The Best Life Magazine Nov Dec 2016 by Beverly Goodwin

THE

BEST LIFE NOV/DEC 2016

ISSUE 5

The Creed

Andreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Absolute Favorites

Walk In Love

King Jesus is Global

Our Writers STEPHANIE Battle TAMMY Padilla KAVITA RITSON KATRINA Goodwin SHIRLEY Bryant

LYAVIA PATTERSON

ANDREA Reid BEVERLY Goodwin

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THE BEST LIFE HOLY NATION OF WOMEN

NOV/DEC 2016 | The BEST LIFE

Dear Readers

his bi-monthly issue is so special because it represents 3 Holidays. We get to honor all of the brave women and men who have served their country. Would you take the time to thank someone you know who has put their life on the line and their families on hold to serve and protect us? Let us be grateful this Thanksgiving Holiday for all that our Father God has given us. Protection, Prosperity and Purpose. In this issue I wanted to present Jesus as King not as a newborn baby. So take the journey with us throughout the world to find Jesus. In every major populated country there’s a statue of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The people of that land want to recognize the son of the living God as the one and only King. Truly I enjoyed reading and imagining the journey that was taken to erect these great statues of hope. Don’t want to gain a pound this holiday season take a read on how not to overindulge in LyAvia’s “Holiday Eating.” Share in Andrea’s appreciation for makeup with her favorite items. Do we really love the way Lord so unselfishly loved us? Please take the time to study what Stephanie has prepared for us - Giving the ‘gift of Love. For God so loved the world that he Gave... Truly this has been a wonderful first year for the Best Life Magazine. I thank every writer for sharing their gifts and talents with all who would read their articles on how to have the “best life.” I reiterate and this is the theme for the magazine: Jesus says - I come that you might have LIFE and that more abundantly. I wish you for you the courage to do all that God has called you to do and to live on purpose and to share the gospel as the fulfillment of our lives.

BEVERLY GOODWIN Holy Nation of Women, Inc. The Best Life Magazine If My People TV for comments and more issues of the magazine Facebook us @ Holy Nation of Women Holynow14@gmail.com for inquiries or comments

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Contents

HONORING ALL WHO SERVED

16 12

HOLIDAY EATING

34 14 18 32 6

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ANDREAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ABSOLUTE FAVORITES

CHEF KAVITA

SEEKING GOD

THE CHRISTS OF THE WOLRD

Honoring all who servedâ&#x20AC;Ś our fathers and mothers, our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our aunts and uncles, our nephews and nieces, our cousins and our friends

In Loving Memory of Major General (Ret.) Alvin Bryant, M. D

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Army Soldier’s Creed I am an American Soldier. I am a warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier.

Air Force Airman’s Creed I am an American Airman. I am a Warrior. I have answered my Nation’s call. I am an American Airman. My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win. I am faithful to a Proud Heritage, A Tradition of Honor, And a Legacy of Valor. I am an American Airman. Guardian of Freedom and Justice, My Nation’s Sword and Shield, Its Sentry and Avenger. I defend my Country with my Life. I am an American Airman. Wingman, Leader, Warrior. I will never leave an Airman behind, I will never falter, And I will not fail.

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Marine Corps My Rifle - The Creed of a United States Marine This creed, accredited to Major General William H. Rupertus, USMC (Deceased) and still taught to Marines undergoing Basic Training at the Recruit Depots at San Diego and Parris Island, was first published in the San Diego Marine Corps Chevron March 14, 1942. 1. This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. 2. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. 3. My rifle, without me, is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. 4. My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit. 5. My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will. 6. Before God, I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. 7. So be it, until victory is America’s and there is no enemy, but peace!!

Navy The Sailors’ Creed I am a United States Sailor. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me. I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world. I proudly serve my country’s Navy combat team with Honor, Courage and Commitment. I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.

