November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
For whatever is born of God is VICTORIOUS over the world; and that is the victory that conquers the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that is VICTORIOUS over [that conquers] the world but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on that fact]?
4
I John 5:4, 5 [AMP.]
Victorious Living Magazine November—Special Edition
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lessed is He who spoke and the world came into being, blessed is He. Blessed is He who says and does. Blessed is He who decrees and fulfills. Blessed is He who maintains the creation. Blessed is He who has compassion on the earth. Blessed is He who rewards well those who fear Him. Blessed is He who lives forever and exists eternally. Blessed is He who redeems and saves. Blessed is His Name. Blessed are You, Adonay, our God, King of the universe, the Almighty, the merciful Father, Who is verbally extolled by His people, praised and glorified by the speech of David, Your servant, we will extol You, Adonay, our God, with praises and songs. We will exalt, praise, and glorify You. We will mention Your Name and proclaim You-our King –our God. Unique One, Life of the worlds, King, His great Name is praised and glorified forever. Blessed are You, Adonay, a King Who is extolled with praises.
November Special Edition
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Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
o my dear partners and friends, What a wonderful time to be in the
Kingdom of God? I hope you have a moment to spend with me, I would like to share my heart with you. Victorious Living Magazine is one of my choices place to spend time. It is my desire that if it is not one of your favorite places that we will be able to win you over. We are definitely a work in progress still getting acclimated to all the gifts given to us by the Father. We hope to share information and views that will help you to have a productive life in the Kingdom. We believe by the leading of the Holy Spirit we are able to achieve all of our goals. We need your support financially, and spiritually. There is no way this ministry will be able to grow if you don’t tell someone about it’ s content. Our partnership is only $10.00 per month donation and we would love for you to partner with us. You have seed to sow to us and we have seed to sow into you as well as impartation. Won’t you come and help make this ministry a success that we believe it deserves? Write us. We are adding new things to our magazine each month. So subscribe today so you don’t miss out on our growth! Sincerely, Victoria L. Clark
November Special Edition
Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5
Address Change Alert! Can't remember if I told You, but I have moved out from Beggars Alley , located at 2 Poverty Lane at the corner of Down and Out Circle. As of today, I have a brand new home .. My new address is Living Well on 231 Abundance Terrace, Located at the corner of Blessings Drive and Prosperity Peak. It's in the God Can neighborhood. No longer will I allow myself to travel to the other side of town on Begging Peter to pay Paul Route, Located at a dead end Intersection called I Don't Have, Which connects with Borrowers Junction! I no longer hang out at Failure's Place, Near Excuses Avenue, Next to Procrastination Point. I've moved to an upscale community called Higher Heights with unlimited potential and opportunities for me to succeed. Life is good because God is good! Care to change your address? There are many vacancies! GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS OH LORD! *This is not a Victorious Living original. Sent to me via e-mail.
November Special Edition
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Victorious Living Magazine
VC Ministries
7209-J East W.T. Harris Blvd Charlotte NC 28227
Our Welcome remains the same listen below: Welcome—meaning literally “well + come” (“May you have fared
well in coming here!”)
dd We love this old definition and we mean it. “Welcome!” It is sincerely our prayer that you made it to the partnership of VC Ministries safe and sound. We look forward to this being one of the greatest experiences of your lifetime. In the times of sharing we have a wonderful and exciting plan in store.
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Victorious Living Magazine
Victoria L. Clark Victoria is a sincere and committed woman of God. She has an immobile faith and trust in the God of her experience, and what a wonderful experience it has been. Victoria is committed to the work of the Kingdom of God without wavering or compromise. Her faith in God has proven to be unmovable, steadfast, and full. She is committed to the equipping of the Body of Christ thru the many gifts and talents given to her. Victoria believes that the word of God is God. She believes if rightly divided it
becomes a valuable tool of growth and prosperity for the individu-
al daring to trust. If this woman sounds like someone you want in your life, go to the information page. Send her an e-mail, go to the web-site and become a partner. Thank you VCM
November Special Edition
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Victorious Living Magazine
APOSTOLIC INTELEGENCE Prophetically Speaking
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SPIRITUAL WARFARE Enemy Watch Staying Alive when surrounded by death. Arm yourself likewise.
VLM ENTERTAINMENT THIS MONTH Movie Pick
EDITORIAL TEAM Chelsey Simms, II Chief Editor, Victoria Clark Authors Debra Denmark Keith Denmark Nicole Simms Chelsey Simms, II Victoria Clark
Cover Illustration Victoria Clark
FAMILY MATTERS Some secrets to long happy marriage. Tips for the single parent. Blending mine with yours to become ours. Family night, family prepared meals. Family devotion and decrees.
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
4-REAL?
W
e thought you might be interested in asking us some questions. You know, like: How do you choose one church over another? Or: What is God’s take on Spouse Abuse in the church, when the pastor is beating the crap out of his wife? Should she stay with him or run for her life? Perhaps you have questions and you don’t want anyone to know your name, anonymous ? Or: Perhaps you have a very personal question that has absolutely nothing to do with the church. Whatever your question we thought it would be great to hear from our on-line listeners as well as Partners, friends, and readers.
