El Nura | A Magazine For Christian Women

ElNura

ElNura

VISIBILITY

PUBLICITY

INSPIRATION

FOUNDER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

EMPOWERMENT

Tee Adeyemo info@lccmediafoundation.ca

DESIGN EDITORIAL Tee Adeyemo 587 974 9830

CONTENT EDITOR Judith Pila CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mary Thomas Lorrie Morales Kirsha Campbell Pastor Bode Akindele Lola Olorunfemi

DESIGN DESIGN DIRECTOR Tunde Adeyemo tundeadeyemo@citeay.com

PHOTOGRAPHER Memoirs Photography www.memoirsphotography.ca

BUSINESS DIRECTOR Tayo Elnathan Tayo.Elnathan@lccmediafoundation.ca

This magazine or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means - electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher. Ladies Corner Canada Limited, 4230 Charles Close SE, Edmonton AB T6W OZ5.

WWW.LADIESCORNER.CA

@Ladiescorner.ca

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Contents 06 08 11 12 14 16 21 24 27 29 31

Ride — Lorrie Morales Leadership Spotlight — Suzan Obasan Managing Failure — Miss Purple A Letter to a woman — Olayemi Fasola Stress Management — Lola Olorunfemi Yoga as a way of life — Mary Thomas Balance Miracles — Kirsha Campbell Life’s Lessons— Lorrie Morales Teach Us to Number Our Days — Lorrie Morales Scriptures for Praying Women— Tee Adeyemo The Womb-man — Bode Akindele

ElNura

This is our inaugural edition!

El Nura means light—the light of God. In a world filled with darkness, we wanted to add a ray of light. Many people are hurting in different ways. If we can do something to create excitement, renewal, and hope for women, we would do it heartily. This magazine was carefully crafted to bring healing one page at a time to women everywhere...

Our vision is to provide a platform to share God’s truth with women. In this edition: Lorrie Morales reflects on when God is silent, Lola Olorunfemi talks about different stressors and the need for self care. An article from Mrs. Olayemi Fasola would just bless your heart, Mrs. Suzan Obasan’s work in the community will ignite your fire. We hope this magazine appeals to you.

My team and I would love to know what you think about this edition and find out more of what you would like to see.

Please feel free to reach out: info@lccmediafoundation.ca To light and living!

Tee Adeyemo Publisher and Editor-In-Chief El Nura

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ElNura

RIDE

by Lorrie Morales

I love to bike ride when the weather permits. Sometimes I ride the paved bike and walking trails and other times I go off on the beaten tracks where the trail is grassy, muddy or bumpy. I go on my rides at different times of the day. Sometimes there are early mornings with a chill in the air, or sometimes it is bug-filled evenings. I push against the wind or wipe the sweat from my brow sometimes stopping to catch my breath or guzzle a mouthful of water from my flask.

There are times when I meet others and I get to wave and say Hello. Other times, people are lost in their own worlds, so I ride on by. I love the free-

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dom my wheels afford me, the wind in my face and the opportunity to get some much-needed exercise.

It reminds me that we are all on a journey. For some, it is an easy road with a few problems and life has been kind. For others, there may have been some bumps along the way, but they managed to cruise along without any flat tires. Then there are others who have been exhausted from the uphill climb, the difficult situations and the never-ending road ahead of them.

Today was one of those off the beaten track days. I live near a river and there are ample trails through trees, forests and fields that will take

you there, but the track I chose was quiet, rocky and narrow. As I bumped down the rocky ravine onto a field, I noticed two paths leading to the river.

The one I chose was trodden-down and there was enough room for me to manoeuvre my trustworthy bike along the grassy trail. When I could finally ride no more, I dismounted and ventured the rest of the way on foot, leaving my bike propped beside a shady tree.

The first thing I noticed was the silence. I stood and listened. I could hear the little birds chirping as they flitted in the trees. I could hear the wind rustle the leaves and the sound

October, 2021

of the water gurgling down the river.

Suddenly a bee zipped past my face and I was startled. Those were the sounds of nature. We need those moments—waiting or riding out a storm in our life. We need those moments when God is silent.

I looked all around me. The muddy shoreline, the log submerged from the rock, and the murky river all reminding me that this was natural. The greenery of the trees, the purple wildflower juxtaposed with the wild white geranium and the dandelions ready to burst their seeds into the wind were smattered and arrayed for the heavens to see. I slapped my arm but the pesky mosquito had already bitten me and I rolled my eyes upward.

A movement caught my eye.

