VOLUME 3 - FULL by SALTY Magazine

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

DON’T WASTE YOUR SINGLENESS WWW.SALTYMAG.TV

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THE

SPR INK LE 02

INSIDE COVER Design by Sthe 55

FORETASTE Editor’s Word by Robyn-Ann Lawson

YVONNE WINFREY INTERVIEW by Jenella Campos

DO NOT DISTURB by Eboni K. McKenzie

VIDEO BLOG Don’t Waste Your Singleness by Joe Solomon

ARE YOU READY? by Quashana Henry

AFTERTASTE Don’t Waste your Singleness by Ryan Galloway

MUSIC VIDEO Lovin’ Me by Jonathan McReynolds

DESIGN: Juliet Symes

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editor@saltymagazine.com

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1

FORETASTE

I WANT YOU TO BE FREE FROM THE CONCERNS OF THIS LIFE. AN UNMARRIED MAN CAN SPEND HIS TIME DOING THE LORD’S WORK AND THINKING HOW TO PLEASE HIM. BUT A MARRIED MAN HAS TO THINK ABOUT HIS EARTHLY RESPONSIBILITIES AND HOW TO PLEASE HIS WIFE. HIS INTERESTS ARE DIVIDED. IN THE SAME WAY, A WOMAN WHO IS NO LONGER MARRIED OR HAS NEVER BEEN MARRIED CAN BE DEVOTED TO THE LORD AND HOLY IN BODY AND IN SPIRIT. BUT A MARRIED WOMAN HAS TO THINK ABOUT HER EARTHLY RESPONSIBILITIES AND HOW TO PLEASE HER HUSBAND. I AM SAYING THIS FOR YOUR BENEFIT, NOT TO PLACE RESTRICTIONS ON YOU. I WANT YOU TO DO WHATEVER WILL HELP YOU SERVE THE LORD BEST, WITH AS FEW DISTRACTIONS AS POSSIBLE. 1 CORINTHIANS 7:32-35 Facebook.com/SALTYMagazine

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@SALTYMag

ABOUT

This high energy indie rock act is sure to be a hit for those who like impressive hard rock with heart! Led by the exuberant Yvonne Winfrey, Submission Red is already turning heads and ears to their unique image and sound. “Word got around because of a black chick singing legit hard rock…” …but audiences are quickly finding out that Submission Red is so much more. This dynamic band has been described as the epitome of rock-n-roll and having the ability to engage audiences. Yvonne leads the band with thought provoking lyrics coupled with incredible energy and expression. Ryan Horner dominates on bass with a confident saunter, while Rob Foldy maintains the backbone of the band with his hard-hitting, yet well-crafted drumming. Stevie B. co-writes with Yvonne, coming from successful touring bands like Between the Trees and Rookie of the Year. Stevie brings creative, memorable guitar licks to the table. Submission Red has got something to say and thank God people are listening. If you like bands like Paramore, Skillet, and Flyleaf, and Papa Roach you’ll love Submission Red.

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INTERVIEW WITH

Yvonne Winfrey [ BY JENELLA CAMPOS ]

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God

g n i k r is Wo

] E I Z N E K C M . K I [ BY EBON

WE’VE ALL SEEN AND PERHAPS USED IT AT A HOTEL STAY. THAT CARDBOARD “DO NOT DISTURB” SIGN THAT IS USED AS A SUBTLE ANNOUNCEMENT STATING THAT WELL… WE DON’T WANT TO BE DISTURBED!

But how many of us singles utilize this “Do Not Disturb” sign for our hearts? Luke 10:38-42 tells the infamous story of Mary and Martha: As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and

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said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Three things stuck out to me in reading this: Jesus goes to visit the sisters. I personally get jealous of people in biblical days, because they experienced Jesus’ presence in the flesh. However, once He left, they had to wait for His return. Unlike Mary and Martha, we have the privilege of experiencing our Heavenly Father‘s presence at any moment of the day.

The fact that the house was dirty, or there wasn’t any food to eat really wasn’t important to her. She put on her “Do Not Disturb” sign and sat at the feet of Jesus. Mary CHOSE the BEST part because she chose to maximize her single status to get closer to BEST lover of all. When Jesus comes knocking on the door of your heart, don’t ignore those “tugs” from the Holy Spirit to spend time with Him. I’ve often taken advantage of God. He quietly nudged me to go spend time with Him, but the desire to go out, watch my favorite TV show, or talk on the phone always seemed more attractive. And I failed him, thinking that “God’s ALWAYS around, I can spend time with Him anytime.” But really, I missed an opportunity to be loved on by God.

God doesn’t need

our abilities he wants our

availability

Martha was distracted. It’s so easy to become “distracted” like Martha - we have been “distracted” by jobs, relationships, TV, etc. Like we have all done, Martha had excuses as to why we couldn’t find time to spend with Him, saying with our actions: “I work long hours; I have to wake up early; you know my heart God; Jesus, look at all the things I do at church though.. I’m on the worship team, the evangelism team and I give my tithes and offerings, etc.” The reality is Jesus fulfilled his purpose while here on Earth, so He doesn’t get any benefit out of us serving. God doesn’t need our abilities, he wants our availability.

Jesus told Mary she CHOSE the best part. When Jesus came knocking at the door, it was Mary’s choice to spend time with Jesus. Jesus had Mary’s full attention. She stopped everything.

Just like we spend time building Earthly relationships, we must be intentional about spending time with our Heavenly Father. Psalm 91 says “He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” If I am dwelling that means I am a “permanent resident” in God’s presence. I encourage you to examine anything that’s going to distract you away from God. Put your Do Not Disturb sign up, take every opportunity to be in His presence, and allow him to minister you. These are valuable times that you won’t find as easily once married -- Don’t Waste Your Singleness. “Being single doesn’t necessarily mean you’re available. Sometimes you have to put up a sign that says, Do Not Disturb, God is working (on my heart.)”

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VIDEO

BLOG

DON’T WASTE YOUR

[ BY JOE SOLOMON ]

WE GOT MARRIED ON APRIL 20, 2013. From what I can remember, I was extremely comfortable saying “I DO!” The Lord, prayer, marriage counseling, encouragement from elders, among other things helped me to be ready for the Big Day and every day after that. Even though that is my story, I am quite uncomfortable with things that I hear from singles waiting to marry, married couples who did not wait on the Lord, and the divorced. Frequently, it seems, I am engaging in a conversation with someone who is asking God to hurry and send their mate. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with making a plea before God and asking for what you want. As Matthew 7: 7-8 says: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” However, marriage cannot be the focus of your life as it often ends up being for so many singles. But more importantly, there are so many things that the Lord wants to do in and through your single years that will help you become prepared for marriage (and beyond).