We are here 4-real? 4 real! Any subject Send your letters to: victorionli@vclarkministries.org
Dear 4-REAL, E-Mail us any question at all. We would love to hear from you! Remember, no question is too much. We look forward to hearing from you: victorionli@vclarkministries.org
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November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
Make It Last Forever Secrets you should know about marriage
We
had the wonderful opportunity to sit down with a Virginia native, local wife, mother, friend, confidant, Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher. Yes and at any given time of the day she could and is either one of those, a few of those, and even all of those. She pastors side by side with her wonderful husband and dear friend. We were able to catch up with this busy woman for a phone interview. She so graciously took a pause in between visiting the sick, counseling, and encouraging to have a phone conversation with us. This woman that we give honor to is the one and only Debra Gibson and she is married to the grandest man in the world to her. Together they Pastor Jubilee Life Center here in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as being the founders of The Inter-national organization of networking ministries for healing, education, and life changing encouragement; National Holy Ghost Jubilee! Mr. & Mrs. Gibson met in Portsmouth, Virginia several years ago. She was the director of an Armed Services Program for the YMCA. He was a friend of a friend who would come to cook for various military people. I asked Mrs. Gibson was it love at first sight? She so politely said, “ not at all” neither she nor he found interest in each other. They became really close friends. Later she would hear from “The Lord”, sharing with her that this man would be her husband. Mrs. Gibson didn’t give it a lot of thought initially because they seemed to be as different as day and night The marriage came kind of suddenly some may say, solely because the courtship was approximately 1 year long. He bought her a home in Virginia, and they moved in. Because he was a military man they moved within 2 years and the travels began. They would move from place to place first North Carolina then South Carolina to Louisiana, to California, Massachusetts, and finally North Carolina settling in Charlotte. I asked Mrs. Gibson to share with us some things that she finds interesting about her husband and she shared this with us, “He is a quiet storm, very wise, very thorough in his thinking. And best of all, Charles Gibson is the first person in her life that ever loved/loves her like Christ loved the church!” There is so much wisdom flowing through the veins of this woman that it stirs the calmest individual to excitement. With marriages being in desperate situations and failing each day people want to know is anyone making this thing called marriage work successfully?
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Victorious Living Magazine
When Mrs. Gibson said those words about her husband I wanted to go directly into worship. I have seen there interaction with each other in the presence of many and in the presence of few. What is seen is consistency. I don’t think that the marriage by any stretch of the means is perfect according the worlds standards but by Kingdom standards it is MATURE! WOW!!! Thank you Father for such a fantastic witness for the Kingdom of God here in the earth! You would think that this great woman would have a lot to tell us about the secret of making a marriage last forever. But actually she only had a few words to share with us. Communication is definitely the glue and the secret When asked directly what she thought was the secret she so completely said to us, “The same thing that makes a business work. It has absolutely nothing to do with sex but respect. Sadly enough, too often men and women approach marriage as if the most important thing is to be able to have sex as often as they desire. If sex is the reason for the coming together then how is it supposed to last. What happens when sex is not an option due to hypertension? Or cancer, or perhaps just any of the natural things that may go wrong with the body. Does the love cease because the couple is unable to have sex anymore? God forbid, for if this is the case the marriage has never been about love. VCM: Mrs. Gibson would you do this marriage thing again? Mrs. Gibson: Because their has been no damage from it, and because of the coverage he has given me. He has covered me well, just like Christ gave His life for the church. My husband has made great preparations for my life after his death. It has been a great relationship as he has kept me wonderful here also will he keep me wonderful there! VCM: Do you think that you and your husband are special? Mrs. Gibson: Most definitely, and the reason is, we have learned the art of communication, learned how to understand each other in the communication realm. Understanding the need to view each others way of seeing things. If the marriage will work we must have an understanding of communication and reverence with respect. There is no such thing as 50/50 today in relationships each day brings different challenges and demands where you may have to carry one another. It may be 70/30, tomorrow it may be 100/0, and next week 40/60. Marriage is like purchasing an house and not renting. If it is my house and the wall paper is bad I don’t get rid of the house, I change the paper or I adjust to the paper until I can afford to change it. You don’t throw away your relationship of marriage. It is yours and your conversation should be, because it is mine I will make it work [talking about your relationship]. In summary, love, respect, communication, and accountability, not commitment but accountability! Thank you Mrs. Gibson for your time, your story, your marriage, your wisdom and your love. Victoria
November Special Edition
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a
VCMinistries
Victoria Lynn Clark Ministries 7209-J East W.T. Harris Blvd www.vclarkministries.org
