The Gift of Life

In Loving Memory of my Beloved Brother, Lorenzo Flowers, Sr.

Edition 16 & Edition 17

The Gift of LIFE

CLASSY AND CHIC GEMS MAGAZINE

This issue is dedicated to my oldest brother who passed away this summer. When God gave me a brother, He gave me the best! You are loved and so missed, Lorenzo.

We love you!

In honoring my brother Lorenzo's life, let us remember his laughter, his love for his family, and his unwavering commitment to those he held dear. May we find solace in the beautiful memories we shared with him.

Editor’s Note CLASSYANDCHIC GEMS MAGAZINE Editor-in-Chief

Anita Ford

In this issue, we speak specifically about the gift life brings our way through all of the talents God has given us. We bind self doubt and idleness. As people, we have to realize that there is so much power found in knowing our worth in Christ.

God gives us gifts for a reason and it’s up to us to take the time to recognize them.

Will never stop providing content that is faith filled, insightful, inspiring and Christ centered.

With all that is going on in our world, we want to be a voice that points you to the cross and motivates to achieve your dreams. This month we are talking about the gift of life.

Each creator is sharing about how God has moved in their lives through changing their perspectives. In a world that continuously encourages people to fill their schedule, we encourage you to sit back, relax and stay awhile.

In life, you’re going to meet a lot of people. Some people will love you and some will not.

But at the end of the day, you have to choose joy, positivity and strength over anyone that disturbs your peace. Anyone who truly knows me knows that I’m an introvert. I love people, but I spend time with a small group of trusted friends and family. We feed off each other. We talk about ideas and most of all, we pray for one another. Life is too short to spend your days explaining yourself. Please realize that you don’t owe anyone an explanation for who you are. You simply have to wake up every day with a purpose in mind. I know my “WHY” and its something very simple, but so life changing.

My “WHY” is to make a difference in the lives of others. I believe your biggest blessings come about when you help others. While on the road to success, it’s up to you the voices you allow to saturate your soul with peace or drown your soul with doubt. I choose peace.

What will you choose?

We have a short time on earth and our time needs to be spent being real with other people.

ANITA FORD

BEAUTY GEMS

ICLASSYANDCHICGEMS

No one has a perfect life. Everyone has gone through trials and tribulations, but it's not about how you start this life, it’s how you finish.

ANITA FORD

Travel Diaries

an article by GG Felice.

What are your favorite fall and winter travel spots?

Imagine living in a place where the views are beautiful and the food is abundant.

Whether you’re looking for comfort food on a rainy day or you’re wanting to partake in your favorite food, great food not only changes our mood but it also allows us to arrive at a familiar place.

Where do you like to visit in the fall and winter months?

Travel Diaries

Comfort Meals

an article by GG Felice.

What is your favorite comfort food?

After a long day, it’s nice to sit down in your favorite chair enjoying a nice meal. After all, there is so much peace found in sharing a meal together and making memories. Life is filled with opportunities to grow, love and develop into the person we are called to be, but it’s up to us to recognize it.

B L E S S E D L O V E D I N S P I R E E N C O U R A G E D

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Many thanks to all the creators who give of their time and talents to the magazine every month. You are appreciated!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace" (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

Life’s Celebration by Reginal G. Lyerly ​ oday, we talk about life. Life is precious and fragile.

T The ones we love are only with us for a time. Make the most of this time. Make memories where they can be made. Yes, we won’t agree with everything our loved ones do. Absolutely, people are doing to make their decisions about what to do with their lives. ​The fact remains that we are only here for a limited period of time. We all are limited editions in the eyes of our Creator. We were made to be a blessing, a lesson and sometimes both. Never forget the people who make an indelible impact on your life. Let them know when you can and while you still can. ​ any people don’t speak to their friends or loved M ones for many years at a time. So much time passing.

Every second that we can’t back. A cherished memory that could have been created. We can’t let pride get in the way of the love we should share with others. After all, God never withheld love from any of us. Even in the toughest times, He will be there when loved ones will take their last breath. When we have the image still fresh in our minds. When we have memories etch in our psyches. Ask yourself these questions: Where did the time go? What is the best way to make the most of the time left? On the grander scheme of things, is that difference of opinion or disagreement really going to matter after the last day your loved one is called on to Glory. I would hope answers would be: 1- Time files and can’t waste a second. 2- I’ll make the most of every minute and treat it like my last one. 3- Those petty arguments based on principle will not replace the time that I could have spent telling and showing you how much I love you. We are still on earth but time great solace that one day will make again. AMEN.

