Living in Victory Magazine

Compliments of the New year to you, dear Reader! It is a new year, a new page in the book of our lives, we all have great expectations for 2023. Some of us were eager to close the chapter of 2022 due to the challenges we encountered during the year. 2022 was a challenging year for many of us but the good Lord held our hands and helped us through it. We all have plans we wish to accomplish this new year; we are all pumped up for the new year and eager to achieve our goals. I

we must understand that God has goals and plans for us this year. Our goals must always be in alignment to the will of God for our lives. The Word of God instructs us to bring our plans before God so that they may be established.

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.”

SHALOM!

recall back in school some ages back, how I enjoyed starting on a fresh page. A new page made me forget the mistakes in previous pages marked in red by my teacher. A new year has the tendency to make us forget our disappointments and mistakes in the past year, yet we ought to correct our past errors to attain the results we need this year. New Year’s resolutions become meaningless if we do not account for 2022. We must ask ourselves some questions and account for our mistakes, our missed goals and improve this 2023.

What are the disappointments and mistakes we made in 2022?

What caused us to miss our goals in 2022?

How do we improve ourselves this 2023 and make sure we accomplish our goals?

In as much as we have set our goals for 2023,

In all that we will do this new year, let us depend on God and involve Him in all that we do. Part of committing our work to God involves seeking Him and yielding to His will. The most important question we must ask ourselves is what the will of God is for our lives and how we can begin to make strides towards achieving His will. Life has taught me to never drift away from the will of God. Sometimes the reason our lives seem to be like a roller coaster is because we have drifted far from the will of God and lost focus. When we yield to God’s will for our lives, things usually work together for our good. Life is much better when we surrender the steering wheel to the Lord. When He takes over the wheel of our lives, we will be steered in the right direction. This 2023, may the Lord go before us, may He guide us and lead us in all that we do!

I pray that you have a prosperous and blessed 2023!

Evangelist Tsitsi

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear L.I.V

I am a writer, and I would love to work with your organization and provide more content in your magazine. What is the procedure if I would like to contribute to Living in Victory magazine?

Khumo, Gaborone

Hi Khumo, Compliments of the New Year. Thank you for your interest in working with us. Please write to info@livinginvictorymag.com for more information on contributing to the magazine.

Dear L.I.V

Compliments of the new season to you and your team. Personally, I really enjoyed reading through your magazine especially the real-life stories which uplifted my spirit and encouraged me a lot. Thank you and 369be blessed!

LOVENESS, ZIMBABWE

Dear Loveness

We are happy to hear from you. We wish you a blessed 2023. Thank you for complimenting the magazine. We are happy you were encouraged. God Bless you.

Dear L.I.V

Thank you so much for an informative article on fathers, I was so happy that you took your time to address some of the fundamental issues that are affecting our society today. A father is the pillar of the home, and it is the duty of a father to take a very active role in the life of his children whether they are children from his wife or from other outside relationships. It is

sad that a lot of fathers are living their lives without even recognizing their offspring. Today some of the problems we are facing such as street kids, drugs and even robberies are caused by such negligence. Children are the ones who pay the price for our irresponsible behavior, and we shall be answerable to God!

– Selina, Harare.

Dear Selina Compliments of the new year!

Thank you for taking the time to write to us and expressing your gratitude. Many readers enjoyed the article on fathers. A father’s presence is very important in the life of his child. Yes, the fabric of our society is torn and crying out for responsible fathers.

Dear L.I.V

First, let me thank you for your wonderful magazine. I just stumbled on it for the first time, and I am impressed with what I saw. It is really an exciting magazine. And besides that, I would like to ask for the opportunity to have a slot in your magazine to be a regular contributor or a columnist or something. I am a spirit filled potential writer, motivational counsellor, and Philosopher. I have spoken in morning assemblies at several government schools, and I hold a certificate in Discipleship, Counseling, and Sports Ministry.

Tapiwa GABORONE

Dear Tapiwa Compliments of the New Year!

Thank you for the compliments on the magazine and for writing to us. To get more details on contributing

to the magazine, please write to info@livinginvictorymag.com.

Dear L.I.V

The last issue was amazing. The picture quality was superb. I enjoyed the MYLES MUNROE article and I hope to see more of such motivational articles. I am looking forward to the next publication.

Regards

Albert, Zambia

Dear Albert Compliments of the New Year!

Thank you for writing to us and giving us your views and compliments on the magazine. Indeed, the late Dr Myles Munroe was and continues to be such an inspiration. We keep learning from his great teachings.

Dear L.I.V

Thank you for covering Mercy Chinwo’s wedding to Pastor Blessed. I was happy to learn that she married Pastor Blessed. I enjoyed learning about her background to music and other information on her life. She really looked amazing in her traditional wedding attire. I wish her the best in her marriage, may God bless her union.

Queen, Ghana

Dear Queen Blessed New year! Thank you for coming back to us on the cover story of our last publication. Yes, Mercy and Pastor Blessed both looked superb on their wedding ceremonies. We wish them a blessed marriage in Jesus’s powerful name.

THE PHARISEE SYNDROME

“For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes Pharisees, ye shall no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

The Word of God clearly informs us that we can only enter the Kingdom of God if our faith exceeds that of the Pharisees. To understand and improve our personal walk with the Lord, we must analyze the Pharisees, we must know their behaviour, so we do not fall into the same trap. It is easy to assume we are much better than the Pharisees, but we need to self-introspect in order to align ourselves with God’s word. Unless we analyze the Pharisees, we might not see our own “Pharisee” behaviour. May the Lord open our hearts, our spiritual eyes and ears. May His Word bring transformation upon our lives and may we grow in our walk with Him.

WHO WERE THE PHARISEES?

The Pharisees were Jewish religious leaders who held on tightly to their interpretation of the law of Moses. The Pharisees were quite learned in the law of Moses, and they strictly followed the paths and traditions of their forefathers. They were opposed to Jesus Christ, and they hated His interpretation of the law and how He did things. Their dislike for Christ made them plan to destroy Him.

Matthew 12:14

¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, discussing how they could destroy Him. When we read Luke 13:31, we see that the Pharisees at some point warned Jesus Christ about Herod and cautioned Him.

Luke 13:31

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

The Word “Pharisee” comes from the Hebrew word which means “separated”, and true to the meaning, the Pharisees separated themselves from ordinary Jews and considered them to be unclean. The Pharisees had certain characteristics which are common in Believers of today.

1. THE PHARISEES WERE CRITICS OF CHRIST

The Pharisees were the biggest critics of Jesus Christ. They never found anything good about His teachings. Their focus was always on finding fault on the Lord.

Luke 6:7

Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath They followed Jesus Christ and were amongst the crowds that followed Christ not to listen and marvel at the magnificent work the Lord was doing, they were not there for the message either, but they were there to scrutinize and look for fault. They followed Christ to find fault. Today we have Believers who are ever criticizing their Pastors and always find fault in all they do.

2. THE PHARISEES REJECTED JESUS CHRIST BECAUSE HE SAT WITH SINNERS.

One of the reasons they rejected Jesus Christ was because He sat with sinners. They separated themselves from mingling with sinners.

Matthew 9:10-13

10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked

his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus’s mission is to seek and save the lost, but the Pharisees were blinded by their self-righteousness and missed it. The Pharisees rejected sinners while Jesus Christ embraced them. Jesus’s ministry was to the lost souls and even today He is after the lost souls. A portion of Believers today have shut the door of heaven to those we consider “sinners”, through our attitude. We are self-righteous and we shun and label those in the world. God loves even those we dislike, those we shun away, forgetting we were once sinners ourselves. God loves those we call names; He is after souls, and it is our job to win them for His Kingdom.

3. THE PHARISEES WERE HYPOCRITES

Matthew 23:3 “so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

The teachers of the law were not truly seeking after God, although they presented themselves as though they were. The Pharisees engaged in the same activities they preached against. They claimed to have moral standards and beliefs but their behaviour was the opposite.

4. THE PHARISEES WERE SELF RIGHTEOUS

In Luke 18:9-14, we come across two men who went before God in prayer, a Pharisee, and a Publican (tax collector). The Pharisee prayed about how good he was, better than other men. He went on to state how he fasted twice a week and paid tithes while the tax collector confessed how he was a sinner before God and prayed for His mercy. The Pharisee went before God with pride, informing God of the wrong things he had not done and how he observed religious practices of fasting twice a week and tithing. The Publican humbled himself before God and acknowledged his sins. The Bible instructs us to humble ourselves before the Lord and He will exalt us (James 4:10).

5. THE PHARISEES FOCUSED ON EXTERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

The Pharisees were more concerned with their external appearance and did not work on the inner man. They

pretended to be holy by making long prayers just to be seen by the people. Even in today’s church, a lot of Believers play church just to be seen by people while behind closed doors they are totally different. We must desire to impress God more than man.

Matthew 23:14

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation”

The Pharisees even made their phylacteries broad and enlarged the borders of their garments so they would be noticed by people. They loved the attention they received from people.

