Cover Designed by Lori Robison Carter
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Greetings from the Desk of the Founder: Grace and Peace to you all. It is a pleasure to greet and introduce to you Rebirth (formerly the Kingdom’s Journal). God gave me the vision for this in 2010 and this has been a journey for all of us. This is not a magazine for the church, but a publication designed for women, filled with information, and inspiration, to aid them in their journey towards wholeness. We have articles, and columns that speak to those areas of hurt, bitterness and resentment, anger and frustration, weaknesses and feelings of inadequacies while bringing moments of peace, a moment to breathe, times of laughter, times of refreshing, renewing and rebuilding of the spirit and the soul.
So why the name change? What is Rebirth? We talk more about this in the self titled article rebirth, but simply put, the process of being born again; not just a spiritual rebirth, but emotional, financial, social, and psychological. Taking into consideration my own personal story of transformation, and the many women I have encountered since the publication of the original Kingdom’s Journal, it was only logical to make the change as we endeavor to help the American women of all nationalities, cultures, religious backgrounds, marital status, parent or not, and without regard to social class and status. In every neighborhood, subdivision, school house, church house, etc. there are hurting, dying women, that have suffered pains unimaginable, experienced brokenness, and/or are in search of a Fresh Start. As vast and dynamic of a country as is the United States of America, yet underneath the strength of the 21st century Super Power, lies a population of women who go unnoticed, unheard, unseen, devalued, ridiculed and misunderstood, even though they walk among us, work among us and live among us. You can have two women living side by side for years in one neighborhood, never knowing that they live either very similar lives or very different lives. Our goal here at Rebirth is to reeducate, restore, reintroduce these women to society as the phenomenal women they are, the gifted and talented creation of God as He intended. We salute the women that have chosen to make themselves vulnerable through the writings you will read in Rebirth. The articles and stories within will make you laugh, cry, rejoice, and prick your heart unto salvation. One writer tells of her journey from being diagnosed with two different types of cancer at the same time and her miraculous recovery in A Miracle in the Making; an author’s telling of the making of her newest book titled Anything’s Possible: a 47-Day Prophecy; and our feature story is of a woman diagnosed with lupus and ADHD while having a son with ADHD, her struggle daily, and how she overcame the disease to becoming a certified Life Coach in Lupus and ADHD Never Looked so Good. Then, Pastor Darlene Richardson, takes us into the life of being the first lady and co-pastor with her husband; while we take a deeper look at marriage and divorce in Marriage and Family and Life After Divorce. There is a poetry corner with my favorite pick of the season as we salute Dr. Maya Angelou. There are a host of other goodies to sink your teeth into as we celebrate women, and reach out to help those in need of a Savior. Join us at the altar for the Rebirth of the Total Woman. This season’s theme is Beauty for Ashes. "He'll give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." Isaiah 61:3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
FEATURE STORY
Cover Designed by Lori Robison-Carter A Moment in Worship Greetings from the Desk of the Founder Letter from the Editor
Inside Front Cover
Tribute to Maya Angelou
22
Rebirth Dr. Vanessa Williams-Cook
34
I’m Every Woman Pastor Darlene Richardson
38
Lupus & ADHD Never Looked so Good Kisha Johnson McRae
61
When is it My Time Life Coach Darlene Mingo-DuBois
72
Miracle in Making Mother Sadie Deas
73
God’s Hand Hope K . Key
80
Interview with Dr. Evelyn M. Drayton Author of The 47-Day Prophecy
83
Surviving After Divorce Christal Brown Heyward
89
From the Heart The Grief Network
93
Women in Business Schrendria Robinson
96
3 5
Bible Trivia
14
Receive and Maintain God’s Freedom Lady Vengie McMillan
16
Mom’s House
18
15 Minute Devotional
20
Phenomenal Woman
21
The Rebirth Education Corner
28
Putting Stress in Its Place
29
Rebirth Tip Hotline
31
10 Tips to Raising A Healthy Family
33
10 Tips to Achieving Financial Wellness
43
Marriage & Family
45
The Many Faces of CDV
51
10 Tips to the Total Woman Makeover
69
The Story of the Butterfly Rebirth
Poetry Corner
98
Rebirth Book List
Give Your Life Today
100
102
104
Letter from the Editor-1st Edition First and foremost, let me say what an experience editing this work has been for me. When I began working for Office Depot pat time in May, I was looking or experience to get my career started in the publishing and design world. I never would have dreamed meeting Vanessa and becoming the editor and layout designer of a project this vast. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of South Carolina, and while I have confidence in my skill and ability to do my job, I have yet to find anyone willing to let me prove it‌‌...until Vanessa. I cannot thank her enough for the opportunity she has given me. While reading the Journal, I have familiarized myself more with certain Scriptures and the Word of the Lord. I have been fortunate enough to know the deepest thoughts of some of our writers as they put pen to paper to share them with others. I have read about experiences from people that have strength I am not sure that I will ever have, as they share some of the most painful and scary experiences of their lives with others. God bless them for getting through in one piece. This was my first project, and therefore took me a bit longer than I had hoped to complete, but along the way I gained new skills and refreshed some old ones that had recessed into the back of my mind. I hope you all enjoy what you see and read, and com e back for more in the editions to come. And last but certainly not least, thank you Vanessa for giving me the opportunity to finally get my name in print. I look forward to working with you in the future. NGF is currently looking for the following: Event Coordinator Education Coordinator Community Relations Coordinator Legal Advisor Graphics & Printing N.G.F. Subscriptions & Distribution Email nanasgirlsfoundation@gmail.com For Story Submission: ngfcarolina@gmail.com All material submitted for publication are owned and copy written by NGF by the expressed permission of each writer. Freelance Opportunities available through NGF, please submit a sample copy of your writing, and your resume for consideration.
For all your editing, design, publishing and photography needs, please contact me at: 4 Paws and A Tail 843-330-6073 lorirobson@comcast.net
Our note to you... It is our sincere prayer that this publication will be as inspirational as it is informative. We pray that you will turn to Rebirth as an investment in your complete and total transformation. We will strive to provide you with responsible and timely information and articles that will both edify God, but also edify you the reader. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our faithful readers and subscribers for your continued support and payers. We pray that the articles and insights shared in this publication are a blessing to you and look forward to seeing you next time!!
“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord Hosea 2:19-20
Please send all prayer requests, comments and responses to articles to ngfcarolina@gmail.com If you ae interested in publishing your story or freelance writing opportunities please email your resume and story and we will contact you.
veggie & organic
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A Faith Based Non-Profit Organization Founded for the Betterment of All Women
This nonprofit organization was formed for the primary purpose of aiding and assisting women in the reinvention of themselves, spiritual development, re-education, and life coaching. NGF will offer its clients an opportunity to volunteer with the foundation through our consignment shop, healing & wellness center, and assisting with special events and projects. These ladies will receive life skills training, assistance with continuing education, job readiness and search. The organization caters to women ages 18-40. They are required to complete a 6-to 12 months of training program, using the curriculum designed by Dr. Vanessa Williams-Cook, which though designed for all women; caters to the need of each individual person. Upon completion of their individualized training program, each participant will receive a certificate of completion, and assistance with job placement; to include the possibility of working with the foundation in one of its various programs. In 2020 NGF will open a home-The Annie Ruth Delaney Home for Young Women, which serves women ages 18-40 will be provided for them if needed, but they are not required to live in the home. And in 2021 The Genesis Healing and Wellness Center will open its doors to serve both men and women.
NGF BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
Dr. Vanessa Williams-Cook, Editor-In-Chief Ordained Elder and pastor, psalmist, songwriter, author, recording artist, and the Executive Director of NGF. She is a wife and mother of three sons, a recording artist, author, certified life coach, and currently serving as the Assistant Pastor and Worship Leader for Perfecting Lives Tabernacle Sounds Of Praise in Florence South Carolina.
Kisha Johnson-McRae-President and Featured Guest President of NGF, Emotional Healing Strategist and Transformational Coach/ Speaker, and CEO of the IamKishajmcrae brand. She has been a life coach for 13 years working with women, children and families. She is a wife and mother of two (daughter and son), and is a resident of Bronx, New York.
Lori Carter-Graphic Designer Cover Designer newlywed, mother of 2. Keeping her faith bigger than her fear has gotten her where she is today. Ambitious, loved, loving. Happy. She is the owner and operator of an After Hours Designs, Photography Graphic designs, crafty creative business.
NGF, Inc. is looking to fill 3 open Board seats for 2017. If you have a passion for the betterment of women worldwide, contact NGF, Inc. at ngfcarolina@gmail.com to request a Board of Directors Application. Along with this application, please submit a resume, a 500 word essay on how you may contribute to the Women’s Community Initiative, to include your #1 issue concerning women, a recent picture, bio and contact information to ngfcarolina@gmail.com
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. Psalm 112:6-8
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink…and out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 6:35:7:37-38
Dr. Vanessa Williams-Cook, Director livingwateroutreachmin@gmail.com 843-580-2508
1. On the sixth day God a. said, Let the fowl fly above the earth” b. Created herbs and fruit trees c. Created man d. Rested 2. The tree, the fruit of which man was forbidden to eat was the tree of a. knowledge of good and evil b. knowledge of evil c. evil d. life
Check your basic knowledge of the Bible with these easy Teasers. Take a trip back to Sunday School, vacation Bible School and Bible Study to help you with the answers. Send your answer sheet to livingwateroutreachmin@gmail.com or mail your answer sheet in to P.O. Box 4949 Florence, SC 29501. We have a gift for you.
3. It rained for a. 150 days and nights b. 40 days and nights c. 40 days d. 40 nights 4. Ishmael was the son of a. The son of Hagar b. The son of Isaac c. The son of Abraham’s brother d. The son of Hagar’s brother 5. God formed man of a. Clay b. Mud
6. David’s best friend’s father turned out to be his? a. enemy b. benefactor c. teacher d. brother-in-law
11. How many disciples walked with Jesus? a. 11 b. 21 c. 12 d. 72
7. “Get thee behind me Satan,” said Jesus to? a. Bartholomew b. Judas c. Peter d. Simon the Cyrene
12. How many Tribes of Israel are there? a. 13 b. 15 c. 12 d. 10
8. Golgotha is the place where Jesus was? a. scourged b. crucified c. buried d. beaten and crowned
13. How many books of the Bible are there? a. 10 b. 66 c. 21 d. 120
9. Elizabeth’s and Zacharias’ son was named ? a. Joseph b. James c. Jeremiah d. John
14. What was the name of Jacob’s daughter? a. Anna b. Dinah c. Mary d. Martha
10. The word Revelation means and who wrote the book of Revelation? a. Secret treasure and Moses b. Unveiled and John the Beloved c. Warning and James
15. He was the weeping prophet a. Isaiah b. Jeremiah c. Micah d. Joel
"The Virtuous Woman" A virtuous woman is one of a kind The Bible says she is hard to find. Her price is far above rubies, which are rare, She must be handled with extreme care. Her husband knows she’s a precious gem indeed, He knows that she is willing to please. Her children treat her with honor and respect, They know that she always does her best. A virtuous woman does all that she can, She’s always there and stands by her man. Though she’s humble and meek, she takes no mess, You can count on her to pass the test. You will know her when she passes you by, For she always holds her head up high. She’s courageous and strong, a dignified lady she is, You will never know that she has shed many tears. A lady of class and elegance too, She will let you know what you will need to do, To come up to her standard, which is very high. For she is headed for her home in the sky. So to the virtuous women of today, Always remember the part that you play. Just be Christ like, for He is the one, Who gave His only begotten Son. Bobbie J Davis
Women of God, “Receive and Maintain God’s Freedom”!
This is the season to Since the Beginning, God has given us the Right, the Power, and the Freedom to choose, between light and darkness, good or evil, love or hate. With the Free Will to choose for ourselves our own way, to find our own destiny, and not have others, or the collective, or society, or the government, choose for us. This can be seen in Genesis when God gave the first
man, Adam, vast freedom when he was told that he could eat from any tree of the garden – except one (Gen.2:16). Prohibition was placed on the one, so Adam could show forth his trust in God. It was also seen when Israel was in bondage for 400 years, it was God who brought deliverance by His mighty hand. All that was required of His people to remain free was trust Him, and show it by obeying His commands. Unfortunately, the people repeatedly showed that they preferred their own ways. And as a result, they found themselves back in bondage as the Lord would sell them to the power of their enemies (Jdg.2:14). We are all born into bondage to sin and self because of our relationship to Adam. But God, in His grace, brings deliverance through Jesus Christ. Jesus began His ministry saying that God sent Him “to proclaim release to the captives” (Lk.4:18). As one comes to Jesus, He is set free from the bondage of sin and guilt of this world. But for this freedom to be maintained or preserved, we must take care to live according to God’s Word. Jesus made this as plain as could be. “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Jn.8:31, 32). And again, “Every one who commits sin is a slave to sin. . . . So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn.8:34, 36).
A major challenge in maintaining freedom is that we must define freedom accurately. Freedom, despite popular misconceptions, is not having the autonomy to do whatever you please. This only brings one back into bondage. However, freedom is having the power to do what we ought, to the glory of God. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “You were called to freedom, brethren, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal.5:13). Therefore, we can only possess and enjoy God’s freedom to the extent we walk with the One who gives it.
An Ambassador for Christ, Lady Vengie McMillan
Don’t e afraid to ask God the hardest questions. He longs to answer you with His power, His grace and by showing you His love. For He is a loving and living God. He is personally at work in your life unto His perfect will. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Prov. 9:10 If we are the children of God ,we are not so much to pray that the Spirit may come and dwell in us, for He does that already. We are rather to recognize His presence, His gracious and glorious indwelling and give to Him complete control of the house He already inhabits. “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. My praise is continually of You. My mouth is filled with your praise and with your glory all day long. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deed of salvation all day long...Will praise your righteousness yours alone.” An excerpt from Reflections
Mom’s House Interview with Church Mothers Rosa Nell & Sadie Deas Adapted from the original 2003 interview
RB: How have you incorporated daily devotions and payer into your life and how would you say “praise and worship” have changed your life?
Church mothers are the best source or information as it pertains to raising children, marriage, and incorporating a life of prayer, praise and worship into our daily activities. Time after time it is imperative that we turn to these women for their wisdom and understanding as young women of the gospel of Christ. Apostle Paul put it this way in chapter 2 of his letter to the young pastor Titus: “Likewise, the older women are to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be selfcontrolled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” With this in mind, this is what these church mothers had to say:
Moher Deas: Each morning I read my devotional. Right now I have two companion devotionals by Joyce Myer; Starting Your Day Right and Ending Your
RB: What would you list as two of the most important aspects of being a wife and mother?
Day Right. These to books together have helped me
Moher Deas: Understanding and listening are two
to open the Scriptures in a new and fresh way, help-
of the most important aspects of being a wife and
ing me to focus on particular issue for prayer that
mother. Healthy and total communication comes
day. Through praise and worship I have learned to
hen the eyes of our understanding has been
completely depend on God and in that, I place my
opened by the Spirit of God, and when we listen to
children, my husband. I have transformed with great-
the voice of God as He transforms our hearts.
er understanding and stronger beliefs. Even if I miss my morning devotion, I make sue to somehow during the day take the time to give to God is space and place in my heart.
Mother Nell: Each morning I make time to let God know that I appreciate His presence in my life, for His love, kindness, mercy, grace, protection, and more. This time is spent praying and reading the Word of God. God’s word had revealed many things that have caused me to change inwardly. The way I respond to daily situations, activities, and people (compared to the ay I used to) has changed drastically. Thanks Holy Spirit!!!
