divine inspirations magazine october 2011
DESCRIPTION
Inspired Words to Uplift and EdifyTRANSCRIPT
Mylow Young
Author of
“Against the Gates of Hell: A Crack
House Exodus
Pg. 18
Divine Inspirations
Magazine
October 2011
Vol.2 Issue 10
Stop Casting Your Pearls
Before Swine pg. 30
Break Out of Your
Shell! Pg.27
10 Reasons to be
Generous pg,24
2
3
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Inspired Words to Uplift and Edify the Spirit
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HOUSEWORK
My spirit was an untidy mess; hence unclean and cluttered.
My heart was worn out; barely thumped; it faintly fluttered.
I was knocked down by many years pain and unrelenting sin.
So filthy, I was too ashamed to invite Jesus’ Spirit to come in.
Jesus came often to my house; He knocked at my injured spirit.
He whispered gently of His love; I feigned that I did not hear it.
Jesus unwearyingly knocked; man’s hands would have been sore.
I couldn’t convince myself to unfasten my bewildered soul’s door.
Oh well, you know how Jesus rolls; He is bound and determined.
His intention was to save my iniquitous mortal souls from burnin’.
My life arrived at a place’; I was so wicked I could almost see hell.
Hell’s burning pits are no place for a human being’s soul to dwell.
I realized that I needed Jesus; I couldn’t clean my own filthy home.
My house had bee too dirty for too long; I couldn’t do it on my own.
Because of confusion; I tuned out Jesus knock for a really long time.
I felt a hoarder; it was time to clean up that dirty inner home of mine.
I responded to the knock of Jesus; with sincere utterances of remorse.
Thank God for Jesus’ patience of; I got a chance to make a new choice.
My house is in order; by God’s grace and my surrender to His holy will;
Christ made His way into my dirty house; His Spirit resides with me still.
BY: Sharon Reid-Robinson
September, 2008
5
I love to travel. I have a personal goal to visit every
continent on the face of the earth. Well, with the exception of
Antarctica for obvious reason. I am not a polar bear. But, there
is a land I unwittingly visit with great frequency; without any
real intention. I do not like this place. I try to stay away but I
cannot avoid it. It is not on any map but I guarantee you have
been there too.
It looks like a bomb was dropped there. Bits and
pieces of people’s life scattered all over the landscape. It is an
arid place. Hot and dry. You will find little relief from the
elements. It is over-populated but there are no signs of life.
When you stop by, you find the current tenants merely exist;
they are not thriving, they are just biding their time. It is an
abysmal place and you want to get out as quickly as you can.
Though, it is not an easy place to leave. It is called, “In Be-
tween”
In Between is that place where life is neither what it
was nor what it will become. It is akin twilight – not day but
not night either. It is the place, well, in between here and
there. Normal (here) has been disrupted and your new normal
(there) has not yet been revealed. It is that murky place of
transformation.
Getting to In Between is very easy. There is nothing
you have to do. Just keep on living, as the old-folk say. Its
borders are precipitated by a life-changing event. And if there
is one thing constant in life, it is change. You know you have
reached In Between the moment you hang up from that 2 AM
phone call informing you, “There’s been an accident.” You
take up residence in In Between while reading the pink slip
your boss just placed in your hand. Your doctor has revealed
your test result. The growth is malignant. Next stop: “In Be-
tween”. The children of Israel spent 40 years In Between. No
longer slaves, not yet a nation.
It can be a hopeless, barren land; a place to muddle
through, feeling lost, empty, alone, hurt, discouraged and de-
feated, while waiting on things to change. But I want to reveal
something very interesting about In Between. It is deceptive,
much like a Michigan winter. Everything feels cold and un-
welcoming, looks dead and lifeless. But, underneath the blan-
ket of snow, the earth is bursting with new life. In Between,
though painful, is the most fertile soil for transformation in
which you will ever plant your feet. It can be the place of your
largest defeat or your most significant spiritual growth. It can
be the place of premature death or the beginning of the great-
est adventure of your life. It can be the place where faith per-
ishes. Or the place where God does the deepest work in our
hearts He has ever done.
See, there is change taking place in In Between. One
(Continued on page 6)
In Between
By C.C. Shumake
6
way or the other, you are becoming something. You are either
becoming an embittered, complaining, resentful, entitled
grouch. (Ouch!) Or you are becoming a surrendered, grateful,
faith-filled, Christ-centered overcomer. And it is not our reac-
tion to what landed us In Between that determines what we
become. There is a saying, “God knows and Jesus under-
stands.” God accepts that we are going to be hurt, disap-
pointed, and angry even, in times of turmoil. He expects us to
react to pain. It is not our reaction that controls where we end
up. Rather, it is our response. Our response to God determines
if we end up becoming salty or flavorless.
To survive In Between with our faith intact, we must
keep in the forefront of our minds that God is inherently good
and that His plans for us are good. Trusting His character will
bring great peace when life tilts on its axis. Let me give you
an example. Last year my husband and I had a misunderstand-
ing. Because he always treats me and others with thoughtful-
ness and kindness, when we addressed the issue I was able to
say to him, “Baby, I felt disrespected when X happened but I
know your heart for me so help me understand what happened
and where I might be wrong in my perception.” Because we
have faith in our love and friendship, we were able to deal
with the issue and continue on as if nothing ever happened.
If you can maintain trust in the goodness of the Lord,
even though you are disoriented and cast down, you will
emerge with a life-altering faith that will have profound im-
pact on your life and the lives of others. Paul wrote in II Co-
rinthians 4:8-10: We are hard pressed on every side, but not
crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; cast down but not destroyed. We always carry
around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
may also be revealed in our body. Paul was saying, “Look, we
are surrounded by trouble, beat-up in every way. But we are
going through the vilest persecution so you can get in on the
best … the world-changing power of the resurrected life of
Jesus Christ! Paul experienced In Between a lot. Because of
his response to God, “In Between” transformed Paul’s torture
into a powerful testimony. Because he kept his focus on God’s
plan, from the place called “In Between” emerged the Apostle
to the Gentiles.
If you are In Between, and if you are not now you
will be, I want to encourage you. I do not know how long it
will take but hold on. On the other side of In Between is the
promise land. A land with renewed joy, unshakeable faith,
peace beyond comprehension, Christ-centered living and a
new face, which looks a lot like Jesus.
Cheryl C. Shumake
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TODAY/TOMORROW: GOD OR SATAN?
WHO WILL YOU SERVE?
Greetings, Loved One.
It’s hard to believe that we are again approaching the end of another year, 2011 – a year in which God has bestowed His bless-ings upon us, and a time in which none of us deserved His blessings. We cannot earn these blessings. God gives them to us solely because of His grace and mercy. They are a gift.
What is grace? Grace is one of the key attributes or characteristics of God. It is His favor or kindness
shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person
deserves.
What is mercy? Another key attribute of God. It is the kindness of God in withholding deserved judg-
ment and extending undeserved compassion and forgiveness to us. God can do this without compro-
mising His justice, because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Did you know that God weeps? Yes, we, His greatest and most loved creation, can truly cause Our Father to weep. He weeps in His spirit for us. It saddens Him to see us embrace sin, for which He gave His life.
A much-celebrated “fun time” for some is, once again, in our midst. It is called “Samhain” or, better known as, “Halloween”. Please be patient with me as I give you some information which you may not know about Halloween. What you will learn is absolute, startling truth.
Halloween is a religion to honor Satan (also known as Lucifer, who became a fallen angel from Heaven because he rebelled against the throne of God – he wanted to be God). This “holy day” of Satan was originally observed more than 4,000 years ago. The main purpose of this religion is to declare Satan the god of this world, and to contact other spirits of the underworld for empowerment to do evil. Within the structure of Satan’s kingdom, many members hold high positions of authority under the titles of High Priest and High Priestess.
(Continued on page 10)
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All the seemingly innocent symbolisms of Halloween – black cats, snakes, broomsticks, bonfires, “Trick or Treat”, Jack-O-Lanterns (or carved-out pumpkins, an ancient sym-bol of a doomed soul and denotes sympathy to the souls of the underworld), apple dunking and costumes – has its roots in Sorcery, Witchcraft and Satanism. God clearly warns us in the Holy Scriptures of the consequences of participating in any form of pagan (or occult) activity. The Holy Scriptures unmistakably instructs us that spiritualism is forbidden. Please study these passages from the Holy Scriptures for your guidance. There are others, as well.
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians, Chapter 5:19-21.
The Book of Malachi, Chapter 3:5.
The Fifth Book of Moses, Deuteronomy, Chapter 18:10-12.
The Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ, Chapter 21:8.
Other real-life and documented tragedies and symbols devoted to the recognition and furtherance of Satan’s kingdom are:
Human Sacrifices. These are demonic killings on altars using babies, little children and adults, for their blood. Drinking of the blood is to empower, for the doing of evil, the ones who drink of it. Female sacrifices (infants to adults) are often raped before they are murdered for their blood. Just as in abortion, the children have no voice in their circumstance and destiny.