Suite #301 Charlotte, NC 28227 E-Mail victorionli@vclarkministries.org Fax:
704-567-0811
November Special Edition
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VCMinistries Every Friday: 7:30 p.m. EST 6:30 Central “A Dip In The Word” Dip In The Word Line: (218) 862-1699 Access Code: (prayer) 772937# 24/7 6:00 a.m. EST “International Line of Intercessory Prayer” Prayer Line: (605) 475-4860 Access Code: 829861# Visit us on the web: vclarkministries.org
“His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),” Amplified Ephesians 4:12
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
This Man (DEDICATED TO A FEW GOOD MEN); CLS, I. WMS, DMC, CLS, II. JER, AEN, WC, DCM, and My Nephews)
When I was bad, or a naughty little girl
was a menace to me
He tried to change me, he made This man feared not raising his sure I was tough hand & belt to my backside Growing up together we became best friends met a man, I’ve known him If I cried, he was only moved if it wasn’t my fault He was the cutest boy, now my entire life he’s a handsome man This man is and was everything I love laughing with this man He is dark skin, he is brown a man should be Ever since I was given to him skin Some people disagree about This man has been very, He was thin, he was fat, he was the nature of this man extremely silly short, he is tall Some would say this tale is a I smile just thinking about him He was the closest thing to tall one me, a lot of my all This man watched me grow But no matter the perspective When I had my first heartbreak And grew from boy to man I love this man, this man that I He wiped my tears and held on just met Right before my eyes, side by to me side When my parents got divorced A scholar might point out the “oxymoronic” statement When the monsters were It was like we went through under my bed together I just met a man, I’ve known my whole life He came and slept in my room Like he was mad at them for me brave and stout Let me tell you the whole When my grand mother died Brought his bears, and his story the day before fearless courage This man is revolutionary, One day, a few hours before sweet, strong, smart, and wise He stayed, stand guard and my birthday tell me I was safe I was given to this man to He tried so very hard like he protect (maybe some 25 years When I woke He’d smile a boyish did all these years smile and say ago) He tried to make it so very Protect and provide he did “See I won’t let the monsters special even after get you” He knew how much she meant Not being a daily part of my This little boy was cute, he to me was eccentric, he was life talented Like the hurt I felt was deep in This man slept in my bed, held him too me close This little boy made my heartthrob He held me, held my hand All night long when I had a through the funeral, nightmare If someone made me cry he’d fight them When it was all said and done Then this man, whenever I felt No one, not one person got This boy could cook, a true my very worse near me renaissance man Took me on dates doing He’s been my barrier against He would sing and play his whatever kept me smiling pain instrument for me This man loves women and My shelter in the rain Somebody mess with me they watched after other girls went through him first But I was always his number 1 BabyGirl Like all little boys can be, he
I
November Special Edition
The boy grew up to become the Best Man Made of Honor, I’ve known none better
Th
Volume 1 Issue 5
Always laughing with or at me Easily my best friend He is tall and big, brown skin His eyes have the light of my joy I them
is
man I’ve known my whole life This same man I just met
No matter distance or time He is a huge part of me, he is mine News of his past hit me like a ton But daily we worked through it
I thought when you became an Regardless, this man is all adult grown up The fairytales of youth And so one chapter of him The dreams from adolescent ends you This one chapter of him ends I thought they got lost or This one our chapter has just died begun I thought reality and the real Rather than pray he makes it world set in down the isle But I understand believing is I pray he hears God and makes seeing it to the good parts of life I always believed he existed Simply, most importantly, I grew to see that he always has I’ve been told Mr. Right is a dream That he only exists in movies, fairy tales, and t.v.
Th
is man I’ve known my whole life but just met is….
But let me tell you the truth
Well you know who you are….
He is sweet as pie
I love you
Jus as he did when I was young
I love this man.
He sings to me, teaches me Yeah I forgot he taught me everything I now (with a few exceptions) He protects, but now with prayer He cooks too and he is still silly
Nicole D. Simms
Victorious Living Magazine
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
Single Parenting Tips / Single Parenting Statistics Some single parent statistics show the prevalence and challenges of single parenting in America:
Slightly more than 1 in 4 children in America is being raised by a single parent. About 40% of children born in 2007 were born to unmarried mothers. 23% of kids live with only a mother, 4% live with only a father, and 4% live with neither parent. 3% live with unmarried parents. Black children are the most likely to be raised by a single parent, followed by Hispanic, then white children. Children living with only one parent have financial and educational disadvantages compared to children with both parents, especially if their parent is the mother and if she did not finish high school.
your teen as you would like, make time for special activities together If you work in the afternoon when teens are out of school, make sure your teens have somewhere to go and positive activities to do. Have clear, consistent rules, and enforce the consequences when the rules are broken. Emphasize the importance of education to your children. Do as much as you can to be supportive of teens' positive activities, like sports or music. Be patient with teens when you are starting to date again or getting remarried. Don't be afraid to seek support for yourself or your teens. Support groups like.
