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25th edition

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (Proverbs 16:24 ESV)

Women World Leaders

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Letter from the Founder by Kimberly Ann Hobbs — FOUNDER, WOMEN WORLD LEADERS Dear Sisters, As I admire the cover of this month’s magazine, I am reflecting on the purpose of God’s creation and tying it together with this edition of Voice of Truth. Bees are crucial pollinators. As they visit flowers, they unknowingly collect and transfer pollen, which allows plants to reproduce and bear fruit. They have a particularly important purpose. You, my sister, have a very important purpose as well. At Women World Leaders, we are all here to be purposeful pollinators of God’s truths. Our desire, as writers in Voice of Truth commissioned by God in the Great Commission, is to go out and preach the Word to all creation. By living out our faith, we spread the spiritual pollen of God’s love, planting seeds of eternal life wherever we can. Our hope and prayer is that as you read the variety of writing in the pages of this magazine, your heart will align with the special flowers of wisdom from the various columns and that you will see God’s Word come alive to you. I choose to think that we are carrying “the pollen” of God’s Word and wisdom, and then spreading its good news to everyone who lands on the specific pages that God leads them to. As you read on, be inspired by the beautifully colored masterpiece of words God has chosen for the individual authors to write for you. May you follow God as He leads you to the article He has prepared just for you in this time and place. If you are downtrodden, we want to put Jesus’ comforting arm around you. If you are looking to be inspired,

WE ARE ALL HERE TO BE PURPOSEFUL POLLINATORS OF GOD’S TRUTHS.

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD. (ROMANS 10:17)

trust His guidance as He launches you into something more. Get closer to your faith. Pray more and read more. And, if any doubts are surfacing within you, read on, knowing that God has a remedy, and that remedy is faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). God has proven Himself faithful, true, and able. We can see His truth all around us if we look deep into His creation. Our team has asked God to strengthen you with joy, peace, increased faith, captivating thoughts, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, and

wisdom to combat any lies that cause you doubt or fear. Together, may we continue to run toward the arms of our Savior and His love as we faithfully read His Word each day and look at His creation all around us. May God speak into your heart, refresh your life, and empower you to walk closer to Him as you read the pages of this magazine. Exceedingly, abundantly, beyond,

Kimberly Hobbs

CARTA DE NUESTRA FUNDADORA by Kimberly Ann Hobbs — FOUNDER, WOMEN WORLD LEADERS Queridas hermanas: Mientras admiro la portada de la revista de este mes, reflexiono sobre el propósito de la creación de Dios y lo relaciono con esta edición de Voice of Truth. Las abejas son polinizadoras fundamentales. Al visitar las flores, recogen y transfieren polen sin darse cuenta, lo cual permite que las plantas se reproduzcan y den fruto. Ellas tienen un propósito particularmente importante. Tú, hermana mía, también tienes un propósito muy importante. En Women World Leaders, todas estamos aquí para ser polinizadoras intencionales de las verdades de Dios. Nuestro deseo, como escritoras de Voice of Truth comisionadas por Dios en la Gran Comisión, es salir y predicar la Palabra a toda la creación. Al vivir nuestra fe, esparcimos el polen espiritual del amor de Dios, sembrando semillas de vida eterna dondequiera que podamos. Nuestra esperanza y oración es que, al leer la variedad de escritos en las páginas de esta revista, tu corazón se alinee con las flores especiales de sabiduría de las distintas columnas y que veas la Palabra de Dios cobrar vida en ti. Elijo pensar que llevamos "el polen" de la Palabra y la sabiduría de Dios, y que luego esparcimos sus buenas nuevas a todo aquel que llega a las páginas específicas que Dios lo guía a leer. A medida que sigas leyendo, déjate inspirar por la obra maestra de palabras, bellamente coloreada, que Dios ha elegido que cada autora escriba para ti. Que sigas a Dios mientras Él te guía hacia el artículo que ha preparado especialmente para ti en este tiempo y lugar. Si estás abatida, queremos poner el brazo consolador de Jesús alrededor de ti. Si buscas inspiración, confía en su guía mientras Él te impulsa hacia algo más grande. Acércate más a tu fe. Ora más y lee más. Y si surgen dudas dentro de ti, sigue leyendo, sabiendo que Dios tiene un remedio, y ese remedio es la fe. Así que la fe viene como resultado de oír el mensaje, y el mensaje que se oye es la palabra de Cristo (Romanos 10:17, NVI). Dios se ha mostrado fiel, verdadero y capaz. Podemos ver su verdad a nuestro alrededor si miramos con profundidad su creación. Nuestro equipo le ha pedido a Dios que te fortalezca con gozo, paz, fe creciente, pensamientos cautivadores, el mensaje de salvación por medio de Jesucristo, y sabiduría para combatir cualquier mentira que te cause duda o temor. Juntas, sigamos corriendo hacia los brazos de nuestro Salvador y su amor, mientras leemos fielmente su Palabra cada día y contemplamos su creación a nuestro alrededor. Que Dios hable a tu corazón, renueve tu vida y te fortalezca para caminar más cerca de Él mientras lees las páginas de esta revista. Extremadamente, abundantemente y más allá,

Kimberly Hobbs 5

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Women World Leaders

CONTENTS EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE

Gospel Grace

(WITH SPANISH VERSION) ROBIN KIRBY-GATTO

A Focus on Him

Through a Mother’s Eyes

LILLIAN CUCUZZA

DIANE CHEVELDAYOFF

Love Like Jesus

Empowering Lives with Purpose 63

Sons of the King

Beside Still Waters

Voice of Truth Cover Story

Recovery Reflections

64 68

Healing Heart and Soul

Chasing Butterflies Journals

Loving Little Me

Author Spotlight

Ever Interceding

Dear Sister

Impacted

More of You, Lord

Nonna’s kNOWledge 84

From Hurting to Healing

DEE MILLER

RUSANNE CAROLE

MELISSA GISSY WITHERSPOON

CONNIE A. VANHORN

DIANE CHEVELDAYOFF

DR. JIA RICHARDSON

CAROLYN JOY

Following the Son MICHELE HUGHES

Faith and Family

Musings on the Book of John

DONNA WHARTENBY

86 88

CONNIE HECKER

Young Voices: The Next Generation ANSLEY WILLARD

Kingdom Promise: Abundance, Hope, and a Future KELLY WILLIAMS HALE

KIMBERLY ANN HOBBS

DR. JIA RICHARDSON LILLIAN CUCUZZA

ALICIA RENEE ROBERTS

JESSICA PRUKNER

DIANA BROWN

(WITH SPANISH VERSION) NATALIE KEITH

LORI NOLAN

General of Joy DEANN ALAINE

POWER POINTS: God at Work Through Women Leaders Yesterday and Today LEECY BARNETT

VOT Stories

Global Connections AMANDA ZERILLI

Women World Leaders

CREDITS EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE

VOT Founder, WWL Founder and CEO

Kimberly Ann Hobbs Executive Assistant, WWL Ambassador

Connie Van Horn

Women World Leaders Ministry Coordinators

Graphic Designer

Kelly Williams Hale

CEO

Kimberly Ann Hobbs

Spanish Translator

Johana Torres

Executive Assistant, WWL Ambassador

Editor

Kelley Rene Editor, Proofreader

Sharon Hobbs Proofreader

Jo Anne McKinney Proofreader

Shelly Haas Giving Acknowledgments

Arlene Salas

WOMENWORLDLEADERS.COM

Connie Van Horn Business & Finance

Lisa Hathaway Prayer

Diana Brown Connection Coordinator

Janet Berrong Graphic Designer

Kelly Williams Hale

IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM WHO LOVED US.