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Blessed Touch

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Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 2 Corinthian 9:11 Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

HOLIDAY EATING

he holidays are right around the corner and the time for enjoying family, being thankful, and of course good eating are HERE! But before you pile your plate with delicious home cooked food think about your health. Do you plan to exercise before or after to compensate for all those calories? Sticking to regular physical activity during the holidays can manage weight gain and control any health issues from being exacerbated. However if you do have certain medical 12

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conditions such as heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), or diabetes you especially should watch your diet during the holidays. Avoid eating or eat small portions of fatty, salty, and sugary foods. Better yet if you are cooking, prepare foods with low sodium, low fat, and low/no sugar added products. Find substitutes that offer health benefits, but still provides great flavor. Here are a few ways to eat healthier and protect your waistline during the holidays:

 Watch portions and calorie intake especially if you do not exercise regularly.  Use herbs and spices like rosemary, sage, and thyme to give flavor to your dishes.  Remove excess salt by rinsing canned beans and vegetables in a colander.  Make sure to eat fruits, vegetables, and legumes; get all the nutrients of a balanced diet.  Read and compare labels when purchasing food to prepare.  Eat lighter pieces of meat off the turkey due to fewer calories than dark meat.  Avoid eating the skin from the turkey, will save you a lot of fat calories.  Limit or avoid gravy which can add excess fat, sodium, and calories.  Split sweets with another person or sample small amounts of several desserts.  Limit toppings by only using a few marshmallows or light whipped cream. It is okay to indulge, but don’t over indulge this holiday season. Enjoy family, fun, and remember the true reason for the season!

LYAVIA PATTERSON, BS, BIOLOGY

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SEEKING GOD Let us not seek the face of God in vain, but let us have a purpose in seeking God. If we seek Him in sincerity, He will be found and will answer our prayers according to His will for our life. As servants of God, we should be bold and have free access to our God. Familiarity and closeness to God gives delight, frequency, focus and potency to prayer. A. Delight – God delights in hearing our voices communicating to Him. It delights Him to answer. Read Ps 37:11; Prov. 12:22b. B. Frequency – Come before His throne as often as we wish. He does not want us to be strangers to Him. Read Luke 18:1-8. The story of the widow is designed to teach us the fervency in prayer. C. Focus – Focus on Him, tell Him what you have need of. Read 1 Peter 5:7; Ps 142:1-2. D. Potency – No prayer, no power, little prayer, little power, much prayer, much power. Read II Sam. 22:33; Isaiah 40:29-31.

Shirley’s thought: In coming to Christ in prayer, let us remember to first give Him thanks for who He is, give Him praise for his goodness, His mercy, His grace, His love, and for all of His kindness. For our God loves praises, He inhabits the praises of His people; He lives in those beautiful praises that come from a sincere heart of gratitude. Amen, Amen!

OVERSEER SHIRLEY BRYANT, FAITH INTL CHURCH

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Andrea Reid, Make-up Artist Extraordinaire

ANDREA’S ABSOLUTE FAVORITES: MAKEUP MUST-HAVES

aving worked in the beauty business as a cosmetics sales consultant, I’ve found products that really agreed with my skin and made my skin look radiant and flawless. These products I cannot do without and are considered my must haves. If I don’t use these items, I feel my makeup is simply not at its best.

I change up my face cream in the winter months and use this product since the cold/harsh weather causes dry spots on my own skin. This product can be found at Sephora. While a 6.0 oz. jar at $34 can seem a little pricey to some, it is well worth the investment. This cream can be used, not just on your face but all over the body as well.

FACIAL & BODY CREAM

PRIMER

As we prepare to head into the winter season, the harsh cold weather can do a number on our skins; causing dry and ashy spots to appear. In instances like this, we have to change up our routines and use a face cream that will attack the dry and ashiness. The perfect remedy for this, in my opinion, is the FIRST AID BEAUTY Ultra Repair Cream-Intense Hydration cream. This cream is EVERYTHING!

As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, primer is extremely important for maintaining your foundation and giving a more flawless look. Always use a primer that addresses your skincare needs. For example, I have combination skin and I’m usually oily in my t-zone area (cheeks, nose and forehead). With this being the case for me, I’ve found a primer that knocks out the oiliness in my face. It’s

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one of Makeup For Ever’s High Definition (HD) primers. It is lilac in color and unfortunately is discontinued. However, MAKE UP FOR EVER has repackaged the primers and still offers primers that cater to your specific skincare concerns. While I was disappointed to find out that one of my favorites is no longer being sold, it felt good knowing that there’s a replacement. MAKE UP FOR EVER is a trusted brand so I will have to test out one of the newer repackage primers and see how I feel about it. There is another product that I use as a primer. The PORE fessional by Benefit addresses the oiliness in my skin as well. This is a very good product. This product can be found at Sephora. Find a primer that’s right for you.

