The PathWay To Living As A Champion

BrighterLife The

FA MI LY M AG A Z I N E

LIVING LIKE JESUS IN A TROUBLED WORLD

BY KIMBERLY J

2ND EDITION

THE PAIN OF RECOVERY

BY ANTONIA A. KNOW YOUR WORTH AS A WOMAN EMMA ANSAH THE BOY, THE MAN & THE HUSBAND EVANG. EVANS JESUS STILL HEALS TODAY

BY MICHELE S DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE IN DARK TIMES

BY DANA H.

THE PATHWAY TO LIVING AS A

CHAMPION

ENTERTAINMENT | LIFESTYLE | INTERVIEW | EVENTS | ETC

Content

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KNOW YOUR WORTH AS A WOMAN

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THE PATHWAY TO LIVING AS A CHAMPION

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THE PAIN OF RECOVERY

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A JOURNEY TO HEALING PERSONAL TESTIMONY

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3 STEPS TO DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE IN DARK TIMES

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LIVING LIKE JESUS IN A TROUBLED WORLD

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL PINK CONDUCTED BY THE BRIGHTER LIFE FAMILY MAGAZINE

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UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

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LIVING HEALTHY & FULFILLING YOUR DAYS IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU.

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DECEPTION THE DEVILS TOOL

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THE BOY THE MAN AND THE HUSBAND

EDITORIAL TEAM

Clayton Varney

Emma Ansah

Antonia Williams

Dana Hagstrom

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Kimberly Jordan

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Ryan Smerber

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Editial D

ear readers, We are excited to present to you the latest issue of our Christian magazine (The Brighter Life Family Magazine). As always, we strive to provide you with compelling content that encourages and challenges you in your faith journey and work with God in building a healthy, loving and peaceful home. In this issue, we explore the theme “Living as a Champion” and how such can transform our lives for the better.

“Home for the needy foundation”, led by Pastor Solomon Folorunsho. As always, we appreciate your feedback and suggestions for future issues. We want to make sure that this magazine is a valuable resource for you, and we are committed to improving it in any way we can.

Thank you for your continued support, and we pray that you will be blessed by the content in this issue. Blessings,

We have thought-provoking articles and personal stories that illustrate the power of Living as a champion in different contexts.

We hope that as you read through these pages, you will be inspired to cultivate the spirit of a champion in your daily walk.

Also, in this edition, we had an interview with a well-known Christian author who shares his insights on Christian wealth and how to achieve success in life as believer's .

We also have a feature on a ministry that is making a positive impact in a specific community, and we invite you to support them through your prayers and donations..

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Evang. Evans Egualeona Editor-in-Chief, The Brighter Life Magazine

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KNOW YOUR

WORTH AS A

WOMAN W

e thank God for the Woman.

For if we didn't have the woman, mankind would not be in existence.

Although God created man first, he then brought forth the woman so that He can continue life's existence.

Proverbs 3:15-18 says, “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.”

A woman who knows her worth is a Godly woman. “She is diligent, and has a keen sense for business matters. She is compassionate, and she is prepared for the future. She is a good teacher, and dedicated to her family and above all else possesses the primary characteristic of biblical wisdom, and the fear of the Lord.

Her virtue shows as she shuns sinfulness.”

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many other women who followed Christ from Galilee are powerful examples of women who knew their worth. They

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taught us to be strong and present with those who are suffering, to be brave, and to not leave Jesus—even when times are challenging.

A woman with Self-worth will set r u l e s w i t h t h e i r d a u g h te r s , to perpetuate all the ways of a holy woman. Ecclesiasticus 26:10 says, “If thy daughter be shameless, keep her in straitly, lest she abuse herself through overmuch liberty.” This will teach others how to treat you. It will show others what you see in yourself, and what you expect from them.

A woman's worth is the whole of who she is. Not determined by her appearance, but by her character and actions. Women must look within themselves, not out at the world. Selflove empowers us to believe in ourselves and our abilities.

B y re co g n i z i n g o u r wo r t h a n d embracing self-confidence, we can overcome self-doubt, break free from societal expectations, and pursue our dreams and goals with resilience and determination.

Written by Emma Ansah

THE BRIGHTERLIFE MAGAZINE || PAGE 04

Pain THE

O F R E C O V E R Y

H

ave you ever walked through a situation in life that left you wondering why God would allow you to experience the hurt, pain, or even discouragement that resulted? There is no doubt that some challenges in life are the result of poor choices, disobedience, and leaning on our understanding. In life for every believer or individual, the reality is that we will walk through hardships and will experience pain. How we deal with these life challenges determines whether we will fall or use these challenges as stepping stones to a better future.

Experiencing any kind of hurt or pain is difficult for any human being whether, physical, emotional, or spiritual Studies show that emotional pain is the hardest to get over, as many put their trust in individuals that they never thought would

hurt them.

The hurt becomes so bad that they begin to question God, and their self-worth and selfesteem diminish. Everything that seemed so positive in life becomes negative. Going over and over unpleasant experiences takes a toll on their well-being. Like a scar that you pick at repeatedly, it will leave a permanent mark unless you learn how to stop.

The process of Overcoming the pain begins when you acknowledge that there is a problem or let’s just say you need to find yourself again. Our identity lies in Christ Jesus and the revelation of God’s love for us is key to overcoming any obstacle. (1 John 3:1) says it all, behold the manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we are called children of God.

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His love is so strong that his jealousy will defend us in any given situation. So even during the pain, we can humbly go to the Father surrendering the pain to him which allows him to take control so that the healing process begins. Humbling ourselves and surrendering everything before God is the beginning process.

Acknowledging there is a problem allows the individual to know and understand that it is only through God they can overcome the pain. (Proverbs 3: 5-6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and, he will direct your paths. With that acknowledgement, He the Holy Spirit begins to minister to our h ea r to n h ow to s t r a te g i c a l l y wo r k according to his will. Being uncomfortable during the process of healing is normal.

There will be times when we feel like throwing in the towel, it becomes so uncomfortable with the changes that’s taking place because we are so used to doing things our way.

Now that we’ve surrendered everything to God, he is in total control, and we need to do things his way. It means we need to wait for instructions from the Holy Spirit for the next step we need to take and that can be challenging but we are reminded of (Ephesians 40:31) Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.

Be ready to face many trials, because of your obedience of total surrender, the storms will begin to roar. The very pain you’re trying to overcome will come full circle. You will feel as if the pain is neverending or is etched in your mind playing over and over like you’re going to lose it all.

Fighting daily in the Spirit is key to eradicating those thoughts. (Ephesians 6:10-18). The Bible states that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places.

Standing firm and putting on God’s armor is our weapon, by using his word we can ward off the plots and the schemes of the enemy.