GOSPEL

GRACE by Robin Kirby-Gatto GOD IS LOVING. JESUS IS PRAYING. AND HOLY SPIRIT IS STAYING. Woken by the Holy Spirit one Sunday morning, a little 8-year-old girl was led to get dressed for church; she hadn’t been in a while, not since her family moved from the country to the small city of Columbus, Mississippi, many months before. All was still in the house as she quietly gathered herself, being careful not to wake her 2-year-old little sister with whom she shared a bedroom. Looking in her closet, she saw the bright yellow dress covered in small roses that went to the floor. It was her favorite, especially because her Grandma Jessie made it for her. Once dressed, the girl opened the bedroom door and walked through the house, careful not to wake anyone. Finally, she opened the front door and stepped into the beautiful southern sunny day, led by an unction inside her heart. Without thought, seeing both her elementary school and the red brick Baptist Church across the street, she walked. Her timing was perfect; the doors to the sanctuary were open for people to find a seat inside before

GOSPEL GRACE

morning service began. She’d not been to a church like this; she was used to the small one in the country, where she and other children would go around the small cemetery after service to play. This church was beautiful! As she entered the front door, she saw the red carpet and a long aisle allowing attendees to sit on the left or right sides. She had no clue what to do but was drawn to the third pew from the front. She sat on the right side, making sure she was the first person on the inside of the pew, so she could see all the goings on. The choir sang the most beautiful songs that filled her with glee. A few people spoke, and then the pastor came to give the message. It was impossible to see over the heads of those in front of her, so she stretched as far as her neck would let her, sticking her head with its short, blonde hair out to the side to take in what he was about to say. He spoke in a pleasant tone, like someone who would have a conversation over dinner. His message mesmerized her. She heard the favorite Name of all names, Jesus. A warmth filled the little girl’s chest. Feeling a peace and joy like none other, something unusual happened. As she stared intently, she noticed a honey-colored amber glow coming from the ceiling fall all around him. Like any young child, unable to keep their emotions to themselves, her mouth dropped open and remained that way through the entire service. After service, she asked the people at the church what she should do, and they mentioned that she should attend Sunday School the following week, before service began. She made this a habit. A few months later, on Father’s Day, the

girl asked her dad to be at church so people could see her father. Then the whole family began attending church: her mother and father, her older brother, who was 9, and her 2-year-old sister. Years later, the family moved to Meridian, Mississippi, where they began attending Southside Baptist Church. The little girl grew up loving Jesus and loving church, but she began to notice that others treated her differently. One Wednesday night, after service, she ran around the church when it was dark outside, and two girls from the local neighborhood, walked up to her, not liking the color of her skin or her blonde hair, and said, “We’re going to beat you up and

B Y R O B I N K I R B Y-G AT TO

there’s nothing you can do about it, but we’ll give you one last thing to say.” Her response in pure love was, “Jesus loves you.” The girls couldn’t fight her; something happened in their hearts, and they walked away. The little girl, now a young lady, continued to get bullied in junior high and high school. A boyfriend she dated for a long time broke up with her because she wouldn’t do what he wanted her to, as it was against all that she learned as a follower of Christ. She kept getting bullied and having her heart broken, and gradually got angry with God and rebelled. She joined a sorority in college and began partying. Before she knew it, she wasn’t going to church and found herself living a life that didn’t glorify the Name she had always loved. However, Jesus didn’t forsake her; He prayed for her. Later, she made bad decisions and married a man who was 24 years old when she was 19. He wasn’t who she thought he was; he beat her black and blue each day, locked her in a house, starved her, and took away the phone so she couldn’t call anyone. She remained in this abusive relationship for nine months; one night, something inside of her said, “It is time to leave,” and she escaped.

She managed to get the key out of his pocket and ran as fast as she could up the road. He followed her black-and-blue, 82-pound body, intending to kill her, but God intervened. A policeman was at the top of the hill at 2 am, and her best friend drove out of nowhere at 2:30 am. After, she called her parents to ask to come back home. Jesus was still praying for her. Years later, she married a young man her age. He began medical school, and she had plans to get her master’s once he was finished. They had two sons by the time he finished his medical residency, and she found herself in the middle of a divorce. As he left, she was single with 1- and 6-year-old boys. She had returned to God and didn’t understand any of this. She had been attending church and was in love with Jesus. How could this happen? She went to divorce recovery at two churches and met some women who invited her over and gave her wine. Little by little, she medicated the

SHE HAD BEEN ATTENDING CHURCH AND WAS IN LOVE WITH JESUS. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? 11

GOSPEL GRACE

her and reminded her of that day at church when she was 8 years old. She began to weep, and God whispered in her heart, “Here we are again.” Jesus never stopped praying for her, God never stopped loving her, and Holy Spirit never stopped nudging her. Where are you? God is loving. Jesus is praying. And Holy Spirit is staying.

pain of her divorce and became an alcoholic. People thought she was messed up and didn’t want to be around her. However, Jesus didn’t; He was praying for her all the time. Finally, years later, when she had given up on marriage, she met the man of her dreams, and they were married within four months. As she kept pursuing Jesus and reading the Word of God, she began experiencing the power of Holy Spirit and was delivered of alcoholism on Resurrection Sunday, 2002. Later, she was delivered of the rage caged inside her and forgave all who had harmed her. Then, one Sunday morning, sitting on the church pew in worship, the presence of God came upon

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (ROMANS 8:31-39 NIV)

AS SHE KEPT PURSUING JESUS AND READING THE WORD OF GOD, SHE BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE POWER OF HOLY SPIRIT. 12

Gracia del

Evangelio

por Robin Kirby-Gatto

DIOS AMA. JESÚS ORA. Y EL ESPÍRITU SANTO PERMANECE. Despertada por el Espíritu Santo un domingo por la mañana, una niñita de 8 años se sintió guiada a vestirse para ir a la iglesia; no había asistido en un tiempo, no desde que su familia se mudó del campo a la pequeña ciudad de Columbus, Misisipi, muchos meses antes. Todo estaba en silencio en la casa mientras ella se arreglaba calladamente, cuidando de no despertar a su hermanita de 2 años, con quien compartía habitación. Al mirar en su clóset, vio el vestido amarillo brillante cubierto de pequeñas rosas que le llegaba hasta el suelo. Era su favorito, especialmente porque su abuela Jessie se lo había hecho. Ya vestida, la niña abrió la puerta de su habitación y caminó por la casa, cuidando de no despertar a nadie. Finalmente, abrió la puerta principal y salió a un hermoso día soleado del sur, guiada por una impresión en su corazón. Sin pensarlo, al ver tanto su escuela primaria como la iglesia bautista de ladrillo rojo al otro lado de la calle, caminó hacia allá. Su tiempo fue perfecto; las puertas del santuario estaban abiertas para que la gente encontrara un lugar antes de que comenzara el servicio matutino. Ella no había estado en una iglesia como esa; estaba acostumbrada a la pequeña iglesia del campo, donde ella y otros niños solían rodear el pequeño cementerio para jugar después del servicio. ¡Esta iglesia era hermosa! Al entrar por la puerta principal, vio la alfombra roja y un largo pasillo que permitía a los asistentes sentarse a la izquierda o a la derecha. No tenía ni idea de qué

GRACIA DEL EVANGELIO

hacer, pero se sintió atraída hacia la tercera banca desde el frente. Se sentó del lado derecho, asegurándose de ser la primera persona en el extremo interior de la banca, para poder ver todo lo que sucedía. El coro cantó las canciones más hermosas, que la llenaron de alegría. Algunas personas hablaron, y luego el pastor pasó a dar el mensaje. Era imposible ver por encima de las cabezas de quienes estaban frente a ella, así que estiró el cuello todo lo que pudo, sacando su cabecita de cabello corto y rubio hacia un lado para captar lo que él estaba a punto de decir.

Él habló en un tono agradable, como alguien que sostuviera una conversación durante la cena. Su mensaje la cautivó. Ella escuchó el Nombre favorito entre todos los nombres, Jesús. Una calidez llenó el pecho de la pequeña niña. Sintiendo una paz y un gozo como ningún otro, ocurrió algo inusual. Mientras miraba fijamente, notó un resplandor color ámbar, como de miel, que caía desde el techo alrededor de él. Como cualquier niño pequeño incapaz de ocultar sus emociones, su boca se abrió y permaneció así durante todo el servicio. Después del servicio, les preguntó a las personas de la iglesia qué debía hacer, y le dijeron que asistiera a la Escuela Dominical la semana siguiente, antes de que comenzara el servicio. Ella hizo de esto un hábito. Unos meses después, el Día del Padre, la niña le pidió a su papá que fuera a la iglesia para que la gente pudiera ver a su padre. Entonces, toda la familia comenzó a asistir a la iglesia: su madre y su padre, su hermano mayor, de 9 años, y su hermanita de 2 años. Años más tarde, la familia se mudó a Meridian, Misisipi, donde comenzaron a asistir a la Iglesia Bautista Southside. La niña creció amando a Jesús y amando la iglesia, pero comenzó a notar que los demás la trataban diferente. Una noche de miércoles, después del servicio, corría por los alrededores de la iglesia cuando ya estaba oscuro, y dos niñas del vecindario se le acercaron; no les agradaba el color de su piel ni su cabello rubio, y le dijeron: "Te vamos a golpear y no hay nada que puedas hacer al respecto, pero te daremos una última oportunidad de decir algo." Su respuesta, en puro amor, fue: "Jesús las ama." Las niñas no pudieron golpearla; algo sucedió en sus corazones, y se marcharon. La niña, ya convertida en una jovencita, continuó siendo víctima de acoso en la secundaria y la preparatoria. Un novio con quien salió por mucho tiempo terminó con ella porque no quiso hacer lo que él le pedía, ya que iba en contra de todo lo que había aprendido como seguidora de Cristo. Siguió siendo acosada y con el corazón roto, y poco a poco se fue enojando con Dios y se rebeló. Se unió a una hermandad universitaria y comenzó a ir a fiestas. Antes de darse cuenta, había dejado de ir a la iglesia y se encontró viviendo una vida que no glorificaba el Nombre que siempre había amado. Sin embargo, Jesús no la abandonó; oraba por ella. Más tarde, tomó malas decisiones y se casó con un hombre de 24 años cuando ella tenía 19. Él no era quien ella pensaba que era; la golpeaba hasta dejarla amoratada cada día, la encerraba en la casa, la privaba de comida y le quitaba el teléfono para que no pudiera llamar a nadie. Permaneció en esta relación abusiva durante nueve meses; una noche,

