The Life Letter November Edition 2021

Life Letter

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NEW BOOK ALERT! EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with PASTOR GLINDA HARRIS

LET’S TALK SELF LOVE

The Life Letter November 1, 2021. Copyright Lovebird Publishing LLC

NOVEMBER EDITION 2021

LOVEBIRD’S NEWSLETTER WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT! UPCOMING NEWS for December 2021

In celebration of the Holiday Season, The Lovebird Book Club will be taking a short hiatus, during the thanksgiving and Christmas season.

LoveBird looks forward to resuming the book club early in the new year! If you have any book suggestions email them to lovebirdpublishing1@gmail.com

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THE LIFE LETTER

HIGHLIGHTED ARTICLES INSPIRATION pg. 4

Health & Wellness pg. 11

LOVEBIRD’S LETTER

Self-Care Past-times!

Life Literature pg. 6

ARTS N ACTION pg. 15

Book Review: Pastor Glinda Harris

Truth Is by LoveBird

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THE LIFE LETTER

LoveBird’s Letter For my 30th birthday party, I wanted to host a small gathering of people to celebrate. In the months leading up to my birthday, I was transitioning out of toxic seasons. Unhealthy friendships were coming to an end, turmoil in my family was brewing, as I was attempting to heal in grief counseling. With all that was going on around me I wanted to celebrate, but it was more important for me to decompress. My main goal was to catch my breath and just live in the moment.

So I threw myself a Waiting to Exhale themed get together at my home. My vision was for it to be an intimate and fun vibe with my girlfriends. I sent out the invitations. Immediately after I somewhat regretted the whole idea. Looking back, I was dreading the answers, because I thought I was going to relive many disappointments from the girls, like I did in my past friendships. A few of them cancelled. A few of them didn’t. I went on this rollercoaster of emotions trying to see if I was going to be left alone on my couch bringing in the new year with my journal and my tears.

At the start of the party, it was just me and my sis Meggan. I was sort of preparing myself to find a bright side to this grim situation, and then my doorbell rang. My girls were outside with gifts at that! We sat and ate and laughed, and I heard another knock at the door. We played a game that led to discussions and storytelling. By the end of night I was sitting in my den, candles lit, smiling to myself.

They really do love me, I thought. And, the best part was I finally knew that I deserved it.

My 30th bday taught me that, Self-love looks like accepting the love you give to others.

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Have you Visited River City Church’s Website?

Bishop Rodney Hutton Pastor Stephanie Hutton rivercitychicago.org

Catch Our Service Every Sunday Morning at 10AM on YOUTUBE

FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THIS MINISTRY VISIT OUR WEBSITE rivercitychicago.org

THE LIFE LETTER

LIFE LITERATURE SECTION

Lovebird’s Book Review Pastor Glinda Pastor Glinda Harris is a budding author and ministry leader in Chicago, IL. She is a mother, nurse, leader and mentor to many.

She is no stranger to Lovebird Publishing, as she was the first professional client to trust Lovebird Publishing with editing and formatting her first book entitled, Prayer 101: Its Not That Hard.

Pastor Glinda has always had a passion for reading. That desire to read and gain knowledge was one of two reasons she decided to be a writer. As a child she loved to read lengthy prose, and she was proud to finish the books in a short amount of time. As time went on life made it more challenging to remain such an avid reader. During college and raising her family, it became increasingly difficult to read more, yet the desire was still there.

Another driving force for her to be an author was her personal craving to be more connected to God in prayer. Growing up, prayer was a staple in her home and her local church. “I felt like my prayers wasn’t being heard. I was praying the prayers of my ancestors, instead of my own.” Pastor Harris admitted. Her rehearsed prayer life left a void in her soul that she was determined to fill. As her personal relationship with God developed she realized she was not sharing her heart and feelings with God in prayer.

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THE LIFE LETTER All of that changed one day when she heard the voice of the Lord simply suggest, “Write your prayers and read them back to me.”

This was such an unfamiliar yet much needed solution to her issue.

In that she gained a freedom in prayer that she had yet to experience, which led her closer to God. When asked why did she write the book, Pastor Glinda stated, “I want other people to be free.”

This book was written with avid readers and beginners in mind. It is accurate, helpful and concise.

Pastor Harris believes that God is more concerned with our heart and not tradition. Here at Lovebird Publishing we couldn’t agree more. You can purchase the e-book on Amazon or secure a hardcopy online at www.bookstore.com.

LOVEBIRDʼS December 31-Day Journaling Challenge JOIN LOVEBIRD ON FACEBOOK Lovebird Publishing LLC @lbpublish For Daily Journal Prompts LIVE DISCUSSIONS Spread the Love 7

THE LIFE LETTER

Blogging Tips Lessons I learned while developing my voice on my lifestyle blog on social media.