Matthew 23:7 “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi” This is the cancer in the church today. The love of honour and attention. Most churches have different sitting arrangements for the elite in the house of God while the rest of the congregants sit on ordinary chairs. We need to be cautious, so we do not become like the Pharisees. May the Lord help us!

6. THE PHARISEES HAD HARD HEARTS

Mark 3:5

He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So, the man held out his hand, and it was restored! The Pharisees had hard hearts. Their hearts would not rejoice at the prospect of a fellow human being receiving a miracle, instead they always found something to criticize. We must introspect as Believers. Are we demonstrating the love of Christ or are we rigid and judgmental? Do we rejoice with those who receive their breakthroughs, or we are no longer moved by God’s power but we are more concerned about religious rituals. May the good Lord help us so we do not miss heaven because of our attitude

THE FIRM FOUNDATION

The little kids we see today will eventually grow up. We know this is true because we’ve been there. Believe it or not, young as they are, some of them have dreams and a clear picture of how they want their future to look like. However, others don’t have their lives figured out as yet and that’s ok. The best thing we can do for them is help them build a strong foundation which will stand still in any storm. If we nurture their dreams, those dreams will mature to fruition and if we cheer on those that are still figuring out their lives, they will eventually figure out the ending they want. Whatever the case may be, do not give up on your children. The most attractive parts of our stories are not about how much we have or who we eventually become, but how we fought through obstacles to become who we are.

Joseph was one of those few who knew from a tender age that he was going to be a ruler one day. He was infamous because of his dreams. His biggest hurdle was his own family. It is funny how Joseph and his brothers had dissimilar principles even though they were all raised by the same principles. Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph into slavery, thinking that they had sabotaged his dream, but the truth is they had actually helped him get closer to fulfilling his dreams. Years later, his brothers found themselves kneeling in front of Joseph, begging for help. That was the moment they realized how much they had wronged their brother and found their way back to the right path; they humbled themselves and admitted they were wrong. After everything Joseph had gone through, he chose to forgive and help his brothers. Joseph’s dreams came true in the land everyone least expected.

We have no idea what lies ahead of us or the battles our children will have to fight, but we are dedicated to investing in our children’s future (the same way our parents did). A lot of things around us are changing every day; policies, cultures, economies, technology, you name it, and we do not know how these changes will impact our lives, but we can work on ourselves and equip our children on how to respond and adapt better to those changes. The investment should go beyond the physical adaptations. Maybe one day they will look back and remember these teachings. We cannot protect our kids from the cruelty and temptations of this world, but we can at least empower them to make the right choices. We are not the first ones to have chosen this path, we hope that this foundation we are building on is solid enough to withstand any storm that lies ahead.

In our first year of parenthood, we had a specific schedule we used to follow. We would read Bible stories and sing hymnals to our infant. Sometimes we would question ourselves if it was too early to do so or if we needed to wait until our son was a little older. We clearly did not know what we were doing and the only points of reference we had were the testimonies of elders and God’s instruction: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Years later, we are still trying and we keep asking God for wisdom. May our children’s future be everything they envision, may the seeds we are planting now be fruitful and may this foundation be strong enough for decades, centuries and generations to come.

by Shamiso Patience Mbiriri

REMEMBERING

PROPHET T.B JOSHUA

Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as Prophet T.B Joshua was born in Arigidi, Nigeria, on the 12th of June, 1963. He was named Temitope by his mother after he narrowly escaped death. He was a man of great faith who dedicated his life to the Kingdom of God.

DIVINE DEPARTURE

Prophet T.B Joshua was promoted to glory on the 5th of June 2021, just a week before his 58th birthday. Some concluded that his life was cut short, but I believe he had served the Lord and completed his Kingdom assignment. I recall watching his last service on Emmanuel TV. His words still echo in my mind. “There is a time for everything, a time to come here and a time to return home, after service.” His departure from this earth was not ordinary. He died after conducting Sunday service. One of the Emmanuel TV Partners gave a testimony saying he saw angels coming to collect the Prophet in a vision. Being promoted to glory after conducting church service is glorious. Prophet T.B Joshua spoke of his death in parables just as he had promised his congregants. On his last service he encouraged the people of God to watch and pray.

The teachings of Prophet T.B Joshua were mainly centered on love. Most times we would watch on Emmanuel TV as he tried to mend broken homes and restore relationships between husband and wife as well as amongst relatives. Prophet T.B Joshua was an advocate for family unity. There were many families that visited the SCOAN seeking the assistance of the man of God amid accusations of witchcraft, a practice which is still common in some parts of our African continent. I recall one serious case of a woman who was forced to live

with her daughter’s corpse for a period of over a year because the community believed she was a witch. You can imagine living with a dead corpse in the house! It was after the intervention of Prophet T.B Joshua that the corpse was buried. Husbands and wives on the verge of divorce went to the man of God to seek advice and deliverance. Prophet T.B Joshua always emphasized the importance of deliverance and hearing from God before jumping into marriage. To many who watched the SCOAN services from home, some of the cases appeared to be a scene from an African movie but it was all real life. God raises His servants for different callings, and I believe Prophet T.B Joshua had a unique calling.

I always looked forward to Prophet T.B Joshua’s Sunday Services because I enjoyed watching the power of God being demonstrated just as it was in the days of our Lord Jesus Christ. Many people frequented the

Synagogue Church of All Nations seeking solutions to very real problems. Visitors from the USA, Europe, Asia, and Africa would go to Nigeria to see the Prophet of God. Those who had the priviledge to visit SCOAN will agree that Prophet T.B Joshua was a simple, humble man. I recall the very first time I saw him, he was walking at the prayer mountain casually dressed in shorts and greeting everyone with a smile. I cannot explain the level of humility, but he carried himself with such simplicity.

Every New Year’s Eve, Prophet T. B Joshua would spend time at the Prayer Mountain asking the Lord to reveal to him what was coming in the New Year. He prophesied of the War between Russia and Ukraine. He instructed Believers to pray for Russia. He prophesied of the unrest of youths due to unemployment and economic hardship in South Africa, he also forewarned of the Power problems South Africa is experiencing

today. The man of God used to intercede for the peace of Africa, and he would encourage Believers all over the world to pray for their nations, this is the reason why most visitors to SCOAN would carry their national flags as a point of contact for their nations during mass prayer time.

There is so much to learn from senior Prophet T.B Joshua, his sermons are even more powerful and meaningful after his passing. Prophet T.B Joshua taught that being a Believer is not just about your relationship with God but about how you relate with other people around you too. He always encouraged Believers to do good by taking care of the poor, the elderly, the orphans, and the widows, the disabled and reminded Believers not to forget those who are in prison. He went about doing good just like our Lord Jesus Christ. He paid school fees for the poor, the orphans and those with disabilities through the SCOAN scholarship. He took care of the widows by giving them cash gifts and bags of rice. The day his death was announced, there was a huge group of widows wailing outside his church. It reminded me of the story of Tabitha (Dorcas) in the Bible. He took care of the disabled and gave them cash gifts and bags of rice as well. T.B Joshua would go around giving cash gifts and bags of rice to the elderly in Nigeria.

PERSECUTION

T. B Joshua was one of the most persecuted servants of God in the world. I realized from his ministry that anointing attracts persecution. He was criticized for the anointing water, others criticized him because he said he received the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb, saying it was not biblical, but John the Baptist did receive the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb.

After the Prophet was promoted to glory, his wife, Pastor Evelyn Joshua is heading the Synagogue Church of All Nations. So much was said about SCOAN when Prophet T.B Joshua departed with many predicting the closure of the church

however God’s ways are not man’s ways. God uses whoever He chooses, and there is no doubt God has anointed Evelyn Joshua to do His work. The church is flourishing under the capable hands of Pastor Evelyn Joshua, she is being used by God to continue her husband’s legacy with the help of the disciples that are work with her. The work of God is going on as if the man of God was still present. The divine miracles, healings, deliverances, signs, and wanders are still taking place at SCOAN under Prophet T.B Joshua’s wife. She continues doing charity work, donating bags of rice and cash gifts to the poor, the widows and the disabled. Husband and wife become one flesh once married according to the word of God, and true to this word mama Evelyn Joshua lived with the Prophet for so many years and she tapped into the anointing upon the man of God. The wisemen who were raised by Prophet T.B Joshua have been supportive sons to the woman of God. We thank God that the Arena of Liberty is still demonstrating the power of God and we keep praying for the woman of God, Evelyn Joshua for God to continue to use her mightily as she continues to run with the legacy and vision of her husband. We pray for all the partners and the SCOAN team.