P O R R O B I N K I R B Y-G AT TO

algo dentro de ella le dijo: "Es hora de irte," y escapó. Logró sacarle la llave del bolsillo y corrió calle arriba tan rápido como pudo. Él la persiguió, con su cuerpo amoratado de apenas 82 libras, con la intención de matarla, pero Dios intervino. Un policía estaba en la cima de la colina a las 2 de la madrugada, y su mejor amiga apareció de la nada a las 2:30 a. m. Después de esto, llamó a sus padres para pedirles volver a casa. Jesús seguía orando por ella. Años después, se casó con un joven de su edad. Él comenzó la escuela de medicina, y ella planeaba obtener su maestría cuando él terminara. Tuvieron dos hijos para cuando él terminó su residencia médica, y ella se encontró en medio de un divorcio. Cuando él se fue, ella quedó soltera con dos niños, de 1 y 6 años. Ella había regresado a Dios y no

entendía nada de esto. Había estado asistiendo a la iglesia y estaba enamorada de Jesús. ¿Cómo pudo pasar esto? Asistió a programas de recuperación de divorcio en dos iglesias y conoció a algunas mujeres que la invitaron a sus casas y le dieron vino. Poco a poco, fue medicando el dolor de su divorcio y se volvió alcohólica. La gente pensaba que estaba mal y no querían estar cerca de ella. Sin embargo, Jesús sí quería; oraba por ella todo el tiempo. Finalmente, años después, cuando ya había perdido la esperanza en el matrimonio, conoció al hombre de sus sueños, y se casaron a los cuatro meses. Mientras seguía buscando a Jesús y leyendo la Palabra de Dios, comenzó a experimentar el poder del Espíritu Santo y fue libertada del alcoholismo el Domingo de Resurrección de 2002. Más tarde, fue libertada de la rabia encerrada dentro de ella y perdonó a todos los que la habían dañado. Entonces, un domingo por la mañana, sentada en la banca de la iglesia en adoración, la presencia de Dios vino sobre ella y le recordó aquel día en la iglesia cuando tenía 8 años. Comenzó a llorar, y Dios le susurró en el corazón: "Aquí estamos otra vez."

JESÚS NUNCA DEJÓ DE ORAR POR ELLA, DIOS NUNCA DEJÓ DE AMARLA, Y EL ESPÍRITU SANTO NUNCA DEJÓ DE GUIARLA SUAVEMENTE. ¿Dónde estás tú? Dios ama. Jesús ora. Y el Espíritu Santo permanece. ¿Qué diremos frente a esto? Si Dios está de nuestra parte, ¿quién puede estar en contra nuestra? El que no escatimó ni a su propio Hijo, sino que lo entregó por todos nosotros, ¿cómo no nos dará generosamente, junto con él, todas las cosas? ¿Quién acusará a los que Dios ha elegido? Dios es el que justifica. ¿Quién condenará? Cristo Jesús es el que murió, e incluso resucitó, y está a la derecha de Dios e intercede por nosotros. ¿Quién nos apartará del amor de Cristo? ¿La tribulación, o la angustia, o la persecución, o el hambre, o la desnudez, o el peligro, o la espada? Así está escrito: «Por causa tuya siempre nos llevan a la muerte; ¡nos tratan como a ovejas para el matadero!» Sin embargo, en todo esto somos más que vencedores por medio de aquel que nos amó. Pues estoy convencido de que ni la muerte ni la vida, ni los ángeles ni los demonios, ni lo presente ni lo por venir, ni los poderes, ni lo alto ni lo profundo, ni ninguna otra cosa en toda la creación podrá apartarnos del amor que Dios nos ha manifestado en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor (Romanos 8:31-39, NVI).

Love Like Jesus

by Dee Miller

Trusting Despite Circumstances I often reflect on the early days of my journey following Christ. I remember the stares from the people within the church that felt unwelcoming and judgmental. It did not take long for me to leave that congregation, not to seek a welcoming church but to chalk it up as a bad experiment never to be repeated. It still amazes me that I did not lose my faith in God. I did question if He really wanted me as His child. Because of the extreme abuse I faced as a child, I found it difficult to trust. Most people will never comprehend all I endured. Yet, God always knew. He understood my pain. He was focused on my healing, not on my rough, untrusting presence. Recently I began to try to understand trust. How is trust formed? What happens when trust is broken? I had a friend ask me if I trusted her. My reply was, “Do I trust anyone? Do I even trust God?” I know I should trust God, but do my actions display that I do? Nobody has a perfect childhood. It provides an opportunity to build resilience in an unfair world. We can be defeated by our experiences or rise above them. In the moment of injury, we might be defeated. But with Christ, we can be healed. I am still learning skills that I wish my parents had instilled in me. I knew I could

not trust them or my older siblings. I was not safe with them. This was the foundation for my distrust in others. I knew God’s Word instructed me to trust Him.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. (PROVERBS 3:5 NLT)

That sounds easy enough until the battles of life come. For me, that first major battle was the rejection from the church body I was attempting to join. I needed to recognize that I was attributing their actions to God. They did not represent Him well. I needed to learn how God works everything for good (Romans 8:28). A smaller church that was closer to my home was a better fit for me. Surprisingly, I never lost my faith in Christ. I only had to find the courage to try again. I was in a battle when my friend questioned me about trust. My heart was hurt over the broken trust of someone I called a friend. My old wounds had been stirred and were trying to rule me. I believed God had brought me this close friend. How could I have been hurt so deeply? Where was God in this? Had I missed Him and trusted when I should have walked away?

My heart was bleeding. I was in pain that led me to a place of questioning whether I really trusted God. That is when the knowledge of God’s Word and His very character took up residence in my heart, not just my mind. God builds His trust through His faithfulness. It is not done in the instant that we decide to follow Him and His ways. It comes with each time He moves in a time of our need. I have had checks appear when I needed extra money. I was physically healed when the doctors offered no hope. Each of those events provided a stepping stone over the murky waters that led to His garden of peace, a place of rest and refuge. "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT).

MOST PEOPLE WILL NEVER COMPREHEND ALL I ENDURED. YET, GOD ALWAYS KNEW.

I concluded that I did trust in God. Losing my trust in another human made me stop to evaluate my relationship with Him. Ultimately, I understood that my roots were planted deep. I had weathered a storm that tried to toss me about, tried to pull my roots of trust out of the fertile land where they were deeply planted. I was distracted by the pain. But the painful distraction did not cause me to wither up and die. Instead, it forced me to stop and see how faithful God is regardless of the actions of others. Do the storms of life cause you to abandon all that God has for you? Or do you lean into the character of God? He promises to never leave you or forsake you. Although you may not like the actions of others or your surrounding circumstances, rest assured, you can trust Him. He has a plan.

HE WAS FOCUSED ON MY HEALING, NOT ON MY ROUGH, UNTRUSTING PRESENCE. Dee Miller was rescued from a transgender identity by Jesus Christ. She resides in St. Louis, MO where she founded MJM Ministry to help individuals, parents and churches navigate the landscape of transgenderism. Everyone knows someone affected by transgenderism. MJM Ministry was born out of a passion to see others find freedom. Visit mjmministry.com for additional information or to contact Dee.