1. Be true to who you are, even if you think its unpopular.

Always keep your reason for starting your blog at the forefront of your mind. Your “why” will be different than others, and that is exactly what you need to set you apart. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to recreate someone else’s platform. The world needs to hear what you have to say!

2. Be confident in your videos.

Sounding unsure, is the best way to lose an audience. Make sure that what you are saying is true to your message, and that your point of view is easily understood.

Ramblings, and inserting too many “Um’s and Uh’s” are distracting.

4. Schedule your posts.

There are many benefits to doing this. One, you don’t run the risk of missing an optimal time to post something at peak posting times. It also relieves the stress of last minute posting that result in unpolished posts and videos. You can also plan what to post on which platform to increase viewers and followers in new and creative ways.

5. Speaking of peak posting times, make sure you are posting during peak times to ensure your post reaches more people.

A quick google search will tell you what peak times are for different social media platforms.

6. Don’t pressure yourself, have fun!

If blogging becomes more of a chore than a fun and purposeful experience, it may be time to re-evaluate your strategies. It won’t be cotton candy and lollipops every day, but overall it should be enjoyable. Don’t let anyone or anything suck the joy out of blogging!

3.besthashtags.com is a great hashtag generator to use to get more hits on your posts and expand your reach!

You can search for any topic and the tags are automatically generated for you. Try it out!

A detour may change your direction, but it doesn’t change your destination! -Pastor T.C. Phillips (River City Church-East Campus) Spread the Love

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BOOK OF THE MONTH: Woman Evolve

by Sarah Jakes Roberts

THE LIFE LETTER

Health & Wellness Section Everyone that knows me, knows I have an unhealthy obsession with ice cream. I can literally eat mounds of it in one sitting, trust me I have done so! However, I do acknowledge that too much of a good thing can turn into a bad thing. So here are healthier alternatives to ice cream for my fellow ice cream lovers. Try them out and and let me know how you like it!

Strawberry Banana Popsicles Blend plain yogurt, frozen strawberries, and bananas together.

Pour into a popsicle mold. Add chopped strawberries and kiwi as desired. Freeze for 2 hours and enjoy!

photo by: cookitrealgood.com

Banana Nice Cream

photo by: deliciouseveryday.com Spread the Love

Blend 3 frozen bananas and 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk.

Blend on high for 1 to 2 minutes stopping to scrape the sides as needed.

(You may have to add more almond milk to reach the desired consistency.) You can add your favorite toppings, I love caramel myself. Spread your mixture to a pan lined with parchment paper and freeze for 2 hours and enjoy!

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THE LIFE LETTER

SELF-CARE Past-times 1.Drink more water 2.Create a new exercise routine 3.Go for a walk 4.Do breathing exercises 5.Cleanse your diet 6.Mediate 7.Journal 8.Practice Gratitude 9.Make sure to rest 10. Take a cooking class 11. Refrain from social media 12. Pick up a new hobby 13. Pray 14. Recite affirmations 15. Read a new book 16. Sit with nature 17. Paint 18. Update your favorite playlist 19. Create boundaries with others 20. Declutter a space 21. Learn to say no 22. Laugh more 23. Speak up for how you feel 24. Watch a good movie 25. Make a vision board

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26. Write a love letter to yourself.

27.Go on a staycation 28.Go to the spa 29.Get your hair done/cut 30.Connect with friends 31.Take yourself to dinner 32.Ride your bike 33.Go on a picnic 34.Have a fun day in the city 35.Revamp your skin care routine 36.Take a hot bath with candles 37.Start a garden 38.Meal prep your lunch 39.Enjoy a cup of tea 40.Take a dance class 41.Buy an adult coloring book 42.Stretch in the morning 43.Diffuse essential oils 44.Clean your home 45.Complete a DIY project 46.Organize your closet 47.Take a day from work to stay home 48.Dance to your favorite song 49.Enjoy a nice dessert.

50.Find a support group.

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THE LIFE LETTER GRIEF has many different faces.

Sometimes it looks like a bright smile accompanied by hearty laughter, often triggered by a memory that you hope lasts your lifetime.

Other times its a lifeless stare coupled with empty eyes as your mind catapults you into a daydream of what life would be if they were still here.

Then there’s what people try hard to conceal, what they never wish others to see. The ugly cry.

The cry that either cleanses your soul or pulls you into a hole of depression. You never know what the outcome will be until you try to clean your face before the second emotional outbreak that usually catches you off guard.

I been there.

So what do you do when you can no longer identify grief’s face?