JOSHUA’S PRAYER SECRETS

1. START THE DAY ON YOUR KNEES Prophet T.B Joshua instructed Believers to start the day on their knees, in other words first thing in the morning, a Believer must seek the Lord before doing anything else. He challenged Believers to start the day with the Lord and observe how the day would go promising them it would be a fruitful day. The truth is by starting the day with God we involve him in our day to day activities. His Presence will guide us and lead us in all that we do. Luke 1:15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit

2. ALWAYS PRAY IN THE SPIRIT In one of his sermons, Prophet T.B Joshua told his congregation and viewers all over the world, the secret to his prayer life. He instructed Believers to learn to pray in the Spirit. He explained that the heart of a Believer is like a prayer room, encouraging saints to learn to pray in the heart and explaining that shouting when praying alone is hypocrisy. The Bible does mention in Matthew 6:5-6 that we should pray in secret. Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

3. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING He quoted 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING” To be honest, this teaching ministered greatly to my spirit because I was given this verse by an angelic host almost 7 years back and up to now I did not know how to Pray without ceasing but Prophet T.B Joshua explained it well. He said Believers must not only call on Christ when they are in a crisis instead, they must always pray to God in the spirit and that was the secret of his life. The Prophet added that when monitored twenty-four hours one would conclude that he did not pray because one may never see him going inside a room to pray. “You will think that I do not pray, it’s not that, I pray 24 hours a day. As I eat, I pray, as I am talking to you, I am praying. If you are waiting to go to the altar to pray, Satan will catch you before you get there. When you have a certain time to pray, the enemy can get you before that time. While you are walking with me, moving with me, eating with me, even giving me water to drink, I am meditating. Meditation is a visit to God.” Prophet T.B Joshua went on to give Believers an anointed prayer:

“Take more of me, give me more of You, more of Your faithfulness, more of Your kindness, more of Your goodness, more of Your self-control.” The Prophet assured the Saints that if they can pray without moving their lips, without moving their body, without people alerting people around them that they are praying then the sky will be the limit. According to Prophet T.B Joshua as Believers we carry an altar everywhere, but we are not making use of the altar. The Prophet further explained that the prayer that is answered by God is not the one he was making at the time instead it was the one he had loaded. “I meditate on the Word of God, day and night.” Prophet T.B Joshua emphasized to the church to take care of their hearts reminding them that the heart is a prayer room. Proverbs 4:23 “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” The Prophet told congregants that when they take care of their hearts, they can hear God directing them. “If you know how much you need God, you will always be in an attitude of prayer. If you do not know just how much you need God, you will always have an occasion for prayer,” Prophet T.B Joshua began to sing the song on prayer, “Prayer is the key, prayer is the key, prayer is the master key Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer Prayer is the master key!” We do not know how to pray but the spirit helps us to pray.

Christopher Tonge, Prophet T.B Joshua had a habit of walking and praying. He called it “walk & pray”, he exercised his physical body while connecting with God through prayer and meditation.

VLADIMIR SAVCHUK’S TEN LESSONS FROM PROPHET T.B JOSHUA

1) POWER OF TESTIMONIES Prophet T.B Joshua invested so much time and resources to testimonies. His church services could be between ten hours and fifteen hours long, four hours would be dedicated to testimonies. There was so much focus on testimonies. Prophet T.B Joshua would fly people with testimonies into Nigeria just to share their testimonies. Testimonies give birth to more testimonies; it was from this experience that we also adopted a testimony session during our services.

4. WALK & PRAY According to Wiseman

2) DELIVERANCE IS ESSENTIAL I always thought deliverance was for people who practiced voodoo, witchcraft, white magic and black magic etc but T.B Joshua ministry removed that stigma I had. Our whole team went through deliverance and most of them had violent manifestations. At SCOAN deliverance is normalized and we have adopted and normalized deliverance at our ministry. The enemy wants us to normalize pain and suffering but God wants us to normalize what Christ did on earth while the enemy wants us to go through pain and suffering.

3) PRAYER LINE PREPARATION/SCREENING/ PRE-COUNSELING A great amount is given to prepare people who will be going on the prayer line. They want to see medical reports, they thoroughly check the medical reports to make sure that they are signed properly, they record videos before they are prayed for, they hold pre-counseling meeting. They are very intentional about people who come to the prayer. They prepare you a day or two before the prayer line and that is the reason, they get results.

4) MASS PRAYER CONFRONTATION One of the reasons why demonic manifestations and deliverance happen in SCOAN is because of confrontational prayer, where there is mass warfare prayer, and the congregants repeat prayer points addressing spiritual entities. The Lord Jesus Christ addressed demons, He instructed us to speak to the mountain, He spoke to the sickness, He spoke to the fig tree, He spoke to the waves. Prophet T.B Joshua and the Wise men would conduct mass prayer and demons would manifest. The atmosphere became electric with demons manifesting and coming out everywhere. This is one of the things we adopted from SCOAN and practice at our church.

5) THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDIA The Lord spoke to the Prophet when his ministry was just beginning instructing him to get a camera and record. Prophet T.B Joshua started recording his services when his ministry was small. There is so much emphasis placed on archiving and recording. Media is the tool that gets the Word out there. This was the reason why Prophet T.B Joshua had over 1.6million subscriptions on YouTube. This was also the reason why his ministry was known globally. His influence globally was great because he was intentional when it came to Media. Media is very important.

6) PROPHECY

ADDRESSES

THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM The Prophecies at SCOAN were not only short but they were very deep and addressed the root cause of the problems the people faced. At one point, Prophet T.B Joshua called out in the church that he saw two boys who were kidnapped, and a lady came out to confirm the prophesy. The Prophet continued to say, “I saw God causing confusion… they will be released on Tuesday, and you will get a call on Tuesday and on Sunday you will testify.” The following Sunday the woman returned with the two boys to testify. He also prophesied to a couple saying, “I see a daughter”. The husband denied saying “We have no children, that’s why we are here.” The Prophet repeated “I see a daughter.” He finally added “I see a daughter; you made a girl pregnant in school and denied the pregnancy. Until you look for that girl and begin to take care of her, God will not give you children with your wife.” It was a short prophecy but powerful and revealed the root of the problem as well as directing them to the solution of their problem.

7) SIMPLICITY OF TEACHING AND

PREACHING

Prophet T.B Joshua’s sermons are short in comparison to the service time. His sermons are very simple that even a child can understand them. They are not complicated but they are powerful. The teachings of Jesus Christ are similar, they were not necessarily 27 points with a clever twist of words that made people say “Wow, that’s deep!”, they were simple teachings backed by power.

8) RADICAL GENEROSITY One of the things that impacted me personally was the radical generosity of the Prophet. The first trip we took to SCOAN we were about eleven or twelve people and he refunded each one of us our air ticket fares and gave each one of us 300 dollars for our expenses. We came with clothes to give to Africa, and he told us to take them back because America had a greater need than Africa at the time. When we arrived back home in America, Prophet T.B Joshua sent 15,000 dollars (fifteen thousand dollars) and instructed me to buy gifts for the less fortunate and other things they needed. We also conducted a conference here in the US, with wiseman Harry. Prophet T.B Joshua flew in 20 people. Our church did not have enough money to rent the premises, we were willing to get loans and use our personal credit cards to secure the building, but we did not tell the Prophet that

we could not afford the building. He paid for the building, and he did not allow us to take an offering for the first two days or to sell anything. When we collected the offering on the third day, he instructed us to collect the offering after 7 hours of service and the offering went to our ministry. On top of that they brought a very generous gift to bless our ministry. They did not want anything from us. Twice, our team helped Prophet T.B Joshua on his crusades in Mexico and Columbia. On one of the trips about 30 people flew to assist him, he paid for all their tickets and covered their food expenses and gave each one of them a cash gift in appreciation. I recall another time; I was travelling to Tanzania with a friend for ministry. I went to SCOAN, and someone mentioned that I was on my way to Tanzania to Prophet T.B Joshua. He offered to connect me to one of his V.I.P Partners to help me with my expenses but I refused the offer. He ended up giving me between 5000 & 6000dollars which I gave away to other ministries and charity. Prophet T.B Joshua’s generosity is one of the reasons I started to give generously. It impacted my life.

9) ANOINTING IS TRANSFERABLE The anointing water was a very controversial topic especially in the West. We faced so much criticism and hate for using the anointing water.

People could not fight the results, but they criticized the water. It was just water, there was nothing different about it. The concept came from the bible where anointing worked through objects, for example the rod of Moses, the saliva of Jesus, the River of Jordan. It is the same with how charms work in the evil kingdom. I saw incurable sicknesses cured through the anointing water in the name of Jesus Christ.

10) NOT REACTING TO

CRITICISM Prophet T.B Joshua had more critics than anyone I know. They were websites for the sole purpose of criticizing Prophet T.B Joshua, and ex disciples who criticized him. The Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump prophecies brought even more criticism as well as the collapse of his building, but he continued remained focused on his ministry despite the back lash. You cannot avoid criticism in ministry, if you are creating something and progressing, you will attract criticism. We learnt not to give our attention to critics and to focus on our calling at the beginning of our ministry. This does not mean that we cannot learn from our critics. We must listen to see if there is some truth and strive to improve. We must not get distracted or get into fights, condemn, or criticize thereby losing focus of our mission. This is not the way of Christ, Jesus focused on His ministry, and I saw the same with Prophet T.B Joshua.