WRITINGS FROM THE GLOBAL OFFICE

Empowering Lives with Purpose by Kimberly Ann Hobbs FOUNDER, WOMEN WORLD LEADERS

God has called me to be an encourager. I love to pour truth from God’s Word into others, watering their dry, thirsty hearts with motivation. God inspires me with His Word, and I glean further inspiration by sharing all that God teaches me. I love giving others the hope that only God can provide as I show them that their purpose is valuable. As I asked God to help me find the right cover for this edition of Voice of Truth, He led me to the bee. So much is wrapped up in the photo of this tiny insect; there is no doubt it was meant to be the cover in this time and place. A bee, God’s creation, has such tremendous value and purpose. As bees search for the best nectar, so are each of us called to seek out the best wisdom, that which comes from God! His wisdom is ours for the asking, as promised in James 1:5. When we drink in and pour out the wisdom we gain from the truths of His Word, our souls are sweetened, and we receive hope for the future. Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off (Proverbs 24:13-14 NIV). Bees reflect the beautiful, brilliant design of God’s creation by making their perfect hexagonal honeycombs; their tireless work ethic and cooperation with each other are examples of God’s perfect order. Each life has a purpose and value, which is clearly evident as we admire individual

B Y K I M B E R LY A N N H O B B S

bees working for their hive. We as women can find rich, spiritual encouragement with wisdom and strength as we investigate the lives of bees. Recently, I acquired a bee’s nest. It was vacant, so I brought it home and put this beautiful reminder of God’s creation on my table. To me, like a beehive, its creation is an example of many working in perfect harmony. Every bee, from the queen to the workers, has a distinct purpose; they all work together to build, protect, and sustain their community in a harmful environment. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:27 that we are the body of Christ, and each one of us has a part in the body’s design. We can look at it as if we are an integral part of God’s hive. We may nurture our family, build a career, and even support our local community; God gives us each unique gifts to aid others so that no one has to carry the load alone. We can rely on our fellow believers or sisters in Christ to help us build the supportive, loving environment we choose to be part of. Women World Leaders is a beautiful example of a community coming together for God’s glory and by His design. We each bring our own gifts, and, with the Lord Jesus Christ as King, we open the doors and our hearts to whomever God directs to come in and thrive with us. Bees gather closely around the queen bee and each other to form a cluster in the winter to stay alive. They consistently rotate from the cold outer part of the hive to the warm center so that every bee can survive the freezing temperatures. We can learn so much from them. Scripture tells us to cling to King Jesus and His Word and to:

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. (GALATIANS 6:2 NIV)

I encourage you to look to your sisters in Christ when life gets cold and difficult. We are meant to rotate in and out of the warmth of fellowship, carrying one another’s burdens and providing rest when some grow weary. I think of all the sisters here within this specific ministry who gather around each other with Jesus at the center. God showed us to provide a place where everybody is

God gives us each unique gifts to aid others so that no one has to carry the load alone. 91

WRITINGS FROM THE GLOBAL OFFICE

welcome, a place where sisters of faith can be loved and heard. Do you need to be heard? We offer help from Jesus and wise counsel from God’s Word to comfort each other. Just as bees are known for their industrious and relentless work, may we diligently do the work God has called us to by spreading a pollination that sustains our earth with God’s love. In our daily tasks as women of God— like being moms, grandmoms, and friends—we can be “hive” changers for Jesus as we make better communities, or “hives,” all around us. Look to the bee’s life as a reminder that whatever your small, daily acts of love are, you are doing holy and sustaining work for your communities. Keep working as God has called you to; your labor isproducing faithful, sweet fruit.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (GALATIANS 6:9 NIV)

Search for the best nectar you can find to share with your hive; it comes directly from the Word of God, the Bible.

LOVE NOTE On September 2, 2022, I entered a facility seeking healing treatment; what transpired became the greatest life-altering event of my life. On that day, I met Janet Berrong, a Women World Leaders founding member. One of the very first things Janet gave me was a copy of Voice of Truth. I was introduced to articles that touched me to my core. I read the most heartfelt stories of Janet, as well as Kimberly Hobbs and so many others. I love Women World Leaders and Voice of Truth magazine.

Robert Tardell • Boynton Beach, FL

KINGDOM HARVEST

Women World Leaders is now in 50+ countries.

HIS GOSPEL IS CHANGING LIVES. UNITE WITH US, SHARE IN THE HARVEST! We are committed to bringing in a harvest through Voice of Truth, which is available for free digitally and in the printed version to our donors. The Lord is our provider, and as this magazine grows daily, we invite you to help us bring in the harvest. Your partnership with us in prayer and giving is a seed blossoming in the hearts of women around the globe. As you give, we are praying and trusting that the Lord will bless you and meet your needs according to His riches in glory.

Give on our website at womenworldleaders.com or scan the QR code to donate now. OR MAIL A CHECK TO: Women World Leaders PO Box 210895 • Royal Palm Beach, FL 33421 (Check payable to Women World Leaders)

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Beside Still Waters

by Rusanne Carole

ABIDE Abide under the shadow of our God Almighty Remain in this position, moving in His rhythm and pace My eyes continually locked on His My heart yielded at every moment and at every turn My mind continually washed in the water of His Word I may fall I may falter I return to His altar Hidden securely in His strength, the only way I can endure the onslaught of arrows coming at me to pierce the plans God has for me or the traps the enemy sets for me to trip upon I may fall I may falter I return to the altar His massive Arms are wrapped around me Providing shade and security Freely giving indescribable, immeasurable, and extravagant love He rescues He protects He provides He is my everything! Abide under the shadow of our God Almighty

A place of healing A place given so we may endure A space to sit still and receive His mighty love His tender touch His Hand to hold you up God of the mountain God of the valley God of the Most High Abide in the shadow where the Wings our heavenly Father provides protection, comfort, and relief from all of life’s trials I may fall I may falter Yet He sacrificed it all so I can always return to the altar

His massive Arms are wrapped around me. Providing shade and security. 23

RECOVERY

s n o i t c e fl e R

by Melissa Gissy Witherspoon KEEPING YOUR SIDE OF THE STREET CLEAN One of the greatest gifts recovery has given me is the simple phrase “keep your side of the street clean.” While those words may have originated in recovery circles, I’ve come to believe they echo a timeless biblical truth. Long before recovery programs encouraged us to examine our own lives, Scripture was already calling us to do the same. Again and again, God invites us to look inward before we look outward, allowing Him to shape our hearts before we concern ourselves with someone else’s. In this imperfect world, conflict is inevitable. Whether at home, at work, in church, or even within

our closest relationships, there will always be moments when we don’t see eye to eye with someone else. We will encounter people who misunderstand us, situations that seem unfair, and circumstances we never would have chosen. Our first instinct is often to look outward. We want to know what the other person did wrong, why they acted the way they did, and we find ourselves asking, “When are they finally going to apologize?” We build our case, gather our evidence, and convince ourselves that if they would simply change, everything would be better. But God rarely begins His work by changing the other

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each man will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:4-5 RSV)

person. Instead, He gently asks us to look inward with our eyes fixed on Him, allowing His truth to reveal what still needs refining within us.

Not every disagreement requires my intervention, and not every misunderstanding needs defending. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2 RSV). Another profound gift recovery has given me is a simple question that has become just as valuable in my walk with Christ: What’s my part in this? That question isn’t about taking responsibility for someone else's choices. It isn’t about accepting abuse, excusing sin, or allowing unhealthy behavior to continue. Rather, it’s an invitation to honestly examine our own hearts before we become

consumed with someone else's shortcomings. Sometimes our part is obvious. We spoke too quickly. We assumed motives we couldn’t possibly know. We allowed pride to dictate our response. We reacted instead of prayed. Other times, our part isn't what we did directly, but rather how we continue to carry resentment, refuse forgiveness, or allow bitterness to grow in our hearts where God longs to plant peace. There are also moments when our part is surprisingly small. Sometimes we truly are caught in the wake of another person’s pain. I am sure you have heard the phrase “hurt people often hurt people.” When we are hurting, we can project our fears, insecurities, disappointments, or unresolved wounds onto those around us. Therefore, someone else’s actions may have very little to do with us at all.

breathe before speaking. To seek His wisdom before emotion overtakes us. I’ve learned (the long, hard way) that when I stop asking, “How do I fix them?” and instead ask, “God, what are You trying to show me?” everything begins to shift. Sometimes His answer is uncomfortable. He reveals pride I didn’t know I was carrying. He exposes judgment I had justified. He uncovers fear disguised as control. Sometimes He simply says, “Be still.” Which, for me, is the hardest instruction to follow.

"What are you going to do with your heart?"

Even after years of therapy, recovery, and spiritual growth, people pleasing still has a way of sneaking back into my life. I want to smooth everything over, fix every misunderstanding, and restore every relationship immediately. Yet there are seasons when God gently reminds me that stillness is obedience too. Not every disagreement requires my intervention, and not every misunderstanding needs defending. Sometimes the most faithful response isn't to speak, explain, or persuade… it's to trust that God is already at work in ways I cannot see.