SETTING POWDER

MASCARA

EYELINER

Ketts Cosmetics Setting Translucent powder is one of my all time favorite setting powders to use after applying foundation. Setting powders are good for doing just that— setting your foundation. It keeps your foundation intact so that it doesn’t run throughout the course of the day. Additionally, it addresses oiliness in the skin. Other setting powders that work well are: Mac’s Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder and Ben Nye neutral/colorless setting powder. I’ve found that these products work very well.

My favorite mascara is Definicil by Lancôme. While working at Macy’s, I found this awesome product that causes your lashes to pop and become noticeable by everyone. For someone like myself, who have small lashes, it gives the illusion that you really have lashes. If you use the booster, Lancôme Cils Booster XL, that goes with it--even better. It enhances your lashes even more. The cost of the mascara is $27.50 and a little over $25.00 for the booster. While I love this product, I don’t use it as much because it burns my eyes now for some reason. That’s one of the issues with mascaras. Some will cause your eyes to burn. Therefore, you have to find the one that agrees with you.

Hands down—I LOVE the gel liner, Fluidline Blacktrack by MAC. This is my favorite eyeliner—period. It glides on pretty easily and lasts all day.

EYE BROW GEL Anastasia Beverly Hills CLEAR BROW GEL is a definite MUST HAVE for me. This gel sets, defines and holds your eyebrow shape in place all day long. Since I have thin eyebrows, I use this gel to keep my eyebrows sculpted/defined. It aides in maintaining the actual outline of my eyebrows, making it easier for me to fill them in as I need. Love, love, love this product. EYESHADOW PRIMER Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion is an absolute must-have! I believe in this product. After applying this on your eyelids, this base keeps your eyeshadow in place all day long. It literally soaks up any oiliness that would cause creasing in your eyeshadow— ruining your look. I promise you that after using this primer, your eyeshadow will stay on all day!

If you are not interested in paying close to $30 for mascara, you may also want to consider something like “Blackest Black” mascara by Buxom. Also sold at Sephora, this product did not burn my eyes or clump up. This is a very good product for $20. If you still do not want to spend $20-30 on mascara, you can also try some of the Maybelline mascaras for under $10. There are times when I may walk into a drugstore and pick up some of these products and love how my eyes look after using. They work pretty well too.

After applying these products on my face, to ensure that my makeup stays in place all day, I use a setting spray to lock everything in. Urban Decay’s— all nighter makeup setting spray, long lasting; I cannot do without it! I’ve used this product on clients and they were also impressed by how long their makeup lasted. EXCELLENT product! There are other Urban Decay setting sprays to choose from: De-Slick Oil-Control and the Chill Cooling and Hydrating Makeup Setting Spray. Check them out and see how they work for you. The majority of the products mentioned above can be found at Sephora as well as Ulta. Since I use to work at Sephora, I tend to go there to replenish my stock. I know it may seem like a lot to apply these products on a daily basis but trust me when I tell you that they work! Your makeup will look great! If you need help with your makeup application, visit your local beauty counter; a makeup representative will be more than happy to assist. Most of us (makeup artists) love playing in makeup and are always willing to help. As always, have fun playing in makeup!

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The journey begins… King Jesus is Global

he King of all Kings can be found all over the world. Many people, of these countries, salute Jesus by erecting the biggest and best representation of their faith and love for the Saviour. We don’t worship the statue for the creator God has made everything. Enjoy the different world locations and let the global inspirations wisk you away or want to visit. Let’s explore… so turn the page to find your country or continent.

Jesus, King of the World This painting of JESUS has been chosen to grace the cover of the Catholic Missal covering Holy Week- Pentecost, April 17 through June 18,2011. Artist: Mary DuCharme Price $25,000 Dimensions 24.000 x 36.000 inches This original painting is currently for sale.