Be aware of signs of depression, aggression, drug or alcohol abuse, or suicidal thoughts and behavior in teens or in yourself. Talk to teens about concerning beParents may be single due to separation, divorce, or death, or they may have never been married. Also, some havior, and seek counseling if you are still concerned. Many parents may have a partner who is not able to help with communities have free or low-cost counseling for those who do not have insurance that covers the costs. parenting due to a disability or a job that takes them away from their family most of the time. Parents in different situations face different challenges, but in all of these cases it is hard for both the parent and his or her Single Parenting Tips and Single Parent Statistics Sources: children to parent alone. Having a single parent can be hard on children and teens, who often wish they could have more of their parents' attention and may have emotional issues to work through. Though every situation is unique, here are some tips that might help a single parent whose child or teen is struggling:
Tell your children every day that you love them. Encourage your children to recognize and express their feelings. Younger kids especially may need help recognizing feelings like sadness, hurt, and fear that can come as a result of the loss of one parent, and teens may also need help dealing with these emotions. Let teens ask questions and give them honest, ageappropriate answers. Don't say negative things about the absent spouse. While you may be too busy working and trying to be both mom and dad to spend as much time with
Nemours, KidsHealth, "Tips for Divorcing Parents" [online] Nemours, KidsHealth, "Living with a Single Parent" [online] U.S. Bureau of the Census, Census Brief, "Children with single parents - how they fare" [online] Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, "America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-being, 2009" [online]
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
Blending Mine with yours to become ours! Blended Family Statistics a blended family or reconstituted family, is a family in which one or both members of the couple have children from a previous relationship. The member of the couple to whom the child is not biologically related.
48% of all first marriage will eventually end divorce
Re-marriage has become commonplace with... 79% of women and 89% of men will marry again within 5 years
in
-
43% of marriages today in America involve a 2nd or 3rd (re) marriage
68% of re-marriages involve children from prior marriages
70%+ of remarriages involving children end in dissolution within 5 1/2 years
Estimates reflect 41% of couples 'living together' have children living in home
2,100 new blended families are formed EVERY DAY in America
Over 65% of Americans are now a stepparent, a stepchild, a stepsibling, step-grandparent or touched directly by a stepfamily scenario
By 2010, blended families/step-families will be the most common form of family in America
Less than 12% of divorced / single parents go to church regularly, because they 'they don't feel the church cares about their broken lives'.
7 out of 10 Pastors / Church Leaders in America 'don't know where to turn' for assistance on how to minister regarding step-family dynamics
82% of new blended family parents say ‘we don’t know where to turn to for help’ for their marriage, children, step-children and new blended family.
November Special Edition
Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5
BBQ Chicken Pizza Bake at 450° for 9 minutes or until cheese melts. Cut pizza into 6 wedges. Note: If you can't find tomato chutney, make your own. Combine 2 cups diced plum tomato, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 tablespoons cider vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon Jamaicañ jerk seasoning, and 1 minced garlic clove in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook 20 minutes or until thickened.
Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)
Ingredients 1 (10-ounce) Italian cheese-flavored thin pizza crust (such as Boboli) 3/4 cup tomato chutney 2 cups chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 2 breasts) 2/3 cup diced plum tomato 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded extra-sharp white cheddar cheese 1/3 cup chopped green onions
1.2g Cholesterol: 48mg Iron: 1.7mg Sodium: 622mg Calcium: 247mg Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2002
Nutritional Information Calories: 300 (26% from fat) Fat: 8.5g (sat 3.9g,mono 2.9g,poly 1g) Protein: 21.3g Carbohydrate: 35.2g
Preparation Preheat oven to 450°. Place crust on a baking sheet. Bake at 450° for 3 minutes. Remove from oven; spread chutney over crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top chutney with chicken. Sprinkle diced tomato, cheese, and green onions evenly over chicken.
5 chocolate sandwich cookies such as Oreos 2 cups vanilla ice cream, slightly softened 1/4 cup milk
Preparation
Cookies-and-Cream Milk Shakes Prep Time: 5 minutes Yield: Serves 2 Cost per Serving: $.95 Ingredients
Fiber:
Place 3 cookies in a zip lock bag. Seal bag and crush cookies with a rolling pin. In a blender, combine ice cream and milk. Blend until smooth. Add crushed cookies and pulse a few times just to blend. Pour into 2 tall glasses and garnish each with a cookie (or a dollop of whipped
cream drizzled with chocolate syrup, if desired). All You, MAY 2010
November Special Edition
Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5
Page 17
Family Matters
FAMILY NIGHT!
the family together was enormous for our family. Even though the age range extended 7 years between the oldest and the youngest it ave still managed to work for our family. you We decided Friday nights would work best for ever considered a night consisting of your our family night. It would begin when the kids immediate family only? I know it may sound came home from school. The came home all primitive however, it works. excited because “Family Night” meant you could stay up as long as you could (for the My children are adults and they still have younger ones) and all night for the older 2. great funny stories remembering “Family
H
Night Friday.” I got the idea for family night from one of my girl friends. She lived in the D.C., Virginia area with children of her own and shared the idea with me. This wonderful idea of bringing
This idea can work for you and your family if you will We chose the entire meal from appetizers to allow everyone to have a say in the planning as well desert. Sometimes movies, homemade pizza, as the implementation of all pieces. board games, and the list goes on. Our family We made this a family tradition and kept it for had a wonderful time on our Friday nights. We years. would even go to the grocery store together Try it your way! from time to time.
Family Devotion It would be great if as a family you would begin your life family “Genesis journey in Genesis. This is the beginning of the family with the Chapter 1“ Father introducing Himself to us. Nothing like sharing the Torah with your household. It would be great Dad, if you would sit down and read to your family and expound on this word. Not preaching but in sharing and allowing this scripture to become a tradition for your family.
