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6 Christian Living
Strengthen your Faith
*An excerpt from the book Trusting the Process: Devotional Workbook for Single Mothers* Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. What does that mean for us, as single mothers and believers? It simply means we have to believe that things will work out as they should even when we can’t seem to find our way. We have to trust that God will provide a way for us and our families at all times even when it seems that He won’t or can’t. We must try to remember that nothing at all is too hard for God. It’s important that we be confident in what our Heavenly Father can do for us, even when we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. His Word tells us to not waiver in our faith. So we must continually believe in His abilities especially when it’s difficult. When we are confident in everything and go to Him for proof that we have faith. Our us that He’s our shepherd and anything. It’s our job to not He promises but to also be-
God’s ability to be our everything, that’s our Heavenly Father has told that we will not want for only trust Him to do what lieve the promises.
In order for our God to operwe have to activate and utilize Father’s Word tells us that all of a mustard seed in order for Once our faith is activated us that we can’t imagine. He our children when we’re unapeace during the trials and this journey. He will love us strength to love ourselves. All believe. Just imagine if we amount of belief in Him where
ate effectively in our lives our faith. Our Heavenly we need is faith the size our faith to be activated. God will open doors for will provide for us and ble to. He will give us tribulations we face on when we can’t find the we have to do is simply were to elevate our our faith could take us.
If we have a strong faith, we ney. We will be able to walk ful and grateful state. It won’t gle mother. You will be able to single mother with joy and to
will have a strong jourthis life in a more peacematter that you’re a sinhandle the journey as a ease, all thanks and glory
Jessica Lee Ann is a Christian Author which several books. You can visit her website at www.jessicaleeannwrites.com
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Dear Mama By Toccara Steele As all of you know, May is when we officially celebrate mothers, although mothers deserved to be celebrated all year, all of the time, not just on Mother’s Day. The role of a mother is one of which is truly to be given the most honor and respect. Whether you are a Birth-Mother, Foster or Adoptive Mother, God-Mother, and even a Play-Mother, you are appreciated and valued more than you know. On the behalf of FUSE Magazine, I wrote this letter for all of the moms, everywhere; from the eyes and heart of a child: Dear Momma, (AKA Mom or Mommy) First of all, I love you! I love your smile, hair, food…of course. I most importantly love you the love you have for me, as your child. At times, you give me that tough love which makes me question your love, but once the sting is gone, I am able to bounce back and realize your love for me is everlasting. You are such a jewel in my eyes. The way you patiently deal with me truly amazes me. Your love for me no matter what’s going on, leaves me in awe. The way you provide me with so much wisdom as you share your life with me, is the light for my path. The way you make many sacrifices seen and unseen makes me love you even the more. If it wasn’t for your love, grace, wisdom, and kindness, where would I be? When I make you mad, thanks for showing me the way through tough love. When I go down a road which leads to darkness and trouble, thanks for getting on your knees and praying for me. Thanks for showing me the way on a daily basis. Thanks for making sure you provide for me even through the hard times. Momma, where do you get your strength from? You remind me of a super hero because you always are fighting for me. You show me the way even when I can care less about doing the right thing. You continue to be an example for me even when I don’t feel like following, mom. You even make my favorite foods to put a smile on my face. You make me smile even when you are going through a storm. You show me the importance of striving to become a better me even when things aren’t looking the greatest for you. You are my rock, mom. When I am weak, all I need to do is pick up the phone or send an email, better yet, FaceTime you. For hearing your voice and seeing your face makes me forget about my current storm and allows for me to enter my “happy and safe place” knowing you have my back. Thanks for the times when you went without lights, money and even food to support my dreams. Thank you for having my back when I chose to disobey you. What a love for me do you have, mom! What a respect for me you have even when I have disrespected you. Momma, I pay attention more than you know and so grateful to have you in my life. I honor you and know I will do everything I can to pass down your legacy to be the best mom for even my children. And, I pray my children to continue to pass the torch! I love you mom! Happy Mother’s Day!