Revelations 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

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The Monumento al Divino Salvador del Mundo

his statue of Jesus Christ shows Him standing on top of a global sphere of planet earth, placed on top of the tall foursided concrete base pedestal and it is located in San Salvador City, El Salvador. The structure was designed by José María Villaseñor, built in 1942 and used to decorate the tomb of Manuel Enrique Araujo, the President of El Salvador between 1911 and 1913. The majority of El Salvador‘s population visits the monument annually on August 6th to join in the celebration of the Transfiguration. According to gospel, this

significant event marks the miracle when Jesus and his apostles climbed to the top of a mountain and rays of light shone from his body. If you visit the monument note that it is located near downtown San Salvador at the Savior of the World Plaza. The plaza is a grassy traffic island at a busy intersection, so there is no parking available. The best time to see the monument is at night when there is a full moon. By Tammy Padilla, Blessed Touch LLC.

(translated Monument to the Divine Savior of the World, El Salvador)

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. NOV/DEC 2016 | The BEST LIFE

The Christ the King statue, Southern Africa

he Christ the King statue is a Catholic monument and shrine overlooking the city of Lubango in the South of Angola. It was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), as one of only four in the world. This 30 meter (98.42) high white marble statue was built in 1957. The monument was designed in the 50s by Portuguese engineer of Madeira FrazĂŁo Sardinha, and is listed as an Angolan World Heritage Site as of April 18, 2014. The statue was built in 1957, by the ancient settlers of the region of Madeira (Portugal). It was built as a Catholic landmark, but represented colonial interests in various Portuguese countries during the colonial period. Built on a base of cement and hydraulic lime, at an altitude of two thousand 130 meters above sea level, the monument rests on a foundation of stones, cement and bricks, with two levels to support a ladder to the last, which is more practical view the statue.

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Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Christ the King of Poland

he tallest statue of Jesus Christ resides in Ĺ&#x161;wiebodzin, Poland towering at 108 feet tall (33 meters); a meter for every year He lived on this Earth. The statue is called Christ the King and it was erected on November 10, 2010, which actually stands at 172 feet tall because of the 9 foot crown and a 54 foot tall embankment it sits on. The Roman Catholic small town of 21,000 came together to raise private donations. Designed by priest Sylvester Zawadzki, this magnificent statue took five years to construct and $1.5 million to build. If you are ever in Poland make sure to see this wonderful monument. Presented by LyAvia Patterson

John 10:10 â&#x20AC;ŚI am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

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Cristo Rei of Dili, East Timor, Indonesia

hrist the King of Dili is an 88.6-foothigh (27.0 m) statue of Jesus located atop a globe in Dili, East Timor. The statue was designed by Mochamad Syailillah, who is better known as Bolil. The statue was officially unveiled by Suharto in 1996 as gift from the Indonesian government to the people of East Timor, which was at the time still a province. The statue is one of the main tourist attractions in East Timor. The statue, and the globe on which it rests, are situated at the end of the Fatucama peninsula, facing out to the ocean and can be reached by climbing some 500 steps It took almost a year of working to create the body of the statue, which was fabricated by 30 workers in Sukaraja, Bandung. It was made of 27 separate copper sections, which were then loaded onto three trailers and shipped to Dili. Reconstruction of the statue, including the globe and a 10-meter-high cross, took three months. It was unveiled on 15 October 1996.

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John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Monument to Christ the King, Karachi – Shahrah-e-Iraq St Patrick’s Cathedral

his monument stands overlooking one of the busiest streets of Karachi – Shahrahe-Iraq. The idea for this 54 feet high architectural beauty emerged in 1926. It is the only structure of its kind in the city of Karachi and is popular with tourists. Vincent Gimenez S.J. was the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Parish when Pope Pius IX initiated the Feast of Christ the King (celebrated on the last Sunday in October). Fr. Gimenez was the first to introduce the procession of Christ the King through the streets of Saddar Town in October 1926.

In 1927 the local branch of the Apostleship of Prayer conceived the idea of erecting a monument that would be a symbol of devotion to the Scared Heart of Jesus. The Catholics of Karachi and surrounding areas got together and formed a Board consisting of 26 members. Fr. Gimenez was the President, R.A.M D’Silva was General Secretary and C. S. Lobo was Treasurer. In addition, 14 Catholic Associations connected with the parish and representative of the community around 80 persons also went about collecting donations, expediting the work of planning and overseeing construction.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

