Hope Winter Issue with Erica Campbell

5

tiPs fOR a

BEttER 2014

WITH CHRISTINE CASHEN

ROMaNtiC REDs! YOUR VALENTINE’S BEAUTY GUIDE

exclusive

aLfre WooDarD

12 YearS a SLaVe

SEX THERAPY: iNtiMaCY ON a NuMBER’s sCaLE

ERICA CAMPBELL her next chapter

VoL.6 / 2014 $4.95

DISPLaY UnTIL aPrIL 15

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IN THIs IssuE

VOL. 6 NO. 2

oN THE CoVER 8 Alfre woodard: 12 Years a slave Romantic Reds! Your Valentine’s 16 Beauty Guide 34

sex Therapy: Intimacy on a Number’s scale

45

5 Tips for a Better 2014 with Christine Cashen

fEATuREs 12 The long Awakening: from

Coma to Caring for Caroline Journalist Shares Her Struggle to Bond with Newborn Following 47-day Coma

24

Reality star Alexis Bellino Reveals Top Priorities Family, Organization and Work-Outs!

IN EVERY IssuE Page 5 Editor’s Angelia White 24

what Matters Most…

An Interview with Actress Cynda Williams Plummer

26

HER NEXT CHAPTER A Fresh New Look and Sound for Erica Campbell as she begins Her Next Chapter by monique farmer

BOBBI BROWN metaLLic Long wear cream ShaDow SEPHORA.COM $24

CoVer CreDITS fashion Stylist: J.Bolin photographer: will Sterling makeup artist: Sylvia Smith hair: ebony glass creative Director: chanelle renee

WINTER 2014 | HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM 1

IN THIS ISSUE | VOL 6

INsPIRE

48

Commanding Your Morning!

Unleash God’s Power in Your Life —Every Day of the Year

BEAuTY 14 winter woes? Defeat Dullness!

16 Romantic Reds!

Your Valentine’s Beauty Guide

fAsHIoN 18 ‘Kick start’ winter with These sassy Boots!

fooD 38 winter Meal Planning: 4 Tips for Quick Meals

42

Hfw staffers share favorite winter Recipes

20 winter Coats: super size It! fINANCE 23 fresh start Experiences on

RElATIoNsHIPs 12 Raise Him up: Advice for

single African-American Moms Raising sons

$100 or less

BooKs 32 settle Into winter!

24

HoME 40 Trend setters for Your 2014

HEAlTH 44 Healthy Heart How-tos

Kitchen Redo!

2 HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM | WINTER 2014

45

It’s Never Too late to learn Etiquette – No Matter who You were in the Past

5 ways to speed up Your Metabolism

HOPEFORWOMENMAG.COM Check out our winter 2014 cover girl, Erica Campbell behind the scenes with her beauty squad!

Receive exclusive info about us subscribe at:

HoPeforWoMenMaG.CoM You will receive select celebrity interviews, fashion tips, beauty secrets, advice on finance, love and relationships, education, spirituality and most of all, we will be providing you with HOPE, INSPIRATION and EMPOWERMENT!

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fresh start!

VOL. 6 NO. 2

eDITor In CHIef angelia L. white

PreSIDenT & CHIef eXeCUTIVe offICer angelia L. white

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HoPe for WoMen MaGaZIne LLC p.o. BoX 3241, mUncie, inDiana 47307 aDVertiSing 800-936-2214 ext. 701 aDminiStratiVe 800-936-2214 WWW.HoPeforWoMenMaG.CoM The NIV Once-A-Day Bible, complete with 365 daily readings. To learn more or to see the full collection, visit your local retailer or OnceADayBibles.com.

hope for women iS a regiStereD traDemarK owneD BY hope for women magaZine LLc copYright 2014 CoVer CreDITS fashion Stylist: J.Bolin photographer: will Sterling makeup artist: Sylvia Smith hair: ebony glass creative Director: chanelle renee

4 hopeforwomenmag.com | winter 2014

EDITOR’S PAGE | FRESH START

CrYSTaL DaHLIa neCKLaCe

nothing like a

URBAN PEACH $18.95

fresh

start

There’s something so inexplicably refreshing about the beginning of a new year. That fresh opportunity to start over and gain a new lease on life, physically, spiritually, and psychologically, is something that many look forward to at the dawn of each new year.

At least I do.

Not only is a new year a great time to reset priorities and plans, but, for me, it’s also a time to reflect back over the previous years and assess my growth, personally and professionally. As I take a look in the rearview mirror of Hope, I can see how much we (Both the magazine and me!) have matured. And as I focus forward, I am excited about the progress that is yet to be experienced.

Glancing over my shoulder, I sometimes cringe at the mistakes and mess-ups that have happened along the way to building this God-sized dream, but in this year of newness, I, along with the amazing Hope Staff, am embracing a fresh start – in more ways than one.

That’s what this issue is all about – seizing the opportunity to let go of yesterday and start fresh. We’ve got the perfect motivation to get you started on a new journey to health and physical fitness, with some amazing weight loss stories and tips on how to prepare easy, healthy winter meals. Need something new in your wardrobe? We have the hottest picks for the most stylish winter boots!

To inspire you to keep moving forward despite the obstacles that fill your path, we are sharing a heartgripping story of resilience and faith from a woman who fully recovered from a 47-day coma. And we’re getting candid with Erica Campbell from the sister-duo, Mary Mary.

After combing through the pages of our Winter Issue, we are positive you’ll have new hope for your fresh start.

Hope is going full speed ahead. You should join us!

winter 2014 | hopeforwomenmag.com 5

QUOTE | ERICA CAMBELL

“

no fear, just faith.

6 hopeforwomenmag.com | winter 2014

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feature | ALFRE WOODARD

actress & activist

Alfre Woodard:

Oscar-Nominated ‘12 Years a Slave’ is a Slice of Reality

by ro b i n m cd o n a l d

You’ d be hard pressed to find a harder working mother, wife and actress in Hollywood than Alfre Woodard. She is without a doubt, not only one of the most revered actors of our time, but is constantly traveling the world as an ambassador of human rights and a force of global and personal change. I am beyond proud to call her a friend.

HOPE: You are never without a packed schedule of projects and speaking engagements. This year alone, you’ve had roles on the BBC America series, “Copper,” and of course the highly regarded Oscar-Nominee “12 Years a Slave.” In the middle of all of this, you traveled to East Africa as part of a Human Rights Delegation. Alfre, what keeps you going and reinventing yourself?

ALFRE: Ha! The truth is - prayer, occasionally I sleep, and oh, yes, green drinks! Kale, spinach, parsley, cucumber! (My) prayers are not always about what I want materially, but to open my eyes and my heart and see the perfection that’s already provided.

HOPE: I know your experience on the Oscarnominated “12 Years a Slave” was extremely rewarding. What makes this film especially important?

ALFRE: People don’t want to think about the fact that, in America, we were a slave economy for 300 years. Black people seem to feel ashamed or angry and white people feel guilty. But, we’re denying the majority of who we are. It doesn’t mean that we need to be comfortable, but we can never be whole or healthy if we cut off our past. We look at our history and say, “Look how remarkable people are!” But, we had 300 years of free labor. This film gives us such a full landscape 8 hope | winter 2014

of telling the story. Steve McQueen paints a true story written by Solomon Northrup five months after he won his freedom. It’s not a stereotype. With this picture we get a look at a man’s circumstance during the slave era, but we can imagine ourselves in it. Before, we looked at it from a distance. (The film) gives us a slice of the reality that helps us connect.

HOPE: Was there something or someone in particular that stood out and touched you during your mission in East Africa?

ALFRE: In Uganda - and this might ruffle some feathers - but in Uganda, I was staggered by how people - who thought themselves good people - how hateful they were to their society’s children that were LBGTI (Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender). They say they’re Christians, and that’s what they operate as, but you want to say, “Excuse me - ya know that gospel of love including and valuing everybody?”

It’s one thing to say, “This is my belief” - but the hatred that they aspire to was shocking.

HOPE : W hat ca n women, who maybe don’t have the resources or the opportunity to travel, do in order to help the effort in countries where the daily lives of so many of our sisters are in peril?

ALFRE: Luckily, and the internet is just like a crazy whirling cess pool sometimes, but the thing is - it is saving the world in a lot of respects. We used to fight our battles and endure our struggles alone and without the knowledge of other people in the farthest corner and darkness occurrence of abuse. Of course, it’s not enough just to find out about it within minutes and say “Oh, that’s so terrible!”

We can also go on line to find those places and those people and organizations and partner with them from our desks, from our sofas. The Clinton Global Initiative is really

good with women’s issues. Or, go on line to the United Nations for a list of different people who will lead you to those groups and to find out how reputable, how effective they are with the funds that they receive, all the way down to a local level.

HOPE: Is there a favorite role in your past, a character most like or unlike the real Alfre?

ALFRE: Popeye Jackson, (Miss Firecracker Contest, 1989). She would be my friend.

Authentic, comfortable in her pants, knows she’s beautiful. Popeye exudes poignancy and hilarity in the same stroke.

HOPE: Finally, what would people be most surprised to learn about you?

ALFRE: My friends accept me as a human being, so they see things that are right out there, that the public misses because the public projects onto you what they need to see. For instance, I am bawdy, profane, irreverent, given to gigantic swings in temperament and I cook at least two meals a day for my family. I prefer linen to cashmere. I like caviar and beans, but at different meals! I prefer the company of regular folks.