Live Life to Its Fullest WRITTEN BY: ANITA FORD

Many will look at your appearance and think you have a perfect life, but they don't know your story. They don't the amount of times the enemy has tried to destroy you and your family. They don't know the trials you've walked through victoriously because the Lord has never left your side. We were never designed to be perfect.

None of us have a perfect life and if we try to achieve perfection, we are going to fail. We were designed to allow the struggles we've been through to always leads us to the cross. When we are weak, He's strong. What a mighty God we serve!

APPLE OF HIS EYE

WRITTEN BY: CAROLYN FORD

It's important to love yourself, but it's also just as important to pour into others. You are a beautiful vessel. You are crafted with the workmanship of the most high God who makes no mistakes. And, the beautiful thing about it all is, He calls you the apple of His eye. Life is too short to live in the shadow of mistakes or the expectations of others. Live fully.Forgive.Most of all, believe that you have a purpose on this earth and that purpose is to make a difference in the lives of others.

MENTAL HEALTH GEMS

Classyandchic Gems Magazine

​ riority vs. Option P By Reginal G. Lyerly I​ n life, we are expected to have a set of priorities. We ask ourselves “What are priorities?”.

In the simplest of terms, priorities are the things or people most important to us. The word priority derives from the Latin word “prioritas” meaning first in rank, order and/or dignity.

Many prioritize a good decent lifestyle over what would be considered a debaucherous one. We prioritize our loved ones getting a good education or vocation over not making the most of those opportunities. People of faith prioritize their relationship with their higher power and the impact of the relationship in everything they do. Men and women prioritize the people in their lives who are the most important to them. Many of us prioritize being able to earn a sufficient financial amount over not being able to do so.

Priorities are set by every nation, company, university, political party, group, club or any individual. A great example of this is any legislature at every level possible. Those priorities are set on what the populace regards as priorities in their lives. This could be better roads, better healthcare and so many other things.

We talk about priorities. What are options? An option can be best defined as something that one can choose to do in preference to one or more alternatives. Most of us use the word “choices”. We are often taught in life to never make options what should be priorities.

In today’s world, we are often faced with competing priorities. For some people, the pressure to provide for the household may be compete with an equally important priority of spending time with the loved ones. For others, this may mean considering themoral/ethical responsibility to do something as it competes with the legal responsibility to do something else.

We often have the decision making power to keep a priority as it should be and to keep an option as a choice. What we must be careful about in this area is not falling from grace from things that should never happen in the first place. The reality is that we as humans can temporarily lose sight of our priorities. Once we discover that we have lost sight, then we shall get back on course in the quickest manner possible. For some things we will not know until we learn them. The late Doctor Maya Angelou famously stated “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Time Written byAnita Ford

God gives us time and a community to navigate through the trials and tribulations life brings our way. You do not have to walk through life alone. But, one of the hardest parts about developing a sense of community is being vulnerable to someone else. Getting to know someone new may seem hard at first, but you never what God has in store for you by developing new a friendship.

Speaking of faithful friends, one of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Jesus Healing and Forgiving the Paralytic. Back in Jesus’ day the people came from all over to hear Jesus preach. Imagine a massive crowd of people who came hungry to receive the word, but they were all inside a one or two room home. Since the architecture of homes was different in Jesus’ day, what a wonderful sight it must’ve been to see many people praising God despite the space of the building in which He was preaching. The news traveled all around and the people had heard of all the miracles Jesus was performing. The people were eager to enter a new phase of their lives and they knew Jesus could help them.

Many people came to see Jesus so they could be set free of illnesses they had suffered from for many years. Right there in the middle of these wonderful souls seeking healing,we see a group of faithful friends who want to see their friend healed. What I love most about this story is the friends saw all of the obstacles in their way, and they could’ve given up, but they chose to find a way. The friends knew there was no way they would be able to reach Jesus through the main floor of the building.

But, through faith and determination, the men decided to lower their friend down through the roof. Back in Jesus’ day the roofs were made of mud and leaves. Imagine the men digging their way through to make a hole in the roof so they would be able to lower their friend down to Jesus. In this moment, I can’t fathom how much gratitude the man must’ve possessed for his friends. They could’ve easily given spoke doubt into the situation, but they continued to move forward knowing that Jesus was going to heal their paralyzed friend. I believe it’s one thing to say you have faith, but something wonderful happens when you put faith into action. The rest of the story continues and true paralyzed man is healed and forgiven, but Jesus is also in awe of the faith his friends expressed during this time.

