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™
October 2020
on the cover: Pastor Warren L. Savage Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church 1206 Etting Street • Baltimore, MD 21217
410-523-7200
Cover Story pgs 8-11- October is Clergy Appreciation Month and this month’s issue is dedicated to all of the faithful men and women of God all over the world. We are shining a spotlight on Pastor Warren L. Savage, the newly appointed Pastor of the Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church. Pastor Savage shares with us the journey that brought him full circle back to the Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church. We also take a look at the rich and colorful history of the Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church established in 1787.
Healthy Soul 16 PROPHETICALLY SPEAKING
Timothy Manigault
20 WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE
Pastor Rhoda Turner
Try Me
22 MONTHLY MANNA
24 TRINKETS TO TRIUMPH
Minister Carenda Deonne
Minister Tracey George
How To Deal With Anger
T.I.M.E. With Titus
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Healthy Mind
18 TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH
Dr. Carla J. Debnam, (Founder, Renaissance Christian Counseling Center)
Focus On What Matters Most
Healthy Body
In Every Issue Scripture Page........................................ 2 Contributors............................................ 6 From the Editor....................................... 7
28 HEALTH MATTERS 30 BODY BASICS
Dr. Denyce Watties-Daniels
Charles & Ursula Harris
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Keep Still And Become Fit
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Meet the Contributors For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jackie Epps EDITORIAL Dr. Carla J. Debnam Min. Carenda McCray Tracey George Dr. Denyce Daniels Charles & Ursula Harris Rhoda Turner
GRAPHIC ARTIST Claire Lesesne www.JandCDesigns.com
WEB ADMINISTRATOR Andre Felipe for Arts Period www.artsperiod.com
Copyright 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction without expressed permission is prohibited.
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JACKIE EPPS is co-founder and editor of Grace & Glory Magazine. Jackie's career in communications spans over 40 years in advertising sales, program sales, media planning and television production, working in radio for 11 years and shifting to television broadcasting in 1989. She also produces the Grace & Glory show, a faith-based television program that has been on the air for 18 years. MIN. TRACEY GEORGE Tracey Nicole George is Dr. Carla J. Debnam is the wife a licensed minister and of Bishop Dwayne C. Debnam ordained deacon. She is a and an associate minister of native New Yorker residing Morning Star Baptist Church, in Maryland and married Woodlawn, MD. She is a to Danny George. Tracey National Certified Counselor works with her husband (NCC) and Licensed Clinical managing their inventory and asset control Professional Counselor company, George Imaging. She is the creator (LCPC) in Maryland. She is a member of the of Trinkets to Triumph, a Biblically-based blog American Counseling Association, the American and ministry, designed to edify and encourage Association of Christian Counselors and Delta Sigma individuals with a “trinket” of encouragement. She Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Debnam has contributed to is a member of New Destiny Evangelistic Church. two books, Those Sisters Can Preach: 22 Pearls of Wisdom, Virtue & Hope, and 7 Ingredients To An MIN. CARENDA DEONNE Effective Prayer Life Series, Vol.3-5. Min. Carenda was born CHARLES HARRIS and raised in Baltimore, MD. She received her BA Charles Harris is the owner degree from the Fashion of Chizel It Transformation Institute of Technology Fitness. Charles is a highly and is currently pursuing a effective fitness expert with Master's in Law degree from Regent University. a passion for health and Min. Carenda was licensed to preach in 2007 wellness. He is a certified and has been teaching, preaching, and declaring fitness trainer with the God's word through the power of love ever since. America Fitness Association of America with Min. Carenda is also an author of three books. over 20 years of experience, and a certified Yoga Her latest book, Perfect Patty Messed Up, is a Teacher at YogaWorks in Pikesville, Maryland. He 40 day devotional that confronts the disorder is the author of I’m Too Cute to Sweat, What’s Your Excuse For Not Working Out?, and It Takes 21 Days of perfectionism and opens the door to self forgiveness and restoration. To Get Fit. He currently teaches his mega cardio workout class throughout the state of Maryland. PASTOR RHODA TURNER DR. DENYCE WATTIES-DANIELS Rhoda possesses a spirit Dr. Denyce Wattiesof humility. Her ministry style Daniels has over 25 years of is graceful, her message is experience as a clinician and powerful and her presence nurse educator. Her areas of is comforting. Being the 9th expertise include critical care of 10 children, Rhoda has a deep passion for nursing, pathophysiology, family and the wholistic development of children. pharmacology and the use of technology in She is considered by many as a mentor and the classroom. She currently serves as faculty mother figure. and the Director of the Simulation and Learning Rhoda and her husband Pastor Jason Turner, Resource Centers of the College of Health serve as senior pastors of Christian Faith Professions at Coppin State University. Fellowship Church in Chandler, AZ. DR. CARLA DEBNAM
Editor
From the
from the editor
Servants of God
October is National Clergy Appreciation Month. Pastor Appreciation Day began with the establishment of Clergy Appreciation Month. In 1Timothy 5:17, Paul began the concept of clergy appreciation when he stated that the elders of the church are worthy of a double honor. He reiterated this idea in 1Thessalonians 5:12-13, when he stated that those who work hard among you should be held in the highest regard for their work. This idea became Clergy Appreciation Month in 1992, established by pastors and religious workers. This month congregations all over the nation will take time out to honor their Pastors. This year in particular, we celebrate these men and women of God who went beyond the call of duty as they navigated through unchartered waters as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Our Pastors and leaders had to make quick and crucial decisions to make sure the word of God was not shut down even though the church buildings were shut down. Our Pastors and leaders have been diligent, innovative, and creative making sure their members stayed connected to the body of Christ. And as a result of their steadfast, unmovable, and abounding faith, many have come to the knowledge of Christ in unprecedented ways. It is Biblical for us to recognize and honor the men and women of God who serve faithfully the flock of God. In fact, Paul wrote the following words to the church at Thessalonica, “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work . . .” (I Thessalonians 5:12-13) It is clear from scripture that the faithful and dedicated Pastors of our churches are worthy of appreciation and honor. Clergy Appreciation Month provides an excellent opportunity for our churches to affirm their love and appreciation for those who are called by God and who lead their congregations in fulfilling the Great Commission. Their responsibility is to equip God's people to