PRAYER POINTS For 2023

1. Thank You Abba Father for sustaining me and my family throughout 2022. Lord I am grateful for Your love and kindness for me and my loved ones. I hand over the year 2023 into Your powerful hands. May You go before me and make all the crooked places straight this 2023. Isaiah 45:2 “I will go before thee, and make the crooked paths straight:..”

2. Dear Lord, this 2023 may I grow in my knowledge and understanding of You. May I desire to walk more intimately with You and make You the number one priority in my life in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen Hebrews 6:1

3. This 2023, may I align every plan to your will and purpose for my life. I refuse to waste time on things that steal my time and derail my destiny in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah 29:11 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.”

4. My home will be protected by the blood of Jesus Christ this 2023. May no harm come upon my family and all my loved ones in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 32:18 My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

5. I pray for a sound mind this 2023. May I not worry about life, May I remain at peace even during chaos. As I face 2023, may I remember You promised us Your peace. May I trust You and leave everything in Your hands. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

6. By the power in the name of Jesus Christ, I come against every wicked plot of the enemy meant to discourage me, distract me, and rob me of my joy in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

7. As I start the year 2023, I pray that the problems of 2022 will not cross over into 2023 in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Every form of setback, every obstacle and disappointment that I experienced in 2022 will not continue into 2023, in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.

8. All that I failed to achieve in 2022, I will achieve this 2023 by the grace of God and in the powerful name of Jesus Christ.

9. I declare that the Lord will go before me this 2023, He will break every barrier that has been stopping me from possessing His promises for my life. This 2023, every gate of bronze and every bar of iron that has been stopping me from possessing the hidden treasures shall be broken as the Lord goes before me, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 45:2 “I will go before you and will level the mountains, I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.”

10. I decree and declare that in 2023 I will be a source of strength and encouragement for those who are struggling and that I will be a listening ear for those who need support in the mighty name of Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

11. I take authority over every form of evil that may try to stand against me this 2023, I subdue every demonic force unleashed against my progress by the power in the name of Jesus Christ. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

12. This 2023, I thwart and destroy the spirit of delay, the spirit of procrastination and laziness in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. I command the speed of light upon every area of my life in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. John 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work.

13. This 2023, I pray that shame and reproach will be far from my dwelling because I am the redeemed of the Lord. Isaiah 54:4 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame, and do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; But you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.”

14. This 2023, I will recover all that was stolen from me in the past years in double portions, in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. I will recover all the years that were robbed from me, I will recover all my property that the enemy robbed from me and I will recover all the finances the enemy took from me in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 58:8 “Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily spring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

15. I decree and declare in the mighty name of Jesus Christ that this year I will flourish like a tree that is planted along the streams of a river which produces fruit in season. My business will be fruitful and everything I lay my hand on will flourish in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

LET’S TALK ABOUT STRESS

QUIZ LET’S START BY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS BY STATING YES/NO

1. I get constipated quite often.

2. My tummy is easily upset leading to discomforts.

3. I am that type of person who easily gets ‘flu.

4. I am often aware of dryness in my mouth.

5. I usually get impatient when delayed by elevators, people and traffic lights because I am almost always in a hurry.

6. I easily perspire leading to sweaty palms

7. I am usually aware of my heartbeat even when I am not doing anything physical

8. When I get upset, it takes time for me to calm down.

9. Naturally I am that person who is usually concerned about making a fool of myself in front of people.

10. I don’t really enjoy the job that I do, but I need the money.

NB: If you have answered YES to 5 or more of the above questions then you need this article. If you answered NO, to all or most of them, you still need this presentation. SO LET’S GO!

In the University of Life, stress is not an elective course but a compulsory course of the curriculum. The issue is not how much stress but how you respond to that stressor. Effective leaders learn how to manage their own stress and that of the team they lead. They see stressful situations as opportunities for growth.

WHAT IS STRESS ANYWAY?

1. Stress

The response of the sympathetic nervous system to a perceived or actual threat. (Rodney Cooper)

● NB: the sympathetic nervous system plays a key role in the stress response. activation of the

sympathetic nervous system during stress is often termed the fight or flight response

● Stress is a broadly defined situation in which there exists a real or potential threat to homeostasis. (Widmaier E.P, Raff H and K.T. Strang 2006-Vander)

● Mental and/or physical condition that results from a perceived threat of danger (physical or emotional) and the pressure to remove it. ( Rue and Byars,2003)

● The non-specific response of the body to any demand for change. ( Hans Selye)

2. WHAT IS THE PHYSIOLOGY OF STRESS?

The brain responds to acute stress (e. g. a lion) by activating the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) system. This leads to release of stress hormones such as glucocorticoids and cortisol. Cortisol organizes the heart, lungs, circulation, metabolism, immune system, and skin to deal with the stressor.

Catecholamines are also released such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Catecholamines activate the amygdala to trigger an emotional response that is fear.

There is also release of neuropeptides responsible for decreasing sleep, increasing alertness, increased sense of anxiety and an increased urgency to run away - the fight/flight response. Catecholamines also influence memory. Frontal lobe activities concerned with STM are suppressed leading to concentration inhibition and rational thought. This leads to a quick reaction but interferes with the ability to handle difficult social or intellectual tasks during that time. The hippocampus stores the experience in LTM.

Once the acute threat has passed, levels of stress hormones return to normal leading to relaxation.

3. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON BODY SYSTEMS –STRESS AFFECTS ALMOST ALL

BODY SYSTEMS AS THEY ARE GEARED UP TO MEET PERCEIVED DANGER. STRESS RESPONSES ARE THUS BENEFICIAL IN A CRITICAL, LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION HEART, LUNGS, CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

- Increased heart rate raised BP, raised respiratory rate

– lungs take in more oxygen. Blood flow increases by 300 to 400%

. IMMUNE SYSTEM RESPONSE

- Immune molecules sent to more important areas such as the skin and lymph nodes.

MOUTH AND THROAT

- fluids diverted from non-essential locations including the mouth this leads to dryness and difficulty in talking, spasms of the throat muscles leading to difficulty in swallowing

SKIN’S RESPONSE

Blood moves away from the skin to support the heart and muscle tissues leading to a cold clammy and sweating skin. The scalp also tightens so that the hair seems to stand up.

METABOLIC RESPONSE - Reduced digestive activity.

4. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TYPES OF STRESSORS? (WHAT YOU KNOW YOU CAN PREVENT OR MANAGE!)

i). EXTERNAL STRESSORS –Physical stimuli such as pain, hot or cold temperatures. Psychological environments such as poor working conditions and abusive relationships.

ii). INTERNAL STRESSORS – those that are physical such as infections and other illnesses and psychological stressors such as intense worry, feelings of worthlessness

i

ii). ACUTE STRESSORS –

● NOISE – may trigger a stress response

e.g. during sleep

● Crowding

● Isolation

● Hunger

● Danger

● Infection

● Technology – video games

● Frequently ringing mobile phones

● Imagining a threat or remembering a dangerous event

iv) CHRONIC STRESSORS

● Ongoing work pressure

● Long term relationship problems

● Loneliness

● Persistent financial worries.

5. WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK OF STRESS?

● Pastors and their spouses

● Older adults

● Women and working mothers

● Caregivers – women mostly affected. Increased stress if nursing a highly dependent patient (ICU, home based care) or nursing a difficult patient.

● The less educated

● The divorced or widowed

● The isolated the lonely

● Those in financial strain, long term unemployment and those without medical aid.

● People who are targets of racial (e.g. xenophobia) or sexual discrimination

● People who live in a war zone.

● Children whose parents are under stress

● Adolescent children – hormonal factors, changing of schools, poor grades, relationships etc.

● Those with a Type A Personality

6. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES OF WORK RELATED STRESS?

● No control over situations

● Unreasonable performance

demands

● Lack of effective communication

● Lack of effective conflict resolution methods

● Lack of job security

● Night shift, long hours, or both

● Too much time spent away from home and family

● Wages not matching levels of responsibility

7. HOW CAN STRESS BE REDUCED ON THE JOB?

● Advocate for improvement of working conditions at the workplace via HR and use a nonconfrontational approach

● Establish a network of friends at home and at work

● Restructure priorities, eliminate unnecessary tasks.

● If the job is unbearable, plan to execute a carrier change or change departments within the company, if not possible, schedule pleasant activities frequently during your free time and exercise everyday

● Define the problem – is it your problem?

STRATEGIES TO RELIEVE AND MANAGE STRESS ADAPTED FROM ELIZABETH SCOTT

i). LAUGHTER AND HUMOR: relaxes tension and distracts from anger. Reduces the level of stress hormones. Leads to release of endorphins and enhances the immune system. NB: healthy children laugh as much as 400 times a day. Most adults laugh only 15 times a day.

ii). JOURNALING: involves writing feelings like you are talking to someone. Good for problem solving.

iii). PMR: Progressive Muscle Relaxation

● Find a quiet place. Sit or lie down. Be comfortable.

● Tense all facial muscles. Make a tight grimace. Close your eyes as tightly as possible. Clench your teeth. Hold this for the count of ten as you inhale.

● Exhale and relax completely. Relax your face. Feel the tension leaving and enjoy the feeling.