Great Family Games When I was a little girl I played cards, Scrabble, and other games weekly with my Grandmother Frances, Great Aunt Helen, and Great Uncle Titus. The loving couple would come over and play games with my grandmother and myself. My uncle and aunt would bring snacks every time. The snack I remember the best was the mouth watering “Brown Cow!” Perhaps you have not had the privilege of
It would be great for your night to include the entire family on what night, from start to finish. something This one event could bring your family together and begin to close the gaps caused by age, gender, maturity, and more.
Family time has to be created and kept by your family. I can’t tell you how to bring your family closer I can only share with you new ideas. We pray your family will become closer and closer. We also pray that Victorious Living Magazine will share some pointers that will help to bring your family together and establish great values for growth, family expansion and stability in an unstable world.
Find a way to bring the family together. If you make this mandatory you will have family devotion with sour faces, Have fun, learning and laughing with the scripture time. If you are excited and share [remembering not to preach] they will enjoy. Make it a game, something to include the whole family.
And don’t forget to pray together; morning prayer at the breakfast table always works and again at night. Asking questions like how was your day, this could be used to solve some “Family Matters” to us and we want you to school issues as well. have life change, after all we are Victorious Make it fun and they will come! Living Magazine! tasting one of these made in the privacy of your own kitchen. What a treat as my mouth waters with the joyous memory.
Who are you kidding? We want lots and lots of ice cream, thank you very much!
The finest of Root beer Soda and the bestess [no such word] ever ice cream.
Go to the toy store and pick up a game the whole family will enjoy. It doesn’t have to be a board game it can be anything you want to try that will bring laughter and excitement into your home.
Scoop out your ice cream until your glass is full. [Be sure not to have too fat of scoops or you won’t have enough room for the root beer to run down the sides of the scoops, thus creating the most beautiful foam and fizz all the way to the top! This is not a well thought out picture to the right of this column. I know the ice cream is supposed to float but really?
And your family will love you for it!
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
MOVIES FROM A CHRISTIAN MINDSET DENZEL WASHINGTON
I
With Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson Directed by Tony Scott
t is my belief that a Christian going to the movies is an experience like none other. What I mean is that we Christians must first protect our faith. Unless we say so we don't want to see something to challenge our belief system. We would like to have an enjoyable time without questioning when it's all over whether it was appropriate. If this is sometimes you then "Unstoppable" is the movie for you. Undeniably the most moving and empowering true tale of the year. Unstoppable has a great cast of actors led by Denzel Washington with Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson. This film directed by Tony Scott (without spoilers) gives the true account of two railroad workers from two very different sides of the "track" on an epic day's adventure. To begin the story is based on true events and the actors do a great job of making you believe it. The music score is very fitting and almost unnoticed throughout the film (as any soundtrack should be). There are great one liners, effects, and heart wrenching stories that you would not want to miss. Trust me coming from an avid movie enthusiast this is one film that you don't want to miss. You may cry, laugh for sure, and your heart will race as your eyes try to keep up with the intensity.
Elder Chelsey Simms, II
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
Movie Count down 1.Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Part I 2.Megamind 3.Unstoppable (Our pick of the Month) 4.Due Date 5.The Next 3 Days 6.Morning Glory 7.Skyline 8.Red 9.For Colored Girls 10.Fair Game
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Enemy Watch Victorious Living Magazine
Me, Myself, and I Just Wondering It was last night and I was thinking about what constitutes a person becoming an enemy or are people really enemies at all? You know people can offend us, anger us, even piss us off, for various reasons and none of which may or may not make a bit of since. I’m certain most of us want to make it into heaven but sometimes people make it very difficult. What do you do to make a sanctified decision? A God conscious decision to keep the righteous attitude? When I take a look at the scriptures I often wonder what goes through the mind of a Christian. I wonder if they consider themselves when the preacher is preaching. I wonder if they consider that the word is meant for them and not the person they are angry with at the time. I find myself wondering is a life with Christ really on the minds of the people? I wonder what degree one will go to to guard their souls from the likes of the evil one out side and in? I wonder if you are wondering what I am wondering and greater? Since the word offers us such wealth can someone please tell me what is happening with the saints today? Could you please take the time to explain to me why it is we can lie and not repent? Why don’t we hold ourselves to the same depth of honor that we hold others? You know what? I don’t need you to answer these questions for me because these are questions that I ask myself. See, I want and will make it to heaven, it is not about somehow, for it is about how. The answer self , is quite simple, I will make it to heaven because I plan to follow the plan of the man! What man, you need ask? Why, Jesus of course. I fully intend to make it, with you or without you. Myself no longer dictates to us, me , myself, and I, what will we live by. As for me and my house [me, myself, and I] we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and we shall serve the Lord, God Almighty with all of our soul {mind, will, and emotions} no matter what forces outside of us declare or try and decree over us. We, {me, myself, and I} have grown up and it is certainly for our betterment, for what you say about us matters less, and what you try