International Online Publication
Modern Beauty In Christian Living
2017/18 Fall/Winter
Christian Magazine
Spiritual Growth!
Inspire
•
Educate
How Can I Overcome Anxiety •
Inform
Christian Magazine
CONTENTS
4 Salvation Invitation
04
Ez Needle Multi Threader
06
Willing to Tell It All
11
Written by Regena Waddle
Regena Waddle
Inspirational Message Pastor Charles Stanley
08 11 12
Invitation To Christ Prayer Of Salvation
How Can I Overcome Anxiety? (Matt. 6: 25– 34)
CHIEF EDITOR Teesha Walker
14
Pray Without Ceasing Written by Teesha Walker
ASSISTANT EDITOR Byron Jackson Jr.
ADVERTISEMENT DIRECTOR Elizabeth Jackson Office: 832.722.2767 or Email:elizabethh117@yahoo.com Email: lizj.mbracingbeauty1@gmail.com PHOTOGRAPHERS GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ferrell Phelps Jr. Elizabeth Jackson Kenneth Grissom
Black History Tribute
Staff Writers Teesha Walker Regena Waddle
Cover
Cover Photo by Opia Photography
Featured Article
CO-FOUNDER/PUBLISHER Elizabeth Jackson
Elizabeth Jackson, Creator
07
8
STAFF
SPONSORS ~ Interactive Hair Studio ~ Ez Needle Multi Threader ~ Ferrell’s Photography~ Opia Photography ~Mrs. Annie Price~
For Current & Previous Publications www.issuu.com/elizabethjackson9
Put Your Trust In God... Not Man!
Celebrating 6 Years of Service
“Serving the Lord and His people through Outreach Publication”
3
“Never Thread Another Needle in Between Weaving Again”
“Spending too Much Time Threading Needles?”
“Etozmake Needle Multi Threader is designed your weaving installation process easier and faster than the conventional way!” website: www.ezneedlemultithreader.com
E
lizabeth Jackson is a lifelong Houstonian. She is a wife, mother of five children, grandmother, entrepreneur, videographer, editor, magazine publisher and inventor. Elizabeth achieved an Associate Degree in Biblical Studies and a Minor in Biblical Counseling. She’s the owner and operator of Interactive Hair Studio for 19 years. She has 35 years of experience in the beauty industry. She promotes healthy hair growth through commitment and Excellency of service.
Elizabeth has published a Christian Magazine, M’Bracing Beauty Christian Magazine, for five years. M’Bracing Beauty Christian Magazine promotes education, inspiration, and encouragement to enhance the life of every believer and offer Jesus Christ to the unbeliever. She video and edits an Online talk show, which hosts many celebrities and everyday people doing extraordinary things. This dedication and commitment to Excellency led to the creation of the Ez Needle Multi Threader.
Ez Needle Multi Threader promotes professionalism, increase productivity, and revenue, efficiency and enhances time management. Ez Needle is a multipurpose product which is useful in the hair weaving, sewing, quilting, or any area where the use of multi needles is necessary. Elizabeth motto is to do everything you strive to accomplish in an excellent manner and trust the results to God.
What does Ez Needle do for you? • • • • • • • • •
Promotes Professionalism! Increase revenue! Ez to use! Save time! Save Money! Super Investment! Great Customer Experience! Increase Clientele! Sanitation!
4 Designs
Spending Too Much Time Threading Needles?
Not anymore, with Ez Needle Multi Threader you can have up to 15 - 30 needles available for use in minutes. Ez Needle Multi-Threader eliminate the hassle and frustration that comes with threading needles. Ez Needle allows you to precisely thread needles regardless of unraveling thread. No more hanging needles on towels. Ez Needle frees your clients up to enjoy the experience of a salon care and surf social media. No More clients threading needles for you! Ez Needle Multi Threader is also Multi-purpose.
“With Ez Needle Multi-Threader all your weaving, sewing, and quilting needs can be a Website: www.ezneedlemultithreader.com | Email: ezneedle@gmail.com breeze!”