● Completely tense your neck and shoulders inhaling and counting to 8. Exhale and relax.

● Continue down the body repeating the procedure with the chest, abdomen, upper limbs and lower limbs including buttocks.

iv). PLAYING GAMES

v). SEX: reduces the stress response and decreases BP. There is release of endorphins with orgasm. Relaxed deep breathing during and after sex relaxes the body and oxygenates the blood. The touch of foreplay is therapeutic. NB babies who are not touched may fail to thrive.

vi). DEEP BREATHING

vii). MUSIC THERAPY: used in conjunction with exercise. Can affect emotions instantaneously viii). Taking a walk: enjoy the scenery and also exercise. Walking increases blood flow to the brain, improves thinking skills and reduces age related shrinkage of the brain.

ix). PLANT A GARDEN: therapeutic effect of nature and its beauty.

x). TIME MANAGEMENT: have time to care for self, be organized at work, at home and at church. Consider delegating and also multitasking. Learn to say NO, set priorities, use shortcutsdishwashers, pre-cut veggies etc. have a routine especially in the evenings and morning, organize

menus in advance. Be flexible in your routine to accommodate the unexpected e.g. sick kids. xi). DIET: eat a well-balanced diet. Reduce caffeine intake especially in the evenings. Also reduce sugar and salt intake. xii). Learn to be assertive in your communication: the ability to express one’s feelings and assert one’s rights while respecting the rights and feelings of others. Assertive communication is direct, open, and honest and clarifies one’s needs to the other person. It comes naturally for some, but a skill that can be learned. Helps reduce interpersonal conflict. Xiii). Do not procrastinate xiv). Consider continued education: learn something new xv). Have time to play: have fun, be creative, drawing, writing etc.

8. OTHER STRATEGIES TO PREVENT AND MANAGE STRESS

● Shorten your to do list –remove should and keep musts. Delegate –use the Jethro principle Exodus 18

● Be tactful about certain subjects and be careful not to irritate people

– Ephesians 4:31-32 - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

● Live within your means – budget

● Meditate on God’s word

● Laugh and rejoice always –

Proverbs 17:22 - A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

● Be gentle and trust God.

● Exercise

● Have time to rest and relax even 15 minutes during the day.

Consider the 4th commandment as well.

● Sleep well at least 5-7 hours.

● Express your feelings instead of bottling them up –. Be willing to compromise your wishes and not your values.

● Connect with positive people

● Live ethically – no fear of being found out

● Focus on the positives: OPTIMISM e.g.,

I. Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

II. Mark 10:27 - And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

III. Ephesians 3:20 – our God is able…

IV. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

V. Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

9. SUMMARY – 5 STEP APPROACH TO PREVENT AND MANAGE STRESS

i. BE ABLE TO SAY NO

ii. SCHEDULE ONLY 80% OF YOUR TIME

iii. DELEGATE

iv. BE SMART – SET REALISTIC DEADLINES AND WORK LOADS.

v. FOCUS ON THE FIVE Fs –Faith, Family, Finances, Friends, and Fitness.

10.ASSIGNMENT: VISIT THESE SELECTED BIBLE VERSES THAT HELP MANAGE AND PREVENT STRESS

● 1 Peter 5:6-7

● Philippians 4:6-7

● Psalm 103:1-5

● Psalm 106

● James 1:2-4

● Matthew 6:25-27

● Matthew 11:28-30

● Psalm 9:9-10

● Psalm 16:8

● Psalm 46:1-3

● Psalm 34:17-19

● Psalm 36:3-6

● Romans 8:28

REMAIN BLESSED – YOU ARE TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED RHODA MAFUKIDZE (Pastor, Health and Adult Educator)

Author of: 31 Secrets To a Failproof Marriage

REFERENCES 1. Byars L.L. And Rue L.W. (2003). Management Skills and Application. McGraw-Hill. Boston

2. Passer M. W. and Smith R.E. (2001). Psychology Frontiers and Applications. McGraw Hill. Boston

3. Scott Elizabeth, 2013

4. OLD NOTES

SECRETS OF SUCCESS FROM

Dr. Myles Munroe

Dr. MYLES Munroe was born into a poor family. His life was a unique one. He taught himself about the bible at a young age and used it as his life principle. Myles teaches leaders around the world about success, leadership and especially about purpose. Myles Munroe talks about the secrets of success that most people miss.

Here are 7 secrets of success that help you figure out your future.

1- Success is what you have done compared to what you should have done.

Success, therefore, is not owning worldly matters or being better than others. Real success, according to Myles, is fulfilling the potential that you realized in yourself that is unique but laying silent. You should wake up the giant and fulfill the task that no one knew you had except you. He says no one should die with unfulfilled potential. Instead, you should die empty. This takes us to the second secret of success. Secrets of success #1

2-Success is not measured by how you are compared to others. People often compare themselves with others to feel good about themselves or to figure where they are in life. However, Success is not how you compare with others but how you compare with your potential. This means having something better than others don’t necessarily make you successful. Doing what is up to your potential surely does. Ask yourself ‘is this the best I can do?’ Instead of ‘is this better than others?’

Secrets of success #2

3-Success is not how long you lived; it is how effective you lived a short life.

In fact, most successful people lived short lives. Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, and more.

“They lived a life so effective, that history books won’t delete them”. Methuselah, the man who lived 969 years in the bible with Jesus who only lived just 33 and a half years on earth. Jesus did a lot in His short time, most of the New Testament voices His life. But for Methuselah only a single sentence ‘he lived to be 969 years and he died’ would be enough.

Secrets of success #3

4-Success needs a decision. There are things you should change including friends, your environment in order to succeed in life. You should be able to let go of your comfort zone. This is impossible without a firm decision and follows through.

Secrets of success #4

5- “The greatest enemy of your success is your last success”

Don’t let your success block you from your next success. We sometimes tend to forget our plans and vision because of already happened success. It is good to celebrate your success but it dangerous to stay stuck with it. Remember success is a journey. You win in cumulative, not in one. Let go the past success and embrace another.

Secrets of success #5

6 – Your purpose is stuck inside you and not ahead of you. The future of all creation is hidden in creation. Trees are trapped in seeds; a cow is trapped in a calf. Everything God created is pregnant with its future in itself. You were finished when you were created. It seems a tale but here it is the truth. The un-manifested purpose is inside you. You need to live and act that purpose for its wholeness. An automobile is conceptualized and finished before it goes it to the public.

Don’t let the past keep you off your future. Its potential is inside it. A test drive reveals its potential.

“Your future is not ahead of you it is inside you.”

Secrets of success #6

7 – Success is not measured by your past failure. Your future is more valuable than your past. Do not get stuck in the past and revisit your future. Your future is not yet lived. You have the chance to change your past faults and create a better life.

“Your past is a portion of your life. There is a pack that is un-lived.”

Secrets of success #7

DISCIPLINE AND SELF CONTROL

PROVERBS 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

PROVERBS 12:1 “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.”

Discipline is the ability to control oneself or others in all circumstances, either good or bad. It is the ability to teach yourself to behave in a controlled manner. Discipline is the most important ingredient on the journey to success. Self-discipline or self-control is the key to accomplishing the will of God upon our lives. One of the spirits we receive from the Holy Spirit is the spirit of discipline or self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 AMP [For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgement and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind, and self-control.]

There is no greater goal in this life than fulfilling the will of God upon our lives and becoming all that He destined us to become. However, many people depart this world without accomplishing a fraction of what God has called them to become because they lack self-discipline. Discipline is the commitment to accomplish a goal.

It is the bridge between thoughts and accomplishments, inspiration, and achievement. It is the bridge between necessity and productivity. We fail to accomplish our goals because we lack the necessary discipline, we do not strive and put in the necessary work required towards accomplishing our goals. Our lives become an accumulation of dayto-day failures until they become one huge disappointing result. Successful people are not necessarily the most intelligent people, they are not the people with the best access to resources and connections instead they are the people who mastered the art of discipline. They trained themselves to follow a consistent

work ethic towards achieving their desired goals. Discipline is required in our spiritual journey as well; it takes discipline to walk in obedience to God’s Word. It surely takes selfcontrol for one not to give in to the demands of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. Everything is permissible for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything [and brought under its power, allowing it to control me.]”

Apostle Paul refused to be under the control of anything. This is probably one of the reasons why he accomplished all the great work for God’s Kingdom, he was disciplined and not easily influenced by things around him. The first step to a disciplined life is the awareness of the need and value for it.

Proverbs 25:27-28 “It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep. Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”

A person without discipline is controlled by everything and has no direction. The Bible compares such a person to a city without walls. It has no protection and can easily be attacked by the enemy. When we continually do what we feel like doing, we end up failing to achieve the plans God has set out for our lives, and even fail to attain the goals we set for ourselves. To succeed we must learn to do the things we do not enjoy. You want to buy a property? Learn to save money to buy that property. If you lack discipline with your spending, you will fail to achieve your goal within the stipulated period. The students who get the best grades are not the most intelligent, but they are disciplined enough to revise what they have been taught while other students play. You cannot spend most of the morning in bed and expect to be successful. We need to follow a work ethic that will produce the results we require.