Breeding Machines. Teen girls are impregnated and their babies used as blood sacrifices. Just like the babies and younger children, they are robbed of their opportunity to choose how their bodies and minds are used.
Animal Sacrifices. Bones, body parts and blood are used in rituals.
Horror/Occult Movies. Witches are often used as Techni-cal Advisors to authenticate the satanic theme of the film.
Children’s Books. Most popular is Harry Potter. These books presented as fantasy, embrace witchcraft and sor-cery, which are sin in God’s eye. The seemingly innocence of the characters and storylines are being absorbed into the developing and impressionable psyche of our children, and will have a negative influence in their future decision-making processes and actions.
Demonic Symbols. The Pentagram (a five-pointed star inside a circle) used to symbolize Satan. Number “666” (the number of Satan). Upside-Down Cross (another symbol of Satan; used in his rituals; an abomination to our Holy God, used to ridicule His purpose).
Celebrity. Persons of notoriety who have been deter-mined by mental specialists to have very possibly acquired their lust for evil through personal experience in the killing of animals, drug use, or absorption of mind-altering virtual reality games – Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, and the “Boys
of Columbine”. All graduated to the murder of human beings. There are others, too numerous to count, notori-ous or not.
The spectrum of believers to this doomed faith and wor-ship is permeated throughout our communities, even to-day. Recruitment is rampant. No one is exempt by posi-tion in life – not the homemaker, not our leaders, not law enforcement, not the pulpit. No one.
God has commanded us to separate ourselves from these things and not compromise. A few hours of pleasure cele-brating this unholy being is not worth relinquishing the gift of eternal life God has offered us.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will return soon and take the faithful in Him to Heaven. If you are a Christian, please confess your sins and rededicate yourself to Him. If you do not know Christ, please confess your sins and ask Him to be your personal Lord and Savior.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,
as some men count slackness; but is longsuffer-
ing to usward, not willing that any should per-
ish, but that all should come to repentance. 2
Peter, Chapter 3:9.
The choice is yours.
WHO WILL YOU SERVE?
This plea to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior is my gift to you.
A SUGGESTION: Purchase and hand-out Christian material on Salvation instead of candy. TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Submitted By:
Brenda J. Brooks
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They say that opposites attract- and that's true. However,
sometimes, opposites can clash, - even in our most spiri-
tual state.
Our Christian experience, depth and Christian activities
do not dictate our personality! It is vital to realize that an
enormous amount of our marital and relational experi-
ences really do not depend on our Spirituality, but on our
learning of our partner and how best to love them.
Understanding our spouse
This alone is worth the length of a book all in itself, but
let's shed a little light on how we can best understand,
encourage and love our spouse if they are naturally the
"quiet type."
It was once said by Dr. John Gray, author of
'Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus',
"When men and women are able to respect and
accept their differences then love has a chance to
blossom.”
In understanding our spouse, whether they are intro-
verted or extroverted, (soft spoken or outspoken) it is
important to realize that the more you learn about your
partner, the more enriched your marriage and relation-
ship will be!
Countless couples face constant frustration simply be-
cause they fail to comprehend that their spouse is not
them; they're different and that's exactly how God made
them.
We cannot change our spouse, but it not only our respon-
sibility, but our privilege to learn and love them the way
they need to be loved and cherished.
God really did make us different
We first need to fully understand, and accept, that we are
all made different, consisting of varying character and
personality traits, along with the baggage or mileage of
our past which inevitably shapes who we are and how
we think; regardless of where we're at Spiritually.
In other words, God does not change who we are, but
uses and blesses who we are for His glory and if we are
married, to bless, encourage, compliment and connect
with our spouse to make the marriage complete.
Many who are dealing with a spouse who is either oppo-
site, or in this article's case, introverted, get very frus-
trated in what appears to be the lack of direct openness
and motivation to work through things.
In a Harvard study of several hundred preschoolers, re-
searchers discovered an interesting phenomenon. As they
(Continued on page 12)
When your spouse is the Silent Type
Pastors Mike & Trisha Fox
12
taped the children’s playground conversation, they real-
ized that all the sounds coming from little girls’ mouths
were recognizable words. However, only 60 percent of
the sounds coming from little boys were recognizable.
The other 40 percent were yells and sound effects like
"Vrrrooooom!" "Aaaaagh!" "Toot toot!" This difference
persists into adulthood.
Communication experts say that the average woman
speaks over 25,000 words a day while the average man
speaks only a little over 10,000. What does this mean for
our understanding of marriage and relationships?
On average, the wife may need 45 minutes to an hour
each day in meaningful conversation with her husband
to feel close and reconnected. Yet for husbands, the av-
erage is only 15-25 minutes, possibly only a few times
per week!
The needs are different; the expression of communica-
tion is different and our character and makeup of who
are is different as well.
Force it open, it will break
Out of sheer frustration, many spouses try to "pry" open
their spouse and demand and force their spouse to deal
instantly with issues that are at hand.
Realize that in most cases, yes those issues are real, they
are important and they do need to be addressed. But
there has to be a loving middle ground that both the ex-
troverted and introverted can comfortably deal with in
their own way.
However, we wholeheartedly agree that no matter how
or when - there are just some issues that must be dealt
with asap to avoid possible marital disaster.
Know thyself - and thy spouse
Learn the Personality traits of our spouse and yourself
“Only those who respect the personality of oth-
ers can be of real use to them” ~Albert
Schweitzer
It is helpful to better understand our own personality,
and gather some hints as to the personality of others.
This, in turn, helps us not only to be better ministers
and people, but better witnesses to those outside the
gates of the church realm, and better at loving our
spouse because we understand their personality.
If you can understand yourself and others, you can
more effectively minister and love. This includes your
spouse!
Here is a brief, yet detailed summary of the General
Personalities of people:
Originally, there has been FIVE major Personality Styles
that we can fit in, although as with anything, there are
many variations and exceptions to every rule. The fol-
lowing is just your base...
Extroverted Outgoing, open and easy to talk to,
spontaneous. Introverted
Observatory, careful, watchful, not spontaneous, planning
Analytical Calculating scenarios, logical, rea-
soning. Driver
Plan, first to lead, unafraid to fail, successful
Amiable Friendly, caring, compassionate,
trustworthy
Imagine if you have an Extroverted-Driver (E.D.) and an
Introverted-Amiable (I.A.) in the same room discussing
deep, emotional, important issues. What do you think
the outcome will be? In the most likely case scenario,
the Extroverted-Driver will eventually get fueled up
emotionally about what they believe, and the Intro-
verted-Amiable will become more and more reclusive.
The E.D becomes increasingly dominating, and over-
bearing, driving loudly their point to where the I.A. will
eventually stop talking all together.
A few tips for the frustrated spouse on how to commu-
nicate to their soft-spoken partner
1. When speaking to your spouse, watch your pitch
and loudness. The pitch and loudness presents to your
spouse that you are becoming irritated, frustrated not
with the problem… but with them! This behavior actu-
ally easily translates to the soft-spoken spouse a flat
(Continued on page 13)
13
out disproval of "them", and in essence is screaming in
their face on how unhappy you are with them, your
marriage and an overall displeasure of them as your
spouse.
2. Watch out for blaming or accusing statements.
Pointing your finger or verbally blaming your partner
only elevates any type of defensiveness in your partner.
This is counter-productive.
Draw them out with kindness. Instead of allowing anger to be your motivating factor of discussing things, you need to use soft love and kindness to help them "trust" that you are not out to hurt them or tear them apart.
Most cases of introversion are really people who
are in defense mode trying to protect them-
selves from either looking silly, feeling stupid,
being hurt by others and basically keeping
themselves from being vulnerable to others.
If you cannot control your temper, anger or in-
tensity in your heated discussions, you need
help.
Conclusion
Christians need to scrap the unbiblical idea that
Counseling is not biblical. This is one of the age
old traditional cliché's that do not hold water in
the light of scripture. How can we forget that
Jesus Christ Himself is called "Wonderful, Coun-
selor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Fa-
ther" (Is. 9:6) Most people don't even think
twice about the word "counselor".
If your marriage is heading in a direction that
consists of angry, violent or unfruitful discus-
sions, it is indeed heading in the wrong direc-
tion… period. Whether you are praying 24 hours
in a day, fasting 7 days per week, some things
don't come by spiritual means. They come by
you actually physically doing something about
your marriage.
Whether it's Marriage Counseling, Marriage
Coaching, your Spiritual leaders or a trusted,
unbiased person, it is imperative that assistance
be incorporated into that relationship.
We must get to a place in our Christian walk,
that we learn how to “build up” other’s
strengths, instead of tearing down our differ-
ences. “Let nothing be done through strife or
vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each es-
teem other better than themselves.” Philippians
2:3 –KJV)
Marriage Coaches Mike & Trisha Fox MARRIAGE FOR TODAY www.marriagefortoday.com [email protected]
Pastor Mike and Trisha Fox
14
15
The Truth About Shame
Judith M. Mosley
Shame is a powerful emotion that yields no positive results. If you are under its influence, you are primed
to live not producing much fruit. It makes you afraid, usually of having a behavior, weakness or embarrassing
situation exposed. Your progress is halted. Shame even causes you to doubt if God could possible love someone
such as yourself. It wounds you so deeply that you cannot carry God’s will for you as he has planned it. You are
inconsistent. You start and stop, leaving tasks unfinished and people untouched.
