. • We refuse to give our bodies to anyone who hasn’t paid the price for us called marriage. • We set the standard to keep our hearts pure before God and not test the sexual boundaries in our relationships. • We guard our heart by monitoring what we see and hear.
HEATHER
• We seek godly friendships and surround ourselves with believers and women after God’s own heart.
LINDSEY
An Interview by Eboni K. Mckenzie
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• We honor the marriage covenant; refusing to step outside of my marriage by emotionally or physically cheating on my spouse. • We are first submitted to Christ and then to our husband. • We are committed to work through every issue that arises in our marriage. The vision that the Lord gave me is pretty clear— to encourage women to live for Christ! The cool thing about Pinky Promise is that we have about 350 groups all over the world of women that made a decision to live for Christ! The ladies develop sisterhood, accountability and community!
You juggle many responsibilities as a wife, mother, blogger, entrepreneur, and pastor; how do you handle all of your responsibilities while maintaining your relationship with God? Answer: It’s simple, God has to be first. If He’s not in His proper position, then everything else will be out of its proper place. I’m not going to lie and say that “Life is so easy and that I never have a hard time juggling everything.” In all honesty, it’s hard to take care of a husband, child, and ministry and then there’s you. As a mother, you tend to put your needs on the back-burner to take care of your family. There’s times where I’m spending time with God and my husband walks in and says, Logan is hungry (I’m breastfeeding.) so in order to do anything—I have to pump, prepare and set time aside. I believe that God graces us in each season of our lives to handle our portion. So, although the developing doesn’t “feel” good at times, I have to tell my emotions to take a back seat and do what I know to do!
In your book Pink Lips and Empty Hearts you coined the phrase “randoms”. Please explain what that means,, and how important is it for Godly women to set boundaries in relationships? Answer: A random is a person that you know you’ll never marry but you date them because you’re lonely or bored and you want to fill a void. Ladies, you don’t 29
want to get into a relationship with a man that has all of your dealbreakers and you stay with him for the sake of just saying that you have a man. What a waste of time! So before we talk about boundaries in relationships, lets make sure that we’re in the right relationships that are God-led, not emotionsled. Once you meet a guy after God’s own heart that has His fruit on their tree, then, prayerfully that man will set boundaries in the relationship. Like no staying the night together, no cuddling, sex outside of marriage, late night movies, etc!
Can you impart some wisdom to those who say “I can’t wait to get married?” Does the Bible promise us a husband or wife? Answer: I honestly believe that if God places a desire in your heart to get married, then HE will fulfill it in HIS timing, not your own. We often look at marriage as if we “arrived” once achieved but honey, the work is just getting started. I like to read Genesis 2 as it talks about it’s not good for man to be alone and God makes a help-meet for a husband. Some of us want to be a wife, but we don’t want to help our husbands. We want HIM to do everything for us, totally ignoring the scripture of being a servant. And while we are there, why does that man need a help-meet if he isn’t doing anything? If he’s sitting around playing video games for 12 hours a day, smoking weed, drinking, or trying to have sex with you—he doesn’t need any help! He needs Christ, so stop trying to hope he changes and give him to God as you exit to the left.
What do you think Jesus meant by labeling his followers “salt of the earth”, how do you, and what is Pinky Promise’s role to remain SALTY? Answer: I believe He meant we lose our flavor when we look like the world. It’s vital that we remain “salt of the earth” because as Christians we are supposed to stand out of Christ! There should be something different about us! It’s not anything that we have to go and intentionally do to say, “look at me, I stand out”—but it’s Christ alone that will put us on blast as we live for Him!
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“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.� Hebrews 11:1