EnVision Magazine October -December 2022

EDITOR’S NOTE

Well we are in the last quarter of 2022 and what can I say ! So many great things have happened to the Envision and Radio and Magazine family ! From fantastic new programs that have come aboard to our first out of town sponsored event in Huntsville, Alabama with host Minister Fred II this month. Thank you for your prayers, encouraging words and support. Please continue to read, share & listen ! I am looking forward to 2023 aren’t you ? There so many things that I want to do with and through our family.

On the cover this month is the wonderful and dedicated Woman of God Dr. Zelda Kitt of Zelda Kitt Ministries (www.Zeldakittministries.com) out

of Auburn, Alabama. Please be sure to support this wonderful ministry if you would like more information please email her at Zkitt22@gmail.com

The theme of this last issue of 2022 is Music, Ministry & Mission ! That’s the definition of our journey isn’t it?

Serving the Lord, fellowship and making sure that we spread the Love of Christ in love ! Made me think of one my favorite scriptures

Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

Stay tuned Envision Magazine has had steady growth. We are amazed at the sharing and th constant support of this magazine. Next year we will have a way for you to receive a hard copy & special events supporting the magazine! Tshirts too yes the magazine will have its own branded cups, pens and so much more !God bless you all Thank you so much! Greater is Coming!

See you next year!

Ann C Editor-in-Chief

Table

You Are Worthy

Mission?

Charliese

the Kitchen Table to the

Table by Vernice Mechel Mitchell

Music Corner by Denise Tichenor-Davis

Your Life by James L. Marshall, Jr.

Spiritual Journey by Hurricane Dave Smith

are Turning to Side

by C. Starks

Ten with Dr. Zelda Kitt

1. What is the name of your ministry and where are you located?

I founded Committed to Christ Worldwide Church Ministries which is located in Shorter, AL; however, Zelda Kitt Ministry is an evangelistic arm that is primarily based in Auburn, AL and serves the world through TV and radio broadcasts.

2. How did you come into ministry?

Like many people, I did not want to be in ministry. I was attending college at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL when I heard the call in the early 1990’s. Initially, I was only willing to intercede, but through many encounters with God and confirmations from others, I accepted the call. At the time, my pastor wrestled with the idea of women preachers and so for three years I waited. I did not feel released to leave that ministry and so I stayed and prayed. Abruptly during the third year of waiting, the Pastor had a change of heart and eventually licensed and ordained me for ministry in 1997. To this day, I have great respect for Pastor Michael McClure, Sr. He not only spiritually accepted me, but he invested time training me for ministry.

3. What are some the challenges my ministry faced due to the pandemic?

During the height of the pandemic, our ministry experienced decreased attendance at church. Due to the fear of the unknown, many people opted online/virtual services. As for Zelda Kitt Ministry, we continued with most of our outreach. Our conferences were postponed, and we experienced a decline in giving. On the other hand, our

social media ministry outlets grew exponentially. More and more people began to reach out and participate in virtual services. Our TV ministry also expanded to reach many people whose church did not offer online services. My personal challenge was accepting the changes to how we fellowshipped and convincing Believers not to forsake the fellowship.

4. Do you believe that the pandemic is a plague? Is there a biblical reference to these times?

I am very careful to attribute with any definitiveness what God sends as a plaque. However, as we study scripture, we see some similarities due to the global nature of the pandemic and the bewilderment of scientist to quickly stop the spread of COVID19. What I will say is that amid challenging times, such as a pandemic, God is able to manifest his Lordship throughout the nations. As we visit eras of American history, we will find things we deem as curses or plagues against children of disobedience. There is no doubt that we can extract a message from God in our circumstances. Nonetheless, our focus should remain on the promise of Jesus’ return for His people. Subsequently, if the pandemic serves as preparation for the people of God, then we can praise God for a glorious outcome, despite the pain, loss and confusion—even if it were a plague.

5. Encouragement to those fearing dying during the pandemic.

I share the sentiments of PMJ, ‘”If I never get COID19, then God protected me, If I

get it and am healed, then God kept me, but if I get it and die, God still has me.”’ The truth is God is in complete control. Because there is life beyond what we now experience on earth, we can have confidence that when we die, we rest in Him. We don’t have to fear because our Savior has taken the power of death away. To experience fear or to be afraid is a human experience, but when you are confident that you know that God is faithful through this life and the one to come, that revelation of his great love makes it difficult to live in fear. God declaration of God’s word for those who have suffered loss. I believe this tool will help us to heal and appropriately deal with our emotional loss.

6. What plan do you have for your ministry in 2023?

It is my hope to expand our reach and return to offering Empowerment Conferences. I plan to improve the branding our ministry so that we could be more accessible to people worldwide. There is a training component I am praying to offer to those who were once like me—people who know that they are called to ministry but need knowledge and support.