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Cristo Rei, Lisbon, Portugal

salms 91:4 His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. The Cristo Rei in Lisbon-Portugal is one of the landmarks for tourists to see when they visit for vacations. When anyone looks at the images of this statue of Christ, it is “highly lifted up” (as we know Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior to be) with outstretched arms. As Christians, we know that Christ accepts everyone and welcomes every sinner with opened arms as the statue reflects. We know that Christ is our protector--keeping us from all harm and danger. We know we can rest comfortably in His arms because He cares for us. If only we would seek His face and trust Him in every area of our

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 24

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lives. He wants to be our Sovereign God. He wants to be the reigning King in our lives. All we have to do is accept Cristo Rei as our personal savior by acknowledging that He is the son of God who died for all of our sins. He died on the cross and rose on the third day just for us. He sacrificed himself and died on the cross for all of us. This is how much He loves us and so He extends His opened arms, wide for us to come unto Him. So, in this season, let us come unto Him. Let us exalt Him and lift His name on high. Let us exalt the King of kings! Presented by Andrea Reid

The Cerro del Cubilete, Guanajuato, Mexico

Picture by Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata

In English, “Dice Cup Hill” is a 2,700 meters (8,900 ft) mountain in Silao Municipality Cerro del Cubilete is one of the most historically important religious shrines in Mexico and marks the country’s geographical center. The current structure and base for the 23 meters (75 ft) statue was created by artist Nicholas Mariscal in 1944 to honour the struggle of the Cristeros. In the words of former Mexican President Vicente Fox, the statue serves as a “rebuke to the suppressors of religious freedom” who sought to quash the Church during the persecution of Christians in Mexico during the first half of the twentieth century.[1] John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

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The Jesus statue in front of St. Mary Cathedral in Yangon, Myanmar Escultura de “El Sagrado Corazón” En Oviedo

Klin Slovakia statue

John 17 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

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Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Christ of Vũung Tàau, Vietnam Presented by Katrina Goodwin

his statue of Jesus Christ is standing on Mount Nho in Vung Tàu, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Dong Nam Bo Vietnam. It is 105 feet height with arms that stretch 60 feet long. The Nho Mount that it stands on is 558 ft. It was built in 1974 and finished by 1993. Inside the statue is a 133 step staircase. It sits on top of a hill overlooking the ocean. When you climb up the 100 plus stairs and get to the top, you will be literally standing on Jesus’

shoulders. The entrance of the statue is on the coastal road Ha Long Street. The shoulders of the statue are balconies and can accommodate up to 6 people to view the beautiful surroundings. The statue has metallic halo rays around its head which act as the lightening rod. The statue is also made of concrete with a granite shell. Members of the Vung Tàu Catholic Association built this statue of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? NOV/DEC 2016 | The BEST LIFE

The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Roxas, Capiz in the Philippines

he 132-foot (40 m) monument, said to be the tallest of its kind in the Philippines, was built in 2015 within the Pueblo de Panay mixed-use development. The construction of the statue began on the last quarter of 2011 and was completed on January 5, 2015. The construction of the statue was done by a sevenman core team led by a Pilipino sculptor John A. Alaban from Roxas City and the foreman Jose ‘Onyot’ Clarito.

Picture by John A. Alaban

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Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The Christ of the Mercy, Nicaragua

s a colossal statue of Jesus Christ in the city of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, to a height of 134 m. The statue is located highly above the northernmost seawall in the bay of San Juan. It is possible to take a tour from one of the hostels in San Juan up to the statue. Otherwise pedestrian must cross a suspension bridge over Rio San Juan and follow stone roads up the mountainside to the feet of the statue.

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Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Christ of the Ozarks, Arkansas, United States

hrist of the Ozarks statue is a monumental sculpture of Jesus located near Eureka Springs, Arkansas, atop Magnetic Mountain. It was erected in 1966 as a “Sacred Project” by Gerald L. K. Smith and stands 65.5 feet (20 meters) high. A monumental sculpture of Jesus located near Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Built in

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1966, the statue is more than 20 meters (67 feet) tall. During the Great Depression, Smith served as an organizer for Huey P. Long’s Share Our Wealth movement and led it briefly following Long’s assassination in 1935. After many years of highly controversial, religiously charged activism, Gerald L. K. Smith retired to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he

bought and renovated an old mansion. On other parts of the estate property, he planned a religious theme park, which he called “Sacred Projects”. He commissioned the centerpiece, a gigantic statue of Jesus, completed in 1966.