ARE YOU

READY [ BY QUASHANA HENRY ]

First, is your identity found in Christ? Let’s not think about the other person because you will give an account to Jesus for yourself on the Day of Judgment. Do you need constant affirmation, confirmation from your peers or the opposite sex? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, the Lord has work to do in your heart. A big mistake people make when getting married is thinking that you will find your identity in marriage (even though we don’t say this verbatim, our actions and conversations show otherwise). Not to be the bearer of bad news, but many people are divorced because they could not find their identity in their spouse. Your spouse cannot heal your broken heart. Only Jesus satisfies (Psalm 145:16), so please allow the Lord to fill all voids before courting anyone and entertaining marriage. 11

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Also, how often do you repent? When God convicts your heart or reveals His truth, are you slow to repent, submit, and obey? In marriage there are going to be plenty of times in which you are wrong (both male and female), but what is going to be your response? Are you going to harden your heart and make a mess of things or are you going to be willing to pray, repent, submit, and obey the Word of God (Matthew 5:23-26)? Further, do you communicate with the Lord and is He your best friend? Do you converse well with people? When things go wrong between you and our spouse, it is best to run to the feet of Jesus and seek wisdom from your Father, Counselor, and Friend. He will provide the best counsel and show you how to wash your spouse with the Word - which in turn will make your marriage more blissful. Yet still, marriage is all about communication. If opening up, expressing feelings, etc., is an area of struggle, try to perfect it for the sake of peace in your single and married life. You never want to give the enemy a stronghold in your heart (or marriage) because of thoughts or

THE LORD USES OUR

SINGLE YEARS AS TIMES OF PREPARATION FOR

MARRIAGE 12

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emotions that are buried – bring them to light in conversation. The Lord uses our single years as times of preparation for marriage, and earthly marriages are used to ready us for the ultimate marriage between Christ and His church. Do not neglect the process or speed past the preparation, because that’s what makes the marriage stronger… the testimony better. Are you allowing God to work on your heart? Will you consent to God’s preparation of your heart for marriage, no matter how long it takes?

AFTERTASTE 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.

don’t waste your

Singleness

[ BY RYAN GALLOWAY ]

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 13

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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.

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.

Our singleness OFFERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FACE THE DEFICIENCIES

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 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

IN OUR CHARACTER

WITH COURAGE & BE TRANSFORMED INTO MEN & WOMEN

OF integrity

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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MUSIC

VIDEO

Lovin’ Me [ BY JONATHAN MCREYNOLDS ]

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PURCHASE THE 2013 SPECIAL DUAL-COVER COMPILATION ISSUE [ VOLUMES 1+2 ] WWW.SALTYMAGAZINE.COM/BLOG/STORE Follow and share us on Facebook!

Volume 3 Issue 2

Walking It Out with Past or Tab Supernatural Faith Sal tyma gazine.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;So faith comes from hearing, and

hearing through the word of Christ.â&#x20AC;?

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

Supernatural Love by Veonne Lightburn

Setbacks Produce My Comeback by LaBridgette Williams

QUICK TASTE (EXTRAS)

SALTY Up Close Tray Herndon by Jenelle Campos

Walking It Out with Pastor Tab by Sabrina Singleton

SALTY Up Close Tray Herndon by Veonne Lightburn

SALTY Up Close Heather Lindsey by Eboni K. McKenzie

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www.f oolies.co m

What ’s Online? FEATURED DOWNLOAD:

FEATURED INTERVIEW:

FEATURED VIDEO:

“Instruments of Mercy” by Beautiful Eulogy http://www.humblebeast.com/ downloads/beautiful-eulogyinstruments-of-mercy-download/

Giel Video Interview by Eboni K. McKenzie http://saltymag.tv/

“Why I changed my high dating standards” by Justin Cox http://saltymag.tv/ And much more!

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www.gielmusiconline.com www.facebook.com/gielmusic www.twitter.com/gielmusic

Volume 3 Issue 2

Feed Your Faith You are not of this world. If you embraced the exchange of y our sin f or 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 defin tion of “Th e Good Life” being nothing more and nothing less than “living by faith in a g ood God. ” In one paragraph, he paints the image of a p arent being bossed around by their toddler being similar to a be liever being dominated by the perverted sway of t his 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 t he one who should be in c ontrol, 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 t his world a gui de to help you fi d the road less traveled. Food is a fleeting snack that will not satisfy, because your main entree is n ow the Word of G od and completing His will. And your job is just a cover allowing you to infilt ate 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 hi gher 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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Now available for preorder at YoditKifl e.com

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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;you complete meâ&#x20AC;?, only to subtly convince ourselves that we are incomplete and inadequate while single. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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.

www.saltymagazine.com

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.

“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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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 w ho may not kno w, what is Pinky Promise and what is the vision you believe God g ave 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 Hear ts you coined the phrase “randoms”. Please explain what that means,, and how important is it f or 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 w ho say “I can ’t wait to g et 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 y ou think Jesus meant b y labeling his followers “salt of the earth”, how do you, and what is Pink y 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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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.â&#x20AC;? Hebrews 11:1

Volume 3 Issue 3

EXCELLENCE: A LIFESTYLE ISSUE Sal tyma gazine.com

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Volume 3 Issue 3

In This Issue SEASONED COLUMNS 10 Truth by Malischa Oge 12 Beauty by Dayra Galarza 14

Purity by Malischa Oge

FEATURED SALT 16

Faith and Government by Deanna Baxam

Fitness and Spirituality by Natalia Crosdale

Finances and Business by Riolene Ibok

Family and Family by Suzanne Delica

Future and Media by Alex Hanse

Fun and Education by Suzanne Delica

Friends and Entertainment by Barnabas Johnson

QUICK TASTE (EXTRAS) 32

Made in His Image by Carlie Harford

Unwrapping Rap by Ty Scott King

Free Gifts Anyone? by Moesha McAfee

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Friends and Entertainment by Barnabas Johnson

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What ’s Online? FEATURED BOOK:

FEATURED DOWNLOAD:

FEATURED READ:

Die Empty by Todd Henry http://dieempty.com/

“Satellite Solomon” by Victor Cornelius at http://www.noisetrade.com/ victorcornelius/satellite-solomon

The full & free archive of SALTY Magazine’s 7 issues from 2013! http://saltymag.tv/