That is our only resolution. When using God’s word consistently, with time the pain will subside, but the process is not done.Knowing who you are in Christ, understanding that with him we can overcome the pain and injustices we go through. It’s time to take that bold step of faith and begin to face the very thing that kept you in bondage. Isaiah 41:13 states for I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand saying to you, Fear not I will help you. Now you have the assurance that you’re loved, at peace, and not alone, you have his peace as stated in Psalm 23, Jesus is truly our shepherd and in him we have everything we need especially joy, the joy that only Christ can give. Then we begin to see the beauty in all things, even in those who hurt us, we can forgive and even love those who hurt us.

The love that we feel now supersedes all the hurt and pain and we can move on with our lives knowing the Great Physician has done a supernatural work in us that has left us not only free and delivered but also with a testimony to help others who will go through similar situations. Overcoming through pain may be one of the hardest things we may go through, but also the most rewarding because as we allow God to work in and through us we become stronger and prepared to face trials in the future.

By Antonia Williams

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what she wanted from there, but I remember seeing a beautiful purple velvet spell book, which I was instantly attracted to. Which she bought for me. In my bedroom, I set up a blanket on my chest of drawers, light candles and incense and tried out the spells in the book.

At the time, I loved it, it was something I was in control of.

A

JOURNEY TO HEALING

Back to school, apart from the first friend I met, the rest of the girls soon got fed up of me fainting, whether that was the reason, or something else, to this day, I don't know, but suddenly they P E R S O N A L T E S T I M O N Y turned against me, they would call me names across the classroom or snigger at me in the hallways. It soon grained on me, along with my health and the exams piling up I felt really low.

Then it came to half term and I was relieved. I moved to a new school at fifteen, into year tenthe beginning of GCSE's. It was tough as I didn't thought I would try a specific spell, to have any friends and the school was more get the girls to stop. When I returned academic than what I was used to and I soon to school, after a week I realised I found out I wasn't up to the standard I should have hadn't had any more trouble from been at that time. We'd just moved house again them, I was amazed, really pleased too and I felt really alone. Though, at school, there with “my powers,” and most certainly was one girl who let me sit with her on the first day relieved! I scraped through my exams and we were instantly friends. As the term went on, and came out with five GCSEs, I made a few other friends and it became more surprisingly! bearable. Then, it began, my body began fainting; I would just blackout, sometimes two to four times I made it to college where I studied a week or two or more times a day, something was Performing Arts and this was where I going on, but even the doctors didn't know what met my partner. After I finished college we went to work as RedCoats was going on. at Butlins holiday park. We were both My mum taught me to meditate and one day she doing well in the auditions but when took me to a spiritualist church, she also did tarot they learnt we were a couple we card readings with me. One day we were in one of found out they won't take couples on. the shops in the Brighton lanes. I can't remember They accepted him and I went in as part of the catering. He would work

I

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then party with the redcoats. Then I discovered he was with another woman. I quickly felt very alone and quickly became depressed. I felt like I was in my own bubble and walked around the chemists and bought many packets of paracetamol. On returning I went to the bathroom and swallowed the lot. On my dae i went for a walk and bumped into my partner.

He saw I wasn't well and so I told him. I spent the night at the hospital and had to drink charcoal. A day or 2 later I was discharged and my mum came and got me. A few months later we got back together and I decided to move in with him. We had our daughter in 2023.

In 2004, we were in a pub and an older gentleman approached our table, he was telling me things about myself he shouldn't have known, he then began talking about witchcraft, he had his own coven and asked me to join, I was excited and took his number.

Anyway, that night without my knowledge, my partner called our window cleaner, a Christian, (though my partner wasn't a Christian himself) who came round quite quickly that evening, I learnt later. That night we spoke for ages, well, he spoke, I was quite defensive and pretty irritated by him! But in the middle of a video on creation, it felt like I had had a light bulb turn on inside me and I knew that I was sinful and that Jesus had died for me and I needed to repent and turn to him! I said the sinner's prayer, with the guidance of the window cleaner, and immediately knew I had to get rid of my rune stones and spell books. After he'd left, I stayed awake until 3am, filled with the Holy Spirit and writing my first Christian poem (seen in the next section).

In 2007 we tried for our second child, I became pregnant then miscarried. Later on I became pregnant again then in 2008, my son was born.

The relationship with my husband became rocky; he was an addict and I was clearly codependent (not that i realised at the time!)

There were affairs too and eventually I had enough. I literally “woke up” one day and finally realised that staying together was affecting the kids and not helping them, as I had let myself believe. I asked him to leave and I filed for

divorce. My family & church we're incredibly supportive and understanding. They were my rock and so was Jesus!

Then in 2016 I began working for a local Christian charity, where we took services into care homes, I coordinated 52 teams in the local vicinity, organised events and led services and prayer meetings. I absolutely loved it!

The fainting had been on and off since I was 15, undergoing test after test at the hospital but apart from having very low blood pressure they didn't really know what was happening and why. The in between stages didn't give quite enough time for me to take driving lessons (as had to be faint free for three years before getting into a car) but in 2018 I got my provisional licence, took lessons, passed my test and bought my first car, everything was finally falling into place, kids were happier, I was enjoying my job and now I was finally driving! My walk with God over the years just became better and better, He was my friend, my guide, my companion as well as my saviour. In the darker times he was my comforter and in the good times he was there with me.

I was studying mental health as part of the health and social care degree I studied with the Open University. Then during prayers one day God had put on my heart to raise awareness of mental health in Christians and to write on how to help Christians in improving their health and wellbeing, over the next year and a half I began making notes, I had notes on my laptop, in a notebook and on my phone, which I'd made as and when He prompted me.

Then in March 2019, it happened again, I dropped my daughter's P.E kit to school, popped to the supermarket and was driving home and I came over feeling spaced out and dizzy. I pulled up by the side of the road, ate a packet of crisps and sunk a bottle of water then made it

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home. As I was coming up the stairs to the flat with the shopping a neighbour stopped to chat and as we were the feeling came over me again and before I could do anything about it, I was unconscious on the floor, but instead of reviving, getting up and continuing with my day, as I can occasionally do, I kept blacking out, an ambulance was called and I was taken to hospital, I spend almost a week on the cardiology ward. From being discharged I spent the next year fainting so regularly, I had to go on sick leave from work and was told by doctors and the DVLA not to drive. I had yet more tests done and, in July 2019, finally, the cardiologist had given me a diagnosis, Neurocardiogenic syncope (which is to do with low blood pressure, having a bradycardic and occasionally irregular, heart rate and the signals from there to the brain not doing what it's supposed to). But the words he said to me is what stuck, “There is no cure or treatment for it”. My heart sank, and I cried. A lot! This began the start of the depression again and soon I was on antidepressants and was referred for counselling and CBT. I was stuck indoors, not being able to get out because of the syncope. My daughter was helping me whenever I had episodes and was cooking and cleaning. It was a dark time and I began self- harming. Looking back, I realised it was something I could be in control of, as everything else was totally out of my control, it was horrid, I couldn't do anything to stop the fainting, I couldn't help my daughter and I couldn't do things a mum should be able to do, I missed driving them to school, parents' evenings, I couldn't do what mums are supposed to do and I hated it, everything was out of my control and that was the only thing that gave that to me. Though I was ashamed of it and hid it from everyone. I withdrew from family and friends, I wanted to be on my own and yet I felt so alone.