Christ the Redeemer of Maratea (Italian: Cristo Redentore di Maratea), Italy

hrist the Redeemer of Maratea is a statue of Jesus Christ in Maratea, southern Italy, realized in Carrara marble in 1965 by Bruno Innocenti, a sculptor from Florence. This is the third tallest statue of Jesus in Europe, after Christ the King in Ĺ&#x161;wiebodzin, Poland and Cristo-Rei (Christ the King) in Lisbon, and the fifth in the world after Cristo de la Concordia and Christ the Redeemer, both in South America. It is 21 meters high (68.9 ft.), the head is 3 meters (9.84252 ft.) in height and the arm-span is 19 meters (62.3 ft.) from fingertip to fingertip. On 9 September 1963 the Piedmontese entrepreneur Stefano Rivetti announced that a giant statue would be raised, with his own money, on the top of Monte San Biagio, as a tribute for Marateaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population. The construction of the statue began in late 1963, and was finished in 1965. Acts 23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

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Christ the Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

he Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro is one the New Seven Wonders of the world. It was proposed by a group of Brazilian Catholics, and signatures and donations was collected during Monument Week, to begin the project. They wanted a Christian display because of the godlessness they perceived to be in the society at that time. Several designs were considered, including a cross and Jesus holding a globe; but, the display of Christ with open arms was chosen to represent peace. When researching this statue, and studying the features that makes it a wonder, I begin to think about Christ as a glorious King, and how this statue displays this, in more than just the name. First, the architect of the stature speaks to Christ as King. The materials, reinforced concrete and soapstone, speaks to the stability and strength of the materials made to construct the structure. Reinforced concrete is a composite of the relative low strength of concrete, reinforced with steel bars to prevent unacceptable cracking from the demand of the weather. When we think of Christ as King, as Christians our soul rejoices because we know that, though we are frail in nature, we are empowered in our relationship with Christ, because He acts as a reinforcement, joining his spirit of strength and stability with our spirit man, helping us withstand the trials of life. Not only does the structure make the Christ the Redeemer statue a great depiction of Christ as King, but the location does as well. The statue sits on the peak of the Corcovado Mountain, overlooking the city of Rio. The position of the statue, makes it visible from great distances. The peak of Corcovado is a big granite dome, which describes a generally vertical rocky formation. As we celebrate Christ as King, this Christmas season, we are celebrating the fact that through our relationship with Him, we are lifted up passed our rocky past and elevated to to a place of glorification. 32

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Lastly, the fact that the statue stands is a depiction of Christ as King. Even though the statue came as a result of the desire to have a Christian monument on Mount Corcovado, this statue of Christ was not the first choice. In 1850 the priest, Pedro Maria Boss, proposed that the Christian depiction to be one of Princess Isabel, who was the daughter of Emperor Pedro II. However, the lack of support caused the project to die. When considering that Christ was not the first choice, but was considered the best choice, and that He now sits high. This shows that Christ reigns over everything and everyone. In Romans 14:11, scripture tells us that every knee will bow and tongue would acknowledge God. So, even if Christ is not the first choice, he will reign as the ultimate choice, for all. Recognized as CHRIST the KING! So, as you gaze on the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, I hope it brings you a sense of joy and gratefulness that you are relationship with the King of Kings. Or, if you are not in relationship, that it will incite a desire within to come into relationship with the King.

DEAR JESUS KATRINA GOODWIN

THANK YOU for showing and giving your people unconditional love. All

Thank you Jesus for showing me how to love my enemies - even the

thanks go up to you because you are worthy to be praised. Thank you Jesus for letting me still be able to use my limbs such as my arms and legs. Thank you for a mouth to talk. Thank you for all my family and friends that are here with me today. I thank you Lord for giving me the love to share with love ones and even ones I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know.

ones who are not for me or for you. I thank you for waking me up each and every day and giving me breath to breathe. I thank you for good food to eat and water to drink to keep the body nourished and able to move. I especially thank you for helping me mentally, physically and emotionally. I am striving to a better person through your word.

I give thanks to you Jesus because you deserve all honor and praise for dying on the cross to save me from my sins. You are the one who heal the sick, not the doctors. So you get the praise. You are the one that makes a way out of no way in any situation. So you will always get the credit. This is my thank you to Jesus and if you read this and believe this for yourself it can be your thanksgiving to Jesus too. Psalm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to you, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto you forever.