Willing to Tell It All Written by Regena Waddle
When I was a kid I used to dream of this fairytale life. Growing up in poverty wasn’t easy and I’m sure like many other kids; I dreamed of a life better than the one I was living. I had goals to reach and was sure I would reach them. I had plans on saving myself for the man of my dreams, finishing high school, going to college to obtain a degree in Nursing. I planned to start a family after those goals were accomplished. I lost my virginity at the age of 17 and I got pregnant. I failed myself and felt as if I destroyed my life and his. My grandparents are ministers and very strict. I was told that the only way to make things right in God’s eyes was to ask for forgiveness, get married and raise the child together. This was outside of what I wanted. I hadn’t met the man of my dreams, I hadn’t met myself yet. I loved Christ so much I felt that it was the right thing to do. I didn’t know him or me, had no clue what love was outside of my parents and God, but I knew that I wanted to please the Lord. I had no clue about what I wanted in life, I wasn’t ready for a husband or a child, or ready to be a mother. I was so lost and confused. I walked across stage for my diploma at 17, begin college at 17, had my daughter at 18 and got married. Against all odds, God was by my side and reassured me that I would be fine. I continued in college with an infant child and a high school husband. We had to find a way of life that appeased to us both. I soon begin to find out that he didn’t share the same love for Christ that I did. I prayed night and day, stayed in my bible learning how to submit and be a mother. He worked and went to school. It was not too long after we married that he began to cheat and become verbally abusive. I stayed and maintained my family, we were expecting our second child, our first son. Things seemed to hold steady even though we were unequally yoked. I continued to go with the flow of things although I knew I was not in it for love because we still had no idea what it was. In 2002, we were expecting our third child, and had been married for 2 years. The troubles and struggles of life started to weigh in and the marriage became too stressful and he became physically, emotionally, and verbally abusive. The following year, we were fighting all the time and very unhappy, so we separated. We never reconciled and finally divorced in 2009, 6 years after we separated. Here I am, 8 years later, a divorced single mother of 3, still standing with God on my side. Without God, I am nothing! I learned over the years that when we step outside of God’s will for our lives we will wander in the wilderness and be lost. BUT GOD! He brought me home and I’ve been in His arms ever since. We must pray and ask God to lead and guide us down the right path and even if we detour we must remember that the will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot keep us. He is our sustainer and if we continue to hold on to his unchanging hands we will find out that His grace is truly sufficient. In the midst of my disobedience, I was birthed right into the hands of my gracious Father and I have such a great testimony; I’m willing to tell it all.
6
What the Bible Says About Spiritual Growth 2 Pet. 1: 2– 12 Charles Stanley
Not many people can say that on the day they were saved, someone explained the steps to spiritual growth. Unfortunately, some believers never hear how to develop in their relationship with the Lord. Since none of us matures as a Christian without taking action, Peter instructs believers, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3: 18). Then how are we to grow? Second Peter 1: 3 promises, “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness.” It is God who transforms us into His image, but it is our responsibility to implement all that He teaches us. Second Peter 1: 5– 7 continues, “For this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.” The Bible gives us powerful principles about how to do so: First, we are responsible for renewing our minds (Rom. 12: 2). Though God saves us and gives us a new spirit, it is our duty to control our thoughts and focus our minds on what honors Him, so that our minds can be transformed. Therefore, we must meditate on the Word, considering what it means and applying the truth we
discover to our lives— because that is how the Holy Spirit changes us and we obtain “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2: 16). Second, we must be ready to admit our failures and assume responsibility for them. When we deny our sins, we delay our spiritual growth. But when we confess our transgressions, the opposite happens— we mature because we admit our dependence upon God. John tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1: 9). The third step naturally follows the second— after confession should come repentance. This is more than acknowledging wrongdoing or promising to try harder. Repentance means that we commit to making an aboutface and heading in the opposite direction from our sin. Paul taught, “Repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26: 20). Instead of behavior that is unbecoming to a believer, the fruit of the Spirit is produced in us—“ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5: 22, 23). God’s ultimate goal is for all believers to become more Christ-like. That happens only when, through faith, we obey His commands and implement His principles. And soon our relationship with Him begins to deepen in ways we never thought possible.
To live th l i f e i s t o a e C h ri st ia n l l ow Je s u s to live Hi s life in and thr ough us.