Moher Nell: A Wife….communication and respect, and as a mother….love, communication, discipline, and respect, to always hear what the child is saying (sorry they all some together). You gain a team that will pray with you and pray you through. But most importantly, you learn ho to completely lean and depend on God, as well as your relationship with Him as Father becomes even stronger. Yes, I grew up church. My family always went to church together and we stayed focused on he things of God.
Mom’s House cont’d
RB: What is one piece of advice you would like to give to any young woman as it relates to life, spirituality, emotional stability, and self esteem?
Mother Deas:
Isaiah 55:3, 6, 8-11 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with
Seek first the Kingdom of God ad all it’s righteousness and
you, even the sure mercies of David. Seek ye the Lord
all other things will be added unto it. Keep God first in all
while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.
that you do and always give Him thanks. Find yourself a
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
good home church , where not only you can go but also
way, my ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are
grow. Invest in self help books by Christian authors. Don’t
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than our
be afraid to seek godly counsel on issues what are im-
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain
portant to your well being and that of your family. Most of all
cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth
never stop praying.
not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
Mother Nell:
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and
Thrive on love...learn to love yourself, not selfishly, never
bread to the eater. So shall my word be that goeth forth
looking down on another human unless you are looking to
out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but is
help them up. Accept God as Lord of your life, praying con-
shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in
tinually that God will help you to grow spiritually, mentally,
the thing whereto I sent it.
and morally so you will be able to stand in any situation. Catch more advice from Women of God in the next issue of Rebirth
II Corinthians 5:21; Genesis 3:22 Romans 8:1 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (NIV)
We think of righteousness as absolute perfection. In actuality, to be righteous is to be in right standing, walking uprightly before the Lord. To do that, we must first acknowledge the need for change in our everyday lives. To be righteous does not mean that no sin, or that no infraction has ever taken place. It also, however, is not a license to condemn a brother in a fault. Being righteous means that sin has met its expected end. It has ceased to exist in our lives. 2 Corinthians 5:21 makes it clear that this was not, and is not something that can be accomplished on our own. “For our sake He made Him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.” This simply means to take on the likeness and the attributes of our Father. Make today a day of reflection and hold fast to the newness of life granted to you through salvation in Christ. Remember Romans 8:1 “Therefore, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. [John 3:18] Repent, get up, and get busy about our Father’s business. You have a fresh start, a new beginning-purpose that today I am the righteousness of God.
PRAYER:
Father, help me today to become more like You. Help me to take on You likeness and You attributes that I may serve You in the newness of life granted to me through salvation in Your son, Jesus. Amen.
Born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, writer and
civil rights activist Maya Angelou is known for her 1969 memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which made literary history as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman. In 1971, Angelou published the Pulitzer Prize-nominated poetry collection Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die. She later wrote the poem "On the Pulse of Morning"—one of her most famous works—which she recited at President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. Angelou received several honors throughout her career, including two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) category, in 2005 and 2009. She died on May 28, 2014. Early Years—Multi-talented barely seems to cover the depth and breadth of Maya Angelou's accomplishments. She was an author, actress, screenwriter, dancer and poet. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Angelou had a difficult childhood. Her parents split up when she was very young, and she and her older brother, Bailey, were sent to live with their father's mother, Anne Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas. As an African American, Angelou experienced firsthand racial prejudices and discrimination in Arkansas. She also suffered at the hands of a family associate around the age of 7: During a visit with her mother, Angelou was raped by her mother's boyfriend. Then, as vengeance for the sexual assault, Angelou's uncles killed the boyfriend. So traumatized by the experience, Angelou stopped talking. She returned to Arkansas and spent years as a virtual mute.
During World War II, Angelou moved to San Francisco, California, where she won a scholarship to study dance and acting at the California Labor School. Also during this time, Angelou became the first black female cable car conductor—a job she held only briefly, in San Francisco.
In 1944, a 16-year-old Angelou gave birth to a son, Guy (a short-lived high school relationship had led to the pregnancy), thereafter working a number of jobs to support herself and her child. In 1952, the future literary icon wed Anastasios Angelopoulos, a Greek sailor from whom she took her professional name—a blend of her childhood nickname, "Maya," and a shortened version of his surname.
Career Beginnings—In the mid-1950s, Angelou's career as a performer began to take off. She landed a role in a touring
production of Porgy and Bess, later appearing in the off-Broadway production Calypso Heat Wave (1957) and releasing her first album, Miss Calypso (1957). A member of the Harlem Writers Guild and a civil rights activist, Angelou organized and starred in the musical revue Cabaret for Freedom as a benefit for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, also serving as the SCLC's northern coordinator. In 1961, Angelou appeared in an off-Broadway production of Jean Genet's The Blacks with James Earl Jones, Lou Gossett, Jr. and Cicely Tyson. While the play earned strong reviews, Angelou moved on to other pursuits, spending much of the 1960s abroad; she first lived in Egypt and then in Ghana, working as an editor and a freelance writer. Angelou also held a
position at the University of Ghana for a time. After returning to the United States, Angelou was urged by friend and fellow writer James Baldwin to write about her life experiences. Her efforts resulted in the enormously successful 1969 memoir about her childhood and young adult years, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which made literary history as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman. The poignant work also made Angelou an international star. Since publishing Caged Bird, Angelou continued to break new ground—not just artistically, but educationally and socially. She wrote the drama Georgia, Georgia in 1972—becoming the first African-American woman to have her screenplay produced—and went on to earn a Tony Award nomination for her role in the play Look Away (1973) and an Emmy Award nomination for her work on the television miniseries Roots (1977), among other honors. Later Successes—Angelou wrote several autobiographies throughout her career, including All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986) and A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002), but 1969's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings continues to be regarded as her most popular autobiographical work. She also published several collections of poetry, including Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'Fore I Die (1971), which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. One of Angelou's most famous works is the poem "On the Pulse of Morning," which she wrote especially for and recited at President Bill Clinton's inaugural ceremony in January 1993—marking the first inaugural recitation since 1961, when Robert Frost delivered his poem "The Gift Outright" at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. Angelou went on to win a Grammy Award (best spoken word album) for the audio version of the poem.
In 1995, Angelou was lauded for remaining on The New York Times' paperback nonfiction best-seller list for two years—the longest-running record in the chart's history. Seeking new creative challenges, Angelou made her directorial debut in 1998 with Down in the Delta, starring Alfre Woodard. She also wrote a number of inspirational works, from the essay collection Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now (1994) to her advice for young women in Letter to My Daughter (2008). Interested in health, Angelou has even published cookbooks, including Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories With Recipes (2005) and Great Food, All Day Long (2010). Angelou's career has seen numerous accolades, including the Chicago International Film Festival's 1998 Audience Choice Award and a nod from the Acapulco Black Film Festival in 1999 for Down in the Delta; and two NAACP Image Awards in the outstanding literary work (nonfiction) category, for her 2005 cookbook and 2008's Letter to My Daughter. Personal Life—Martin Luther King Jr., a close friend of Angelou's, was assassinated on her birthday (April 4) in 1968. Angelou stopped celebrating her birthday for years afterward, and sent flowers to King's widow, Coretta Scott King, for more than 30 years, until Coretta's death in 2006. Angelou was good friends with TV personality Oprah Winfrey, who organized
several birthday celebrations for the award-winning author, including a week-long cruise for her 70th birthday in 1998. After experiencing health issues for a number of years, Maya Angelou died on May 28, 2014, at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The news of her passing spread quickly with many people taking to social media to mourn and remember Angelou. Singer Mary J. Blige and politician Cory Booker were among those who tweeted their favorite
quotes by her in tribute. President Barack Obama also issued a statement about Angelou, calling her "a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman." Angelou "had the ability to remind us that we are all God's children; that we all have something to offer," he wrote.
You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.
1 Corinthians 13:13New King James Version (NKJV) 13
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
After African-American talented performer Josephine Baker expatriated to France, she famously smuggled military intelligence to French allies during World War II. She did this by pinning secrets inside her dress, as well as hiding them in her sheet music.
Politician, educator and Brooklyn native Shirley Chisholm survived three assassination attempts during her campaign for the 1972 Democratic nomination to the U.S. presidency.
Abolitionist Harriet Ann Jacobs published Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl in 1861 under the pseudonym Linda Brent. The book chronicles the hardships and sexual abuse she experienced as a woman growing up in slavery. Jacobs fled slavery in 1835 by hiding in a crawlspace in her grandmother's attic for seven years before traveling to Philadelphia by boat, and eventually to New York.
After a long career as an actress and singer, Pearl Bailey earned a bachelor's degree in theology from Georgetown University in 1985.
Ella Fitzgerald, known for having a remarkable three-octave range, got her start at the Apollo Theater.
Nancy Green, who was formerly enslaved, was employed in the 1890s to promote the Aunt Jemima brand by demonstrating the pancake mix at expositions and fairs. She was a popular attraction because of her friendly personality, storytelling skills and warmth. Green signed a lifetime contract with the pancake company, and her image was used for packaging and ads.
Female science fiction author Octavia Butler was dyslexic. Despite her disorder, she went on to win Hugo and Nebula awards for her writing, as well as a "genius" grant from the MacArthur Foundation.
Here are some tips for
Putting Stress in Its Place
Make no mistake about it. Stress is real. Research shows that 110,000,000 (110 million) people die annually due to stress. That is 7 people all around the world every 2 seconds. According to the American Psychological Association in 2012 Women continue to report higher stress levels than men (5.3 vs. 4.6 on a 10-point scale where 1 is “little or no stress” and 10 is “a great deal of stress”). Both genders agree, however, that 3.6 is a healthy level of stress, pushing women nearly two points beyond the level of stress they believe to be healthy. More women report experiencing extreme stress than men. Twenty-three percent of women report their stress level at an 8, 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale, compared to 16 percent of men. What’s more, women are more likely than men to say their stress is on the rise. More women say their stress levels have increased in the past five years (43 percent vs. 33 percent of men) and in the past year alone (38 percent vs. 32 percent of men. How you handle stress makes a big difference in how you feel. It might even help your blood pressure, blood sugar level, and the rest of you. Use these calming strategies to stop stress ASAP. Get Outside Spending time outdoors, even close to home, is linked to better well-being. You're in a natural setting, and you're usually doing something active, like walking or hiking. Even a few minutes can make a difference in how you feel.
Smile Like You Mean It
Don’t roll your eyes the next time someone advises you to “grin and bear it.” In times of tension, keeping a smile on your face – especially a genuine smile that’s formed by the muscles will help to relieve pressure and even ease headaches. Smiling also helps lower heart rates faster once your stressful situation ends.
Break Out the Bubble Gum Next time you’re at the end of your rope, unwrap a stick of gum. According to studies, chewing gum lowers anxiety and eases stress. Some researchers think the rhythmic act of chewing may improve blood flow to your brain, while others believe the smell and taste help you relax around your eyes as well as your mouth – reduces your body’s stress responses, even if you don’t feel happy.
Sniff Some Lavender— Certain scents like lavender may soothe. In one study, nurses who pinned small vials of lavender oil to their clothes felt their stress ease, while nurses who didn’t felt more stressed. Lavender may intensify the effect of some painkillers and anti-anxiety medications, so if you’re taking either, check with your doctor before use. Tune In— Heading into a stressful situation? Music can help you calm down. In one study, people had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol when they listened to a recording of Latin choral music before doing something stressful (like doing math out loud or giving a speech) than when they listened to a recording of rippling water. (Wondering what that choral piece was, music fans? Try Miserere by Gregorio Allegri.), Antonio Vivaldi’s Seasons, or try listening to instrumental hymns from Maranatha. Reboot Your Breath— Feeling less stressed is as close as your next breath. Focusing on your breath curbs your body’s “fight or flight” reaction to pressure or fear, and it pulls your attention away from negative thoughts. Sit comfortably in a quiet place. Breathe in slowly through your nose, letting your chest and lower belly rise and your abdomen expand. Breathe out just as slowly, repeating a word or phrase that helps you relax. To reap the most benefit, repeat for at least 10 minutes.
Be Kind to Yourself— We all have a constant stream of thoughts running through our heads, and sometimes what we tell ourselves isn’t so nice. Staying positive and using compassionate self-talk will help you calm down and get a better grip on the situation. Talk to yourself in the same gentle, encouraging way you’d help a friend in need. “Everything will be OK,” for instance, or "I'll figure out how to handle this." Write Your Stress AwayWriting will help you to resolve your issues. Putting your thoughts on paper gives you an avenue of release, and enable you to picture the resolution as you think through the resolution. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer pen and notebook, a phone app, or a file on your laptop. The important thing is that you’re honest about your feelings. Tell a Friend— When you’re feeling overwhelmed, seek out the company of a friend or loved one. Have a friend who’s dealing with the same worries as you? Even more reason to open up. You'll both feel less alone.
Get Moving— When you work up a sweat, you improve your mood, clear your head, and take a break from whatever is stressing you out. Whether you like a long walk or an intense workout at the gym, you’ll feel uplifted afterward. Prayer & Meditation— The number one way to unplug and relieve stress of any kind, is to spend quiet time praying and meditating upon the Word of God. Focus on certain Scriptures that are sure to relieve stress, such as: Isaiah 26:3; John 14:7; 16:33; Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:7; and Philippians 4:6-7 are just to start with.
Always remember these two things from the most prolific writer of the New Testament-Paul I Thessalonians 5:17, 18 Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.. Philippians 4:10-12 Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need.… And finally, wisdom from the first Pope-Apostle Peter himself, 1Peter 5:7 Casting all your care
upon him; for he careth for you. In the next issue we will discuss how to practice the
1. Nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle is a “must”, if you desire to have beautiful tresses. Drink lots of water and make sure to include protein into your diet, lentils and meat, for example, are good sources. Vitamin A is a vital to promoting hair growth. 6. Do not comb wet hair because you can break
2. Stay away from hair styling treatments and prod-
it and try to avoid using hair dryer. It is best to let
ucts. Use of harsh chemicals will only spoil your hair
your hair dry naturally, especially in the summer
growth in the long run; hence, it’s advisable to em-
time.
brace the natural beauty of your hair and find the way to avoid chemicals based treatments, or, at least, use them rarely.
7. Get a good, regular and peaceful sleep. Your hair reflects the anxiety you are going through; so being happy is also a “must” if you want to stay away from dry tangled hair.
3. To treat dry or damaged hair, to add shine and volume try to use aloe vera or curd for conditioning your
8. Always treat your hair gently. Avoid being harsh
hair, they are some of the most effective, natural
when combing, drying or styling your hair, because
cures.– Use of aloe vera gel as a natural hair treat-
harsh movements can significantly damage your
ment:
locks.
4. Keep your scalp clean and free from oil. Hair wash
9. Use cold or lukewarm water for hair wash, be-
should be quite frequent, depending on the oiliness of
cause too hot water can damage the tips of your
your skin, as well as the exposure to dirt and dust. But
hair, and we don’t want that!
it’s also not good to wash your hair daily, because you
10. And finally, if you are really determined to
can strip it from natural oils which are essential for
take a good care of your hair, try doing good,
healthy hair growth.
deep conditioning hair masks regularly, preferably once a week or at least once every two weeks. You can do warm oil treatments using coconut oil, castor oil or olive oil; Just apply slightly warmed up oil on the roots of your hair and spread it to the lengths, keep it on (preferably warped) for at least 40 minutes and then, wash your hair, it will add shine and elasticity.
Get wisdom, Get understanding; Do not forget my ways or turn Away from them. When you choose to respond to life’s difficulties with compassion and love instead of fear and doubt, you create a “heaven on earth”—you bring the aspects of a more balanced and harmonious level of reality into the physical being.