Soaring just above the tree were two eagles. The beauty of them riding the wind and soaring above captivated me and I stood in awe. Such freedom. Such ease. Such majesty.

And as suddenly as the Leadership Spotlight y were there, they rode across the sky and into the space of distant clouds.

As I walked along the riverbank, I thought about how we are caught up in the waves of culture. Our world has experienced multiple crises and con-

tinues to experience this almost twoyear’s ride with the global pandemic.

We see diversity everywhere, but we are still culturally biased. We have misunderstandings between people and differing opinions. We live in a multifaceted and multicultural society and yet as many that are along for the free ride, there are others who are taking us for a ride. Some are even riding against the tide.

As I ride this road, I am too reminded of the apostle Paul who met resistance. Are the storms of life beating on you? Do you feel like you are being dragged along for the ride? Remember that: “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.”

Deuteronomy 33:26 So, when I think I have it so tough when my comfortable ride is interrupted by inconveniences, I need reminding to pray for courage in the tough times, in the storms and moments when we need deliverance.

Our ride is almost here because we know that Christ is returning someday, so ride on, loving the moments on the way!

Do you feel like you are being dragged along for the ride?

Remember that: “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.” Deuteronomy 33:26

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ElNura

Leadership Spotlight with Suzan Obasan Suzan Obasan is a community leader, a committed Christian, a mother, and a wife. She is very passionate about the wellbeing of women in and outside the church. Her charity, Daughters of Zion Women Foundation, brings hope to women through its initiatives, some of which are food rescue, marriage, library, prayer, leadership seminars, and more. El Nura is proud to be able to share the spotlight on the work of Obasan.

Can you please tell us a bit about you?

Many people who know me will understand that I am a very private person and usually don’t like saying much about myself because I am nothing without God, ‘the author and finisher of my faith’. My name is Oluyemisi Suzan Obasan; some know me as Yemisi and others as Suzan. I am a wife, married to Tunde Obasan, a mother, and a minister of God. I work full-time with the Alberta Provincial Government, and I have my part-time businesses on the side.

I am the founder of the Daughters of Zion Women Foundation, a ministry founded upon a prophetic calling to support and bring hope to women through different initiatives designed for this purpose.

What can you tell us about the Daughters of Zion Women Foundation?

The name Daughters of Zion was revealed without any human consultation but divinely inspired and supported by the word of God in Zephaniah 3:14.

The name refers to all the beautiful daughters of the king.

It is the birthright of every woman directly or indirectly affiliated with the foundation, known or unknown, regardless of their denomination, race, language or colour, to partake of the father’s blessings and inherit the kingdom of heaven.

The DOZ Foundation was founded to provide a platform for

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women to fully express themselves spiritually, collaborate with other like-minded women and gain access to helpful resources applicable to various areas of life. We also have volunteers who consistently support in different capacities, such as prayers, food drives, and other programs.

Why was it essential to help women who struggle in different aspects of their lives?

It is a calling for me and not something I have control over nor take for granted. God had called me into women’s ministry since 2004, but I never paid attention to that; it felt like I was just never ready. When it’s a calling, it becomes a burden in your heart that can only be relieved after obedience. This obedience leaves you with joy and inner peace that can only be from the Father himself. (Because it’s a calling, it became a burden in my heart, and I couldn’t sleep until I decided to start the Foundation.) Since then, I have had this joy from within and experienced inner peace. At the initial stage, whenever God revealed these things, I would pray for the affected individuals privately. Still, God told me it had to go beyond that, so I started to feel the push to reach out to people not just in my private prayers but to do more. What God wants from the Foundation is to pray for and go further in helping directly or indirectly through various programs and initiatives. That is why we have the different initiatives at the Foundation to cater to and meet women at their diverse points of need.

Please tell us about the programs you run at the Foundation?

We have different programs at the foundation. First, we pray because the word of God in Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities...”

After setting the atmosphere right with our prayers, we follow up through our other initiatives as led by the Spirit of God to provide physical solutions as well, and God has been so faithful with testimonies.

Some of our programs include: •• Monthly Prayer Meetings •• Seminars: Anger Management, Mental Health, Marriage, etcetera •• Workshop: Entrepreneurship, Business Trade Show, etcetera

•• Food Drive: Distribution of food items to support families impacted by the pandemic and continuous food distribution to the needy •• Library: Distribution of free inspirational and Christian books.

Please share some of the stories of the women who have benefitted from your programs.

God has been so faithful, and without mentioning names, we have had a series of testimonies of what God has done through this Ministry. Testimonies of good jobs, multiple appointments letters, babies, healing, open doors, and how people have been touched by our show of love and providing for the needy. May God’s name alone be praised. He made it happen.