Shame and being ashamed don't have the same meaning. It is good to be ashamed of wrong behavior or
habits, because that can lead to repentance And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up
my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the
heavens. Ezra 9:6. On the other hand, allowing yourself to be under the control of shame, listening daily to its
damnable accusations is a different matter altogether. Unless you uncover the truth about shame, you could
die believing you were a failure.
What is the truth about shame? What is it that shame has kept hidden, so it will survive and you will re-
main in its grip? This truth is found in Hebrews 12:2: Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. Did you see the last three
words, “despising the shame”? Jesus set the example for you. He showed you that shame is to be despised
(hated). He gave shame no place in His life. Scholars have said that Jesus hung on the cross naked. How shame-
ful! Yet Jesus did not allow that shame to overpower Him, depress Him, and keep Him from carrying out the will
of the Father, namely dying on the cross for our sins.
You too cannot give shame any authority. It cannot dictate what you will do, where you will go or what you will
become. You have to be free to run the race that God has designed. He has a work for each of His children to
do. Don’t allow shame to get in the way. Despise it like Jesus did. Kick it out of your life, and then live!
If you want to be better later,
do your best now.
16
We need to sit down and reason about the change
of season.
Can you see what’s happening in the world today?
Society is making our children lose their identity
and personality to carnality.
We’re losing our son’s and daughters, to street
slaughters.
Our children are dying, mothers crying and even
sighing.
No one seems to get to the root of these problems.
Your child may not be a victim of gun and knife
crime,
But as a mother you should be caring,
Sharing your thoughts and opinions with other
mothers.
So many mothers are going through silent pain
Their loved one has gone in vain.
Where’s the encouragement and support?
We don’t need to hear another bad report.
Mother’s trying to cope with their loss? It’s time to
stop covering it with gloss.
We need to make a stand and take hold of each
other’s hand.
United we stand divided we fall.
Mother 2 Mother can’t you hear the Heavenly call to
HELP ANOTHER MOTHER.
So many mothers feel so alone.
What will it take before we take heed?
We have the power to lead and succeed.
Let us help stop this unnecessary bleed.
We need to act now and put our hands to the
plough.
Mother 2 Mother please wake up, we are living in
perilous times.
We can make a change before society becomes
deranged.
We have women leaders in Government and in the
Police.
We need to make the bloodshed cease.
Mother 2 Mother let us pray and ask God to make a
way for every mother’s child.
© 2011 Maureen Morgan
Mother 2 Mother
17
Memo to God
As I sit back and think about all that you’ve done for me
I give thanks for your grace and mercy
For all the things in this life that I’ve been through
There is no way possible that I could have ever made it without you.
You’ve been my shelter during the storm and rain
The only one who truly understood my pain.
My shoulder to lean on when I needed to cry
A friend indeed, by and by.
Yes, you are the solid rock on which I stand
When life events get out of hand
The better of me than I thought I would ever be
But that’s because you bring out the best in me.
You’ve blessed me with the wisdom to achieve my life goal
With that I’ve found your creativity to be the quality of my soul
Your vision, sometimes a mystery
I now know is my purposed planned destiny.
So while I sit back and think about all that you’ve done for me
I know without a doubt that I’ve been blessed abundantly.
So I rise to my feet
Shouting with great praise and sweet jubilee
“Thank You God for always loving me!”
Yvette Johnson
The Inspirational Poet
The Tilted Tea Cup – All Things Inspire
©092011
.
Psalms 106:1
Hallelujah! Thank You Lord!
How good you are!
Your love for us continues forever
18
Mylow Young
Author of:
Against the Gates of Hell: A Crack House
Exodus
19
Against the Gates of Hell: A
Crack House Exodus
Over the years there have been special days or
months of the year to recognize, commemorate or
honor a people or a cause. On any given day of the
year, if you search, you will find a day for some-
thing or someone. There is Big Brothers and Big
Sisters Month, Earth Day, Cancer Awareness
Month and of course, Black History Month. But
many go unnoticed, many of which we don’t have
a clue that they even exist.
The one dearest to me and the one I most re-
cently learned about is National Drug and Alcohol
Recovery Month which is in September. Like many
of the days and months we observe, just as soon as
the month is over… so is our awareness. For Black
History Month we can be sure to see TV shows that
deal with the struggles of Black America. You
know “Roots” will be on someone’s network. What
unsettles me though, is that there is very little rec-
ognition (unless you’re watching BET) or obser-
vance at any other time of the year.
But it’s the same with other issues as well, par-
ticularly with the issue of drug and alcohol abuse.
Let’s bring attention to it for thirty days… then
what? What are we thinking or doing during this
time? More importantly, what are we doing the rest
of the time? More than likely we’re talking about
how so and so is “on that stuff” or his brother, sis-
ter or even Father or Mother. But how often do we
ever try to find help for the one who’s struggling?
As I said, this particular cause is close to my
heart. The reason is, I struggled with drugs and al-
cohol on and off for over twenty-five years. I re-
member the looks and the treatment I received
from family and friends as I resigned myself to a
life of guilt, degradation and humiliation. Shame
was the only real thing I knew as the hopelessness
of a crack addiction became a way of life for me.
What is there for the addicted one to embrace
when he or she has concluded that love and accep-
tance has evaded them? When approval from the
ones that mean the most seems non-existent?
When rejection has killed a dream or any presence
of life? When these most basic needs go unmet,
what do you do? You search for the fulfillment of
that need anywhere and anyway you can get it!
Some try and find comfort from another person,
leading often to emotional, verbal or physical
abuse, losing themselves further to hopelessness
and more shame.
Others look to alcohol which is easily and le-
gally obtained from the corner store but when
that’s not enough, smoking weed or taking pills is
the commonly preferred method of self medication
and even accepted by many as being “okay”. But
often, the “occasional” or “recreational” user even-
tually gives in to the deception and the lure of
“pleasure” only to find themselves falling headfirst
into crack cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin.
The downward spiral has developed into a world of
hurt and utter destruction! Now the law is being
broken and the risks have taken a much more seri-
ous progression.
“I only do it to take the edge off and relax from a
hard and stressful day at work” or “to get away for
a minute”, some say while others are “only having
a little fun”. What we don’t see at the time is that
one little trip to Fantasy Land can lead to a reality
that will rival your worst nightmare! You can pinch
yourself all you want but you’re already awake,
this is real! Devastation has become your life! The
choice has been made… now your life is over…
WRONG!!!!
(Continued on page 20)
20
Yeah, choices were made and the reaction to the
cards dealt, to the circumstances of life has landed
the addicted one at the place they now reside. It is in
fact a choice. They could have chosen to respond
differently to the hurt but didn’t. That’s a fact as
well, and that’s where we are… for now.
The choices I made stemming from a
childhood of rejection and criticism led
me to the streets where I found a meas-
ure of acceptance from my peers, which,
later on only led to more pressure to per-
form and stay accepted. This is what my
life was like at twelve and thirteen. It
was unknown to me at the time that ad-
diction was in its early stages.
I made the choices I did as a young
man as well as later in life because I was
never equipped emotionally to make any
other. There is usually the sense of right
and wrong but when the pain of rejection is so ex-
treme, in dysfunction, wrong becomes normal.
For twenty six years I lived my life bound to
some form of drug. Much of that life I lived desti-
tute and in despair and even homeless at times. I
walked the streets of Philadelphia and many times
called the crack house my home. Other times I
would sneak on the subway so I would have some-
where to sleep for the night. That was my exis-
tence… what I called “life”. I was hopelessly
trapped in a mindset of rejection and worthlessness
and freedom from addiction was impossible for me
it seemed.
This was it for me though; this was my life I
thought so I had to play the cards that were dealt me.
The thing is, I was a very poor card player. Where
was hope? It was nowhere I could see. What did I
believe in… God? He saw my situation; He knew
what I was going through but still allowed the ava-
lanche, this downward spiral of hopelessness to con-
tinue.
What would I do? What could I do? I left Philly
with a the shred of a glimmer of hope tucked away
in the deepest recesses of my soul, in search of a
way out of my mess but only found more opportu-
nity to indulge my hunger and
thirst for drugs. Even after land-
ing in Lenoir, NC where I heard
hope lived, where I had even met
hope. Hope resided at a place
called Bethel Colony of Mercy, a
ministry set apart to show men
like myself that there was a life
beyond the grasp of crack cocaine
and other drugs (and other life
controlling issues) and that Jesus
was the source of that life. But I
had to give myself to Him like I
had to the drug but I was unsuc-
cessful. I caught a glimpse of
hope but it seemed just beyond
my reach.