Gary Zukar from “Thoughts from the Seat for the Soul” Meditations for the Soul in Process
From: Dr. Vanessa Williams-
Cook
We were in Sunday School one morning and the final question of the day was “Why is there so much of a difference between the generations today versus the generation of yesterday? Church mothers began to answer this question. And among the answers were the amount of violence, how children are raised today, but the most compelling argument was that the fear of God is gone from the home. I myself as a wife, mother, pastor, and business owner deal with this issue constantly. How to raise a healthy family. Here are my 12 principles. Although each family is different we are all still the same in our desire for unity, togetherness, ONENESS!!.Try them for yourself, or use them as a guide for raising our own Healthy Family.
7. Consistently pray over your family, anointing with 1. Regular church attendance as a family, and honor God with your substance. 2. Family prayer and reading time in the word of God.
oil as needed. Teach the children to anoint and pray as well. 8. Visit the children at school both when invited and
3. Set individual boundaries and respect them.
by surprise; this allows for you to see what’s go-
4. Set scheduled activities for children and teens.
ing on in their lives.
Don’t forget to schedule time for Mom and Dad as well. 5. Allow space and time away from one another to cultivate some healthy private and quality time with
9. Remember to encourage friendships and relationships that are not blood related. We need each other to survive. 10. Encourage little one to think for themselves.
the Father, and to keep the desire to be together
They watch, so and say what parents do. They
alive.
must learn how to be individuals with their
6. Involve grandparents, and extended families to build that family structure and to cultivate relationships outside of the home.
own personalities. 11. Discipline is necessary for all those involved. If you make promises and commitments-KEEP THEM! 12. Once again, prayer is the most essential ingredient. Prayer will enable you to love unconditionally as God loves us. The more you pray, the more you love, the more power you have, and
the less the enemy can penetrate your family.
Rebirth, the very word itself indicates the beginning of something new. When hearing the word, what comes to mind is renewal, refreshing, revival, and restoration, of something old into something new. The free dictionary defines rebirth as a second or new birth; reincarnation. 2. A renaissance; a revival, often referring to an old piece of furniture, an old painting, an old car, or even an old house in need of restoration. But the focus of Rebirth Magazine is the souls and spirits of women., undergoing a transformation. In Buddhism, rebirth is explained in relation to the laws of change. According to these laws we are in an evolving , ever changing, ever growing, ever becoming constant state of continuity. In the book Rebirthed Explained, author V. F. Gunaratna gives examples of this law: “A
seed is every moment in the process of becoming a plant and a plant is every moment in the process of becoming a tree. A bud is every moment in the process of becoming a flower while an infant is every moment in the process of becoming a youth and then an old man. At no point is anything not in the process of becoming something else. In Christianity, the process of rebirth is different. Although we become that others may become, the process of becoming leads to transformation, which is REBIRTH. Passing from death to life, is not physical. It is a spiritual awakening, spiritual transformation from a life of sin and death to life abundantly in Christ. Jesus explained this in a conversation with Nicodemus one night in John
3:4-7 “Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” What is puzzling for most people is the term “born again.” To be born again, is to be regenerated into the new life provided in Christ when one has accepted Him as Lord and Savior. Then begins a life-long journey of new beginnings in Christ. New Life, new outlook, very much like a new born baby, learning everything for the first time, seeing everything for the first time, living for real for the fist time as born again, faith filled believer in Christ. No longer bound by the challenges of life, the circumstances of life, the sins and cares of life that tend to weigh us down; keeping us separated from God and walking in darkness. That is what Rebirth of the Total of Woman is about. Unfortunately, many of us have had bad things to happen to us just as much as good things. We find that life is filled with tragedy and triumph. There would not be one without the other. We as women are faced with challenges daily. Whatever your role may be, wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, niece, aunt, employer, employee, preacher, teacher, student, philanthropist, humanitarian, Nobel peace prize winner, doctor, lawyer, judge, senator, or county counsel woman, and the list goes on and on…tragedy, trouble, hardships, depression, sickness, loss, grief, death comes to us all. The choice to allow these obstacles to remain as such or use them as opportunities to learn, and grow is up to us. Unfortunately for many women around the world their choices have been taken from them by those closest to them. Or at least, it seems at the time that your choice has been taken.
and shaped into a perfect work in the hands of an Almighty God. So, the good news is God is not through with us yet.
Even better news is the best is yet to come. It is our vision, and our prayer that you will submit yourself under the divine authority of God, by the salvific work of Jesus The Christ on the Cross of Calvary. Allow Him to work in you, new life causing, all things to become new. For it is according to the Word of God that by him are we made new. II Corinthians 5:17 says Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The Lord told the people of Israel in Isaiah 1:16-19 “ Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The warning is that once you hear the word of the Lord and choose to walk according to your own understanding, never yielding to his word then the promises become null and void in your life. Instead of walking and living in the manifestation of his promises and blessings, you will be walking under a curse. Nana’s Girls’ Foundation has envisioned just a place. A place where women who are hurting, depressed, going through divorce, have been abused and for the first time free of their abuser, lost, dying and in need of a friend to help
them, women needing a fresh start-we have a place for you. This brings me to my personal story. Now there is way to much to contain in these few pages, but will share with you how N.G.F. came to be. Meet Mable Wright Williams, AKA “Nana.” People often ask What is or who is Nana's Girls...Well allow me to introduce her to you. This is the woman that the organization is named after. God has granted me an awesome opportunity to be the granddaughter of this phenomenal woman. On Nov. 3rd, 1999 she finally won the battle against cancer, and leukemia. She is resting and awaiting the great trumpet sound, when the dead in Christ shall rise first. It was this awesome woman from which I learned so many things, from cooking to dressing the altar for worship. It was by the hands of this gift that I learned wisdom for daily living. I could go on and on about her, and how she blessed our lives. She married at age 15 and suffered 4 miscarriages. Finally adopting one of her two girls from within the family my mom and my Aunt Lillie). I watched her battle depression, and often times feelings of inadequacy, fear of being alone, and disappointment. My mother, brother and I walked with her through the loss of her husband the Rev. Paul D. Williams, and caring for her sick brother until his passing, Mr. William Wright. As a young girl I witnessed how she cared for a dying aunt-who we called Yiyah. She was a Deaconess in both the Baptist and AME Church. She sang on the choir. And when she'd turn her face to the wall power would fall. This lady did not play though. She was tough, but she was loving and caring. She was generous, and kind. Although she didn't speak in tongues, no one will ever tell me that she didn't have the Holy Ghost, because Jesus said in John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." She lived out loud and loved passionately. She commanded respect wit her presence alone. Ladies and gentlemen I introduce to you a woman who loved the Lord and would pray until the anointing fell from .
heaven....my grandmother Mable W. Williams...the woman behind Nana's Girls' Foundation. I have been groomed for the work of ministry all of my life. All I have ever known is school, ministry and music. I began singing at age 2. Fast forward 32 years later (2005), still in music and ministry I finally get married to my childhood sweetheart. Although I myself was skeptical about the marriage, I allowed his parents, and some other well meaning friends and ministers alike to convince me that this was the right thing to do. That was one of the most difficult times of my life. The marriage ended in divorce in 2011. During the separation I and my three children moved from Charleston SC to Florence SC. I was the Administrative Pastor at my church at the time, and the ministry was relocating to Florence. This was good for me. I needed the change and was eager to make the move. I had lined up a job and an apartment before moving, but during the transition everything began to fall to pieces. The job fell through and eventually the apartment did too. One of our new church mothers was able to get me an appointment with the director for the local home for battered women The Naomi Project. My children and I moved in January 2011. After about 7 months, I was suddenly dismissed from the program and had to move. Having no where to go, my children and I moved in with my parents, who’d also relocated to Florence. They were in a motel and here we are my entire family in a motel. Yes this was devastating, but I continued working at the church day and night. I opened the church daily and I closed the church daily. My children would come in from school to the church and we would be there sometimes until way after 11:00pm before I could get them to bed. This went on for months. My dad , the children and I after my mom had surgery and had to move in with her baby sister in Beaufort to heal. Well, soon this came to an end. The money finally ran out. And now here we are completely homeless. Me with three children and my dad trying to find his way through this maze. We were able to move into the local transitional shelter, which proved to be both a blessing and a curse. I was already a target for the enemy, but here the bullseye was placed on my back. I became the resident chaplain for some of the women there. But I experienced one of the greatest set ups of my life. There was this one young lady that proved to be my enemy in the end, but at first, she was someone that I mentored, I counseled, I worked with spiritually and had such great expectations for her and she betrayed my trust. She began going to church with me, she was tithing, she was getting to know the people of the church and she betrayed the entire ministry. This left me feeling like a failure. It has been said be careful what you pray for. Well, also while in the shelter, I met a man who eventually became my husband. This is another story for another time, but I will say this. The experience has been one of the great challenges. But like you I had some very hard choices to make before me. The sum total of those choices could either lead me to, or away from destiny. So how do you make these decision? This is where the process of rebirth begins. You must come to a place where enough is enough. You must take personal inventory. Look at your life, and ask yourself Is this where you want to be? Where do I see myself in 5 years? Why am I here? What is my purpose? What will life be like for my family? If I died tonight, would my soul be lost? Have I made a difference in this earth? What is the most important
thing? These are only of the few life changing questions that will cause you to begin life anew. Fundamentally speaking, it’s not money, fame, fortune, houses, cars, land, education or prestige. The bottom line is “Is my living in vain?” As you look back over your life, and begin to think about the should haves, the could haves, the wish I ‘d done’s you will see yourself RIGHT WHERE GOD WANTS YOU. Now the choice is yours. You can begin again, and trust HIM for the outcome, or you can continue doing what your doing and end up in the same place you’re in, ten years from now. The process of rebirth is not an easy one. Along the way there will be pits, drops, pot holes, craters, U-turns, detours, rain, sleet, snow, volcanic eruptions, and even a hurricane or two. But, on the other side of the storm is green pastures, beautiful horizons, sunsets, rivers of living water, crisp cool breezes, and more to look forward to.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. The way of the Lord is not difficult. No, everyday is not cookies and crème. Every day is not a bed of roses. Daily you must pick up your cross (challenges, difficulties, trials, and temptations), and choose to follow after the Lord. And he promises, as only He can, as He said in Isaiah 40:4, 5 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. My transformation is not complete. I am still changing and ever evolving into the Woman of God I was created to become. The same holds true for all the women that have made themselves vulnerable in this issue of Rebirth. We are ever growing, ever moving, ever becoming. That’s the exciting part. Who I am now, is not who I will be in five years, and neither will you. Come with me. Refuse to accept what others have said you can have, or who they said you would be. Choose today to begin again, and enjoy your REBIRTH. I love you and want nothing but God’s excellent way for you.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
Women wear many hats. We share many roles. More often than not these roles
become crossed because we serve many different people. I myself live this reality everyday. But it is by the grace of God by which I have strength to get through each day.
I am Evangelist and Pastor, Darlene Friend Richardson. My husband, Pastor, and Prophet Torrest D. Richardson Sr. and I are the Pastors of KINGDOM LIFE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES. We have 3 children Montreal, Khristian, and Torrest Jr. And 3 Grandsons
Tremel , Zaiden Josiah, and
Kyeon. As a 1st Lady I am a wife, mother, mentor, and counselor. My title, work, position, and requirements are important, to God because He is expecting me to fulfill those rolls. He has EQUIPPED, and PURPOSED us for in this time and season. It is important to understand that my role is wife first, then as the First Lady. This means that I must have a personal relationship with God. That includes much fasting and much praying, and laying prostrate before the
LORD. We are in Constant spiritual warfare. We seek daily to become stronger, to Grow and mature in the Lord, to nurture and cultivate our gifts, to be strengthen and powerful in those gifts. Gifts and callings are without repentance, but to keep from remaining stagnant, and for the power of God to be evident in our lives we must stay before the LORD. Only then will we be
ANOINTED and able to operate with POWER .
This kind of power produces a big DIFFERENCE, your RESULTS are TREMENDOUS. I am a help meet, his partner, lover, and best friend. When I am operating in my role fully, I complement him and bring out the essentials needed to the perfection of his being. I have to walk in wisdom and knowledge, being sensitive, emotional and understanding of the concerns and needs of my Husband. I have to remain focused and walk in discernment. Unfortunately, there is a lot of deceiving, lying, and if not careful in the Spirit you will get hoodwinked, by wolves in sheep clothing. So I must be his eyes, and his watchmen. My prayers keep him strengthened, covered, and forms a
shield.
I've experience hurt, pain, disappointment, and brokenness, but through all of that I have to still show unconditional love, forgiveness, and remain focused to continue in faithfulness, and endurance. That's why I must maintain a close relationship with GOD. During those times of brokenness, hurt, disappointed, and pain I fall on my face to DADDY, that's what I call him.
I call Him for
HEALING AND COMFORT because I realize that I don't have to remain in that state.
So I
choose healing as soon as possible, enabling me to continue moving forward in God. You have to be careful when you are hurt, broken, etc.,. You can not allow those emotions to speak to you, or it will begin to paint a false picture, don’t entertain it , or you will find your self Stuck , needing deliverance so you can move forward. Remember Satan will use anything to keep you from prospering, focusing, and moving forward in God. The enemy will try to stop, and destroy you. As 1st Lady and a Wife I can make my Husband’s job as the Pastor, Evangelist, Prophet job hard, or easy. There are times when I have to carry the weight in the natural and spiritual so my Husband can stay FOCUSED and keep MOV-
ING in the things of GOD. We can make our husbands’, pastoral job, work, duties, or whatever God has created them to be easy or hard. I choose to make my Husband’s job easy doing my spiritual and natural duties—by being who God has created me to be to him. I am also a mother to many, some younger, and some older. Age doesn't matter if God has EQUIPPED you for the work. It takes love, peace, understanding, hugs, kisses, and affection to be effective. Even when our children make mistakes, fall, or fail, our love for them will remain just as God’s
love remains. We must continue to keep and cover them in prayer. Always being mentor and counselor. I am
a role model, so the life I live must glorify God. Seeing a godly life lived is an invaluable benefit. I am and encourager, and good listener. I Believe in others, and I understand when there is clutter, hang-ups, failure, misunderstanding, pressure, confuse, disappointment and imperfection in their lives. We strive to bring clarity to every situation. We must promote spiritual growth, maturity, love, hope, peace, patience, understanding, wisdom, and be available in times of crisis. I am energetic and eager to be about my Father’s business.
Mover of Mountains Helen Steiner Rice Faith is a force that is greater than knowledge or power or skill, And the darkest defeat turns to triumph if you trust in God’s wisdom and will, For fait is a mover of mountainsThere’s nothing man cannot achieve
If he has the courage to try it And then has the faith to believe.
With God All Things Are Possible by Helen Steiner Rice Nothing is ever too hard to do If your faith is strong, And your purpose is true… So never give up, And never stop Just journey on to the mountain top!
1.Honor God with your Substance
2. Know where your money goes
First and foremost, remember to honor God with your substance, by giving back to Him as he gives to you. Tithing is the first 10% of your income. Be it weekly, biweekly, twice monthly, or monthly, as you honor God, He will rebuke the devourer on your behalf and see to it that you have enough to not only meet your needs, but more than enough.
Be aware of how you are spending your money. A $4 cup of coffee five days a week costs you $80/ month. Review some of the items you spend your money on to find areas where cutting back can move your savings account forward.
3. Develop a budget Plan for your expenditures by developing a budge and live within your means based on your monthly income, Make adjustments to remain within your budget and don’t use a credit card to cover a shortfall or unnecessary purchases. If you are married, it’s okay to let the on that is better at budgeting create the budget, but you must agree to stick to the budget once set, in order for it to work for you.