7. How has the Lord blessed your ministry this year?

During the darkest nights in our world, the light of God’s word has shone through. We have been blessed to minister to many people who either gave their lives to God or re-dedicated themselves to the Lord. Anytime God trusts us with souls, that is an awesome

TEN WITH DR. ZELDA KITT by Ann C.

thing. Every month I watch God provide for the ministry. People would call in or write to help our ministry continue to TV and radio. Finally, the doors that God has opened for us to minister has been phenomenal.

8. How can someone donate to your ministry?

We need your help. There are many ways someone can help us spread the word of God and offer Jesus worldwide. You may cashapp $DrZkitt; venmo at @Zelda-Kitt; Paypal at zkitt22@gmail.com; zelle at 334-440-5978 or mail gifts to Zelda Kitt Ministry, 1550 Opelika Rd., Ste 6, #337, Auburn, AL 36830.

9. What is your suggestion to someone who would like to be one minister of Chris?

First, commit yourself to the Lord and learn of Him. Be sure to be connected to a sound biblical preaching, teaching community of believers. Surround yourself with Godly leaders and people who aim to mature in Christ. Wait on the calling while serving and make your calling/election sure. Don’t just read Scripture but study them. Focus on your relationship with God and presenting yourself as an available ve10. ssel. Most importantly, stay in communion with God to truly be on His timing.

10. What is your favorite scripture? Colossians 1:13 (NIV) “For he has

rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”

Dr. Zelda Kitt is a Pastor in Auburn, Alabama. She is also an author of several books, retired educator & Adjunct Professor at ASU. She is the host of Zelda Kitt Ministries program on Envision Radio Sundays @5pmEST Visit her at www.zeldakittministries.com

Spike Davis Comedian Host Actor Writer

Comedian Spike Davis, born and raised in Louisville, KY but now resides in Atlanta for the past 12 years. Over the past 30 years, Spike has toured the country with some of the hottest names in the comedy business. Most notably, he appeared with Steve Harvey, Jamie Foxx, and Ced The Entertainer just to name a few. Also, Spike has made several national television appearances on HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, and BET. He has been rocking comedy club stages from coast to coast and now sea to shining sea. Over the past 6 years, Spike has elevated to himself one of the most requested comedians on the high seas. Working cruise lines and performing to sold-out rooms nightly. With his intelligent and witty comedic style coupled with the ability to work off the crowd, he leaves the audiences with a lot to laugh about and tons to think. His well thought out sets include humor mixed with poignant messages of hope, inspiration, healing, and inclusion all with a silly twist.

“I Do” (A Man’s Heart)

by Pastor Gregory DeVon Host of The Sanctuary

When I saw you my soul exhaled as I encountered the dream that I never thought would be reality. As I looked in your eyes I saw the reflection of my most intimate desire. You inspire my soul and ascend my spirits higher. Time seemed to stand still as my existence bowed to your essence. My desire in this moment is to inhale your exhale and let love prevail as God impregnates my life with you. Birthing forever together my reality is overwhelmed with the revelation that you’re more than a dream come true. Every insecurity changed to serenity as I beheld the beauty of your countenance. Courage overcame fear as you inspired every fiber of my being to love; it was then that I realized that every good and perfect gift comes from above. You’re more than a gift, you’re the wind that caused my atmosphere to shift. So I lift my hands in total Praise to God for giving me a blessing I honestly don’t deserve. My earnest desire is to preserve this love. So I ask God to grant me the wisdom to understand your every need, and the ability to take heed to the call to lead you into our destiny. Facing the reality of staring my heart’s desire in the face, it was grace that calmed my spirit

and rescued me from being afraid to embrace a higher call. My humanity was conflicted, but my soul was convicted as my Spirit understood exactly who you were. You sang an angelic melody that only my heart could hear, and the gentleness of your touch dissolved my fear as you wiped every tear that flowed from the river of my existence. You awaken in me the desire to be a better man by speaking to the King in me. It was then that I understood that you were more than a woman, you were a QUEEN! You’re a reflection of God’s love and the most beautiful being I have ever seen. My reality doesn’t exist without you, so I’ll spend forever creating new ways to express I love you. Right now I offer you my earnest “I do”.

Pastor Gregory DeVon church is New Grassy Creek Missionary Baptist Church in Oxford, NC ! His program The Sanctuary can be heard on the Envision Radio Network (www.envision-radio.com) every Friday at 6pmEST.

Believe You Are Worthy

Phyllis Clark

CEO/Founder of the Phyllis Clark

Coaching & Consulting, LLC

www.phyllislclark.com

I just heard the most satisfying award acceptance speech. Maybe you did too. Sheryl Lee Ralph had won the Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her portrayal of a quick witted and “seasoned” educator Barbara Howard in Abbot Elementary. The most memorable aspect of her message (which had me tearing up in all of 8 seconds) is still circling within my spirit; her voice lifted in song and praise for the “Endangered Black Woman” (written by Day, Chin, and Glasper and released in 2019).