After going through their program three different
times, I left Lenoir for Statesville, N.C. still not free
from the bondage of drugs and alcohol. One night, it
was around midnight, after spending all of my
money on a drug binge I stood on a deserted corner
and wondered again what had happened. But God
was merciful to me. I had met a pastor of a church
who knew of a place like Bethel where I could find
my freedom and I was again faced with the promise
of hope.
“The Transformation Center” was a place started
by another local church that had men of God as
teachers and would build on the previous foundation
and insisted that hope indeed was alive. And then,
through no power of my own, there was that mo-
ment… “AH HA!” Everything that I had heard and
was taught hit me square in the head and settled
firmly in my heart! Hope had found its way into my
heart and made itself at home! Slowly, methodically
I believed! I believed in HOPE! Hope is a man
(Continued on page 21)
21
named Jesus, God in the flesh who, when I thought
I was unlovable, loved me all along! Through my
mess, through rejection, through my so called fail-
ure and perceived worthlessness! I believe! I believe
in hope! There IS hope for me! Hallelujah!
I’ve been clean now for about eight years! God
restored everything the devil had stolen from me…
with interest! I have a beautiful bride – Sondra - of
over eight years who is my biggest system of sup-
port. I serve as a deacon now and was licensed as a
minister by the same church God used to bring me
up out of the pit! He is so awesome!
Shortly after learning I was already free because
of what Christ did for me that I could not do for my-
self, I began to walk in that freedom. I wanted to tell
others of the freedom I found since surely there are
those who feel as hopeless and helpless as I did.
People have got to know
that there is an abundance
of mercy and grace just
waiting to fill their lives.
That there is a forgiving
God who loves them just
as they are and doesn’t
condemn them. He brings
life! So I began to write a
book, mixing in some of
my experiences. “Against
the Gates of Hell: A
Crack House Exodus”.
The following is a synopsis of the story:
Kerby Wilson had always looked down on
those who partook and pedaled drugs which
claimed the lives of many in the
streets. Now he finds himself duped by his
own pride and going down a very desperate
path of his own. Distraught over the death
of his parents and the murder of a fellow po-
lice officer, Kerby alienates those closest to
him, pushing them away-his wife, brother,
police force buddies and old friends. As the
bottom falls out of his life and darkness con-
sumes his soul, he sells all that he holds dear
for an elusive state of peace.
Herby, Kerby’s identical twin brother is an-
gry with Kerby for turning on his family,
friends, and the police force and for going
down this destructive path. As his heart
hardens and he is caught up in his own battle
of resentment and bitterness, he tries to shut
Kerby out. But Rene, his God-fearing wife
won’t allow that to happen. Instead she con-
tinually appeals to his conscience, reminding
him of God’s unfailing love and Kerby’s
need for his help.
When Kerby uses his past identity as a po-
lice officer to rob the biggest drug dealer in
Philly, a price is put on his head. Learning of
Kerby’s latest antics, Herby, family and
friends are challenged to push past their
struggles to help keep him alive and break
free of his addiction.
Spiritual Themes: God’s unconditional love
and healing power are evidence in this story
about one man’s struggle to break free of a
crack addiction and turn his life around. The
other spiritual themes that stand out in
Against the Gates of Hell are faith and hope
as the reader gets a glimpse of struggles en-
dured by family members and friends to for-
give and be restored to the main character.
Product Details: $14.99, Paperback. Publisher: Lift
Every Voice/Moody Publishers (September 1, 2011).
Language: English ISBN-10: 0802401694 ISBN-
13: 978-0802401694
There is a lot of debate on the subject as to why
someone living in addiction seems to not want to
get out. Let me say that no one wants to be addicted
to drugs, and of course that’s never the intention.
No one ever wakes up and says “I want to be a drug
addict”. No little girl ever says “I wanna be a prosti-
tute when I grow up” and no little boy ever says “I
wanna be a liar, a thief and a murderer”. These are
all consequences of bad decisions.
But you can help decrease the odds of your kids
becoming addicts (yes, your kids as well as you can
become drug addicts and alcoholics and everything
(Continued on page 22)
22
else in the middle) by first, loving your children. Don’t ever tell your child or teen that they are worthless
and will never amount to anything. You’re only speaking death to them and helping to seal their fate. In-
stead, give them nurturing and support while they’re young.
As they grow let them know that they are your gift from God and that they are significant and have value
and potential! When children and teens have what they need at home they are less likely to look for some-
thing more outside. Talk with your kids and find out about their lives.
So, if there was hope for me, a twenty five year veteran of drugs and alcohol, then for sure, there is hope
for ANYONE dealing with ANYTHING! There is hope for YOU!
***
Contacts: [email protected] or visit my website at www.mylowyoung.com for ordering information
or to be encouraged by my poetry and blogs. I also have a written a poetry book “You Can Still Rise Again: A Collection of Poems for the Struggle available at
www.authorhouse.com
You can also find me at www.facebook.com/mylowyoung Go to Against the Gates of Hell: A Crack House Exodus “Fan page”
and press “Like”. Thanks for your time and support…
You Are Blessed!
23
Bio:
Derrick Williams is a man on a mission. Born and raised in Hampton, Va., Mr. Williams has always believed that his destiny was to be an entrepreneur. With a passion for marketing, he began promoting small businesses in the lo-cal community in 2010. A short time later, God’s vision evolved allowing him to establish Your Local Gospel Network. YLGN was created to highlight local ministries and gospel artists; it has since expanded to include authors and small business owners around the country. Mr. Williams is committed to help-ing other believers share their talents with as many people as possible. Mr. Williams is married to Shimeka Williams. Although they do not have children yet, they are the proud owners of a Yorkshire terrier named Sonny. For more information, please visit: www.YourLocalGospelNetwork.com and we are also on Facebook as well at www.facebook.com/YourLocalGospelNetwork.
Your Local Gospel Network
Founder
Derrick Williams
24
“10 Reasons to be Generous”
Generosity: (noun) - readiness or liberality in giving; freedom from meanness or smallness of mind or character.
Sometimes in the past I felt as if I had to almost beat my human flesh in order to be generous. Does any-one else know what I mean? I hate that part of my old, selfish nature which inflames my pride and fear and makes a thousand and one excuses as to WHY I cannot be generous. I see it in other people, too, especially as I work in advocacy for both the home-less and international child sponsorships. People are always so quick to pat a person on the back for their good works for the Lord, but their own flesh holds them back from being free enough to actually give of something themselves.
The idea of generosity has been stewing in me for some time because of my own selfish nature and my own reluctance to give at times. Working in urban ministry this past year has given me insight into both the real-ity of what generosity does for another hu-man being, but also what my own flesh lacks without the power and love of Jesus working through me.
I am not a fan of guilt trips, and I find ma-nipulation a poor and tasteless tactic to get
any point across. I write this article because I know that everyone is on a journey when it comes to understanding and overcoming their own flesh, and I believe that God has given me understanding to help anyone with the issue of generosity, no matter the place they are at.
Having said this, I present to you what I be-lieve God gave me as 10 Reasons to Be Gen-erous (in no particular order):
You can be generous because Isaiah 58 and Isaiah 61 explain that not only is it God’s heart to give, but Isaiah 61 says that for a born-again Christian God gives us the “Spirit of the Sovereign Lord” BECAUSE He has called us to do good works! We can give be-cause if it is His heart to give, He will em-power us to do so.
A reason to be generous is because it is the RIGHT THING TO DO. What exactly the “right thing” is for each of us individually is not relative, nor is it a “Christian” ideal. Nearly every world religion condones helping another human. No matter what big words one may use to frame it…GIVING (financially, time, resources or even just a smile to some-one who is down) is the RIGHT THING TO DO.
Another reason to give is because when you give, your world is enlarged. Period.
When you give, you get your eyes off of yourself and off of your own problems and issues.
(Continued on page 25)
“10 Reasons to be Generous”
by Mandy Woodhouse
25
When you give, you influence and inspire others around you (even non-directly) to GREAT-NESS in their own lives!
Giving (time, resources, a smile, money) and the process of giving changes YOUR heart.
Being generous means that there is more to this life than our own selfish desires.
You give because you can. EVERYONE has something to give. “Giving” is not just neces-sarily a monetary term.
You give because YOU are the answer to some-one else’s prayer.
The most obvious reason to be generous is be-cause there is NEED. You cannot just close your eyes and make it go away. Corpora-tions, developers and organizations cannot starve the homeless out of a city and think the problem of homelessness will go away. Businessmen cannot just turn off the TV whenever a commercial comes on advertis-ing poverty, and we cannot possibly believe that we can avoid the current world issues if we do not ever read the newspaper. There is always NEED.
So why do I give? Even in reviewing my own an-swers, I realize that Jesus has grown in me so much just in this past year!
I give spare change because my friend in Nevada has been handing out socks to the homeless in Las Ve-gas for months now, out of his own pocket because the local charities are too busy to help.
I give my time because there are 50+ people in my own hometown who are literally sleeping under people’s houses along the train-tracks.
I give my advocacy and prayers because there are hundreds of people living under bridges in New Or-leans, LA.