Days turned into weeks and weeks to months, eventually I became fed up of feeling the way I was. I wasn't feeling particularly close to Jesus at the time, but started talking to Him again just small prayers like, "Help me Lord, I'm fed up with feeling like this." Within a few weeks I began listening to some worship music again.

Then another week or two later, a book from my large Christian collection, which I hadn't touched for ages, jumped out at me, literally. What an eye opener it was; it spoke of how I was feeling, like it was written for me! It made me realise that I didn't have to feel bad about how I was feeling but also helped to acknowledge and recognise what I was feeling, eliminate shame and improved my relationship with God, Wow! As the weeks went on, I carried on listening to worship music, prayed more and more and ploughed through the book. She explained that in order to receive healing we needed to break through denial, as David did.

I'd finally reached the point that that is what I wanted too. I was ready to accept my pain and difficulties and wanted release from it. At this realisation I literally cried out to God, bawling my eyes out, I was asking Him to release me and relieve me from the darkness.

Over the next week, I began to reach out to my family and a few close friends from church. I admitted self- harming to one friend and asked for prayer. There were a lot of tears, it was hard enough to admit that I had a problem myself, but saying it out loud was another thing! But she was supportive and prayerful.

Anyway, the day we were due to drive up to the site she asked if we wanted to go along to her church first before we left. I felt ready to go to church again.

After the service we went forward for prayer. I asked them to pray for the Neurocardiogenic syncope. As they prayed, I followed along and agreed in my heart. Then I felt I was going to fall, without a moment's notice I was on the floor, but It wasn't the usual, I wasn't unconscious. I heard the lady going on to pray for any negative emotions I was experiencing; I hadn't mentioned anything like that to her! When they'd finished, I felt such a sense of relief, peace and freedom, I just knew I was healed! In

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the weeks and months to come I realised the syncope hadn't been healed but the toxic emotions definitely had! No more, did I feel that despair, lack of control or the darkness that I previously had. Thank you, Lord! Since then I've had circumstances, including the NCS episodes, that would have usually sent me to that mindset of despair, but the Lord has kept me strong and in His peace.

The Lord has also asked me to and guided me to write. I write on Christianity and m e n t a l h ea l t h , w h i c h i n c l u d e s my experiences and how I overcame these in order to help others. I blog at www.mindfulofchrist.net and in 2021 published ' 'Christian based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

I asked a friend to be 'a guinea pig' for CBCBT, she was an A + student and as a result came her testimony and another two people I went through the book with on zoom. Then during a prayer meeting I heard God say to me to work 1:1 with people, I didn't know what this looked like and I began pushing at doors, then coaching came along and the door flung open wide!

Around this time I saw an ad for this American couple who ran a Christian group coaching program, beginning with a free week's challenge. I joined then took them on as my coaches. Along with my own personal growth and relationship with God, do the day, everything aligned, the scriptures I read in my Bible study and alone time with God, sermons I heard, and through the coaching programme- it all fit! I soon signed up to an Accredited coaching programme and added it to my website. I was still physically unwell with the NCS but my mental health had greatly improved and my relationship with God was growing quickly. I loved spending time with Him and getting to know Him more and more.

Through the coaching programme, I ended up creating and hosting my own summit based around Romans 12:2- Be transformed by renewing your mind. I had 9 speakers over 2 days. People signed up and it was incredible. A few months later my

keynote speaker, who lived in Oklahoma, asked me if I would host an event with Him if He came over to London. I said I'd pray about it and let Him know. At this time I still couldn't leave the flat on my own, and hadn't for 3 and a half years. A month later I had a live interview. At the end of it the interviewer said that she could see me on a platform sharing my story and this message then the interview ended. I hadn't mentioned anything to do with speaking to her and so I sent her a Whatsapp message asking why she said that. She responded with “God asked her to begin prophesying over her interviewees a few months ago and had given her the vision. Wow! The following day during prayer I felt God say to me to message the keynote speaker and say “yes” I would. I had no idea how it would happen. Then in November 2021, I was on a summit weekend with my coaches and I had a moment to share all this with them. I found myself saying “but I don't know how this will even happen as I can't even get out of my flat, but I trust God for healing.”

It was the first time in 24 years I ever said this!

Then the 270 people on the call prayed for me. Over the next few months my health improved and the anxiety reduced. In January 2021,'' Indestructible Faith- Prayers & Prompts for journaling was published.

Then in February I began leaving the flat on my own again. I took a wheelchair with me and wore a thick winter hat, in case I had an episode. Then one day, I was getting on a bus across town to visit a friend. On the return journey another woman on the bus said to me “who's the wheelchair for?” I replied “for me.” she then asked “what's wrong with you?” I said “Neurocardiogenic Syncope” (tho at this time i hadn't had an actual episode for 7 months) She then asked me if i was a christian.

I said I was and she came over to me. She said “You know it's finished, right? Jesus on the cross, he died for you and it's finished, by His stripes you are healed, you don't need that chair anymore, don't look back, look forwards.” Then we prayed and she got off

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the bus! I was totally blown away and since that day, I no longer take the wheelchair with me or wear the hat, the anxiety disappeared and I havn;t had an episode!

Praise the Lord! He is our healer. He healed and broke those physical, emotional and spiritual chains that I had, over the years sin ce that day of resubmittin g an d surrendering. ''Breaking Chains is also now published and became number 1 in 7 categories in September 2022. Then in 2023 we won the 1st place Award for Bipolar Brave Awards 2023 for our YouTube channel.

We are just about to launch Mindful of Christ Academy and our first online course,' REIGNITE Your Life With Christ.' Praise the Lord!

It's been an incredible journey and I continue to enjoy each and every day with Him, learning more about Him and His will. I now tell this story for His glory and help and encourage others for God's Kingdom too!

Amen!

Lauren Roskilly

Full Testimony Christian Coach, Speaker, Author Mindful of Christ Ministries WHAT WE OFFER: We offer customized publishing services to authors who want to bring their ideas to life. Our team of professionals will guide you through the entire process, from manuscript editing to book cover design and printing. We understand that every author has unique needs and we strive to provide personalized solutions that meet those needs.

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3 STEPS TO

DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE IN DARK TIMES

Have you ever asked yourself, “What am I doing here?” or “What does God want me to do now?”

We are living in frighteningly scary times. There is a darkness that seems to be blanketing the earth, snuffing out all that is familiar. Like never before, it's not a popular time to be a follower of Christ. Take heart because the light of Christ can never be extinguished!

The path we take to find our purpose in these dark times is the same as it has always been.

We may just need to be more diligent in following these steps: Pray, Listen, and Follow.