Jackie Epps Editor-in-Chief do His work and build up the church, the Body of Christ. “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15) Pastors and other ministers work tirelessly caring for their flock. A minister's work day is rarely a "9-5" job, and they cannot go home at the "end" of the day and just leave all the occupational problems at the office. A Pastor is never off-duty and he is always on call. If we stop for a moment and think about all he does we would be more sensitive to our Pastor’s needs. We should always lift our Pastors in prayer and ask the Lord to surround them with loving care, to give them strength and walk with them, and to help them with the burdens that they must bear. Many of us have been members of our churches for many years. If you look back over the years, I believe that you would agree that our pastors have played major roles in the fabric of our lives. They have prayed for us, taught us, corrected us and guided us. Our pastors have celebrated and laughed with us in the good times, cried with us in times of sorrow and loved us when we weren’t so lovable. As we celebrate Clergy Appreciation Month, remember to thank God for the precious gifts He has bestowed upon us, His anointed men and women of God, our beloved Pastors! And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
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I N T E RV I E W WITH
Pastor Warren L. Savage Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church Baltimore, Maryland
which had bustling communities. The church was the center of black life in most cities. Baltimore was no different during the great migration from the south to the north; many skilled African American men in particular flocked to the seaport and docks of downtown Baltimore, what we know today as Fells Point, to work as ship caulkers, stevedores and day laborers. The great abolitionist Frederick Douglass once worked at this very shipyard, along with a black merchant marine man named Isaac Myers who would later organize a black ship workers union. These two men were avid churchgoers and they both frequented Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church. During the abolitionist period Fredrick Douglass spoke from the pulpit of our church along with white abolitionists for the purpose of speaking out against the injustice of Slavery and racial disparity.
Pastor Warren L. Savage
G&G: Pastor Savage, welcome to Grace & Glory. This month is Clergy Appreciation Month and we congratulate you on your appointment as the new Pastor of the Sharp Street United Methodist Church. Let’s talk about the Sharp Street United Methodist Church. Would you give us an overview of the history of the Sharp Street United Methodist Church? Pastor Savage: Well thank you for featuring me in your magnificent publication. At the turn of the 20th century Baltimore had the largest free black population in the country,
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Our church is the oldest black church in the city. It has always had a long history of social activism. Our cemetery owned and operated by Sharp Street Memorial was the only place free blacks and enslaved blacks could be buried in this city. There are a number of famous black people buried there, namely the great boxer Joe Gans, a famous lightweight prize fighter of his time who fought in 1906. Can you imagine the racial strife that he faced at that time? Our church is rich in civil rights history, when I was a child the Mitchell family was very prominent in the civil rights movement. Mrs. Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson, Clarence Mitchell’s grandmother, was responsible for bringing First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to Baltimore to speak at the Lyric about the conditions of black people. The First Lady of the United States found out that the Lyric did not allow integrated audiences so Mrs. Jackson invited her to speak at Sharp Street Memorial and she did; there are some photos in our archives at the church. Lastly Sharp Street was adamant about education! Many people don’t know this, or some have chosen to forget about the fact that Morgan State
Q&A University was founded and created in the basement of our church. So, over all Sharp Street has had and still has a rich history in this city. G&G: Pastor Savage, I understand that this is not your first acquaintance with the Sharp Street United Methodist Church. Tell us about your connection and history with the Sharp Street United Methodist Church. Pastor Savage: Well I was raised in this church and although I had a mother, my grandmother was my deity. Although my brothers and sisters and I lived in southwest Baltimore in a housing project called Westport, my mother used to send us on the 28 bus to church. I couldn’t wait to get there! I joined Sharp Street in 1968 at the tender age of eight. Bishop Forrest Stith was my Pastor as a child. Under his leadership I was an altar boy and was on the youth choir directed by Dr. Morris Queen who also taught music at Morgan State. Life seemed so easy and carefree as a child but as I got older life’s curiosities got the best me. The gravitational pull of the street became stronger and stronger and I found myself hanging with the wrong crowd. I became rebellious like most young people who thought that they knew about life. I wound up selling drugs and making money. I also found myself on the wrong side of the law. As a young person I went to jail and while I was there, I went to the church services. The outside guest on one Sunday was a Methodist Mrs. Dorothy Patterson (Pastor Savage's grandmother)