So, what do your friendships look like? Are they surface level? Are they deep? Are they making more deposits than withdrawals? Are you willing to be a listening ear instead of a vessel filled with advice? Dig deep in your relationships. I encourage you to pray for your friends and family. The truth is, a lot of people you’re doing life with will not tell you everything they’re going through, and that’s where taking the time listen to the people you love comes into action. We are blessed to do life alongside many amazing people. My prayer is that you always realize every single person on this earth is a gift from God.

I believe life is filled with moments that shake you to the core and point you to the cross. And, right there in the middle of it all, if you’re blessed to be surrounded by people who support you, pray for you and believe in you… Don’t take them for granted.

There's something incredibly special about the way that God shows you your purpose in this life. He places a dream in your heart and allows that dream to grow until it becomes a reality.

Your dreams are given to you because you are wise enough to work hard to obtain your dreams.

Often times, the devil wants to fill your mind with fear so that you will not work towards your goals, but there is freedom and solice in Christ.

Growth is essential in this life because you are not destined to stay the same. You are meant to flourish and change the world around you. The pressure you feel around you is meant to catapult you to greatness. Don’t give up!

Writer:Carolyn Ford MILITARY FAMILY GEMS

Classyandchic Gems

HEALING WRITTEN BY: ANITA FORD

There is no one size fits all method to healing after the loss of a loved one. Surround yourself with people who get it. You will know who loves you by the way they set aside a few mins of their time to check in on a regular basis. I believe loved ones war through with you when life happens. One of the best things you can do for someone who is going through a loss is to simply listen to them. Your opinion isn’t always necessary. Sometimes silence and empathic understanding is golden. God never promised pain free lives, but He did promise us that He would never leave us no forsake us.

I love the way God is constantly teaching us to cast our cares up on him. Yet, many times, we lay things down on the altar & we pick them up again. The battle isn't ours to fight, the battle is the Lord's. Oh, how He loves us.. He loves us right where we are and right in the midst of our mess there is a message. In the midst of our suffering, God is always near.. In the midst of our pain, Healing is near.. And, most of all in the midst of failures, there is undeniable evidence that the author and finisher of our faith isn't through with us yet.

FAITH GEMS

Classyandchic Gems

Freedom Written by: Anita Ford

You can not assume you know what other people are going through. Some of the brightest, life-speaking souls are people who walk through many difficult situations alone. These people pour into the lives of others, but when life comes their way they often go through without the help others.

Just because someone isn’t vocal about their story doesn’t mean they aren’t walking through something life altering. At the end of the day, it’s our job to be a blessing to other people on a daily basis. If you can’t spread kindness, keep your words to yourself.

If you look for ways to judge and belittle others, look in the mirror and figure out why the need to be mean to others overpowers your life.

God gives us daily opportunities to love people right where they are. We are failing as a society when people can’t be authentic and share their hearts. No one should feel judged for seeking help. When you know better, you do better. ~Savedclassyandchic Therapist MENTAL HEALTH GEMS

ClassyandChic Gems Magazine

Adversity Written by: Alvin Ford,SR.

You have a purpose in this life, and your purpose isn't to be distracted by the voices of people who are against you. Your purpose is to shine inspite of adversity.Your purpose is to show the world what a true warrior looks like. You've fought to get where you are in life and no one can take away your strength. The enemy has a way of distracting people on the brink of their miracle, but you must always remember to keep your eyes on the prize. The pain you are feeling today is nothing compared to the joy that's coming! Don't give up!

FASHION GEMS

ClassyandChic Gems Magazine

“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.”-Stephen Covey ​ iversity is something that is known to bring many views, emotions, and opinions. Let’s D explore the definition and get a better understanding of it. Diversity is being mindful of all dimensions of our human differences in the broadest sense to mean the inclusion of all people without regard racial or ethnic background, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, religious, secular and spiritual beliefs, ability, age, and socioeconomic status. ​Why is diversity important? It helps us learn from each other and everyone is unique and special in their own way. There are other added benefits. Diversity enhances creativity and innovation, enables better decision making, encourages learning and personal growth, improves performance, fosters inclusivity and social cohesion, enhances adaptability and resilience, reflects and serves the needs of diverse populations, fosters economic growth, and promotes social justice and equality. ​There are four key areas of diversity: internal (related to a situation that we are born into), external (things related to a person but are not innate characteristics), organizational (differences between people in an organization) and worldview (how we conceptualize the world). ​On a most basic level, we as human beings are under the species Homo Sapiens regardless of differences. As we evolve as a species, our ability to accept each other, work with each other and sustaining meaningful collaboration also evolves.

It’s Your Time!

By: Anita Ford

One of the greatest examples in the Bible of a man who had life changing faith is David. First, David wasn’t afraid to face Goliath.