If this sounds familiar, then you, my friend, are in the company of every human being who has ever wrestled with pride. The good news is that God never asks us to conquer our ego alone. He simply asks us to surrender it to Him. And then He invites us to pause before reacting. To

Other times, however, God does ask us to take a step toward reconciliation. When He does, He rarely begins by telling us to point out the other person’s faults. He starts with ours. Jesus demonstrated this beautifully when the religious leaders brought before Him a woman

Even then, God still asks us the same question:

RECOVERY REFLECTIONS

caught in adultery. As the crowd prepared to stone her, Jesus simply said,

"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." (JOHN 8:7 RSV)

Before exposing another person’s failures, Jesus caused everyone present to examine their own hearts. That lesson is just as relevant today. I’ve discovered that some of the most meaningful breakthroughs in difficult relationships begin with humility rather than defense. Imagine approaching someone by saying: “I’ve been praying about our situation, and I realize there are ways I could have handled things better. I’m sorry if my words or actions contributed to this. I’m still learning. I’m still growing. If you’re willing, I’d love to work toward understanding each other.” That kind of vulnerability isn’t weakness… it's courage. And in fact, it’s Christlike. Will it always result in reconciliation? Not necessarily. Sometimes the other person isn't ready. Sometimes they aren't interested. Sometimes the relationship remains at a stalemate. But reconciliation isn’t the only measure of success. Obedience is. Keeping your side of the street clean means that when you lay your head on the pillow each night, you know you’ve sought God's wisdom, owned your mistakes, extended grace, and done the next right thing—even if the outcome wasn't what you hoped for. The Apostle Paul reminds us, If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all (Romans 12:18 RSV). Notice he doesn’t say peace is always possible. He says, as far as it depends upon you. That’s our side of the street.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues or a substance use disorder, there is hope! Recovery is possible, and, as Jesus taught, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 NIV). For information on mental health issues or substance use disorder, visit the national website for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at https://www.samhsa.gov/ or call the national hotline at 1-800-662-HELP. 26

BY MELISSA GISSY WITHERSPOON

We cannot control another person’s actions, attitudes, or healing journey. But through the Holy Spirit at work within us, we can choose humility over pride, compassion over condemnation, prayer over impulsive reaction, and surrender over the exhausting need to be right. The next time conflict finds its way into your life, pause before reacting. Ask yourself, What’s my part in this? Then ask an even better question: Lord, what are You inviting me to learn, and how can I reflect You in this moment? When we seek His will above our own, our hearts soften, our conscience stays clear, and our eyes remain fixed not on changing someone else, but on becoming more like Christ. Because peace isn’t simply something we ask God to bring into the world. It’s something He longs to cultivate within us so He can bring it into the world through us.

Melissa is Founder/CEO of nonprofit Sober-Now, motivational speaker, social media influencer (@Sober-Now on FB and IG), bestselling, award-winning author of I’m Sober…So Now What? series (A Journey of Hope and Healing & Unity in Recovery), co-author of bestseller Faith Unchained, contributing author of international bestseller Miracle Mindset, and contributing author of bestseller Hope Alive. To stay in touch with her, visit Linktr.ee/sobernow or email Melissa@Sober-Now.com.

EPHESIANS 3:20 (NIV)

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

CHASING BUTTERFLIES JOURNALS by Connie A. VanHorn Moonshadow A moonshadow is a gentle, magnetic presence that brings safety and quiet illumination in darkness. It steadies you rather than fixes everything. It is calming, protective, quietly present, and hopeful when you’re afraid. It’s a mirror of comfort and courage and a steady light that helps you keep walking. It is intimacy cultivated in friendship and quiet wonder, a reminder that you are seen, held, and guided even when you feel alone… even when it’s dark. Almost eight weeks ago, in my quiet place with God and in a moment of real desperation, I prayed for something very specific! It was a rescue prayer. In that moment, I believed God was ready to answer exactly as I prayed, that He would provide the rescue I needed. As the days went on, I realized His answer wasn’t exactly what I expected. His response looked and felt different, and at first it surely didn’t feel like a rescue. In that exchange, I didn’t discover disappointment; instead, I began to appreciate God’s amazing love for me. He knew exactly what I needed. God knows the desires of our hearts, but He also understands what we need in each season. 28

We can trust Him, even when His response doesn’t match our plan. He knows us better than we know ourselves.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (PSALM 37:4-5 ESV)

I’ve been walking through a long, dark season; at times, the waiting felt endless. Recently someone pointed me to the book of Daniel. Reading about Daniel in the lions’ den, it struck me that the miracle we experience isn’t always on the other side of the trial. Daniel’s miracle occurred while he was in the den. His friendship with God and his faith were thriving inside the darkness. Daniel’s courage wasn’t bravado! It grew from steady prayer and trust; he kept praying and worshiping even after the decree banned it (Daniel 6:10). Sometimes the intimacy we crave with God is cultivated in those places of waiting and fear.

I’ve always loved walking alone while listening to worship music. I use that time to pray, daydream, and talk to God. After my prayer for rescue nearly two months ago, I started taking later night walks and, for the first time, I really looked up at the sky. I had entered into a whole new season of waiting, and standing on pavement under a sky lit by stars and a moving moon, I felt God drawing me closer. I began talking to Him through the stars, naming each one in my heart, tracking the moon’s different shades, and getting so excited when a shooting star streaked by. In two months, I’ve seen two shooting stars. Once, I even felt like the stars themselves moved. I would stop in the middle of the street just to look up, feeling the night sky wrap its arms around me. I have fallen in love with the night sky, but more than that, I have fallen more deeply in love with God. Under that quiet canopy, I’ve pondered my future, my purpose, and my dreams. I’ve walked along feeling as if I were in my own enchanted love story, so excited for the plans God has for me. I felt so safe and protected, as if God were looking down and saying, “You are mine.” He knew me before I was formed; He knows every part of my heart. Because of who He is, we can each face any dark season; with Him, it will be different. He meets us each uniquely in our own quiet places. He grows us closer to Him in these places. When I prayed eight weeks ago and received something other than what I asked for, God gave me a new constant to keep me on course: I already had butterflies in the day, and now I had my “moonshadow” at night. These signs are reminders that He knows me so well— my distractions, my fears, and my need for tangible assurance. My moonshadow, like those butterflies, is a small, steady reminder of His faithfulness, a clear path to closeness with Him, and a future only He can provide.

CHASING BUTTERFLIES JOURNAL

Daniel’s courage wasn’t bravado! It grew from steady prayer and trust; he kept praying and worshiping even after the decree banned it (Daniel 6:10).

God knows what we need to be whole, healed, and on mission for Him. He finds a heart set on Him, calls it out, and claims it as His own. He knows the language of your heart and mine. He isn’t looking for perfection. He’s looking for willing, open hearts to partner with Him, to be His hands and feet, and to shine His light into the dark places. I know life is hard. Many of us are broken, guarded, and carrying wounds that make love feel impossible. We stumble and fear being hurt again. But God has already forgiven us; He invites us to stop living behind walls. He wants us to feel, to love, and to take up His mission and the thing He loves most: people. Day after day He gives us the chance to wipe the slate clean and fix our eyes on Him and what He loves. Last night, I walked for an hour and a half under those stars. I danced, twirled, stretched my arms to heaven, and felt more alive and courageous than I have in a long time. I felt safe, seen, and so loved. Each pause on that hill made me feel like the night sky was literally holding me. That feeling… falling in love with God over and over… is what I pray for you in whatever den you’re in now. If you take one thing from this, remember: When you’re in the den, don’t only look for the miracle on the other side. Look for the miracle that is before you, even in the dark. Whatever you face, live every season with so much courage and faith! Pray like Daniel. Be faithful, persistent, and courageous. Use the waiting to cultivate your friendship with God. Be faithful unto death, because He is, in every way, worth it. Fix your eyes on Jesus, and let God have His way in and through you, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Ephesians 3:20 promises He can do more than we ask or imagine, so don’t ever forget to look up at the night sky and daydream with God about a future only He can provide. You never know… He might be sending you a moonshadow! Turns out, I did get my prayer answered!

Connie A. VanHorn is the executive assistant to Kimberly Hobbs, the founder of Women World Leaders. She is a Best-Selling author, serves as a WWL ambassador, administrator and is also on the board of directors and Leadership Team! But her favorite title is “Mom!" To contact Connie, you can email her at connie@womenworldleaders.com.

Women World Leaders

SPOTLIGHT COLUMN: THROUGH A MOTHER'S EYES

Contributor:

Diane Cheveldayoff Q: Tell us about yourself. A:

I've been a business owner since 1996. Through my business, God has provided for our family. For the past several years, however, I have been praying for someone to take over my business so I could focus more on the young adult and marriage ministries my husband and I are involved in. God showed up big. Our youngest daughter is taking over the business, which not only provides her an income, but has now become part of my legacy. Over the next few years, I have the honor to teach, transition and work alongside her. God is so good and so faithful in answering our prayers.