Pray Psalm 57:2: “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” The psalmist gives us the first clue. Our purpose comes from God and God alone. We need to approach the source, our Creator and ask him. Your conversation prayer seeking his wisdom will be heard and fulfilled.

Listen Psalm 37:7: “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;” Too often we say our prayers and then pack up and move on. How many times do you simply wait, stopping to listen for God's response? Maybe you've never heard God's voice. But you've seen him in action, orchestrating the beauty of spring or an enchanting sunset.

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Follow John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” I love the image of being a sheep that trusts the shepherd so completely. In our relationship with Jesus, we need to trust him and follow. We've prayed and listened, and now it's time to put into action what we need to live out our purpose.

God has designed each of us to serve him with our gifts, that is, with what lights us up. That design remains the same whether our world is full of darkness or not. Imagine God's delight when you're able to shut out the lies of the world and all the diverse messages and focus only on him. Don't be swept away by confusion. God's will for your life is closer than you think—it's just hard to see through all the clouds of darkness that are descending. It's time for Christians to be vigilantly seeking the truth and trust in God's provision.

Are you living your purpose? What are your next action steps?

By Dana Hagstrom

Freelance Copywriter, Author, International Speaker living as Missionary in Mexico, Getting the Word of God Back Into People's Hands & Hearts

JESUS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

“...a greater than solomon is here” -MATTHEW 12:42

MICHEAL PINK

IN JESUS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS You will learn far more than just sales and business as you begin to apply God's Word to your life, job & business.

There are over 180 videos AND 160 audio lessons contained in 30 courses and that list is growing weekly! Every week, I will be adding to the God's Best Kept Secrets course until we complete all 101 chapters, so be sure to check back regularly for new "activation videos" which are meant to help you activate what you will be learning.

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LIVING LIKE

JESUS IN A TROUBLED WORLD

Before we close, let us read John 16:33 again but in a different translation, The Passion, which reads as, “And everything I've taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!”

How encouraging! Let us remember this verse, to live confidently in peace.

Knowing for sure, He that lives inside of you is greater than he (or anything) you will face in “I have told you these things, so that in me this world. Even if it appears difficult with you may have peace. In this world you will our eyes, for we truly are not to walk by sight have trouble. But take heart! I have but by faith in His Spirit. All of this is overcome the world.” – John 16:33 NIV possible if we abide in Him.

These wise words of truth written in the gospel of John say it all. As a believer and Christian it gets tough to live like Jesus in a troubled world like today. But take heart, our answer is in this verse.

Kimberly Jordan – Daughter of the Most High King, Writer, Journalist, Mixed Media Christian Prophetic Artist - @KimsHeartArt, Photographer, Graphic Designer for Social Media content, and Homeschool Mom

The key words in this scripture are, “In me you may have peace”. Abide in Him. Ask Him in prayer. Seek Him, His Kingdom, and His Righteousness first. This is what we need, His peace to overcome this world we live in. If you chose not to abide in Him you will not experience this peace. Which means a relationship with Jesus is vital; for truly He is the way, the truth, and the life.

So, here are some questions to ask yourself as you seek God for a heart search. Are you truly seeking Him? Do you have a prayer life? Are you taking time out of your day to read His word? Asking the Lord questions like, what are you trying to inform me of today? If you answered 'No' on any of these you may want to re-evaluate asking Jesus for help.

By Kimberly Jordan

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INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL PINK CONDUCTED BY

THE BRIGHTER LIFE FAMILY MAGAZINE

Evang. Evans Egualeona

TOPIC

Michael Pink Guest

Moderator

HOW TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN BUSINESS AS A BELIEVER

Introduction Michael Pink: I just want to say, I highly commend you for what you are doing Evans. It's a big work, I am sure it's a bit challenging for you and I am just really proud of you.

Moderator: thank you sir! I really appreciate what you just said. It's an honor to reach out to you and I count it a great privileged to be granted the audience to conduct this interview with you sir. It is much appreciated Michael Pink: let's get to it. I will be so willing to be of help to you in every way I can all through this interview.

Moderator: first of all, I will like to ask you some personal questions. I have read a lot about you

and your amazing testimonies which I consider thought provoking and motivating. I will begin by asking you to kindly tell us a little about yourself & your achievements.

Michael Pink: I was born in Canada, I grew up there. I became a Christian round about my 18th birthday. It was a dramatic story; I feel asleep at the wheel while I was driving a car across the mountains and drove off a cliff at 85miles an hour and it was on scaled that we bounced down the mountain side and someone told me that God has a plan for my life; he must have and that intrigued me and ultimately I came into a relationship with Jesus Christ within a few months of that and began to grow and I had this desire to ultimately do business and I got into sales at an early age.

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for my life; he must have and that intrigued me and ultimately I came into a relationship with Jesus Christ within a few months of that and began to grow and I had this desire to ultimately do business and I got into sales at an early age.

and please allow me to be a part of what you are doing. I want to be a part of what you are doing instead of asking you to be a part of what I am doing “. It is better to be a part of what God is doing than asking him to be a part of what you are doing.

At age nineteen I began selling life insurance afterward I started selling copiers but what I found Evans, is that if you want to become a mechanic, there is a school you can go to or a training you can get that will tell you how to replaces parts and so forth but if you want to be on sales, there is not much about that and that which is available, many times is not a Godly way of doing things and as a Christian I wanted to know about “God how do you do things? and so I go to the bookstore looking for something that will teach me how to succeed in a business environment and starting off with in sales, and I couldn't find one thing, one resource at all in any bookstore I went to that was from a biblical prospective , this goes back into the 1970's.

So I kind of try to learn it out, and back in 1986 I moved to the United States and I got a job again in sales selling copiers and the thing is, this is important for your listeners to know because before I moved to the United States, my last job was selling copiers in the city of Toronto Canada and I didn't do very well because I barely made a living. So when I came to the United States I was driving through the city of Nashville Tennessee, a big city in the center of the South East of the United States, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, pointing out a building to me, he said “that's where you are going to work”.

God told me to go back to that place and s o I we n t ba ck to t h a t p l a ce t h a t represented my failure. I went back to that and I applied and I got a job in a rural area and the thing is because I was concern on how I am going to make a living from a job I once did poorly at, I had to open my bible, they told me Evans in this business, this is i m p o r t a n t f o r yo u r v i e w s to n o te , statistically speaking in the industry I was in, for every 4 or every 5 companies that you would demonstrate your equipment to, you were expected to make one sale.

The national average was 1 out of 4. I already understand those numbers and they told me they expect me to make 6 sales in my first 90days.