He was younger and smaller in stature, but Goliath’s intimidation tactics didn’t work on David. Second, David was confident. David’s job as a shepherd equipped him to be confident when facing Goliath. How different would things look in our lives if we entered life altering situations with a confident mindset instead of a negative mindset? Third, David was prepared, He went to fight Goliath with a slingshot and five smooth stones in hand. Turns out, David only needed one stone to defeat Goliath. Fourth, David didn’t trust in his abilities, He trusted in God. When we trust God, we know everything will work out for the good in our lives. Fifth, David turned his victories over to the Lord. He knew the battle wasn’t his. The victory in this battle would soon prove to the people the mighty power God has in our lives. David could’ve thought about all of the reasons why he couldn’t possibly defeat Goliath, but instead, David knew the Lord was with Him. It was David’s time. Nothing in this world could stop David because God had an appointment for him. If David didn’t have faith he would’ve missed his appointment.

I think what a lot of people fail to realize is that God will fight all of our battles; all we have to do is trust in Him. As people, we have situations that seem like giants in our lives. Giants of fear, sickness, condemnation, loneliness, and insecurity, but what a delight it is knowing we serve a God who never fails. God’s faithfulness in the past is the basis for our strength in the present.

David remembered God’s faithfulness and it gave him courage.

Another passage that comes to mind when facing trials and tribulations is, 1 Peter 5:10-And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. We serve a God, who is our way maker. God is our refuge and strength and our help in timesM EofN Ttrouble (Psalm 46:1).

AL HEALTH GEMS

Living Life…

Written by Anita Ford Life is a beautiful culmination of events that shake us to the core and point us to the cross.

God never promised us lives that we wouldn’t feel broken or hurt.Life looks so different this year because many people have dealt with losing a loved one, a friend or someone who meant a lot to them. And, while we know to be to absent from the body, is present with the Lord. God knew we would have times in which we weep and miss someone that was close to us.

There is nothing anyone can say to you to make you feel better about losing someone. Grief is something that comes in stages. Often times, random memories or familiar places bring back memories and pain begins to play a resounding melody in our hearts. And, the truth is, no matter how many times people tell you it’s going to get better, grief is often what reminds us that life is a gift.

So, I encourage you if you’re walking through a painful time in your life, allow yourself to feel emotions. Take time for yourself and don’t be ashamed to think of the person you lost. In time, you will be able to move forward.

Sometimes the smallest steps forward in a different direction often bring about the most healing. Rely on God and He will always see FAITH GEMS you through.

ClassyandChic Gems Magazine

“Let’s Work Together” By Reginal G. Lyerly ​Most of us say to our family or team of people “Let’s Work Together”. Let us look at the word collaboration. Collaboration comes from Latin: com-“with” + laborate “to labor or to work”. It is defined as the process of two or more people, entities or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve some kind of goal. Usually, the result is to have a shared outcome.

Some of us are interested in healthy competition. Let us look at the word competition. The Latin word for competition is “competere”. From Late Latin, the word is “competitionem”meaning rivalry or in Classical Latin “agreement”. It is defined as the action of seeking or endeavoring to gain what another is endeavoring to gain at the time.

We have the definitions of collaboration and competition well established. We often see competition where there should be collaboration and collaboration where there should be competition. Some could attribute this to one’s self worth and what they value as important. This often causes one to see those who are best for collaboration as competitors and the reverse.

The best analogy to describe type of thing is the “crab in the bucket” complex. Better known as the crab theory which is best described by the phrase “If I can’t have it, then neither can you”. The thing that is so interesting about this analogy is that there is no lid on the bucket and there is ample opportunity for everyone to leave the bucket. The only ones who don’t know it are the crabs.

In so many aspects, we should work together but compete instead. This outlook has societal origins making it much easier to enforce than to discourage unnecessary competition. Why can’t we “work together” again? The phrase and the origins illustrate why this will be an age old topic.

Restoration Gems

May our voices speak healing to those who are hurting. May we always remember if we walked in someone else's shoes, we'd handle the same battle much differently.

FAITH GEMS

ALVIN

FORD

ICLASSYANDCHICGEMS

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THERE ARE MANY COURAGEOUS WARRIORS WALKING THROUGH THIS LIFE WITH AN AMAZING TESTIMONY TO SHARE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. GOD DESIGNED US TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY.

EACH

DAY

IS

A

LEARNING

EXPERIENCE. GOD DOESN'T SEE WHO YOU USED TO BE. GOD SEES UNLIMITED POTENTIAL IN YOU AND HE WANTS YOU TO MAKE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE THAT WILL LEAD YOU TOWARDS GREATNESS.