Christ It Up Magazine

Page 1

TM


Content Spring 2016

On The Cover

In Every Issue

...The Rest

6| God’s Joy A woman shares her touching testimony of her child facing death.

*Vessel's Note *Prayer for Salvation *Bookworm *Words of the Lord

7| Cyndi’s Vision A woman’s vision on the Lord.

12| Cover Story CIU caught up with Brittany Shontel, founder of Pretty Girls Praise 17| Be New Accepting the old and embracing the new.

8| How Does She Do It Author Staci Bose shares how she juggles being a wife, mother, student, employee and most of all, woman of God. 10| Living In The Moment Focusing on the now instead of the past or the future. 17| Year of the Spirit Led Encourgement on pushing through. 19| My Sister’ Keeper A women’s ministry designed to encourage thy sister! 20| Daughter of the King Clothing designer Kyona McGhee shares her testimony and the start of DOTK.

2|CIU Spring 2016


Note

Whew!! If this hasn’t been a trying season I would be a liar. I thank God for giving me the strength to endure. The past year has been amaziningly difficult but I haven’t lost my mind nor my focus for what God has for me to do. I’m grateful for the task He has me on. Here is a scripture that I’ve been riding on during this journey: James 1:2-3 (NIV) “Consider it pure joy, my brithers and sisters, whenever yo face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” This reminder has kept me sane this past year. I have endured a lot of things that many of us go through, but it’s a new season; a fresh start. This is the day the Lord has made, let’s rejoice and be glad in it.

Give your life to Christ

Vessel’s If you have read past issues of this magazine or if this is your first time, I am glad to introduce, The Sinner’s Prayer. Romans 10:9-11 (NIV) 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” To give your life to Christ, recite this aloud: Dear God, I come to you today as a sinner asking for forgivness. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are Lord. I believe that you died on the cross and rose on the third day with all power in your hand. And today I accept you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, Amen!

To God be the Glory! Mz. CIU

1323 Superior Ave Pittsburgh, Pa 15212 412~478-8892 christitup@yahoo.com www.christitupmagazine.com 3|CIU Spring 2016


Wedding and Event Planning Services Our mission is to give you an event with our L.U.V. (which stands for Luminous Unique Vision) and your style. That way your event will be something you love and will always remember. We deliver a shine no one will forget. We are an event planning business that serves Pittsburgh and the surrounding area. We give services for various celebrations, entertainment, business, charity events and much more!

Some of the Services We Offer Set Up

Production

Design

Day of Coordination

Consultations

In Person Meetings

Table Setting Rentals

Custom Centerpieces

Timeline Management

Full Service Planning

ď ś

Go to Our Website to see Our Current Discount Offers!

A Diamond’s Touch đ&#x;’Žđ&#x;’Ž (412) 953-0042 đ&#x;’Žđ&#x;’Ž adiamondstouchevents.com đ&#x;’Žđ&#x;’Ž Email: diamonds.touch.events@gmail.com


5|CIU Fall 2015


Through My Greatest Pain, God Brought My Greatest Joy (Isaiah 66:9)