I was new to town, I looked at the building I didn't know what it was. I saw the name by the side, it didn't mean a thing to me and then I saw that they were a copier distributor and I said to “God I don't want to sell copiers” because I never did well at it but one thing I have learnt is “I want to go where God's favor is” and this a very important thing, I want to drive this message home, I heard Pat Robison said this recently, he probably said it all his life but I heard it recently that his prayer was “show me where you are working

The problem was they asked me to sell 1 out of 10, which means they are expecting me to failure 3 out of 4 times, and I said to myself, what farmer plants 4 rows of corn and prays to God that just 1 of them comes out up, and so I opened up my bible and I said I am going to study in here and I am going to find strategies, principles, tactics and technics from Gods word because if he called me into this job and told me to come work here when I did not want to work, he must have a way for me to succeed and so I am going to go into the word of God and look for and see where I can find it and I did from Proverb 3 where it says to bind mercy and truth around your neck and write them at the tablet of your heart and you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and also in the sight of man.

When my manager asked me what my goals are, I told him I want to sell 1 out of 1 and when he heard that he felt he had made the worse hiring the entre life of his career and so I told God I wanted that and

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At age nineteen I began selling life insurance afterward I started selling copiers but what I found Evans, is that if you want to become a mechanic, there is a school you can go to or a training you can get that will tell you how to replaces parts and so forth but if you want to be on sales, there is not much about that and that which is available, many times is not a Godly way of doing things and as a Christian I wanted to know about “God how do you do things? and so I go to the bookstore looking for something that will teach me how to succeed in a business environment and starting off with in sales, and I couldn't find one thing, one resource at all in any bookstore I went to that was from a biblical prospective , this goes back into the 1970's. So I kind of try to learn it out, and back in 1986 I moved to the United States and I got a job again in sales selling copiers and the thing is, this is important for your listeners to know because before I moved to the United States, my last job was selling copiers in the city of Toronto Canada and I didn't do very well because I barely made a living. So when I came to the United States I was driving through the city of Nashville Tennessee, a big city in the center of the South East of the United States, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, pointing out a building to me, he said “that's where you are going to work”.

I was new to town, I looked at the building I didn't know what it was. I saw the name by the side, it didn't mean a thing to me and then I saw that they were a copier distributor and I said to “God I don't want to sell copiers” because I never did well at it but one thing I have learnt is “I want to go where God's favor is” and this a very important thing, I want to drive this message home, I heard Pat Robison said this recently, he probably said it all his life but I heard it recently that his prayer was “show me where you are working and please allow me to be a part of what you are doing. I want to be a part of what you are doing instead of asking you to be a part of what I am doing “. It is better to be a part of what God is doing than asking him to be a part of what you are doing.

God told me to go back to that place and so I went back to that place that represented my failure. I went back to that and I applied and I got a job in a rural area and the thing is because I was concern on how I am going to make a living from a job I once did poorly at, I had to open my bible, they told me Evans in this business, this is important for your views to note, statistically speaking in the

industry I was in, for every 4 or every 5 companies that you would demonstrate your equipment to, you were expected to make one sale. The national average was 1 out of 4. I already understand those numbers and they told me they expect me to make 6 sales in my first 90days.

The problem was they asked me to sell 1 out of 10, which means they are expecting me to failure 3 out of 4 times, and I said to myself, what farmer plants 4 rows of corn and prays to God that just 1 of them comes out up, and so I opened up my bible and I said I am going to study in here and I am going to find strategies, principles, tactics and technics from Gods word because if he called me into this job and told me to come work here when I did not want to work, he must have a way for me to succeed and so I am going to go into the word of God and look for and see where I can find it and I did from Proverb 3 where it says to bind mercy and truth around your neck and write them at the tablet of your heart and you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and also in the sight of man.

When my manager asked me what my goals are, I told him I want to sell 1 out of 1 and when he heard that he felt he had made the worse hiring the entre life of his career and so I told God I wanted that and he did it for me. Evans I had an excellent result at the end of it all. In 90days it was 1 out of 1 and I finished the year setting the record of the most sold with a 90percent closing rate. I was at the end made the manager over a team of 5 that was struggling and it was an awesome experience.

The beautiful part of all this was that at the end I led most of them to Jesus Christ.

Few years after working there, I started another business after God gave me the ok to do so which at the end I did poorly at because I found out that being good in sales is not enough.

T h e re a re o t h e r fa c to rs t h a t m u s t b e considered that was missing. So as I was praying and struggling to make ends meet, and all was difficult at that time, I was at church one Sunday and the pastor in 1988 on a Sunday night he said just sought of randomly in the middle of the sermon 'instead of asking God to bless what you are doing why not you ask God what he is blessing and do that”, that

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statement strike a cord and I thought hmm, so I bowed my head right there as he kept preaching and I said “Lord what are you blessing ? So he spoke to my heart and he said Psalms 68:11 and it quotes “the Lord gave the word and great was the company of them that published it”

believing Him}. Success to me is your total obedience to Jesus, believing him in and doing what he says. That's success!

Moderator: My next question is; what are the crucial business questions every business owner should ask himself before embarking I never noticed that verse of scriptures before and I on a business for profit & success? said Lord are you saying you want me to publish a book? I don't know anything about publishing, I Michael Pink: don't know anything about that but Lord if that's Well I will begin by saying first of all, you seek what you want me to do, I will do it. And so one day the Lord about it, to have his peace and then I went for a walk and I had an idea to write a book from a business prospective there are few which I finally wrote and self-published and sold questions you need to ask; over 25,000 copies which is impossible with man.

These books became a bestselling Christian book 1. Is th ere pain? Is th e market pla ce of all time. Now I am a trainer and a business experiencing a kind of pain that I can solve? Is consultant working for a lot of companies round there a need out there that can be met? If the the world. I have written over twenty books. The business you are doing doesn't have any of bible says that the secret of the Lord are with those this, that business will never be profiting. that fears him and this my friend is my secret 2. You should ask yourself should be; is there any desire for this product or service?

Moderator: Your testimony sir, are mind blowing and all of the brief history shared are thought provoking; this brings us to the second 3. Can the people in that pain or having the question which you have extensively answered desire for my product or services afford my while you were answering the first question which services? Or is it met for a selected individuals? was, How long have you been in the business world & can you be referred to as a business coach? 4. How do I find those people? How do I locate them? This is where advert placement comes If yes why? into play. The power of advertising your You elaborated extensively on that during the first product or services should never be ignored. question you answered and from what you said it Top companies spend a lot in this area, that's can be conclude that you have been in the why they grow. How do I target my audience business world for over 40 years with lots of and how do I get my work to them. ex p e ri e n ce a n d a ch i eve m e n t s a n d I c a n confidently say that you are indeed a business coach. Let's move on to the third question What does it mean to be successful as a business person from your perspective?

Michael Pink: Thank you for asking that question.

The first element that is important to me is '' am I working where he is working? Am I joining him in his work or am I trying to get him join me in mine?

If am doing my thing because I think it's a good idea but he is not in it, it's entirely possible that I could have a big business but completely miss the purpose and plan of God for my life and at the end of the day fail in that purpose.

5. The last question should be, is the business a growing business.

These are the question you should ask for profiting and success in business.

Moderator: My next question is like a follow up question and it says, should a believer in Christ be involved in any kind of business or are there specific businesses we are expected to engage in?