preacher named Reverend Lloyd Marcus, Sr., who knew my mother and grandmother. I had a chance to speak to him after service and he witnessed to me and told me that God is a God of second chances and offered me the plan of salvation. When I was released, I visited my old church; but I was not totally sold out for Christ. I had gotten a little older and I thought I knew what life was about, I began to search out other religions and joined Islam at one point; but was still living the life of a hypocrite. Subsequently I ran across an old friend who was in the drug game and I was given an offer to make some money and I accepted. Every now and then I would go visit my grandmother and she would say to me “you don’t have to tell me what you are doing I see it...I see the clothes, the car, the jewelry”… but then she said something to me that stayed with me unto this day, she said, “you think you are living high and mighty now but one day the Lord is going to bring you to your knees.” She further went on to say that I did not raise you this way but as you go back into those mean streets, I’m going to pray for you. Well her prophesy came true. One Friday night on the Southside of Philly, I went to make a drug deal and I was set up by my cousin; I was shot and left for dead. There I laid in a pool of blood and I couldn’t call on the god of Islam and I couldn’t call on the god of the Buddhist... but I called on the God of my grandmother, I said, “Jesus save me, Jesus don’t let me die in a city where nobody knows my name!” And the Lord spared my life and I have been sold out for the lord ever since; that was over 30 years ago, and the Lord is still good and his mercy endureth forever. G&G: Pastor Savage, would you say this appointment has brought you full circle with your relationship to this church? Would you walk us through the journey that led you to the Sharp Street United Methodist Church? Pastor Savage: I believe that God knows our beginnings and our endings; who would ever imagine that I would be the Pastor of the very church that I played in as a child. And so yes it has come full circle for me. I believe I’ve come this far not just by faith but on the prayers and bended knees of my grandmother. Continued on page 10 www.gracenglorymagazine.org www.gracenglorymagazine.org 99
Q&A
Continued from page 9
G&G: Pastor Savage, looking back over your life at where you were when you started this journey, are you at all surprised at where you are today? Pastor Savage: Absolutely! I don’t come from a line of preachers and not many in my family went to college either! But as I said before it was prayers and just putting one foot in front of another. Taking it a day at a time a step at a time. I believe that the Lord was ordering my steps.
G&G: Pastor Savage, most pastors have shared with me that ‘preaching the gospel’ was not necessarily what they had planned for their life. Was it the same for you? When did you realize God had called you to preach the gospel? Pastor Savage: When I was in seminary I was asked a similar question and my answer to my professor was I did not hear a call but I saw a need; my life experience allowed me to see death, starvation, lawlessness, greed, jealousy and many other ills in our society and that for me
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translated into a calling. Deep in my heart coming out of the rough streets of Baltimore the Lord laid it upon my heart to help those who have similar stories like mine and I asked the Lord to open up an opportunity to do His will for His people. G&G: Pastor Savage, along with great assignments come great responsibilities, historically the Black church has been the foundation of the Black community. Do you believe the church still has a voice in the community today? And what will you do to see that the Sharp Street United Methodist Church is a vital force in its surrounding community? Pastor Savage: Well I believe just as the church was the center of black life in the past so it will be in the future. People can say all they want about the church...the church was the bridge that brought us over! The church was the meeting place that produced leaders in all walks of life. In the depression the church was the kitchen pantry for a mass of people. But to speak more succinctly to your question even during this pandemic we have been able to feed and give away food as a part of our outreach ministries. My goal with the help of their leadership is to create job readiness programs and an upholstery apprenticeship program along with financial literacy classes, and so much more for the community that we serve God willingly. G&G: Pastor Savage, so much has changed in the dynamics of ministry; particularly with the coronavirus pandemic, technology and social media. What are your plans for this ministry to keep up with all the changes and stay relevant? Pastor Savage: Well we are using technology more by way of the internet and social media as well as your wonderful magazine to keep preaching the gospel of hope and salvation.
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G&G: Pastor Savage, my last few questions are a
Q&A little more personal, first what three words would you use to best describe yourself? Pastor Savage: Focused, determined and consistent.
G&G: Pastor Savage, what is one thing most people would be surprised to know about you? Pastor Savage: That I am an antique restorer by profession. I repair and reupholster furniture; particularly antique furniture that is over 200 years old. G&G: Pastor Savage, is there anyone who has had a tremendous impact upon you as a friend, leader, mentor, etc.? How did they impact your life? Pastor Savage: There are so many that I could mention that we would be here all day. But to name a few, the late Dr. Errol Gilliard of Greater Harvest Baptist Church was instrumental in helping me to get into the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union and he initially paid for my school tuition until I received financial aid; I would not have my Master’s Degree in Divinity if it wasn’t for him. Also, Pastor Therm James of the Bethany Baptist Church in Westport in whom I sat under for a while; my formal training in ministry was there and it was there that I received a license to preach.
the United Methodist Conference, our Bishop and District Superintendent, and lastly my professor and mentor Dr. C. Anthony Hunt who is the Professor and Founder of the Cohort at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. He entitled his Cohort the Martin Luther King Beloved Community Scholars and I am pursuing a doctorate degree there. He is a walking encyclopedia, a great preacher, and a great man of God. So, I have been blessed to have people to speak into my life that have done me some good and I am the better for it and eternally grateful. G&G: Pastor Savage, at this point in your life, what would you say you now know for sure? Pastor Savage: Like the psalmist David said, “I was once young and now I’m old, but I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread.” I know the Lord is a keeper he will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him. He will never leave you nor forsake you. I can’t think of God without being thankful ...when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he has done for me My soul cries hallelujah for saving me. Therefore, I will bless the Lord at all times and his praise will continually be in my mouth. For the Lord is good and his mercy endureth forever.