You write, you cry, you pray, you give in and decide that’s not enough. So you get therapy, counseling, and you heal, and you live, and you survive and thrive for the rest of your lifetime.

LoveBird Spread the Love 1212

THE LIFE LETTER

Pastor Glinda Harris Author of Prayer 101: Itʼs Not That Hard

Kingdom Ministries Organization is a growing ministry that teaches how to live on earth while living to live again.

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Contact Us: email: kingdomministriesorg@gmail.com website: glindadiane.com 13

THE LIFE LETTER

ARTS-N-ACTION SECTION: PHOTO OF

Inspiration I love the way a small flame can cut through the darkness.

How a small flicker can catch your attention.

How a smooth, floral infused scent can saturate a room.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see work begin...

How could something so small make such a lasting impact?

Zechariah 4:10 NLT

Well, that’s how life goes.

Small steps become journeys.

Small thoughts become visions.

Small shifts become manifestations.

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Photo by Tijana Drndarski 13 on Unsplash

THE LIFE LETTER

TRUTH IS...

Truth is I feel pretty. when I first wake up in the morning.

My frazzled locs stretching and twisting and looping from ear to ear with an old rattled gown with bleach spots and tiny holes that decorate the trim of my collar.

I feel pretty when I cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate, and moisturize, my face. Right after I brush my teeth I cheese like a toddler does after he’s recited his abc’s cuz I feel pretty.

I show myself love by dipping my pointer finger in raw shea butter to perfectly coat every limb and lump and curve.

I deserve this daily massage and soothing, so I take my time and do it right every chance I get.

I feel pretty when I peruse through my closet opening and closing drawers, selecting new color combinations and patterns that highlight my intrinsic radiation of light and love. My beauty truly starts within, and thats why I get compliments in the grocery store, thats why people tell me I have a glow while I’m doing nothing at all.

I feel pretty when I wear my neutrals and jewel tones and earth tones, mimicking nature in my attire is where my eyes behold the beauty of my own soul. I don’t like tennis shoes I prefer flats. Make-up is pretty on other ladies, and I even love it on me, but its not necessary everyday of the week, or month or year for me. I like my two moles plainly and aligned in symmetry on my cheeks. I like to see the pinkish hue on my lips. It took me a long time to smile and be proud for I once thought they were too big. I love the cat like shape of my eyes, alluring and kind they are.

I feel pretty.

I feel lovely.

I feel like for the first time in a long time I am more than enough for me.

What you feel is a direct reflection of what I see in myself, my soul, is truly at peace.

What’s another word for pretty?

-LoveBird Spread the Love

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THE LIFE LETTER

LOVEBIRD’S Self-Love Anthems 1.

Take Your Burdens- The Soul Seekers

2.

Blessed- Jill Scott

3.

Rollercoaster- India Arie

4.

Built for This- Chandler Moore ft. Bishop Brian Moore

5.

I’m in Your Care- The Canton Spirituals

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Graduate- Jonathan McReynolds ft. The Hamiltones

7.

You’re Gonna Live- JJ Hairston ft. David Wilford

8.

Hopeness- William Augusto

9.

Complicated Soul- Sister of Element

10.

Window Seat- Erykah Badu

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THE LIFE LETTER

WORDS TO LIVE BY 1.

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SELF LOVE AFFIRMATIONS I alone am enough.

I belong here.

I am worthy of love.

I have the strength to rise in the face of adversity.

I owe it to myself to try again.

I am well in mind, body and spirit.

I will win.

I am a conqueror.

I cannot be stopped.

I deserve real and lasting love.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God. There is more for me.

I am valuable.

I am capable.

I will reach destiny.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 Spread the Love 18

Ask LoveBird Anything!

Do you want to submit a question to be featured in The Life Letter? Email it to lovebirdpublishing1@gmail.com!

Hey Lovebird, For a long time I been trying to find what I should do next with my life. I’m looking to change careers because work is just draining me. It’s causing me to be unhappy at home. Where should I go next?

Ah yes, I have most definitely been there. Before you quit I would really evaluate where you see yourself in the next year to five years. Write it out and don’t hold back! Once you know where you are going you can devise a plan of action on how to get there, and be sure to include deadlines, it will help you measure your personal and professional growth.

Above all else, make sure that the plans you have for your future aligns with what God has for you. True fullness of joy only comes when we walk in the path God intended.

Are you going to write a book?

The short answer is yes! I actually have a couple of writing projects in the works. I plan to expand my writing platform on my website.

When the time comes I will be releasing more information on when and how to purchase my new works.

So check in with LoveBird at lbpublish.com for more information on the new and upcoming books!

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Life Letter

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The Life Letter. November 1, 2021 Copyright Lovebird Publishing LLC

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