And much more. Check out SALTYMag on

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www.f oolies.co m

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Volume 3 Issue 3

ForeTaste The overall theme for this issue is excellence and how wisdom audibly takes us to that place of operating in our pur pose with excellence. Excellence is d efi ed as t he quality of being outstanding or extremely good; an outstanding feature or quality. Meanwhile, Wisdom is d efi ed as t he quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. In order to be excellent, one must be perpetually wise in their judgments, knowledgeable about life, the arts, and the sciences, and dressed in the garment of truth—which is only perceived through experience. To a younger person, this may seem like an accomplishment only for Grandma Matty and Grandpa Joe. The glorious revelation is that excellence is for anyone that desires it because God says in g etting wisdom, get understanding. And that has no age requirement. The caveat, however, is that you have to be committed to work heartily, with quality and intention sealing the marks of your legacy. This must be the motto for every aspect of your life. Since we are dynamic people with complex souls (and lives), it can be overwhelming to try and give each part of you the quality time that it needs. This would take setting appointments with each, probably one per day per week, in addition to juggling the various worlds you are a part of. How can a person become an excellent juggler? Well…I do not know and that is not what this issue is going to teach you! Nonetheless, I do have some candid advice for you: align the worlds around you with your purpose; achieve balance

in your life; allow your personal vision to justify your choices; attract only good people and things; and ask God to order your steps, daily. In order to be excellent, you must engage all five senses (i.e., taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight) in order to do, think, speak, and relate intently. Now why does that matter? (You may be thinking: Suzanne, you are getting a little too deep or maybe you feel like I’m rambling…that’s okay!) The point: often you say you want to be good at what you do; you want people to appreciate your work; you want to leave a legacy beyond your cool selfies (self-photos) on Instagram and Facebook. But how about fi st be good at being you! Operate in your full capacity! Ignite your potential and turn it into kinetic dreams, energizing movements, thought-provoking books, ground-breaking inventions, and forward-looking policies! In everything you do, personal and professional, let the compelling fragrance of quality radiate through your fi gertips and into your work. Whatever you do, work heartily, as f or the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. -Colossians 3:23-24 ESV Now I present to you 7x7 sectors for life alignment and positive influence as you voyage into the depths of your soul and debut your excellence to the worlds around you. God speed!

Suzanne Delica

LIFE ALIGNMENT + WORLDLY INFLUENCE + WISDOM = EXCELLENCE 7 F’s of Life Alignment

7 Sectors of Worldly Influence

Faith Fitness Finances Family Future Fun Friends

Government Spirituality Business Family Media Education Entertainment & Arts 8

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Christian By Malischa Oge

I came across a very enlightening situation recently, where the reality of things hit me right between the eyes. I was waiting for my next class to begin, when a friend of mine exited a class that just finished. We greeted and I asked how his class was. He told me

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that it was a world religion class, then sighed and continued to say he can feel himself slipping further and further away from his faith. Being that he was openly gay, my next reaction of was to ask, well what is your faith? He replied as if I had just asked a stupid question: “a Christian [duh]!” (He said the “duh” part without really saying it if you know what I mean.) I was a little shocked, but had to admit I had similar encounters before. Bible-based Christians in my age group of twenty-somethings are a rare commodity these days. I definitely don’t know all the answers, but I thought I knew the basis of Christianity and what I stand for. But more and more, I meet these young “believers” that have varying views and versions of Christianity that differ from the core principles I thought were established. I didn’t even know there could be different versions of the truth! It seems many of us skew, distort, and attempt to mold Christianity into whatever makes us comfortable -- and if I don’t constantly give myself an evaluation I could end up lying to myself as well. We sometimes change Christianity into something that won’t make us feel guilty for doing what we know deep down is wrong and against Christ. We constantly amend the Word of God, and omit or edit parts of the Bible to serve ourselves and our not so

Christ-like lifestyles. But isn’t that what being a Christian means... BEING CHRISTLIKE? We take the premise that God loves us unconditionally, and twist it to believe we can live life however we want and still have the grace and favor of God. We tell ourselves that as long as we continue to SAY we are Christians that God will accept the contrary way in which we live and embrace us when we stand before Him. Unfortunately, the more you are surrounded by peers that do this the easier it is for you to fall into the same trap. I’ve caught myself slipping into those patterns a time or two, and the only way I got back on track was to really evaluate what was written in the Scriptures and not what those around me say. I really had to take a hard look at the truth that God inspired in his Word, and another hard look at the way that I was living each day. Then I compared them both to see if there was any contrast. In Matthew 12:33 Christ himself said that “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.” (That’s the NLT version) This verse speaks for itself and Christ did not beat around the bush when He said it. If you say you’re a Christian, your lifestyle and actions should reflect that statement. Anything other than that are just words…plain and simple.

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B LAMELES S By Malischa Oge

I AM A VIRGIN.

That word has never really been a scary word for me. I was pretty much born in the church. I dedicated my life to Christ at the age of 13, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a crazy ride with Christ ever since. Back then, it seemed so easy to follow Christ, to do devotions every day, to write songs and memorize verses. I was young, no social life, very innocent, and the world was a very different place.

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I AM A VIRGIN. That word has never really been a scary word for me... until now. I am 23 years old and the only place I seem to be able to come up for a breath of fresh air is in my alone time with God. Between nonChristian friends, school, work, movies, music, and just everyday life - every other word seems like it has to do with sex, or just sin in general. Things are not so simple anymore. I took being a tween for granted and didn’t really understand what it meant when the Word told me that I would be tempted and that I would go through trials and tribulations. I thought my biggest problem would be accidently cursing when I was with my middle school friends from my private christian school; but the world is much scarier now. I didn’t realize I was going to grow up to feel and see different things that would make me want to break that vow with Christ. I didn’t realize that peer pressure was such a strong and prevalent force. And I definitely didn’t realize that the fear of being ridiculed or looked at as not fun or “the church girl” would make me want to compromise the essence of who I am. How do I compete with that as a young Christian?!... Deep. Breath. I realized recently that we as God’s flawed and sinful natured children cannot compete with that...at least

NOT ON OUR OWN. I am constantly reminded that I am weak, but I am also constantly reminded that God is strong. God is my strength, GOD IS OUR STRENGTH. A few months ago I found a passage that just clicked, and I knew God was speaking with me. It was one of those “when you know, you know” moments. Anyway, the passage is Philippians 2:15-16 and in it Paul reminds us to strive and fight as hard as we can to be blameless and innocent in the midst of such a perverted world and a twisted generation, his words not mine! He reminds us that we are lights in this world where there seems to be only darkness and that when we go before God we want to be proud of who we were on earth and how we hung on with all of our might to what God said in his Word so that nothing we did was in vain. When I catch a glimpse of how much God loves me and then feel how much I love Him I want so desperately to be the epitome of what Paul describes. I am definitely no angel. I have things to work on as a Christian, as do the rest of us. And I am certainly no better than anyone else. But the next time it comes up that I’m a virgin, instead of shying away from the matter I want to be able to embrace it. I want others to ask and be curious because that’s “my in”! That’s my way of letting others know a little bit about the best and the most difficult thing that has ever happened to me. That’s my MO.