G&G: Pastor Savage, lastly is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers? Pastor Savage: Yes, the lord has blessed me with two wonderful daughters, Morgan and Mira. They are my motivation; they are my armor bearers in the spirit. They both are in college and I love them so much. I also love my Sharp Street Memorial Church family and I pray for them daily and they pray for me. I also pray for our beloved parish But my greatest influences were Preachers collaboratives, Epworth in the Methodist tradition, Pastor Patricia United Methodist Pastor Warren Savage and daughters Morgan & Mira Johnson who pastored Mt. Winans United Church and Martin Methodist Church and Unity United Methodist Church, she Luther King, Jr. United Methodist Church. advocated for me going through the license to preach school and was a wealth of information in ministry. Dr. Alfreda G&G: Pastor Savage, we thank God for you Wiggins, who is a legend in her own right, purposely helped to and your work for the Kingdom of Christ produce young preachers and gave them a chance to preach and we will be praying for you and the and prepared them for ordination. Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist There are so many more that I am indebted to, our hierarchy in Church. www.gracenglorymagazine.org www.gracenglorymagazine.org 11 11
Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church
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the direction of leader, Jacob Forte, the “Colored Methodist Society” was formed. The members met in their homes until they obtained a building. In 1802, land was conveyed to the Trustees of the Society and they acquired their first building at 112-116 Sharp Street, hence the name Sharp Street Church. To accommodate a migrating membership, the Reverend Daniel Hayes and the Trustees purchased a lot on Dolphin and Etting Streets to build the first church for an African American congregation in Baltimore, Maryland. The present edifice was erected and occupied in 1898.
Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church Brief History
The members of Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church are the spiritual descendants of Baltimore’s first African-American congregation, established in 1787. Over two centuries ago a group of African Americans found their dignity compromised in a church where racism existed. These men and women left the Lovely Lane United Methodist to form a separate fellowship where they could embrace the liberating fellowship of the God they served. Under
Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church, often referred to as the “Mother Church of African American Methodism”, has been a leader in the struggle for spiritual development and human dignity. This pioneering church has led the way of religious, educational, humanitarian, social, and political causes. Two Methodist congregations honored the historical significance of our church by taking our name (Sharp Street, Chase, MD and Sharp Street, Sandy Springs, MD). Another congregation, now known as Mount Winans United Methodist Church was begun as Sharp Street Mission. The Centenary Biblical Institute, now Morgan state University, began as Sharp Street Church School for ministers in 1987. The N.M. Carroll Home facilities for the aged were conceived by and named for a former Pastor of Sharp Street. The Mount Auburn Cemetery, once known as “The City of the Dead for Colored People”, was the first burial ground of its kind in the State of Maryland. The Community House built in 1921 as a dormitory for women coming to work or attending school in Baltimore has been the site of many social, recreational, and programming activities. The Archival Center, 1205 Etting Street, was dedicated and opened in 1987 to display documents and artifacts showcasing the history of the church. In addition, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) during their formative years, held their meetings in the sanctuary of the church. Sharp Street Memorial United Methodist Church and the Community House were entered in the National Registry of Historical Places on July 21, 1987. Today, we are “Boldly Building Up the Body of Christ” in the Upton Community. We are an active and vital congregation witnessing to the abiding love of God and the life changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through worship, learning, and outreach. “Making Disciples, Who Make a Difference”
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prophetically speaking
By Tim Manigault I’m so honored to share with you this quarter about what I sense the Father saying and releasing to the body during this time. Without question 2020 has been a most unusual year and yet it has been one of the most catalytic years in history. As we settle into the last quarter of this year there are some key things that I sense the Father desiring to share with us in some specific areas. Let’s dive right in! DO NOT BE seduced by “Relief” As we began this quarter, I heard the Father speak these words to me: Do not be seduced by relief. Relief will be offered in the form of an “I quit” or in an offer to do something that seems a bit “easier” than the assignment you’ve been given. For some relief will look like a call from something or someone in “the past”. The comfort of what you knew, the warmth of nostalgia; the security of familiarity. Hiding in what appears to be “relief” is a venomous snake assigned to strike you with an inordinate amount of birth control. Make no mistakes the cost of “relief will be a relegation to a sterile and infertile season. I must note, the is NOT a call to busyness; it is a call to hold fast concerning the instructions the Lord has given you. FOR CREATORS- I heard Him use this word particularly because some people do not identify as a “creative”, but they create systems. Especially to Apostolic or Prophetic Builders it sounds super churchy but it’s not. It’s simply those who are graced and have divine insight on how to build and establish new systems, orders, protocols, or “wine skins”.