and perform against us [me, myself, and I] it just won’t work. You will not provoke us to wrath for we overcome the anger of the world and have taken on the anger of the word. Your sin may sicken me to vomiting, but we dare not judge your disease! You may make an attempt upon our life , but what we won’t do is retaliate with venomous words or face pounding. However, our response shall be help us Lord not to knock this individual out so that we don’t have to make a step back away from our destiny to commit severe bodily harm for the things this individual is implying about us {me, myself, and I}! We decided this morning that none of the foolishness outside of us shall convince any of the inside of us that we will come outside of us to contend with what has already been established and confirmed by God with in us. In other words we don’t have to convince what is outside of us of the truth we only need to be convinced inside of us and it must be all of us[ me, myself, and I]
David said it best in the 23rd Psalm:
T
HE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. [Rev. 7:17] 3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him-not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. 4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. 6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
25 YEARS
THE MANY FACES OF 25 YEARS OF SERVING IN THE KINGDOM
Victoria Clark Ministries
Victorious Living Magazine Page 21
The will of God will never take me, Where the grace of God cannot keep me, The will of God will never take me, Where the arms of God cannot support me, The will of God will never take me, Where the riches f God cannot supply my needs, The will of God will never take me, Where the power of God cannot endow me. The will of God will never take me, Where the Spirit of God cannot work through me, The will of God will never take me, Where the wisdom of God cannot teach me, The will of God will never take me, Where the army of God cannot protect me, The will of God will never take me, Where the hands of God cannot mold me. The will of God will never take me, Where the Love of God cannot enfold me, The will of God will never take me, Where the Mercies of God cannot sustain me, The will of God will never take me, Where the Peace of God cannot calm my fears, The will of God will never take me, Where the Authority of God cannot overrule for me. The will of God will never take me, Where the Comfort of God cannot dry my tears, The will of God will never take me, Where the Word of God cannot feed me, The will of God will never take me, Where the Miracles of God cannot be done for me, The will of God will never take me, Where Omnipresence of God cannot find me.
November Special Edition
Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5
Teach Me...
Page 22
Enemy Watch
“BRETHREN, [with all my heart’s desire and goodwill for [Israel], I long and pray to God that they ay be saved. I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God’s righteousness.“
W
hen I woke up this morning there was a thought. While I went through the morning’s text messages, Facebook messages, emails, and tweets it occurred to me that I was “updating" all of my social mediums letting the world know what position I was really in. I wondered how I ever got to this point. I remember people talking about “tweeting" and not knowing what it was. I remember signing up for my first email address. And with all of that here I find myself daily submerged in a myriad of social options. Apparently all it takes to get to this
point is drive and consistency, and that's when it hit me. We Christians are being attacked by zeal! When the Bible speaks of Father Israel having "zeal but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:1-3) I understand that this same zeal can destroy us as people. Say for example on Sunday morning you have an encounter with God. Through this encounter you say to yourself that you are no longer going to smoke. You do fine with this, but then you begin to add more and more things to your "do not do" list. Soon you are reading the Bible just to discover more things you shouldn't be doing. The next thing you know your life is overwhelmingly restrictive and you decide to drop it all. Sound impossible? I for one have seen it happen and realize it is the work of the Enemy!! We see the same thing in Wal-Mart. You going in for a pack of sugar and come out with three month’s worth of groceries. What is this mechanism within us that
causes this? I will tell you. It's zeal. We are encouraged to do something positive and then the Enemy tries to coax us to take on more than we can bear. Consider this: the Bible says that God will put no more on you than you can bear, but what about the burdens we put on ourselves. It's like we are children in the gym of life looking at the guy who's been working out for 12 years and trying to compete. In this life we must run our own race. We must never compete or take on more than we can bear. It is truly a weapon of the enemy in this month's Enemy Watch!
Elder Chelsey Simms, II
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
Victorious Living Magazine
How to Achieve Spiritual Fitness Tip 1: Make a Commitment: No Junk Moods
Make a commitment and a concentrated effort to reduce the people, places, and things that drain your energy or entrap you in negative moods. Less violence in what you watch, less gossip and complaining in what you hear, and less chaos in where you go will help you to stay balanced and connected to your essence. Tip 2: Lift Someone's Spirit Every Day
Life can be difficult, that is certain. Helping to make someone else's day a little better or easier will always help to brighten your day and feed your soul. Lifting people's spirits can be as simple as a generous show of gratitude, a compliment to a person who has helped you, holding a door open for a busy person, or offering encouragement to someone in need. Helping others in small ways will eventually pay back in a big way. Tip 3: Know Your Spiritual Personality
Tip 6: Be a Sensible Seeker: Ask the Right Questions
Remember that when you seek spiritual teachers, texts, and community, it's important to be a conscious consumer. It's important to look for credentials, to be sure it feels like a fit, and to look deeper than what the marketing and advertising is telling you. Here are five critical questions to keep in mind - if you experience any of these things, it's likely time to step back, or step away completely.