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DOMINION Is The New Black

Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Order for Government in This New Millennium By Deanna Baxam

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One meaning of the word “faith” is a strongly held belief or theory. This is the context in which many of us see faith – as a collection of beliefs to which people become attached or to which they pledge their allegiance. Let’s call this ideological faith. When we look at faith in this way, it’s easy to see how a belief system can evolve into a consuming ideology, and how belief-driven ideologies have affected the state of our world, most often not for the better. It becomes even more complicated when ideologies that originated in a religious belief become entangled, over time, with the socio-political views of our own society or the world at large. Then, ideological faith can become destructive. No one needs fresh reminders of this. Our history is replete with accounts of people killing people in the name of

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religion. Nowadays, there are those who ferociously advocate ugly positions in modern politics that are based, quite alarmingly, on ideological faith. In the last American elections, for example, I was horrified and pained to hear Christians talk with scorn and hatred about the president of the United States because he did not fit their social, political or religious ideals of who our President should be. In fact, based on this behavior, I’d venture to theorize that ideological faith can become so twisted with political and other biases that it becomes uprooted from its religious moorings altogether. That is what I believe happened when many Christians, who by definition embrace the belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God, chose to support a presidential candidate from a religion that does not believe in the deity of Christ, because that candidate supposedly reflected their “values.” Yes, it can be quite confusing, this ideological kind of faith. Even more troubling is the fact that this belief system requires no personal accounting for how the ideology we support lines up with the religious principles we claim to believe in.

Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

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As I pondered the connection between faith and government, I realized that one could think of the word “faith” in very different ways. In fact, our approach to faith can dramatically affect this faithgovernment connection.

There is another definition of faith. When we take faith in its most personal interpretation, we see a paradigm for power that goes way beyond a passionate ideology that lacks personal accountability. This definition interprets faith as a complete trust or confidence in someone or something. For Christ-followers, this faith looks beyond what we understand or what we know from religion, and instead focuses our unwavering trust and confidence in the nature and character of God. I call this Kingdom faith. Unlike ideological faith, which is based in our understanding of a set of beliefs that requires little or no personal accountability, Kingdom faith relies entirely on God to be and do what He said He would do, in us as individuals, and in every area of life where we are to be an influence. It also holds us accountable for living according to what God said we should do and can do. Jesus often talked about the “Kingdom.” For many years we’ve read the gospels and thought He was talking about Heaven! But, if we look closer, we see He could not possibly be equating the Kingdom of God with Heaven. When He was questioned by the Pharisees, Jesus told them they wouldn’t see the Kingdom through observation, but rather the Kingdom was within them. He obviously couldn’t have meant Heaven, then, could He? When Adam and Eve were first given possession of the Garden, they relied entirely on God, on who He said they were, what He said they should do, and for what authority they had. And they had plenty of authority! God gave them the power to name everything in the Garden. They had dominion over the territory that had been assigned to them. God Himself didn’t name anything He made, except for the man. Adam and Eve named everything else. If you think about it, what you call a person, a thing, a situation–how you describe it–influences the way you perceive its relationship to you and its influence on you. Adam and Even sinned and lost their place of dominion, but Jesus came to restore it and to set humanity back in its rightful place in God’s creation, in the Garden. The prophet Isaiah, in foretelling the birth of Christ, said “the government will be upon His shoulders,” and that “of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” The Hebrew word used here for government is misrah, which means dominion or rule. Jesus came with dominion, and He came to restore humankind to our place of dominion. His death on the cross in atonement for mankind’s sin restored the broken scepter of rule that God intended for us to have before Adam and Eve traded it away. When we accept the sacrifice of Christ for our own lives, the framework is laid for receiving that scepter again for Kingdom rule over the territories assigned to us, the same kind of rule Adam and Eve had before things went awry. 18

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As Isaiah pointed out, there is no conceived limit or end to the dominion rule of Christ’s Kingdom, the Kingdom that is within us. Therefore, when we put Kingdom faith to work, we will begin to do the things Adam and Eve could do in the beginning. We will name the righteous outcome in the situations of social injustice we pray about. We will, through prayer for our leaders, invoke peace and dignity into our daily existence. If we exercise even the smallest kernel of Kingdom faith we can speak to the mountain before us, and it will move itself right out of its position and into the sea. Political schemes that seem so anti-God can be moved away as our leaders make righteous decisions. The impossible will become possible when we speak with His authority. God has prepared people to lead in government who will go into political contests, legislative sessions, courtroom proceedings and offices of public service with Kingdom faith and a clear understanding of the dominion authority God gave them. Others will lead in prayer and proclamation of God’s word, and

the result will be that governmental and political dilemmas will resolve before our eyes. I firmly believe the latest near-war escalation of words followed by detente between the US and Syria was resolved through prayer. There were people praying who were led by the heart of God, and some American church leaders openly called for a day of prayer and fasting as well. The result was that just when military action seemed inevitable, a solution opened up that could save many lives. Imagine every believer in Christ beginning to understand the authority he or she has been given by God to pray, speak and act in every sphere of human life. We would have an army of believers who begin to wield that authority to influence governments and nations in amazing ways, some through actions, some through positioning, and some through prayer behind the scenes. That’s what we need in this new millennium. It’s the kind of supernatural Kingdom faith that will change the world. It’s dominion. And that’s what’s up.

Is your

gluttony

keeping you from God? by Natalia Crosdale

We serve a loving and living God. Our loving and living God warns us against lust, gluttony, avarice/ greed, sloth/discouragement, wrath, envy and pride/ vanity. Feeding anxieties, doubts and frustrations with vices like recreational drugs, prescriptions, and a poor diet, you miss out on feeding your spirit with the meat of prayer. Spending time communing with God in prayer and/or fasting brings forth a sense of peace and clarity. Spending time exercising reduces stress levels, builds confidence, and accelerates the body’s release of toxins. For example, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), obesity increased from 15% to 34% in adults from 1988 to 2008. Also reported was the increase in prescription drug use from 25% to 31% in 2007-2008 alone, most common were anti-depressants for middle-aged adults and cholesterol reducing drugs for the elderly populous. In May 2008 an article was released highlighting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) lowered “value of statistical life” of 6.9 million USD, a decrease of roughly $1 million dollars from 5 years prior. What this means is that the less value the government 20