Q: What stirred your heart to write for Voice of Truth? A:

My heart is to help others see life through different eyes. Voice of Truth reaches the corners of the world in many various cultures, thus challenges readers to a new perspective. We can become jaded or complacent but need to try to see through another’s viewpoint and especially through God’s perspective. Life can be so much better when we do.

Q: What is the core message you want readers to receive from your article? A:

Through a Mother’s Eyes column was birthed by seeing life through the eyes of our three daughters. Just like going to a theme park or a place catering to kids; you may have gone a million times, but the excitement you see through their eyes is an exhilarating experience. Our daughters are adults now, but seeing life through their eyes creates a new view and outlook.

Q: How has your personal journey with God shaped what you write about? A:

When I write, I often take the simplest conversation, picture, experience, conflict, or answered prayer and using it to bring out a new attitude or sentiment. Changing the angle can create a fresh spin on any situation or topic.

Q: What does living out your faith look like? A:

Living out my faith means spending time in prayer, in God's Word, and yielding daily to His timeline and His plan. Trusting = Obedience. Faith requires us to learn through each experience and ask ourselves, "What should I do differently next time?"

Q: any last words? A:

Always strive to look through a different lens, keep an open mind, and learn. Remember to appreciate similarities and respect differences.

Connect with Diane at diane@executivediamond.com

Dear Sister For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your Name in vain. (PSALM 139:20 NKJV)

by Dr. Jia Richardson Dear sister, Get ready for this... Everyone is not going to be your biggest fan. Nor will they be a fan of the Almighty God. Everyone will not co-sign to your platforms, beliefs, energy, and calling. This reality can be heartbreaking, and at the same time, a reality check towards truly coming into your own. Nothing will push you harder and grow you stronger than your enemies who keep your name in their mouths. Nothing will stretch you to your greatest potential quicker than the idle chatter of naysayers and negative onlookers waiting for you to fail in the name of the God that you serve. No, everyone is not for God, and they will not ascribe to the love that you have for Him. Nevertheless, He is the God who promised to never leave nor forsake you. He is the sovereign God who is not moved by those who take His name in vain and deny Him. He is a God who sits on high and looks down low to have a relationship with us all, and despite those who deny Him and you, He still loves them. There will be those who will deny you and persecute you because of the God you serve. Don't let others dim your light. Continue to be the light and salt of the earth that God expects you to be and that others need. You don't need a co-signer to affirm your love for a God who will be there for better or for worse.

Love you,

Dr. Jia

Women World Leaders and World Publishing and Productions presents:

IMPACTED Women World Leaders books are touching lives around the world by creating a burning flame of positive change. True impact ignites a fire that cannot be extinguished, a burning desire that spreads to others encouraging them to go out into the world and make a difference. You are in place for a purpose. God has purposes that He is accomplishing through your life and He will sovereignly put you in places for the spread of His glory. We invite you to read testimonials of personal encounters with God through powerful stories courageously shared. Esther 2:17 reminds us as He placed Esther in position to be queen, God has a purpose for us to do more than we can imagine! This edition's IMPACTED stories include: Building Kingdom Wealth: Aligning Your Heart, Mind, and Money with God's Truth n

Lauren Mueller

Michelle Tufford

Brittany Stehle

Vaishali R. Nair

Gabriela Walerczyk

Kingdom LeadHERship: Stepping Joyfully Into God's Calling n

Natalie Green

Please contact us if you have read any of our books and would like to share how you have been impacted through a story or a teaching. Email us at: Connie@womenworldleaders.com

SCAN QR CODE TO SHARE YOUR STORY

Lauren Mueller

Building Kingdom Wealth

IMPACTEDS tory I never would have imagined that one day I would be writing a chapter about financial freedom and kingdom wealth; if someone had told me that years ago, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. Looking back over the last seven years, my life has been nothing short of a miracle. Writing this chapter has kept me in a posture of humility and remembrance of God’s goodness. It has reminded me that every victory, opportunity, and blessing comes through His faithfulness. It’s so important for us to write down the moments we see God’s hand at work in our lives because, over time, we are quick to forget. The Israelites were no different. Throughout Scripture, they often complained and grumbled because they forgot God’s provision and faithfulness despite all He had already done for them. We can easily fall into the same pattern when we lose sight of His past faithfulness. The Bible also tells us in 1 Samuel 7 that Samuel erected a large stone marker between Mizpah and Shen and named it Ebenezer, a Hebrew word meaning “stone of help”. He declared, “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12 NIV), creating a physical reminder of God’s faithfulness for future generations. Writing my story has become an Ebenezer for me. It has allowed me to pause, reflect, and remember the countless ways God has carried me through seasons of uncertainty, hardship, and growth. Even today, I still experience days, weeks, and months when I am completely dependent on Him. My circumstances may have changed, but my need for God has not. If anything, this journey has taught me that true wealth isn’t found in what we possess, but in knowing the One who faithfully provides for all our needs. I hope my story encourages you to keep pressing forward while never forgetting to look back and remembering all that God has done. Building kingdom wealth keeps God’s principles at the center as we steward every area of our lives. Don’t lose sight of who God is or what His Word says. Take the opportunity to read Building Kingdom Wealth and apply God’s principles not only to your finances but to every area of your life. 34

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

3x Best-Seller! Available through World Publishing and Productions, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. God has called you to an incredible journey of Building Kingdom Wealth. The authors of this book want you to do more than gain financial excess; they long for you to experience a transformation that can only come from aligning your heart, mind, and money with God’s truth. Kingdom wealth is your heritage. Begin to claim it today by exercising consistent decision-making, developing God-honoring habits, and responding with His wisdom. The personal stories and applicable teachings in this book will strengthen, encourage, and assist you to escape old habits, thinking, and patterns, setting you on a course of freedom. As you commit to intentional and consistent growth, this season is sure to be one of Building Kingdom Wealth, and in the process, God will bless you with fruit you never expected.

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Brittany Stehle n Building Kingdom Wealth

IMPACTEDS tory I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be a contributing author in Building Kingdom Wealth. This opportunity has been such a gift! Writing my chapter was truly an act of faith. Sometimes you don’t realize how much God has carried and lifted you until you write your story down and recognize the true miracle of His grace. As I reflected on the journey God has brought me through, I was reminded once again of His incredible faithfulness. My prayer is that my story points people to Him and enables them to see that no dream is too small, no setback is beyond His redemption, and no life is outside His perfect purpose. He has been so faithful to me, and I hope these pages encourage others to trust Him more deeply. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that God is the foundation on which we can build everything. From our businesses and families to our health, relationships, and the legacy we leave behind. When we seek Him first, pray about everything, and thank Him daily for His blessings, He provides more abundantly than we could ever imagine. When I learned that Building Kingdom Wealth became a bestseller, I was overwhelmed— not by the bestseller title itself, but by my absolute awe of what God can do. It was such a beautiful reminder that when we simply say yes to His calling, He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever accomplish on our own. It brings me so much joy to share this chapter; I pray that it might plant a seed—even if only a mustard seed—of faith in the heart of someone who needs hope or encouragement. The truth is, I’m just an ordinary person who has been through a tremendous amount of heartache in life but has, nonetheless, chosen to put God first, pray about everything, and never be ashamed to share my faith. Over and over again, God has poured out blessings I could have never orchestrated myself. Writing this chapter reminded me of just how much He has done in and through my life, even in the seasons I didn’t feel worthy. He has given me His hand and pulled me out of the darkest of times—spiritually, physically, and financially. He has taken my anxiety and replaced it with gratitude, healed my grief through His presence, answered prayers in ways I never expected, and continually reminded me that I am His. Every opportunity has been a gift of His grace, and for that, I am forever grateful. 36

Jesus is the foundation on which all prosperity can be built. Without Him, success would be meaningless and empty. In everything I accomplish and every good thing that comes my way, I am reminded that it’s all an act of love from my Father in heaven. He provides because He loves me and wants to shine His love to others through me. Nothing I can do is worthy of praise without His presence. I am beyond grateful to be a vessel in His kingdom. As Jesus told us, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26 ESV). If this message speaks to your heart, I hope you’ll grab a copy of Building Kingdom Wealth and read it yourself or gift it to someone who could use a little hope and encouragement. I would also be so grateful for your prayers for this book, our incredible author team, and every heart that will read these pages.