HOPE: Besides having an incredible facialist (me!), what gives you that “Alfre Woodard Glow” that makes you appear to have been lit from within?

ALFRE: I achieve the glow by eating so much sushi. It’s a mercury thing. Ha! Okay, after I swear, spit tobaccy, and shoot burp guns at my kids, I pray. I don’t ask for outcomes, I ask that my eyes be opened to the ever present good. Good is the only true power. It’s so simple, that in our complex lives, we have to “practice” to surrender to that understanding.

But, just knowing it is truth, and constant, is a blessed assurance.

hope: Any last words to the “Fresh Start” theme of Hope for Women’s Winter issue?

ALFre: Now, getouttahere, crazee, perfect women and enJoY!

winter 2014 | hope 9

what matters most ...with

Cynda Williams Plummer IN A SEASON WHERE MANY HAVE LOST HOPE, LOST ENCOURAGEMENT AND CAN’T SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, ONE WOMAN STANDS AS A BEACON OF LIGHT. by t en i ta j o h n s o n

HOPE caught up with Cynda Williams Plummer shortly after she completed the “Dream Girl” production in Muncie, IN. Here’s her message to HOPE readers.

HOPE: Tell Hope for Women about the successes you’ve achieved thus far.

CYNDA: I have been blessed to have had a career in the film industry for over 20 years. I am raising a beautiful daughter. I have had many positive experiences teaching young people.

HOPE: What new goals do you aspire to achieve?

CYNDA: I want to produce some of my own work, creating work for others that sends positive realistic messages.

I’d like to fi nally release some more music. I’d like to teach at a university level and get my master’s degree.

HOPE: How do you encourage women who may be battling depression or low self-esteem?

CYNDA: I encourage women to work hard, believe in themselves, and to be persistent in following their dreams. They can be great mothers and fi nd balance in the workplace.

I also encourage them to stay strong in their spirituality, whatever that means to them.

Love yourself!

HOPE: What is one main challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?

CYNDA: I was often challenged because of how I was perceived.

Because I looked the way I did, I often didn’t get certain jobs. How could I possibly play the lawyer, the mother? I had to be the sex symbol for a very long time. Time has eliminated that issue.

HOPE: Who is your motivation and source of encouragement?

CY NDA: My family and close friends are my primary source of encouragement, grounding and safety. No matter what happens in my career, they are in my corner. I also am encouraged by the struggles of people in history that pushed through it all and succeeded, from Jesus to Mother Teresa to Michael Jordan. There are so many stories out there to motivate us all.

HOPE: What is your definition of hope?

CYNDA: Hope is that spirit light within us all that whispers, “Keep on moving forward through the dark. Around the corner is a bright light that will illuminate all.”

HOPE: Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers that you haven’t shared yet?

CYNDA: I believe there is a shift happening i n ou r w or ld . M a ny p e ople a r e f a c i n g extraordinary challenges at this time. Just remember tomorrow is another day, another gift waiting to be opened. We are transitioning into enlightenment.

10 HOPE.COM | WINTER 2014

D

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Many girls today are caught up in a world that devalues them. Yet...

There is hope.

“There is no higher calling than protecting America’s children. In Daughters In Danger, Elayne Bennett does just that in a vivid way.” –

BILL O’REILLY

Start reading now at NelsonFree.com/DaughtersInDanger Available Wherever Books and eBooks Are Sold.

WINTER 2014 | HOPE.COM 11

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12/6/13 3:32 PM

FEATURE | LINDSAY O’CONNOR

The Long Awakening:

from coma to caring for

CAROLINE

by ch ri s t y l . lu ellen

JUST MINUTES AFTER GIV ING BIRTH TO HER FIFTH CHILD, LINDSEY O’CONNOR EXPERIENCED EXTREME COMPLICATIONS FROM A HUGE LOSS OF BLOOD AND WAS PUT INTO A MEDICALLY-INDUCED COMA TO ALLOW HER BRAIN, LUNGS AND BODY TO HEAL. LAYING IN SUSPENDED LIFELESSNESS, SHE DESCRIBED HER STATE AS “UNDEAD.” SHE WAS “ALIVE, BUT NOT LIVING.” 12 HOPE | WINTER 2014

THEN IN A STRANGE TWIST, SHE REPORTED HER OWN STORY. In a book about the day that changed her life and of the lost days of motherhood, the accomplished journalist has recently published The Long Awakening, an account of the 47-day struggle to wake up, respond and return to her husband Tim and their family of seven. For her fi rst-account story (which ironically she did not experience), O’Connor sought to learn specif ica lly about each incident of her near-death journey by putting the pieces together chronologically from hundreds of interviews. As a journalist, “I needed to know more about what happened – the whole process.” So she sought to tell her story through the very familiar process of interviewing and writing.

Lindsey recorded audio personal accounts of each event, sometimes obtaining seven persons’ perspectives of the same occurrence. Doctors, nurses, family members, her children, her father and step-mother, close friends and the family’s pastor would give their account of August 30, 2002, the day of Caroline’s birth and of the following 47 days.

After 10 years of putting thoughts – hers and others - on paper, Lindsey wrote the ultimate love story – “the most incredible thing that ever happened in my life.”

At the age of 41, and with a daughter only hours old, Lindsey was given no promise she

would wake up. While in the coma, Lindsey suffered multiple organ failures and was close to death several times, entering and leaving different degrees of consciousness, yet many times sensing that her husband was leaning closely to her face. In an effort to help Lindsey bond with newborn Caroline Aileen O’Connor, nurses pinned identical pink bears to their gowns so the baby would learn the scent of her mother. Many times, Caroline would be placed on Lindsey’s chest to snuggle and hear her sleeping mother’s heartbeat.

“Everyone I loved in my life was trying to figure out how to take care of this baby.”

Jacquelyn, her then18-year-old daughter, moved home from college to take care of the newborn, many times feeding the baby in the waiting room of the Intensive Care Unit. And then there were the couple’s other children, Claire, Collin, and Allison, all who faced mornings and evenings without a mother to fi x breakfast, pack lunches, help with homework, or share the joy of preparing for a first dance. Close friends Kathy, Carol, Susan and Brenda all helped at the O’Connor household, mainly caring for baby Caroline, but taking endless phone calls and receiving and freezing the many casseroles brought to the O’Connor home.

After nearly seven weeks, miraculously and

with no memory of the days following childbirth, Lindsey woke up. In her mind she had held her newborn daughter only hours ago.

Family members and friends spoke about her waking as the “miracle,” but Lindsey woke to the realization of not knowing her sevenweek-old baby. In an interview with HOPE she relates, “Although my family was elated, I could not muster up reciprocal happiness.”

She had lost nearly seven weeks as a wife, a mother and a friend, yet she felt a tremendous guilt that she was not as happy as they were.

“I knew where and who I was. But other things took much longer to know. Learning to re-stitch life – and love- when everything’s changed, and who we are afterward, was to be the longest journey of all.” After 107 days, with the help of oxygen and a walker, Lindsey went home from the hospital. Remembering her first few weeks at home, Lindsey felt “sidelined” from the role of mother as her family had coped with how to function as a family unit in her absence. She watched her oldest daughter care for her youngest daughter, all the while knowing it was her responsibility.

She watched Caroline respond to her eldest sister with a closeness Lindsey had not yet experienced.

In The Long Awakening, Lindsey spoke of her absence from her newborn. “She’d been tended to, cared for, changed, fed, burped, ta lked to, loved on, ca rried about a nd admired since she was born by a houseful, a church full and a family full of people who could scarcely bear that this newborn had been deprived of her mother…so Caroline didn’t need me to care for her; I, however, needed to do so.”

Today, Caroline, now 11, and Lindsey are as close as any mother and daughter, but an unusual incident convinced Lindsey that she had truly bonded with her little girl. One day as Lindsey and Jacquelyn were shopping, they received a call that Caroline had fallen 25-feet from an upstairs window. As Lindsey raced to the Emergency Room, she said to herself, “I want this baby girl more than anything in my life. I want to be her mother more than anything. No matter what I find when I get there, I am. I’m hers and she’s mine.” And in that instant, she knew it was true.

WINTER 2014 | HOPE 13

BEAUTY | WINTER

WINTER WOES? DEFEAT DULLNESS!

2

by k a r l e y zi eg l er - m ot t

One of the biggest skin concerns of women as we age is that loss of rosy radiance. As we get older, cell turnover starts to slow down dramatically causing our skin to lose its shine. One of the effects?

Dullness. Don’t fret because we have searched high and low to bring you our favorite products to help you get your glow back!

1. 100% PURE BRIGHTENING TONIQUE

features fruit extracts, sake (the Japanese wine), and other natural radiance boosters such as licorice root. It is also gluten-free, vegan and all-natural. Sweep it on your face after cleansing and notice an instant glow!

3

100percentpure.com $19

2. ARCONA BRIGHTENING DROPS

SERUM features red raspberry and grapefruit to boost skin’s radiance, while Vitamin C provides antioxidant protection. Free of parabens, silicones, and artificial fragrance, this product is 100 percent natural.

arcona.com $38

3. JUICE BEAUTY GREEN APPLE

MOISTURIZER SPF 15 helps to protect your skin from the UV rays and environmental damage as it restores radiance. Coenzyme Q10 and fruit extracts naturally revitalize the skin to help reveal that sought-after glow even if it is mid-winter!