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Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. –1 Corinthians 6:19-20

places on a life, the less likely there is to be a justification for strict regulation and/or restrictions on pollution and other environmental dangers. What does this have to do with your physical fitness and spirituality? Everything! How can you be valued if you don’t value yourself? Our loving and living God established the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 as a guideline for how the Israelites were to conduct themselves. In spite of our loving and living God providing food, water, and victory early on, the people still, in Moses’ absence, turned to idol worship, bowing down and bringing burnt offerings to a golden calf. In Exodus15-40, the Israelites are featured wandering in the desert for 40 years. In their disobedience, roughly three thousand of the people were killed. Much like the EPA decreasing the value of a life, their disobedience devalued theirs. Through obedience there is no sacrifice. The Lord admonishes us in roughly 64 verses in the Bible to treat our bodies well and understand that it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Here are a few:

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You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord. –Leviticus 19:28 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. –Romans 12:1-2 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. –1 Corinthians 10:31 The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. –Matthew 6:22 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions – is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. –1 John 2:15-17

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. –Matthew 10:28 As it is my eager expectation ad hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. –Philippians 1:20 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! –Psalm 139: 13-18 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. –Romans 14:23

Your body is a temple, so exercise and other healthy disciplines are a form of prayer. Let us not be foolish in this area. 21

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Finances

& Business by Riolene Ibok

Jasmine and Isaiah, age 6 and 4, respectively, were generally the first children at the daycare at 7:00 AM and the last ones to leave at 6:30 or 7:00 PM. Arriving home between 7:30 and 8:00 PM, it was always a quick meal followed by a bath before the entire process began again around 5:00 AM the next day. To further add to the challenges, these two young children required a lot of attention from their father and I . However, the majority of their day to day care became my primary responsibility. Between the stress of caring for my two young children and the demands of work, I went from a size 12 to a size 4 within less than a year. As my health spiraled out of control, I began to lose my hair. No potions or hair care treatment could control the clumps of hair that shed on my business clothes. I also became short tempered with my husband and children. I often had to apologize to the children for being so snappy. All I desired was to stay in bed to enjoy the silence of a house without a husband or children or even envision my own “woman cave” free from the demands of family and work. While my joy and peace were being sucked out of me, I came to the realization that I had two options: either continue to work in corporate America as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or find

some other form of employment that compliments my role as a mother of two young children. In 2009, I gradually began to explore the possibility of starting an accounting practice in the midst of the financial recession. Out of fear, I became an “unofficial” partner of a friend’s Miami-based firm. Within a very short period of time, I realized my discontent with being an “unofficial” partner because I had minimal input in terms of the direction of the company despite providing the financial started-up cost for the Georgia location where I lived. Unfortunately, that realization came about $10,000+ too late. In November 2010, although still fearful, I started the process all over again. With minimal capital and being a glutton for punishment, I began discussions with another one of my classmates for the creation of another promising business venture. Unlike, my first attempt, I realized from inception that this business partnership would not last beyond the business school semester because this individual’s only contribution was her opinion. Since I was the most enthusiastic one about this venture, I continued down the scary road called “self-employment” alone.

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Lord, I believe; help my unbelief. – Mark 9:23-25 (NKJV) No one believed I could travel this road because I did not have an influential name that would cause people to gravitate towards me for CPA services. I also did not have influential friends who could refer clients to my practice. I also did not have friends or family members that were business owners. The initial process of birthing this dream felt like navigating through a vast ocean while using two dinner knives as paddles. However, I had an influential God named Jesus. Then a glimmer of hope came, surprisingly, from another prospective business partner, Marie. After signing the lease to a 750 square foot store front, I met a person that would be a key contributor in this journey. Marie introduced me to Ernest, an individual who had several tax preparation businesses in Florida as well as Georgia. Ernest had been in the business for over eight years and these businesses were financially successful. He knew how to market to my target area, so I joined his company as an affiliate. This relationship allowed for staff and sales trainings and gave me some much-needed morale support. Although I loved the professional career of a CPA, I loathed the idea of prospecting people for the sole purposes of selling my services. During that same time, I completed my second semester of business school which gave me an additional level of confidence in terms of how to successfully operate a business.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of host. ¬– Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) In January 2011, Accounting & Tax Advisory Group opened its doors to the Metro-Atlanta area. Surely, generating business would be an easy task. After all, I had the education, CPA designation, and professional experience. Unfortunately, I built it and the customers did not come. When the idea of completing 30 to 50 tax returns a day quickly faded, I had no choice but to begin to immerse myself in my faith and soon enough I was extremely content to even complete one per day. Yet, there were weeks where not even one customer walked through the doors. I began to invest in various forms of advertisements including post card flyers, and live Uncle Sam custom characters to direct traffic to my store front. On frigid days in February and March, I would visit the surrounding businesses to place coupons and flyers at the much busier business establishments. All these efforts resulted in minimal revenue. When I continued to

obtain minimal results from the physical activities I was performing, I began the intense prayers. Although I was praying throughout the journey, I managed the business as if my terms and professional knowledge were enough. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) Despite the slow revenue streams, failure was not an option because I desperately desired the flexibility of being a working mommy. I had nothing else to hold onto but the promises of God for my life and I had no one to voice the struggles I endured. I prayed constantly using specific versus in the Bible to keep me motivated and to speak life to a situation that appeared to be on life support. Moments when I was all prayed-out, I played praise and worship music. Despite feeling like I was swimming against the currents of success, my children and my faith gave me the strength each day to try again. From week to week, I gave myself an evaluation. This self-evaluation focused on what I did wrong, what I learned from the mistakes I made, and how to prevent the mistakes from happening again. I also evaluated what I did correctly and how to continue the winning streak. At the end of March 2011, I closed my new location for the season despite having a three week window between March and the April 15th tax filing deadline. I began to work from home to minimize operating cost such as staff payroll and utilities. At this point, I had accumulated a few clients but the revenues generated were nowhere near my corporate America salary as a CPA. Nonetheless, I was grateful for every sale that I was able to generate from the services I provided through the business. During this time, I also worked as a subcontractor for another womanowned CPA firm. This firm provided steady stream of audit income. It also provided much needed encouragement because this individual’s background was similar to mine and she, over the past 10 years, had generated revenues in the millions in her CPA practice. I believe it was the Lord showing me that if He can do it for her then surely He can do the same for me. However, the experience soon ended because this individual wanted to hire a full-time staff and I know I did not want to give up on my practice. After that relationship ended, I continued to operate the store front and increase my client base in the community. I also experienced another small victory. The Internal Revenue required all non-CPAs, attorneys, and enrolled agents to pass a registered tax preparer exam. For the first time I felt like I was on the right side of government

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legislation because I was not required to take such exams. To take advantage of this opportunity, Ernest hired me as an instructor to teach the required tax course. While working for Ernest, I still had my steady customer base and I was finally able to stabilize the business revenue streams. However, that opportunity came to an abrupt end on Jan. 18, 2013 when the United States District Court for the District of Columbia enjoined the Internal Revenue Service from enforcing the regulatory requirements for registered tax return preparers. I thought this was a

minor delay that would soon be resolved. Unfortunately, it has yet to be resolved.