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I sensed the Father say: “OXYGEN WILL INCREASE AS YOU RELEASE!” The Father is deeply grieved by muzzles that have been placed on His servants that have been yielded and submitted to Kingdom authority. These muzzles are illegal and unauthorized by the Father. You Must begin to RELEASE what He’s put in your heart. As you steadily release at HIS command you will experience large doses of Oxygen filling you to LIVE! The Yielded heart will be safe Note that in the last segment I said, “Those who have been yielded to Kingdom authority alignment will be essential because warfare has increased and the ranks in the earth are shifting”. Those who are yielded (even to strict oversight) shall be safe. Pray for The Earth & Nature In September the Father showed me that there will be a swift spike in natural phenomena in weather and the earth in general. Since I released that word in the first week of September, we have seen a HISTORIC spike in storms and fires; this WILL continue even violently through the beginning of 2021. There will be record setting times of shaking, strong unprecedented winds, flames, winds AND waves! Pray with regard to weather stabilization on Earth. Temperance/ Self Control It is ESSENTIAL that the believer exercise EXTREME self-control during these times particularly regarding our tongues and agreement. There is a call again to selfdenial as Jesus exemplified, where there is no practice of self-denial there will be no selfcontrol. There will be another surge of Fasting moves rising as the Father aligns His body with temperance.
Discernment is KEY Beware of: 1. Being baited into fights that are NOT for you to fight. Be EXTREMELY aware of the fights that YOU are called to. Stay clear of arguments, battles, quarrels, gossip, defamations of all kinds. And do NOT be easily given to disputes. Make Righteous moves and maintain pure conversations. 2. Ungodly counsel that will seek entrance by soothing your soul realm. This counsel is from a fallen realm containing fallen spirits that seek to counsel you. We must discern to enter into the Greater Glory! Finally, GREAT and INCREDIBLE days are ahead of us! We must be very wise in this hour and Prayer is our way forward. This is a call to urgency NOT panic. Panic is birthed from fear, urgency is birthed from honor. When we give a response that is commensurate to the time or crisis, we honor the moment and Grace meets us in it. This is a trying hour, but Jesus is the hope of the world! Look Up and be strengthened our King remains undefeated!
Tim Manigault
Ecos Church, Irvine, CA
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to your good health
Focus On What Matters Most
This year has taught us to count our blessings. The little things have meant a lot to many of us as we have seen so many things change. Our environment is changing with more storms, forest fires and unusual weather events. Our economy is changing. Many persons have lost jobs and the supplemental income from having a side gig is not enough to make ends meet. Our relationships are changing. Some persons we thought were lifelong friends have been absent over these last few months. Church members we once fellowshipped with have gone their own way and family members have become estranged in this environment of uncertainty. Our country is changing. We once applauded ourselves to be a cultural melting pot but now have been relegated to racial, political and sometimes religious views that are not welcoming or affirming. With all of these colliding concerns and sometimescontroversial circumstances fighting for our attention, we have to decide what matters most. There are some observations I have made over these past few months. Our voice matters, all of us, as Christians we have a responsibility to speak up and out against oppression and injustice. We must continue to pray but we must also use our voice in our presence at city and county council meetings. We must use our voice when we vote during every election. We must use our voice for the voiceless like those children in cages at the border, seniors, the homeless and those people who are returning citizens. We must do as like the Psalmist, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them.” Our voices 18 October 2020 | Grace&Glory
cannot be silent in this season. We must also be encouraging with our words. We may not be able to be there physically with people but we can still spread love and joy. This is something that we must be willing to be generous with. Our presence and our words mean a lot to those around us. Choosing the right words at the right time can be just what someone needs in these times of change and transition. Sending a card via email or a handwritten note can make the difference in those you care about. We saw how a few young children drew pictures and sent them to nursing home residents. They wanted them to know they were not forgotten. We have people that would love to hear from us with a kind word, a gesture of love or a phone call. Our words have power and we must use our power to encourage, bring hope and share wisdom. Proverbs 16:24 remind us that, “Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” What matters most in this time of uprisings, covid-19, fires, storms, economic downturn, grief, violence, injustice and distress, is using the power in our voice and in our words. Both have the power to shift the atmosphere of our Dr. Carla Debnam, Founder, Renaissance Christian lives and of those around us. Counseling Center
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woman’s perspective