From the heart of a child,
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10 Shades of Mother’s Day Written by: LaShina Mack, CEO of Premier Marketing Experts LLC and Owner of Resume Renewed
1. Superwoman. The first superhero a child will ever meet. Who knew a person could be this strong? So, superheroes really do exist. Could a person be so lucky to have been raised by such a wonder? Mom, I can only hope to be a fraction of the person that you are. 2. Spilled Milk. As kids and even as adults, we mess up. But you seem to be ready for it. Ready to pick up the pieces, to comfort us and tell us how to move on. 3. Many Hats. Chef. Accountant. Gardener. Housekeeper. Teacher. Caregiver. Counselor. Doctor. Warden. Friend. Is there anything this woman cannot do? How do you wear so many hats and still manage to function? 4. Best Friend. How is it that no matter what I tell you, you know exactly what to say? You don’t judge, you don’t criticize, you just love. There is no better friend in the world than that. 5.
Grace. No matter how hard things got, you still held your head high and carried yourself with poise and grace. Your grace that you have shown embodies the loveliness and purity of your heart.
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Protector. How is it that I feel so safe with you? Why is it that when you said you would kick someone’s butt for me, I believed it? How is it that I didn’t always express my fears, yet you still knew how to comfort me anyway?
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Regulator. “Because I said so.” “Don’t let me tell you one more time.” “Say it again.” “What did I tell you?” “Don’t you see me on the phone?” Mom, thank you for these. They shaped me into the disciplined adult that I am. Without you exerting your authority when needed, who knows how we would have turned out.
8. Trailblazer. You set the tone. The path you went on was a bumpy one yet you blazed right on through. Regardless of the detours, pot holes and unexpected twists and turns, you stayed the course. Your perseverance is to be revered. 9. Queen. Your role in the expansion of the kingdom that we call family was and will always be a vital one. What the queen says goes. You carry yourself as such, therefore you are. You always will be a queen to all of us. 10. Home. A mother is home. No matter where she is, no matter where you are. She is always home.
Dedication to Sharon Mack: Teen Mother. Young Wife. Adult Student. Medical Professional. Super Mom. Inspiration. Blessing. This was you but still is you. Yet, so much more. Your progression barely scratches the surface of the amazing woman that you are. Everything that I am, everything that I have become, everything that I will be, I owe to you. You are my strength, my encouragement, my hero, my ultimate gift and my heartbeat. The sacrifices you have made for me, I could never repay. All I can do is remain eternally grateful for being blessed with the treasure that is you. I truly appreciate the blood, sweat and tears you poured into me and my siblings throughout our lives. You sowed into me my entire life so that I could reap the rewards of your life lessons, y our guidance, your commitment and your love. Your grateful and loving daughter, LaShina
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NEW BOOK ALERT! I found myself writing "Working On Myself" in attempt to discover my voice as a entrepreneur up against the odds. Many once telling me to do the opposite of everything I was feeling and believed in. As I began to write, I found myself along a different journey connecting with some pretty amazing likeminded entrepreneurs simply looking for that next step in life. My focus began to shift I then allowed my passion to help others lead me to my purpose and my purpose was to be heard while showing others how. Working On Myself is a motivational guide book geared towards showing others how by discovering their why! After studying my idea of success I discovered each of us have a inner power to create when we believe. I do hope to inspire many that the greatest gift we have is the ability to think for ourselves and the moment we give that to someone else is when our mindset becomes afraid and stagnated. If you are looking for that next step in your life and the confidence to trust your own abilities then this book is for! Please be sure to check out-Working On Myself via createspace, amazon and kindle. Thank you so very much for support and I look forward to your transition of standing for what you believe while finding your inner peace!
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Interested in contributing to F.U.S.E. Magazine? Email Editor-NChief at patricerivers09@gmail.com
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May is Lupus Awareness Month Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. This results in symptoms such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart, and lungs. It is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body's natural defense system (immune system) attacks healthy tissues instead of attacking only things like bacteria and viruses. This causes inflammation. Although some people with lupus have only mild symptoms, the disease is lifelong and can become severe. May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month. It's estimated that 6 million people in this country are affected by a condition called Fibromyalgia and suffer from chronic widespread pain throughout their bodies. It may also be accompanied by fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression.