By Kudzaishe Mucheka

SINACH:

ALL THAT THE LORD HAS DONE

The Nigerian Christian songstress, Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu, is most popularly known for capturing the world with her beloved anthem “Way Maker”, which trended worldwide during the pandemic. Sinach has since released yet another powerful praise song, titled “Done It Again”. The song ‘s message is to give thanks to God for all that He has done, and it could not have come at a more relevant time. For so many of us, 2022 was a very difficult year. Who could have foreseen the way this year would end with so much tragedy, economies crumbling, high unemployment, peaking crime rates and so many precious lives lost? The very fact that we have survived such a perilous time even though most of our high hopes for the year were not met is reason enough to give thanks to God.

Like Sinach ‘s other live ministrations, “Done It Again” is such a powerful rendition, not just from a musical standpoint but mainly because of the message it carries and the impact it leaves on her audience. After listening to the song repeatedly, it becomes very apparent to the listener that there is no right or wrong time to praise God. David always praised the Lord, no wonder he was a man after God ‘s own heart. It has become our custom as believers to only testify of God ‘s goodness when we escape unforeseen danger or when we have achieved some level of worldly success but thanking God for having a roof upon your head, being in perfect health and the hedge of protection He has put upon your family might be less prestigious but still as important.

Perhaps my favorite part of the song is the pre-chorus which sings “I give you praise forevermore.” Praising God not only for what He has done but for what He will do, especially when nothing seems to work is perhaps the best way to ask God for more. Some worshipers have coined the term “sacrifice of praise” because praise is a difficult thing to render especially when the reality seems contrary to what your faith confesses. As I watched the congregation singing alongside Sinach “You Have Done It Again”, I began to see how much I had forgotten what the Lord has done for me and the people around me. We never thank God for the misfortunes and disappointments we encounter, that one deal we thought would redeem our business that never worked, that failed six-year relationship, that job that we never got, but what if God preserved us by not allowing us these “seemingly good things”? In God ‘s books, progress can often look more like regression, but in our eyes, moving forward means we have accomplished so much and have the receipts to show for it.

As we start this new year, I hope you will remember that we have so much to thank God for. Not only for the prayers that got answered but for the very things we do not understand and for some of those painful and yet humbling experiences we must go through in this life. As you listen to Sinach ‘s song “Done It Again”, be reminded that the Lord who did it once, can do it again and again and again.

Shona is a very beautiful language with a lot of international appeal. South African based, Zimbabwean born Everton Mlalazi has given a new ring to Shona gospel music, making us fall in love with our native tongue once again through his song “Ndokutevera”. The lyrics of the song are both powerful and memorable and seamlessly go along with his “South African” inspired sound. When you listen to the song, it sounds like Spirit of Praise or Joyous Celebration but in Shona. It is obvious that Everton has a close relationship with South African gospel musicians like Benjamin Dube who might be mentoring him.

I really appreciate his modest use of accompaniments on this one, the sound is soft yet very beautiful due to the soft drums and saxophone that play in the background of his beautiful vocals. The turnaround after the second last chorus is where his instrumentalists show off their skill giving us the “Zulu” vibe. Although the song has lots of international appeal, what impresses me the most is the message. Sometimes we the artists pay more attention to how the song sounds rather than what the song says and I am glad to say that this song leads the listener to Christ. Ndokutevera speaks about following Jesus through thick and thin because of His ultimate sacrifice of dying for our sins on the cross. To say that Everton ‘s vocals on this song sound perfect is merely an understatement. The chorus sung by the angelic voices of the backing vocals says “Ndokutevera Muponesi imwi makandifira. Kana vese vakusiya, ini ndokutevera” which leads us to the very important question, Who or what we are following?

There are many things that believers are chasing after these days. Some are following great apostles with a deep revelation about Jesus, others are following the crowd because they want to be part of a community and some simply want to offer their service in one area or another but unless we follow Jesus, the one who died for us, our service to a man of God or the church is in vain. One great man of God once said that “people love church but not Jesus” which is a warning against setting our heart and affections in everything else other than Jesus Himself who died for us. Everton Mlalazi ‘s beautiful melody Ndokutevera certainly tickles the ear, but aside from the beautiful sound and melody that make the song, it is a definite cry to follow Jesus, our One and Only Savior.

By Kudzaishe Mucheka

GOD’S PROMISES TO PROVIDE

PHILIPPIANS 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 81:10

I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Proverbs 10:3

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but He thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?

Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever.

2 Corinthians 12:9

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Psalm 34:10

The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Matthew 21:22

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive if you have faith.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

John 14:13-14

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Psalm 107:9

For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 145:15-16

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing.

1 John 3:22

And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him.

John 15:6

You did not choose me, but I choise you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you.

Matthew 21:22

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

LONELY, I HAVE NOBODY, I’M ALL ALONE

Hello beautiful people, I hope you have had a wonderful time growing in your discovery of who you are as a child of the Highest God. I do pray that since our first article you have been able to enjoy the freedom that it is supposed to bring you. If you are reading this going ‘huh’ do look up last year’s copy of Living in Victory Nov/Dec issue article on Living Single. We laid down some truths about who we are and how we should be seeing ourselves as complete individuals who do not lack anything and so should not feel the pressure to get married, just because everyone else is getting married but should instead be glorying in singleness until such a time we are no longer single. Haven’t you ever thought how crazy it is that in a world where divorce rates within the church are almost the same as divorce rates in the world, we are still falling into the pressure and desperation trap to be part of a pair, when for many are not ready and some possibly not even wanting it. We often feel the need to conform to the norm. Remember in the Bible there are those who were called to singleness/celibacy and those who chose not to marry, which meant singleness for their entire lives, Jesus points this out in Matthew 19 verse 12, and he also does say it will be hard for some to accept.

I have found one of the major reasons that causes us to fall

into this feeling of desperation for a relationship is, we are lonely. I have gone through a period of intense loneliness, and I was so desperate for attention I got into a relationship to fill that void and it did feel good, having someone to call ‘my person’. I don’t know why but it felt like I could now face the world more bravely, even if the person did not really do anything profound for me. This reminded me of a song from around the early two thousand, called Lonely from Akon, it resonated with so many people the world over peaking at number one on several country billboard charts, because even people who were in relationships resonated with this song’s chorus, myself included. It speaks into the deeper truth of where our feelings of loneliness stem from and what we need to do to be able to ‘not be so lonely’. I say this because loneliness is unfortunately not a preserve of the single but also affects the married. The need for having constant companionship is an indication that our lonely feelings could never be filled by any human being. Here is why, on searching about being alone and lonely you realize there are two different things according to research and the key difference between them is emotional attachment, being alone is a state of being, while loneliness is a feeling. This explains why we have many people who are lonely and yet surrounded by people, and in the world people will, sadly, try to fill that void with many destructive things, and for us Christian singles we will usually think getting married is the answer.

Let’s however consider the life of Jesus, our ultimate example, he was never married and lived alone until he was crucified for our sins. I have always wondered if he did not get lonely as the Bible does talk of the disciples and particularly some of the twelve having wives and family, Luke 4:38-40. So in between times they may have gone home to be with their families, meaning he was left alone, was he not lonely? The only time however we can talk about him expressing feelings of loneliness was when the Father turned away from him as he bore our sins on the cross then he cried out, ‘My God My God why have you forsaken me?’ Mathew 27 verse 46. This verse is also found in the Psalms 22 verse 2 where David being on the run from Saul lamented and cried out to God about being constantly hunted by Saul. Jesus like David at that moment felt not only alone but totally abandoned, no one can ever possibly know the depth of the distress

this caused. David’s dilemma showed us the things that would in a way happen to Jesus, for as with Jesus’s innocent suffering, David was innocent of all that Saul wanted to kill him for. David’s emotional feeling of, ‘what wrong have I done why am I going through this’, caused distress, it was a feeling of separation from God’s grace, many of the Psalms speak on this issue. Do you see that it was not so much being alone that caused the distress, as David had a whole band of men with him, instead it was the feeling of separation from God. Yet we regularly believe ourselves to be so lonely because we lack a human partner, and we will almost do anything to

not be alone. This is when we find ourselves in situations where we rush into relationships to avoid what we think is loneliness, but we still feel lonely even in a relationship.

A theologian is quoted as saying, there are two sides of man’s being alone, there is “loneliness” which expresses the pain of being alone, and there is “solitude” which expresses the glory of being alone.” Jesus experienced

the extremes of being lonely, God’s abandonment, which is when no one can help you with what you are going through. Yet he is also one person who throughout His ministry sought solitude many a time leaving the disciples to be alone to commune with God, Matthew 14 verse 23, Mark 1 verse 35. This is where we are missing it, our loneliness does not stem from needing human interaction but is our hearts cry for a deeper connection with

be under the same amount of pressure to find the proverbial better half. You will be at peace as you wait on the Lord. You will find that you will be able to enjoy life more with both married and unmarried friends without feelings like you are lacking or missing out. I confess that being human though it is a struggle to get there as we have wired ourselves to want more of the worldly things than seeking after God, yet when we learn to seek Him more, He will fill the void in our lives, and we will find total satisfaction in Him. A spouse will simply be a wonderful ‘add on’, when he or she comes, rather than a completion of you.