7
\\ PRAYER OF SALVATION// A SINNER’S PRAYER Romans 10: 9,10
You Can Receive Jesus Christ Right Now by Faith - Through Prayer:
Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus, for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus, transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life! Amen. Can you think of anything more wonderful that could happen to you than receiving Christ? “As soon as you can find a Bible believing and Bible teaching Church so that you can begin to hear and study the Word of God. Remember, Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.” Paul D. Landrew Put Your Trust In God... Not Man!
8
AFTER YOU PRAYED THE PRAYER OF SALVATION, BELOW ARE SOME SUGGESTED CHURCHES YOU MAY CONSIDER GOING TO FOR MORE BIBLE BASED TEACHING AND GUIDANCE IN THE WORD OF GOD. Dr. Paul D. Landrew, Senior Pastor/Teacher Loving Word Fellowship Church 170 Rittenhouse Houston, TX 77076
Pastor Henry Thomas True Fellowship Baptist Church 3115 N. Fry Katy, TX 77449
Pastor Bennett T. Cortez Greater Faith Baptist Church 9235 West Montgomery rd. Houston, TX 77088
Pastor Raynard Hillis Double Rock Baptist Church 1595 Shafter Ave San Francisco, California 94124
Pastor John Adolph Antioch Missionary Baptist Church 3920 West Cardinal Drive Beaumont, TX 77705
Pastor Donald Stallings D. D. Perfecting Praise Community Church 6618 Antoine Dr. Houston, tx 77091
Pastor Roland Booker Just Church Ministry 13547 Bammel North Houston Houston, TX 77066
Pastor Ralph Douglas West The Church Without Walls 5725 Queenston Houston, TX 77084
Senior Pastor C. David Harrison First Baptist Church Heights 201 East 9th Street Houston, TX 77007
Pastor Charles Tompkins New Prairie View Baptist Church 4303 Sealy Rd. San Felipe, TX 77473
Pastor Charles Carter Jr. First St. Mark Baptist Church 2934 Brackenridge Houston, TX 77016
Pastor Andy Woods Sugar Land Bible Church 401 Matlage Way Sugar Land TX, 77478
What The Bible Says About Our Greatest Salvation “Christ took our punishment and died in our place. Since our attempts at righteousness will not satisfy God, Christ clothed us in His righteousness in such away that when God, the Father, looks upon us, He does not see our sin; He sees only the righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ.” L. Moyer Hebrews 2:1-4 -What has been the greatest moment of your life? For some people, the answer might be their wedding day, the birth of a child, or an important promotion. But for believers, the best experience is salvation, when their eternal destiny was changed. New Christians often have a fervor to share their faith. In time, however, many find their hearts cooling as they focus less on their relationship with Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:1 instructs, Therefore we must give the most earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. “Salvation is God’s amazing solution to man’s sinful condition: it is His gift of rescue - through the death of Jesus- from the penalty of our transgressions.” Charles Stanley
Read current & previous editions Online @ www.issuu.com/elizabethjackson9
9
How Can I Overcome Anxiety? (Matt. 6: 25– 34)
God did not design you to be anxious or nervous. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowds, “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’… Do not worry about tomorrow” (Matt. 6: 31, 34). At some point, all of us have worried about the basics of life. Most of our anxieties involve fundamental things: where we live, what food we buy, what clothes to wear, what friends
worry and doubt His goodness, you will never have the peace He wants you to experience. Do you take time to acknowledge Him as your Provider? Your answer has everything to do with your anxiety level. Have you ever watched a mouse running inside a wheel? The faster he runs, the faster the wheel moves— but he doesn’t make the slightest progress. He does not even have the sense to get off the wheel. This is exactly what anxiety does to you. As fearful thoughts fill your mind, you begin to run faster, trying harder to meet the demands of others or to prevent an uncertain disaster. But you will never gain complete control over your circumstances because God is the One who is solely in control of all things. There is only one way to step off the wheel and that is by acknowledging the
“God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.” we have, and what others think about us. In all these concerns, the issue is one of faith and trust in God. Do we really believe that He will do what He has promised to do in His Word? If you assume that you are the one who is in charge of your life, then you will battle anxiety and fear. However, if you understand the ways of the Lord, then you will know that He is in charge and that the sovereign God of the universe cares for you. If you
Lord’s ability to take care of every need you have. God created you. He knows your needs
and the deepest desires of your heart (Ps. 37: 4). He longs for you to end the anxiety cycle and let Him lead (Matt. 11: 28). First Peter 5: 6, 7 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” The word “casting” is related to the Greek verb used in Luke 19: 35, when on Palm Sunday the people of Jerusalem threw their garments onto a colt for Jesus to ride. The word describes the same motion: a deliberate action of setting something down and leaving it there. Jesus wants you to give your cares over to Him and leave them with Him. You depend on Him for life itself, and you acknowledge this by saying, “Here, Jesus. Take my problems. You have the answers! I trust You to show me what to do and to take care of the consequences.”
“Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees.” 11
Celebrating Black History Thank you for your Service!
12
This picture only contains a few of the Black women who inspire me and many others. To these ladies, living or departed, famous or not, THANK YOU. Thank you for your poise, elegance, brilliance and perserverance. My prayer is that God continues your legacies and beliefs through those that follow you. I am grateful to consider you all as Black History legends!
Pray Without Ceasing! 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Written by: Teesha Walker
It always amazes me how God allows us to live out His commandments no matter where we are. It’s not a secret that we are living in trying times. However, as Christians we know that we should always pray. Pray while working, pray while believing, pray while witnessing and pray without ceasing. Because of His infinite wisdom, we can even pray in the midst of chaos all while assuming one of the many prayer positions.
Standing – exemplifies respect and awe to God and examination by God; also shows preparation for battle. With Uplifted Hands – depicts praise and surrender; yielding to God’s authority. Walking – Illustrates how we should pray with the expectation of action; demonstrates James 2: 17: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Prostrate – the ultimate display of submission; also signifies rest and peace. 14
Modern Beauty In Christian Living
Put Your Trust In God... Not Man!
M’Bracing Beauty Magazine Advertisement Rates Please Circle One: • Back Cover • Back Inside Cover • Front Inside Cover • Full Page • Half Page • Quarter Page • Eighth of Page size)
(Cost Per Size) $375.00 $250.00 $250.00 $185.00 $125.00 $95.00 $65.00
(W x H) 8.5 x 11 7.5 x 10 7.5 x 10 7.5 x 10 7.5 x 5 (horizontal only) 3 3/4 x 5 (vertical only) 3 3/4 x 2 1/2 (Horizontal only, business
“Camera-ready Ads” needs to be in pdf or jpeg format ( min. 300 dpi resolution). Please email Ad copy to lizj.mbracingbeauty1@ gmail.com. If your Ad is not “camera-ready” and you need our assistance in Ad creation or formatting, we can accommodate you. Emai: Elizabeth Jackson @ elizabethh117@yahoo.com or contact her at 832.229.7319 for more info. or email our Director of advertisement @ byron.jackson66@yahoo.com TO ENSURE YOUR SPACE IN OUR NEXT ISSUE Contact Byron Jackson @ 832.229.7319 our Director of Advertisment or mail to M’Bracing Beauty Christian Magazine P. O. Box 90425 - Houston , TX 770290-0425
Evelyn’s Creative Designs
“Affordable designs because you know wedding decoration is so expensive”
We offer services for *Weddings * Proms * *Valentines Day * *Funerals * Mother’s Day* *Quinceanera* Mums* and much more
All Occasions 903-749-6771
Email: evejackson@ suddenlink.net
(Romans 12:4,5)
Although I was created to be the
strongest section of the unit, I have to share myself with others, which at times they find themselves fighting against one another. My body is designed to stand tall and keep things together in order that it might become strong as a whole to build a kingdom of great things, yet it is weakening daily. Why does my body become weak daily? Because those who I share my body with such as the legs, arms, feet, mouth, eyes, hands, fingers, and so forth are fighting with one another daily. It makes me feel sad. It hurts me dearly. Only if they understood that they are all equally important to me, they would not be fighting. I sometimes find myself feeling sad and alone. So I often go to my Creator to find peace and pray for strength, in order that I might stay strong for the sake of those whom I share myself with. I’m even more sad because all that I am I am unable to keep the legs from hating on my feet. I’m unable to stop the eyes from rolling its components at my mouth 17 I’m tired of my mouth gossiping and
about my hands. I just wish we all could get along. Although those who I share my body with are different from one another they still play an important role to my body. Each of us has been design and created with an individual gift, which if was not available it would cause the body to somewhat be handicap. If my hand isn’t functioning in its creation it slows me down, when I need to feed my stomach by use of my mouth, and if I’m unable to use my mouth then it will affect my body and it would become weak. Dear Lord, I pray for love and unity amongst the members of my body. My body is weakening daily and I’m tired of the fighting, slandering, gossiping, backbiting, belittling, and the ‘don’t care attitudes,’ that’s in the atmosphere. Lord, send a Spirit of love and unity, so that we as the Body of Christ will get along and respect one another. The Body of Christ is suffering. It’s at war with and against itself. 17