4. Include savings in your budget Pay yourself first. Treat your savings account like any other monthly bill by making a monthly payment toward it. 5. Plan for major purchases Adjust your budget accordingly to build savings for your next major purchase without using credit. 6. Save for emergencies A good rule of thumb is to have a minimum of six months of salary available in your savings account. While this goal will take time to achieve, it is important to strive for it so you’re prepared for most unexpected emergencies.
7. Plan for retirement Take advantage of interest and market upturns by saving for retirement early. Often your employer will help you save for retirement with a 401 (k) plan. You can also benefit from pre-tax contributions using this method of retirement savings.
8. Get tax advice If you have circumstances that create tax dilemmas e.g., self employed, own and/or lease property, etc.) make sure to seek tax advice from a professional for the best outcome.
9. Protect your credit You have the right to pull a free credit report form each reporting bureau once per year by going online to www.annualcreditreport.com. Keep in mind that late payments will adversely impact your credit, as will a failure to pay. You should immediately report any credit issues or discrepancies to the reporting bureau. Use your credit wisely and ensure your reports are accurate. 10. Keep good financial records Utilize online tools as ell as paper copies of receipts to keep records of your paystubs, banking information,
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. Ecclesiastes 10:19 KJV
and individual boundaries can save a
marriage from separation. “Marriage The Church as a redemptive
problems can escalate to the point
agency of Christ is to minister to its
where both spouses think they need
members in all of their needs and to
physical and emotional separation
nurture everyone so that all may grow
from irreparable damage to the rela-
into a mature Christian experience.
tionship.
When a couple’s marriage is in dan-
Two emotions that erode a
ger of breaking down, every effort
marriage are anger and resentment.
should be made by the partners and
These two very powerful emotions can
those in the church or family who min-
cause enormous conflict in the Mar-
ister to them to bring about their rec-
riage. They are as equally powerful
onciliation in harmony with divine
as they are destructive. “However, if
principles for restoring wounded rela-
you learn to identify the real root
tionships.
of your anger, work to resolve it, and let it go, you can stop resent-
The Christian marriage is to
ment form ever forming.
exemplify and personify the vision of
are important principles in mar-
Christ and His Church. This union is to be the cause of a glorious occasion. If this is true and we believe it is, then why do we sometimes find bitterness, ager, and disappointment in the Christian marriage? Apostle Paul writes in Romans 12:10.
There
“The Christian marriage covenant experiences the same turmoil, tests and trials as the nonChristian marriage covenant. What separates the two is the commitment first unto God’s plan, to their marriage vows, ad to their children.
“Be kindly affectionate one to another
Sometimes the expectations in mar-
with brotherly love, in honor preferring
riage are different between spous-
one another; rejoicing in hope; patient
es, and when this is not shared the
in tribulation, continuing
instant in
boundary lines are unestablished
prayer. It is the Spirit of Christ to love
causing communications to break
and accept, to seek, to affirm and
down. Insecurities of one partner
build others up, rather than abuse or
can eventually cause distrust.
demean them.
Learning to respect each other’s
space
riage.
“Love, loyalty, exclusive-
ness, trust and support all being upheld by both partners in obedience to God. When these principles are violated, the marriage is endangered. Scripture
acknowledges
that tragic circumstances can destroy marriage. When a marriage is deficient of these principles, the opportunity for anger and resentment are great. These negative emotions can take their toll on a
marriage relationship.
painful situations or give us patience to await his resolution, even though we may have to endure for a time with faith that he will not abandon us.” Although this all sounds great, what happens when two people who are committed to Christ, wo love Jesus with all their hearts can no longer live together in Holy Matrimony. What happens when the pain is too great to bare, when sadness instead of joy becomes your companion, when you awake to tears, go to bed in tears and tears accompany you all day?
What happens when peace is as far away from your relationship, as the east is from the west. What happens when fear sets in? Yes, tis happens-even in a Christian home. How it happens tends not to even have an answer anymore. The heart to fight is gone, the desire to fight is gone, the need to get out is our only solution and is the only thing bringing you peace. Couples don’t always split because the marriage is bad. Sometimes splits come because the two people involved don’t really know one another at all. There are even times when although you are married, you live as if you are single, or you are married but feeling alone. You and your spouse may have already separated or you may still live together. All you know is that you are miserable and
you need to find a way to either heal your broken marriage or give in to the idea
o f
a divorce.
Therefore, “if we do not have peace in our families and in our homes, it is because we have not allowed peace to ‘rule ’The affairs of our lives (Colossians 3:15). Peace will lead us out of wrong situations. It will separate us unto the Lord Himself. Most of the time the peace of God upsets the proverbial “apple cart” of our lives. To get to where we are led by the Spirit of God, the peace of God will separate our lives from the carnal ways we live, hence tipping our world up-side down. Peace and, marriage go hand-in-hand. We can’t have a true marriage without peace (! Corinthians 7:15), nor can we have a relationship with God without peace between He and us. (Ephesians 2:14-18)
Those human relationships that promise the greatest joy also hold the potential for the deepest hurts. I do not believe that any relationship offers more possibilities or binds us more deeply to one another than marriage. To that connection we make solemn pledges, promising to love, to honor, and cherish ‘each other’ for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others , and to be faithful, all to the One spouse, with the expectation
of
that spouse doing likewise. When we fail, the church needs to met us in our pain, to enable us to stand even when we have fallen and to give us courage to live, love, and risk again. No one should abandon this sacred relationship without making every effort to heal and transform the brokenness. Failure to struggle in the cause for preservation of that sacred trust is to reveal a shallowness that will continue to plague the marriage deeply. Here, the church must reach out to its hurting people with a faith that embraces the pas in forgiveness and opens the future in hope. Although this may be met with opposition, I believe the church needs to proclaim that divorce is sometimes the alternative which gives hope for life, and that remaining in an abusive and sometimes volatile marriage can in some cases lead to death.
of
The confrontation
this fact became all to real for me in 2009. My greatest fears had become my reality. Sure, I could write about the terrible things my spouse said to me or the horrible actions that were displayed. But more importantly, I want to tell you about me. Suddenly, this person that had been a dear friend, had become my ene-
my. I did not like being married to him. I didn’t want to be his wife anymore. I lost the heart, the desire, the passion, and the strength needed to fight for our marriage. I found myself in a very lonely place. I was constantly frustrated. I
found myself trying to overcome this nervous habit I had as a kid, always biting my nails and chewing my fingers, looking over my shoulders in fear. I hated being with this man. What was supposed to have been a match made in heaven, was proving to be the worst mistake of my life. The only time I was happy was in church and away from him. Tears had become my constant companion. And if that wasn’t enough, I’d begun to take on my husband’s bad attitude, always angry-especially when at home with him. I suddenly realized how much I did not love this man.
I was with him because of ministry, and I was pregnant when we married. So in n effort to make it
right and to “save face”, I married him.
That was the second, third or fourth mistake...I’d lost count. I’d taken a vow and was determined not to become a statistic. M pastor said make it work, so I tried. For five years I was in the worst shape of my life. I was dying spiritually, emotionally, and mentally I was drained from all the abuse and the façade of trying to maintain a happy marriage. Personally, I never believed in divorce. My dream was to be married and in love until Jesus comes. Yes, I know there ae situations where divorce is the only way to heal.
But I never wanted that for myself. Here I am now, not merely entertain-
ing the idea, but seeking counsel and settling in my mind that this is my only viable option. A preacher-yes I am. A lover of Christ-yes I am. A born again believer-yes I am. A mother of three boys-yes I am. And for the first time in six years-free! I can be me and operate fully in the anointing as ordained by God.
The ultimate thing we can say about marriage is that it exists for God’s glory. The intent of marriage is to display the glory of God. Marriage is patterned after Christ’s covenant relationship to his redeemed people, the church. And therefore, the
highest meaning and the most ultimate purpose of marriage is to put the covenant relationship of Christ and His Church on display. Staying married, therefore, is not mainly about staying in love. Marriage is about telling the truth with our lives, and portraying Jesus daily . When marriage fails to do this, God no longer gets the glory.
Proverbs 28:26 Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. (Amplified Bible) 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. (Amplified Bible) Colossians 3:13 Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has (freely) forgiven you, so must you also forgive. (Amplified Bible)
Follow me on Twitter @iamkishajmcrae Instagram @Iamkishajmcrae Follow me on Twitter @iamkishajmcrae Instagram @Iamkishajmcrae Facebook. bit.ly/iamkishajmcrae for speaking engagements Virtual or in person, to inquire about emotional healing topics and or Fees. Use email below. Looking for a life or transformation coach email me below and request a 15 minute Rapid Breakthrough an Emotional Transformation complimentary session. Iamkishajmcrae@gmail.com
There is a misconception that domestic violence is a crime only against women. For many years the
only images seen are those where women are the sole target of a man’s rage, often resulting in her death. No one sees the scars that are left behind from years of yelling, screaming, name calling, and being cursing out, etc. More often than not what we see is a women living in fear. For years, images of Farah Faucet from the movie The Burning Bed has liberated and inspired women as she gets revenge against the man who has been beating her and causing her pain. Sure, people see the visible scars and bruises, black eyes and broken bones. But what about the mental images, the sound of fear walking through the house. The abject
silence of being ignored, the withholding of money, the rejection of one spouse by another, the desire to be with someone who obviously does not desire you, except during their own personal times of need, the abject humiliation of being treated as a child or the threats—these are the things that happen when the curtains are closed 0and you are all alone.
The morning of my 36th birthday was horrible. The night before I went to pick my husband up from work. He told me that he would be in a meeting so pick him up at another building. But when I arrived, he wasn’t there. I simply asked the security guard if they were still inside, and he told me that the meeting had been moved to another building and where to go. I followed the guard’s instructions only to discover that my husband had left the meeting to come to the other building to meet me. Of course now, I had to drive back to the other building to pick him up. We got home, had dinner, put the children to bed, watched a movie, and went to bed. Then at 3am my husband awoke and began to taunt me. “If I ever see you with another man I am going to put a bullet in your head.” I told you what to do, but no you had to get information from another man as if I didn’t know what to do. You always embarrass me. There had been nothing said the night before. Even when I explained what had happened, he just simply said it’s okay. They moved the meeting and no one knew that I’d left the meeting. Now here it is the following morning and I am being threatened, and called an embarrassment . Later that day, he called me at work to argue. Then he came to pick me up from work, and picked a fight all the way home. The more I ignored the more he cursed, the more he threatened, the angrier he got. On the way home, I stopped to get some food for dinner. Two of our five children were in the backseat. He was still taunting and raging on and on. We arrived home and began taking the food and the children inside. I’m a cop, don’t you know that I can have you killed and no one would ever know? He said. As I was
preparing the children’s food he came into the kitchen still yelling. I walked into the bedroom, he followed. I went to the bathroom, he followed.
I came back to the kitchen, he followed.
I went outside to the balcony, he followed, whispering so the neighbors wouldn’t hear. I went back into the house, he was
still taunting. Finally, I had had enough, and before I knew it, I picked up my food, a threw it at him. He called the police on me. I then left the house walking. It was dark . I left so quickly, I didn’t take my cell phone with me. I didn’t take my ID or anything. I just left because I had to get out of the house. I walked around the mall parking lot, then, I walked into McDonald’s and hid inside a booth for about 45 minutes. I then heard the Holy Spirit say go home. I had every intention of walking to my mother’s house, which would have really been a mistake. My dad would have flipped out. I was less than five miles away from my house. It was nearing the hour for him to go to work. As I walked in, he was relieved that I’d returned, apologetic, loving, and just about in tears. He was really, genuinely afraid and totally uncertain about what I was going to do. That night could have ended in tragedy. But the Lord was with me, protecting me, and guiding me. During the marriage he never hit me, but the image of that night is forever etched in my memory. Those scars although, I am no longer married to him, and remarried to someone else, anytime anything remotely resembles that time in my life, I become tense, and my antennas go up. I become defensive and I shut down. These are the scars that no one ever sees, and are harder to prove in court.. So, here are some tips to assist you when faced with an abuser/batterer. There is help out there. I went through Victims of CDV Training classes for 12 weeks. I had to learn how to care for the children, who were victims too. He had to complete 26 weeks of Anger Management.
Then we had to go through couples counseling to keep
CPS from taking the children. Here are some facts to educate you about this epidemic. According the national registry, in 2010 SC ranks 2nd worse in the nation for domestic violence.
And again in 2015 SC ranked #1 in the
nation for deadly violence against women.
Men are victims too. Controlling, insecure women often take advantage of quiet or men that already battle with inadequacies of their own, or men who take ‘never hit a woman’ to heart, never hitting back. Some of these men grew up in homes where this type of behavior was prevalent. Lenore E. Walker interviewed 1,500 women who had been subject to domestic violence and found that there was a similar pattern of abuse, called the "cycle of abuse".[1] Initially, Walker proposed that the cycle of abuse described the controlling patriarchal behavior of men who felt entitled to abuse their wives to maintain control over them. Her terms "the battering cycle" and "battered woman syndrome" has since been largely eclipsed by "cycle of abuse" and "battered person syndrome," respectively, for many reasons: to maintain objectivity; because the cycle of abuse doesn't always lead to physical abuse; because symptoms of the syndrome have been observed in men and women, and are not confined to marriage and dating. Similarly, Dutton (1994) writes, "The prevalence of violence in homosexual relationships, which also appear to go through abuse cycles is hard to explain in terms of men dominating women."
The cycle of abuse concept is widely used in domestic violence programs, particularly in the United States. Critics have argued the theory is flawed as it does not apply as universally as Walker suggested, does not accurately or completely describe all abusive relationships, and may favor ideological presumptions over empirical data.
Phases The cycle usually goes in the following order, and will repeat until the conflict is stopped, usually by the survivor entirely abandoning the relationship[4] or some form of intervention.[5] The cycle can occur hundreds of times in an abusive relationship, the total cycle taking anywhere from a few hours, to a year or more to complete. However, the length of the cycle usually diminishes over time so that the "reconciliation" and "calm" stages may disappear, violence becomes more intense and the cycles become more frequent.
will eventually shower the survivor with love and
1: Tension building—Stress builds from the pressures of
affection. The abuser may use self-harm or threats of
daily life, like conflict over children, marital issues, misun-
suicide to gain sympathy and/or prevent the survivor
derstandings, or other family conflicts. It also builds as the result of illness, legal or financial problems, unemployment, or catastrophic events, like floods, rape or war. During this period, the abuser feels ignored, threatened, annoyed or
from leaving the relationship. Abusers are frequently so convincing, and survivors so eager for the relationship to improve, that survivors (who are often worn down and confused by longstanding abuse) stay in the relationship.
wronged. The feeling lasts on average several minutes to
4: Calm—During this phase (which is often consid-
hours, it may last as much as several months.
ered an element of the honeymoon/reconciliation
To prevent violence, the victim may try to reduce the tension by
phase), the relationship is relatively calm and peacea-
becoming compliant and nurturing. Or, to get the abuse over with,
ble.
prepare for the violence or lessen the degree of injury, the victim
During this period the abuser may agree to engage in
may provoke the batterer. "However, at no time is the batterer
counseling, ask for forgiveness, and create a normal
justified in engaging in violent or abusive behavior," said Scott
atmosphere. In intimate partner relationships, the
Allen Johnson, author of Physical Abusers and Sexual Offenders.
perpetrator may buy presents or the couple may en-
2: Acute violence—Characterized by outbursts of violent,
gage in passionate sex.
abusive incidents which may be preceded by verbal abuse
apologies and requests for forgiveness become less
and include psychological abuse. During this stage the
sincere and are generally stated to prevent separation
abuser attempts to dominate his/her partner (survivor) with
or intervention. However, interpersonal difficulties
the use of domestic violence. In intimate partner violence,
will inevitably arise, leading again to the tension
children are negatively affected by having witnessed the
building phase. The effect of the continual cycle
violence and the partner's relationship degrades as well. The release of energy reduces the tension, and the abuser may feel or express that the victim "had it coming" to them. 3:
may inclued loss of love, contempt, distress, and/or physical disability. Intimate partners may separate, divorce or, at the extreme, someone may be killed. ******ATTENTION******
Reconciliation/honeymoon—The
perpetrator
may
begin to feel remorse, guilty feelings, or fear that their
partner will leave or call the police. The victim feels pain, fear, humiliation, disrespect, confusion, and may mistakenly feel responsible.