I give my money and passion because there are lit-erally millions of orphaned and needy children around the globe who need a sponsor so that they can get education, medical help and a nice meal.
I give my prayers and encouragement because my friend Angie’s heart is captured by the atrocities of the sex-slave trade, and she has no clue where to
begin or who will even back her.
I give my time and prayers because in South Caro-lina alone, the number of kids who fail the LEAP test in 3rd grade and end up dropping out of school to become criminals is sickening.
I give a warm smile because there are miserable women and men at my local grocery stores who just need a smile to get through the day.
I give my encouragement, prayers and even money because my best friend Lori and her family show kindness to the city’s most unloved, and they just cannot continue to do it on their own.
Perhaps most importantly for a Christian, I give of myself because Christ’s love COMPELS me. I am generous because Jesus FIRST GAVE to me.
And I give because I never know whose prayers I may have just answered.
After all, “We can’t do everything, but we must do something” –Hillsong Church, Sydney Australia.
26
WAKE UP GOD’S CHILDREN
Wake up God’s children to a brand new day; wake up God’s children in a spirited way.
Take a step that brings joy to you by sharing amongst others a way to renew, whether tiny steps to rekindle or something brand new, liven the spirit by beginning each day fresh and anew.
When the minutes become stagnant and you reach for more, seek and you shall find the answers the good Lord has in store. One-by-one take the minutes to enjoy the loving magic of words the
Lord has provided, as in these words you and your paths will never become divided. They will em-brace and guide you to compelling heights; with this freshness so alive and so new you can not
help but share the new found glories given you.
Whether in the light of the sun or dark corner you sit, an awakening of the spirit is certain to edify and uplift as your being beckons to the hand of the Holy One. You will not be long in darkness as
the Lord does not stay away from rejuvenating spirit in a very satisfying way. It could be in a long-awaited answer that comes in the night, it could be in the smile of a stranger who is closely within sight. It could come out of generosity silently extended from another good soul who refreshingly and miraculously ignites a glow so delightful and pleasing that you can not help to hope will con-sistently sow. Yes, the Lord will lift you in his time and in his way with resolve and peace; make
certain to embrace the words so vital and keen; for with His instruction you as a child of God will exemplify Wake Up God’s Children which in itself is truly pristine.
Heidi Maria Schilling
27
One often doesn’t know their strength until they are in a challenge. We often question where that spurt of boldness came from? What would have destroyed us in the past doesn’t even make us flinch in our current state. WHAT happened to the person who was once scared of their own shadow? What ever became of the person who only glimpsed at themselves in the mirror, afraid to look deep in the eyes staring back at them?
LIFE happened, but more importantly MATURITY hap-pened. You became uncomfortable in your safe zone and now its cramping your style. Like a baby in a moth-ers womb, it outgrew the place that was “holding them hostage” and if it didn’t immediately find a way out, death would occur. With or without the permission of the one who’s womb it was residing in, a decision was made to BREAK OUT.
Many women have had that same experience; being held hostage to their past mistakes and misfortunes. Imprisoned by others perceptions and bound to dys-functional relationships. No longer content with living beneath their means, refusing to accept a mediocre life they create signs and symptoms stating they DESIRE MORE. Resistance and denied access is to be expected from people and things that were COMFORTABLE with one being enslaved to confinements that prevent growth and expansion. However one must not be pas-sive and ask permission in their urgent state to obtain freedom, it must be obtained by any means necessary.
When a baby chick hatches, it begins by trying to shake itself free in the egg that is imprisoning it. When noth-ing is produced from that method it starts kicking and pecking from the inside until it begins cracking away at its barriers. Once the shell has been weakened and cracked , the baby chick continues to hit at those spots until it can free itself. The chick that is manifested is beyond bigger than the egg that attempted to suffo-
cate it. One often wonders how that little egg could have contained that MASS substance. Not only has the shell been broken to provide an exit for the content to be released it is severely damaged to the extent that it can not be placed back together again.
YOU are the MASS PURPOSED substance that can no longer be held captive by life’s circumstances. You’ve been nurturing your purpose to the point of expansion and it demands to be released. You’ve attempted sev-eral times to escape by telling people your dreams and aspirations. You’ve even took a few risks to see if you had what it took. Now, that fire that burns inside of you is an inferno about to cause serious damage to your life if it is not released. YOU HAVE TO BREAK OUT OF YOUR SHELL.
Everything you need is already deposited on the inside of you. Once you determine you want to Explore all that you can be, then go
after it at all cost, knowing it will hurt at times but is well worth the results. Embrace
your uniqueness and don’t be afraid to live life RADIKALLY! Why settle for flying when
you were born to SOAR!
Don’t be afraid to IGNITE your PASSION, allow it to EXPLODE in every environment
you come in contact with & NEVER be afraid
to LIVE LIFE RADIKALLY-Lady Di
BREAK OUT of your shell
28
Who cares about the debt ceiling? You should. As an
American and a Believer there are events taking place in
the financial world that are affecting areas ranging from
employment to retirement. August 1st of this year
marked the day the United States raised the debt ceiling
to avoid defaulting on their loans. This isn’t the first
time the debt ceiling has increased; in fact it’s been
raised 74 times since 1962. The media may make it
sound more sophisticated by mentioning things like
GDP or budget and trade deficits. But in layman’s terms
the country is borrowing more than it can afford to pay
back. Sound familiar?
Our culture has made debt seem automatic when it
comes to financing things like cars, houses, and even
tuition. After all, who can afford to pay for such large
ticket items in cash? How would someone even accom-
plish such a task? Believe it or not the answer is not
hard. In fact it’s a simple one, save and invest. I know
there are readers who are probably thinking, “I’ve heard
that speech before,” but allow me to share a different
perspective.
At a time when Egypt was viewed as a world power,
famine was about to plague the land. Out of all of Phar-
aoh’s court, which today would be our governing bod-
ies, no one knew what to do. No one except an ex-
convict brought out of prison named Joseph. His solu-
tion to a nationwide problem was this, save and invest,
20% to be exact. Now this may seem like a large per-
centage to some of us, but consider how much could be
saved if money used to pay for luxury items, that we’ve
labeled necessities, went into a savings account that
was actually used for savings.
If God, who never changes, gave Joseph such insightful
wisdom that saved a nation, why are we replacing His
wisdom with our own? We are advised to stay out of
debt and to be the lender and not the borrower so how
did we become seduced into abandoning those princi-
ples. I am not implying that it is a sin to borrow. Even
the bible records a woman instructed to “borrow” ves-
sels. The problem occurs when we start to believe bor-
rowing is the only way instead of just a way. If we can
extend our faith for God to grant us favor for loan ap-
provals, imagine the wisdom we could receive if He who
owns the cattle on a thousand hills gave us the instruc-
tion we need to live debt free and in abundance. It is
possible, as a matter of fact it’s promised to us. It be-
gins with us asking ourselves individually and as a nation
“Do we want to raise our debt ceiling again?”
J.C. Stevenson
J.C. Stevenson graduated with her B.S in finance from Florida
State University and has spent almost a decade working in the
financial industry. She advises numerous business owners on
matters concerning increasing cash flow and sound money
management. While licensed in the areas of insurance and
investments J.C. is passionate about educating believers on
implementing biblical principals in everyday finances.
Debt Ceiling
29
When I need to really hear from God, I take a ride. I get in my car, turn off the radio, drive around aim-
lessly and talk to Him (yes, even with these gas prices). After I’ve thanked Him for life, health and
strength, whined a little and complained a lot, I calm down and listen for his voice.
I am aware enough to realize that the things I struggle with most, are actually figments of my imagina-
tion, like fear. At my worst, I fear things that haven’t happened, making things up in my mind as I go. It
can be paralyzing. Knowing this is happening, however, doesn’t automatically stop it. I still have to work
at it and I get very frustrated. So one day I asked for instruction in conquering this thing, once and for all.
What I heard is this (and I’m paraphrasing since I can’t remember word for word): There is no ‘once and
for all’. Live in the moment. Live consciously in the moment because within this moment, you have eve-
rything you need. When you feel fear rising up in any moment, make the decision in that moment to re-
ject it. Do it again the next moment. And when you can do it for a few moments at a time, do it for a min-
ute. An hour. A day. A week. A month. Making conscious, positive choices to love, forgive, believe, or
whatever it is you need to heal, transforms you in each moment. Moments strung together transform
your life.
"If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of
it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment." - Marcus Aurelius
Tracy R. Jolly is a freelance writer, author, blogger, sometimes poet and budding entrepreneur. She blogs
at www.losingmymindfindingmyvoice.blogspot.com and can be reached via email at mindand-
Tracy R. Jolly
In This Moment
30
In life, we will encounter friends who are
like rare gems. They are positive and encouraging.
They are always willing to lend a hand or bend an
ear. They are cool, but they aren’t patsies either.
They will tell you the truth whether you want to
hear it or not. But, when they deliver the message
it’s done with a sense of compassion, humility and
love.
Then, there are those friends who are quite
the opposite. These friends are negative, discourag-
ing and argumentative. You never really know if
you should call them friends, but you do so anyway
out of habit or some sort of misguided obligation.
Despite your better judgment, the so-called friend-
ship continues. Until, one day, you come to the re-
alization that it might be time to sever the relation-
ship. It is a hard lesson to learn, but you must dis-
cover that some friendships are not supposed to last
forever. They are only meant to last until you learn
the lesson that God has for you.
God could be trying to teach you humility or
endurance, but what he would never do is force you
to sacrifice your self-esteem, self-worth and self-
confidence for a relationship either platonic or ro-
mantic that is toxic. You know which relationships
these are because they change something very
unique about you. These are the friendships and re-
lationships that leave you feeling empty, mentally
drained, worn or used. If you find yourself, dread-
ing interaction with that person then that relation-
ship has reached its peak.
“To everything there is a season, and a time
to every purpose under the heaven,” Ecclesiastes
3:1.
Therefore, if you find yourself pouring out
all of this love and encouragement, or you find
yourself offering time, advice, money, or anything
of value, and that effort is not returned, then in es-
sence, you are casting your pearls before swine.
That goes against the word of God, and Jesus wants
you to stop this behavior, immediately.
“Give not that which is holy unto the
dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest
they trample them under their feet, and turn again
and rend you,” Matt. 7:6
God only wants the best for you, and he
wants you to have healthy and balanced relation-
ships that lift you up -- not tear you down. No mat-
ter how much we feel that we may hurt someone’s
feelings, we must honor God’s word. Get the lesson
and walk away.
Don’t let unhealthy relationships keep you
from the blessings God has in store for you. Keep
your pearls for those who are worthy enough to re-
ceive them.
Stop Casting Your Pearls Before Swine
By Lee Williams
31
Bold and courageous
You've spread your wings
With hope and joy
Pink ribbons and things
The epistle in your heart
Is the song you sing
Of Peace and Healing
Upon your wing
Your journal of dreams
Freely flow into the sea
You've got so much to live for
Your best you long to be
As your destiny awaits you
The Hem of His garment
Enfolds you true
And a beautiful circle of butterfly hues
On this path you've traveled far
Your faith is the hope
That makes you a star
Your journey is over
Silence surrounds you
Your prayers have been answered
You my dear friend
Are a Breast Cancer Survivor.
Written by Cynthia G. Boyer
32
I am not one that does well with being still. I
am a mover and a shaker, a person who likes to be
active and busy. Having spent so many years in min-
istry without a lot of assistance means I have to be-
come very adapt at many things, very quickly. I am
almost always doing something because I do not like
being idle. In the process of such a life, swamped
with phone calls, due dates, articles and work to be
written, letters to write, web work to develop, people
to help, lessons to prepare, sermons to draft, books to
finish…and even more than this, I have developed a
literal spirituality where I am constantly
“praying without ceasing,” as written in 1
Thessalonians 5:18. I am always talking
to God, thinking of God, and listening for
His Word to me. I do not like to miss
God in anything, so I seek Him in every-
thing.
In not doing well with being still,
it is very difficult for me to rest. I am constantly
thinking, even when I am supposed to be sleeping. I
even talk in my sleep, trying to debate and work out
problems. I have had many people tell me I am even
teaching in my sleep. It is difficult for me to see
things that happen to the church and not be grieved
by them, not understanding why people don’t have
God’s revelation and do not understand the clarity of
His Word. While I am thankfully, past the point
where I take such confrontations or issues person-
ally, I am not to the point where I cannot see beyond
any personal attack to the inherent problems the false
heresies proclaimed by others affect the church. This
is a serious issue in covering, especially given the
fact that we do not want to let people run wild with
winds of doctrine. Much of my time is spent in a life
of apologetics and education, thinking and function-
ing with every thought for the Lord and His truth.
And…I think and pray about it, constantly.
Sometimes, it is exhausting.
Then I am confronted with two very powerful
realities that sometimes every one of us – even those
who are the most profound, most diligent, and most
dedicated – need to hear. Psalm 46:10: “Be still and
know that I am God.”
Hmmm. I know that He is God. The fact that
He is God is my very life and ministry. But the “be
still” part? That doesn’t come quite so
easily. In seeing this verse, however, I
recognize the command can’t be taken at
half a word. It says to “be still AND
know,” not just be still…or just know.
Being still AND knowing He is God
represents a powerful balance in the life
of the believer…and a powerful way to
hear from God in our everyday lives.
Certain religious groups have “be still” down
really, really well. They will sit and meditate for
hours…not moving…not distracted…in strange and
funny positions that look extremely uncomfortable.
They seek to center themselves by thinking about
nothing, focusing on singular phrases or riddles and
attempting to attain a new level of enlightenment.
While they know how to “be still,” they do
not know He is God. Many of these systems deny the
existence of a Creator and totally reject the idea of
God. Their meditations do not seek to bring them
closer to God, but to a greater awareness of them-
selves and of mysteries of the universe. They have
mastered stillness in every position under the sun,
(Continued on page 33)
The Challenge of Being Still AND Knowing
33
but reject the balance because they do not know God.
Christians today aren’t good at “being still.” I
would like to believe the majority of believers have
the second part, “Know He is God” down pat, but I
know better. A major reason why we do not know
He is God is because we are never still. We are so
busy jumping up and down, “amen-ing” everything
the preacher says, and wanting to run around the
room that we miss essential instruction in Who God
is and what believing in God is all about. In our
strive to try and know God with enthusiasm, we are
missing God because we can’t sit still.
The Lord is dealing with me in the impor-
tance of finding that balance of “being still AND
knowing He is God.” It is amazing what I learn when
I sit still and listen. I find this to be so true in my
prayer life as well as in a church setting. Apostle or
not, I am forever learning and receiving the Lord’s
revelation. If I am to hear the Lord, that means I
need to stop talking. I need to be still, so as not to
miss His move in my life. Sometimes I think we sur-
round ourselves with noise and business so as to
miss God’s Word because we are afraid we do not
want to hear it. It is easy to be noisy; it takes disci-
pline to be silent.
The church today could benefit from such a
discipline. I am not suggesting we have to sit mute in
church, but we can’t let our enthusiasm drown out
the Word proclaimed. I have offended preachers of
recent because I am not jumping out of my seat over
every word that they say. I simply respond, “If I am
jumping and yelling, I can’t hear what you are say-
ing. I do not like to miss revelation because I am be-
ing too emotional.” Some preachers are still of-
fended, even after this explanation, because it seems
to totally contradict how they believe the congrega-
tion should react to their preaching.
We also must “be silent AND know He is
God” to distinguish true preaching from false. A
deeply emotionally charged message can easily dis-
guise false doctrine. If we are busy looking for emo-
tional cues rather than the true Word, we will not be
“knowing God.”
How are you on “being still AND knowing?”
In a world of technological buzzes, phones ringing at
all hours, email, internet social networks, family dis-
tractions, computers, televisions, fax machines,
Bluetooth’s, instant messaging, and more – it is easy
to not “be still AND know God.” With all these dis-
tractions, the enemy knows how easy it is to swoop
in, feed our minds with nonsense, and send us chas-
ing after roads that lead to nothing but destruction. It
is time for us to grow up, BE STILL AND KNOW!
Emerson once said, “Let us be silent that we
may hear the whisper of God.” There is peace in si-
lence, revelation in silence, truth in silence. I want to
hear that whisper of God, uncontaminated, not com-
peting with anything else in my time and space. I am
learning to be still in a deeper sense than ever before.
I am learning to be silent, that I may hear the whisper
of God, and receive His revelation without distrac-
tion.
Apostle Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.D.
Apostle In Office Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries
P.O. Box 935
Cary, North Carolina 27512 USA
Website: www.powerfortoday.org
Email: [email protected]
(919) 397-9122
© 2011 Lee Ann B. Marino
34
Luke 21:29-38 NIV 29.He told them this parable:
"Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30. When
they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves
and know that summer is near. 31. Even so,
when you see these things happening, you know
that the kingdom of God is near. 32."Truly I tell
you, this generation will certainly not pass away
until all these things have happened. 33. Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will
never pass away. 34."Be careful, or your hearts
will be weighed down with carousing, drunken-
ness and the anxieties of life, and that day will
close on you suddenly like a trap. 35. For it will
come on all those who live on the face of the
whole earth. 36. Be always on the watch, and
pray that you may be able to escape all that is
about to happen, and that you may be able to
stand before the Son of Man." 37. Each day Jesus
was teaching at the temple, and each evening he
went out to spend the night on the hill called the
Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in
the morning to hear him at the temple.
Have you ever been in deep thought and you
were thinking so hard that everything around
you seemed to not exist or be the least of
your problems? Thinking in deep thought can
cause one to daydream and even fantasize
about things that don’t exist or aren’t even
true.
According to studies illusions distort the
truth and make fantasies seem like reality.
The human brain may daydream about
things that aren’t true sometimes making it
hard to focus and switch gears getting back
to reality. It’s like being in a board meeting
that’s boring and as a result you begin to
daydream. Before you know it everything
that you heard, those things in between and
afterwards have been lost, you have drifted
off into space to think on other things. De-
pending on the setting that you’re in, drifting
off into the “fantasy world” can be easy to
do instead of dealing with the reality of
things. Having an illusion can be tricky and
can cause one to believe those things that
aren’t so true. For instance, if one wishes
that they could be like Dorothy from the Wiz-
ard of Oz and go to a “far place from home”
they would be day dreaming an illusion. In
reality we all know that neither the Wizard of
Oz nor this “far place from home” is real but
with enough thought this fantasy will seem
to be a real place to you.
We all have wished that there was a faraway
place, or even a world full of candy, or no
sorrow or pain but in reality all these things
aren’t true. Think about how many times you
have believed things that weren’t true were
true? Did you convince yourself because you
perceived it one way that any other way was
wrong? Did the way you perceived this no-
tion (concept) seem right when all along it
was totally wrong? Let’s picture it-if God was
to paint a picture of everything that he had
ever mentioned in the Bible about his return
would you believe it. Would you believe what
you saw or would you perceive something
else causing you to not believe what God
showed you. Tricky isn’t it but this is how a
lot of Christians have been hypnotized by the
lies of this world.
What we’re seeing right now seems like God
isn’t in control but actually this is all a part of
his plan. We shouldn’t be shocked by the
(Continued on page 35)
Awaken From Your Illusions and Seek God! By
Sakinah Salley
35
painting we see on the easel when Christ
turns the picture around to show us his fin-
ished touches. He has given us warning and
scripture to back up what will transpire before
he returns so why are we afraid? Imagine
your reaction how would you feel, and what
would you do as a result of what you just
saw. Snap out of it and recognize what God is
doing! His purpose long ago was to bring us
to this very moment today-choosing where
we would be either blinded by the lies of what
we see now or boldly recognizing what God is
doing in spite of. The picture has been
painted and the Word of God is our proof that
God has given us warning of what we’re see-
ing today. See the bigger picture not just the
beautiful side of the painting.
God is still in control and has a mighty plan!
Jesus in Luke 22 warned his disciples to keep
watch of the time and his return-he told them
what was going to transpire and it was up to
them to see the bigger picture.
Although that was over 2,000 years ago that
Christ spoke that truth to his disciples the
same thing still remains for today. Christ is
coming again and we must watch for his re-
turn-we should be working faithfully on the
tasks he has given us waiting patiently for
him to come and receive us as his bride.
Don’t waste time daydreaming or doubting
when he’ll come just be ready when does.
May the illusions and burdens of everyday life
not cause you to miss out on God because
the picture he has painted is His hope for us
not to ignore it. Hold on to what God has
said, shown you and from this place seek God
-don’t miss him in this hour but seek after
him. Even when you can’t find him keeps
seeking and he will come find you. If you drift
off to another place to think about something
other than the troubles of life go where God
is. In that hidden place you will find strength,
peace, joy get whatever you need to keep
sane in God. The Bible says “whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, what-
ever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable—if anything is excellent or praise-
worthy—think about such things” (Philippians
4:8) set your mind to focus only on those
things that matter. Stop daydreaming and
start seeking God when you do what you see
will be different and will cause you believe
just who what God promised.
Sakinah Salley
36
Sow Good
The seeds you sow,
You shall also reap.
They may take many days to return,
And present themselves at your feet.
Whether they be in brush or briar
In thicket or mane,
Whatever you plant in your life’s garden
Be willing to maintain.
Sow good seeds.
Sow in fertile soil.
So that you may reap bountifully
Even during the days of turmoil.
Sow good seeds
Into good ground,
And you can expect a good harvest
When they come back around.
They may not always return as they were sown.
But when they return, it will be known.
You planted, Another watered, and God gave increase
All for your willingness to sow good seeds.
Carlet Horne
37
It has been my life’s experience that it is not enough to
just survive. It has been proven in the Word of God
Jesus said, “I come that they have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) Some of
us are living beneath the benefits that come with being
a child of God. Life has a way of placing us in situations
that make us believe that it is okay to just survive.
There is no victory in our survival, if we are still drag-
ging the baggage that we carried into or that was
handed to us in the midst of our mess. Our goal should
be not only to survive but to thrive. Our goal should be
to make sure we do not come away looking like, smell-
ing like, or talking like the thing we survived. Just be-
cause the relationship left us feeling empty, hurt and
insignificant, that doesn’t mean that it is true. We are
who God says we are. The Word of God has giving us
the authority, the promise and the means to come
through all of life’s trials thriving. We serve a God that
we can have confidence in His ability, confidence of His
presence and confidence of His power.
In the book of Daniel Chapter 3 Meshach, Shadrach
and Abednego found themselves in quite a predica-
ment. A predicament not of their own making, one
created because of the insecurity of a king. King Nebu-
chadnezzar did not feel his position as king allowed
him the opportunity to be worshipped. So the king
built a statue of himself and commanded the people
bow down and worship the statue. The king wanted to
be worshipped as a god. Meshach, Shadrach and
Abednego along with Daniel were sent to work at the
palace. The three boys were Hebrew they had been
raised to know the laws of God. They knew the law
that states, “thou shall not bow down thyself to them:
for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.”(Exodus 20:5)
They knew to break that law was to interrupt their re-
lationship with the only God they would worship.
Their refusal to bow caused them to be taken before
the king. The three young men had become very
prominent. Because of their success jealousy sprang
up among some of their peers. Everyone around you is
not happy that you are blessed. Be careful of your sur-
roundings and the people in your circle, everyone that
cries friend is not a friend. Jealousy can cause people
to do some bad things.
Their love for God and a desire to stay in relationship
with Him they are exposed as traitors to the king. The
punishment for their crime was to be placed “bound
into the midst of the fire”. (Daniel 3:24) The furnace
was heated seven times hotter than normal. How
many of us know the enemy likes to turn the heat up
on our situations. Just when you thought the situation
couldn’t get any worse the bottom falls out. Just when
you thought that child would begin to act a little bet-
ter, they seem to turn into a demon. Just when you
thought your job was getting better the boss tells you
there is going to be a lay off. Just when… Just when
you thought your relationship was getting better, the
divorce decree comes in the mail. The king’s intention
was to make an example of Meshach, Shadrach and
Abednego.
The men faced their situation with confidence, “If it be
so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from
the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of
thine hand, O king.”(Daniel 3:17) Life is full of un-
knowns, the outcome of any given situation is a mys-
tery, however, God’s ability is a constant. There is a
lesson to be learned from their confidence in God’s
ability. Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego knew the
king would uphold the decree to place them in the fire.
They knew anyone that had been placed in the fire did
not survive. That had every right to be afraid instead
they chose to trust in God’s ability. It should be easy to
place trust in a God that told Abraham, “is there any-
thing to hard for God.” Why is it hard for us to place
our trust in Him? Is our lack of confidence in God due
to our lack of relationship with Him? The boys knew
the stories of how God had delivered the Israelites
(Continued on page 38)
It’s Not Enough To Survive
Amy Clayton
38
from Egypt, they knew the stories of how God had
brought them through the desert, delivered them from
their enemies and delivered them into the promise land.
They knew that God was able to do anything “but fail”.
They had enough confidence in His ability to believe even
if we die God is still able. I will trust in God’s ability
above everything. Any situation we face we must have
confidence in God’s ability. His ability to do whatever is
best for us and whatever will bring Him Glory. Our faith
in God is what moves God. Our faith in His ability is what
will cause His movement on our behalf. His movement
will bring us deliverance, His movement removes the
sting out of the situation and His movement will give us
the grace to endure. Jesus said, “lo I am with you always,
even until the end of the world.”(Matt 28:20) That is our
assurance, God will be with us. Three men were placed
in the fire much to the king’s amazement he saw four
men. “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the
fire.”(Daniel 3:25) Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego
knew God would be there with them, even in the fire.
With that assurance they faced their situation with confi-
dence and did not waiver in their faith. Facing adversity
with confidence is the key to getting through any situa-
tion. Isolation is a tool used by the enemy. If the enemy
can convince you that no one understands and no one
cares you are less likely to have hope in a positive out-
come. God sent his Son to give us the confidence that
there is nothing that we will face in our lives that He will
not be aware of. That alone gives us reason to have
hope. Hope that the God of all creation is with us. Three
men entered the fire bound. Some situations are meant
to bind you, to keep you from completing the task God
has set before you. “If the Son therefore shall make you
free, ye shall be free indeed.”(John 8:36) According to
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think to-
ward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of
evil, to give you an expected end,” God has a plan for
your life. Trails come only to perfect what God has
started in you. All God requires of us is faithfulness and
obedience. Stay the course, no matter what obstacles
come your way, know that God has a plan, God is able
and He is with you. He will complete the work that He
began in you.
Finally, the three knew that God has the power to de-
liver. “He is able to deliver us from the burning fiery fur-
nace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand.” (Daniel
3:17) It is a wonderful thing to serve an “all powerful
God.” Because we have been in the fire we do not have
to come out smelling like smoke. Our lives my enter pe-
riods of turmoil but we do not have to come away look-
ing like what we just left. If the situation was consumed
with anger, hurt and bitterness we do not have to come
out behaving the same way. Notice the three Hebrew
boys were in a furnace, they should have come out
smelling like smoke their clothes singed and covered in
soot. According to the word of God, “upon whose bodies
the fire had no power, nor was a hair of their head was
singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell
of fire had passed on them.” (Dan 3:27) We have been
promised victory. Victory over the enemy and all his de-
vices, we have to learn to walk in our victory. The fire
had no power over the three boys and neither does your
situation have power of you. The only power your situa-
tion has is the power that you give it. Know where your
strength lies and trust in Him. He is the source of all
strength.
God has promised us a life filled with His presence, “He is
not a man that He should lie.”(Numbers 23:19) Our God
is a great God and He is able, He is willing and He will
deliver you out of your situation. The power belongs to
Him and Him alone, place yourself in His hands and trust
Him to handle it. Our God loves us so much and has
made it His business that we not only survive but we
thrive. According to Webster’s dictionary thrive means
“to grow luxuriantly; flourish.” (Webster, 1998) Stop liv-
ing beneath your God given right, begin to thrive in the
midst of your circumstances. Don’t allow your circum-
stances to define you, you define it. Consider your cir-
cumstances as a stepping stone, to get you to the place
in God that He ordained. He has the ability, He is with
you and most of all He has the power to deliver you. Him
to handle it. Our God loves us so much and has made it
His business that we not only survive but we thrive. Ac-
cording to Webster’s dictionary thrive means “to grow
39
luxuriantly; flourish.” (Webster, 1998) Stop living beneath your God given right; begin to thrive in the midst of your cir-
cumstances. Don’t allow your circumstances to define you, you define it. Consider your circumstances as a stepping
stone, to get you to the place in God that He ordained. He has the ability, He is with you and most of all He has the
power to deliver you .
BUT GOD
Man said I can't But God said I can
Man said no But God said yes
Man said you failed But God said you're a winner
Man said you're last But God said you are first
Man said tomorrow But God said today
Man said don't believe But God said only believe
Man said fall down But God said stand up Man said you are poor
But God said you are rich Man said pay now
But God said I've already paid the price Man said you are weak
But God said you are strong Man said turn around
But God said move forward Man said I'm sick
But God said " I am healed Man said be proud
But God said stay humble Man said it is dark
But God said " I am the light" Man said maybe
But God said But God said " let there be"
Man said But GOD spoke, and it HAPPENED
Genesis 1:3 And God said, let there be light;
and there was light Min Cheryl Thomas © 2000
40
When going through tough times just like David, we have
to encourage ourselves in the Lord by speaking His words
over ourselves. God never wanted us to be consumed by
the things of this world but we are to cast all of our ca-
res, worries, and concerns upon Him for He cares for us.
Every detail of what we go through be it small or big God
cares. Actually the trials that we go through seem so
great because we magnify the insignificant mole hill to a
giant-sized mountain. BUT God declares in His word, "is
anything too hard for the Lord?" Genesis 18:14
Just imagine, God favored Abraham and Sarah to con-
ceive a child in their old age at the set time. That was
possible with God then and He is still well able to do
what seems impossible in our lives right now. On last
week I came upon what presented as an impossible
situation stacked against my son. He was in a classroom
that I did not feel was going to challenge him academi-
cally or be a sound structured environment. I stayed
calm, remained at peace, prayed and watch God do a
one day turn around. My son started a new school on
this week and stated "this was the fresh start I needed."
Now looking back I see the hand of God in everything
that transpired for the good. Do all of your tests or my
tests pass that quickly? No, because to be candid there
have been times in my life when I immediately rehearsed
the problem. Yet when I come to myself I reverse the
curse and began speaking the Word which is the solution
to every pain, hurt, obstacle, and challenge. Imagine if
the release of the concern we have in our lives were
given to the Lord quickly and completely. With you and I
allowing him to speak to our hearts and move according
to how He leads in the situation who knows how quickly
some of the storms in our lives could just simply pass
over. Yes, the challenge is to trust that God can do a
much better and thorough job with our issues than we
can.
Let's take our eyes off of our situation right now and de-
clare that God is so much greater. And greater is He who
is us than he who is in the world. Remember how you
would toss a child in the air and he/she would say 'do it
again' because they trusted that you would catch them
and they had no fear of falling or getting hurt. You've just
come out of one trial successfully and now you're going
through financial difficulty, relational upsets, or an unex-
pected health issue. But can you think back on a similar
situation in which God brought you out? I challenge you
to say right now to Abba Father, 'you've brought me
through before, Lord, do it again!'
Lord, we're standing still, watching, waiting, and allowing
you Lord to fight every one of our battles. Casting all of
our cares one by one on you Lord and trusting...not that
you will work it out..but, that its already done! We're just
waiting on the manifestation of breakthrough. And that
particular enemy we will see no more forever!! in Jesus
name, thank you Lord. “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still
and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you
see today will never be seen again. The LORD himself will
fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:13-14
Are you holding onto something that the Lord should be
carrying for you? Or right now are you letting go of that
thing so that God can reach out and rescue you? If you're
ready right now, say, Yes Lord I'm releasing all to you.
You healed me before, you blessed me before, you
opened doors before, you brought me out before...Lord,
do it again, right now, in Jesus name, thank you Lord!
Blessings,
Lauretha Ward
LORD, DO IT AGAIN!
41
Pomegranate: A Highly Prized Fruit
By Kaysha Sahai
Photo Credit: Mariano Heluani | Dreamstime.com
My grandfather had a huge pomegranate tree in the front of his yard when I was younger. My sister, cousins and I would always be so fascinated by this tree that bore so much that it would fill the entire area under-neath the tree. Each time I cut opened the pomegranate to eat, it was like I was hoping to learn something new about this unique fruit. Little did I know that the pome-granate was considered such a powerhouse fruit! Like the apple, the benefits of eating it or drinking the juice of the pomegranate seed, are numerous.
The value of the pomegranate can be traced back to Biblical times. For instance, in the book of Joel, when Judah was invaded by a horde of locusts, which eventually destroys everything; the Prophet Joel, in an effort to describe the extent of the devasta-tion, mentions the most valuable trees and crops that were destroyed. Among them were the fields of grains (a staple food in those times) and of course the apples and pomegranate trees:
"The vine has dried up, and the fig tree has withered; the pome-granate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree— All the trees of the field are withered; surely joy has withered away from the sons of men."- Joel 1:12 (NKJV)
Pomegranate is a small tree with a light brown bark, red buds, young shoots and small evergreen leaves. The tree blooms large attractive orange-red flowers. The fruit itself is very large, crowned with a calyx and contain nu-merous seeds in juice containing sacs.
The juice has a number of medicinal properties. Drinking the juice of the pomegranate has been shown to have antimicrobial properties against harmful bacteria that
can exist in the stomach. It also contains a number of antioxidants, including anthocyanins, polyphenols and tannins. Antioxidants protect against free radicals, which are normally are associated with causing a num-ber of health problems, including prostate, lung and breast cancers.
Pomegranate juice is often used to treat diarrhea and to help control blood glucose levels in diabetics. It also demonstrates the ability to prevent and reverse athero-sclerosis, or the build-up of plaque on artery walls. Ac-cording to a study conducted in Israel in 2004, drinking one glass of pomegranate juice in concentrated form per day for the course of a year can reduce cholesterol.
While there are many potential benefits associated with the pomegranate fruit, there are also some risks. Some people have an allergic reaction to the fruit and it is also known to interact with some medications. Therefore, if you are currently on any type of medication, be sure to consult with your doctor prior to starting a regular regi-men of pomegranate juice.
Kaysha currently serves as a Freelance Writer, Author and Artist. She is also a Biblical Health Coach with Meditation Teacher Training. She is the author of the book: The Biblical Path to Wellness: A Simple Guide to Achieving Balance in Your Life. You may visit her website at http://www.thebiblicalpathtowellness.com
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Heavenly Father, The Greatest In The Land.
He Has All Power, Within His Mighty Hands.
He Sits High On The Throne, But Forever Looks Low.
He Comes To The Rescue In A Hurry, He's Never Slow.
He Knows Our Wants, And Provides Our Needs.
He Loves Us Dearly, For We Are His Seeds.
For His Children There's Nothing Good He Will With Hold.
He's Gone Away To Prepare A Place, For Our Eternal Soul.
We Honor And Reverence Him For His Sacrifice.
For Giving Of Himself, To Offer Eternal Life.
By His Precious Blood, We're Given The Salvation Plan.
Glory To The Heavenly Father, The Greatest In The Land.
Glory To God.
© 2011
Minister Tony Rowsey
Heavenly Father
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Inspired Words to Uplift and Edify the Spirit
http://www.Divineinspirationsmagazine.com