I have a weekly video blog called Rhoda’s Reflection, and on July's reflection I was under the weather. My oldest daughter, so graciously, offered to do the reflection for me. In that particular episode she challenged the listeners to activate their faith by "trying God". In life it can be easier to try new things when you’ve seen positive outcomes with other people's experience with it. For example: when you have the desire to lose weight, you are downloaded with all of this information about weight loss. You are either seeking it out or you are starting to get random social media advertisements via posts or paid sponsored ads all with the aim of getting you to try this "great weight loss pill", or this "amazing stomach flattening girdle". What causes you to try those products are the results that others are receiving from the products; their testimonials. Their weight loss testimonies cause us, as consumers, to give it a try. I can speak for myself and say that I’ve been caught up in the hype purchasing many of those products. However, I didn’t get the same results as the actors in the infomercials. Now, I’m not saying the products were a hoax. What I am saying, though, is that I didn’t get the same results! The thing that drew me to the products (the results I saw on individuals) was the same thing that I failed to account for (individual results may vary). Each person trying the products will get a different response or result because each person's body make up is different. What would it look like if we took that same application and applied it to our faith? What if we looked at the Bible as an infomercial in our minds? We can get the same results by applying the same principles we see via testimonials we read about. The Bible says that a mustard seed amount of faith is all that is required for each person to have. Compared in size to just about anything else, a mustard seed is miniscule. Matthew 27:19-20 (NIV) says, “Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked “Why couldn’t we drive it out”? He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Let’s make this scripture an infomercial. Narrator: "Have you ever had a big problem, but only had a small application to get the problem resolved. Then try Mustard Seed Faith. 20 October 2020 | Grace&Glory
Only a tad bit will do you. You won’t need a huge amount. Just apply a tiny amount to get the job done. Let the mustard seed work for you." In 1 King 17 the Bible gives insight to another parable where Elijah is talking to a woman at the gate of Zarephath who is gathering sticks. Elijah asks her for a cup of water and a morsel of bread. The lady spoke to Elijah saying that she didn’t have any bread, just oil and some flour. She was gathering the sticks to make a fire so that she could make the bread that she and her son were going to eat before they die. Then Elijah told her to continue to go home, but make him some bread first, then take what was left for her and her son to eat. She did as Elijah told for her to do. When it was all said and done, not only did she have enough for him, but she had more than enough; her cupboards never ran dry. Now this would be hard to turn into an infomercial, but it is a great example of applying the little faith you have in the Word of the Lord to you. She listened to the man of God, and it yielded a great reward. The challenge that we run into is in our believing. Sometimes we just don't believe that "it" could happen for us. We see the desired results in the Word, but cannot properly apply the Word (the Instructions) to our everyday interactions. So, my challenge for you is to "try God", try faith. Let your burdens become His burdens. Let your pain become His pain. The Bible says in Matthew 11:30 (NIV), “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” You’ve tried everything else, and didn’t get the results you were hoping for. What do you have to lose? There aren’t "3 easy payments" you need to make. It's one payment of "belief"; belief that the Word works and will work in your circumstances. Try God. Try faith, and watch it work for Pastor Rhoda Turner you like it Christian Faith Fellowship Church worked for Chandler, AZ others before www.cffaz.org you.
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monthly manna
HOW TO DEAL WITH
ANGER
ANGRY
If I may, I would like to ask when was the last time you were angry about something or with someone? Some of you may not have to think very long. One of the things God has personally been healing me from is anger. A lot of times we misdiagnose anger by only classifying it as a form of verbal or physical expression. Meaning, someone yelling or throwing objects. However, I would like to submit to you that you can have anger and never raise your voice. You can have anger and never throw an object. Simply put, there are silent walkers struggling with anger at this very moment. Some people have learned to suppress it and keep it dormant, but best believe if you hit that button, that anger inside can be explosive. I was the type of person, looking at me from the outside, you would never see it, but internally I was carrying a lot of anger. I carried anger going through my divorce. I carried anger from my brother’s untimely death. I also carried anger from failed friendships. Anger is so important to discuss and the time is now. As Christians we cannot continue in the cycle of anger. Not only does it rob you of purpose, but also progress. How can you truly move forward when you are housing and harboring hostility and vexation? It’s not possible. Anger to me is like having a slow leak in a tire. You may not see it initially, but you are losing air and if not fixed, you will most certainly have a flat. When we harbor anger we are slowly turning away from righteousness and if not careful will give a foothold to the enemy, causing us to deflate in forgives and loves. We are entering the fourth and final quarter of 2020. Many of us have experienced our share of disappointment, hardship and trials. One thing we cannot afford to do is allow anger to set us back. So you might be asking, how do I move forward peacefully? I want to share three things with you. 1. Anger has a shelf life. The bible gives us clear instruction in Ephesians 4:26, “In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Beloved, this is a principle that will deliver us from days, months and even years from harboring anger. This scripture doesn’t say not to be angry, but it does tell us that if not careful anger can lead to sin. Therefore, don’t allow anger to continue when the sun goes down. How many of you have gone to bed angry? I know I have. But what if we truly applied this principle?