Ms. Ralph reminded all of us through those compelling lyrics what “believing looks like”. So my question to you in this moment is do you believe as she did? Do you believe you are enough to conquer your dreams, to fulfill your destiny, to forge the pathway to which you have been called? If you are saying, feeling, or thinking ANYTHING but yes then let me offer you 3 ways to recognize, manifest,

and live your brilliance. For a long time I didn’t. Here’s why?

The birth of my daughters, 19 and 15 years ago, respectively, brought me to the realization that if I was going to lead, guide, and support them in a world that is going to bend over backwards to tell my Black girls they aren’t enough, I had to stop my wallowing in my own fears and stop hugging up with “playing small”. Lea and Sydnee’s lives literally saved mine. I’m tearing up now just thinking about the mindset shifts and belief system development I forced myself to radically repair the spring of 2008.

Little did I know that my 20+ year history of “leaning out” was born from a debilitating psychological pattern recognized in vanity and academic literature as the impostor syndrome. After I entered into my doctoral program in the Fall of 2016, I quickly found out that impostorism, coined by

two clinical psychologists in 1979, was a thing and it was bossin’ me around – and I let it.

I implore you to heed the words of Ms. Lee Ralph and believe you are worthy… you are strong… you are called… and you are made for such a time as THIS! In the moment I stood strong and recommitted my life to its purpose, there were several powerful beliefs that stabilized me. I became fueled with by the obligation to envision and construct what I wanted to see for myself, my family, and others. There have been several iterations since that spring day but what follows are 3 newly constructed personal directives that have given rise to a journey that I affectionately call “the anti-impostorism” movement. Will you join me? Here’s how.

Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash

First, you must recognize who you are by stabilizing your CORE. We all know that exercise is good for your core but your inner-most sanctuary can also be led and fed by a foundation of beliefs and values which thereby become central to your personal mission, actions, and decision-making processes. It can further aid it taming your inner critic which happens to be a “cousin” of impostorism.

Second, you must manifest who you have been called by becoming fully engaged in “CONSCIOUSNESS-development” practices. This means you must desire to fully understand who you are and work within your purpose, grow your confidence through meaningful experiences that support your purpose (even if they scare you), and identify your distinctive strengths as well as areas for improvement.

Lastly, you must be willing to live the life that you have been called to lead by CULTIVATING your skills and competencies through a life-long commitment to learning, reimagining your productivity prowess as well as identifying and acting upon high-impact behaviors that are aligned with your purpose, prospects, and position.

I have learned over these years is that impostor feelings is not just internal as many would have us believe. While impostorism is not a condition or diagnosis, there are many factors that

contribute to the development of these thoughts and feelings. I choose to believe there are external forces and societal norms wreaking havoc our mindsets which in turn affects our actions, behaviors, motivations, and desires. Anti-Impostorism aims to disrupt the pattern of self-limiting beliefs that emerge through a warped view of oneself and is accomplished through the convergence of recognizing, manifesting, and living your brilliance.

The directives that I share here, if honored, will help you reposition, reframe, and replenish daily so that you can not only love the unique life you lead but also brand and amplify the brilliance that lives within you. That, is my march toward “anti-impostorism” and I hope you join me in the movement. Many of our lives and livelihood depend upon it.

Phyllis Clark is an educational psychologist and postsecondary administrator uniquely qualified to present, coach, train, and facilitate on the impostor phenomenon. Additionally, she is the CEO and founder of Phyllis Clark Coaching & Consulting, LLC, a personal & professional development company which is dedicated to fostering the metamorphosis of women and girls. Her company specializes in individual and collective support, community-building, accountability, and mentorship. Contact: phyllis@phyllislclark.com or visit phyllislclark.com.

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

Paella

BY CHEF WAYNE JOHNSON

www.farestart.org

BROTH INGREDIENTS

1 cup minced garlic

2 cups lobster base

2T + 2tsp chili flakes

8T saffron pistols

8T ground turmeric

4 gal chicken stock

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp olive oil

2 oz chorizo links, 1” chunks

2 oz chicken (boneless skinless 1” chunks)

3 ea clams

3 ea mussels

1 oz red onion, julienne ¼ “

1 oz carrots, diced ¼ “

1 oz piquillo pepper, julienne ¼ “

1 cup risotto base

2 cup paella broth

1 oz peas, IQF

1 tbsp harissa butter

3 each shrimp 16/20

3 ea asparagus spears, 4” lengths

1 ea scampi

HARISSA INGREDIENTS

6 lbs unsalted butter, softened

1 ¾ cup+ mustafa’s

2 tbsp harissa

6 tbsp sherry vinegar

6 tbsp salt

4 ½ tsp black pepper

RISOTTO

4 tbsp butter, unsalted

2 cups onions, diced ¼ “

9 cups arborio rice

7cups chicken broth

DIRECTIONS

FOR RISOTTO:

In a round braising pan, melt butter. Add onions and saute, stirring constantly until translucent. Add Arborio and saute, stirring constantly until slightly translucent. DO NOT BROWN! Add Chicken Broth, 1 cup at a time, and simmer, stirring constantly, until no liquid releases when you pull it away from the bottom. Spread on a sheet pan and refrigerate until cold.

FOR PAELLA BROTH: STIR BEFORE USE

With hand blender mix ingredients (except chili flakes) until lobster is fully dissolved. Add chili flakes. Place in large storage container, label, date and refrigerate. (Shelf-life 4 days)

FOR HARISSA BUTTER:

Beat all ingredients together in the mixer. Label, Date Refrigerate.

FOR PAELLA PRESENTATION:

Par cook rice to prevent over cooking in finishing the dish. Place saute pan on stove, saute in pan chorizo, chicken, onion and carrot. Deglaze pan with wine and add Paella broth and risotto. Cook until creamy consistency; finish with Piquillo peppers, peas and harissa butter. Pour into paella pan and arrange seafood into rice. Make sure all seafood is standing up for presentation. Cook in hot oven until bubbly and seafood is cooked. Garnish with roasted asparagus. Place on a large plate for service.

What is Your Mission?

by Dr. Julia A. Royston Host of The Book Business Boss Show Host of Live Your Best Life www.juliaroyston.net

For people that have known me more than 25 years, know that I have been a singer, choir director, state minister of music, songwriter and lover of music all of my life.

When I was 2 ½ years old, my mother was holding me so I could stand in the church pew during a choir rehearsal all of the while pregnant with my sister. The choir director, my godmother, waved her arms to stop the singers, musicians and end the song but I was still holding the note. The choir members laughed but that was the beginning. Fast forward to when I was 8 years old, I sang the lead part along with the junior choir and it was over. My parents knew, I knew and the church knew that I was gifted to sing. Although I took voice lessons for 3 years and a voice minor in college, I knew that my gift came from God and I would dedicate my gift to Him and Ministry. I travelled the country singing before my uncle preached, my father would teach and any other program that they asked me to sing. In the early days, I didn’t

know what an honorarium was but I gave my all just like they were paying me millions, why? Because my gift was from God and He gave me the gift so I owed Him my best as well as my everything. Some of you reading this don’t sing but support and love music just like me. Thank you so much. But God has given you a gift and whatever that gift is, honor Him with that gift. Secondly, if that gift can be used in any type of church, non-profit or religious ministry, great. But we are all called to be ministers. If you are never ordained or do anything in a pulpit, you have a ministry. My love of music remains the same but my many ministry opportunities have been transferred to and more likely seen in my publishing companies along with my other businesses. Why? Because He can trust me with the gifts that He has given me. When I get one gift, talent or ability, I give Him glory and then He allows me the opportunity to serve in a different and often times greater capacity than ever imagined. Literacy for underserved and underrepresented children has become my mission. I am on a mission for diverse children to have representation and see themselves in

children’s books around the world. It is a daunting task, often discouraging and expensive but with God’s help and guidance, I’ll do my part to put a dent, make a mark and leave a legacy for literacy on this earth. Music is my first gift. Ministry is my opportunity to serve. As a librarian, literacy was my profession. Teaching is my purpose. Creating words

for the next generation to read as well as inspiring the next Pulitzer Prize winner, that’s my destiny. What’s your mission?

Julia Royston is a speaker, author, publisher, writing coach and business consultant. Julia and her husband, Brian K. Royston oversee the operation of BK Royston Publishing, LLC www.bkroystonpublishing.com & Royal Media and Publishing to provide high quality materials that inform, inspire and entertain. Listen every Sunday to her radio program Live Your Best Life on Envision Radio Network @ 10am EST at www.envision-radio.com

Sticks and Stones

by Jeovonnii Pryor EA

Host of Life in the Tax Lane www.syndicatetax.net

We have all been taught this chant as children. But I don't believe words are harmless. If you look up the definition of what a spell is, its cited as a series of words that has magical powers. They say if you're under a spell, then what you do is out of your control — your thoughts and actions are dictated by the spell. What's interesting is that a spell can refer to the magic words you say, or it can describe "being under the influence of those words." Words are extremely powerful. Did you know there is no written law anywhere within the 16th "income tax amendment" that says we must pay an individual income tax? Although it's specifically stated that it is unlawful to avoid paying your taxes, the

law is the final word and yet our written law only requires us to pay tax on all goods and services, property and investments. So we all naturally have conformed to paying an individual income tax as if under a spell. There was a $50,000 challenge that was put at the public's feet in 2000. It simply said that if anyone could clearly point out where it said we all must pay an individual income tax the winner would receive a check for $50,000. There was never a claim for the winner. It is 2022, and no one can say why we are still paying an income tax. If we're not under a spell, how do you explain why millions of taxpayers, myself included, are still paying a tax as is if our own thoughts and actions are dictated by the spell cast by the government...

"Sticks & stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me."

Photo by Vadym Lebedych on Unsplash

ANNIVERSARY

Reverend Claude Royston & First Lady Lillie Royston

2ND ANNIVERSARY

Special Thanks to Dr. Julia Royston & Brian Royston for hosting the event!

Pastor David L. Smith & First Lady Smith received the 1 year certificate for hosting on Envision Radio.

Minister Robert & Charliese Lewis received 1

Dr. Julia Royston received a special award for being the longest running program on Envision Radio.

2ND ANNIVERSARY

Blessing to have host, production, former hosts, supporters and President of Envision Multimedia Services Celebrating that night (l-r) back row Audrey Malone, AnnC, President H.L.Cannon, Minister Fred Whitlow Front row (l-r) Professor Dana Seay, Minister Robert Lewis, Brian Royston, Charliese Lewis, Pastor Syvoskia

ANNIVERSARY

Services & our Visionary come together and celebrate God’s Creation of Radio & Print. Whitlow II, First Lady Linda Smith, Pastor David Smith and Reverend Claude Royston. Syvoskia Bray Pope, Dr. Julia Royston, First Lady Royston.

2ND ANNIVERSARY

August 20th, 2022 will be a date etched in my mind as the true beginning of Envision Radio & Magazine, To meet some of the host from all around the country was just awesome. Special thanks to our President H.L. Cannon who got with me and planned a simple but elegant dinner. We would like to thank Deon Norris Owner of the award winning BBQ restaurant Big Ben’s D & M Restaurant at the Depot in Jeffersonville, Indiana. His patience and kindness shined through. The food was delicious ! Special Thanks also to NJOY Special Event Company for the decorations. Next year we look forward to inviting friends, family & supporters. ANNC, Editor in Chief.

Minister Robert & Charliese Lewis Family

2ND ANNIVERSARY

Special Thanks to Pastor Syvoskia Bray-Pope for her church hall as the venue for the Anniversary celebration.

Pastor David L. Smith sharing his testimony of joining the Envision Radio Network .

Minister Fred Whitlow II of No More Dirty Radio Show sharing his testimony of how clear Envision Radio is to listeners and receiving new listeners from Envision Radio Network.

Karla’s Korner: Heart Disease

By Karla Jarvis, MSN, APRN, FNP-C Host of Karla’s Korner

Nearly 48% of African American women and 44% of African American men have some form of heart disease. Heart Disease is also known has Cardiovascular Disease meaning heart conditions that include diseased vessels, structural problems, and blood clots. The most common types are:

1. Coronary artery disease: damage or disease in the heart’s major blood vessels. The usual cause is the buildup of plaque. This causes coronary arteries to narrow, limiting blood flow to the heart. You need to ask your health care provided to check your cholesterol levels; LDL is lousy cholesterol that collects in the walls of your blood vessels, raising your chances of heart attack or stroke. HDL is healthy cholesterol that protects the heart, and Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood from the calories you eat.

2. High blood pressure: A condition in which the force of the blood against the artery walls is too high. Usually hypertension is defined as blood pressure above 140/90 and is

considered serve if the pressure is above 180/120.

3. Cardiac Arrest: Sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness. Cardiac arrest usually results from an electrical disturbance in the heart. It’s not the same as a heart attack.

5 common warning signs of a heart attack are the following:

1. Pain and discomfort in the chest.

2. Dizziness

3. Break out in cold sweat, nausea, or vomiting.

4. Jaw, neck, or back pain, discomfort or pain arm or shoulder.

5. Shortness of breath/air.

As with men, women most common heart attack symptoms are chest pain (angina) or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea/vomiting, and back and jaw pain.

Make a JoyfulNoise: Lessons From the Ministryof Music

By Charliese Brown Lewis, President Robert and Charliese Lewis Ministries Home of The 'After Church' Experience

When I was eight-years-old, I had my first piano lesson. From day one, my training was primarily in classical and gospel music. It was crystal clear that I was being groomed to be a part of the next generation of music ministry in the church.

Being raised in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, I learned the AME Order of Service, spirituals, and hymns. To this day, nothing beats an old school hymn or a spiritual. They are the foundation of gospel music and the Black church worship experience.

My first piano teacher was the daughter of a retired AME pastor. In her deep contralto, she would sing

every note of every song that had words. She used this method to teach me to accompany a soloist or a choir.

After three years of playing, I took a two-year break from formal lessons. In those years, I learned to play Pop and R&B music. I would save my money just to buy sheet music such as famous tunes sung by Michael Jackson, Atlantic Starr, and Whitney Houston. But my love of gospel and Christian music never stopped. I would play random hymns from cover to cover from different hymnals.

Right before my 14th birthday, I began to play for the church's Young Adult Choir. Two years later, our long-time church musician passed away. I was the only person in the church who could play the piano. I inherited five choirs of all different ages. It was a heavy weight for a teenager to shoulder. For years, I felt it was both a

Robert and Charliese Lewis have been married for 18 years. Robert is a media producer for educational television. Charliese is a Grant Program Manager and serves as the Executive Director of Louisville Literary Arts. They reside in Lexington, Ky. with their daughter. Visit www.randclewisministries.com and follow on social media @theafterchurchexperience and @charlieseblewis. Email and PayPal at afterchurchexp@gmail.com.

blessing and a curse. Certainly I never thought that it would be a 30-year assignment.

Over the years, I have learned many lessons about the Ministry of Music and my spiritual growth.

1. Serving the Lord with gladness is a choice. The music ministry sets the tone of praise and worship for the church. There should always be joy in singing about God to God's people.

2. Being in tune isn't just about the music and the instruments, it's also about the heart's posture. It is important to live the life we sing about.

3. Hearing from the Holy Spirit is essential to leading an effective music ministry. Music is the preparation for the delivery of God's Word.

4. Studying the Word of God makes all the difference in knowing what you are actually singing about. Everything we sing in the church house isn't always biblical. We must never deviate from the truth of God's Word even in song.

5. Glorifying God should always be the priority of the music ministry. Its mission should always be to convey and edify the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I matured spiritually, I also learned to be thankful for the talent, but more for the giftings. The talent was honed in the natural, but the gifting was given by the Spirit. It was an honor and a privilege to use my gift for advancing the kingdom.

Colossians 3:16 (NIV) reads: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash

From the Kitchen Table to the Community Table

by Vernice Mechel Mitchell Founder of “Women of Intent”

Women of Intent has provided safe spaces for women in the Louisville Community for over a decade. Founder and visionary of Women of Intent, Vernice Mechel Mitchell, has a heart for bringing women together to promote growth and healing. Gathering together helped them understand the wisdom that is spread when we share our story. Each S.O.W. (Spreading Our Wisdom) Session provides the opportunity for women to have dialogue that provides a sense of release, revelation, rejuvenation and restoration.

Through life’s journey Vernice became a better woman by being intentional with her personal growth and healing. In November 2018, Vernice hosted her first SOW Session in a coffee shop in Louisville, KY and the Facebook group Women of Intent was developed. The group grew so fast that in early 2019 the sessions moved to Launch Louisville. Additionally, in 2020 Women of Intent provided a safe space in West Louisville at Shawnee High School. Also, in 2021

WOI was given the opportunity to partner with the Goodwill and now it serves as the home for Women of Intent S.O.W. Sessions. Expansion was always the goal of Vernice with the Women of Intent S.O.W. Sessions. As a part of the expansion Vernice sought qualified women who had the heart to serve others to come on board as facilitators. From kitchen table conversations to now multiple sessions with multiple facilitators at the community table we provide healing/growth tools and strategies to all women. The sessions are free community resources. We invite you to join us Thursdays at 6pm and Saturdays at 10 am at the Goodwill Resource Center at 909 E Broadway. You can also connect with us on our Facebook page at Women of Intent! for updates.

Visit https://bit.ly/SisISeeYou for vendor opportunity at Empowerganza.

GOSPEL MUSIC CORNER

Denise Tichenor-Davis

We are excited about the opportunity to highlight artists in our "Gospel Music Corner" in the Envision Magazine. Every Issue of Envision enjoy interesting information about Gospel Artist who share their love of music. I look forward to sharing more of my " GOSPEL MUSIC FRIENDS"!

What is RevNation ?

RevNation is the independent artists' one-stop shop to present as professional as possible but within the constructs of an up-coming Indie artist financial budget. RevNation was birthed out of the 2020 pandemic challenge which created many challenges for those in the music industry and especially Independent music artist contractors. Today, RevNation is committed to work hard for our clients and to help create opportunities for not only our clients to continue to operate in this new social climate but to thrive in it as well!

My two favorite seasons are spring and fall. Spring is a great time for a fresh start. A great time to clean up and air out your home, your closets and your finances.

Once you start taking an inventory of all the stuff in your garage, your basement, your closet, the everything drawer in your kitchen; and yes, your finances. You will find that you have too much stuff!

Simplify your life by getting rid of that clutter and unnecessary stuff you are holding on to. You don’t need half the stuff you think you need!

Today I want to talk about two areas of clutter you should consider reviewing to simplify your life:

● Emotional package

● Financial Trash

In her article:

7 Types of Emotional Baggage and How to Deal with Them

Mandie Holgate

International Coach, Best Selling Author & International Speaker asked these questions:

Have you ever had that feeling you’re trapped in circumstances out of your control? Like you’re repeating the past? Do you find yourself in conversations, relationships, and jobs that aren’t what you hoped, thinking, “hang on, haven’t I been here before?” If you have, then you could be suffering from some emotional baggage that won’t let go of its grip on you and your future.

Here are seven types of emotional baggage and what you can do to get rid of them so that they never hold you back again.

1. The Scared Child

The scared child tells you absolutes, like “I can’t do this”. They base every opportunity or obstacle on the theory that they’ve already failed because evidence from the past proves this, and they don’t think to override this.

A scared child is not always scared, nor does this emotional baggage showcase itself so obviously. A lot of the time, the scared child hides behind confidence and actions that mask the real issue(s). The challenge is that the scared child holds on to outdated beliefs about what is possible.

2. The Overbearing Parent/Teacher

“You will never amount to anything” or “Why won’t you apply yourself” is what they tell you.

Having negative people around that berate you can impact you for a long time. They may have meant well. They may have hoped their harsh powerful words would inspire you, not appreciating how they cut you down and made you feel like a failure. But that doesn’t give those words power—you are doing that.

You may have been a messy teenager or a lazy intern, but that doesn’t define who you are in the future. You get to do that.

3. The Long-Gone Bully

Many have suffered at the hands of bullies at school and in their careers, and it can be hard to not let that emotional baggage stick around. With the long-gone bully, it’s less about what they say to you and more about what you wished you’d said to them. Unfortunately, the number of people being cyberbullied rose by 37% between 2007 and 2019, and with growing anxiety, depression, and mental health issues on the rise around the world, the bully is not something that we get to easily outgrow.[3] If you have baggage on the things you wish you’d said, it may not be in your distant past. It could be something trite or unkind that someone said only recently that you wish you had spoken up about. I often see this in workplace coaching. People hold on to old, outdated frustration where someone has let them down and they wished they told them what they really think. The important point is that past bullies can impact your future relationships and results, especially if you assume that the person before you today is speaking to you in the same way, with the same meaning, and wanting the same outcome as the bully from five, then, or 20 years ago.

4. The Inner Hater

There are no limits to what the inner hater can do to you. They’ve been in your mind, actions, and results for so long that they probably feel like a part of you. If you find you judge yourself harshly compared to everyone else, look for the hater. They will be able to list every occasion that you made a mistake, didn’t act quick enough, let someone down, or failed. Every human fails, makes mistakes, gets it wrongs and lets, someone down. It’s important to remember that this doesn’t need to define your future.

5. The Angry Monster

Anger can be a piece of emotional baggage that is hard to get rid of. Anger can come from:

● what people did

● what you did

● what you didn’t do

● what they didn’t do

● what the world looks like

● even for your inability to queue without getting so mad that it ruins your day

Look for the anger in your life. It may not present as anger. You may not go red and look like steam is pouring out of your nose to have past anger damaging you. Holding on to hate is hard work and draining.

6. The Unloved

Everyone has been ditched. If you feel like you aren’t good enough or can’t get things in life, are you holding on to beliefs about who people think you are? What people think you are like? That feeling that you aren’t good enough and unloved can be detrimental to every part of your life, even preventing you from finding love. Of all the fears I see impact happiness and success, the fear of what people will think of us can hang out in so many fears. You can stop this from happening by defining how you see the world. Remember that what goes on in your head is personal to you. No one can own it or be involved in it without your permission.

7. The Unlucky

The unlucky will be able to tell you how they’ve never achieved a promotion, never won a competition, or be chosen first. Okay, so during basketball practice in your teens, you may have been chosen last, but that doesn’t mean you are going to keep that level of luck for the rest of your life.

That stack of so-called important documents you have cluttering up your kitchen table needs to be reviewed, filled or shredded.

You should also check your investment portfolio for trash or no longer wanted or needed investments. It is not unusual for investors to forget why they purchased certain holdings in their portfolio, or have allowed long time losers to stay in the portfolio because they do not want to admit it was a bad investment. Identify and get rid of that trash because it is stinking up your whole portfolio with its negative Returns.

On a side note: Speaking of forgotten investments; did you know that there is a department within your state government that holds unclaimed assets? Yes, it’s usually at the Comptroller’s office or the State Treasurer’s Office. And you should absolutely go to their website and see if you have anything there under your name or social security number.

In Mandies Final Thoughts she say’s:

Learn more about what’s impacting you and start asking yourself:

● What do I want to feel from now on?

● What changes do I want to see in my life, thoughts, and happiness?

Change needs something positive to work on, and that’s a lot easier to achieve when you know what your emotional baggage is doing to you.

As Wilhelm Reich famously said, “The less he understands something, the more firmly he believes in it.”

More proof that knowledge is wealth!

And this brings us to our second point; Financial Trash.

We all have old account statements, cancelled insurance policies and check books from closed accounts occupying space in our home. This is financial trash and it needs to be discarded; and by discarded, I mean shredded.

The important thing to remember is that clutter and trash are not only unsightly; but can also hinder your ability to do good and productive comprehensive financial planning.

So, clean it up, and keep building wealth!

Peace

My Spiritual Journey

by Hurricane Dave Smith

www.hurricanedave.com

I have experienced many success stories and tragic failures when I think about my life. We are told so many things when we're growing up like, "Everyone likes a winner." Truth be told, in today's environment, people hate winners. Most believe we live in a society where it's exciting to see someone on top take a tumble or a fall. In almost every situation, when someone takes a fall, they had something to do with it. They may not even realize it until months or even years later. Celebrating your wins and tolerating your losses is important in your life’s journey. It is when you're at the bottom of the "Circle of life" that your character will be defined. I often thought during my numerous times at the bottom of the circle, “Where did my friends go? “ “Why did this happen to me?” I certainly did not deserve this! I thought that way during my younger days. Always pointing the finger at someone else. When in reality, if you point your finger at someone right now only one finger is pointing to them. Your bottom three fingers are pointing

to you. This is prime time for a self-evaluation. I understand that some people do you wrong, but self-evaluation is the best thing to ever happen to you. Remember, you're on a journey in life. Enjoy every moment of your journey. Even during the bad times, if you look close enough and are honest with yourself you will find a silver lining. But you'll never find it if you don't look for it. I was released from my dream job as a Vice President of Programming and Operations over "alleged misconduct." These allegations were outrageous; they were never proven to be factual after two internal investigations. But in today's environment, even the perception of an Executive "allegedly" having misconduct will not be tolerated. There is no paperwork, no text message, and no record of conversation of me doing anything wrong. I could easily be a “Bitter Bill” or the angry black man or just trust that this is all part of God’s journey for me in life.

Never fold on Faith. Even when it seems the world has turned against you. Just trust the process, God is working on you.

happening for my good. I was in a high-profile position, maybe the lesson for me is to be humble.. Maybe it was meant for me to go through embarrassment and humiliation. Maybe I needed to learn not to be so naïve about believing everyone around you is rooting for you. Nevertheless, I thank God for that experience. I have grown tenfold in so many different areas of my life. My marriage has never been stronger and my relationship with my youngest daughter is a dream fulfilled. I went from seeing her less than an hour per weekday to seeing her all day. She was homeschooled for remote learning while I was on the employment hunt.

So many tremendous things have come out of this "tragic fall." Yes, I/we have experienced a lot of pain as well. But as I continue this journey of life I fully realize that I am an incredibly blessed black man. Remember to look for the silver lining in every part of your journey.

( In the photo Hurricane’s wife Mya and daughter Brooklyn.)

Hurricane Dave was inducted into the 2022 National Black Radio Hall of Fame. Member of the Radio Executive Living Legend Award www.hurricanedave.com

Americans are Turning to Side Hustles to Combat Inflation

By C. Starks

(Family Features) As inflation increases, many Americans are looking for ways to make some extra cash to reach financial goals faster, save for a big purchase or simply make ends meet. In fact, 41% of Americans need additional income from

sources like side hustles, according to a Bankrate survey, up from 31% in 2019.

The rise of the gig economy and a variety of side hustle options may be a solution for some. One option, the Spark Driver

platform, powers delivery services for Walmart, Sam's Club and other retailers, allowing drivers to deliver everything from groceries and cleaning supplies to tools and home decor. Available in more than 600 cities and all 50 states, the platform allows independent contractors to earn money by

delivering or shopping and delivering orders in flexible, convenient time windows of their choosing.

What is a Side Hustle?

Different from full-time or part-time employment, a side hustle is a flexible way to provide services while being your own boss. You control which opportunities you want to take and can independently supplement your primary income or bridge the gap between jobs. Side hustles can even provide opportunities for people who can't work traditional jobs. In fact, 93% of Americans have a side hustle, according to research from insuranks.com, and 44% of survey respondents said they're doing it to make ends meet. Gig

opportunities, like shopping orders and delivering goods using your personal vehicle, are increasingly popular as side hustles.

Benefits of Side Hustles

While most people turn to side hustles because of the potential for additional earnings, there are other benefits that can make them a fit for you and your situation, such as:

● Flexibility and Convenience:

Available almost anywhere at times that work for your schedule, side hustles allow you to be your own boss and earn extra cash when you want. Be sure to pick one that fits your schedule and can be

done at any time. Many offer different windows of time to complete the service and let you choose where you're willing to travel to, which makes it easy to plan around other obligations.

● Earning Potential: Many people turn to side hustles as a supplement to full-time positions with specific, money-oriented goals in mind. For example, most drivers on the Spark Driver platform drive as a secondary source of income. In order to reach a desired goal, it's important to know how much you can expect to earn. When receiving an offer, the platform will show the minimum amount you earn for completing the delivery, so drivers know their earnings before accepting offers. Most deliveries also allow for tips, and incentives and referrals create additional opportunities for increasing earnings.

● "The Spark Driver platform has made a huge difference in my life," driver Christina Hinssen said. "It gives me the flexibility to make deliveries when I want and I can spend more time with my daughter. It has given me extra cash to pay off my car and make extra house payments to get my house paid down."

● Simplicity: The ideal side hustle is

one that can be done without heavy investment or training. Many gig opportunities offer quick sign-up processes through easy-to-use apps and only require a background check, smartphone, valid driver's license and operational vehicle.

Learn more about how to make extra cash through gig opportunities by visiting drive4spark.com or downloading the app.

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