Over time, the batterer's
Characterized by affection, apology,
or, alternatively, ignoring the incident, this phase marks an apparent end of violence, with assurances that it will never happen again, or that the abuser will do his or her best to change. During this stage the abuser may feel or claim to feel overwhelming remorse and sadness. Some abusers walk away from the situation with little comment, but most
We urge you, if you find yourself in an abusive situation, GET OUT! Your life and the life of your children are more precious than that relationship. NOONE HAS THE RIGHT TO ABUSE YOU UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. Call our office at 843-250-3023 and we will help you to take the necessary steps into your future. YOU DESERVE IT!!
Proverbs 24:3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Amplified Bible (AMP) Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit];
the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].
“Let
not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3
Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore , and teach all nations...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo am with you always, even unto the end of the world.� Amen.
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases. How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is
your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices! Song of Solomon 3:5; 4:10
On June 4th 1989 I gave birth to my first child and it was a baby girl … just what I wanted. She was so beautiful and perfect. A year after she was born I suffered from an inability to swallow. My face blew up like a balloon and was so disfigured that I was unrecognizable. I remember being in the middle of the room while doctors crowed around me trying to figure out what was wrong. I felt like an item on display that no one wanted. At this time in my life I smiled a lot while silently I didn’t want to live. My life seemed scarce and I felt like it had no meaning and I wanted to die. My emotions were all over the place but very quietly I told no one that I was falling to pieces. After months of
feeling like the walking dead, I was finally diagnosed with something and that was pneumonia. Even after being treated for pneumonia things didn’t seem to work in my favor health wise…..weight loss continued and I looked like a tree stump.
One morning I awoke and I saw this pimple on the side of my nose. I was disgusted because I do not get pimples. I tried to put band aids on it to keep it flat. After a few days I noticed that this pimple began to change its shape. It was spreading all over to the right side of my face. That day I wanted to just end my life but I had my baby girl and she needed me. Plus, who am I to talk about taking my life when I know it’s something Jesus would not forgive me for. In my mind, I said I wasn’t playing with Jesus. After seeing my medical doctor she referred me to a dermatologist at Columbia Presbyterian NYC. He asked me questions like were there any illness that may run in the family. I told him about Lupus. I explained that my maternal aunt and grandmother had it. He took a biopsy of the ugly pimple on my face. He told me to come back in about a week. Well that whole week all I could think of is that I might have Lupus. I started to think, “What will I do if he tells me I have Lupus and how will I live.” I contemplated that my life would be different when I go back to that dermatologist. The pneumonia was being healed but my
soul felt like death. The day came when I had to go back to the dermatologist.
When I walked in the doctor’s office it felt like I had a dark cloud follow-
ing me. My body felt like it was going to shut down. Then the doctor appeared and he looked like he was walking in slow motion before he reached me to tell me the results. I remember his exact words. I’m sorry but you have Lupus. He said it like it was something he was used to saying daily. Then he proceeded to say Lupus has about a 10 year life span. Now, I was only 19, and my daughter was a year old. My heart stopped because I had little to no knowledge of what Lupus was. I feared not only death but that my face would become altered. I was worried about my skin becoming discolored because my grandmother’s skin was severely discolored. I knew that on this very day, life as I knew it would never be the same. So many times I contemplated suicide but God wouldn’t allow it. At times I wished my heart would just stop. Eventually, as time passed I took life one day at a time. One day when I was out, still feeling dangerously depressed and wanting to end my life, a man noticed me in my stride, my demeanor, and disposition. He told me when he saw me in my boots I looked like POWER,
as if I could rule the world. He named me “Stiletto Queen.” From that day on I adopted that name and said it would be my alter ego; a part of me that spoke confidence. That was the day that God rescued me and used Stiletto Queen to save me from myself. From that day, I said no more thoughts of taking my life. However, I humbly say that I am still here looking as good as ever. It had been ten years of my diagnosis of lupus. There was a time a few years after diagnosis that I took no medication. Lupus went into remission in my early twenties. Glory! However, on New Year’s Eve 1997 I became severely ill, while dressed in celebratory attire prepared to hang out with my girlfriends and dressed in my red stiletto boots, I almost passed out. My sister dialed 911 immediately. When the medical professionals arrived and took my temperature it was 104 and rising. I was rushed and admitted to the hospital. They discovered I had a contagious disease and they secluded me from all the other patients. I was able to speak to my mother on the phone, who was out of town at the
time and I can remember her asking me. “Do you want me to come home? “ Without hesitation I said yes.
I could feel something different about my body that I had never experienced. I remember my mother saying
“Ok baby, I’m on my way.” It’s nothing like having your mother by your side when illness strikes. No matter how old you are, the presence of your mother brings about a sense of security and comfort. I have been blessed with my second mom, who was also by my side during this difficult time. While lying in the hospital room trembling, I prayed for GOD to sustain me until my mom got there. I always had faith and knew the Lord created miracles, but for some reason I felt that I was slipping away. When my Ms. America mother arrived, she refused to wear a mask or scrubs. I specifically remember hearing my mother fussing about me being left alone and the fact that no one had checked on me in a while. My mother called for the nurse insisting that she take my temperature and contact my doctor immediately. She insisted that the nurse give her some ice water and towels. She then threw the nurses out, began to pray and rub me down with the ice and the cold water. My mother told me she saw my eyes rolling to the back my head and when she tried to keep me talking.
I would mumble but made no sense. I remember my mother praying out loud as she held me with both arms, as I laid my head on her breasts. I felt like I was floating on air with death close by. I felt this because I was not fighting and began to give up. I saw visions of my daughter in the fog before me but then I heard a whisper. The voice was soft and so calm and it spoke to me saying “ fight, I’m not ready for you yet.”
The
next
thing I knew I was being
awakened
by the doctor who had finally come after 2 hours of being called into my room. When the doctors came to check my temperature, It had come from 105 to 102. God used my mother and His voice to save
my life. I was kept dull, gloomy room, but it was ok because my mother was by my side.
When I was finally able to speak again, I asked the doctors to
check for a Lupus flare up, and they said Lupus was not active. This wasn’t odd to me because every time I had a flare up Lupus wouldn’t show up in my blood as active, but my symptoms indicated Lupus. I remember when the head doctor pushed the door open and told them to immediately remove me from the back and put me in a regular room. She was furious because she indicated I should have never been taken to that side of the hospital and confirmed I wasn’t contagious as previously indicated. I spent about 2 months in the hospital even after they began to finally treat me for a Lupus flare after waking up one morning unable to walk. This was a scary season in my life but I made it through. In 1999 I was blessed with a bouncing baby boy. I call him my miracle baby. My doctor didn’t want me to move forward with my pregnancy but I refused to abort my child. This was a life and I chose to let God decide the outcome. It was such a scary and painful experience and an ordeal for me because I was a high risk and could-
n’t take any medicine for the symptoms associated with Lupus flare ups, because the medications would harm the baby. However, I continued on a low dosage of steroids. I was informed it would do no harm to my baby boy. I felt like my body was fighting and at war with itself during my pregnancy, but in the end I was blessed with a healthy baby boy who is now 17 years old. I was still able to complete my undergraduate degree, but did not graduate until 2003. Fast forward, now in my forties, after so many times of being afraid that I wouldn’t make it to forty, I began to get sick more often with mostly flare ups, pain, severe fatigue, kidney infections and recurrences of UTI’S (Urinary Tract Infections). I did feel good emotionally because during this time in my life although my normalcy was invaded I made some outstanding accomplishments personally and professionally. I obtained my peer health educator certification with the hospital for special surgery where
I volunteered working with newly diagnosed Lupus patients who visited the
clinic, received my Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Social Science with a minor in Social work, I became a Certified Lupus Line counselor, #1 bestselling Author. Prior to becoming certified as a life coach I was certified as a beauty control consultant. I had presentation and speaking experience. I had been a part of several network marketing companies where I conducted presentations to demonstrate and promote products. As I was in the midst of a battle with depression, and newly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, I still mastered the art of what I call “Creating my New Norm. “ In August of 2015, I was hospitalized with a very bad kidney infection that came from a urinary tract infection. I was again in severe pain and had to stay in the hospital for 8 days. I had around the clock care while in the hospital because my doctor said I was really sick. The expression on her face really concerned me. She indicated that
some of the bacteria had spilled in my blood and they had not yet determined the type of bug it was. I was very familiar with some medical terminology so when she said that I was very sick I knew was indeed in bad shape. When Bacteria spills into your blood stream you can become septic which means that the body is full of “ poison. “ The doctors could do nothing because if by chance, my body rejected the antibiotics. Here, I began to pray and declared the devil is a liar. I had no fear, because even though I knew the doctors were concerned about losing me, I knew GOD had the last say so and that He didn’t bring me this far to take me away. The doctors administered the first bag of antibiotics to attempt to clear my blood of the bacteria contamination. Then suddenly it appeared that my body began to receive antibiotic and it began to clean my blood. The decision had to be made to either keep me 8 more days or send me home with a nurse and a pic line implanted in my arm. I opted for going home with the pic line so I could be taught by a nurse how to administer my own IV medication. I was educated in the hospital by my nurse of how to use the pic line. This was a little scary because I thought “ what if I don’t administer it correctly and it doesn’t work? “ I was assured no one would leave me until I was comfortable doing it by myself with confidence. Doctors recom-
mended that I go home because they didn’t want me to catch any infections by staying another week in the hospital.
I went home and completed 8 more days of treatment suc-
cessfully without any issues. Although I had the scare of losing my life for the second time, I am still standing and will continue to inspire women, teenage girls, and families; to restore, transform, elevate, to never give up, and to live again, after not just a diagnosis, but unexpected adversities. I will forever encourage people to know that an unforeseen diagnosis and an unexpected adversity in life doesn’t end life, it begins all over again.
Look at me now. Would you think I had been through all
that was mentioned? If I didn’t know me I wouldn’t either. Without GOD, my family and friends, creating my new norm would have been a dire struggle. They are my support system. Even with over a dozen medications I take I will continue to speak healing and life over my body. So now that you know a portion of my life story, and how my struggle became my strength. I’m sure that will you agree when you look at me, that Lupus and ADHD never look so good? Never give up!
Daily Devotion-Fostering a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father God is key. This walk requires a lifestyle of holiness through daily communications with the Father. Take Time for “Self”-We spend so much time as women caring for others that we fail to take time for ourselves. It is imperative that we practice self-care in order to be productive and healthy. We get lost in daily activities, family, children, spouses, and even work/ministry . We must make it a habit to do something special for ourselves. Read a book, get a manicure/pedicure, get a massage, go for a walk, take a class, or whatever you need to for relaxation and empowerment.
Develop an exercise routine-Join a gym, do Yoga at home, go for a run/walk, do something to foster healthy habits that you may be physically fit for the fight. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Let us do good to watch over our temple daily.
Get a “New Do”—summer’s here a ponytail is simple, reliable and all-purpose. Get a new color, a new cut, do something that fames the face and adds height for us short people. Check with your stylist for something NEW this season. Meditation-The key to peace in all your relationships, is peace with yourself and with God. Spend time meditating to relieve the stress and pressures of daily life. Maintain positive influences-a supportive and positive network is key in all relations. You need people around you to push you, encourage you , whip your butt if necessary, and pour positive feedback into your spirit. You don’t need anyone tearing you down. You can do that all by yourself. Educate yourself-Finish high school, get a degree, learn a new trade. It will increase your income and give you’re a sense of pride.
Develop a Skin Care/Beauty Regimen-Face it, we women love to look good. We love to smell good. And feeling good about ourselves is linked closely to our appearance. Although beauty is vain, we should Maintain an Open line of communication-No man is an always want to be attractive to our spouses and want to represent the Kingdom well. So dump the grandma hairdo island. We need people in our lives. Good people to keep us good, and the other to keep us humble . and cotton stockings and get pretty.
Refresh your wardrobe-Okay it’s not easy shopping these days. But every woman’s closet should have the basic, a pair of black pumps or nice flats that compliment, a pair of jeans, a white blazer, a black suit pants/skirt, a crisp white shirt, a colorful scarf, and matching accessories. With these items you cant go wrong. There is more, but get these in your closet and you can go anywhere.
Hi, I know your question is ‘What is an Emotional Healing Strategist?” Well let me tell you something very personal to help you understand. I myself, had to come to grips with this as well. With all my heart and soul, and from personal experience, I know what it’s like living under a false identity; always afraid of being judged, and even looking like a weak person when everyone around you thinks you are so strong. After being raped, I lived as someone else (an alter-ego) to bury my pain and to shut up shame. I struggled and suffered in silence. I was alive, but walking dead every single day with a big smile on my face. Guess what?? More and more daily, I wanted to die. On top of my psychological demise I was diagnosed with Lupus. The invisible disease that makes people question if you’re ‘really’ sick. This was the self-talk poisoning my mind. I began telling myself and had to prove I was perfect with the flaws and or infirmities if I was going to be able to help people with their issues, since I was so good at it. I was ashamed and blamed myself for being sexually violated. The is one of the stigma of being emotionally wounded or in emotional pain, (listen) you are not unstable or mentally ill. I hid behind the mask that people depended on me. HOWEVER, it was this negative thought process, negative feelings and negative beliefs that almost caused me to take my life. God allowed me to go through that trauma because he knew I could handle it. God knew the assignment he had assigned to my hands, and He wanted me to complete it. So, this process had to happen. This was not something that I brought on myself. It was however something I had to go through. He saved me from myself at a time expressly ordained by Him, a time when He would transform my thoughts with my stilettos on my feet. This empowered me, and caused me to deeply search my soul and practice self-love strategies that He gave me. That transformation literally empowered me to boldly snatch my life back. It was then when my life began again. I created my new norm and became a powerhouse of Authenticity, Transparency and Vulnerability. My coaching practice was birthed in January 2015 and rebranded in 2017. Now, I help emotionally wounded women heal from past traumas and experiences, by first accepting and admitting out loud that this wound and pain exist, and cannot be ignored any more. I help women with learning to control negative feelings, thoughts and beliefs. I use biblical principles, and real life experiences of my own to help women discover who they really are; to empower them to ‘Create a New Norm’, and boldly SNATCH their lives back and experience a massive Transformation. In that, women clients step out empowered in their high heels and or stilettos being what I call BEYOUTIFULL. This just means she knows who God says she is, and she slays being Authentic, Vulnerable and Transparent, overcoming that stigma of suffering in silence, and the negative thoughts patterns that cause you to believe if you get help that means you are mentally ill or weak. Follow me on Twitter @iamkishajmcrae Instagram @Iamkishajmcrae Follow me on Twitter @iamkishajmcrae Instagram @Iamkishajmcrae Facebook. bit.ly/iamkishajmcrae for speaking engagements Virtual or in person, to inquire about emotional healing topics and or Fees. Use email below. Looking for a life or transformation coach email me below and request a 15 minute Rapid Breakthrough an Emotional Transformation complimentary session.
John 15:16 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you (I have planted you), that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting (that it may remain, abide), so that whatever you ask the Father in My name (as presenting all that I AM), He may give it to you. (Amplified Bible) Deuteronomy 28:1 If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this
day the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. (Amplified Bible) Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for, and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (close to God) as eagles (mount up to the sun); they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. (Amplified Bible)
In life, there are times when we feel as though things and situations in our lives are taking too long to manifest. We believe that we are entitled to a position. We have been beyond ready for a relationship. When is it my time? When is it my turn? This is the question that dwells in our thoughts, day to day. This is when we have to understand that everything happens in due time. Although in the world we currently live in, the predicting of the seasons continues to meld into one another. We now have winter in spring, and summer in fall. Not knowing how to dress from day to day but based on what the weather expert tells us, they provide us a guess work of what is to come so that we can prepare. But it is when we understand, that all things come together in due season, we can begin to exercise the patience required to wait on it. In that waiting period, I coach my clients to preparse. In preparation go over and beyond what is required, see yourself already having it. Many men and women are ready to be united with their mate. They are frustrated in the wait. But again, in the wait, you are to prepare. You may not have the mate yet because you are not ready. It is not the season for that. So in the waiting for your turn and your time. Don’t become frustrated in your waiting. PREPARE for your due season. Delayed is not denied, there is purpose in preparation. We don’t wear mink coats in the summer, nor do we wear shorts in a winter blizzard. Be patient, It’s on the way in your due season. Darlene Mingo is a Certified Life & Purpose Coach, Transformational speaker, Licensed Educator & Cosmetologist, Licensed Minister, Kingdom Ambassador, Mentor and, CEO of “The W.O.E. Network” and “D. Mingo Hair Solutions”. For over 20 years she has made transforming women’s self- esteem a daily work of service. In 2016, she added to her experience and became a Certified Life/Purpose Coach through the P4 Coaching Institute. As a Stephens Minister and Cosmetologist, over many years she has been a confidant to many. Hearing, Counseling and personally understanding the areas of struggle for many women she now helps them to not only recognize their beauty on the outside, she walks with women during the process of discovering their true beauty WITHIN. Teaching how to awaken, discover and reunite with the powerful women that has been waiting for her big reveal and the POWER of who she really is.
HI, my name is Sadiemae. Only my family knows me by that name. Many people that know me , know that I love the Lord with all my heart. Second to God is my family. A few years ago I went through the most difficult time in my life. But I thank the Lord each day because He afforded me the opportunity no only have my family, but I had a great church and a great pastor that never stopped laying on his face before the Lord on my behalf. It all began in 1999 with the death of my mother, Mable W. Williams. but for the sake of time, I will start with 2010. My daughter and her children were traveling to Florence SC every Sunday for church services where she served as the Administrative Pastor. Every Sunday morning, she and the children were on the road
for a two-and-a-half-hour trip one way from Charleston SC. I attended services a few times with her while the church was still in Summerville SC. I was heavily impacted at these services, although the pastor was not
there. Since establishing the ministry in Florence, he was between cities, and I would always miss him. But my daughter had told upon first meeting him in 2009, what an awesome Man of God he was and that she believed God had positioned her there to serve. I grew up in church. All I’d ever known was church. So when my daughter told me the ministry was moving to Florence, I prayed and asked God if this was this a move for myself as well. It took a while for to come to grips with the idea of relocating, but for the most part I knew I needed to move. My dilemma was, physically I had not been feeling well. But I knew I had to move and pressed my way. Now, the second part of this dilemma was, my husband. He was there, but always on the go, and never around. He was not saved, but he always made sure the home was taken care of. He would struggle sometimes, but he made sure that his family was provided for. By this time, my daughter and the children had moved back home, while she was going through a divorce. So someone was always at home with me. You can imagine when she said the ministry was moving, it became a struggle for me emotionally. Now that meant, no one would be at home me at all. The enemy began putting thoughts in my mind. What if you get sick at night and no one’s here? What if something happens and you are here alone? What if you need help, who will be there? Well, after a few days of putting myself through this mental struggle, the Lord spoke and said “GO”. “Go, and become a part of the ministry.” So, I began traveling with her from Charleston to Florence.
After a couple of months, she started traveling more, sometimes during the week in addition to Sundays. She was helping to conduct the services in both places and teaching seminary classes in St. Stephen SC. I would travel with her every time she moved. This went on for a few months, and finally I’d made up my mind to become a member of the church. One morning of that same week, I got up and was feeling good. I started getting busy around the house. Little later on, I sat down on the couch, and as I tried to get up, I fell. It took a few minutes get up from the floor. I was a BIG girl and too heavy for my daughter to lift. The only thing I had to help me was a laundry basket. Nevertheless, I was determined to get up
We arrived at the hospital 15 minutes later, they immediately began running tests.
I already told you
from tat floor. Somehow, the Lord gave me enough
that the Bishop and my daughter together began de-
strength to do so. It was a struggle, but I was able to
creeing and declaring health and wellness as we
get back up to the couch. I needed to go the bath-
were leaving the house. The tests, every test they
room. I made it there, but had trouble standing and
ran was negative for a stroke. The CAT Scan, was
walking. I just knew that I’d had a stroke.
negative for any brain damage. There was no sign of
My daughter helped me get dressed and got me into
stroke anywhere in my body. A week later, although
the van to transport me t the hospital. It was going
I couldn’t get around very well, I was on the road
to take too long for EMS, so she loaded me into the
again and traveling to Florence. I was using a cane
van and headed for the
but I was on the road. That Sunday, I joined the church and became a full member of (formerly) Res-
hospital. As we pulled out of the yard, she made a
toration
phone call to the pastor, telling him what had happened. I could hear him over the phone denouncing a stroke, and decreeing and declaring health and wellness. By the time we got to the hospital, I was still not feeling my best, but I’d begun to feel so much better than I’d been feeling. Now the Bishop did not know me that well, but he knew my spirit and
knew my heart.
Tabernacle Empowerment Center. Shortly after this my daughter came to and said “Mom, I am going to have to move to Florence permanently.” She’s debated the issue because she didn’t want to leave me there alone. She was concerned that my husband was not going to care for me. She said, “Mom I have
to go, but I am not going to leave you here.” She didn’t have to say it again.
As a woman, you are not automatically assigned the job of "chief worrier." Instead, fill your heart with trust, hope, and God's peace. You'll sleep so much better at night. Don't let fear be the reason for your decisions. Instead, fill your heart and mind with positive, life affirming words that will never change. Look to God's Word. Women will always be examples of right living to their children. Showing your kids what forgiveness looks like will always be one of your most important examples. One of the best things you can do for your children is to love and respect their father. Teaching kids early about real love is an amazing gift they will treasure forever. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to wait for God to show you what's next in your life. But just know that God is never late and it's always worth the wait. Don't forget that God has filled your heart with dreams. When you choose God's path to those dreams, the doors will open. God wants you to be happy more than you do. Don't be afraid to talk to God every single day. Nothing is too hard for Him. Every prayer is like planting a seed of hope. You never know when God will send you a harvest. Take the time to listen to God before you make your own plans. God's idea will always work better than yours. Life is too short to compare yourself with everybody else. God has a very special plan just for you... Make up your mind you're going to make a difference to somebody else. You can be a blessing, you can say something positive to somebody else, and you can focus on making the most out of every moment.
and I couldn’t stop them. He saw this happening Miracle in the making con’t…...
and ran to the other room for my daughter, who
I was convinced when she told me that I needed to
came in and took care of her mommy. This blew
go too. I just didn’t know how to tell my husband,
him away. I believe this was God’s way of getting
nor what his reaction would be. I just knew the ene-
his attention. He called for her “Nette, your mom
my was angry because I’d decided to become a
needs you.” He stayed right there and didn’t leave,
member of this ministry. He tried to stop me but
but couldn’t believe his eyes. I was so embarrassed.
failed. A few weeks later I finally told my husband
I had been battling depression, sugar diabetes, hy-
and surprisingly (ALL GOD) he was in total agree-
pertension, and now this. All my life I never had a
ment with the move. His only question was when.
normal cycle like most women. I would go months
We had three months to pack and relocate. We’d
without a cycle, then all of sudden here comes the
been preparing for this. My daughter was already
blood. Three days later, nothing. And now, here I
packing up her things because she had to go ahead
am with this uncontrollable flow happening. I was
of us. But it wasn’t over. I was still sick.
like a turtle trying to hide its head inside of its shell.
As women, there are some things we don’t
want our husband’s to see or witness, but sometimes they must. After all, our vows include for better or worse, in sickness and in health…well one night my husband had to help me get in the bed. Later that night I needed to go to the bathroom and he had to help me. At that time, I felt like the woman with the issue of blood. While in the bathroom I began bleeding. Clots were passing from my body uncontrollably. While I was trying to clean myself up, clots were hitting the floor
I just began to talk to God. I really just began to cry
to the Lord. One morning as I laid there awake, tears flowing I heard the Lord say, “I am purifying you. I am cleansing you, and getting you ready for the work ahead. You are going to be just fine.” It’s a long story. When I was asked to tell my story, I was trying to figure out how to tell it in a few pages. Nevertheless, this was the beginning of what was to become a miracle in the making. We moved to Florence in February 2011. I was getting sicker and sicker.
I began sleeping
more, and eating less. I was walking without the cane by this time, although I would have it nearby if needed. This move to Florence was one purely of faith for us. We didn’t know where we going, or where we would live.
What had been lined up and put in place for us all (my daughter included) fell through and now we were all homeless. She was in a battered women’s transitional home with the children, and My husband and I were in a nearby motel. She would go everyday between the church, the home, taking care of the children, and taking care of me. One night, I was feeling really bad again. I got up to go to the bathroom and fell again. Pretty soon she and the children moved into the motel with us. One night she was lying at the foot of my bed.
I could see the hurt in her eyes, I could see her watching me, and the worried look on her face. She had no idea that I saw her that night. I was so hurt.
Now prior to moving to Florence, I’d been
seeing the doctor monthly for a diabetes check. Then suddenly things just seem to be going crazy.
On top pf everything else I
couldn’t eat, I couldn’t take a bath. But the night I fell, Mike (my husband) called EMS. I went to the Emergency Room.
Still, no
stroke. They sent me back to the doctor. This went on for about a month or so, until finally, the last time I went to the Emergency Room, they discovered a growth. They found what appeared to be a cyst on my left ovary. They didn’t seem to think it was an emergency at that time. They gave me the option of going back to Charleston or Columbia SC for more tests. My husband, son and daughter spoke up and had me sent to Charleston. After my exam, the doctor
(who became my favorite doctor) delivered the news, that they had found a volleyball sized tumor that needed
to be removed. Being in Florence was the difficult part. We didn’t have our own transportation and getting back and forth to the doctor in Charleston, became increasingly difficult. So was had to schedule transport back and forth for appointments. By the time I was able to get back to the doctor the tumor had grown to the size of a basketball. There was no going home this time. I thank God for Angela Rainey. She was my intake specialist at the Medical University of South Carolina. She was truly an angel. She worked with my family, and made transport possible. She saw to it that no need went unmet. My daughter had me checked in at MUSC in August 2011. What should have been an eight-week recovery took eight months. You see, they discovered that I had two different types of cancer simultaneously; endometrial and ovarian. My favorite doctor - Dr. Kohler performed the surgery. God blessed his hands. He blessed the anesthesiologist, He blessed the nurses and the staff. They took such good care of me. Dr. Kohler, removed the tumor, all of the cancer, the ovaries, and even my naval. I didn’t have to take a pill, nor do chemotherapy/radiation. With one surgery God completely healed my body. God told me before leaving Charleston, that morning in my bed while crying and talking to him, that I would be just fine. I had to go to my baby sister Barbara on St. Helena Island SC for eight months of solitude, rest, and recovery. Now, here it is 2017 and I am six years CANCER-FREE!!!! I may move slow sometime, I may need
help every once and a while because I have a problem with balance, BUT I AM CANCER FREE!!!!! I could tell you so much more, but I will save the rest for another time. I just want to tell you this ladies, there is no problem, big or small that God cannot and will not handle for you. My move, my life for the past eight years has been nothing but one faith move to another. With each step, God has been with me, and the BEST IS YET TO COME.
For the Lord gives skillful and godly wisdom; from His mouth came knowledge, and understanding. Proverbs 2:6
This is a painful story to tell, but a testimony all the same. This is a story about the grace and mercy of God, the protection of God, and the love of God. Sometimes, He will prove to us that He is God and we are nothing without Him. He will allow us to come to a place or position where He is the only one that we can all on, the only one who can save us. It was a normal day a work and I was feeling as I always felt, cranky and wanting to go home, the good thing was it was lunch time and I was hungry. I was working at Dillard’s Department Store in Charleston, South Carolina. My co-worker’s girlfriend had visited my house the night before, for the first time. We went to visit with her for lunch because she was at home and not feeling well. So we called her to tell her we were coming over. She asked us to pick up a sprite for her to help settle her stomach. We stopped by Wendy’s on the way. When we arrived, she was sitting on the couch, but she was suspiciously nervous. This was the night she was going to meet his parents. She didn’t know what to wear, nor what to expect. So, we went ahead and had lunch, we tried to ease her mind while eating and helped to come up with some solutions. Right then the telephone rang, and suddenly her front door opened and in walked someone I had never seen before. I though maybe it was her roommate, not knowing if she had one or not. Of course I would have expected a female, but this was a guy. He came in the house, waved a smiled at us. As she turned around, this sudden look of terror crossed her face., which of course gave a different point of view. As she was looking at him, I realized that he had transformed and no longer looked normal. He actually looked evil, sinister and satisfied, like an animal that had captured his prey.
Then, the unthinkable happened. He pulled out a 9mm gun and pointed at this fragile young woman and pulled the trigger. Over and over, and over again, he just kept shooting. The
sound was deafening, as were my screams of terror and disbelief. I watched this young woman as her body slid slowly down to the floor and curled into a little ball as she tried to protect herself from this monster that had entered her home. It was of course no use as he shot the in the head. My friend looked at the human form of evil and begged “Please, don’t do this...don’t…” I didn’t know that I was still screaming until the monster turned to me with the gun in hand, pointing it at my head. I was them quiet. He continued smiling as he pulled the trigger over and over and over again. Quickly, as I stared into the barrel of the gun. Then, I began to pray. “Lord...am I ready? Lord, I’m sorry; please save me…”
Those were the only words that formed in my mind. As my life flashed through my mind, I knew my father, my sister, and my nephew were going to have a hard time dealing with the tragedy of my death. I began to think that I would see my mother again, but God had other plans for me as you can see-Here is my testimony.
THE GUN JAMMED!!!
I believe that I was allowed to go through that
He kept trying to pull the trigger and noth-
experience for a reason. To see what it was like
ing happened. He then turned the gun on my
to be with and without God, the Lord’s grace and
friend and again, nothing happened. He looked
mercy overshadowed me that day. He chose to
down at the gun discharged bullet, cocked it, knelt
have this angels encamp themselves around us to
down in front of me, out the gun to his own head ,
protect us, so that we or so that I may live to ful-
and looked into my eyes. IT was then that I saw
fill his purpose and calling for my life. He let me
the man and not the monster. It was then I saw a
see desperation, hopelessness, and yes, death.
tortured soul, lost, scared, and aloe. For the first
He also let me experience life after the darkness.
time, I looked into the eyes of someone who died.