I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV) Accounting & Tax Advisory Group is one avenue of provision that the Lord has used to bless my life and to bless other people with my professional talents. I remind myself daily that there are consequences to leaning on the people, other businesses, and even legislation, but the Lord will allow those various channels to be closed (whether temporarily or permanently) rather than for me to lose my faith in Him. In addition, despite the mountains of challenges, I often remind myself that I am not the first women to attempt this endeavor. There were many Proverbs 31 women that came before me and if God has blessed them, then I know He can do the same for me. Accounting & Tax Advisory Group continues to be open for business and there is no doubt we have the expertise and capability to operate in excellence. However, as the second in command (with the Lord being first), I am reminded that the Lord placed me in this position not because of mere knowledge or talents but because of His grace and mercy. Whether I have no clients or millions, my love and respect for the Lord should be the same. The Lord is not an ATM or a microwave oven with instant results available on demand. Instead my walk with the Lord is one of trust and faith daily. Do I get discouraged at times? Most definitely. However, the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delays are not denials.

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by Suzanne Delica

Why did God create family when He created Adam and Eve? Were the animals not friendly enough and did the trees not provide enough shade? A wood fire for warmth…and God, Himself, the greatest companion…surrounded them all their days. The sky revealed stars and planets, although light years away. It had to be the most beautiful sight—the ability to gaze upon the colorful masterpiece day and night. Yet, God insisted that Adam and Eve procreate, as if His works were incomplete: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” –Genesis 1:28 (ESV) So, God made man in his own image, male and female, and blessed them to make families.

Family is important to God and should be just as important to us. But, if we do not cherish our relationships with our parents, children, relatives, and friends, how can family survive these perilous times? Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. “How can Satan cast out Satan?” he asked. “A kingdom divided by civil war will collapse. Similarly, a family splintered by feuding will fall apart.” – Mark 3:23-25 (NLT) Since the 1980s, 40-50% of marriages end in divorce But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. –1 Corinthians 7:2 (ESV) Cheating Survey Finds That People Cheat With People Less Attractive Than Their Spouses Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. –Genesis 2:24 Why So Many Gen Y Men Live With Their Parents

But why?

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. –Proverbs 22:6 (NLT)

FAMILY, n. [L. familia.]

Juvenile Crime On The Rise

1. The collective body of persons who live in one house and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children and servants, and as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.

The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm. –Proverbs 12:7 (NLT) The answer to the why is because God knew the power of family.

2. Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe or race; kindred; lineage. Thus the Israelites were a branch of the family of Abraham; and the descendants of Reuben, of Manasseh, etc. were called their families. The whole human race is the family of Adam, the human family.

To be bonded by an idea of a shared Creator would eventually fade.

3. Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors.

Thus, we must protect the essence of “family” by protecting one another.

4. A team of players you cannot pick, but somehow seem to fit like a glove; a hand of individual fingers connected by a palm; a unit of members bonded by blood to triumph over trials and rejoice over victories together. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” –Romans 8:17 (NIV)

But, to be bonded by the Blood is everlasting. It is through this blood that life sustains life.

We must respect marriage and advocate procreation. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. –1 Timothy 5:8 (ESV) A Family That Prays Together, Stays Together

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Future & Media with Alex Hanse

I remember seeing Alex during our matriculation at the University of Florida. He was everywhere to the point that I thought he had a twin. So, I am not surprised at all that he ended up pursuing a career that puts him in direct contact with people! The most memorable thing I remember about Alex is that he always wore a kid’s Finding Nemo book bag. It was easy to spot him in a crowd because of that darn thing. Fast forward some years and he is working on a degree in recording engineering and has worked hand-in-hand with Tom Joyner and a few other notable people. I chose Alex to write this piece on future & media because he is so devoted 26

to empowering people today as part of a better tomorrow. His life motto is “dream without limits” and he does exactly that with his inspirational clothing line Foolies. Through Foolies (and I am sure many other endeavors Alex will pursue in life), he uses words and fashion to empower family, friends, and many others to pursue their dreams at all cost. Alex is a prime example of the type of people we need to highlight in media…not just for a 30 second segment, but for a lifetime! I wanted to pick his brain before I let him write his thoughts on how one’s personal vision of future can shape the world of media around them…

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1. Do you find times when your choice of career conflicts with your faith?

sincerely interested people who want to make a difference.

I am essentially an Entrepreneur. My forte or business requires me to sell T-shirts to a target audience that is generally college students. Originally, I was just trying to throw out cliché phrases and stay relevant. But, as I changed my walk and got deeper with my faith I wanted my brand to stand for something even deeper than it already stood for. I didn’t care to appeal to the masses anymore. I wanted to focus on those who needed to be uplifted and inspired. So maybe it did conflict with my faith, but now I think I am on track.

Well, what isn’t popular is how the youth is portrayed. We are usually just a “big accident.” So I try to uplift and highlight the youth that are doing positive things in the world. Maybe everything I post isn’t from a Christian brother or sister, but if it seems fairly Christ-like then I will share it.

2. What was one of the hardest decisions you had to make in your career as a Christian? How did you overcome it? Going full time. Taking that leap of faith is tough. Everyone is scared. It sounds great to be a small business guy/gal, but no one wants to put in that hard work. Honestly, I am still in the “overcome” process. Every day is a test and every other day is a testimony.

6. Do you see room for Christians to make positive strides in the media industry? Yeah, once again. Be Yourself. Don’t lose yourself. Have accountability buddies. Make a constant list of who you are and what you stand for. Reflect and see what is happening month to month. If it changes for the bad, then you know it is time to clean things up. 7. What is your vision of excellence in media? Is there anyone in the industry that currently serves as a role model to this vision?

4. What would you suggest to a Christian that wants to pursue a career in the media industry?

The media and excellence will never walk on the same line. The media will always be flawed. My role models are not all faith-based leaders and I am not 100 percent sure what their walk is per se or to the general public but they inspire me. Jay Z (which I am sure the world will be mad at me for saying that), Seth Godin, Michael Baisden, Tom Joyner, Oprah, Tony Robbins, and the list goes on and on and on. And of course, my mother. She will never be in the media because she passed away when I was younger. When I make it in life I will highlight her and make sure the world knows about the amazing woman she was.

Just be yourself. If you find yourself trying to appeal to the masses then you will be lost. In order to change the world you cannot be like the rest of it.