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C HEF KAV ITA

Peppermint Bark Ingredients â&#x20AC;˘ -2 (12 oz) packages milk chocolate chips â&#x20AC;˘ -2 (12oz) white chocolate chips â&#x20AC;˘ -1 (12 oz) package white peppermint candy canes, crushed, divided

Directions 1. Line a 9x13 inch pan with aluminum foil. 2. Melt the milk chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, for 1 and half minute. Do not overheat or chocolate will scorch. Spread the chocolate evenly in the prepared pan; chill until set, about 30 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe glass or ceramic bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring after each melting, for 1 and a half minute. Stir in 1/4 cup of the crushed candy canes. Spread the white chocolate mixture evenly over the milk chocolate. Sprinkle the remaining candy cane pieces evenly over the white chocolate layer. Chill until set, about 1 hour. Break into small pieces to serve.

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C HEF KAV ITA

Apple Bites Ingredients • • • • • • •

¼ cup packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 2 tablespoon sugar 3 tablespoons butter, melted cup chopped pecans small Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced into 8 (1/2-inch) slices • 1 (8-ounce) can Pillsbury Original crescent rolls

Directions 1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. Set aside. 3. Melt butter and toss apple slices in butter, set aside. 4. Arrange crescent roll triangles on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Evenly distribute brown sugar mixture onto each triangle. 5. Sprinkle each triangle evenly with the chopped pecans. 6. Place an apple slice on the wide end of each triangle. Wrap crescent roll dough around each apple. 7. Brush each crescent roll with remaining butter. Sprinkle lightly with sugar. 8. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before serving

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G I VING T H E GIFT OF LOVE Stephanie M. Battle, W.I.F.E. Prayer Ministries

hen searching for the “right” gift for someone, we often place a value on the person, and select a gift based on our assessment. For instance, we usually get a nice, big gift for mom because we see value in mom. We appreciate all that she does for us. It is very rare that we get a gift for someone who feel is not “worth it”. I want to challenge you, during this gift-giving season, to commit to giving the gift of love, which is one that is definitely hard to give if we think the recipient is underserving. However, it’s the gift that everyone needs, and we, as Christians, should commit to giving this love to everyone. John 13:34-35, tells us that we will be known as followers of Christ by the love we show one to another. So, how do we give the gift of love, when it doesn’t seem deserved? Think about the keywords below that can be used for the acronym of love:

Look Back (reflect) When we reflect on our life and realize that we are the recipient of underserved love, it will help us love others even when you feel they are not worthy of your love. Ephesians 2:4-5 - 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive 36

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together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). When we understand that God loved and continues to love us when we are undeserving, it makes walking in love a little easier.

Obedience In John 14:23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching”; and the Bible commandS us to show love, one to another. When we are more focused on our obedience to God, more than someone’s loyalty to us, then we can walk in love, in spite of.

Vision To make walking in love easier, adjust our vision, changing how we see people, not from our eyes, but from the eyes of God. 1 Samuel 16:7, says, “…for the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” When we put our God glasses on we are able to see through his eyes of love. Lori Moss, the author of “My Heavenly Father’s Eyes”, says “The question has been asked, “Will it improve our relationships if we see one another the way God instructs?” The answer is a resounding “YES!” It will enhance our relationships. When we see one another through the eyes of our Heavenly Father, we see them not only with our eyes, we see

them with our hearts.” We must change our vision in order to properly present the gift of love. Expectations Lastly, we need to relax our expectations. Most time when we have concluded that someone is undeserving of our love is because we have been hurt or disappointed. I have learned that this disappointment comes from unmet expectations. We expect people to do things that only God can do for us, which is unfair, and when they don’t meet those expectations, we find them hard to love. For example, in Deuteronomy 31:6, God tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is the only one that can, and carry through, with that promise. So, even though it’s hard, you still should walk in love towards the person who left you in the relationship. I know walking love is not always easy; but it makes things easier when you do it. So, when you’re finding it challenging think about LOVE as an acronym to remind yourself why and how you should do it; and if it is still hard, think about the love Jesus displayed for us while suffering on the cross.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

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