How many people have fibromyalgia? Approximately one in 50 Americans are estimated to have fibromyalgia, or between 3 and 6 million people in the U.S. (American College of Rheumatology, 2004) Fibromyalgia is the 2nd most common ailment affecting the musculoskeletal system after osteoarthritis (American College of Rheumatology, 2004) Who gets fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia primarily affects women of childbearing age, but children and men may also be affected (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 1999) Between 80 and 90% of yalgia are women; women who fibromyalgia are more likely to selves (American College of Rheu-
those diagnosed with fibromhave a family member with develop fibromyalgia themmatology, 2004)
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Meet Nikki Brown, a Fibro Fighter!
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Nikki Brown (Olivia Harris-Brown) was born to a Baptist Pastor and an Elementary Teacher on January 14, 1978. From birth until now, Nikki has endured and overcome more illnesses than the average person would face in a lifetime. She was born with scoliosis, anemia, eczema, had two hernia repairs, removal of a fibroid, removal of her tonsils, stomach ulcers, acid reflux, hypertension, scarlet fever, chicken pox, internal bleeding, internal bruises, developed asthma as an adult, gestational diabetes, pancreatitis, a cyst on her left breast, an enlarged thyroid, and has suffered from depression and anxiety. These illnesses would make her a prime candidate…In January of 2015, Nikki was officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia. However, the journey began the previous year. In August of 2014, Nikki was sitting on the side of the tub reaching in the tub to pull up the stopper when she fell into the tub. It took her two weeks to recover from this accident. In October of 2014, Nikki was coming out of the assistant principal’s office at her job when she fell over a group of chairs. She didn’t hurt much, and did not want to deal with Workmen’s Compensation again so she didn’t file a report. Around fifth period the next day, the pain began to intensify to the point where she could barely walk. She could not walk at all by the time she got home and her husband had to carry her inside the house. Nikki sat on the couch for three hours, because she was unable to walk. Her husband rubbed her down, gave her a heating pad, an ice pack, and some pain medicine. The pain began to subside but only a little bit. The next day Nikki went to her doctor who gave her a Cortisone shot.Originally, Nikki was diagnosed with Sciatica and started physical therapy, which did not help her be-
cause she did not have Sciatica. Nikki suffered from before. was losing weight, because she couldn’t keep down most foods, and was in strenuous pain. She was unable to take care Create an exercise schedule. Exercise for of her family or herself, which made her a person with fibromyalgia is not hard core! You take baby steps. Do what is angry and depressed. She could no longcomfortable for you and then progress. er do the things that she was normally Nikki started out walking around the accustomed to doing such as grocery block once and then progress to add shopping, washing laundry, cooking for more rounds. her family, etc. She hated her life and felt inadequate as a mother and as a wife. Nikki could no longer play with her Get in touch with your inner self. Nikki children and was constantly falling due began practicing gentle yoga while listo her legs giving out on her. Nikki was tening to ocean waves. It is important to miserable and did not know what was stay calm as much as possible, because wrong with her for months, until she getting upset can trigger joint pain. was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which she had never heard of before. Nikki’s life began to turn around in January 2015 when she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and became gluten free. Most people associate Celiac with being gluten free, because many people with fibromyalgia do not realize that gluten is part of the reason why they are ill most the time. Her doctor told her that she would have fibromyalgia for the rest of her life because there wasn’t a cure, but she refused to allow an illness to overtake her life. Yes, this illness is still new in the medical world. Based on her research, it has only been around since the 1980’s. The key is learning how to manage the illness and not allow the illness to manage you: Get proper rest every day, even if you add a nap into your daily schedule. Rest is so important to keeping your bones from hurting.
Free yourself vocally. Nikki’s physician told her that it would be best to tell those around her about her illness so that they would understand why she makes some of her decisions, which may seem odd. Nikki has a family at home and at work that supports her fully, but allows her to do for herself. Be true to you. Nikki has learned how to “keep it real” for the sake of her own individuality. She isn’t apologetic for asking questions when it comes to food or food preparation. She isn’t apologetic for not participating in activities such as marathons or sporting events. She does what she is comfortable with and not what makes others happy.
Enjoy life! Having fibromyalgia does not mean that your life is over. Nikki lives what she believes is an ordinary life. She is an author, spends time with her husFigure out what you can and cannot eat. band, plays with her children; particiNikki is lactose intolerant and gluten pate in ministries at church, and works free. By cutting out foods with lactose full time as a Language Arts’ teacher. and gluten, she does not have the severe tummy and back problems that she
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