Michael Pink: Well to answer your question on the surface I would say No. for example prostitution is legal in some countries and it's a business but that's not a good business. So to Success in business is simply doing business Gods answer your question I would say no. Any way and doing what he instruct you to do. It is business that does not glorify God, or cause finding Gods will for your life and committing harm to the society is not a good business. yourself to doing that. That's where prosperity Moderator: My next question says, what are truly dwells {in total obedience to God and the biblical principles (secrets) to success in

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business a believer should engage with for profiting & success as in the case of Job in the Bible? We can call it steps to a successful business for a believer in Christ. Like in the case of Job in the book of Job 36 Michael Pink: Great question; I am going to break it down in a couple of different ways. First of all I love the reference you gave concerning Job, where Job talked about the secret of the Lord was upon his tabernacle. The tabernacle of God {I call it the divine blue print} consist of three areas. If anybody will follow these principles, he definitely will do very well in business.

The tabernacle of God had three cour ts, the outer cour ts, the inner courts and the holy of holies. The outer court was an open area illuminated by natural day light; it speaks of natural observable best practices. Anybody can learn it, Christians and nonChristian alike. It has to do with man coping man.

Now there are three level of increase. Level one has to do with the 30 fold increase, level two is the 60 fold while level three is the 100 fold. Level one has more to do with the outer court practice, while in level two which has to do with the inner court, there the atmosphere is illuminated by the Spirit of God. The outer court tells you, you should do this or that but the inner court teaches you how to do it. You can find more of this in my book “Gods best kept secrets”. Lack of character, leads to lack of trust. So character development is key. Finding out how God does things is another key component, you do this by investing in your brain and having a vision. And then the holy of holies is simply engaging every word revealed to you by God. This brings about the 100 fold increase.

Moderator: Let look at the next question which says why are most small business owners not succeeding in business? & what is the way out?

Michael Pink: Well thank you very much for that question Evans. One of the big issues I see is sometimes a lot of people want to get into business that has little or no demand or a higher amount of interest.

The second reason people fail in business is because they don't get in front of their potential customers, most of them don't do marketing or advert for their business and expect their business to succeed, that won't happen. Some build without been consistent in marketing. So these are some issues that causes most business to fold up. People fail because they don't know stuff. If you don't invest in your brain, you end up in pain. So it's important to invest in your knowledge.

And lastly you have to do follow-up at all time in your marketing, for you to be successful.

Moderator: My last question for today is; what principles are those not of the same faith applying that we as believers ought to apply that we aren't applying?

Michael Pink: Well I will answer it this way. I don't think success in business is actually a difficult thing to achieve. For example Amazon is a big and successful business and one of the principles they apply is by simplifying the process that will make it easier for you to purchase their products or services. The bible talked about making things simple and I feel that's one of the principles they apply. People of different faith apply most times biblical principles. Consistency and diligence I would say is key.

Moderator: we have been on with Mr. Michael Pink, one of Gods generals in the business world in our society today. Thank you so much sir for granting us the audience. For a full download of this interview visit Michael Pinks YouTube page.

To attend his school, you can sign up at Jesusschoolofbusiness.com. You can also purchase his books online from his page at Michaelpink.com

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Love

Undstanding theLanguage of

By Evang. Evans Egualeona

L

ove is a universal language that is accepted and expressed in different ways by individuals all over the world. It is both a display of emotions and act that is expressed in a variety of ways, depending on the culture, history, belief and traditions of a people. The Language of love is a way by which individuals are able to communicate their feelings or affections to their loved ones.

According to a concept created by Dr. Gary Chapman, there are five love languages that is commonly and generally accepted by the majority in society today namely; words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch but the question is, are there more to these languages than just these five languages listed here, or are we just been restricted in our communication of love based on Dr Gary Chapman's ideologies.

right even when acceptable by the majority in society. Am I in any way debunking Dr. Gary's findings or school of thoughs on this subject of love languages?

Certainly Not. Am I in agreement with his idealogy of the love languages mentioned above? I would say yes with a pinch of salt & my reasons will be stated as we proceed in this article. The facts can be deceptive most at times if not properly checked

The question now is ; Are words of affirmation, physical touch, act of service, giving of gifts and spending quality time, truly love languages? or are there more to these languages yet to be understood or discovered than just these five made m e n t i o n e d o f ? To h a v e a b e t t e r understanding of this, we must first understand what the words "Love" and " Language" means in other for us to have a The fact that the majority embraces a school comprehensive overview. of thought or a certain narrative/believe system, doesn't necessarily make it true or What is Love?

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Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. It's true defination is much more than a spontaneous overflow of emotions and feelings, to a display of character and personality. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us a clear defination of love in it's true nature and form, with all characters listed, ranging from patience, kindness, to selflessness, humility and the likes.

even a gentle touch on the hand can convey a message of love and affection but most times abused because of its sensitivity. In some cultures, such as in the Middle East, physical touch is considered an important expression of love and is shown between friends and family members of the same sex.

Words are also an important language of love in his concept. Expressions of love through poetry, letters, and spoken words can be powerful and moving. In some What is a language ? cultures, such as Japan, love is expressed A language is the principal method of human through actions rather than words as it is communication, consisting of words used in considered inappropriate to express love a structured and conventional way and in words. conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture. It is a system of communication used by a Gift-giving which is another language of particular country, people or community, as a l ove i n D r G a r y ' s c o n c e p t o f l ove way of expression weither undstood by others languages, crosses cultural and social or not. boundaries. A thoughtful gift can convey a message of love and appreciation for What then is a Love Language? The term someone. In some cultures, such as in love language refers to the way that a person South Korea, gift-giving is an integral part prefers to express love to—and receive it of expressing love and affection. from—a partner or loved one. It is an act of Acts of service are a language of love that communication of love in the best way is often overlooked but can be just as preferable by the individual professing love. Is powerful. Doing something for someone, this language then, limited to just words of whether it be cooking a meal or helping affirmation, physical touch, gifts, act of with a project, can convey a message of service or quality time? Well, I would say No! love and support.

Because you can carry out all of these act and at the end fall out of touch. You can't Acts of patience is a Love language not understand something and then fail at many speaks. It is part of the love languages not mentioned by Dr Gary. It's a it"Love never fails! ( 1 Cor 13:8). language that proves the authenticity of If these are just the languages of love, why true love. A language that requires a lot of then are there still a lot of misunderstanding Understanding. in relationships as regards to love ? Why do people still doubt each other after the words In conclusion, love has many languages of affirmation, gifts and the likes? Is it that the that individuals use to express their languages are not really understood or is it deepest feelings and emotions, and not that the language is not as effective as we just limited to five languages as stated by have been taught or are they more ways Dr Gary. It is important to understand and people tend to communicate love to one appreciate the various ways in which love another but are yet to realize them? can be expressed across different cultures and traditions and it is important to also Language is an act of communication.