Gabriela Walerczyk n Building Kingdom Wealth I’m incredibly grateful to be one of the contributing authors in Building Kingdom Wealth. When Michelle Tascoe invited me to write a chapter, I immediately saw it as another opportunity to say yes to God. For much of my life, I chased success the world’s way. But Jesus has been transforming not only my heart, but also the way I think about money, purpose, stewardship, and what it truly means to build a life that honors Him. I’m deeply thankful to Michelle for trusting me with the opportunity to share part of my story alongside so many incredible authors. It’s a beautiful reminder that when we each say yes to God, He weaves our individual stories into something far greater than we could accomplish alone. Writing this chapter reminded me that God hasn’t only entrusted us with resources—He’s entrusted us with our testimony. Every blessing, every hardship, every lesson learned becomes an opportunity to point someone back to Him. If you’ve followed my journey, you know my greatest desire isn’t to build my own name. My prayer is that my life reflects the faithfulness of Jesus and encourages others to trust Him more deeply. If God can redeem my story, He can redeem anyone’s. My hope is that when someone reads this book, they won’t simply walk away with practical wisdom about stewardship, but that they will leave with greater confidence in God’s character, greater trust in His provision, and the courage to faithfully steward whatever He has placed in their hands. To God be all the glory.

Gaby

Michelle Tufford n Building Kingdom Wealth

IMPACTEDS tory A while back, I said yes to something sacred when I was invited to be a contributing author in a new book called Building Kingdom Wealth. Now, that book has officially launched! My chapter, “God of Impossible Math,” is the story of a seasonI spent chasing “more,” convinced that just a little further ahead, I’d finally feel free. But my story isn’t really about striving; it’s about being pursued. The whole time I was chasing something to hold onto, God was chasing me. He was patiently waiting for me to see that everything would always be empty without Him. His goal was never merely to correct me, but to capture my heart. When I finally stopped long enough to let Him win, what I found wasn’t a strategy. It was Presence. It was Him. This is one of my favorite “doing life with God” stories, which is tucked in alongside so many others like it… real stories of faith, increase, and what it looks like to build wealth from a place of rest instead of striving.

The whole time I was chasing something to hold onto, God was chasing me. 38

Vaishali R. Nair

Building Kingdom Wealth

MUMBAI, INDIA Writing my chapter in Building Kingdom Wealth has been a journey of faith, reflection, and transformation. It reminded me that true wealth is not just about financial success but about living with purpose, integrity, generosity, and complete trust in God's plan. I learned that when we align our hearts, minds, and actions with His principles, we create a legacy that goes far beyond material riches. I am grateful for this opportunity, and above all, I thank God for His guidance, wisdom, and abundant grace throughout this journey. Glory to God, Thank You, God!

Vais hali womenworldleaders.com

Available through World Publishing and Productions, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. God has called you to an incredible journey of Building Kingdom Wealth. The authors of this book want you to do more than gain financial excess; they long for you to experience a transformation that can only come from aligning your heart, mind, and money with God’s truth. Kingdom wealth is your heritage. Begin to claim it today by exercising consistent decision-making, developing God-honoring habits, and responding with His wisdom. The personal stories and applicable teachings in this book will strengthen, encourage, and assist you to escape old habits, thinking, and patterns, setting you on a course of freedom. As you commit to intentional and consistent growth, this season is sure to be one of Building Kingdom Wealth, and in the process, God will bless you with fruit you never expected.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY!

Natalie Green n Kingdom LeadHERship

IMPACTEDS tory At the Crossroads Can you recall a moment in your life when you knew, without question, that something had shifted? I mean a moment when it seemed as though you were only an arm’s length away from something you had dreamed about, prayed for, or quietly contemplated for years? Then, suddenly, you felt the change. You knew something was different. You had arrived at a crossroads—the place where you had become who God was calling you to be. When I first encountered Women World Leaders, I found myself standing at such a crossroads. I sensed I was on the verge of something new. Every trial and triumph, every mountain and valley, every joy and disappointment had led me to that moment. Although I couldn’t see what lay ahead, I knew it would be unlike anything I had experienced before. It all began during a weekend conference as I sat at a table surrounded by women I had never met. Yet these unfamiliar faces carried such grace, kindness, and genuine love for the Lord that they welcomed me as though we had been lifelong friends. The first Kingdom LeadHERship Conference, hosted by the Association of Christian Business Women (ACBW), became the very conduit God used to introduce me to a sisterhood that would forever expand my understanding of kingdom relationships. I never imagined that meeting Kimberly, Crista, and Janet would leave such a lasting impression on my heart—but it did. At the time, I was quietly navigating physical challenges that no one knew about. Even so, I showed up determined to fulfill my assignment—to encourage, serve, and pour into the lives of other women. What I didn’t expect was that these beautiful sisters would pour back into me. They encouraged me, embraced me, prayed for me, and ministered to my own weary heart.

I SENSED GOD INVITING ME TO TRUST HIM BEYOND WHAT I COULD SEE.

It was a divine intersection where two worlds met, and the impact of that encounter has remained with me ever since. That weekend marked me profoundly. What seemed like a chance encounter opened the door for me to become a contributing author in the book Kingdom LeadHERship: Stepping Joyfully Into God’s Calling. My yes came in the form of a torn piece of paper with my name and phone number scribbled across it, placed into Kimberly’s hand. It felt much like standing at the edge of the deep end of a swimming pool—letting go of fear, releasing my insecurities, and jumping anyway. I felt ill-equipped, out of my league, and completely unprepared. Yet I sensed God inviting me to trust Him beyond what I could see. Looking back, I can confidently say that the embrace I experienced that weekend never ended. Throughout the following year, as we journeyed together through the writing process, my appreciation for Women World Leaders and its mission continued to deepen. Day by day, my heart grew fonder toward this incredible ministry and its unwavering commitment to sharing the love of Christ. Who could have imagined that just over a year after that introduction I would become a #1 best-selling author alongside an extraordinary group of kingdom women? The embrace still lingers. The sisterhood of Women World Leaders continues to inspire me to grow, heal, and lift others. That first encounter also gave me the courage to uncover parts of my own story that I had carefully hidden for many years. When I was invited to share during a Leadership Connect gathering, I found myself once again standing at a crossroads.

If God can do it for me, He can do it for you. 41

IMPACTED — NATALIE GREEN

Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I knew I had to take another leap of faith. This time, God was asking me to share some of the deepest and most carefully guarded chapters of my life—not for my sake, but for the healing of His daughters. So once again, I said yes. Yes, to bearing my soul. Yes, to revisiting places that had once held me captive in darkness. Yes, to vulnerability. Yes, to allowing God to use my story for His glory. As I shared, tears flowed freely. Yet I never once felt alone. Instead, it felt as though I was sitting among lifelong friends—women who simply celebrated one another’s victories and rejoiced in God’s faithfulness through every difficult season. That night changed me. I experienced a new level of freedom that has empowered me to continue pulling back the curtain on my past—not to relive the pain, but to celebrate God’s redeeming power. Today, I no longer hesitate to tell others how far the Lord has brought me because I want everyone to know this one truth:

If God can do it for me, He can do it for you. I will forever be grateful for what appeared to be a chance encounter but was, in reality, a divine appointment. It continues to stretch me, refine me, and draw me into greater alignment with God’s purpose for my life. The embrace still lingers. And for that, I will always thank God. May the Lord continue to bless the ministry of Women World Leaders as they faithfully encourage women around the world to step boldly into His calling.

I SHOWED UP DETERMINED TO FULFILL MY ASSIGNMENT—TO ENCOURAGE, SERVE, AND POUR INTO THE LIVES OF OTHER WOMEN.

Kingdom LeadHERship WOMEN WORLD LEADERS PRESENTS:

Stepping Joyfully Into God’s Calling God’s calling for your life is far greater than you can imagine. Being a kingdom leadHER begins with an awareness that God placed something valuable inside you. Kingdom LeadHERship: Stepping Joyfully Into God’s Calling is a collection of voices of women who have said yes to God in various seasons and circumstances, which will encourage and propel you into your calling. You were born with purpose and designed with intention. Whether your leadHERship unfolds in ministry, your home, the marketplace, or the quiet spaces where no one else sees, God will guide and sustain you, and all of heaven will celebrate your yes. We invite you to learn and grow from our stories as you joyfully step into your own calling to Kingdom LeadHERship.

GET YOUR COPY TODAY! Available through World Publishing and Productions, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. W O R L D P U B L I S H I N G S A N D P R O D U C T I O N S .C O M

Nonna’s kNOWledge by Carolyn Joy BE BOLD In the New Testament book of Acts, we learn about a first-century Jewish Pharisee and Roman citizen named Saul of Tarsus, whose name was later changed to Paul. As a fierce persecutor of the early Christian church, he actively participated in the arrest and persecution of newly converted believers in Jesus as the Son of God. Paul sincerely believed he was serving God and defending the Jewish faith. However, Paul’s life changed dramatically after his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Following this remarkable conversion, Paul became Christianity’s most influential missionary and theologian, dedicating his life to spreading the gospel throughout the Roman Empire. He also authored a significant portion of the New Testament, leaving a profound and lasting impact on Christian faith and doctrine. Because of his remarkable conversion and the powerful impact he had in leading both Jews and Gentiles to faith in Jesus, the promised Messiah, 44

People are naturally drawn to genuine kindness, and those qualities reflect the heart of Christ.