Do you feel that your or other people's sense of integrity is being violated? Do you feel the financial cost exceeds the value offered? Do you feel more dependent than empowered? you see behavior that you'd otherwise consider abuse if it happened elsewhere (sexual, emotional, physical, etc.)? Do you feel the teacher or program has become more important than the goal of growth, personal awakening or your own direct connection to a Higher Power? READ BELIEFNET: This article comes from that site. Please check it out! Beliefnet.com
As you seek practices, philosophies, and people to help you explore your spiritual side, don't forget that we all have a spiritual personality. Just as we don't all love the same types of sports, ice cream, music, or clothing styles, we won't all like the same spiritual practices. To begin to understand your spiritual personality, write a list of the activities that bring you a sense of peace, connection, or joy. Look for themes in your answers and find a practice that is similar. Remember: the best spiritual practice is the one that works for you. Tip 4: Pick a Daily Practice: Break the 24-Hour Cycle
If you want true and lasting spiritual fitness, you should pick a simple activity that helps you to return to a place of calm and reflection that you can do every day, at least once a day. A five minute breathing exercise, prayers in the morning, meditation, writing in a gratitude journal, or a ten-minute visualization are all examples of simple and effective ways to reconnect you to what matters most. It's important to do your practice daily so that you can interrupt the cycles of stress, distraction, and business that we all fall into each day. Tip 5: Pick a Weekly Practice: Break the 7-Day Cycle
A deep sense of spiritual wellbeing and inner strength comes from exercising your soul. A daily practice is essential for maintenance, but a more involved weekly practice will bring you depth. Your weekly practice should be much longer than your daily practice and typically could involve a group to help shape your context, keep your focus, and provide feedback. Church, synagogue, meditation groups, yoga, tai chi, singing in a choir, a contemplative walk in nature, or volunteering at the hospital could all be examples of a weekly practice. Try to have at least one thing that breaks up the weekly cycle of commitments and reminds you of what is most important.
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
O
Victorious Living Magazine
bituary
"Mrs. Prayer Meeting died recently at the First Neglected Church on Worldly Avenue. Born many years ago in the midst of a great revival, she was one of the most influential members of the church family. For the past several years, Mrs. Prayer Meeting has been failing in health. At the last, she was but a shadow of her former self. Her last whispered words were inquiries concerning the absence of her loved one, now busy in the markets of trade and places of worldly amusements. Experts, including Dr. Works, Dr. Reform, and Dr. Joiner, all disagreed as to the cause of her fatal illness. They had administered large doses of organizations and socials, but to no avail. A postmortem autopsy showed that a deficiency of spiritual food, coupled with a lack of faith and general support, were contributing causes. Only a few were present at her death. *In honor of her going, the church doors will be closed on Wednesday nights!"
Victory Life Church * P.O. Box 1834, Folsom, CA 95763 * www.victorylifechurch.org
November Special Edition
Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5
Simple Ways to Refresh Your Energy
Don't Skip the H20!
Human beings are made up of
Practice Extreme Craziness!
approximately 70 percent water. If you are
not drinking enough, if you are
Sing, chant, hum, dance, prance, bang your drums, run in
dehydrated, then your body slows its
circles, skip, and/or walk backwards. Do what you have to do
circulation and, in turn, your energy goes
to shake the doldrums out of you! We don’t want anything
tumbling on down. Drink a glass right now, so
to get in the way of you claiming what’s yours!
that you are energized while reading the rest of these refreshing tips! Bottoms up!
Add a Hint of Red!
As Bill Blass says, “When in doubt, wear red!” Red is the
most energizing of all colors. Just a hint of red will do; no need to dip your entire body in it! Try wearing a pair of red
Watch a Funny Movie!
Watching funny movies decreases certain stress-related hormones! Stress slows
earrings, a red scarf, or even a red pocket square.
us and drains us. Laughter energizes us. Enough said? Make a list of your
Splash Cold Water in Your Face!
top 10 funny movies, now! And watch
A quick splash of cold water, first thing in the morning,
them.
may energize you even better than a cup of caffeinated coffee! No kidding.
Find Some Flowers!
Try a Peppermint Refresher!
miracles! They have a wonderfully
The strong smell of peppermint will not only wake you
up, but it will help you to move through your day more quickly and efficiently. Keep a bottle of essential peppermint oil in your purse or drawer at work for a quick pick-me-up! Aah, refreshing!
Flowers are another one of life’s
bright, positive, and warm energy that can lighten and energize any room and/or person. Try putting a white vase with red or pink flowers on your bedside table and just see how energy rises.
Capture Some Aroma-Energy!
If peppermint’s not your thing, worry not. There are
other
aromatherapy oils that can give a quick boost
to your energy levels. Here’s an energy-refreshing recipe that will get you moving, shaking and loving life! On a cotton ball, place two drops of lavender and one drop of basil. Inhale deeply!
BELIEFNET: HEALTH Self-Care;
November Special Edition
How can I deal with the death of a loved one? Bereavement is a powerful, life-changing experience that most people find overwhelming the first time. Although grief is a natural process of human life, most of us are not inherently able to manage it alone. At the same time, others are often unable to provide aid or insight because of discomfort with the situation and the desire to avoid making things worse. The following passage explains how some of our "normal" assumptions about grief may make it more difficult to deal with. 1.
Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5 Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer Dec 19, 2008
Five Assumptions That May Complicate
Life prepares us for loss. More is learned about loss through experience than through preparation. Living may not provide preparation for survival. Handling grief resulting from the death of a loved one is a process that takes hard work. The fortunate experience of a happy life may not have built a complete foundation for handling loss. Healing is built through perseverance, support and understanding. The bereaved need others: Find others who are empathetic.
2. Family and friends will understand. If a spouse dies children lose a parent, a sibling loses a sibling, a parent loses a child and a friend loses a friend. Only one loses a spouse. Each response is different according to the relationship. Family and friends may not be capable of understanding each other thoroughly. Consider the story of Job's grief in the Bible. Job's wife did not understand his grief. His
friends did their best work the first week when they just sat and did not speak. It was when they began to share their judgments of Job and his life that they complicated Job's grief. Allowance must be made so that grief may be experienced and processed over time. The bereaved need others: Find others who are accepting. 3. The bereaved should be finished with their grief within one year or something is wrong. During the first year the bereaved will
expe-
rience one of everything for the first time alone: anniversaries, birthdays, occasions, etc. Therefore grief will last for at least one year. The clichĂŠ, "the healing hands of time," does not go far enough to explain what must take place. The key to handling grief is in what work is done over time. It takes time and work to decide what to do and where to go with the new and changed life that is left behind. The bereaved need others: Find others who are patient. 4. Along with the end of grief's pain comes the end of the memories. At times, the bereaved may embrace the pain of grief believing it is all they have left. The lingering close bond to the deceased is sometimes thought to maintain the memories while, in fact, just the opposite is true. In learning to let go and live a new and changed life memories tend to come back more clearly. Growth and healing comes in learning to enjoy memories. The bereaved need others: Find new friends and interests. 5. The bereaved should grieve alone. After the funeral service is over the bereaved may find themselves alone. They may feel as though they are going crazy, painfully uncertain in their world of thoughts and emotions. The bereaved begin to feel normal again when the experience is shared with others who have lost a loved one. Then, in reaching out, the focus of life becomes forward. The bereaved need others: Find others who are experienced. Provided courtesy of Jack Redden, CCE, M.A., President; John Redden, M.S., Vice President, Cemetery-Mortuary Consultants Inc., Memphis, Tennessee
November Special Edition
Volume 1 Issue 5
VCM
7209-J East W.T. Harris Blvd. Suite #301 Charlotte, NC 28227 Phone: 704-804-8985 Fax: 704-567-0811 Website: vclarkministries.org E-mail: victorionli@vclarkministries.org
Victorious Living Magazine
November Special Edition
Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5
SHAHARIT My God, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceitfully. To those who curse, may my soul be unresponsive; and let my soul be like dust to all. Open my heart to Your Torah and let my soul pursue Your commandments. And all who plan evil against me, quickly annul their counsel and frustrate their intention. Act for the sake of You Name. Act for the sake of Your right hand. Act for the sake of Your Torah. Act for the sake of Your Holiness. In order that Your loved ones be released, deliver [with] Your right hand and answer me. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be acceptable before You, Adonay, my Rock and my Redeemer. VICTORIA CLARK MINISTRIES (VCM)
He Who makes peace in His high heavens, may He make peace upon us and upon all Yisrael, and say Amen. SIDDUR
7209-J East W.T. Harris Blvd. Suite #301 Charlotte, NC 28227
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November Special Edition
VICTORIA CLARK MINISTRIES (VCM)) 7209-J East W.T. Harris Blvd. Suite #301 Charlotte, NC 28227 Phone: 704-804-8985 Fax: 704-567-0811 Website: vclarkministries.org E-mail: victorionli@vclarkministries.org
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Victorious Living Magazine
Volume 1 Issue 5
Ephesians 4:12;His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints...
Prophetically Speaking
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has don’t leaxe this year with-
speaking of. We find if we
ovt diligently seeking the
continve reading this
approaching the grand
promise.
scriptwre He breaks down
month of December and
Many times in life we feel.
time and it’s exents.
within ovr thovghts svrely is
Yes, we feel. May I share some-
the time remaining in this
thing with yov? Do yov know
year. We are making
that for the most paru when it
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preparations for what this
comes to ovr feelings we
in which we are residing
holiday season will hold for
vsvally miss God. Do yov
then we wovld find NO
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know why? Generally
reason to be anxiovs for
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anyuhing. Becavse we
consider the time factor in
wovld haxe perceixed the
nothing wrong with
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thinking and planning
sitwation.
vpon vs as a distraction
ahead. The problem we
Solomon the Great, has said it
from the will and pvrqose
think and plan and often
best to all. He said , “TO
of God.
times we forget to pray. Let’s
EVERYTHING there is a
Get yovr focvs back, discern
pray and plan this year to
season, and a time for exerz
the times, proceed with
cvt off the enemy.
matter or pvrqose vnder
cavtion, possess the
Please don’t get lost in the
heaxen:
promise of this season of
holiday savce!
Now this is only the begin-
time in yovr life and LIVE!
What exer the word of God
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