One of the most common and universal learn to understand the language your languages among Dr Gary's concerpt of love lover speaks . languages is physical touch. A hug, kiss, or

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LIVING HEALTHY & FULFILLING YOUR DAYS IS GOD'S WILL FOR

YOU.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. 3 John 1:2-4 As believer's we are encouraged and admonished to live a life of faith at all times but faith is not a substitute for the application of common sense and this is where most believer's of Jesus Christ fail the most. We must understand that God will never do for us what he has given us the ability to do for ourselves.

These abilities can be in the form of knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

Knowledge is knowing what to do. Wisdom is doing what you know why understanding is knowing when and how to get them done God has given to every man a level of wisdom to know what to do per time and

By Evang. Evans Egualeona

Life & Health Coach

when it comes to our health it is important for us to take care of our body and mind, for they are gifts from God given to us to be cared for. This includes eating healthy, staying active, getting enough rest, and seeking help when needed. By doing so, we are not only fulfilling God's will for us as His children but also living a fulfilling life that allows us to serve others and glorify Him. It is important to note that our health and well-being are crucial components of our spiritual journey, so it will be unwise for us to neglect them. Prioritize self-care and taking the necessary steps to maintain our physical and mental health should not be over emphasized before we engage.

This may include setting aside time for exercise, meditation, or therapy.

Additionally, it is important for us to surround ourself with positive influences and engage in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. By living a healthy and

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fulfilling life, we are better equipped to fulfilling God's purpose for our lives, and making a positive impact on those around us. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish but rather an act of obedience to God's will for your life.

Let's continue to prioritize our health and well-being by making small changes to our daily routine. This could include drinking more water, taking breaks throughout the day to stretch and move, or incorporating more fruits and vegetables into our meals. A healthy meal, enhances a healthy life. Food plays a major role in staying healthy. A proper understanding of this truth will go a long way to helping us attain longevity as promised by God. "with long life will I satisfy you". Cutting off refined sugar, starchy food, food high in carbohydrate, cholesterol and processed/junck foods are a must do for anyone that desires to live and stay healthy.Don't eat to feel pleasured, eat to stay healthy.

A proper research in foods rich in vitamins, fiber, protein and low carbs will help a great deal in this quest to avoid or even fight against chronic sickness and diseases, a major cause of death in the society at large.

Most sickness & diseases are not caused by the devil neither are they brought upon us by a witch in our village. The majority of sickness & diseases suffered by many is as a result of not eating healthy due to the plague of ignorance or even poverty ( Not having the right information of what and how to eat right). Not all death are caused by the devil nor his agents. Some are self inflicted due to carelessness and an embrace of ignorance.

Not knowing what to do has led many to doing the wrong thing Remember this, selfcare is a journey, not a destination, so it will be wise to be patient with yourself and celebrate small victories along the way. By consistently prioritizing your physical and mental health, you are not only fulfilling God's will for you but also setting an example for others to do the same. The

spiritual is as important as the physical therefore prioritizing your spiritual health by spending time in prayers and reading the Bible is a must walk. Nourishing your soul is just as important as taking care of your body and mind. Seeking guidance from God and trusting in His plan for your life should be a must focus. Remember, He wants you to live a healthy and fulfilling life, both physically and spiritually.

Incorporate these practices into your daily routine and make them a habit should be what drives you in your journey of life.

Don't wait until you are feeling overwhelmed or burnt out to start taking care of yourself. Start today and make it a priority to live a healthy and fulfilling life, not just for yourself but also for those around you and to the glory of God. Remember that living heal thy and fulfilling your days is not only a one-time decision but a continuous effort that requires determination, consistency, discipline, and commitment. Don't be discouraged by setbacks or failures, for they are a part of the whole process but rather use them as opportunities to learn and grow. Seeking support from friends, family, or professionals when needed, is another step to consider and don't hesitate to ask for help. Furthermore, recognize that self-care is not just about taking care of yourself but also about honoring God's creation.

By treating your body and mind with respect and care, you are acknowledging the value that God has placed on them.

You are also showing gratitude for the life that He has given you and the opportunities that come with it.

Finally, remember that living a healthy and fulfilling life is not just about yourself but also about others. By being healthy and happy, you are able to serve others better and make a positive impact on their lives. You are also able to share God's love and grace through your actions and

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words. So keep prioritizing your health and well-being in all aspects of your life physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Remember that God wants you to live abundantly in all areas of your life. Trust in His plan for you and continue to seek His guidance every step of the way.In addition to prioritizing your health and well-being, it is important to also prioritize rest and relaxation.

Taking breaks and allowing yourself time to recharge is essential for maintaining a healthy balance in your life. This may include taking a day off work, going on vacation, or simply spending time doing something you enjoy. The antidote for stress is rest, get more rest from all stress.

Remember that rest is not a luxury but a necessity for both your physical and mental health.Another important aspect of living a healthy and fulfilling life is cultivating positive relationships with others. Surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you, and seek out opportunities

to serve and help those around you. By building strong connections with others, you are able to experience the joy of community and make a positive impact on the world.

Lastly, remember that living a healthy and fulfilling life is not just about achieving certain goals or milestones but rather about embracing the journey itself. Enjoy the process of growth and self-discovery, and don't be afraid to try new things or take risks. Trust in God's plan for your life and know that He has great things in store for you.

By continuing to prioritize your health, wellbeing, rest, relationships, and personal growth, you are able to live out God's will for your life in a meaningful way. So keep striving towards a healthy and fulfilling life each day, knowing that God is with you every step of the way. Remain ever blessed.

Jesus is Lord!

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THE PATHWAY TO LIVING AS A

CHAMPION The pathway to living as a champion starts within, in the mind, with a definite perception of a certain reality. This reality is the kingdom of heaven, and when this reality is completely grasped, living as a champion becomes natural.

Jesus is recorded in John 6:63 as saying, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Therefore, it is not about what we do to live as a champion, but about who we are by what we say and believe with conviction.

It is written in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Galatians 5:22-23 delineates the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, k i n d n e s s , g o o d n e s s , fa i t h f u l n e s s , gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. This is because the seed (word) creates a law unto itself (the law of life in Christ) that overcomes by nature all thought against it, and elicits glory instead. This is the nature of the Father.

The promise of the Father is eternal

By Clayton Varney (perpetual) life. Fruit comes from seed, and the planter expects the fruit to contain more of the same seed it came from. Contained in the seed is a promise. The Seed of Christ (the Word) planted by the mind with gratitude and belief in the heart will eventually work out in us salvation and an everlasting kingdom of peace.

1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Remember that faith, like a seed, contains the promise of what it will produce, no matter what it faces.

Revelation 12:11 says, “And they have conquered him by the blood of the L a m b a n d by t h e wo rd o f t h e i r testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” The word is the door of salvation and victory. Therefore, faith is the pathway to living as a champion.