You focus on prayers at the Foundation—do you find a correlation between prayers and effective work in the community?

Of course, there is a huge correlation. We follow the dictates of the Holy Spirit, and we get positive results. The direction is clear in the word of God in James 2:14-17 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead”.

Just praying for a person without finding ways to meet their immediate needs is not enough. While we pray, we also ensure that additional help is provided based on the capacity of the Foundation and the people within.

For example, when we pray for a job before being called for an interview, the person may need immediate help to keep afloat while waiting. Similarly, someone experiencing marital challenges needs prayers but may also need counselling and other support systems to get through.

Your organization has grown over the years. What is your plan for growth for the next three years?

We operate in the knowledge that our growth is dependent on God. The goal is to touch as many lives as pos-

We operate in the knowledge that our growth is dependent on God. The goal is to touch as many lives as possible, help as many women as possible and share the gospel of the love of Jesus. sible, help as many women as possible and share the gospel of the love of Jesus.

We plan to continue advancing our community consultation strategy and developing better approaches to understanding the most critical issues to our women and the best system to solve the problems. In the coming years, we will develop improved or new programs that add value to women in Canada.

We want to see more women advance in their careers, live happily and make tremendous contributions to the community and the country.

When you speak to women, what kind of support do they tell you that they need?

Prayers, marital issues, food support, issues with children, jobs, etcetera.

How do you find peace and rest for your mental health in such a chaotic world?

The word of God in John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Looking at the world’s current situation can lead us to a state of unrest, but holding more unto God, relying on his word and trusting Him ultimately gives peace.

I also force myself to rest in my leisure, sometimes taking some scheduled time off both work and ministry periodically to recharge and ensure that my mental health is well cared for. I make a conscious effort to stay

ElNura far away from troubles and disassociate myself from things that can trouble my heart. I spent a lot of time with God, the work of the Ministry and my side businesses. Staying positive in all situations and looking unto God. In a nutshell, holding unto God and playing my little part as He directs gives peace.

Where can we go to find out more about you?

Check out our social media platforms: Website: www.dozwomenfoundation.com Instagram: @daughtersofzionwomenfoundation YouTube: @Daughters of Zion Phone: +18254362000

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October, 2021

Poetry

Managing Failure

by Tee Adeyemo Failure is never final.

You have the rest of your life to get it right.

Failure is a journey to success.

God is working it all out together for your good.

Who said you failed if you are still single?

Who said you failed if you are going through a divorce?

Who calls you a failure if you are waiting on God, And his promises for your life?

Failure is never final. Failure must be managed.

Nothing can defeat you!

You stand as a winner with God Almighty.

You stand tall with God. He is with you. You can never fail.

Check your expectations. He is too big to fail you.

He did not abandon Noah on the ark.

Or Jesus on the cross He has you covered.

Who said you are a failure?

Get intimate with Jesus. He calls your weary heart to him.

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ElNura

A LETTER TO A WOMAN Olayemi Fasola

Are you single?

I write to remind you that delay is not denial. Your patience has been tested with the burden of waiting without having a faithful man to call your husband. The Bible encourages you not to give up on the glorious future to come. Your waiting period may be the season to develop yourself in other ways. You may want to go to school, you may want to travel the world. Let God take the lead in your choice of marriage partner. Jesus is a way maker who will never lose His way or mislead you, Jesus is the truth and life who will never lie. Trust God and allow Him to guide you.

Is your marriage experiencing turbulence?

Storms will surely come. If you are not experiencing a storm in your marriage right now, you are about to. I know this because storms are part of life. Storms can come in the form of sickness, misunderstandings, arguments, issues with the inlaws, finances etc. The success of your marriage solely depends on how connected you are with God and how often you follow the precepts God has put in place for a successful marriage.

In trial moments, dear friend, pour your heart to God through prayer, seek godly and professional counsel while you patiently wait upon the Lord. Remember when a car is having mechanical faults, mechanics always try to fix it which may not be perfect after all but the only person that can perfectly fix the problem like brand new is the company that builds the car.

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Dear friend Are you waiting upon the Lord for the fruit of the womb? Have you gone through different medical procedures without result? Have you been stigmatised or labelled with different names in your community or among people you called your support system? I encourage you to hang in there. Nothing is impossible with God. Dear friend Are you struggling with addictions? Are you sick, weary, troubled or stressed with the worries of life?

Are you about to throw in the towel?

Are you worried about your children?

Do not give up or curse your children because your confession is your possession. God’s plan for your children is greater than what anyone can imagine. If the devil is harassing the destiny of your children, put the devil back to where he belongs (pit of hell) through warfare prayer.

In conclusion dear friend, whatever life throws at you, I assure you it’s just a temporary test of time which will surely pass. Gold passes through processes. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, stay strong, stick to your dreams and most importantly let God help you through your journey. Remember, you are unique and wonderfully made. Stay blessed and beautiful.

The success of your marriage solely depends on how connected you are with God and how often you follow the precepts God has put in place for a successful marriage.

ElNura

Stress Management with Lola Olorunfemi

What is Stress?

Stress is a feeling of being overwhelmed or being unable to cope with mental and emotional pressure.

It could also be explained as how the brain and the body responds to demanding and challenging situations.

Stress is part of everyday life, and it is a physical or psychological pressure and strain that results from a change or situation, which the body and mind react to. When stress is good, it is called eustress, like studying for an exam.

There are 2 kinds of stress. Negative stress causes loss of motivation, physical and mental exhaustion and behavioural problems. Positive stress enables performance, concentration, and energises your goals and actions.

Signs of stress Stress, especially excessive stress shows or manifests in many ways.

Some common manifestations or signs of stress include anxiety, lack of sleep, lack of focus, disorganisation, frustration, while uncommon ones include indigestion, palpitations, stomach problems, bowel problems and excessive eating. This is called distress

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because it is excessive with negative effects. Our goal is not to eliminate stress but learning how to handle, manage and use it in a way to be a better version of ourselves.

Stressors can be short or long term and it could also be internal or external stressors.

Short term stressors put you in a flight or fight mode which in the long term, the flight or fight has been suppressed thereby continuously.

Causes of stress are financial, relationship problems, major life changes, death, job related, health problems, personal choices and habits, personality issues, worrying (anticipating problems before they happen), negative thoughts, envy, jealousy, hatred, unforgiveness, cheating, gossiping, people around you, conflicts, confrontation, stressful situations and so on.

How To Manage Stress Physical Techniques-Exercise, bathing in hot water, sports, games, balanced diet, drinking water, yoga, sex, medication, deep breathing and rest.

Here are some more ideas for you: •• Positive mental attitude such as

express yourself, be a good listener, read books, have attitude of gratitude, time management, organise your activities, avoid procrastination, stay away from negative people, accept change, think outside the box, humour, forgiveness •• Deep breathing exercise •• Cognitive exercises or distractions •• Visualise yourself in a calm, breezy and serene place like the beach, the flowing river •• Focus on what is stressing you out and mentally put it in a box, put it down and imagine yourself stepping back •• Take a deep breath and focus on the breath (gift of life) •• Inspire and encourage yourself •• Identify your stressor(s) and learn to say “no” •• Sleep and exercise well •• Meditate •• Practice relaxation techniques •• Keep a stress diary •• Have a heart of gratitude Selfcare is Key!

ElNura

Yoga as a Way of Life Mary Thomas Yoga is not mere exercise, it’s a way of life ~ Mary Thomas.

Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India. In the west, people interpret yoga in manifold ways and every day, more people are practicing yoga and reaping the benefits of more energy, less stress, flexibility, strength and a greater sense of calm and clarity. While we use exercises to achieve this higher state of wellness, the practice of yoga goes far beyond the physical postures, breathing, and even meditation.

Yoga means “to unite,” and it is a collection of practices over 5000 years old. Most people think of yoga and they think of the physical movements and the crazy, pretzel-like positions. But all the poses, called asanas, were designed to help yogis stretch their body and deepen their breathing so that they could sit longer in meditation. Hence, asana literally translates into “comfortable seat.” Yet even the breathing and meditation exercises do not fully encompass the practice of yoga.

Yoga helps us unite our physical efforts with a mental intention so that we can access a deeper mind-body connection more often throughout our daily life. It is not about achieving a temporary state of enlightenment, or even experiencing a sudden realization that fades away. Yoga teaches us to navigate our lives with a greater sense of peace and purpose. The exercises are not the destination, but they help us stay on track - moving toward the life that we want to create for ourselves.

Yoga helps us stay committed and dedicated to our personal growth, and the practice is a reminder of how powerful we are when we are self-aware and mindful.

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I am a yogi. I have been practising yoga since I can remember, I feel calmer and more aware of my body, and this seeps into everything I do: how I work and relate to others, how I eat and sleep.

Yoga is particularly promising for improving lower back pain and reducing inflammation in the body, which can help stave off disease. Yoga also seems to enhance “body awareness,” or people’s sense of what is going on inside themselves.

Yoga usually involves some combination of the following postures and poses (asanas), regulated breathing (pranayama), and meditation and relaxation (samayana). But many classes mix in other elements, from chanting to heat to music. There is also a lot of variation in teaching, quality and style. Hatha and Iyengar yoga are made up of stretches and restorative poses, while ashtanga and vinyasa tend to be more vigorous and athletic. Yin yoga probably will not make you sweat: You hold postures for long periods of time for deep stretching. In Bikram, which consists of 26 postures repeated twice in a room that is heated at 105 degrees, you can be sure you will drench your clothes in sweat.

Yoga is a practice that helps to eliminate all chances of illness. It can relieve people of some chronic diseases like arthritis, obesity, and so on. However, you must have the patience and discipline in you to practice it with some regularity. Embrace it and experience a better life mentally and physically.

When you take a yoga class, remember that it is only one step on your path, just one day in your life, so, carry all of yourself to each exercise and see how it begins to change your life.

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October, 2021

Balance Miracles with Kirsha Campbell I felt the vehicle I was driving start to struggle .....I wondered what was wrong AGAIN. I came to a stop and went outside to see what I could find was wrong. I discovered that a tire had run out of air...no indicator to warn me in advance that this was coming...

The timing is almost never right to have a vehicle breakdown especially enroute to work.

This vehicle was one of my first vehicles..it had no working indicators on the dashboard,.,so you were not sure how low fuel was or even the air tire pressure.

Basically you are looking at the vehicle thinking all is well when in fact there are areas that need to be ad-

dressed.

Have you ever driven a vehicle like that ..no working indicators...can you relate to my struggles?

A measure of success widely used by individuals as well as business owners/CEOs is the size of their bank account.

Are you using your bank account to make decisions about spending, hiring, going on a vacation and also just how successful your business is?

That is very RISKY!! Your bank account does not tell the full story and it can be misleading BIG TIME!!

Why does your bank account not tell the full story?

•• There may be transactions that

have taken place that are not yet reflected in your bank account.

•• Your bank account will not tell you if you are wasting money or having “money leaks” as an individual or business owner.

•• Your bank account will not tell you how profitable your business is.

•• Your bank account will not show you ways to improve your business operations or strategies to reach your goals as a family.

What makes the difference is assessing your business? What makes the difference is assessing your family finances? Using Key Metrics/Indicators!!

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ElNura Key Metrics/ Key Indicators affect all areas of your company/ business – finances, backoperations, team/labour and so on.

Key Metrics/Key Indicators affect all areas of your company/business – finances, back- operations, team/ labour and so on.

You made five or six figures in sales, great; are those monies collected?

Were those sales profitable? How efficient is your team?

These same metrics will assess your financial strength as a family or individual. Do you have too much debt?

How close are you to being bankrupt?

Should you buy or lease that new car as well as what is the best budget for your vacation?

What are some key metrics/Indicators that you can start using in your business or as individuals/ families?

The following are 3 Personal Finance metrics/indicators which will apply to most individuals/families: •• Net Worth – an indicator of Financial Independence. Your net worth is calculated by finding the difference in value of what you own (eg. bank accounts, houses) and what you owe (mortgage, credit card debt).

•• Financial Independent Number – how much savings or income

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you have to cover your expenses for life.

•• Savings Rate – how much of your income is being saved? How heavily are you relying on different forms of debt to manage your home?

The following are 3 Business Key metrics/indicators which will apply to most businesses: •• Days Cash on Hand - You don’t have a bank overdraft. That is great, however do you have enough cash on hand compared to your sales. If you have 5,000 in the bank after making sales of 30,000, that is a different scenario versus having 5,000 after making sales of 650,000. This ratio determines how healthy your cash on hand is in your business.

•• Days Sales Outstanding - Are your clients taking too long to pay you in full? Are you on top of collections and those who owe you?

The lower this ratio, the better !!

Your company has more funds to use in the company to grow and invest as needed.

•• Profit Margin - You made sales however were they profitable?

How much did it cost you to make those sales.? This ratio is a

one that allows you to compare the performance of your business to the industry as well as your competitors. Profit can lead to cashflow so it is important that you monitor this ratio at least monthly.

I eventually got a different vehicle – one where the indicators on the dashboard were working. My road trips saw a massive improvement in terms of predictability and preparation.

Again it is very vital to use Key Metrics/Key Indicators In your business or family. Don’t be fooled by your bank account anymore, BE PREPARED and POSITIONED!!

Connect with Kirsha Campbell, CPA, CMA https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekirshacampbell www.thecashlab.ca When business owners find their businesses in financial chaos, they reach out to Kirsha. She integrates all the moving parts in your business to set up the right foundation to be recession proof, operate with reduced risk, increase cashflow, set up effective systems and procedures and more

October, 2021

El Nura Kitchen with Tammi Rohatyn Fall Polish/Ukranian recipe Preparation Time: 25 minutes Cook: 40 minutes Borscht (Beet Soup) Borscht is a delicious steaming bowl of nourishing soup. Beets give this soup an earthy sweetness. Perfect for any time of the year, it is healthy and nutritious and perfect for the family.

8 litres beef broth 2 large onions, chopped 4 cups shredded carrots 1 cup coarsely shredded cabbage 8 cups shredded beets 6 cups potatoes, cubed small 2 cups green beans 2 cups peas 2 tsp pepper 1 1/2 Tbsp vinegar 1/3 cup fresh dill, chopped 1/3 cup whipping cream Put beef broth in a pot. Add onions, carrots, potatoes, cabbage and beets. Simmer until vegetables are cooked. Then, add peas, beans, pepper, vinegar and dill. Simmer for 5 minutes more or until peas and beans are done.

Stir in whipping cream.

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ElNura

Life’s Lessons

by Lorrie Morales

As I headed down the back alley near my home, off for an early morning bike ride before the sun got too hot and the air got too smoky, I encountered my recently retired neighbor. I caught him in the act of perfecting one of his golfing strokes by his garage and I stopped to chat. My rides are often interrupted when I put my brakes on and take time to visit with various people on my excursions throughout our little town.

This morning, however, he seemed a bit frustrated for several reasons.

First of all, he was having trouble with his “trigger finger” which could affect his golf game he said and secondly, he had watched the news and was distraught about the Taliban in Afghanistan, the upcoming election, earthquake in Haiti, just to mention a few of the world events transpiring in our ever-chaotic world. I concurred with him, that the world seems a little crazy these days, but that we have a beautiful sunny sky, air in our lungs and a whole day ahead to enjoy. He told me that was what he needed to hear. The crazy thing was that after I left him, I encountered several other friends and acquaintances and they expressed similar concerns. Again, I was pleased to share the good news

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of a beautiful world, abilities to move about and a life to live. God is good and we are to sing praises to Him. Finding the joy despite the circumstances isn’t always easy but we have to make a conscious choice to think positively.

As I rode along the bike path, it reminded me of a recent story I heard a few weeks ago. The story goes like this: A gentleman was just starting to get acquainted with his new Ham Radio, when he overheard a conversation between a young man and an older gentleman about a thousand marbles. The listener sat back with his coffee and listened in. Apparently, the younger man was working long hours to support his family and he had missed his daughter’s recital.

He was upset about this. The older gentleman said he was sorry, but he asked if he could share a story with the young worker that helped him with his life priorities. And thus, the Theory of a Thousand Marbles was told. “You see … one day, many years ago, I sat down and did a little math.”

“First of all, the average person lives to be 75… give or take a few years.”

“So, I multiplied 75 by 52… 52 is the number of Saturdays you get in one year. The total came to 3900. Three

Thousand Nine Hundred Saturdays in an average lifetime… give or take.”

You are probably wondering, “So what?” Well, keep reading, as the young man listened.

“I didn’t really get my head around this idea until I was 55 years old… and by that time, I had lived through more than 2800 Saturdays, according to my math.”

The older gentleman then asked the young man, “I’m guessing you’re not even close to 55, right? That means you have a bunch more Saturdays to look forward to!”

“Getting back to my story… I figured out that if I lived to be 75 that meant that I have 20 years of Saturdays left to go… or about 1000 more to enjoy.”

“This really opened my eyes! I wanted to do something that would force me to focus and pay attention.”

“That afternoon, I went to a toy store in my area and bought all the marbles they had. I actually had to visit three toy stores until I had enough.”

“I brought all the marbles home and took them down into my basement where I had a room I could just sit down and relax.”

“I had a few large glass jars, like the ones you get when you buy pickles. I

October, 2021

took one of those jars, sat down, and began counting marbles and putting them into this jar.”

“About 20 minutes later I had counted out 1000 marbles. I put the lid on the jar and sat back and just stared at the thing.”

“That’s when I realized...that’s all the Saturdays I’ve got left if I live to be 75.”

“So now, every Saturday since then, I’ve taken out one marble and put it in another dark container.”

“It made me visually aware that time was running out and it was very important for me to prioritize my time. No one has forever of this life on earth.”