Answers to Life’s Questions How can I combat my fears? 2 Tim. 1: 7 Paul’s words to Timothy are equally God’s words to you. He has given each one of us “a spirit . . . of power and love and discipline” (2 Tim. 1: 7). Therefore, we never should respond to circumstances or people in fear because we have the power of God living within us— the very power that dispels all fear and anxiety. 1. Ask for God’s help. When fear strikes, immediately ask for God’s help. Tap into His power and allow Him to encourage your heart. Remember when Peter tried to walk on the water to Jesus, but his fear overcame him (Matt. 14: 30)? When he found himself in trouble and fear— sinking in the sea— he had the right response. He asked for God’s help. “Lord, save me!” This is your best first response any time you feel fearful. 2. Ask the Lord to fill your heart with a sense of His abiding love. Love is a powerful antidote to fear. God’s love has the ability to eliminate it. I remember the first time I preached in my home church. I was young and had a “fear attack.” I felt the people would expect more from me than a group of strangers might expect. So what helped me? I read the words of the Lord to Joshua in Joshua 1: 5– 9, and then I turned my focus to the people of my home church. I felt overwhelmed by how much I loved them and how they had loved me through the years. By the time I stood in the pulpit, the fear had completely
drained out of me. John tells us, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4: 18). Ask your heavenly Father to impart to you more of Christ’s love and to take away any torment you feel. As you do, fear will lose its grip on you. 3. Ask God to give you a sound mind, filled with and operating according to God’s Word. The basis for a sound mind is the Word of God. The more you know of God’s promises and the more you live according to His commandments, the greater your strength to withstand fear. Use Scripture to speak directly to the source of your fear, just as Jesus quoted Scripture to Satan during His time of temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4: 1– 13). When you feel gripped by fear, turn your gaze to Jesus, redirect your heart to His love, speak to your fear from the Word of God, and then respond boldly to the situation. The Lord’s desire is for you to “be strong and very courageous” today (Josh. 1: 7). See the Life Principles Index for further study: 8. Fight all your battles on your knees and you win every time. 3. God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.
“God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.”
18
Stanley, Charles F.. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Kindle Locations 86599-86620). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
Healthy Eats
Holiday season is approaching and usually that means glutton is amongst us. It’s the season to pull out all of the family recipes and eat until our soul is content. Here are two of my favorites with modifications to make sure your waistline doesn’t expand too much.
Southern Style Greens **Diabetes Friendly** 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 large onion, chopped 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 pound collard greens, chopped 3 cups vegetable stock 2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped Salt and freshly ground black pepper In a large pot over medium heat, heat oil and butter. Saute the onions until slightly softened, about 2 minutes, then add the red pepper flakes and garlic, cook another minute. Add collard greens and cook another minute. Add the vegetable stock, cover and bring to a simmer. Cook until greens are tender, about 40 minutes. Add tomatoes and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Opia Photography Kenneth Grissom High End Runway Photogragpher Website: www.opiaphotography.zenfolio.com
Jesus Is The Reason For The Season! Merry Christmas & Happy New!
Interactive Hair Studio Website: Http://elizabethh117.wixsite.com/interactivehair
Elizabeth Jackson “Specializes In Healthy Hair” “Why Compromise Healthy Hair for Style when you can have both?” Call for Appointment | Walk-ins Welcome Master Hair Care Provider We Accept Cash/Visa/Master Card
Fusion
Business Hours: Closed Sundays & Mondays Open Tuesday - Saturday
832-722-2767
Children Welcome
Celebrity Style
Fusion