I was so lonely after my husband passed and spent many nights crying to God about how lonely I was. I was not seeking Him though, I simply wanted Him to provide me with someone and believed this would relieve my loneliness, how wrong I was, I was still lonely deep down and even crying for my husband whilst in this other relationship. I took up a challenge, that encouraged me on Matthew 6 verse 33. I know this verse seems to be dealing with the physical needs spoken of in previous verses, but it is way deeper than that when you get to the core of it. God is never just surface level, God is always deep and as I spent this time seeking his Kingdom, He has not just provided the physical needs he has provided spiritual fulfillment, that has left me satisfied just being me, alone, a one that is by itself. I have now realized more often than not my feelings of loneliness will manifest when images of happy couples are part of my immediate surrounding, then I also want to have someone, or when I get questioned about a partner, or at times when I feel I need male perspective on certain things and it’s not readily available, then I feel a bit of a gap in there and feel like, oh poor me I have nobody, I’m alone. This external pressure should not make me feel lonely, and even if it does, I now know where to take it and I have a great community of Godly men who will hear me out when I need a male perspective with no strings attached and that is wonderful. Above all however I have a growing and deeper relationship with God as I am continuing to seek him and his will for my life more than anything else, knowing that whether there will be another man who becomes part of my life or not, I will be okay in the arms of my loving God. Seek Him first and He will add all the necessary things to you including a husband or a wife. He really does know what you need, even before you ask, so trust God, to fill that void and you will not endure loneliness.

God which we try to fill by connecting with other people and we wonder why we are still not satisfied. We are created for relationship with God, and I am sure you have heard this saying before, that each one of us has a God shaped void/hole in our hearts, which means it can only be filled by God. When that void is filled, one thing I know and can testify to is you will not

Until we meet again in the next issue, stay content, and stay growing. xoxo Rutendo.

By Shamiso Patience Mbiriri

COMMUNICATING MY WAY TO HAPPINESS

Every institution has its guiding principles, marriage is no exception. From the foundations of this world, God was clear on the role that humans were going to play in taking care of His creation. He did not leave anything to common sense or predictions, he communicated, and He still communicates with us every day. Similarly, every human relationship needs daily conversations and affirmations.

Over the years, we have celebrated so many love stories. Everyone has their own strategies they use to keep their marriages grounded and when asked for advice or tips, our experiences are different. However, the one tip that is recurring in everyone’s experience is the power of communication, how it’s underrated and how much it contributes to the health of a marriage. Beyond the promises we make to each other at the altar, there should

be daily commitments to making each other happy. However, because we are humans, our minds are limited. We can only know what we have been told.

When I got married, I had a lot of ideas, dreams, expectations, you name it. I was so determined to be the perfect wife who was finally going to apply everything she had learnt and fantasized over for the past decades. Funny enough, my husband had his own too. In my mind, I had it all figured out. I believed that loving my way was enough and I even thought that maybe this was the solution to a happy marriage.

For a while we worked with that assumption. We were mainly influenced by our upbringing and the various teachings we had acquired over the years. It did not work, and it was so frustrating. I had no idea where I was going wrong because everything I was doing was already working for others, so I believed this was the right path to follow. I was wrong. I did not need to display how much I knew. I needed to let go of everything, listen to my partner, and love him the way he wanted to be loved. We really needed to sit down and reevaluate our strategies. Suddenly, the words in Amos 3 verse 3, “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” started making sense. We had to learn to communicate our deepest thoughts and feelings to make the marriage work.

There was nothing wrong with other people’s marriage models, they were just tailormade for their relationships not ours. To address our specific visions and needs meant using other people’s experiences to learn and tailor our own model. Love makes more sense when we are loved the way we want to be loved, copying was not the right solution for us. When we made the conscious decision to stay true to ourselves and our needs, our relationship grew. We needed that!

We have different experiences and needs, but we all just want to be happy. “Where there is a will there is a way.” Check in as often as possible and find out if you are both doing ok. Normalize prioritizing your partner’s happiness. Ask them if they are happy or what you can do for them to make them happy. Have honest conversations even when you have different opinions. Make a reference to the promises you made to each other and always find ways to reassure your partner that you are still a team

PROPHECIES FOR THE YEAR 2023

by Wiseman John Chi (Ark of God Ministries)

1. There will be financial instability all over the world. Learn to manage what you have and avoid wasting. Last year I spoke of economic crisis in the world and devaluating of currencies. This year there will be food scarcity everywhere, you will look for food and not find it. There is war but worse than war is food scarcity, lack of money, water, and other necessities. A crisis worse than war is coming. Import and export will be a problem. Let us remain in prayer.

2. There will be protests in many countries due to inflation and high cost of living. Prices of many commodities will go up and many will not be able to take it and will protest.

3. The year 2023 is the year of investigation. Many leaders, those in high positions will be exposed this year. Many things that were done in secret will be exposed.

4. I saw something that will cause panic all over the world. Only God can stop this evil plan of mass destruction they are planning. This nuclear weapon is not a good one. We should pray that the war between Ukraine and Russia does not get out of hand.

5. In Asia, I saw something coming from the sea, a deadly disaster, should we say a “Tsunami” that will destroy lives and properties. I saw it coming from the sea. So, the people of Japan pray and be alert for God to avert this disaster.

6. The people of Philippines pray against floods that will destroy lives and properties. I saw floods and rescue teams trying to rescue lives.

7. In 2022, I talked about the wind of change that is blowing around Africa. I talked about Nigeria. In Nigeria the 2023 presidential election will be very tough. I saw people crying out for help, let us pray against a terrible attack that will lead to bloodshed

of innocent victims. The election winner will be announced but will the electoral commission be fair? We should pray against a re-run because I saw two media houses announcing two different outcomes of the elections. Let us pray for Nigeria.

8. One of the fathers of faith, God’s Generals who is well known has fought a good fight and has finished the race well and now he is on his way to the land of no return. He has fought the good fight.

9. Pray for one of the Heads of State here in Africa, who is seriously ill and about to travel, the question is will he return?

10. Pray for the nation, Israel so that they do not make a decision that will affect their relationship with other countries.

11. Cameroon, the Ministry of Transport should investigate the area of transportation whether by land or by air because this year is not smiling.

12. The people of Yaoundé should not cease praying, I saw an attack, something is boiling and each time it wants to explode, it is stopped but when it explodes, God have mercy.

13. This year the church of God must pray for God to separate the “chaff from the weeds.” Workers of iniquity have entered the church of God and masquerade themselves as agents of light. God will begin to expose them this year.

14. Youths this year is not smiling at all. Our youths listen to this, it concerns you. Be careful of negative influence, money, power, and fame are good but the love of it is evil.

Parents warn your children about becoming over ambitious, too anxious, and too desperate. The enemy is using this as a bait to cause untimely death of the youth this year

ONE ON ONE WITH BLESSING TAYENGWA

WHO is Blessing? Give us a summary on your background. Where you brought up in a Christian home?

I am that little girl from a poverty-stricken background with the dream to become all that God created me to be. I am a 35-year-old entrepreneur based in Johannesburg in South Africa. I am the founder and director of Destiny Kids Academy Preschool and Primary school, a wife, a mother, an educator, digital marketer, safety officer and a born-again believer who is so passionate about preaching the true gospel and winning souls for Christ.

I was born in a family of three and was raised singlehandedly by my mother who became a widow, after my father perished in a car accident. I was born and raised in Budiriro 1. I did my primary education at Budiriro 1 Primary School and my High School at Glen view 1 High School.

OF DESTINY KIDS ACADEMY

DIRECTOR

FOUNDER &

I was brought up in a Christian home and we attended a Roman Catholic Church that was nearby. I remember attending some catechism classes.

When were you born again?

I think 26 years ago when I was attending the catholic church with my mother. After high school I then started attending a Pentecostal church where I also gave my life to Christ during altar calls.

Can you briefly tell us about your life before you started running the school.

I worked as a waitress when I first arrived in South Africa, and cashier until I decided to further my education to a higher-level qualification.

The entrepreneurship mind set was always in me, in my spare time I was selling homeware, perfumes, offering skills training courses and I joined a lot of network marketing companies. I always wanted to earn a decent living and be financially independent.

You run a Pre-school & Primary School, how did you start this business and what were the main challenges you faced? How did you overcome?

The business was founded with very limited resources. Having little savings and having secured a building to rent, I decided to start a Daycare business, something I had dreamed of doing for a long time. It was a bold and difficult decision because I had no other source of income to sustain the business except to turn to family and friends when a need arises.

I have always been passionate about children, and it has been my desire to provide quality education and to imprint Christian values on children. Investing in quality education can lead to greater success for children and benefit the family, community, and society. And these valuable skills can ensure that children are ready for a world where they can easily adapt and thrive.