8. Do you see a connection between what is in the media today and what our future holds tomorrow? If so, how can what we put out in media today set us up for a better tomorrow?

5. How do you deal with what is popular in media and what is not? Does this affect the type of work you put out? For example, attracting a large number of people by publishing what is trending vs. attracting a select few of

Just be positive. If you want a more positive world, be more positive. Search for positive media to promote. Yes, the world isn’t all positive, but it isn’t all negative either and that [should encourage you to post the good things].

3. How do you see yourself making a positive impact in the media industry as a Christian? Yes, I do. I have a motivational spirit and a heart to change the world. I could care less if the media catches on to it. The world will catch on soon enough. I guess that still encompasses the media, but you get where I am going with that thought. I hope.

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A wise man once said, “Whoever controls the media controls the mind.” The volume of a quote like this can be seen throughout the country and all over the world. Every single day we are forced to eat the images that the media serves us as if there are no other options. If we do not eat what they give us then we will ultimately be out of the loop—seemingly malnourished from lack of being “in the know.” No one wants to be out of the loop so they continue to feed on the media, even if it leads to their destruction. But, you have a choice. You can be fed by the current forms of media or you can decide to grow and harvest from a new garden of enlightenment. Just as much “bad” images there of the Christian community there are thousands of positive ones as well. It just requires a little search. It requires you to scour the thousands web pages, twitter feeds, and fb hashtags of our society and then put out exactly what you want to see about who you are. If you want the world around you to know what we are really about; MAKE A POSITIVE POST ABOUT IT. Yes, we understand that people are being killed, our brothers and sisters are going to jail, and so on and so forth. But, we are also running companies, graduating from college, giving back to the community and so much more. And, whatever you put out people will believe. If you choose to put out what you have been fed then expect the minds of others to be controlled as well. This is the time to broaden the minds of those who are starving. This is the time to open up the ears of those who have heard nothing but the negative in regards to the Christian community and our nation. Make everyday a day to be positive. Your thoughts, your actions, and even what you post can ultimately shape the world.

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice. – John 5:28

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. – Luke 11:34

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. – Psalm 101:3-4

But test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

Our presence can be a positive one, but you have to get that message out there. The media won’t be in charge of doing so. Challenge everything! Find a light to every moment of darkness and use the reach of the media world to help you spread the truth.

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– 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

Fun & Education By Suzanne Delica

Can fun and education coexist? They can and this is how:

Travel!

Only 30% of Americans have a passport. (1) Get a passport. Study abroad. Have fun exploring and learning.

In order to become a cultured person, these are some of the key things you need to do Read (2)

Education is not limited to the four walls of an

institution. It is around us. It is in us. It is us.

Try something new! A dish. A style. A dance. A language. A person. Don’t be afraid. Fear is not fun or educational. It is a roadblock that sets you back. So kick it to the curb. And make courage your co-pilot instead. Be a happy student of life (3). Grow because of your mistakes, but excel because of your wise decisions. Nelson Mandela once said that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” So why not have fun while doing so?!? Get a degree and get some work experience. Corporate America loves Millennials! (4) Make a dream board. Learn about yourself and have fun making it all come true. 1. http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/02/04/americans.travel.domestically/ 2. http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Person-of-Culture 3. http://www.adaringadventure.com/guest-posts/how-to-become-a-happy-student-of-life/ 4. http://dailyinfographic.com/maximizing-millennials-why-to-hire-gen-y-infographic

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friends & Entertainment/the arts By Barnabas Johnson

We all know that secular entertainments and arts have a huge influence on our thinking and perception. We as Christians must align our core values of friendship with the type of worldly entertainments we enjoy. Let’s just clarify this ahead of time. Worldly music and entertainment is not a sin. The thoughts or actions that come from them are. Me personally, I do not put myself out there when it comes to it. I choose not to listen to secular music, drink alcohol, go clubbing, or partake in any secular activities. Only because I know the affect it has on my thoughts and the potential it is to resurrect my past lifestyle. Now when it comes to my friendships I do not reject the opportunity to be a light in darkness. All my friends know what I stand for and my beliefs in God. Look at Daniel and what happened when he stood firm on his beliefs despite his position or location. Daniels actions helped those that were in the world turn around and worship God. Just as Jesus hung out with sinners in their world of entertainments and arts, we are able to impact these environments, but we must act under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Actions speak louder than words and we do not need to point out how we are so different from our friends, but show it in action and love. I live by Corinthians 9:22, “To the weak I became weak, to 30

win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” Don’t compromise your walk with God and stick to your core values of Christ regardless if you are with your friends and/or strangers. Let your love of Jesus be apparent in the worldly entertainments and arts we enjoy. You control the entertainment. Don’t let it control you. The decisions you make about friendships shape your decisions about entertainment/arts in the personal and professional sense. We have to understand that not all of our friends will understand the zeal we have or are called to have for God. This article is not written to tell you to cut off your friends, but to stand firm in your beliefs and your relationship with God. Very few of us are strong enough to not let the worldly entertainment tarnish our walk. Can I be real? Even I struggle with being strong in secular entertainment up to this day as a leader in the church. Do I love my friends? Yes, but the bible says flee from temptations, not play with them. So I am proactive in not putting myself in situations that may ruin my testimony, opportunity, and spiritual credentials to spread the gospel. Friends have a major impact on our thought process and we must not allow the influences of our friends and secular entertainment to determine our character.

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Can I be real? I have lost a ton of friends after I decided to completely surrender and obey God. We must pledge our allegiance to God and not our friends. A friend will do one of two things. They will either part ways with you or respect your decision by not pressuring you to partake in secular entertainment and temptations. The problem for some of us is not the music, but the fear of letting our friends down and not pleasing them. Do you realize how serious this matter is? For some of us it is a life or death situation. We are called to pursue excellence as Christians. I honestly believe that this is not a matter of making a decision, but performing an action. We have to always make our walk with God a priority. Yes, I can give a ton of scriptures, but I am not. We know what we have to do sometimes and may even need a friendly reminder. Well here is your reminder to just do it. Choose this day who you will serve: your friends or God? We are called to bring God glory in all that we do. Is the secular entertainment or activities we engage in with our friends bringing God glory? If it is, then well done. If it is not, then changes must be made. Examine who are with your friends and who you are in a spiritual setting. They should be identical versions of yourself. Our purpose is found in Christ and not our friends. Being torn between your friends and Christ is not an option (notice I did not say “should not be”). The only way to pursue purpose and excellence is to make the decision to. I wish it was easier and I could have given step-by-step procedures on how to fix the dilemma that some of us face, but I can’t because this

shouldn’t be a decision that has to be made. We live for Christ and not for the world. We find our purpose in Christ. Do not conform to the ways of the world (our friends), but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The simple answer is choose to abide in Christ and renew your mind with the things of Christ. Can your mind really be renewed from secular music and entertainment? Food for thought: the only way to your heart is the things we watch and listen to. Abiding in Christ is a minute-by-minute decision, not a Sunday-by-Sunday decision. Renew your mind and feed your mind the spiritual things and not the secular things. With that being said: 1. Watch the company you keep and eliminate the negative influences. 2. Limit the amount of worldly entertainment and secular music that you enjoy on your free time. Replace it with the spiritual things and watch your way of thinking transform. 3. Don’t cut off friends because of who they are, but allow them to cut themselves off by your zeal for God. They will have decisions to make themselves: change their ways or part their ways. 4. Abide in Christ and the spiritual things secondby-second, not Sunday-by-Sunday. 5. Flee from temptations and resist the schemes of Satan, he works through our friends, environments, and the things that entertains us. Remember, Lucifer was the angel of music and still is today.

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Made in His Image By Carlie Harford

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The greatest gift we could have received, Was rose colored love, poured through Pores of a Man willing to die for a friend. Unmerited, undeserved, excellence, Has claimed souls, inherited as heirs, His righteousness runs right Through our veins, carrying the very DNA of a King. Excellency Ingrained in our image, giving it back, an honorable offering. Let us not sit on our own Throne, Throwing talents as table scraps, Or hiding lights under baskets. To do that, would be like building A mansion and smashing it. Without your strive towards a Heavenly prize, the body is not Lifted as high. Every part needed, placed perfectly to inspire. Stand up, stand out, glorify His name, Worthy of every working fiber in our being. Next time we are told that we are too young, Too old, unworthy, unclean, tempted to slack And loosen jeans, Remember the genes divinely dispersed inside, When the perfect human, decided to rise Showering us with every heavenly gift, Our life, hidden in the exact visage, of Him.

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Unwrapping RAP

to Reach a Generation for

Christ

By Ty Scott King

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For as far back as I can remember, I’ve always been inspired by music. As a Jamaican, reggae was as ingrained in me as my own heartbeat. I have the clearest recollection of dancing to Diana Ross when I was just a child in my family’s basement after we moved to Brooklyn, NY. And when we transitioned down to Miami, a mixture of bass and salsa was everywhere. But in our house, reggae still ruled, classic r & b came in a very close second, and country (because of my mom’s newfound love for it) became a distant third. We were always playing music because we had two resident deejays, plus it helped to keep us out of trouble. I had friends who could only listen to gospel because they were Christians, but our house was different. We didn’t consider ourselves Christians, so we were open to anything (within reason). That openness changed everything the day one of my brother’s friends came over to let us hear his KRS-One cd. We remembered this style from the Sugar Hill Gang days, but this time it captured us immediately. That was the moment the gift of rap was unwrapped for us, and we all fell in love with it. And just as most people do with gifts, we became lost in it for hours on end. So when deejays started laying reggae beats under rap vocals, it took the art form to yet another level. I held tight to my love for rap music for decades. Then, I gave my life to Christ and the grappling began. I heard the argument that rap was the devil’s music, but I’d also read in the Bible that God created everything. So, I prayed and came to my own determination—that if David could play the harp for God’s glory, people could do the same with any form of art…including rap!

Those souls were the only confirmation and seal of approval I needed. So, when God birthed the desire in me to launch out from being just a poet to being a poet who also raps, I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t take thought to what people would think. I had already seen too much. I was already a witness to how rap could influence a generation to go after Him. I had my own first-hand accounts to prove that the music was infiltrating hearts and renewing minds. There are so many amazing and talented people in the world. But unfortunately, far too many of them are using their God-given gifts to spread messages that are ego-driven, materialistic, self-centered, and degrading. So, why not promote those amazing and talented people out there who are using their God-given gifts to spread the Gospel…the message of hope and love? Why not encourage a gift that is reaching a generation and compelling them to fulfill The Great Commission? Why not unwrap the gift of rap and allow it to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” so that souls will be won for the Kingdom of God? Remember, God gives good and perfect gifts. So, accept the gift of rap (from The greatest Gift-Giver ever), unwrap it, and allow it to reach a generation for His glory!

Shortly after my “aha moment”, I started hearing about and meeting people who were actually rapping the gospel. They were young, relevant, and people’s lives were being changed for God’s glory. 35

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FREE GIFTS ANYONE? By Moesha McAfee

Who wants a gift? How about you? There are no strings attached. I must say, a gift is so exciting to receive on birthdays or Christmas, at dinner from that special someone, or even when someone is giving a gift to apologize. However, this gift that I speak of is within your reach, and you may not even know it.

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Well first, what is this gift anyway? Some say a gift is something you give to another as a present. Others say it is a contribution given only to receive something in return. The fact of the matter is that a gift is something that is given willingly to someone, without looking for something in return. John 3:16 tell us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” God gave us Jesus, a magnificent gift. For whoever will believe in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life. In order for the world not to be lost, Jesus ascended from on high and he took many captives with Him. For Jesus to ascend, He had to descend from heaven to earth, take on our sin, become shaped into iniquities, and then beaten and bruised for us. After the gift of God endured all of that, redemption was then established. As Jesus ascended from this world, he left gifts for us. Do you believe this? Even still, we are to do exceedingly greater acts because of Him. WOW! What a breathtaking sacrifice for Jesus to go through just to give someone a gift. Guess what? Your gift is within you! Have you opened your gift yet? I wonder what it is! Could it be a career in saving lives? Could it be a career to prosecute or defend others? Maybe it is a teacher, or could it be full time ministry? We must

activate the power that works on the inside of us. The power is the gift that is within you and me. When Jesus ascended back to heaven, He left the special gift of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the tasks we put our hands to. So, what happens when we don’t unwrap our gifts? Simple, when we don’t unwrap and operate in what we have been purposed to do, it causes a delay in our lives as well as the lives of others. The adversary uses different tactics to oppress and distract us. But, I am inspired to tell you that no weapon the enemy plots against you will succeed. You are a child of the King, and you can start operating in your gifts today. Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” God will not change His mind about what He has called you to do. Because He said it, that settles it. What is “that” deepest desire within, which seems too hard to shake? Or what is it that people see within you that you have not embraced? There is a call upon your life, which can only be manifested after you unwrap the gift within. You’re equipped to be you, and to do what God has gifted you to do. The hand of God chiseled you. You were carved and perfected into “you”. It took unique tools and time to handcraft you. No one can be you, but you! Will you permit your gift to blossom? Someone is waiting to receive it. Unwrap it today!

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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

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