When I stepped outside of that apartment I
Before he ever stepped foot into the home of this
stepped into the light, love, grace, and comfort of
young woman he was already dead on the inside.
my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his Holy
He pulled the trigger that day and took his own
Spirit.
life. My friend and I could not leave out the front door since he collapsed in front of it. We climbed through the bedroom window and ran to the
apartment complex office to get help hoping that she was still alive. We called the police. We knew deep down it was too late that the life of that 19year old woman was gone and our live would forever be changed.
“Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not wither he goeth.� John 12:35
Let Life’s Goodness Flow He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he ho walks in skillful and godly wisdom shall be delivered.
©2011 Ralph S. Marston Jr. Visit The Daily Motivator® website All is well on this day, with this moment, in this place. Do what you do and experience what you experience.
Proverbs 28:26
Le go of the need to place a judgment on ho things are. Choose instead to feel immensely and sincerely thankful for all that is, whatever it may be.
Wisdom is the principle thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Peacefully accept the entirety of this moment and you’ll gain access to the fullness of its value. Choose to make full use of the unique opportunity that now presents itself to you. Simply allow yourself to easily and peacefully do what you have chosen to do.
Proverbs 4:7
Be careful for noting, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your heart and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Let your thoughts and actions be a source of inspiration and positive focus. See the troubles, frustrations and disappointments as the opportunities they are. Know that you are fully capable of finding the goodness and value in every situation. Feel the limitless power of your own awareness and the priceless miracle of your own being.
HEAD-ON COLLISION SURVIVOR Evelyn Murray Drayton releases new book,
Anything’s Possible: The 47-Day Prophecy (ISBN: 978-1-943385-00-3 Sellrus Publishing) Available on www.EvelynDrayton.org, Amazon, Barnes and
Noble, and other online portals. Dr. Drayton speaks of her new hot off the press book,
Anything’s
Possible: The 47-Day Prophecy: "This book is the story of how I healed enough from a near-fatal head-on collision to go home after 47 days, the number 47 having been prophesied to me a few hours before the accident. During my 47-day hospital stay, I spent much of it hovering between life and death. I had a series of dreams, encounters, coincidences, and visitations that pointed out to me where the devil was trying to destroy my life and ministry. God helped me interpret those dreams so I was able to joyfully strengthen my ministry. I was told that my ministry would change in 47 days. While healing my joy erupted and changed me, which changed my ministry. My powerful story exemplifies how God can use our struggles to make us stronger believers in Christ. I am now a billboard advertising God's healing power. I am a
Evelyn Drayton’s new song titled, TELL SOMEBODY Available on CDBaby, Amazon, and other music portals walking testimony!"
Evelyn’s new inspirational song, TELL SOMEBODY, gives
her testimony of challenges in life and how God heals, shields, saves, and forgives.
CONTACT: DR. EVELYN MURRAY DRAYTON
843-546-4057 draytonevelyn@yahoo.com www.EvelynDrayton.org Discover Dr. Drayton’s EIGHT PUBLISHED BOOKS AND HER INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC. She is available for speaking en-
gagements, conferences, and workshops.
RB: What inspired the book? ED: I think trials, tragedy and triumph in-
Interview with Dr. Evelyn M. Drayton BY Dr. Vanessa Williams-Cook
spired this book. But, seriously, I believe this book was inspired out of love. It seems while
RB: Who is Evangelist Drayton? Please tell us a little about
I was on my bed of affliction, God gave me a
you the person.
double dose of love. It seemed I loved prior
ED: It seems I could just humbly say, “I am your sister in
to the accident; but, I never felt love like this
Christ who has suffered, endured some storms, and yet sur-
before. My love for God’s people helped me
vived triumphantly”. But, I know ideally, I am supposed to
to encourage others to believe that God is
say more. I hold an earned doctorate in Christian counsel-
still healing and performing miracles in this
ing with a mission to inspire and help equip others to reach
world today. My testimonial writing creates a
their divine potential. I am a wife, mother of two sons, in-
platform to share that God really does cause
spirational/Bible teacher, ordained minister of potential and
all things to work together for our good. I
possibilities, author of eight published books, and songwrit-
wrote this book to share my testimonies
er/recording artist who lives in Georgetown, South Caroli-
about the mighty power of God at work in
na. I believe I am a bold woman of character and integrity. I
people today, hoping, that others will be en-
am a survivor; a walking testimony. Having survived a 2013
couraged and inspired to share their testimo-
near-death experience, I am now a compelling advocate for
nies. I wrote this book to persuade, educate,
spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical encouragement to
encourage and inspire others about love, for-
help others overcome adversities and challenges in life. I
giveness, healing, prophecy, and dreams.
focus on love, forgiveness, and healing. I believe that God
When we endure hardships that we live to
can take our obstacles and create opportunities. I appear on
talk about, God can use us to help others in-
various television shows and numerous live radio inter-
crease their faith.
views. I am available for preaching engagements conferences, and workshops.
RB: The title Anything's Possible, would you please tell us about how you arrived at this title? ED: It seems like this should be a short answer for this short question, but it’s not. One of my friends in Missouri had spoken to me several months prior to the accident and said my next book need to include the word “possible.”
Another friend (after the accident occurred), heard my compelling testimony and told me my next book
can help strengthen, encourage, and help increase faith.
need to include the number 47. Well, after much contemplation and suggestions, I arrived at the title which included words from both of my friends— ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE- THE 47 DAY PROPHECY. We read in the Bible, “but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). In this life, we will have to apply and bear witness to the truth of what the Word talks about in our own life. When I talked with my husband who told me the doctors said, “It doesn’t look good”; When I looked at my hospital
Readers can be encouraged in knowing that anything’s possible and they can move beyond their scars into their purpose and destiny. weaned from the coma. After I returned home from the hospital, a
friend called and asked me if I was angry with God for my calamity. I was able to honestly say, “Not at all; I love Him even the more.” I learned that I am now a walking billboard and I have moved beyond my scars.
records that indicate doctors had performed mas- RB:
What was it like for you, the healing pro-
sive resuscitations on me; and when I looked at the cess? Did you ever question, why or did you ever
vehicle that I had to be cut from---I realized and lose hope/faith? bear witness that with God, ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE. ED: First of all, God used me to minister to others while Even though the driver of the other vehicle was fa- on my bed of affliction and those experiences taught me tally wounded, God allowed me to survive. While the book is loaded with lessons, I think the most important lesson for others to know without a doubt is that God is still performing miracles. Peo-
that it’s not about me. Only God got the glory because I didn’t know I was ministering until the people told me. I could not take any credit or glory for what God had done. I am powerless in my own strength to deal with obstacles and challenges in life. I learned that I can pray for others
ple are hurting and are in dire need of strength to and expect answered prayers, but must trust God for the endure life’s challenges. My powerful story exempli- results. I learned that God really does speak to me fies how God can use our struggles to make us through my dreams as well as through the prophetic voicstronger believers in Christ. Being a survivor and an es of other Christians. overcomer, I challenge others to trust God in the When I finally realized I was injured after nearly three face of danger for there is hope in the midst of life’s weeks on life support, I wondered what happened to me storms. Anything’s Possible: The 47-Day Prophecy
because I still don’t remember being in an accident. I didn’t realize my hip was broken until weeks after I had returned home and had gone for a doctor’s visit.
The doctor had to show me an x-ray to prove to me my hip had been broken in several places. It seems I never experienced some of the pain I was expected to endure. Nevertheless, I was broken internally and externally, all of which I share in my book. Watching the angels fight for my life seemed like a hallucination; yet, it was so real.
RB: How does it feel to finally have your story in
print? Is this your first book? ED: I guess, as a writer, I always have afterthoughts about what else I could have included in the book. But I am excited to have completed this project, knowing that God is being glorified. Anything’s Possible is actually my eighth book. And all eight of my books are used as ministry tools, not to replace the
I never lost hope or faith! When I realized my con-
Bible, but to encourage others to read the Bible, so
dition, I found myself repenting profusely. I had a
that they too can enjoy God’s promises to His chil-
number of spiritual attacks where the enemy want-
dren. When we trust God, anything’s possible! God’s
ed me to believe that I had failed God and that God
love for them.
did not love me. The enemy fed me a lie that if God
ED: This book, Anything’s Possible: The 47 Day
loved me, he wouldn’t have allowed the accident or
Prophecy is mainly a story of how I healed enough
the injuries—all blatant lies!
from a near- fatal head-on collision to go home after 47 days, the number 47 having been prophesied to
Please allow to me to add that I lost an adopted
me by Bishop Lance R. Jeter a few hours before the
son to a separate vehicle accident, while I was just
accident. During my 47-day hospital stay, I spent
while I was just weaned from the coma. After I re-
much of it hovering between life and death. I was told
turned home from the hospital, a friend called and
my ministry would change after 47 days. This is what
asked me if I was angry with God for my calamity. I
happened to me while I healed that awoke my joy
was able to honestly say, “Not at all; I love Him
and changed me, which changed my ministry. I am
even the more.” I learned that I am now a walking
now a billboard advertising God's healing power. I am
billboard and I have moved beyond my scars.
a walking testimony! As I searched various Scriptures about Noah’s assignment—and even Jesus’ assignment as it relates to the number 47, it is imperative for me to believe that the number 47 correlates highly with VICTORY!
RB: What do you hope will come of this project? What is your vision? ED: I had envisioned this book serving as a ministry tool to encourage and empower many in the Body of Christ—even to help win some to Christ. Just as I had imagined during the writing process, lives are being changed. As I share my story of recovery and healing, my impact and influence have soared to another level. God has taken my barriers and turn them into blessings. Many are encouraged as they read the importance of love and forgiveness as detailed in my book. The book has helped to set people free because I used the Word of God throughout my book. People have learned that just because they have setbacks in life does not necessarily mean they have done wrong—but that they might be doing something right and the enemy is launching
an attack to make them doubt. RB: What is significant about the #47? I encourage your readers to read my book, Anything’s Possible, page 70, to find out more about the significance of the number 47 in my life. RB: I was there and witnessed the prophecy being given; so, for me to see your story including the prophecy in print, as such, is phenomenal. But, for you to have lived through this, please tell our readers what this has been like for you. ED: Dr. Cook, it is such an honor that you have shared those words about witnessing the prophetic words to me. Although, your name was not included in the book, you are, DR. VANESSA WILLIAMS COOK, the assistant pastor that I mentioned at the bottom of page four in my book. While I emphasized only a few of the words in my book, I am holding on to ALL of the words spoken about my destiny. We are living in such perilous times; it seems. I must add that I recorded several key words spoken by Bishop Jeter on a napkin and stuck the napkin in my purse. Just hours later after the prophecy, I was in the head-on collision. I did not look at the napkin again for about two weeks after my 47 days hospital release. Despite the torrential downpour the day of the
accident, the ink did not spear--the words on my napkin, the words stayed intact. People will try to derail or sabotage our positive path to greatness. Therefore, I shared futuristic words with caution. When the enemy tried to depress or discourage me about my healing, I looked over the napkin several times and came into agreement because I knew the words lined up with God’s written word for my life. I rose from tragedy to triumph.
RB: How does your family feel about this? What was their reaction when you announced that you were
writing a book? How supportive has your husband been throughout all of this? ED: I didn’t initially share that I was definitely writing a book so soon. I covertly gathered as much information as I could while randomly asking several people: “If I were to write a book, do I have permission to include your name?” Factually, I had suffered the brain hemorrhage and my memory was still somewhat distorted. Therefore, I felt a few of my responders agreed as a means of encouragement to me—not believing I could or would actually write a book. Nevertheless, I received a resounding “yes” from each person contacted. My family is very proud of me and my accomplishment realizing that ONLY God could have given me insight
and direction to complete this writing assignment. My husband, though very supportive, probably felt the brunt of my inadequacies, confusion, frustration, and victory more than anyone. I asked him the SAME questions numerous times, along with dramatization at times. My husband continues to support me as various television stations are interviewing me about my new book and my miraculous healing journey. RB: How would our readers purchase a copy of Anything's Possible: The 47-Day Prophecy? ED: I invite our readers to visit my website at www.EvelynDrayton.org. There they can read more about me
and see my other books and music. All of my works are also listed on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and other online portals. My other books titles are: I Had to Die Exposing Witchcraft in the Church, Silent Speaker, Feathered Wisdom, Sweet Success After Bitter Defeat, Watermelon Faith, Beyond Our Scars, And Suddenly, and my most recent title, Anything’s Possible: The 47-Day Prophecy. Readers can also contact me For Interviews and Speaking Engagements:
Dr. Evelyn Drayton 876 Ford Village Road, Georgetown, SC 29440 Telephone: 843-546-4057 Email: Draytonevelyn@yahoo.com www.EvelynDrayton.org
“Til Death Do Us Part”-how many times have e heard that declaration, only to learn ;after that it would
be something else to cause two people to part. In 1998, I stood before an altar with every intention of being true to the vows that I proclaimed. However, in 2010, I was before a judge waiting for him to sign off on a Divorce Decree. Divorce is a form of separation physically, emotionally, and financially. Because there is a loss, there is a period of bereavement and a healing must take place. There are many causes of divorce such as finances, third party involvement, unresolved grief, and un-forgiveness. This information is strictly from my personal experience and
perception. Please seek professional, legal, and spiritual counsel as it pertains to your individual circumstance. (Proverbs 15:22) “Plans fail when there is no counsel , but with abundant advisers they are established.” You will need a Divorce Survival Kit! Secondly, it is imperative that communication takes place. The former spouse is critical if children ae involved. When my former husband and I separated, our son was 7 years old. I had to find creative ways for my son to go through this transition without the bottom falling out. Weekend visits were not always easy but communicating with the child about the reality of what is taking place is critical. Staying connected to your healthy relationships is also a part of communication that should take place.
Don’t
adopt the I don’t want everybody in my business” attitude. Divorce is like pregnancy, everyone will know after a while. When communicating with
the former spouse becomes difficult, always remember that it is okay to seek professional help. The third thing that you will need in you Survival Kit is a mirror. I Corinthians 1:28a says “But let a man examine himself….”
4:12), Paul says to “be an example to the believers.” In heated discussions, make sure the children are not present.
There is an old
southern adage that says “Little rabbits have big ears.” Speak well of the absent parent,
While going through my divorce, it was imperative
even when it’s difficult for you. Children don’t
that I fell in love with that person who was looking
have to know anything. Be the model that
back at me in the mirror. In the midst of the transi-
you child/children will respect.
tions, relocation, financial hardships, and he like, be sure to forgive yourself for your role in the demise of the marriage. It is never one person’s fault. Listen to Michael Jackson’s song “Man in the Mirror” a few times and allow the lyrics to speak to you.
Finally, be sure to pact the “No Guilt” pillow, The healthier and happier you are, the better off your child/children will be (and you). An occasional night out, while going through or after your divorce is ok. Adults need healthy,
When I became separated from my former hus-
happy, safe and fun relationships in life with
band, I quickly became a one-income household. I
other adults. (1) Use caution when bringing
quickly had to add a calculator to my Survival Kit.
others around your children. (2) Use caution
Everyone’s situation is different, but most times,
when bringing strangers into your home. (3)
you will need to adjust your budget. I had to priori-
Do not feel pressured to marry quickly, but
tize and tell myself during this season of separation
allow your heart to be open again. Allow your
and ultimately divorce that (1) “You are not in the
heart to love again. The guilt, the shame, the
business of keeping up with the Joneses or proving
rumors, the assumptions and the sadness that
anything to anyone. (2) “You must spend less than
comes with divorce can be very difficult, as it
you make.” (3) Accept help when it is offered with-
is. When coupled with the fact that you are a
out shame or regret. (4) Set a budget and adhere to
leader in the Lord’s church, it makes it even
it.
the ore difficult. Because it is a sensitive sub-
The fifth item that was important for my Survival
ject, people in the church do not know how to
Kit, was Model Clay. The world is watching you to
approach it nor you Most times, people around
see how you will react in certain situations. (I Timo-
you do not say anything and sometimes dis-
thy .
tance themselves from you.