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AND MOVE FORWARD PEACEFULLY How much healthier would we be? 2. Anger freely invites the devil into your life. Ephesians 4:27 says, “And do not give the devil a foothold.” When you are harboring anger that’s like opening your doors and telling the enemy to come on in. Sometimes we are quick to say what the enemy is doing this and that, but did you give him an invite? Did you open the door because of anger? As we wrap up this year, please check you mail and make sure the enemy is not on your list. The devil only wants to come in and bring discord, division and distraction. God has brought you too far! Do not give the enemy a foothold! He only wants to steal your peace, the fruits of the spirit, your joy, and your stability. Remember, anger causes instability. 3. Don’t rehearse your hurts. I was reading a previous devotion from Dr. Charles Stanley and he was talking about anger. One thing he said at the end of the devotion was, don’t rehearse your hurts. WOW! That was life changing for me. When you rehearse your hurts, it will keep you stuck in a limited capacity. How can you give to others and you keep rehearsing your hurts? How can you handle bigger and better things, and you keep rehearsing your hurts? However allow those hurts to be testimonials and help someone else. You want the curtain to come up, but my question to you is, what are people going to see? Remember, what is internal will be reflected. You only can give from what is from within. If you continue to persist in anger, it will push you out of purpose. I don’t want you to be pushed out of purpose, but pushed forward to purpose. There are people who have allowed anger to overtake them because they never dealt with it. However, this is a great time to have peace. There can be chaos all around you, but remember peace is priceless. You cannot buy your way out of anger. Temporal things will not allow anger to disappear. I know this might be hard to grasp, but in order to deal with anger you must have Min. Carenda Deonne healthy confrontation. www.carendadeonne.com Therefore, let’s 888-473-2221 continue to extend admin@carendadeonne.com grace to ourselves Facebook: @carendadeonne and others and let’s Twitter: @cdpgem deal with anger in Instagram: @carendadeonne order to move forward Linkedin: @carendadeonne peacefully. YouTube: @carendadeonne Anchor: www.anchor.fm/takeaim
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trinkets to triumph
T.I.M.E. with Titus
You were planted for a purpose! God placed you in your current position for you to have an opportunity to be an example to others on what it means to live a good, perfect and honorable life in Christ. If you were to spend some time in the book of Titus, you would witness the Apostle Paul letting Titus know that he left him behind in Crete to spend some time with its citizens. The Apostle Paul planted him there to finish the work they begun and to appoint elders in all of the towns (Titus 1:5). The Apostle Paul wanted the people to have T.I.M.E. with Titus for him to have an opportunity to T-each, I-mpart, M-inister, and E-dify the people of Crete about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God placed you in your current position to spend T.I.M.E. with the people in your sphere of influence. You have a unique gift from God that you can impart to others. Take the T.I.M.E. and share with others the goodness of God and all of the great things He has done in your life. Titus teaches you that it is okay to be left behind. When the Apostle Paul left Titus in Crete, Titus might have initially felt like he was abandoned and afraid that he couldn’t do the assignment given to him. But he was left behind to be a blessing. He had the opportunity to teach the truth of the Gospel (Titus 2:8). His assignment was to appoint elders but he also had an opportunity to be a blessing to everyone. He had the opportunity to teach the people of Crete self-control, sound faith, how to stay free from slander, and so much more (Titus 2:1-3). Think of the loads of lessons that you could teach others from your experiences. Your impartation alone could help break the bondage over lives or your knowledge could lead someone to experience a breakthrough possibly from your testimony alone. Like Titus, impart and share your unique gift with others. Share your story of how you were delivered from death by accepting salvation. Be devoted to doing good deeds. Provide for people from the provision God gave you. Take the time to motivate and give hope to others. Your impartation into someone’s life could be the missing trinket needed to help someone to triumph. T.I.M.E. with Titus gave the people of Crete the opportunity for Titus to minister to those who may have needed a word of 24 October 2020 | Grace&Glory
encouragement. Lending his ear to someone who was going through an issue gave him the opportunity to seek God on their behalf. You, too, can minister, build others up, and let them know all things are working out in their favor because of their love for the Lord (Romans 8:28). Like Titus, you can take the time to offer wise counsel to comfort people to let them know if they don’t grow weary in well doing, they are guaranteed victory if they don’t faint in the process (Galatian 6:9). When you touch and agree in prayer with an acquaintance, you are believing God on their behalf that He can and will perfect all things that concern them (Psalm 138:8). Titus teaches you to edify your acquaintances. Enlighten others and make an effort to make sure that everyone that is your presence feels loved, respected and appreciated. Make a conscious effort to brighten someone’s day daily. Be motivated to move others to greatness. Be the one to encourage others to know that the joy of the Lord is their strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Do you have T.I.M.E.? Take the time to teach others what you know about Christ. Impart to others the wonderful ways you are blessed by serving Him. Minister and meet the needs of people to the best of your ability. Edify others and expect God to exceedingly bless your efforts. Tap into God’s treasure by taking some T.I.M.E. with Tracey Nicole George www.traceystrinketstotriumph.com Titus.
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health matters OCTOBER IS
We may approach this month with mixed feelings. We may know of a friend or loved one who is a victim of this disease. You may have witnessed their struggle as they fought a courageous fight to believe God for their healing. You may be struggling with test results and confronted with this diagnosis yourself. Yet, we can celebrate that annual, national efforts are made to increase our awareness of the sign and symptoms, self-care initiatives, and successful treatments to conquer and overcome the effects of this disease. Breast cancer is a disease where malignant cells form a tumor in the breast and surrounding tissue. It is the 2ND leading cancer in the U.S. and the leading type of cancer in women (CDC, 2017). This is a profound statement demonstrated in a meeting I was in. The convener of the meeting asked participants to stand if we had a close friend or family member who had breast cancer. Astoundingly, everyone in the room stood up. That visual example made a tremendous impact on me and the other attendees on the widespread occurrence of this disease. There are several factors related to the development of cancer. Some of these factors have a stronger relationship in the development of breast cancer than others. Risk factors for breast cancer include older age, family history, and genetic factors, alcohol consumption, obesity, not having children, and taking various hormone therapies.
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The Susan Komen organization identifies eight warning signs for breast cancer: • Lump, hard knot, or thickening in the breast. • Swelling, warmth, redness, or darkening. • Change in the size or shape of the breast. • Dimpling or puckering of the skin. • Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple. • Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast. • Nipple discharge that starts suddenly. • New pain in one spot in the breast that doesn't go away. African-American women and women of color have a greater incidence of breast cancer diagnoses. Women of color have a higher incidence of inflammatory breast cancer. This is an aggressive type of breast cancer that is not comprised of a solid mass and is more difficult to diagnose with a mammogram. Mammography is the recommended method for early detection and screening for breast cancer. Coupled with monthly self-breast examinations, yearly mammograms are a proven method for the early detection of breast cancer, which significantly improves survival rates. Women of color tend to have dense breast tissue, making it difficult to visualize small tumors on x-ray. It is recommended that these women be examined with 3D mammographic imagining which provides a more detailed image of the breast. Men are not exempt from breast cancer.
Risk factors and signs and symptoms for breast cancer in men are similar to those in women. Men are urged to seek medical attention when lumps, discolorations, dimpling or drainage from the nipple appear in the breast. What can we do to support friends and family members who are confronted with this disease? We must stand in faith for their recovery and healing. Support them in prayer. Be a good listener when they need to express their feelings, fears, and frustrations. Volunteer to take them to their treatments. Help them with housework. Cook a meal for them and their family, or send a note of encouragement. This article is dedicated to my two close friends who were recently diagnosed with breast cancer. I admire your strength. You are my living heroes. I pray for you daily and I am in awe of the great work God has done in your lives. You are sheer evidence of phenomenal women. I am blessed to witness your healing and Dr. Denyce Watties Daniels survival. Associate Professor at Love you Coppin State University to the moon DWatties-Daniels@coppin.edu and back. healthytips 025@gmail.com
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body basics
Keep Still And Become Fit!
Meditation and deep breathing have been practiced for thousands of years. Did you know that meditation originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and spiritual things in life? Today, meditation is commonly used for relaxation, stress reduction and calmness. Meditation and deep breathing can be considered as a natural healing method. Meditation and deep breathing can produce a deep state of relaxation and can calm your mind and body. During meditation and deep breathing, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of scrambled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress and anxiety. This process may result in improved physical and emotional health. When you incorporate these two ancient practices daily, it will help you to be calmer throughout your day and can also help you to manage symptoms of stress, and even some medical conditions. Personally, I use both practices to help create clarity and reduce stress in my life. I believe that meditation has assisted me in growing my business and navigating through tough decisions over the years. Deep breathing has helped me deal with challenging people and problematic circumstances for sure. We all have experienced a stressful situation and have heard the phrase, “Take a deep breath” this perhaps is the most common advice that people give to a person panicking for a certain reason. Surprisingly, the advice of controlled breathing helps the person get back to his/her calmer self, almost every time. Now imagine what would happen if you practice such breathing techniques on a regular basis. This is where you may come across the term breathwork. Breathwork is an umbrella term used for different types of breathing exercises and techniques. When people are stressed, they are likely to take rapid and shallow breaths. This kind of breathing causes an upset in the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body, which leads to increased heart rate, muscle tension, dizziness, and other physical sensations. With meditation and breathwork, you can make
This is your Core Training!
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yourself take long deep breaths and counter the effects of anxiety and stress with practice. It is recommended to practice long and deep breaths from your abdomen. It helps you feel less anxious and stressed. If you experience chronic pain, you may have tried different things to distance yourself from the pain. With such an activity, you are also keeping your body from healing it. Meditation and breathing helps reconnect our body, allowing you CHARLES & URSULA HARRIS, to jumpstart the healing process. Fitness Experts Moreover, taking deep breaths Chizel It Transformation Fitness Center allows your body to release 9006 Liberty Rd • Randallstown Md 21133 endorphins, which reduces 443-253-0090 • www.chizelit.com sensitivity to pain. The practice of deep breathing helps manage pain by allowing your body to change the acidity level in it, making it more alkaline. Meditation and deep breathing also help to reduce the level of cortisol, which is the stress hormone, reducing the effect of pain. Furthermore, deep breaths that are taken from the abdomen help relax the muscles, allowing you to feel certain relief from the pain. Once you get into a meditation and deep breathing routine, you will see and feel major changes in your life, especially during these trying times that we are in. The key is to keep your stress level as low as possible. This will not only help you emotionally, but also physically. This is the best time to use simple techniques to help you improve your quality of life. Here are 7 Benefits of a Meditation and Deep Breath Practice: 1. Meditation will help release anxiety and stress. 2. Deep breathing will help relax your body from tension. 3. Meditation will help you to connect to your higher power. 4. Deep breathing avoids some unnecessary conflicts. 5. Meditation will help activate your creative mind. 6. Deep breathing will help your quality of sleep. 7. Meditation will help center you for your day.
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