1

juicebeauty.com $38

4. L’BRI PURE & NATURAL

REJUVENATING FACIAL PEEL gives those skin cells a nudge so they can shed a bit more easily. Dull, dead surface skin cells are gently removed with each gentle spa-quality treatment, which is made with ingredients such as green tea, aloe, and pineapple.

5

lbri.com $38.95

5. SONIA KASHUK BRIGHTENING

POWDER contains orchid extract to give the skin a velvety soft feel. This light-reflecting powder can be applied with a fluff y brush to add instant radiance to dull skin.

Available at Target $10

14 @HOPEMAG | WINTER 2014

4

WINTER 2014 | @HOPEMAG 15

BEAUTY | WINTER

YOUR VALENTINE’S BEAUTY GUIDE

ROMANTIC Change up your beauty routine a bit this Valentine’s Day! Our favorite products will help add a bit of sizzle to your special evening and will have you looking (and feeling) stunning for your date night out! by k a r l e y zi eg l er m ot t

reds!

HEALTH-CONSCIOUS LIPSTICK $23 A health-conscious lipstick in a stunning hue?

Absolutely! Red Apple Lipstick in Ravishing in a stunning, elegant red is gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, paraben-free and fragrancefree. This luxurious formula nourishes while creating the perfect pout. redapplelipstick.com $23 LONG WEAR CREAM SHADOW $24 A hint of shimmery cream eye shadow is ideal for creating a romantic makeup look for special occasions. Soft focus hues in a candlelight shade will brighten the eyes and cast a gentle glow to the brow bone. We like Bobbi Brown Metallic Long Wear Cream Shadow in Goldstone. sephora.com $24 FRAGRANCE FREE BODY OIL $14 The secret to silky soft skin? Body oil.

Leave traditional body oils behind and spritz on a lightweight, fast-absorbing natural oil. We like (seed) Fragrance Free Body Oil because it sinks right in, leaving skin looking like smooth satin.

This blend of oils is 100 percent natural and gluten-free. shopseedbodycare.com $14

16 @HOPEMAG | WINTER 2014

GLUTEN-FREE AND VEGAN NAIL WRAP $15 Do you love Valentine’s flowers, but not how quickly they wilt? The Lover’s Bouquet nail wrap from Jamberry Nails is heat-activated and will last up to two weeks. A bonus? They are glutenfree and vegan and won’t chip! jamberrynails.com $15

PERFUME SPRAY $18.50 Looking for a warm and cozy scent that smells good enough to eat? Amuse Vanilla Macaron Perfume Spray from Theme Fragrance is reminiscent of a bake shop treat with a hint of berries and musk added in for good measure.

It would make a lovely gift--even for yourself! themefragrance.com $18.50

YOUR SKIN’S

TRUE LOVE (and new best friend!)

E XC LU S I V E O F F E R F O R H O P E F O R WO M E N R E A D E R S : Order at www.oneloveorganics.com and enter code super20 at checkout for a 20% discount off of your entire first order.

WINTER 2014 | @HOPEMAG 17

FASHION | SHOES

‘Kick Start’ Winter with

THESE SASSY BOOTS! We may not love all the chilling aspects of winter, but there’s one thing my wardrobe yearns for all spring and summer long--the feeling of slipping on a pair of killer glam boots. Grab your ankle snakeskin booties, camouflaged sparkled Uggs and studded combat boots and take a journey through this winter’s chic footwear.

by ja s m i n e s h a h eed -yo u n g

Over-The-Knee

This style can be tricky. Try a pair of stiletto fitted suede over-the-knee boots with a flowing mini or luxe pair of shorts.

Be careful not to show too much skin, but enough to emphasis the dimensions within your ensemble. If you’re worried this look could be a tad too Julia Roberts circa Pretty Woman, go with a flat riding boot or chunky heeled over-the-knee boot paired with a pencil skirt.

MIRANDA KERR Talk about ef for tlessly chic. These varying heights allow for easy transition from work to play. Trade in your pumps for a pair of textured mid-length or ankle booties. A flirty dress will put the extra punch in your chic look.

ANNE HATHAWAY

18 HOPE | WINTER 2014

Ready for Battle

Moto & Combat boots return this season with edgier hardware. Lace it, buckle it, or zip it. Rock these boots with a dress and dark tights for a chic yet edgy look or a pair of dark skinnies for an afternoon on the go.

SUSAN SARANDON JENNIFER LOPEZ ANGELA SIMMONS

Open Toe

Winter just got hot! Find a sleek pair of open toe boots in any color or style for a fashion forward look this season. Remember to pop on a red shimmer polish to bring attention to those pretty toes.

Comfy Tales

You can’t have winter without a warm pair of comfy UGGS coupled with your favorite denim.

Show off your feminine side with UGGS in a variety of colors and textures.

WINTER 2014 | HOPE 19

fashion | coats

fashion trends for winter 2014

kim kardashian

SUPeR SiZe It!

by c a r r a lyce b u fo r d

With the holidays behind us and a new year underway, let’s start the year off right with some great winter trends. If you happen to be one of those shoppers who went a little bit overboard with the holiday spending but you still want to look ultra-chic whether you’re in the mood to dress up or go casual, then take a page out of Kim Kardashian’s book and rock the oversized coat.

Fashion is truly an investment and if you’re going to invest in anything this winter, let it be a fabulous coat! Oversized coats have been a major trend since Fall and from the looks of it, the multi-yardage cover-up will probably be trendy for awhile. Last season designer brands such as Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham and Dries Van Noten showcased how fabulous a woman looks in an oversized coat, and it just worked!

The oversized coat is plush, chic, trendy, and most importantly, flattering on all body types.

The great thing about fashion is that it always repeats itself. Great fashion never goes out of style, so why not indulge this winter and treat yourself to a gorgeous body wrap that keeps out the chill? You deserve it!

20 hope | winter 2014

watch only on hopeforwomenmag.com/TV Starting Febuary 2014 with your host Chandia Brennen

THERE’S HOPE FOr your wardrobe, one session at a time. #hopemagstylesessions winter winter2014 2014 || hope hope   21

FINANCE | IDEAS

Fresh Start Your Retirement Plan:

4 TIPS TO INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE

by j en n i fer dav i e s

HAVE YOU GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO R ETIR EMENT? STR ESS MOST OFTEN COMES FROM FINA NCI A L WOR R IES, W HICH L E A DS TO H E A LT H ISSU E S. MAKING SURE YOU’RE PREPARED FOR RETIREMENT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR HEALTH AND ENSUR ES TH AT YOU W ILL LIV E LONG ENOUGH TO ENJOY WHAT YOU SAVED FOR. TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF WELL INTO YOUR RETIREMENT YEARS, YOU’LL NEED A DIVERSE FINANCIAL PORTFOLIO TO SPREAD THE WEALTH, LITERALLY. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PR EV ENTION (CDC) SAYS TH AT THE CURRENT LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 78.7 YEARS SO IT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT TO H AV E A PL A N. E X PERTS R ECOMMEND BANKING 10-15 PERCENT OF YOUR A N N UA L I NCOM E TO A DEQUAT E LY PREPARE FOR YOUR GOLDEN YEARS. 22 HOPE | WINTER 2014

SOCIAL SECURITY The majority of the workforce plans to rely heavily on Social Security, but with the average Social Security benefit hovering around $1,200 a month, it’s important to have other options for income. Currently, you can draw from this plan at age 62 to 70, depending on your birth year and other factors. Social Security may also look different a few decades from now which is why it’s important to save now in other ways, too.

WORKPLACE RETIREMENT PLAN According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, the percentage of all workers with access to a workplace pension or retirement plan rose to 61 percent in 2012. If you’re lucky enough to have a pension, make sure you’re contributing to your retirement in other ways.

CONTRIBUTE TO A 401K 401k retirement plans are another popular option. Even if your employer doesn’t offer a plan, you can still enroll in one separately through a wide array of financial institutions. The trick is to start saving early, so that the money you contribute has decades to grow with compounded interest. Contribute at least something; even $20 a paycheck is something you won’t miss but will help grow your retirement account over time. If your employer matches your contributions, this can really start to add up for you. Don’t forget to increase your contribution amount as your income grows.

INVEST! Stocks and bonds can also provide more security for your retirement years. Take larger sums of money, from bonuses or tax returns or inheritances and purchase stocks and bonds. If you don’t know much about the stock market, find a reputable financial advisor to help you.

Taking your finances seriously now will prevent stress later in life. Make sure you can enjoy your health and future by planning for it in the present. It’s never too soon or too late to make this a fresh start.

IDEAS | FINANCE

fresh start ideas for

UNDER $100

by j en n i fer dav i e s

A New Year gives all of us a fresh chance at trying new things. With $100 or less, we have some fun fresh start ideas that can help kick-start a new year and a new you!

TAKE A CREATIVE APPROACH Take a public speaking class, creative writing course, foreign language course or a pottery class.

Learn to play an instrument or to bake. Take stock of what you have always wished you knew how to do or could do better and make it happen.

(Even Former President George H.W. Bush parachuted on his 75th, 80th and 85th birthdays!)

CHALLENGE YOURSELF Put some life into that body! From yoga and Zumba to spinning or Barre ballet classes, there are tons of classes to choose from. Or set a goal like completing a half-marathon or triathlon. Pick a training plan and get to it! (Who doesn’t like the chance to buy a pair of new shoes?)

GET FINANCIAL ADVICE Want to get on a better financial path? Invest in a sit-down with a financial advisor or buy some self-help books. Take this opportunity to spend some needed time taking “stock” of where your finances are and where you hope to be this time next year. (Perhaps you can find a first-time free consultation!)