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Decep

tion T H E D E V I L S T O O L

D

eception is the act of believing and accepting a lie as the truth with false evidence as proof. you can never be deceived until you believe and your believing is based on the false evidence presented to you. This is one of the devils major tool used against believers in today’s world and over 80% of Christian are been victimized. the bible talked about the devil appearing like an angel of light (1cor 11:14) Note: he is not an angel of light, but appears like one. he appears like one with the intention of deceiving God’s people, knowing full well that without such appearance God’s people can never be deceived, this is why he comes like a wolf in sheep clothing with his agent scattered across boarders in the like of false/fake pastors, prophets, teachers, evangelist and apostles, presenting to God’s people, Gods words in a deceptive way in other to lure them into error.

Eve was easily deceived in the garden by the serpent because she was not well equipped with the knowledge of the truth, and “yea shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32) she had the head knowledge of the truth, that if she ate of the forbidden fruit she was going to die, as told her by Adam, but she lacked the spiritual understanding of that knowledge that was passed down to her by Adam. Her freedom was in her level of understanding and not just in her knowledge of what the word death meant. She fell because she was deceived and she was deceived because she lacked understanding. the bible says “ in all your getting, get understanding (Prov. 47) The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in the book of Matthew 4, was an example of how the devil operates and how best he can be defeated in his games he presented

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himself like an angel of light, using the word of God against Jesus the son of God but was overcom e n ot just by th e knowledge, Jesus possessed but by Jesus understanding of the knowledge that was professed.

anyone that look a proper understanding of the truth can be deceived irrespective of age, race, education and background, status, and the likes the moment you lack a proper understanding of the truth, you are a victim of deception.

Note: You can never be deceived until you believe and you can never believe when you have a proper understanding of the truth that sets free. who can be deceived?

How to

Over come DECEPTION

1. Seek for the truth: The bible says in Matt.7:7 that if we seek, we shall find. you can never find what you are not seeking for your desire to know the truth, depend on your seeking for it and you seek by sharing and searching.

2. Study with understanding: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6. Knowledge can only be obtained by study but understanding comes via prayer.

“I pray that the eye of your understanding be enlightened.(Eph 1:18) it is the truth you know that sets you free therefor study to know the truth, ( John 8: 32) 3. Pray for understanding: the knowledge you don’t have a proper understanding about can end up becoming a problem to you. Knowledge is powerful but without understanding, such knowledge might end up ineffective or ever worthless. True understanding comes through prayers, because it is the Holy Spirit that gives us proper understanding of the truth that

sets free.

4. Engage the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth and the bible admonishes that he will guide us in all truth.(John 16:13) if you want to ever be free from deception, you will need the help of the Holy Spirit. only the truth sets free, and without the help of the Holy Spirit, the truth can not be revealed. Ask for His help today. Jesus is Lord!

By Evang. Evans Egualeona

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The male specie experiences three stages in life, The boy stage, The man stage and The husband stage; but sadly enough only a handful of this specie attains the last stage.

THE BOY THE MAN AND THE

HUSBAND

Every male child is born a boy, who eventually grows up to become a man and then by choice develops to become a husband. No man is born a husband and marriage does not make you one either. we develop to become a husband and this is an act of choice based on sacrifice, discipline and determination, with consistency. Every male child is expected to go through or experience these stages in life as a progression but sadly as I earlier stated only a handful attains the husband stage while a great majority spend the rest of their lives in the first stage ( the boy stage) wondering and wasting away THE BOY STAGE: Joy is kindled in a family when a male child is born in most culture, most especially in Africa. It gives the mother a foot hold in the family and a sense of ownership of the properties because the male child is said to be the sole apparel, but when the male child chooses to remain a child all his life time, it raises concern and trouble to the family, most especially to the mother. Every mother wants her son to grow into a man but not many of them ends up becoming a husband.

WHO IS A BOY: A boy is a child who avoid responsibility, lacks accountability, acts insecure and behave immature.

This as earlier mentioned has nothing to do with age, educational background, race or even wealth.

There are a lot of 50 year old boys that are wealthy, educated and even married, but causing chaos, trouble and problems in society today.

In conclusion I will like to state that

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every boy lacks accountability. avoids responsibility, acts immature and are very insecure. This is how you know a boy.

Who is a man?

A man is a male specie that has grown up from becoming a boy into taking responsibility, accountability, ac ting maturely and has confidence in his security In this stage, he learns to take responsibility and can be held accountable for a lot of things, including his actions and decisions making. He is said to be confidence of his defense. He acts maturely in the way he thinks, talks and acts. these are what makes him a man. He is not driven by fear, neither is he afraid to step up or step out to fulfill his objectives. In conclusion we can now say that a man is one who takes responsibility, displays a level of accountability, acts maturely and he is not insecure .

Who is a husband: As the saying goes, “we live in a man’s world” this is one amongst many reasons we have a lot of broken homes today. we groom and grow a lot of men but few husbands in the society because parents, spiritual leaders, counselors and

even guardians are mentoring the male folks to becoming men and not husbands, we are been mentored to take responsibility have a level of accountability act searching and talk, think and behave maturity forgetting that these are not what makes a husband.

A man becomes a husband based on two criteria, namely; “Capacity and Character”.

In my book “marriage is a covenant, not a co n t ra c t ” t h i s i s we l l d e fi n e d a n d expenciated on.

Capacity: this is the amount or level of ability a man possesses or is able to produce. This has to do with the ability to provide for his family In terms of security, food , shelter and all or some of the family basic needs. Finding or creating a job is of great importance in this quest, no matter how little such jobs provides.

Character: Unlike capacity, this quality has to do with the ability to control, and handle situations. it depends more on actions, words and thoughts. it is the behavior of the man that makes him more than just a man. Character exposes and reveals personality.

By Evang. Evans Egualeona

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INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE FOR MISSIONS (Home For The Needy)

Pst. Solomon

FOLORUNSHO Founder

The International Christian Centre - Home For The Needy was set up in 1992 by Pastor Solomon A. Folorunsho (overseer of International Christian Centre For Missions) in Benin City, Nigeria in order to help the poor/needy, orphans and vulnerable children.

ICC - Home For The Needy is presently taking care of more than 2500 children from jungles all over Nigeria, among them are a lot of refugee children from northern Nigeria, who could flee from Boko Haram insurgency attack.

Every child deserve a better life, good food, quality education, shelter and the likes. You and I can make this happen. kindly join the few that are making this happen for donation and further inquiries kindly contact.

HOME FOR THE NEEDY C/O INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE FOR MISSIONS 45, Umamwen Street, Ogida Qtrs, Box 11700, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria Administrative Office: givehomefortheneedy.com Website: www.homefortheneedy.com Office Phone: +234 802 3369 690 Solomon A. Folorunsho directly: +234 803 3441 246

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Carll Parkes Collection is a black-owned, custom design clothing brand, created by Solroc Music and award-winning recording artist, Carlos Morgan.

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They are: - GOD FIRST - HAVE A LITTLE - FAITH; MATT 17:20- REPENT - COME BACK TO B.I.B.L.E Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth