EXTOL MAG + ISSUE 1

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PLAN PRAY PURSUE 2021

Issue 1 | January 2021

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7 THINGS You can learn about planning from the Proverbs 31 Woman.

BELIEVE WHEN YOU PRAY

EDITION

VISION BOARD ELEMENTS INSIDE

YES & NO POWER Guilt-free answer to save you time, energy and resources.

Praying in faith.

TIPS TO VISION BOARDING Simple tips to create the vision board of your dreams.

ADVANCE

extol Editor-in-chief Ebonie M. Mukasa

Creative Director Staff Writer Contributing Writer Contributing Writer Advertiser Advertiser Advertiser Advertiser Advertiser Advertiser Advertiser Advertiser Advertiser

Webnie Creative Solutions Ebonie M. Mukasa Eunise Chery Pamela Thomas Dr. John E. Oshodi Eunise Chery Firm Foundation LLC. Girl Rest!

HK Lending Institute of Wholistic Empowerment Marline Paul, Rose of Alpha Omega, Inc. Webnie Creative Solutions

EDITORIAL OFFICE +1-305-587-9882 | hello@experiencechurchintl.org EXTOL is published by Adoration Gatherings. The Women's Ministry of Experience Church International. www.planpraypursue.org

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VISON BOARD EDITION And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.

Habakkuk 2:2

PLANPRAYPURSUE.ORG | 2021

EDITOR'S NOTE I woke up early one sunny morning in early November 2020. The Plan Pray Pursue gathering was on my mind. I debated whether or not hosting the event was even possible. COVID-19 had altered everything. The way we engage in particular. I couldn't determine if virtually, we could create meaningful connections with those in attendance. I prayed about it and what I received challenged me. God spoke to my heart, "How can you encourage women to plan, pray and pursue , if it's not what you are living out in your own life?" Needless to say, I got busy!

To plan, to pray and to go forward doesn't mean you won't have to go in the face of opposition. Almost always, you will. You will have to determine in your heart that what you are pursuing is worth the PUSH. You will have to take huge leaps of faith, look doubt and fear in the face and go forward anyway. That is where God shows Himself to be our victor. My hope is that you find within these pages, the tools to help you take your faith journey.

EBONIE M. MUKASA Editor-in-chief EXTOL

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VISION BOARD TIPS

3-SIMPLE TIPS TO CREATE THE VISION BOARD OF YOUR DREAMS.

Creating a vision board that captures your ideas, communicates your goals and reflects your personality can seem a bit daunting for some. No worries! It doesn't have to be your 6th grade art project, but it can be captivating just the same.

DOLLAR TREE / DOLLAR STORE You'll be amazed at all of the goodies these stores offer. If you are like me, you already know. Poster boards, office supplies, crafts, glitter, stickers and more. Set a budget and shop till you...well, until you hit your budget.

CALENDARS Magazines can be a bit challenging to acquire these days, unless you have a subscription of your own. Calendars are a great option to source pictures and inspirational quotes.

STICKY NOTES A great way to get started if you don't have a vision board concept is to use sticky notes. These are a great way for you to capture your thoughts and list important goals you want to set. Try different colors to give it a pop of color that's sure to grab your attention.

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I'm saturating my plans in prayer.

2021 AFFIRMATIONS Speak truth to life daily.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21 PLANPRAYPURSUE.ORG | 2021

BELIEVE WHEN YOU PRAY

Prayer is such an integral part of the believer’s life. There are so many questions surrounding prayer such as how we should pray, when we should pray and where we should pray. I believe one of the most important things we should be asking regarding prayer is “Do we believe when we pray?”

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Whenever we are praying and no matter what we are praying for, we have to pray in faith. This is what pleases God. According to this scripture, there are two things we must believe.

First, we must believe that God is who He says He is. We must put our confidence in God and not in our prayers. Our prayers should rely solely on Him and as we believe God first, our belief will be conveyed through what we say.

Prayer is the vehicle that delivers our faith to the presence of God. Second, we must believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He proves Himself to be our reward. In Him is life and everything that pertains to life. So, when we go to Him in prayer, we are going to the source of everything that we need. Our diligence in seeking God results in so much more than what we ask for in prayer. Prayer is about God and His faithfulness.

By Eunise Chery - Contributing Writer www.eunisechery.com

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No matter when you pray or how you pray, only believe your prayers will bring results. Before our prayers can be effectual like the Bible tells us in James 5:16, we have to make the decision to believe that God is who he says He is and that He will reward your faith in Him.

Whenever we are praying and no matter what we are praying for, we have to pray in faith. This is what pleases God. EUNISE CHERY www.planpraypursue.org 7

Jesus is my life coach!

2021 AFFIRMATIONS Speak truth to life daily.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 3:6 PLANPRAYPURSUE.ORG | 2021

Inspired by the common.

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God's plans are better than my plans.

2021 AFFIRMATIONS Speak truth to life daily.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 PLANPRAYPURSUE.ORG | 2021

2021's looking good according to my prayer list.

2021 AFFIRMATIONS Speak truth to life daily.

"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 PLANPRAYPURSUE.ORG | 2021

POWER YES/NO

By Ebonie M. Mukasa

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NO MEANS, YOU ARE UNABLE TO OFFER SOMEONE ALL THAT YOUR YES MEANS. Did you know that there is POWER & VALUE in our YES & NO? You may have heard Matthew 5:37, It is an excerpt from The Sermon on the Mount (so these are RED LETTER scripture, the words of Jesus). It reads, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

Let's go back a few verses for context.

Verse 33 reads, Let’s start at verse 33.

It reads, “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

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What is Jesus saying here?

An Oath means: a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one's future action or behavior.

The oath is to enforce truth. When we back our words by an oath, essentially, we are implying that we do not have the integrity to tell the truth.

When we back our words by “I promise," “I swear on my___grave” or “I swear to God” we are stating that we must rely on the integrity of an outside entity to ground our words in the truth.

In essence, we are saying that we are unable to state the truth within our own integrity.

What does Jesus say again in verse 37, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.”

He closes this verse with the statement, “anything more than this comes from evil.”

What is that evil?

That evil is a lie, a lack of integrity, mistrust and deception.

POWER & VALUE OF OUR YES It is my personal life mission “to be used by God.” What does that mean?

It means that I am an OPERATIVE of the Kingdom of God. Operative meaning: effective, active,agent, efficient, hand, in-use, and workable.

This means that: I am equipped with tools to get things done and so are you!

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I am able to carry out the work of the Lord to completion.

I am a valuable resource to God. I am dependable, responsible and trustworthy.

I can be trusted to carry out His most valued missions and plans.

I am useful.

This means that my YES: Is a Commitment.

I will follow through on my word.

I will invest myself in those things I say yes to.

I will sacrifice to fulfill my yes.

I am joyful in my yes.

I will start strong and finish strong.

Say this again!

This is a no resentment zone.

EM

So if our YES means all that, what does our NO mean? It simply means, you are unable to offer to someone’s need, cause or situation all that your YES means.

We must stop seeing NO as a negati ve.

Our No keeps us committed to the things we’ve said yes to.

Our No keeps us from over committing and falling through.

Our No makes our YES even more valuable.

Our No allows us to stay focused on our mission, vision, calling and assignments.

Our No helps to keep our hearts in check – NO RESENTMENT ZONE. Our No allows us to build trust in the Lord, enabling us to REST in the power of His provision.

Take a look at the Commitment Plan designed to help you say yes or no.

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Proverbs

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WOMAN

7 Things We Can Learn About Planning from the Proverbs 31 Woman

1

WISDOM & PRODUCTIVITY

She has a reputation of being trustworthy, generous, kind and dependable. Her husband is respected because those in authority recognize his wife’s wisdom and productivity.

Proverbs 31:11-12 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life* Proverbs 31:11-12 Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it. Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long. (NIV) Proverbs 31:23 Her husband is greatly respected when he deliberates with the city fathers.

I think we can all agree that qualities like productivity, dependability, trustworthiness and generosity don’t happen by accident. It’s clear this woman lives her life intentionally. Because she is responsible and prudent her husband is well-respected.

Women who are married, this is one of the most important reasons to plan and live life intentionally. Your husband- and your family- will be well-regarded because of your good choices.

When my family and I lived in Wisconsin I was instrumental in starting a youth center in our hometown. Because of that, I came to be regarded as a city leader. When they were first meeting people, my hubby and 3 school-aged kiddos often heard, “Oh, your mom (wife) is the director of the youth center! OK…” and they were judged favorably (hopefully!) by my actions and accomplishments until people learned more about their own individual lives.

2

SPENDING PLAN

She has a spending plan. She’s thrifty and makes her home comfortable and beautiful.

Proverbs 31:13-14 She shops around for the best yarns and cottons and enjoys knitting and sewing. She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places and brings back exotic surprises.

Proverbs 31:19 She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth, diligent in homemaking.

This is one of my favorite descriptions of this amazing woman… she brings back exotic surprises. In the past six months I like to think I have embodied this quality as we bought and furnished a new house. I stalked bargains on Offer Up and Facebook Marketplace. Every time I came back with a new treasure my husband would roll his eyes, and he and my son teased me that we’d have to hang rugs on the wall because I had bought so many. But I totally felt like I was bringing exotic surprises to our new house at bargain prices, and when we finally moved in, my family said over and over how beautiful and well-put-together everything was. They even told me how great the rugs looked- and we didn’t have to hang any of them on the wall! And with each of those rooms, I spent less than $100 to make them uniquely ours.

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3

ORGANIZED She plans meals and organizes her days.

Proverbs 31:15 She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.

Let me just start by saying: “No one needs to get up before dawn if you don’t have to!”

I believe that this principle has less to do with alarm clocks and more to do with routine and dedicated planning time. If you’re not a “crack of dawn” person, figure out what time of the day you can set aside to plan ahead. Meals, activities, church events, meetings, etc. will all go so much more smoothly if you know they’re coming and can see where they fit into your schedule in advance.

This is something that I’ll be working on in 2021. When I don’t take the time to plan ahead, we end up eating way too much takeout for dinner and feeling burnt out by Wednesday because I didn’t schedule time for rest. Yes- you heard me right! When you’re taking the time to plan, schedule time for rest, for family time, for self-care and more. You are not a victim of your obligations! You are in control when you’re planning and organizing. It’s when we fail to plan that we- and our families- find ourselves subjected to the tyranny of the urgent and a schedule that feels out of control!

I have one more important word for you before moving on: margin. When you plan, give yourself time! Schedule an extra 15 minutes of travel time so that you’re not stressed out when traffic slows you down. Give yourself 30 minutes of down time between when you get home from work and when you have to start supper…

Wherever you can, give yourself a few minutes to breathe. You’ll find that you- and your entire family- are happier and your days will be more peaceful and productive.

4

BUILDS WEALTH

She plans, saves and invests her money to build wealth so she can provide for her family.

Proverbs 31:16 She looks over a field and buys it, then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden. (Or a vineyard in NIV. In Bible times vineyards were a sign of wealth).

Proverbs 31:18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. NIV So, I’m not saying go out and buy a vineyard. But, what’s your plan for the future? How will you put yourself or someone else through college? What are you doing with your money that ensures you and your loved ones will have a secure and assured future?

Don’t be like the foolish servant that buried the funds his master gave him. (Matthew 25:14-30) Seek advice from wise financial advisors, go through Financial Peace University, start tithing if you’re not already, put a little money into savings with each paycheck. Sow some seeds today that will yield fruit in the future.

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5

HELPS OTHERS Her wise financial planning means that she can help others in need.

Proverbs 31:20 She’s quick to assist anyone in need, reaches out to help the poor.

Proverbs 31:20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. NIV There’s no better feeling than sharing God’s provision with others. God told Abraham that he was blessed so that he could be a blessing. So are we. What are you doing to invest in God’s Kingdom? There are so many worthy ministries and missions, close to home and abroad. Seek the advice of your pastor or another spiritual leader you trust and start investing in work that will matter for eternity!

6

PLANS AHEAD

She doesn’t worry, because she has planned ahead and prepared for future events.

Proverbs 31: 21 She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows; their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.

Proverbs 31:25 She always faces tomorrow with a smile.

Proverbs 31:25 She can laugh at the days to come. NIV This one is pretty self-explanatory. The more we plan ahead and prepare for what’s coming, the easier, more peaceful and more joyful our days will be. I think we’ve all experienced the feeling of not being prepared for something. Our blood pressure rises, our stomach churns, our muscles tense up, we find ourselves running around like the Tasmanian devil, trying to mitigate whatever disaster will ensue if we don’t have or didn’t do what’s expected of us. I don’t know one person who loves that feeling- I know I don’t!

The moral of the story… Sometimes self-care isn’t a bubble bath or an iced caramel macchiato from Starbucks. Sometimes self-care means taking time to plan ahead and prepare for what’s to come. It’s not as glamorous as a day at the spa, but it is much more pragmatic, and will have a lasting impact on you and those around you!

7

NURTURES

She manages her household by nurturing those around her and modeling smart planning and a strong work ethic.

Proverbs 31:27 She keeps an eye on everyone in her household and keeps them all busy and productive.

Proverbs 31:26-27 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household. NIV Proverbs 31:17-18 First thing in the morning, she dresses for work, rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started. She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day

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NURTURES continued

I believe this is the most important thing we do as women. Whether you are a mom, an auntie, tía, abuela, sister or mentor, women are created to be life-givers. This extends way beyond physical birth and has so much more to do with how we nurture those around us.

Nurturing isn’t just rocking a baby to sleep or giving it a bottle. Nurturing means love, discipline, instruction, encouragement and being a role model. Our children are watching us and want to be just like us when they grow up. Let’s be intentional with our own testimony, our planning, our work and what people see and hear from us.

Let’s live a life where we can say with confidence to our little mini-me’s, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me--put it into practice.”

Philippians 4:9 NIV So, there you have it- 7 attainable steps to Proverbs 31 productivity! I think it’s clear that productivity, trustworthiness, generosity, nurturing, investing and organizing do not happen by accident. The Bible calls us to exemplify these characteristics and says that a woman like that is worthy to be praised, to be called blessed by her family and to be honored for her work. To faithfully obey that mandate and win the prize, we MUST have a plan, follow the plan and work out the plan until we hear the final verdict found in Proverbs 31:29: Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all! *All scripture is from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted.

Pamela Thomas is the Chief Grants Officer and Senior Consultant at Firm Foundation Grant Writing and Consulting. She loves helping people make their dreams come true, by helping them start or manage their nonprofit or ministry. She also loves speaking at events, writing Bible study curriculum, and helping churches with strategic planning, policy and procedure, grant writing and more. She has 30 years of ministry experience 20 years of nonprofit management experience and has helped to start or grow more than 20 nonprofits, ministries, and small businesses.

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VISION BOARD KIT

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2021 GRAPIC ELEMENTS ADORATION GATHERINGS

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