“Now before I sign out and take my lovely wife out for dinner, I just wanted to add that this morning… I took the last marble out of that jar.”

“If I get to see next Saturday, well then, I’ll have been blessed with a little extra time.”

“We all could use a little more time, son. Think about it.”

“This is 75 year-old Jack Parker signing off at K9GDI wishing you all a good morning.”

Apparently, there was nothing but silence on the airwaves. Others had been listening as well.

The young man who had been lis-

tening was going to go up on the garage roof that morning to work on an antenna but he decided to do something different. He went back into the house, gave his wife a good morning kiss and told her to grab the kids. They were going out for breakfast.

She of course wanted to know what was going on. He merely said, “nothing really. I just wanted to spend Saturday together because it’s been a while since we did. And by the way, we need to stop at the toy store on the way home. I need to get some marbles.”

“Getting back to my story… I figured out that if I lived to be 75 that meant that I have 20 years of Satur-days left to go… or about 1000 more to enjoy.”

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October, 2021

Teach Us to Number Our Days Lorrie Morales

Jack Parker was simply following Psalm 90 verses 10-12 which reads: Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Being inquisitive, I took my age and calculated the weekends according to Jack’s math. I realize how precious that number is to show me and teach me to number my days. I also pray for a heart of wisdom! The fact of the matter is that we are all headed to the same place at a different pace – death and eternity are assurances for our futures.

I love W. H. Auden’s line: “Death is the distant sound of thunder at a picnic.” Some count time forward in excitement and anticipation. I remember anxiously awaiting my fourteenth birthday so I could get my learner’s license to drive. Recently my brother told me, “I can’t wait for my nephew’s wedding!” Some people count backwards. They live in the past or are unhappy about the future. “We only have a day left of our vacation.” But, like Jack, need to use our time wisely

and gain wisdom. How can we accomplish this?

First of all, we need to remember that the days fall away like leaves from the trees or blossoms from flowers in the fall, so we need to enjoy each moment of each day. It seems as if the clock speeds up, the older we get.

We wonder about the future and get concerned about matters that pertain to our lives. But really, what is time?

James tried to explain this in James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Secondly, we cannot go backward in time. We can’t have those years back or those situations where we would have made other choices. We realize later that life can sometimes be wasted. I have a reminder that pops up on my i-phone weekly that informs me of time spent on my device. The average person spends approximately 15% of their waking hours on some sort of technological device. I could have read my bible instead and probably several other ones! Nonetheless, “like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But that is not what God desires; rather, he devises ways so that a banished person does not remain

banished from him.”

Which leads us to the third point found in 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20. Our life is not our own. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. God did not intend for us to worry, waste and wane our days away.

We are to live for him in joyfully praise, giving Him the glory and thanking Him for all our burdens and blessings.

We are to honor God throughout our time on this planet. Serving the Lord in gladness could be as simple as spending time with a loved one, helping a neighbor or even giving a stranger a smile. And so, we can change our present life on earth and change our future. The wisest thing we could ever do is make that important decision to disturb our present time by giving our life to the Lord by being born again. (John 3:3) Jesus told us how to see the kingdom of God. I pray the Lord would help us be bold when we testify and share Him with others, share our stories and take others into the future together with us. May we count our marbles and realize that the time of our future is now.

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October, 2021

Scriptures for Praying Women Tee Adeyemo

A praying woman is a dangerous woman. Women need to pray for a variety of reasons. The most important reason is that when we pray, we develop intimacy with God. You and I need to make out time to pray. Prayer works best when we pray the Word of God into our situation. A consistent prayer life requires discipline. How do you pray? When do you pray? Do you need to pray? Do you pray throughout the day? Or do you only pray at set times? Or perhaps, you do not pray at all? Wherever you are on the prayer ladder, we can all agree that we can do more to spend time getting to know God more. Some people pray with music in their background, some write down their prayers and pray through their list. If you are a prayer list warrior, here are seven Bible verses for wisdom that you can add to your prayer list to generate the prayers you may need. We have chosen to pray for wisdom because wisdom is the principal thing.

Proverbs 3:18 “Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.” Prayer: Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom I need to excel.

Colossians 2:2-3 “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches

of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Dear Jesus, I pray that your Holy Spirit will encourage every woman reading this, giving them the the grace to understand the depth of your love.

Proverbs 3:21 “My son, let them not vanish from your sight; Keep sound wisdom and discretion.” Holy Spirit, I choose wisdom today. Amen.

Proverbs 2:3-5 “For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of

the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. Dear Lord, we cry for the spirit of discernment. Visit us with your presence. Amen.