As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

What were the main challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

Any entrepreneur will tell you that starting a business is not easy, because it’s not every game plan that works. What you write down as a business plan is not what happens on the ground, and it can be frustrating when the business is not growing as planned.

Secondly, just like any other new business, financial challenges are usually dominant due to lack of continuous cash flow. I could see opportunities to grow the business but there was not enough capital to add value and standards to the business to create the brand I envisioned, and that people could appreciate.

Some friend and family did not support me and they discouraged me pointing out that I was wasting time and money instead I should get myself a good job in the government and secure a pay cheque every month.

The one thing that kept me going as I faced various challenges along the way was my faith in God, I believed that things would work out for my good. I realized that the enemy wanted me to doubt the Word of God and to stop believing. The day I stop believing is the day I lose, since faith is the baseline for the fulfilment of every vision.

Therefore, I kept holding on to the word of God even when I did not see positive

results in the natural. I was convinced that scriptures can’t be broken and that the promise of God will come to pass even when circumstances looked impossible. The vision may seem impossible and lost, but God’s ability to establish, restore and bless is greater than the devil’s power to destroy. So, I held on to the promise that in all these things overwhelming victory would be mine despite the setbacks and failures.

You are not only a successful businesswoman, but you are a mother of 2 and a wife. How do you manage to balance all the three roles I manage to juggle my roles because of an empowered support system. The core of my home support system is my spouse. I am also blessed with a helper who handles all domestic chores, this gives me ample time to rest, and I have enough time with my family after a long day.

In business, I have learnt to delegate as I can’t do everything on my own. I have a leadership structure and people

who are directly responsible for essential functions at the school. Even if I travel, I know that the business remains functional.

What made you choose to get into education business?

I have always loved working with children so I thought that I would make a great edu-prenuer. I also noticed how challenging it is for parents to find a safe and secure school for their children and so I decided to start one. As a Christian, who lives by Godly values I understand that I can make a difference in the community and take good care of children thereby serving my community faithfully, with all my heart as unto the Lord.

Can you give us details about your business. What does your company do?

Destiny Kids Academy is a private educational group that operates a preschool and a primary school under the name. The school’s valuefor-money pricing model is designed to offer a solution to parents aspiring to send their children to private educational institutions, offering a high-quality infrastructure, and a globally competitive curriculum, at the affordable fees.

Most women would like to venture into business, but the usual

stumbling block is start-up capital, how did you manage to start your business and what advice can you give to someone who is held back by finances.

You start with what you have. I started with only one month’s rental and a few assets, but the business must sustain itself though it wasn’t easy because at times there was not enough cash flow. I ended up doing some side hustles on the premises to bring in more income.

I would want to encourage any woman, young and old thinking of starting their business ventureSTART with what you have. Experts call this your minimum viable product. Start with the smallest and most practical version of your dream. The version that’s enough for you to start even tomorrow. You will never have all the resources you need to start in the beginning.

The process is a continuous journey of overcoming hurdles, one hurdle at a time. You will never know what you are made of by watching from the side lines. You must get in, get your hands dirty and just start! Though it is a challenging journey that will often leave you in tears when you reach a roadblock, it can be one of the most fulfilling journeys you can take, if only you START.

As a child of God, what are some of the challenges you come across when it comes to business?

When it comes to faith in the marketplace, it’s never easy. You will need courage because it’s not every game plan that works. You will find out that some regulators require exorbitant payment (bribe) in exchange for licenses. Sometimes I faced resistance

from close friends and family, other times a well calculated plan failed, and I suffered losses from unforeseen circumstances.

No matter how many times I fall, I stand up and pursue. I keep fighting the good fight of faith as I am very confident that I will see the manifestation of the vision in God’s appointed time. Just as the word of God says in Habakkuk 2:3, that “though the vision delays, wait [patiently] for it, because it will certainly come; it will not delay.”

What are your tips for growing a business. Always Pray for your vision, you will need grace to sustain you in the marketplace. Research thoroughly and network with like-minded businesspeople. Invest in marketing your business. Selling is the most important thing needed for any business to thrive.

You should invest in yourself, attend business workshops, and get a qualification and knowledge around the business you’re planning to start up. It is also important to employ professionally qualified personal in the business as it ensures a lasting reputation within your organization.

There are many people aspiring to be successful in business. Tell us what it takes to be established?

For a great vision to come to fruition, it takes passion, resilience, sleepless nights, courage, perseverance, discipline, and persistence. No vision comes easily, every vision has its scars, battles, and struggles. Stay focused. You should never give up. Do Not Despise the Days of Small Beginnings. Keep pushing hard.

If others can do it, why should you not? Believe in the beauty of your dreams. Your dreams are valid it is not about your age or colour of your skin, go beyond the status quo, even if it’s never happened before in your family, make it happen. The world is waiting for you.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Any plans for your business?

Five years from now, the plan is that by the grace of God I will be able expand the business by opening more branches across Africa and investing into Real estate.

What is your definition of success

To me success is discovering your purpose and fulfilling it before you die. One can excel in the wrong assignment. It is only when you discover your purpose that you can make a difference in people’s lives. So, for me, the key to success is to fulfil God’s purpose for your life.

Where do you draw your inspiration?

I draw my inspiration from other female entrepreneurs who have cultivated their own amazing brands and are making great strides in the business sector. I am also inspired by women in leadership positions, who are taking up space in the corporate sector.

I have learnt that, if you are open and empathetic toward people and their stories, you can discover inspiration anywhere. There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish. You must believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.

Which bible Character do you identify with and why?

I identify myself with Nehemiah, because he also had a vision to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. But just like any other human being, he faced a lot of resistance on his way to rebuild the walls of the city. Despite the challenges, the opposition from Tobias and San Ballat, Nehemiah focused on the vision. He refused to be distracted, he kept on working through all kinds of warfare. From his story, I have learnt that you can go through all kinds of warfare and not everyone will understand your assignment, but you must never let that deter me. Stay focused and keep on walking towards your vision. If I have God’s grace, nothing can stop me, and the vision will certainly come to pass.

Anything you would like to share with the reader especially considering the difficult times we are living in now?

My word of advice to the readers is that, in these difficult and uncertain times, be rooted and grounded in the word of God. Those who are grounded in the word of God are solid and they shall prevail the test of times. Hold on to the word of God, live by the word, as Scriptures can’t be broken, you will indeed see every promise of God being fulfilled in your life as he who promised is faithful.

SHRIMP IN CURRY SAUCE & VEGETABLES

Directions

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• 1 large onion, finely chopped

• salt and pepper

• 1 1/2 tbsp. grated peeled fresh ginger

• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 1 tbsp. curry powder

• 1 cup long-grain white rice

• 1 lb. medium peeled shrimp

• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

• 1 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped

• Lemon wedges, for serving

1. Heat oil in large skillet on medium. Add onion, season with 1⁄4 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 6 to 8

2. minutes. Add ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add curry powder and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

3. Add rice and stir to coat in onion mixture. Stir in 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15 minutes.

4. Fold shrimp and peas into rice and cook, covered, until shrimp are opaque throughout and rice is tender, 4 to 5 minutes more.

5. Remove from heat and fold in coriander. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Ingredients

• ½ cup Butter

• ½ cup Granulated Sugar

• ¼ cup Brown Sugar

• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

• 1 Large Egg

• 1 ¾ cups All-Purpose Flour

• ½ teaspoon Baking Soda

• ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt2

• 1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips

2. Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds. Butter should be completely melted but shouldn’t be hot.

3. In a large bowl, mix butter with the sugars until wellcombined.

4. Stir in vanilla and egg until incorporated.

5. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Please read the recipe note about properly measuring flour.

6. Mix dough until just combined. Dough should be soft and a little sticky but not overly sticky.

7. Stir in chocolate chips.

8. Scoop out 1.5 tablespoons of dough (medium cookie scoop) and place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.

9. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until cookies are set. They will be puffy and still look a little underbaked in the middle.

GRILLED SALMON AND VEGETABLES

Directions

Ingredients

• 4 Salmon Fillets

• 1 Red Bell Pepper (chopped)

• 1 Green Bell Pepper (chopped)

• 1 Yellow Pepper (chipped)

• 1 Onion (chopped)

• 1 cup Snow Peas

• add Carrots (thinly sliced)

• ½ cup Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

• ¼ cup Soy Sauce

• 1 tablespoon Fresh Ginger (grated)

• 1 tablespoon Lime Juice (fresh)

• add pinch Red Pepper Flakes

• Cilantro And Lime Slices (chopped, for garnish)

1. Preheat oven to 375 and spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray.

2. Lay the salmon skin side down surrounded by chopped vegetables.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together Thai sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, ginger, lime juice, and red pepper flakes.

4. Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade and drizzle the rest of the marinade over the salmon and vegetables.

5. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.

6. Remove foil and broil for another 5-7 minutes until the top starts to blacken.

7. Remove salmon from the oven and brush remaining marinade on top. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lime slices of desired.

8. Nutrition

9. Serves: 4