PAY IT FORWARD Use a small chunk of change to make a big difference. Find a team of friends or neighbors and help restore a local playground or give seniors’ homes a fresh coat of paint. Donate to or volunteer at your local food bank or buy some coats for kids in need. (Doing good will make YOU feel good!)

EAT BETTER It can be hard to break the cycle of eating out or throwing together quick meals amid busy schedules and short winter days. Sign up for an organic fruit or vegetable of the month basket that delivers new options to you monthly. It will encourage you and your family to try new foods and make better choices. (Knock, knock. Your kiwi is here!)

COMMIT TO DATE NIGHT Get out of the house with your man at least once a month. Head out for dinner, peruse your local farmers’ market, meet for coffee or share a popcorn at a new movie. Find new ways to reconnect and recommit yourself to your marriage this year. (For beauty tips, see our Valentine’s Makeup Guide!)

ADOPT A PET Looking for something new to pour your heart and soul into? Want to teach the kids responsibility? Consider adopting a furry friend or becoming a foster pet parent. Thousands of cats and dogs across the county are in need of good homes. If you are looking for something that promises new adventures, a pet might be just what you need. (Beware: Fluffy, furry cuddlesome canines can be habit-forming!)

WINTER 2014 | HOPE 23

feature | Alexis Bellino

Alexis Bellino on family & working out!

Reality Star Alexis Bellino, who shot to fame four years ago after landing a role on “Real Housewives of Orange County,” is best known for living the high life in couture and stilettos. Despite keeping America hooked on the show’s infamous drama, there is another side to this beautiful vixen: that of mom and wife. We’re taking Hope readers behind the flashing lights of Hollywood to reveal the real Alexis and how she chases her dreams while putting her family and God first. by j en n i fer dav i e s HOPE: What is your advice for being a successful working mom?

ALEXIS: Organization is one of hardest things to master but the most important thing to make it all work. Making lists every day and sticking to a schedule makes a huge difference for me.

HOPE: What are the top things you make time for regardless of a crazy schedule?

ALEXIS: I always make time for a few workouts a week and one night a week for date night with my husband. I feel better if I’m presenting the best me, both inside and out, so I make sure my hair and nails are done and I get my workouts in.

HOPE: You’re an incredibly busy woman!

How do you f ind the time to take care of yourself?

ALEXIS: When you’re a working mom you do have to make sacrifices and, sometimes, working out doesn’t make each day’s priority list. The number one thing is to make the time; every mom can f ill their day with nonstop things like unloading the dishwasher, throwing in another load of laundry but sometimes you just have to say ‘I’ll do it tomorrow.’ Making the time to work out is what makes me a sane mom.

24 hope | winter 2014

HOPE : W hat do you hope you r ch i ld ren lea rn from seeing you a s a bu s y, working mother?

ALEXIS: I hope they learn to balance their life. It’s such an important thing!

HOPE: How do you f ind time to stay connected during busy week days?

A L E X IS: Eating brea k fa st a nd dinner toget her helps keep u s a l l c onnec ted.

Mornings are important times for us to connect before the day gets started and we rush out the door. Four nights a week is our goal for me to cook dinner and for us to hang out as family.

HOPE : How do y ou he lp k e e p y ou r family healthy?

ALEXIS: I’m a planner! When we head out for the day, I make sure I have a snack bag with apples, cheese sticks, or anything that isn’t processed! If we have it with us, it’s easier to forgo the drive thru when we are pinched for time…which we usually are! I also try to keep us active while we spend quality time together, whether it’s biking down the boardwalk or playing around in the pool.

HOPE: What are your favorite work outs?

ALEXIS: For me, it’s all about changing it up. Variety keeps things fresh and keeps me

motivated. It’s also important to find a few activities you like and burn calories doing something you enjoy. I like classes the best, the instructors always help me push myself to the edge.

HOPE: Has being on the show, known for pushing the envelope on boundaries and drama, made maintaining your faith tough?

ALEXIS: I don’t think it makes it harder but it does make my faith stronger. Now, more than ever, I rely on God to help guide me and make right choices.

HOPE: What is one thing that viewers might be surprised to learn about you?

A LEX IS: Even though the show does a pretty good job of playing up my faults and ditzy moments, people are often surprised that I have a marketing degree from Mizzou (University of Missouri.)

HOPE : W hat is you r nu mber one style rule?

ALEXIS: If I don’t like it, I’m not getting talked into. Confidence is most important when it comes to an outfit. Know yourself!

Photographer – Josh Williams Photography

HOPE: W hat do you turn to for extra motivation?

ALEXIS: When I get really bored, I get two new workout outfits and it totally works.

Looking and feeling good always gives me a little oomph to get up and work out. If I’m short on time, I’ll arrange play dates with a friend where I watch the kids for 30 minutes while my friend works out and vice versa.

HOPE: Who did you have in mind when you designed your clothes for your Alexis Couture and Alexis by Tal Shane lines?

A L E X IS : I wa nted to help norma l woman feel confident and sexy in a variety of c i rc u m s t a nc e s. W he t her it i s d ate night or a soccer game, I want my line to have good variety that can be dressed up or down.

HOPE: What are your hopes for a “fresh start” in 2014?

ALEXIS: One of my goals is to branch into another area of fashion. Mostly, I’m just looking forward to another new year full of new adventures and surprises!

Make Up – Angela Peralta Hair – Brittany Gharring Styling – Gabrielle Lewis Produced By – The Sagami Group Black Sweater – Sumthin Cute Vintage Sequin Top – Kimberly Hendrix

winter 2014 | hope 25

cover | erica campbell

erica campbell

h er

N ew

Chapter ee

by m o n i q u e fa r m er

For most people, change is a force to be reckoned with and in many instances it’s a natural human response to meet that force with resistance. But for Gospel music songstress Erica Campbell, one half of the Gospel duo Mary Mary, change is nothing more than an opportunity to conquer new challenges and a chance to grow and experience one’s fullest potential.

For Campbell, 2013 was a year marked by a significant amount of change. Following two successful seasons of the WE TV reality series, Mary Mary, in which she co-stars with her sister and fellow Mary Mary group member, Tina Campbell, Erica decided to embark on a solo career. Not long after making the decision, her entire family was impacted by an extramarital affair Tina’s husband, Teddy, was discovered to have been involved in during the taping. And, near the middle of the summer of 2013, the sisters lost their father, Eddie A. Atkins, Jr., to a battle with cancer.

Those adversities, however, have helped build her strength and lead her into a new year where she knows a fresh start awaits. “The best thing about a fresh start is the newness, the excitement of starting over, planning and strategizing, then being able to watch it all come to fruition,” said Campbell.

26 hope | winter 2014

E C What you plug into will become your power source.

winter 2014 | hope   27

cover | erica campbell

“When you say ‘I can’t’ or ‘I don’t’ or ‘What if?’ you’re fueling the negative.”

Singing Solo After 13 years of sharing the stage with her sister, Campbell has experienced a recent taste of that newness with the launch of her solo career. “There is so much (work) putting out a solo record other than just recording and giving it to people,” Campbell said. “So the same care and concern I’ve put into Mary Mary for the last 13 years is the same care and concern I want to put into my solo career.”

In speaking about her first solo album, “Help,” set for release March 25, Campbell could barely contain her excitement. “I’ve been really blessed in that I was able to start my solo career while working with my sister,” said Campbell. During the group’s concerts last year, she would sing the first song released on her solo album, “A Little More Jesus.”

With its old school gospel sound and rock and roll flavor, the song topped the charts last summer—an outcome Campbell says she can’t exactly say she predicted early on.

When she first heard the music in the studio, Campbell was hesitant about the sound, which was alternative to the more contemporary vibrations for which Mary Mary is known.

But, much like her decision to branch out into her solo career, Campbell said she believes timing played a key role.

“When you move in God’s time - even if you are afraid or even if it doesn’t look or sound like what you’re used to or what you think it should - you should just move forward and God will get the glory.”

Much of Campbell’s movement will be aired for fans to watch during Season 3 of the sisters’ show, which will premier Feb. 27.

This season will show a side of the sisters never before seen by the audiences who have shared their living rooms with the duo and come to know them.

“I think people will be shocked,” Campbell said. “Your hearts will break for us and what we went through, but you will also see the fight and the fire…when God starts shaking the tree, all the loose pieces fall to the ground and all the loose pieces were falling left and right.”

While Campbell advises that parents pre-record the episodes and review them prior to allowing children to watch because the material is “heavy,” she said she feels comfortable with what audiences will watch 28 hope | winter 2014

E C winter 2014 | hope   29

cover | erica campbell

on the screen. Expect Season 3 to be “candid, open, raw, honest,” said Campbell. Expect to watch and experience the challenges many Christians face, but in a manner that will help generate conversations about how members in the Body of Christ go through tough times and the important role faith plays in helping to overcome life’s challenges.

Stepping Out On faith Amidst chaotic times, Campbell has managed to maintain her focus and continue to work toward her goals, dreams and a vision of creating a daring, bold and faithfilled legacy. The mantra that helps her push through?

“No fear, just faith.”

“Sometimes we have fear, and we’re not calling it fear, but it is fear. It’s fear. It’s worry. It’s doubt. It’s negativity.

It’s all these things,” said Campbell. “There is a spirit realm that exists, and you can either activate your angels to work in your favor or you can tie their hands. When 30 hope | winter 2014

E C you say ‘I can’t’ or ‘I don’t’ or ‘What if?’ you’re fueling the negative. The only thing that can really help you manage is operating through God’s word and knowing that you’re more than a conqueror.”

It’s that same focus on the positive and a desire to achieve the goals, dreams and desires God has placed inside of her that have driven the mother of three to consistently reach for new heights. As if being a wife, mother, co-star of a hit reality show and owner of a new solo career weren’t laboring enough, Campbell has also managed to squeeze in time to write a book.

“I’ve had this story for maybe six years and I wanted it to be a play,” she said. “I took it to a few people here in Hollywood and one company I met with said. ‘This is a movie—I’ve never heard this story before’…I’m really excited about giving it to the world and I can’t wait for people to experience it.”

Unable to divulge additional details about the plot or the title, Campbell encourages fans to be on the lookout for a book release later this year.

the poWeR of pR aYeR With a full plate daily and regular list of to-dos, Campbell understands well the importance of stillness and daily meditation on the Word. Still, she said, “Sometimes I feel like I’m falling apart and I don’t have an answer at all. I have to plug back into the source.

“I used to think that it was so corny that my Mom would listen to Bible tapes all the time.

Now that I’m a Mommy, sometimes I do the same thing,” Campbell chuckled. “What you plug into will become your power source.”

As a Los Angeles resident, she has plenty of time to power up during commutes back and forth on the 405 (Interstate highway in Southern California) where she finds herself in creative thought, meditative thought or silent prayer many days. Campbell has also achieved solace through the power of collective prayer with her family members. Following the death of their father, the family instituted a family prayer line and daily prayer, which takes place during a designated morning and evening time to bring the family together as a unit to pray for coverage and healing.

The practice has brought the family much closer, said Campbell.

“We get on the phone and we cover everything,” she said. “Children, marriages, ministry, individual dreams and desires and for God to reveal any snakes. We’ve been consistent. We have not stopped. We have not missed a day.” Also since their father died, the family has made a pact to vacation together – sisters, kids, husbands, and pets!

“Whether I’m in a good space or a bad space, I just worship and get with God and gain my strength. It allows me to have a happiness that can’t be explained whether I’m working or being Mom or going online to find new recipes to cook for my kids (Erica loves Mexican food!) or going out with my husband Warryn. When I’m good with God, I’m good with everyone else.”

stepping out on

Faith

winter 2014 | hope 31

ENTERTAINMENT | BOOKS

SETTLE INTO

WiNTER!

by cr i s cr a i g

NO MATTER WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF - EXCITED BY THE PROSPECT OF A NEW YEAR, STRESSED WITH EVERYTHING THAT BEING A WOMAN BRINGS, OR JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS - ONE (OR ALL!) OF THESE BOOKS IS FOR YOU. You will be inspired, reminded of all the good God pours into our lives, and feel a renewed sense that everything is possible through Him. So stop telling yourself you don’t have time to read because you have people to take care of, a job to do, a house to clean. Take a little time to let the words between these covers wash over you and leave you feeling regenerated.

The Long Awakening, by Lindsey O’Connor (Revell 2013) - When Lindsey O’Connor awoke from a 47-day medically-induced coma following the birth of her fifth child, she began the long journey to explore what happened during her unconscious state. O’Connor writes with an often almost painful honesty of the struggle to see herself as the “miracle” others claim her to be, and of the feeling of disconnect when her loved ones share their perspectives of those 47 days. Her willingness to expose the darkness she often endured during her coma is sometimes breathtaking, and she beautifully parallels her experiences with narratives of what her family dealt with during her unconsciousness. Hers is a story of more than survival. It is one of the power of love—a husband’s love, a family’s love, and ultimately, of God’s love. Readers of Lindsey’s story will be reminded not only of that power, but of the importance of appreciating the things that matter most.

Raise Him Up—A Single Mother’s Guide to Raising a Successful Black Man, by Derrick Moore and Stephanie Perry Moore (Thomas Nelson 2013) - Derrick Moore uses the characteristics of the men of Acts - the power of Peter and the passion of Paul - as the foundation of a practical guide for any single mother striving to raise a Godly son. Lessons include scripture from Acts, as well as stories from the lives of athletes to share with boys of varying ages. Engaging and easy to read, each chapter also includes feedback from a woman. The Moores’ book is a wonderful tool for mothers of any ethnicity raising children on their own.

The Smart Woman’s Guide to Planning for Retirement, by Mary Hunt (Revell 2013) Mary Hunt cuts to the chase, throwing aside those confusing charts and endless statistics, with a no-nonsense, easy-to-follow and practical guide to saving for retirement. She shares her own past financial difficulties and gives women the tools to take control of their own financial futures. Most importantly, she stresses the importance of honoring God with our finances. Readers will feel confident that they can plan for the years ahead, no matter what stage of life they find themselves in.

32 hope | winter 2014

when

It’s Cold Outside, Stay Warm Inside with a Good Book!

Cuddle up and send little ones off to sleep feeling secure and loved, not only by you—but their Heavenly Father too. These bedtime books from Tommy Nelson help expand children’s imaginations while nurturing their growing faith.

LEARN MORE AT THOMASNELSON.COM winter 2014 | hope 33

RELATIONSHIP | INTIMACY

intimacy ON A NUMBER’S SCALE dr. carol clark, author of addict america: the lost connection

COUPLES COME TOGETHER OUT OF AN EQUAL FEAR OF INTIMACY. “WHAT?” YOU ASK. This is the answer to many questions about how people end up with each other, including: “I want to be in an intimate relationship, so why do I keep choosing emotionally unavailable partners?”

“Why do I keep finding great guys who live somewhere else?”

“Why do all the women I meet want me only for my money?”

“Why do all the partners I meet turn out to be addicts?”

So how does it happen that a person who says he or she wants to be in an intimate relationship has such difficulty? Part of the answer to that question is in my book, Addict America: The Lost Connection. Here is an excerpt: They both have that inner child who holds on to the messages of “I’m not good enough,” “I’m a failure,” “I’m a bad person,” “I’m worthless,” and so on. Each person subliminally recognizes that the other will come so close and no closer, matching each other’s comfort level. They will unconsciously strive to keep that distance.

For instance, when they are close sexually, they will be emotionally distant. As they become emotionally close, they will pull apart sexually. They will employ any number of mechanisms to maintain the status quo.

When we are children we personalize everything, which is where those messages come from. Whether it’s from something obvious - like being abused - that leads to the belief of being a bad person or being worthless; or something more subtle, like bringing home a B instead of an A on a report card, which leads to the belief of not being good enough; we grow up with that sense of having to maintain a certain distance from others. If they get too close, they will see our inner selves and run away.

Of course, this is happening on an unconscious level. The Limbic System (what I call the Caveman Brain), where our emotions reside, is motivating much of our behavior without us even realizing it. Our prefrontal cortex (enlightened brain) is where the thinking takes place. This is also the part of the brain that says “I want to be close, intimate and connected!”

34 HOPE | WINTER 2014

Meanwhile, the Caveman Brain is pulling back in fear of an intimate relationship.

So let’s give this fear of intimacy a number. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the farthest away you can be emotionally and 10 being completely connected, let’s say you are a 5. Maybe your parents got divorced and you hardly saw your father after that.

You waited in vain for him to show up but he never did. You took in the message that you are not important. You say you want to be in an intimate relationship with a man, but you don’t trust that any man will really be there for you.

If you meet a man who is a 7, he will be trying to get closer than you feel comfortable and you will be (unconsciously) pushing him away. If you meet a 3, you will be trying to get closer to him and he’ll be pulling away until one of you gives up. Generally, when numbers are mismatched, they won’t even get together.

The vibe just isn’t there.

So what happens when you meet another 5? It will work for a while. You will both feel comfortable with being so close and no closer. The problem is, we are spiritual beings who are innately connected to each other and the universe and our enlightened brains want us to be as close as we can get, so we are always striving for real connection. We want to be known and accepted as we are and yet we are scared to death of that. We engage in the dance of “power and control” as we try to maintain the status quo even while growing and evolving.

We need to recognize our fears concerning intimacy and then take responsibility for them. We an make the decision to not bring the past into the present. We can believe that we are lovable. We can believe that we will find the exact match of intimacy and connection and find our chosen mate.

FAMILY | RELATIONSHIP

RAISE HIM UP:

A SINGLE MOTHER’S GUIDE TO R AISING A SUCCESSFUL BLACK MAN

TRAIN UP A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO…. by t en i ta j o h n s o n

Released in 2013, Raise Him Up: A Single Mother’s Guide to Raising a Successful Black Man not only delves into the unique issues African-American boys face, but offers solutions to decrease the ever-increasing statistics troubling our communities, schools and churches across the nation. Authors Derrick Moore, former NFL running back, and Stephanie Perry Moore offer helpful tools and biblical scriptures to give single mothers the encouragement needed to catapult their male sons to success. Hope for Women magazine caught up with the authors to find out the secret to success when raising African-American boys and young men.

HOPE: Why is it so hard to raise an African-American boy?

RAISE HIM UP: African-American boys have challenges that are prevalent in their life, naturally making life harder. These challenges can range from the absence of a father or father figure, which also brings about social and economic distress, to overcoming stereotypes that people automatically have about AfricanAmerican boys.

HOPE: Do African-American boys face more trials than boys of other ethnicities?

RAISE HIM UP: The trials are greater because of stereotypes and personal perceptions when in fact, it may not be reality. It’s easy to stereotype African-American boys as all being in trouble and causing trouble, but that is not accurate. The trials may vary from household to household.

HOPE: Name two specific adversities these boys face.

RAISE HIM UP: Aggressive peer pressure and gang involvement are two huge adversities that play a part in the life of an AfricanAmerican boy. Both are environmentally driven and can be the root cause of many other adversities.

HOPE: When do these adversities start? As early as Kindergarten?

R AISE HIM UP: It all depends on environment. Research

shows that life-altering adversities can start by the time a boy is in third grade.

HOPE: Why did you choose the book of Acts, particularly the story of Peter and Paul, to relate to mothers and sons?

RAISE HIM UP: The book of Acts was chosen primarily because of its name. If you are going to be successful at anything, you have to act. The acts were done in conjunction with the powerful testimony of these two men.

HOPE: Explain to Hope readers the mother’s story you include in each chapter.

RAISE HIM UP: The stories are all based on the life of my own (Derrick’s) mother. She is an incredible lady. These are real- life experiences from a mother who succeeded and taught life lessons that are priceless.

HOPE: How can single African-American mothers keep their sons out of trouble?

R AISE HIM UP: You must pray for them and you must talk to them. Communication is the key. Nothing can go without discussion. Talk about everything. If you go silent, so will they.

HOPE: What is the role of the father, even if he is not living in the home?

RAISE HIM UP: The father’s roll is to stay plugged in regardless of the relationship with the mother of the child. The book, however, is written with the idea that the father is absent and has left his role.

HOPE: What roles do the school and church play?

RAISE HIM UP: School is very important, as it may be the only place where boys can connect with male role models. This is especially important as it relates to sports. Church is the guiding light that operates as an example of continued hope, while also providing real assistance in many areas.

HOPE: Tell our readers the three most important things single African-American mothers can do for their sons.

RAISE HIM UP: Love them. Encourage them, and expose them to people that can help them. Mothers are the greatest gift we have outside of salvation. Their place in life can’t be matched or replaced.

WINTER 2014 | HOPE 35

Q

RELATIONSHIP | ETIQUETTE

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LEARN

ETIQUETTE

– NO MATTER WHO YOU WERE IN THE PAST by li fe coach s t eph a n i e b en o i t

FRESH. FUN. SEXY. EMPOWERING. JUST A FEW WORDS TO DESCRIBE THE LATEST BOOK RELEASED FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR ENITAN O. BEREOLA II. ON THE FIERY HEELS OF HIS FIRST R ELE ASE, BER EOL AESQUE: THE CONTEMPOR ARY GENTLEMEN AND ETIQUETTE BOOK FOR THE URBAN SOPHISTICATE, THE AUTHOR HAS DROPPED ANOTHER BOMBSHELL, BUT THIS TIME, FOR THE LADIES! GENTLEWOMAN: ETIQUETTE FOR A LADY, FROM A GENTLEMEN PROVIDES A REFRESHING INSIGHT INTO THE DEMISE OF FEMININITY WHILE OFFERING SENSIBLE ADVICE AND ETIQUETTE FOR EVERY WOMAN WHO READS IT. HOPE FOR WOMEN ENGAGED IN A DIALOGUE WITH THE AUTHOR. 36 HOPE | WINTER 2014

Q

HOPE: Why was it so important for you to write a book that caters to women?

ENITAN: Women have been supportive for so long. I wanted to have something to give back to them. It’s almost like paying my debt to the women who supported it. It’s a conversation that needs to be discussed: the demise of femininity. You can see it on reality television and everywhere else. A lot of people are talking about it and every social network is flooded with it, so I said “let me be the one who talks about it.”

HOPE: What do you say to the young woman who feels she is “too far gone” to apply these lessons in Gentlewoman?

ENITAN: It’s impossible for it to be too late. There’s no such thing. Some of the contributors who I got involved speak to those type of women. Meagan Good, who contributes, is married to a pastor and now has come full circle. She was a party girl and single and she saw it was possible to transition. With change comes transition. Also there’s another female contributor who was in Playboy and her father was a pastor. In the book, she discusses her life and what happened with the dynamic of her lifestyle in her community. It’s never too late.

HOPE: Why do you think relationships are so difficult these days?

ENITAN: Relationships aren’t difficult, the people in them are.

Marriage was the best decision I made in my life. It was about my maturity and growth leading up into marriage and my growth within my marriage. Sometimes, it’s the timing and the season that doesn’t work. You shouldn’t have to fight to be together. You shouldn’t have to fight to keep a friendship and the same goes for a relationship. Friendship is essential and the attraction should be the icing on the cake!

HOPE: What is the one thing you want women to take away from this book?

ENITAN: 1. Their place on this earth. Some women don’t understand their place in this world. Unfortunately, women are still considered second-class citizens, but women should come with men or stand right alongside them. Know that your place is next to us. 2. Know your value - this book will educate you and make you laugh, but I hope women learn who they are while reading and be wowed. Women knowing their worth is a beautiful thing and will get things back to where they need to be. 3. Society has rules.

In order to live and breathe, learning manners and etiquette will make the necessary interactions smooth, and at the end of the day, etiquette is about treating your neighbor better than you would want to be treated.

HOPE: How have your experiences prepared you to share your knowledge and advice with everyone?

ENITAN: I’ve lived these things out and I’ve had firsthand experience with women, whether they are the matriarchs of my family,

my own marriage (everything exceedingly beautiful comes directly from my wife), interactions on the touring circuit, thousands of emails, social networking, personal consulting, research in the form of reading and surveys, and dating in general. I’ve had access to women’s minds, to their words, and them as a whole. I’ve been able to interpret, analyze and deliver the information to the masses in a way that it can be understood.

HOPE: You have done extremely well and have done a lot of it on your own. What is your advice for the dream seekers about living their dreams?

ENITAN: A lot of people don’t get past a level of discouragement, and sometimes the future seems so far from reality. You want to believe that you can achieve your dream, but there’s something at the bottom of you that decides to downsize it because you may not truly believe. If you have the where-with-all to get past that moment, you will be great. You have to keep on moving and go past the dark moments and keep progressing toward the goal you set for yourself. If you truly think that it’s your calling and you’ve consulted with God, there’s no way that it won’t work out.

HOPE: If you had to write your life’s philosophy in one line, what would it be?

ENITAN: I’m only 31, so it could change, but I’m sure at 80, this will still be one of them. Without God, it’s not real. I think that’s pretty straight forward. The only thing that can change is “it.”

Whatever that is for you, without God, it’s not real.

WINTER 2014 | HOPE 37

food | planning

of

buy and when you need to buy it. A simple, well thought out plan makes grocery shopping more efficient and reduces the number unplanned trips to the store to buy just a couple of items.

2. Shop by season

Winter Meal

Planning - 4 Tips for Quick Meals

by to n ya peel e

Cold winter evenings and soothing comfort foods are made for each other. Snuggling under a blanket with a warm bowl of soup sounds good, but the reality is - after a stressful day at work, a long commute, family demands and a body running on empty, the last thing you want to think about is spending hours over a stove. But what if there was an easy way to fit a quick meal with real food into your busy life? Our nutrition editor, Tonya Peele, has four quick and easy winter meal planning tips to take you from drive-thru to dinner table without an ounce of stress!

These tips were created with the busy professional in mind. But they’re so easy and practical that anyone can use them to save a lot of money and time on food prep. As a bonus, you get to add some of winter’s most colorful, healthy and nutrient-rich foods to your plate so you can enjoy more sick-free days during this year’s cold and flu season!

1. Create a meal plan Our relationship with food is one of the most intimate relationships we experience. The foods we eat today affect our health tomorrow. A new mindset will help you view food as more than just “something to eat,” but as a way to nourish your body and preserve your health. Meal planning can save you time and money preparing the foods that are best for you. By planning your meals, you will know “what’s for dinner,” what you need to 38 hope | winter 2014

Attention grabbing colors this winter are full of antioxidants. Antioxidants are powerhouses of immune boosting power for your body. To ensure you stay healthy this winter, incorporate lots of seasonal colors into everyday meals and snacks. Blueberries, black rice and pomegranates are rich in antioxidants. Toss blueberries into a smoothie, serve stir-fried vegetables over black rice and snack on pomegranate seeds as a mid-day snack at work.

A rtichoke hearts are naturally low in calories and contain anthocyanins which promote urinary tract health. Add them to your homemade pizza for a little pizzazz.

Beans (kidney, pinto, red and black) are a high-fiber food and a good source of flavonoids, fiber and folate. A big pot of vegetarian chili and a batch of black bean hummus will bring warmth to your dinner table on a cold wintery night.

3. Slow your roll Keeping up the fast pace of today’s modern lifestyle can literally make you sick. Constantly rushing to keep up with unrealistic and unnatural time pressures creates chronic stress leading to depression, anxiety and other health issues. Make it a priority to slow down a bit. No better place to start than in your kitchen.

Using a slow-cooker is a great way to dish up delicious, nourishing and satisfying meals with minimal effort. Plus most crock-pot recipes provide enough leftovers that can be enjoyed the next day for lunch or dinner. Slow-cooked soups, stews and sides made with sweet potatoes, butternut squash, or pumpkin are simply mouth-watering.

4. Cook smart You don’t have to settle for expensive take out or high-calorie, high-fat fast food just to save time. There are several quick cooking methods that bring out the natural flavor, color and nutrients in food and require minimal oversight - so you can spend less hands-on time in the kitchen and still crank out a delicious, healthy home-cooked meal. Look for recipes that involve roasting, baking, stir-frying, braising, broiling, sautéing, steaming or slow-cooking. Save more time-consuming recipes for the weekend or your day off.

The healthiest meal is a home cooked meal. With a little planning, savvy shopping, and smart cooking you’ll find that’s not as hard as you think to eat in more than you eat out!

BODY | HEALTH

I LOST

60 Pounds

AND SO CAN YOU! by j oy h en l e y

I have a surprising weapon that helps me be more healthy and fit! no fad diets. no gimmicks. no tricks. no pills. no, I decided to do it another way. when people ask me which weight loss “program” I use, I tell them I am on “my” program! at the core of it is good, old fashioned common sense!

out the negative and enjoy the fact I was actually doing something positive for me.

the day I went to the doctor and learned I weighed 196 pounds I was pleased. looking back, it is disturbing that I felt good when I should have freaked that I was nearly 200 pounds. my physician and I then discussed the health risks caused by my weight, yet I just was not ready to commit to a permanent lifestyle change. after all, it is not just about losing the weight. It is about recognizing the lifestyle and mindset that got me there.

I ate catabolic soup. It burns calories faster than you consume them.

It is comprised of many non- calorie foods. the beauty of it? you can eat as much as you want! the Cabbage/Vegetable Soup is especially delicious. See my “warmer than mittens” Catabolic Soup recipe on page 20.

Food is powerful and comforting and it can certainly be abused in many ways. at my very worst, in the middle of the night, crying, I could consume a half gallon of ice cream. I was attempting to numb my emotional pain. I wanted to have the willpower to consume food the right way and for the right reasons. like many, I lived to eat when I should have been eating to live. as my overall health continued to decline, I knew it was time to do something. I began to educate myself about food.

I read success stories of people who began eating nutritiously and who balanced their body ph. Some claimed they lowered their risk of various cancers, lowered their high blood pressure and stress levels, no longer took medication, ached less, had more energy, their depression subsided and they felt terrific. I wanted that! Can good health really be as simple as proper nutrition? I soon learned many things and made a few lifestyle changes.

I began to walk...slowly increasing the mile. I huffed and puffed and tried to convince myself I should quit because my back and legs hurt. eventually, I walked beautiful trails, even taking my camera so I could capture pictures while I walked. with persistence, I learned to tune

I bought a nice juicer and drank an occasional “mean Green Juice,” which was featured in the film, “Fat, Sick and nearly Dead.” I started doing (gasp) crunches! I remember when I struggled to do 25 of them.

I can now do 250.

Do not be a slave to the scale. I rarely weighed myself because I am much more than a number on the scale. a scale cannot measure my inner beauty, kindness, giving heart, talent, individuality, purpose, life, possibility, strength or love. Some people prefer regular weigh-ins and a more structured approach. you will discover what works and does not work for you. while you travel this journey, pay attention to your emotional health.

Forgive others so you can move on, minimize stress, eliminate drama in your life, surround yourself with those who truly care and support you and be an inspiration to others. through your healthy living/weight loss, you are bound to touch lives.

Good, old fashioned common sense is vital to getting fit. Common sense says if you eat less you will probably weigh less. If you weigh less, your knees and back may not hurt as much. If the body does not hurt, perhaps your range of motion can improve, your overall emotional being improves and energy increases. after sending a relative a recent picture, she told me she would not have ever recognized me. I am still simply me...just a healthier version! I am also still a work in progress. my subjective journey started with the hardest step - that first one! winter 2014 | hope 39

home | Kitchen

Emerging Kitchen Trends for 2014

by ch ef h a r d e t t e h a r r i s

Families are remodeling more than the game room and den these days. Kitchens topped the list of home remodels in 2013 and will dominate home renovations of 2014! In the past few years, the kitchen has become the number one location of the home for the family to gather. It is the place where heart-to-heart talks take place and the spot where guests congregate to connect with the hostess. Form is now meeting function with technology factoring into kitchen design for busy families and for the cooks who desire the latest new appliances and trendy gadgets.

F i s h e r & Pay k e l’ s “G a s i n G l a s s ” Proj e c t Luna Cooktop A frameless piece of 36x16-inch eco-friendly ceramic black glass supports up to five individual glass burners that, when not in use, retract flush into the surface. A button prompts them back into place for cooking. Easy glass-top cleaning with versatile temperature controlled burners for the large wok or for low-heat sauces. See photo above or visit fisherpaykel.com for more models.

Artistic Backsplashes Sheila Schmitz, editor of Houzz.com, refers to new designs in backsplashes as kitchen“ jewelry.” There are so many wonderful and sustainable materials to choose from and most can be customized or purchased to reflect your personality. According to Schmitz, tile remains the most popular backsplash material; however, people are increasingly selecting metal tiles and other sheet materials including stainless steel, glass and stone slab. The backsplash is generally an affordable remodeling job that positions it as your kitchen’s most decorative accessory.

Integrated Refrigerator Many cooks and designers prefer a “hidden” refrigerator as a builtin or integrated unit. Choose the surrounding cabinetry to match your chosen fridge so that it looks like a piece of furniture and blends with the wood you have chosen so carefully. Jenn-Air makes a beautiful French door model with freezer compartment that will blend effortlessly into your kitchen cabinetry.

Wire Whisk with Loops Whisking is essential to many recipes from whipping eggs to making sauces smooth. The unfortunate side-effect of traditional whisks is the time it takes and the effort. Wire Whisks with Loops force more air into the mix, so whisking time is cut by up to 80%, which is good for home cooks with limited arm and hand mobility.

The Wire Whisk with Loops can be found at lindensweden.com.

Truthfully, a kitchen update can be as affordable and simple as upgrading your small appliances and performing some cosmetic treatments such as accessorizing with your backsplash. Just thoughtfully look at your home’s hearth, decide on your budget and willingness to experiment with color, texture and materials and purchase what you believe will be useful to your day-to-day kitchen experiences.

40 hope | 2014

Bestselling author Holley Gerth has a heartfelt message of hope—

you really are going to be okay Sometimes it feels like life’s falling apart at the seams. Sometimes you’re completely worn out by stresses that never seem to end. For every woman who has been disappointed, who has watched a dream die, whose life isn’t what she imagined it would be, bestselling author Holley Gerth has a heartfelt message of hope—you really are going to be okay. And it is possible to live with joy, resilience, and strength in both the good times and the bad. In fact, she says, that’s what God desires for us.

“Holley Gerth is a fresh voice for every woman—she echoes the voice of our Father.”

—Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts

www.HolleyGerth.com

n

To order call 1-800-877-2665 2014 | hope 41 To order in Canada call David C. Cook 1-800-263-2664

FOOD | RECIPES

teAM reCipeS

delightful

food

HOPE asked its staff and contributors to submit a recipe for the “Fresh Start” issue that they love to fix mid-winter (also known as “comfort food!”) Here are a few great delectable dishes that will fill your kitchen with the warmth and aroma of chicken, stew, and the ultimate comfort food - chocolate!

Doctor Approved Healthy Chicken and Dumplings Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith Health Contributor

IngredIents

Cooking spray 1 cup chopped onion 2 celery ribs, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon poultry seasoning 2 (14 1/2-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed reduced-fat/sodium cream of chicken (or mushroom) soup, undiluted 4 large boneless chicken breasts 1 cup frozen green peas Or 1 cup each frozen green peas and carrots (Optional) 1/4 cup water 2 tablespoons cornstarch DumPLINGS: 2 cups baking mix (such as Bisquick) 2/3 cup fat-free milk

PreParatIon

Heat a Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion and celery; sauté 5 minutes. Stir in broth, soup, and seasonings. Bring to boil. Add chicken breasts; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until chicken is tender.

Remove chicken breasts from cooking liquid. Place chicken in a bowl to cool.

Chop chicken into small pieces and add back to pan. Stir in peas/carrots if you are including these.

In a separate small bowl, combine water and cornstarch; stir with a whisk.

Add cornstarch mixture to pan on stove; blend well.

To prepare dumplings, combine baking mix and milk in a medium bowl to make dough. Drop the dough using a teaspoon into chicken mixture to form dumplings. Bring to a simmer; cook 20 minutes to cook dumplings, stirring occasionally. Cover and cook for additional 10 minutes or until the dumplings are done. Serves approximately 8 (1 cup servings).

42 hope | winter 2014

“Warmer Than Mittens” Catabolic Soup Joy Henley, Faith & Fitness Contributor

IngredIents

1 stalk broccoli 1 small Butternut squash 3 stalks celery 1 small cabbage 4 carrots 4 green onion 12 oz bag of frozen okra (either whole or pieces) 3 sprigs fresh asparagus 2 cups (8 ounces) V-8 or similar vegetable juice 8 oz water 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt and pepper 1/2 teaspoon paprika

PreParatIon

Cut the following into 1/2 inch pieces: Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Celery Cut the following into 1/4 inch pieces: Cabbage, Carrots, Green Onions, Okra Cut the following into 1/8 inch pieces: Asparagus Place all vegetables in a 3-quart pan or Dutch Oven. Add 2 (8 ounce) cups of V-8 or similar vegetable juice along with 8 ounces of water.

Season to taste with Kosher Salt and pepper.

Add paprika. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer, covered for an hour and a half. Stir after about a half hour and occasionally until done. Eat as much as you like as you will burn more calories eating this than you will consume. This is a healthy, low calorie, filling, comfort food!

Franklin D. Roosevelt Pecan Pie Christy Luellen, Senior Editor

Crab Cake Combo Delight (Patties)

Ingredients

Maisha Guy, Director of Business Development

3 eggs, beaten 1 cup light brown sugar 1 cup light Karo syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon salt 1 cup chopped pecans

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup of seasoned stuffing mix (1) 6 oz bottle of clam juice for taste as needed (1) 4 oz can of white crabmeat 4-6 oz can of clams (set juice aside for use later) Clams (optional) Diced hot or mild peppers (optional) 3 to 4 finely diced oysters (fresh or canned) 1 finely diced red onion (to taste) 1 tablespoon of “Obay” or to taste 1 tablespoon of smoke paprika or to taste 1 tablespoon of garlic pepper 1 egg OR 2 egg whites

Preparation

Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl, add clam juice for taste as needed while mixing.

(Do not make the seafood mixture too moist) When satisfied with the texture, add 1 whole egg or 2 egg whites to bind the mix.

Form into cake patties, making 6 to 8 cakes Place patties on baking sheet and cook in oven at 375 for 15 minutes.

OR For Crispier Taste Bread both side of patties, Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to pan.

Fry 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

Put on paper towel to drain.

Serve with cocktail sauce, butter sauce - yum!

Preparation

Crockpot Pot Roast Tenita Johnson, Staff Editor

Ingredients

Chuck Roast Potatoes (White or Red Skinned) Mini Carrots Sliced Onions Sliced Bell Peppers (Red or Green) Seasoning Salt Coarse Black Pepper Worchestershire Sauce Cilantro Crushed Red Pepper Garlic Powder Lipton Onion Soup Mix (1 packet)

Preparation

Wash roast with cold water and cut off excess fat.

Place roast into crockpot to season.

Liberally season the roast on both sides with all seasonings.

Tenderize with a fork on both sides after seasoning.

Placed sliced bell peppers and onions on top and around the sides of the roast.

Cut potatoes in half and place them around the roast.

Place mini carrots around and on top of the roast.

Combine 2-3 cups of cold water with Lipton Onion Soup packet.

Pour mixture over roast and veggies.

Cook roast on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours, checking periodically.

Roast is done when it is fork tender.

Cream butter and sugar, add syrup, eggs, salt and vanilla. Stir in pecans. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Place pecan halves on top as desired.

Bake at 350 degrees 55 minutes.

Magic Cookie Bars Jennifer Davies, Career & Finance Contributor

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk 1 (6 oz) pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 (3 1/2 oz) can flaked coconut (1 1/3 cups) 1 cup chopped nuts (I prefer almonds)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350. In 13x9 in baking pan, melt butter in oven. When melted (watch carefully as not to burn) remove it from oven and sprinkle the crumbs evenly over the butter, covering the whole pan. Pour milk evenly over the crumbs covering the whole pan. Top evenly with remaining ingredients; press down firmly. Bake 25 to 30 min.

Cool thoroughly before cutting into squares.

May sub 1 (6 oz) pkg. dried apricots, chopped (1 cup) for the choc chips.

May sub 1 (6 oz) pkg. butterscotch for choc chips or mix 1/2 and 1/2.

May sub 1 (6 oz) peanut butter chips for choc chips or mix 1/2 and 1/2.

May sub 1 cup raisins or cran-raisins for choc chips or add both.

May sub 1 cup M&Ms for choc chips.

winter 2014 | hope 43

health | body

6

SyMPToMS yoU MAy bE HAVING A

heART ATTACK

WebMD reports these six heart attack symptoms common in women:

1 2 3 4 5 6

CHEST PAIN OR DISCOMFORT. Chest pain is the most common heart attack symptom, but some women may experience it differently than men. The pain can be anywhere in the chest, not just on the left side as men generally experience.

PAIN IN YOUR ARM(S), BACK, NECK, OR JAW. This type of pain is more common in women than in men. Any extreme pain in the jaw or neck should be considered a symptom.

STOMACH PAIN OR PRESSURE. Women often experience severe abdominal pressure that feels like an elephant sitting on their stomach.

SHORTNESS OF BREATH, NAUSEA OR LIGHTHEADEDNESS. If you’re having trouble breathing for no apparent reason, you could be having a heart attack, especially if you’re also experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed here.

SWEATING. Breaking out in a nervous, cold sweat is common among women who are having a heart attack. It will feel more like stress-related sweating than perspiration from exercising or spending time outside in the heart.

FATIGUE. Some women who have heart attacks feel extremely tired, even if they’ve been sitting still for a while or haven’t moved much.

Not every woman experiences all of these symptoms when suffering a heart attack. If you have chest discomfort, and also have one or more of the above signs, call 911 immediately.

44 hope | 2014

body | health

Five Ways to Speed Up Your Metabolism by a n n e s s a ch u m b l e y, r d

It’s the New Year, and it’s time to rev up that metabolism! Remember that your metabolism is like a fire - it’s responsible for converting the fuel in the food you eat into the energy needed to power everything you do. The good news is that there are ways that can keep that fire going, and even fire it up some more! Get your metabolism moving with these five ways: 1. Bring on a Protein-Powered Breakfast. The building blocks of your metabolism are fuel, and the first fuel you should get in the day is breakfast. Skipping breakfast will make your body go on strike, lowering its metabolism, because the body needs to conserve energy instead of burn it. Solution? Eat a small protein-powered breakfast that will jump start this process. Two hardboiled eggs and a piece of fruit are a perfect example, or a small bowl of whole oats topped with a handful of toasted almonds. Protein, complex carb and a healthy fat will keep your metabolism running all morning long.

2. Cold Water. Water keeps everything in your body running properly. Even with slight dehydration you may feel sluggish or unable to think properly. Water has many functions inside your body: essential for digesting food, absorbing and utilizing nutrients, regulating blood pressure, helping to prevent constipation, regulating body temperature, lubricating joints, carrying nutrients and oxygen to every cell, moistening tissues such as those in the nose, eyes and mouth, and lowering the burden on the liver and kidneys by flushing out toxins and wastes. Your body itself is 65 percent water, so guzzle this metabolism-aiding drink...at least 64 ounces a day!

3. Time for Tea. Think of green tea as your metabolism potion. It contains a potent antioxidant called EGCG (epigallopatechin-3-gallate) which has been shown to increase metabolism and aid in fat-burning. Don’t limit your intake just at breakfast, sip this healthy caffeine-free tea any time of day!

4. Muscle Mass. It is never too late to start adding muscle mass to your physique! Muscle mass is always burning energy, always breathing, always requiring a flow of nutrients, consistently needing calories...even at rest! Muscle is the best kind of weight there is!

5. Go for the Greens. Women often are at risk for having low iron, the mineral that is essential for transporting oxygen to every cell in your entire body. Greens like spinach, kale, collard and turnips are high in iron, and will help boost your metabolism by supporting your red blood cells’ ability to transport nutrients throughout your body. Plus, these foods are slower to digest and leave you feeling fuller for longer - on less calories.

Just these five simple changes in your daily lifestyle will help rev up your metabolism and aid in feeling your best – no matter what time of day!

2014 | hope 45

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You don’t open it.

It opens you.

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INSPIRE | FRESH START COMMANDING YOUR MORNING DEVOTIONAL

UNLEASH GOD’S POWER IN YOUR LIFE —EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

by ci n dy t r i m m THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THIS DAY TO USE AS YOU WILL. YOU CAN WASTE IT OR USE IT FOR GOOD. WHAT YOU DO TODAY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU ARE EXCHANGING A DAY OF YOUR LIFE FOR IT. WHEN TOMORROW COMES, THIS DAY WILL BE GONE FOREVER. IN ITS PLACE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND . . .

LET IT BE SOMETHING GOOD. —AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Many people feel powerless to control their lives and circumstances.

They know they’re not getting everything they’re supposed to get out of life, but they can’t figure out why. What they don’t realize is that life is not subject to chance. It doesn’t have to be a mystery, and we don’t have to walk through it powerless to change the direction we’re headed. If we’re not experiencing divine success and prosperity, we can do something about it.

When you command your morning, you pull success from the spiritual realm into your day. When you command your morning, you give your reality divine assignments.

You must be willing to declare and establish in the spirit realm today what you want to see manifested tomorrow.

W hen you understand and implement this prayer strateg y of commanding your morning, you will literally begin to experience what I call “overnight” success. When I say “overnight,” I am referring once again to the power of the spoken word in relation to God’s eternal plan for your life and your prayer posture relative to setting these plans into motion. What you decree forth before you go to bed at night and continue to declare as you rise in the morning will keep the spiritual world active all night long—while you sleep the peaceful sleep of the righteous! You will start your day with power and end it with blessing.

Every new day with God brings the dawn of new and better possibilities. Today could turn out to be the best day of your life - but how it ends largely depends on how you begin it. You are in charge of taking control of your day from its very beginning—as you command your morning—and as you do, know that whatever begins with God has to end right. No matter how good or bad your life is, every circumstance can change for the best if you learn how to command your morning before your day begins.

PRAY WITH ME: Father, I stand and declare that today is a new day. Every element of my day shall cooperate with Your purpose and destiny for me. Anything or anyone assigned to undermine, frustrate, hinder, or hurt me, I command to be moved out of my sphere of influence. I greet today with great anticipation of the good things You have prepared for me, in Jesus’ name, amen.

48 HOPE | WINTER 2014

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