By: Kellie Hudson Isaiah 66:9 "I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born," says the Lord is one of my favorite bible verses but one that is so difficult to understand during such hard times. It is one that during the most painful times of our life’s we say why God, why must I go through this? But we know as believers in Christ that his word means everything and that he says he will bring us a rainbow after a storm and that nothing we go through is done in vain but with purpose even if it is beyond our understanding. Here's my story of God’s rainbow after my storm to bring hope to anyone who might be feeling lost or like God isn't listening. He is listening, he's there and at the right time he will bring you what you need and make All things new for you. 5 years ago God had blessed me and my husband with our first son biologically together. From the moment I found out he was a boy my love for him was just overwhelming, I knew he was going to be something special. My husband wanted to name him Caleb. I wasn't very fond of the name but he loved it and insisted on it. Caleb means in Hebrew whole hearted devotion to God or in English mad dog warrior. Caleb was the only soldier in the bible to make it into the promise land and boy was he going to grow into that name even as such a young baby. At 2 month old Caleb started to have a bunch of health issue and was sick a lot and by 6 month old Caleb was hospitalized and was fighting for his life at Children's hospital. This was the most painful time of my life. To watch your child struggle is the most difficult thing you could ever experience. It's was that time that I said God why? Why me? Why us? I remember the doctors came in and said this is between Caleb and God now. Caleb is driving this bus. But I knew that God was driving this bus. After a week on life support Caleb got better. His body was being healed from the infection he had and a week after that we were sent home but it still was a long road of healing we had a total of 8 hospital stays during Caleb’s first year of life and I ended up very depressed. At that time I wanted understanding of why God would have me go through so much pain. I was angry. I wanted to just enjoy this baby that God had given me. Fast forward to 5 years later. Caleb’s getting healthier every year and I had beaten my depression which I give all the glory to God for. It was a time that I grew closer to God more than ever. Then 2 years ago I experienced another devastating time. I had miscarried a baby at 12 weeks. Another time I had very little understanding of why. My only thought was okay God, we are done having children. I can't go through any of this again with my children. God had different plans though. He had my rainbow. Almost exactly one year after our miscarriage we found out we were pregnant again. My first thought was pain. God I can't go

6|CIU Spring 2016

through any more pain. I was scared. Scared of losing her or having another sick baby. I just prayed God I can't take any more pain like that. My pregnancy was very rough. At 24 weeks they had told me to pack my hospital bags just in case they would have to induce me early. I was seen by high risk doctors and monitored 3 times a week. Even though my body wasn't handling the pregnancy well our baby was always healthy on every scan. I knew that God had sent me her to bring me healing as a mother. She was born on September 17th, 2015. We named her Isabella Faith which mean God is my devotion and Faith. She was prefect and I knew God had sent me my rainbow baby. Every cry, every cuddle, every sleepless night I have cherished because I know what it is to not have that. I now know that my children are God’s first and mine second. That every moment is a gift. That even on our roughest day, they are better than having no days at all. Isabella has been my new birth through all my pain. She has brought me joy again after my sorrow. She has taught me that God is always good. That he will restore what we have lost. That my devotion to God is shown by my faith. She is my rainbow after the storm. She is My All things new. I now have a better understanding of that bible verse. God has shown me through his love and faithfulness what it means. All the pain I have been through he has restored it with joy. It doesn’t mean that the pain was never there, but that God’s plan for us is bigger than any pain we may go through. That even when we don't understand, God always has a purpose. I just had to wait on his timing. He knows what we need and when we need it. Trust in him.


CYNDI’S VISION AS TOLD TO DANA WASHINGTON

I was in the 24 hour prayer chapel; when I had a vision and I knew immediately I was in the presence of God; there was just an incredible light shining so bright that it almost hurt my eyes. The light went on as far as I could see and suddenly I could hear someone coming or I am not sure if I just sensed a powerful presence around me. The only way I can describe the Man that appeared is Beauty! I instantly knew it was Jesus. He appeared very far away from me and when I tried to get closer, I just couldn’t seem to get close as hard as I tried. When I looked at Him, He beckoned to me and said, “You have to let me make you clean”. When I looked down at myself I was dressed from head to toe in the most horrible, smelly bloodstained rags. I knew at this moment that these rags were my righteousness. He started to reach toward me and I backed away not wanting Him to touch these rags which I can only describe as smelling like menstrual stink. He still reached me and started removing them one by one until I thought that I was clean and had started smelling normal. I still could’t get to where He was on this mountain and He said to me, “Give it to me” and here I looked down and I had in my grip an old ragged suitcase with tape everywhere holding it together and still it was busting at the seams. It had a lone label that read CYNDI’S Baggage. He took the bag from my tightly gripped hand and laid it down and opened it and took things out that were labeled;Guilt, Shame, Suffering, Sin, Despair, Unworthiness and many other things that I thought I had surrendered to Him already, but He showed me that all this time I was still gripping tightly this old, tired, busted ragged bag and it was weighing me down, When He took all the stuff out of the bag and took it for Himself, I suddenly felt lighter than air and was able to go up on this mountain with Him,

but there was still something that had to be done for me to mount up on the horse that He had waiting. He whispered something and there appeared an unknown number of what seemed to me to be heavenly hosts and 2 golden bathtubs; one filled with blood and the other filled with water. They continuously dipped me in one by calling on Jesus precious name and then the other by reading the Holy Word daily and then and only then was I ready for the ride on the horse that He had waiting for us. Off in the distance, I could hear wedding music playing, “Here Comes The Bride” and then I knew that all this preparation was for me as the Bride of Christ. That my righteousness was as filthy rags, that I was still holding on to baggage that I thought I had given to Him; also I needed to continue to stay washed in the blood and stay washed by the water of the Word. I met Him at the top of the mountain and He led me to the wedding chapel as I was finally ready to be wed to Him, the Bridegroom and I was the Bride of Christ without a spot or wrinkle. The beauty of the Bridegroom was matched only by the Bride of Christ -- me! I am telling you this because sometimes we wonder about what our true and real purpose is here- it is to get prepared as the Bride of Christ and He is courting us, so enjoy the courtship because He payed the ultimate bride-price for us. He gave His very life for us, that we may be able to be with Him forever and ever. Please allow Him to take the old baggage from you and lighten your load; take Him on as your righteousness as ours is a filthy rags and He is the righteousness of God. Let Him love you like He wants to, no matter if you think that you are worth it or not! He does and that is all that counts, right? Be blessed and walk in divine destiny and have peace and above all things - be holy as your father in heaven is holy.

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; and His mercy endureth forever. Psalms 136:1 Sister Shout On

7|CIU Spring 2016


How Do You Do, All That You Do? By: Author Staci Bose

I often am asked this question. I am a wife, a mother, an employee, a sister, a daughter, and a full time student, working on my Master’s degree. I also assist my Pastor with the events that go on in our church. As I type this article, I am wondering how I do all that I do. Well first off, my family supports me. That is huge! My husband loves to tell people about me being in school. He takes pride in that. This is important because without his support, this would not be such an easy journey. There are nights when dinner consists of sandwiches and chips. And he is okay with that. Yes, I serve dinner even on nights that I have class. See, being a wife and a mother did not end because I chose to have a career and complete my education. Being a wife and a mother still come first. My career and my schooling come second. And because my family knows that they are most important to me, they don’t feel secondary to my wants. They know that they are what is most important to me. That’s the balance that must be achieved. For example, two nights ago I was up way past my bedtime just talking to my husband. So yesterday, I was exhausted and I had class. But I got home from class, went straight to the kitchen, and made dinner. It wasn’t a five course meal. As a matter of fact it was breakfast, which my family loves. But they knew that I had made a sacrifice for them. So how do I find time for myself? I get my nails done on a day when I don’t have class. I take bubble baths on a day when I don’t have class. I relax by surfing Facebook and connecting with my family and friends. When it is football season, I relax on Sunday afternoons in my room as the guys watch the game in the family room. I love spending time with my family so Saturdays are family day. Fridays are for my husband and me. Even if we just shut our bedroom door and watch a movie and eat take out, it is our time. Our kids are 21, 13, and 12. Our 21 year old son lives in Seattle. Our younger kids have always been raised that our bedroom is our bedroom, not theirs. I only mention this because kids need to be taught boundaries from a very young age or that can be a huge stressor for a busy family. So once our door is shut, they know we are off limits unless there is an emergency. So yes, my life is busy. But I don’t know another way to live. This is my normal. I keep things in prospective and I pray, constantly! Prayer is essential! It helps keep me sane and grounded. Church is vital. I can lay down all of my upsets and frustrations from the week at the altar, get refilled, and then I am ready for the new week. Now this life may not work for everyone, but it works for me. And I thank God and my family for allowing me to live this wonderful, busy, multidimensional life that I live.

8|CIU Spring 2016


Available on iTunes & Amazon

9|CIU Fall 2015


Living in the

Moment By: Leria Felix

Recently I was at the Festival of Praise concert with a good friend of mine and her aunt. Ministering at the concert was Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Israel Houghton and other wonderful artists. I was standing there listening to the music and loving it and then a thought entered into my head. “Oh, I can’t wait to do this with my husband.” Just like that, I was gone from the concert, imagining how much more wonderful the experience would be if I was married and the man of my dreams held my hand as Donnie McClurkin sang “We fall down, but we get up.” I was so stuck in my imagination that I didn’t realized that I was missing the moment that I was actually in. When I forced myself to come to, I struggled to return to the earlier atmosphere of enjoyment. I looked around me at married couples and saw them praising together and I feel bereft. There was a strong sense of something missing, someone was missing. I looked to my left and my friend and her aunt were singing and praising and enjoying themselves and I told myself that I needed to live in the moment. I intentionally started to praise GOD through song and dance. A few more times during the concert, the feeling of “I wish I was married and here with my husband or at least on a date” came back to me, but I continued to tell myself to live in the moment, enjoy the moment. When we were leaving the concert, I felt bad. My friend had gifted me the ticket and instead of enjoying the time I had spent with her, I had allowed my lonely singleness to ruin her wonderful gift. At home, I thought about how many other events I purposely didn’t enjoy because I was there by myself. I thought about my friend’s bowling party. I thought about birthday parties, mine and others, movie trips with my daughter, weddings, vacations during the summer, and Sunday morning church services. My lonely singleness had become an epidemic, stripping the joy of each moment down to me not being on a date or married. I suffered through so many events, for years, for one reason: I am single.

he asked the question: Why is it that 95% of your life could be going right, but you focus on the 5% that isn’t? Let’s ponder this together. Why is it that we tend to concentrate the negative? Why do we ignore the good that happens and see only the bad? Why do we feel as if bad things only happen to us and see the good things happening to others? The answer is that we are innately selfish and ungrateful. We have allowed ourselves to want only the good, and not the bad, forgetting that the Word of GOD says that there is a time for everything. (Ecclesiastes 3:1) We forget that the Word also says that we are to give thanks in everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) We, well let me say I, I have forgotten that GOD makes no mistakes, and everything he does is done according to the plan for my life. (Jeremiah 29:11) So, if I say that I am a Christian and that I believe in GOD, then I should trust Him. I wasn’t trusting him, I was leaning to my own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) God made me for a purpose, I wasn’t walking in this purpose. (Proverbs 19:21) He wants me to prosper and be in health, even as my soul prospers. My soul was not prospering. (3 John 1:2) GOD wants me to rejoice forever. I wasn’t rejoicing. (1 Thessalonians 5:16) God wants me to rest in Him. I wasn’t resting. (Matthew 11: 28-29) God wants me to seek His face, I wasn’t seeking His face. (Matthew 6:33) I wasn’t doing what the WORD of GOD said to do.

In John 10:10 Jesus says “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” I had allowed the enemy to use my singleness to steal my joy, kill my spirit and destroy my life. But GOD!!!! God wants me (and you too) to have life, an abundant life at that. It says so in His Word. God wants me to have I hadn’t been living in those moments. I have been suffering peace! God wants me to have love! for years. I hadn’t been living at all. I have just been going here God wants me to have joy! GOD and there, pretending to celebrate others, meanwhile, I was wants me to live! I am supposed mourning. Mourning for something that hasn’t happened as to live in the moment, content and yet. Why have I let the lack of one thing dictate the atmosphere enjoying my abundant life. I should be of my life? able to celebrate the 95% of the goodness Pastor Trent of The Lighthouse was preaching one Sunday and of my blessed life.

10|CIU Spring 2016


“FAITH”

AVAILABLE NOW on iTunes and Amazon

11|CIU Fall 2015


Brittany Shontel Pretty Girls Praise!!

12|CIU Fall 2015


Pretty Girls

Praise

Brittany Shontel Invertiewed by Darnica Gordon Christ It Up: On your site you state that you would have laughed if all our hard work into something just to lose it because you did not some would have told you, you would be doing Pretty Girls Praise invest or file the proper paper work. Lastly make sure your idea is 3 years ago; can you tell us what place you were in at that time? a GOD, and not a good idea. My friend Gigi always says its best to be a Christian Business Owner and not a Business owner that’s Brittany Shontel: In 2012, I was just getting to know God. I have a Christian. Make sure you are operating under his will, and not gave my life back to Christ, and was falling in love with who He your own. was. The reason I said “I would’ve laughed if someone told me this is what I would be doing”, is because of everything I had done CIU: What is something you find difficult with being before that moment. God desired to use me, and He did just that your own boss/entrepreneur? What is something exciting? use me. Honestly, I don’t remember what I had “planned” to do with my life before then, and it really doesn’t matter. I am so glad BS: The hardest thing about being an entrepreneur is the moves that He stepped in, shook my world, and decided that to use me to cannot be made without you! PERIOD. If you don’t post, that’s less give birth to Pretty Girls Praise. customers coming to your site. If you don’t write blogs, then those are less people being encouraged by your testimony. You have to CIU: How did your relationship with God blossom? work, or delegate task (which is work) to see the fruit, which is hard sometimes. If you don’t show up to work, the work won’t get BS: My Relationship with God blossomed after I encountered His done. love for myself. Before 2012, I was “doing” church to make my The exciting part is knowing you’re doing what God has placed mother happy. I knew God was good, I knew of Him, but I did not you on earth to do. It’s so fulfilling. It’s also awesome to know that KNOW Him for myself. The more I got to know God, the more I NOBODY else on earth can carry out what you are doing, are gifts needed more of Him. This happened through prayer, studying, and might be “similar” but they are unique to us. a lot of worship music. I believe all 3 are so important to develop that strong relationship with God. CIU: Being as though you love to travel, where is your number one destination? CIU: What transpired when you knew PGP was to be a clothing line? BS: This is so tough! I really love traveling for conferences. I always enjoy Atlanta when I go. But to relax, anywhere the sun is shining, BS: When I was told that PGP would be a clothing line, I was kind and the weather is warm. Laying out in the sun is SO relaxing to of nervous honestly. Lol. Only because this was only a few months me. I cannot wait to be able to go to an island and wake up to quiet into me knowing God. The enemy still had my mind confused time with God on the beach. into who God wanted me to be. So I was like, “Umm, God you sure you want me to sell shirts about praising you?” Because at the CIU: What have you found that you could do through time, my life privately, wasn’t matching who I was confessing to be Christ? publically. It challenged me as a Christian who wasn’t fully living for him. BS: I can do all things thru Christ as long as they align with His will. Sometimes we use that scripture; I can do all things through CIU: Do you plan on expanding past the T-shirts? Maybe coffee Christ who strengthens me, and do not realize that ALL THINGS mugs, journals, totes? means things that are in HIS will. CIU: How can CIU readers connect with you or shop Pretty Girls BS: I am unsure what is next. I for sure want to do Praise? journals because I am obsessed with them. Right now I am BS: www.prettygirlspraise.org working on the ministry side of the PGP, more than the product IG: BrittanyShontel / PrettyGirlsPraise side, but when God tells me to focus back on products, I will. FB: Brittany Shontel / Pretty Girls Praise CIU: What is some business advice you would give to a beginner? BS: Don’t do anything just for the money. It gets old very fast. And you won’t keep working at it even when it gets hard. I also would say do the proper paperwork for your business. Don’t want to pour

13|CIU Spring 2016


14|CIU Fall 2015

1


Book Worm Kim Cash Tate I’m a fan of KCT so it was no surprise that I loved this book. Kim’s ability to incorporate realness, Christ, and a good story line is amazing. In this story Kim takes you on a journey, one hard to bear. A woman, the main character finds she has breast cancer and her entire life is turned upside down. But through all the turmoil and pain, God allows her to experience love, wisdom, and friendship. This is definitely a great lazy Sunday read, under your blanket with a nice cup of peppermint tea. (It’s good to ready any day of the week but you catch my drift.)

Find Kim Cash Tate’s books on Amazon.com

15|CIU Spring 2016


Words of the Lord

Does Your Prosperity Line Up With God's? Now everyone is familiar with the Jeremiah 29:11 verse: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV) So I realized recently, as I was talking to God (which looks more like me talking to myself), that my prosperity for my life may not look like His prosperity for my life. My prosperity looks like this: Running CIU from and actual office, having adequate staff, and obtaining enough revenue to pay for all of it and receive a nice paycheck for myself. No longer will I be living paycheck to paycheck, and would be able to provide comfortably for my family. Also, being in connection with amazing people as well as being a blessing to many. Spreading the Gospel in a Fresh Way no matter where I am. Before I go any further let me give you the definitions of prosper. Prosper- to become very successful, usually by making a lot of money Prosper- to become very active, healthy, or strong. I believe God gives us the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth that we need (BIBLE). Everything we need is in the Word of God! God's prosperity for my life my look completely different. It may be me living a healthy life and being an example to others to do the same. He may have me enduring difficult obstacles so that I can grow in strength and be strong for someone else. Or He may just want me to be an active Christian and try to live a life as close to Christ as I can. I realized that I have to be okay with what He has for me. He is my creator and the author of my story. Always seek God in whatever you do and make sure you are doing what He has called you to do.

16|CIU Spring 2016


Be New Embracing Your Spring I love the beginning of spring you can tell by the melting of the snow, the budding of the trees and color of the leaves. All that was once dead from winters harsh winds is now taking on a breath of fresh air and becoming NEW! No longer do you have to wait in expectancy for the chance to go out and feel a cool breeze. The same is happening for many of us. After dealing with the cold and unpredictable winter seasons in our life SPRING has SPRUNG. The colors of bright pastels, freshly cut grass and being able to enjoy a walk in the park are just some of the things to look forward to. Each new season provides a chance to start over to conclude whatever the other left behind and look forward to new possibilities. I get excited that I do not have to worry about what the past season held but I can prepare and welcome the new season and all of the wonderful things it may bring. Spring also brings the rain. While rain is looked at as gloomy, it is necessary for life. The living water that is showered down on the new plants is also the key ingredient for every living thing. This water is not like the other water that came from the cold snow but is usually more subtle and refreshing. This is the first start of the process for our May flowers. What are somethings you need watered in your life? Maybe you have wrestled in your winter season with an idea, a book, a new business. No need to wait any longer! Allow the fresh water to saturate your mind and make your dream a reality. Wake the things that were once hibernating in your winter season. BE NEW and embrace your SPRING ! Life Coach Lytia

Year of the Spirit Led By: Author Kimberly Fairly Recently I was talking to a parent of one of the children I have in our youth ministry. She shared with me, how she had been impatient with her son one day and yelled at him (how many parents can relate to this with their children or any other human being for that matter). As a result, she needed to apologize to him. While trying to apologize he said “Mom it's OK, I have already forgiven you.” She tried to insist “No you’re not listening to me, I need to apologize.” He responded to her, “It’s OK, I have already forgiven you.” I had challenged my kids that the first thing I wanted them to do in the morning was to forgive people in their morning prayer. I challenged them to forgive no matter who the person would be or what they would do. No matter the offense I just wanted them to forgive and begin to embrace the true meaning of what God created loved to be as described for us in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. I have to admit that I was completely and totally humbled to hear that my kid’s ages K4-5th grade were not just listening, but putting this into practice. Through discipline and practice throughout their lives, I can only imagine what kind of teens and adults they will be as a result of being exposed to this life changing discipline now at such a young age. How many of us need the same encouragement or change in our mindset? Too often, especially as adults, we want to hold onto the idea and concept that we have a right to hold a grudge against someone who has hurt or offended us, but I am very set in the reality, that when we refuse to move from that place of hurt we begin to make the decision to rob people. We rob others and ourselves of the chance and opportunity to see the true nature and character of God when we make the decision to be stubborn and not move forward. It’s almost as if we hold onto the lie that another person's faults are worse than ours when the reality is that sin is sin. There are no “worse than mine or better than theirs” categories. When we sin we break God’s heart. He doesn't have less than half of a broken heart because I lie than a whole broken heart because someone cheats, has sex outside of marriage, or commits murder. Wrong is wrong and sin is sin. I would like to challenge those reading this. This year let’s do better. Let's forgive quicker and love harder. Let's be determined to cover one another and be there to buffer the attack of the enemy. We are all trying (or should be trying) to do the same thing in regards to living a life in which at the end we can all hear “Well done”, but we are all being attacked in different ways. Shouldn't we care how the enemy is choosing to attack us and the schemes he uses to keep us bound? Let's not only seek to do, but be better. We are not called to feel better, but to be better. Less of us and more of Christ. If we don't have each other’s backs, then who will?

17|CIU Spring 2016


Let’s count my blessings: I have life. I have salvation through Jesus. I have a healthy daughter. I have a job. I have a working vehicle. I have friends. I have family. I have a church home. I have peace of mind. I have food. I have clothes. I have shoes! And there is so much more that I have, I have, I have. There is so much that should be thankful for that, literally in every conversation, I should be thanking GOD for how he has blessed me. The one thing that I do not have (a husband) should not be my one and only focus. With all the blessings that I have in my life, I should enjoy living in every moment. Finally I see that GOD has been so good to me and now I thank Him. I have been repenting of my selfish and ungrateful attitude. I have been practicing living in the moment. I don’t know the plan that GOD has for my life, but I do know that He has one and I must start trusting Him. He is GOD, after all and he makes no mistakes. Since

18CIU Spring 2016

I am single, it’s for a reason. And I should live in this moment according to his plan. So here’s to me, living unselfishly, thankfully, and content in the moment. I plan on enjoying myself from now on. I trust GOD with my life, do you? (I’m not sure about the prayer time.) Prayer Time If you are like me and have trouble living in the moments of your life, pray this prayer: Father GOD, I am in need of you. Please help me see how many ways you have blessed me. Show me your hand in every part of my life, whether it is a time of joy or mourning. Help me to be content where you have me today. Teach me to trust you as you will never leave me nor forsake me. You have a plan for my life, help me to walk in its purpose so that I can be who you called me to be, live how you called me to live and go where you have called me to go. I trust you, my life is in your hands. In Jesus’s name, amen.


What You Know About....

My Sisterz Keeper

Logo Property of My Siterz Keeper

19|CIU Spring 2016


"The marketplace has become my mission field." -Kyona McGhee As a little girl, my biological father walked out of my life, leaving me unaware of my full biological make-up and not the mention leaving me with the inability to be a "Daddy's Girl" like all the other girls around me. I dabbled in many things seeking to fill the absence of his love, I was silently suffering through, but I would not find it, until I was 23 years old. Like many kids who "grow up in the church" I was baptized at a very young age, but I didn't truly fall in love and dedicate my life to Jesus Christ until my early 20's... only then did I realize my TRUE father and my TRUE worth in this world. Because my biological father walked away, I found myself in Christ. Because of his absence, I fell in the presence of my heavenly father. I will be forever indebted to my biological father for this if nothing else. Fast Forward to 2012: My Holy King gave me the responsibility of sharing this story and thus came Daughter of the King Royaltee. It began as just a tagline, describing how we as thirsting Christian women see ourselves, but little did I know GOD had an entire movement in store for his baby girls. I knew we weren't his only daughters, and I wanted to feel connected and inspired by other ladies who thirst after Christ in their lives, the same way I do. Then came the shirt. Those first few shirts (Daughter of the King and God is so Dope quickly became more of a lifestyle and not just a tagline and the rest is history!

20|CIU Spring 2016


Daughter of the King Tee $ www.dotkroyltee.com

21|CIU Spring 2016


Daughter of the King Tee $ www.dotkroyltee.com

22|CIU Spring 2016


Daughter of the King Tee $ www.dotkroyltee.com

23|CIU Spring 2016



Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.