I survived separation and divorce because of my faith, The Word of God and my relationship with Him. True friends survive divorce with you. I have ne regret for the journey that the Lord allowed me to take in order to be in “this place” where I am today. God’s timing is perfect and when the time was right, He sent me someone to love again. During the separation and divorce period, my main focus was on parenting, learning to trust God through the process and ensuring that my spiritual, mental, and physical health was intact. You can survive divorce. I did!
Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. For you have need of
patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.
Hebrews 10:35-38
Beauty of A Woman Maya Angelou, Ralph Fenger,
Grief is something that we all must come face-to-face with. It is
Audrey Hepburn & Sam Levenson
something that knows no boundaries,, It is involved n all significant changes, losses, and life transitions, not just in the death of a loved one. Every life event encounters some loss and therefore, grieving. All too often, we try to go through this process alone. Although we all grieve differently, we still grieve nonetheless. Left unfinished, “grief takes a heavy toll, sapping one’s creative juices. The longer the healing is delayed, the more costly the protracted grief is to the person’s wholeness.” We believe
The beauty of a woman isn't in the clothes she wears, The figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman
tat the pain will go away and to some extent it does. But grief is
must be seen from in her eyes;
a process. It is not a day, or week , or months filled with activi-
Because that's the doorway to her
ties surrounding the actual event. It is a process that many of us
heart,
fail to go through. We try to skip it. We say we’re moving on, or
the place where love resides.
moving forward, when in actuality we are just delaying the inevitable. The most difficult step in this process, is more often than
The beauty of a woman
not, the first step we take. Sometimes turning to other avenues
isn't in a facial mole;
to ease the pain, tend to lead to destructive patterns in our lives,
But true beauty in a woman,
if we are not careful. Healthy recovery takes time and patience. In 1984 and 1985 my family had a series of deaths to occur. We conducted about seven funerals of very close family members, one of my grandmothers, included. During that time, I lost my job and took a leave of absence from my graduate studies to
help my mother in putting the pieces back together. For a while I was the family counselor, pastor, a financial planner, the allaround backbone. It seemed as if no one was concerned about me. The questions were always, “How’s your son?” How’s your mom?” Very rarely did anyone ask me
is reflected by her soul. It's the caring that she cares to g the passion that she shows; And the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows.
how are you, if at all. If it had not been for prayer, fasting, and completely immersing myself into the written Word of God, I would not have been able to survive. It is important to remember that “God will never leave us, nor forsake us.” And in the worst of times He continues to provide solace for us. For in his written Word is all of the comfort we need I every situation. Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those ho mourn, for they shall be comforted.” II Corinthians 1:4 NEB) tells us He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we in turn may be
able to comfort others in any troubles, so that we in turn may be able to comfort others in any troubles of theirs.” March 22, 2016 marked 31 years since my grandfather died. Growing up under his wing, as he studied Scripture in preparation for a sermon, watching as he taught my brother to grow his own vegetable garden, the time he jumped out of a car while teaching my mother to dive, and even the time he was dragged by my pony because his foot had
gotten caught in the reigns are all memories that I will cherish. I often wonder what the relationship between he and my children, or between he and my husband would have
been like. These are the thought that helped the grieving process to pass in a healthy way, although it didn’t begin that way. Not every one can grieve so sweetly.
of the grieving process and the types of help that to aid in the completion of each task of healthy grieving. It is important to remember that each person grieves
differently. These steps will help, not substitute for prayer, and the seeking o the Lord’s grace for this place in life. In a Christian community such as the Church, the grief process is one that is best served when the entire community lends a hand in facilitating the healing. I was 15 years-old when my grandfather died, even now at 46, I still get emotional and teary eyed as the anniversary of his death approaches, because as long as I remember hum I will remember the day he die. I will always know life with him, and life without him. Nevertheless, I now am able to help others in dealing with their losses due to having lost so much that was dear to me. A local church body and a caring pastor are key to your recovery.
Re-
member, grief is not the end of life. Whatever the
May people have had so much difficulty with the loss may be, there is a REBIRTH on the horizon. actual grief itself that they have turned to drugs, or alcohol. Grief Chart Information taken from Some have adopted a death wish by engaging in destructive Basic Types of Pastoral Care & Counseling by habits, some to the extreme of committing suicide even. Howard Clinebell 1984 Abingdon Press Grief can be so intense that t can consume you if allowed to. The following chart lists the five tasks From the Heart provided by The Grief Network-We are here to Help You
Grief Task
Help Needed
Experiencing shock, numbness, denial, and gradually accepting the reality of the loss
A ministry of caring and presence,
Experiencing, expressing and working through painful feelings-e.g. guilt, remorse, apathy, anger, resentment, yearning, despair, anxiety, emptiness, depression, loneliness, panic, disorientation, loss of clear identity, physical symptoms, etc.
practical help, and spiritual comfort
A ministry of caring, and responsive listening to encourage full catharsis.
Gradual acceptance of the loss and putting one’s life back together minus what was lost, making deciA ministry of crisis care and counseling sions and coping with the new Reality: unlearning facilitating reality testing and support in old ways of satisfying one’s needs and learning the difficult tasks of rebuilding one’s life ways to satisfy these needs. Saying “goodbye” and reinvesting one’s life energy in other relationships.
Putting one’s loss in a wider context of meaning and A ministry of facilitating spiritual growth faith; learning from the loss.
Reaching out to others experiencing similar
A ministry of enabling outreach to
losses for mutual help
others
I’ve never heard anyone say to my husband, “I almost called you for a project or to bid on a contract, but I know you have your hands full with the children.” It seemed as if I constantly heard these words from clients, or potential clients after I had twins Caleb and Kyle, giving us a total of three boys, at that time, under three year old. “Oh we thought about asking you to speak at our conference, but we knew you had your hands full.” Every time I heard those comments I became more and more outraged. Initially I could not believe my ears, then it became the norm. I became numb to such comments and realized it was time to strengthen my brand and let the world know that this “mompreneur” was ready for business. I found that social media was a great place to gain traction. I don’t like posting when I’m away from home or when I’m facilitating training or speaking, but I realize that perception is reality. When people look on social media and see that you are all over the place speaking, presenting, consulting then they begin to inquire. Slowly but surely I got more calls and emails from new clients. Let’s put a pin there. I’ve been very fortunate to have some long-term clients. Clear Vision started in 2006 as a full- time Seminars and Consulting Company and there are a few clients who have been with us since the beginning and continue to provide a steady flow of work. Alt-
hough we don’t have all our eggs in one basket, it’s imperative to continue to grow and diversify. Despite my company doing well, I felt the urge to broaden my base! One thing any business owner will tell you is that you cannot remain stagnant. Thus, in the past year we have launched Robinson Coaches-a business and lifestyle coaching brand. We have coached clients for years, but never marketed it as such. We are proud to have helped numerous individuals and couples via our coaching services. Check out the website at RobinsonCoaches.Com.
Additionally, I’ve become a licensed facilitator with the International Institute for Restorative Practices to im-
plement Introduction to Restorative Practice and Restorative Circles training. I’m elated to bring this work to school districts, non-profit organizations, and municipalities in the South Eastern United States. I’ve partnered with a veteran facilitator of this work and we will begin offering monthly trainings November 2016. For more information visit: IIRP.ed. There are millions of female owned businesses in American, but there are millions more who desire to start a business. Being in business in not easy, but it’s very attainable. Here are a few tips for running a successful company. NEVER APOLOGIZE: Oftentimes, female entrepreneurs apologize for being their authentic selves. You can serve as a compassionate CEO. You can serve as a passionate President. Don’t allow the overuse of the word “emotional” as it pertains to women in leadership keep you from following your woman’s intuition. I’ve never heard a male referred to as emotional in the workplace, but it’s used often in reference to women. Be Unapologetically You!! OUTSOURCE: As women, we have a reputation of trying to do it all, because we can do so many things well. However, in the business world we will go further, faster if we allow other experts to help us. Just because we can build a website doesn’t mean that we should. Focus on what you do best, and let others do what they do best. CREATE PARTNERSHIPS: Generally, speaking as woman owned, we have created and grown the brand. We often call it, “our baby.” And who wants to share a baby? We can go further in business if we partner with others, but because of trust issues or insecurities we find it difficult to partner.
Schrendria F. Robinson is the President of Clear Vision Seminars & Consulting a firm specializing in motivational speaking, professional development and strategic planning. To learn more visit the website at: ClearVisionSC.Com
Woman Work by Maya Angelou I've got the children to tend The clothes to mend The floor to mop The food to shop Then the chicken to fry The baby to dry I got company to feed The garden to weed I've got shirts to press The tots to dress The can to be cut I gotta clean up this hut Then see about the sick And the cotton to pick. Shine on me, sunshine Rain on me, rain Fall softly, dewdrops And cool my brow again. Storm, blow me from here With your fiercest wind Let me float across the sky 'Til I can rest again.
Fall gently, snowflakes Cover me with white Cold icy kisses and Let me rest tonight. Sun, rain, curving sky Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone Star shine, moon glow You're all that I can call my own.
You are who you are for a reason You’re part of an intricate plan You’re a precious ad perfect unique design Called God’s special Woman or Man
You look like you look for a reason Our God made no mistake He knit you together within the womb The parents you had were the ones he chose And no matter how you may feel They were custom-designed with God’s plan in No, the trauma you faced was not easy And God wept that it hurt you so But it was allowed to shape your heart So that into his likeness you’d grow You are who you are for a reason You’ve been formed by the Master’s rod You are ho you are, beloved
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. When embarking upon transformation and transitions in life, we will encounter change. For many people, change is one of the most difficult experiences in life. We become accustomed to what has become our norm. We have been a certain, or in a certain state for so long, that the thought of change is a scary place and often met with resistance. But then there’s then inevitable change that comes without our even noticing. There comes a time in life when change comes as a part of the natural order of things, as designed by God. For many years the story of the butterfly has been one of fascination for me. One day as I sat watching a beautiful red, purple and orange butterfly fluttering on my balcony, I was awed at its beauty. I began then studying the life cycle of butterflies. The story of its transformation is the most descriptive way I can explain the process of rebirth. The story usually begins with a very hungry caterpillar hatching from an egg. The caterpillar, or what is more scientifically termed a larva, stuffs itself with leaves, growing plumper and longer through a series of molts in which it sheds its skin. One day, the caterpillar stops eating, hangs upside down from a twig or leaf and spins itself a silky cocoon or molts into a shiny chrysalis. Within its protective casing, the caterpillar radically transforms its body, eventually emerging as a butterfly or moth. How does this apply to human transformation and rebirth? What does that radical transformation entail? How does a caterpillar rearrange itself into a butterfly? What happens inside a chrysalis or cocoon? Before salvation, we spend years discovering who we are. We go from the stage of being a fetus, to an infant that is completely dependent upon our mothers for life itself. As we grow and develop we begin to walk, talk and eventually we are now able to begin the educational process. This takes what seems like a lifetime. We are ever learning, ever evolving, ever discovering who we are. It isn’t until we come face-to-face with God that our true purpose in life is revealed. It is here that we begin another process called transformation. What does it mean to transform? As a verb, the word transform means to make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character; to transform implies a major change in form, nature or function. Other words that can be used to describe this change are metamorphose, or convert. All of these words in their proper context mean the same thing. What once was is no more, now it is NEW. First, the caterpillar digests itself, releasing enzymes to dissolve all of its tissues. If you were to cut open a cocoon or chrysalis at just the right time, caterpillar soup would ooze out. Like the human, we too before salvation, were lost in sin, dying in our own filth.
We were caught up in our own thinking, doing things our own way, because we could. Many times making decision without wise counsel, going about our daily live in darkness, in confusion, in chaos, and removed from God. It was in this state that although we seemed to be far away from God, He wasn’t far away from us. For it was inside this cocoon that we built for ourselves, that God entered the process of transformation. But the contents of the pupa are not entirely an amorphous mess. God take the mess we’ve wrapped ourselves in and cleanses us by the washing of the Blood of Jesus. It is by the blood that all unrighteousness is washed away. It is here that we are purified. We go through this process until God is ready for us to come forth as a NEW CREATURE. When we emerge from this cocoon, a dramatic change has taken place. WE look different, we talk different, we walk different, we even smell different. Sin and filth have a stench. But once we go through the washing of the blood, the washing of the word (and the process never ends) we take on the fragrance of God. Now we are able to go into the presence of the Lord beyond the veil, and meet with Him and He with us.
Just like the butterfly we emerge beautiful and radiant, with vibrant colors, and filled with freedom. For any man that be in Christ is free. If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed (John 8:36). BE FREE MY DAUGHTER AND WALK CONINTUALLY IN THAT FREEDOM Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1
Rebirth Book List for 2017 These titles should be on Every Woman’s Must Reads List the Year!! Boundaries by Drs. Henry Cloud & John Townsend Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel Graceful by Emily P. Freeman Sacred Sex by Tim Alan Gardner The Power of A Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian Beauty for Ashes by Joyce Meyer The Power of Femininity by Michelle McKinney Hammond
Pain is inevitable but Misery is Optional so, Stick a Geranium in your hat and be Happy by Barbara Johnson I’m Pregnant….Now What by Ruth Graham & Sara Dormon, Ph. D. Grace, Cry, Laugh, Survive by Lady Angela Washington Intimate Encounters with God by Patsy Calirmont Unleash! Breaking free from Mediocrity by Perry Noble The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren The You Plan by Michelle Borquez and Connie Wetzell Choosing Simplicity by Luci Swindoll Grief is Not Forever by Jeri Krumroy
Thank you from the staff at
We pray for God’s blessings Upon the lives of all our supporters and readers.
You may send in your prayer requests so that we may join in agreement with you for whatever you are seeking and believing God for.
Continue being blessed and walking in the favor of the Lord. Thank you. Dr. Vanessa Williams-Cook &
If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
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Domestic Violence References Bonnie S. Fisher; Steven P. Lab. Encyclopedia of Victimologyand Crime Prevention. SAGE Publications; 2 February 2010. ISBN 978-1-4129-6047-2. p. 257. Dutton, Donald G. (1994). "Patriarchy And Wife Assault: The Ecological Fallacy" (PDF). Violence and Victims 9 (2): 167–182. Dutton, Donald G. and Susan Galant. 1997. The Batterer: A Psychological Profile. 0465033881 Bancroft, Lundy. Why does he do that? Inside the minds of angry and controlling men Berkley Publishing Group 2002 ISBN 0399-14844-2 Willis C. Newman; Esmeralda Newman. Domestic Violence: Causes and Cures and Anger Management. Willis Newman; 12 May 2010. ISBN 978-1-4528-4323-0. p. 9. Scott Allen Johnson. Physical Abusers and Sexual Offenders: Forensic and Clinical Strategies. CRC Press; 13 July 2006. ISBN 9780-8493-7259-9. p. 31. Walker, Lenore E. (1979) The Battered Woman. New York: Harper and Row. Brewster, Susan Helping her get free Seal Press 2006 ISBN 1-58005-167-7 Scott Allen Johnson. Physical Abusers and Sexual Offenders: Forensic and Clinical Strategies. CRC Press; 13 July 2006. ISBN 9780-8493-7259-9. p. 33–35.
SC DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 1-800-273-4673 CALL NOW!!! NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE CALL:1-800-273-8255
created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.� 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so.
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
And the same words that shaped the beginning of our world, has also shaped our present and our future. Walk in your divine purpose today. VWC