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of he Holy One is insight.”

In the name of Jesus,may the fear of the Most High fill our hearts.

John 8:32 “And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” I ask in your Name to be near the truth in all I do. Amen.

Proverbs 3:7 “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”I turn away from evil. Amen.

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October, 2021

The Womb-man!

by Bode Akindele I am so delighted having this oneon-one time with you. I imagine that you and I are having a tete-a-tete time right now, and it is not a coincidence!

God has a thought and He wants me to share with you.

My topic is The Womb-man! Yes, that’s right. You are the embodiment of the womb that brings to pass all that man is assigned to fulfill on earth into reality. As I listened on the phone to the request for this article, I saw God literally scanning through the entire Bible in my mind. From Genesis to Revelation, God instantly highlighted before me, the role the woman has in the fulfilment of His plan on earth.

The womb-man! The epitome of

completion at the origin of creation.

The strength of today. The certainty of tomorrow. The womb of all possibilities. The divine capacity. If you would arise in any situation, solution and light would come. If only you would acknowledge the treasure divinely built in you, and release your true treasure, the world would be glad.

When God made heaven and earth, He gladly said, it is good (Gen. 1:25).

However, when He made man in His own image, it is intriguing that God would later say, ‘it is not good... (Gen. 2:18) that man be alone. He decided to ‘make a help meet for him’. It was you, woman, that was missing; that was why God would make that state-

ment. Until you showed up, there was no help found appropriate as the necessary help for man. When you came to the scene, everyone rejoiced, Adam said, ‘she shall be called woman, because she was taken from Man’ (Gen. 2:23). Woman, it was then the door to the possibilities of man was opened!

Many have wrongly thought man fell to the temptation of Satan through the woman. But it is a delight to know that the womb that birthed the Savior of the world (Matt. 1:21) was not contaminated by the inadequacies of the fallen man. That’s why Elizabeth said to Mary ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb’ (Lk. 1:42). Indeed, Woman you

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are blessed.

My mind now goes to Deborah.

That great woman who rose up to action in the days of Jael, when the highways were deserted, and the travelers walked along the byways for fear of being waylaid by bandits; when the peaceful village life ceased in Israel, and men and women were in hiding! Israel served other gods, and the warriors were lacking weapons of war! Deborah rose up as mother in Israel, she mobilized the nobles and the volunteers of warfare from every tribe; (Jud. 5) and the land had rest for forty years!

Oh that you would arise, O Woman; rise up in your strength, make the difference, that the nations would find rest.

I think of the virtuous woman described in Pr. 31. Yes, Woman, that is YOU. I don’t see in you the base woman. That chapter starts by decrying the adulterated woman that corrupts kings, but goes ahead to describe the Real Woman, the Virtuous Woman whose price is far above rubies.

Woman, that is you indeed. Inside you is built virtue. If you would wake up to that expectation, the heart of your husband would be at rest, because you are built to enrich his life - all his days! The community look out for

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your wise words - they are elated even at the thought of you, your children would stand and bless you. The community advances by your industrious exploits.

My mind was wrapped in thought, how are you able to manifest this virtuous description? Then I noticed verse 30, ‘Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised’! Then I was encouraged, it is not a fantasy description, it is a life possible to be lived by the woman that fears the Lord. If you walk in the fear of the Lord, not only your family, company, or community, will be blessed. The Nation is waiting for your manifestation!

A closer look at the scriptures reveals the special place The woman has with God. When men would single out a woman found in adultery, obviously in the company of a man, to accuse her alone, Jesus would defend her (Jn. 8:3-11).

Hebrews chapter 11 highlights those who did great exploits of faith for God. Many women are listed there.

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was old’. Rehab the harlot did not perish with the Jericho people because of her act of faith!

As I close my charge to you, I want us to read together Paul’s account of the source of Timothy’s genuine faith - it is a superb report 2Tim. 1:5). ‘I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you’. What a challenge for every woman.

Yes, if you would arise like Mary, who pondered on the destiny of Jesus and ensured he was brought to the house of the Lord as a child; and like Eunice and Lois, who provided the right atmosphere for Timothy to grow in the ways of God, indeed, if you would raise those children up in the admonition of the Lord, then, the society will find rest and prosperity, and posterity will be rightly sustained.

The Woman, The Womb-man; as you arise, the family rises, the church rises, the society is preserved, and the Nation is sustained. Think about these things. May God give you understanding and grant you great grace. Amen.

Till we meet again. Stay blessed.

‘Bode Akindele - Heritage of God Ministries.

October, 2021

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