Paul was beaten, imprisoned, and persecuted many times. Acts 27 records Paul’s sailing to Rome, along with many other prisoners, under Roman authority after he exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case before the emperor. Sometimes God places us in situations we never planned or wanted. Yet even in those unexpected places, He can use us in mighty ways if we are willing to let Him work through us. Paul faithfully shared the gospel wherever he went, regardless of his circumstances or the people God placed in his path. When they encountered a violent storm at sea, Paul seized the opportunity to encourage everyone on board by sharing the vision God had given him the previous night. “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island” (Acts 27:22-26 NLT). Paul boldly shared the hope he had found and proclaimed the one true God who alone could save them. He never cowered in fear or complained

about his circumstances. Instead, he lived his life with the single purpose of helping others experience the same hope, grace, and mercy that God had so freely given him. In Acts 27:39-44, the story continues with the fulfillment of God's promise. Just as Paul had foretold, the ship was wrecked, and the island they had been promised came into view. When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore (Acts 27:39-44 NLT). When we put our trust in Jesus, He faithfully provides a "bay with a beach" while He works in our

NONNA’S KNOWLEDGE

Nonna’s Chuckle: When my son was 2 years old, we moved into a new home. On moving day, I set him up in the living room with a few toys while we hastily unpacked boxes. A few minutes passed when he suddenly jumped to his feet, screaming and running in circles. Startled, I rushed to him. "What's wrong?" Looking up at me with big brown eyes, he cried, "I don't know what to do! I don't know how to find the bathroom!" Smiling, I took his little hand and led him through the unfamiliar house. As I showed him around, I assured him everything would be okay. He now had more than one bathroom from which to choose. How often are we like my young son? When life places us in unfamiliar surroundings, we become anxious, unable to see the way forward. Yet God gently reminds us that He is always with us, guiding our steps, even when we can’t see where He is leading us.

hearts and our lives. Paul was not the only one who escaped the sinking ship. Acts 27:44 tells us, "So everyone escaped safely to shore." What an incredible testimony for the prisoners and the Roman soldiers who witnessed God's faithfulness firsthand! I cannot help but wonder how many of those men will one day be in heaven sharing the story of this miraculous rescue. I also cannot help but think how different the outcome might have been if Paul had sat in a corner feeling sorry for himself instead of trusting God and boldly proclaiming His promises. We do not always understand why we face trials and hardships, but we can rest assured that, as believers in Christ, God always has a purpose. He is continually at work, using every circumstance—whether joyful or painful—for His glory and for our good. So practice boldness NOW. Never be afraid to talk about the goodness of God. You never know who is listening or how your words may impact the lives of those around you. Even when you cannot see the results, God is always working. Let your light shine. Remember that both children and adults are watching your example. Smile. Choose joy. Be forgiving, generous, and kind. People are naturally drawn to genuine kindness, and those qualities reflect the heart of Christ. Pray in public without fear. Don't be hesitant to bow your head and thank God for your meal at a restaurant. Don't be afraid to tell someone you will pray for them; better yet, pray with them right then and there. Share your story. Tell others how God has blessed you and how He has transformed your heart and your life. Speak often of His goodness and faithfulness. People may question God, but they cannot deny the testimony of a life that has been changed by Him. Your story is living evidence of His grace.

Carolyn Joy is a Southwest Florida Real Estate Agent, mother of three married children, and Nonna to eleven grandchildren. She serves in her church and helps lead a women’s Bible study in her community. She’s also a published author. The Overflow of the Heart and Let Your Heart Overflow with Joy are both devotional journals that encourage scripture memorization and writing prayers. Her fiction novel, Out of the Grey Zone, demonstrates God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional love.

g n i w o l l o F Son THE

photo and writing by Michele Hughes

New Mercies Do you remember your first? Once you experience it, a sunrise that is, you’ll never forget it or see it the same. The sun is the most powerful object in our solar system. It’s not random. It’s 93 million miles away from the earth, perfectly positioned to prevent us from burning up or freezing to death. One million earths could fit inside the sun, which is constantly burning. In the Word, God uses the sunrise to symbolize His faithfulness, new beginnings, and daily mercy. He calls us to praise Him from the rising of the sun to its setting. Psalm 113:3 (NIV):) From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. Ecclesiastes 11:7 (ESV): Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.

Like the sun, we were made for a purpose. God set the sun in place. He calls the stars by name. And He knows our name. If God is faithful enough to make sure the sun rises upon us daily, He is faithful enough to complete the work He started in you and me.

God’s mercies are new every morning!

Like the sun, we were made for a purpose. Let us be more like the sun: May we wake up and rise in obedience until we lie down. May we shine so that the world sees the Son in us.

The sun rises at His command. Every day!

He is the light of the world.

Psalm 145:9 (ESV:) The Lord is good to all, and His mercy is over all that He has made.

Michele Hughes, a #1 best-selling author, resides in Jupiter, Florida, with her husband. They own and operate GoLifeSavers.com, where Michele has taught CPR classes since 2011 as the lead instructor. Michele holds a master’s degree in education and serves on the Leadership Development team in Women World Leaders. She loves the Son/sun, family, paddle boarding, travel, and encouraging others.

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Have you heard? Experience God’s extravagant love and your exquisite purpose through the Women World Leaders’ Podcast that focuses on teaching, inspiration, and encouragement.

Listen to Women World Leaders podcast—every Monday! Our prayer is that as your intimacy with God grows, your love for one another will flourish, enabling you to live out a courageous, purpose-driven life, fueled by the Word, led by the Spirit, and propelled forward into your God-given destiny through fearless faith!

From His heart to yours, we are Women World Leaders!

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Faith and Family by Donna Whartenby

THERE’S ALWAYS A CHOICE The Old Testament story of Joshua gives us a picture of the Israelites preparing to enter the longawaited Promised Land. God had made a covenant promise generations prior for the land of Canaan to be given to Abraham’s descendants, the people of Israel (Genesis 15:18-19). In Joshua 3:5, Joshua instructed the people to consecrate themselves—to sanctify and make themselves clean (Exodus 19), which would allow them to enter into the presence of the LORD. God’s consecration goal was to set the Israelites apart from other evil nations in the land. Choosing to follow this ritual prepared the hearts of His people to serve Him as a new nation. The Israelites’ exodus from Egypt did not take them directly to the promised land because they rebelled against God’s covenant laws. As a result of their disobedience, the generation of exiled slaves from Egypt was forbidden to enter the land promised to their ancestors. Their fear led them to fail to trust

God. This rebellion resulted in their wandering through the wilderness for forty years. During those years, God faithfully provided His people water, quail, and manna, a sweet, bread-like food. Even though they had rebelled against God, they knew He was with them as promised. They ate the provisions He sent, while He protected them from the attacking armies. Even today, God’s promises remain to protect and provide for us. His promises are for anyone who chooses to trust, submit, and serve Him. His rewards are endless. All of the original Israelites who were exiled from Egypt died by the end of the forty years in the wilderness, except two: Joshua and Caleb. The next generation prepared to follow Joshua—God’s anointed leader—across the Jordan River to finally enter the Promised Land. This new generation had a fresh opportunity to submit to God’s will. God’s presence was carried ahead of them in the ark of the covenant, symbolic of His Lordship and their

Are you willing to choose to trust God’s plan and go where He leads you? 50

submission. God promised to drive out the wicked nations who lived in the land of His people (Joshua 3:10-11). This new generation had heard stories of how God parted the waters of the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape the Egyptian army. Now in their lifetime, the priests stepped into the flood-high waters of the Jordan to demonstrate their faith before God acted (Joshua 3:15-16). Millions of Israelites trusted God’s plan—knowing God fulfills His promises—obediently following the priests as they stepped into the river. They all experienced God’s miraculous power and authority as God’s promise for them to cross over “dry ground” into His promised land (3:17) was complete.

In life, we, too, must make choices. We choose to get up and dress in the morning. We choose to go to work or church. We choose to trust and be obedient to our loving Father as we submit to serving Him in our daily life. As in biblical times, there is always a choice to make. Are you willing to choose to trust God’s plan and go where He leads you? Or will you choose to travel your own path without His miraculous provisions, protection, and promises? Walking with God requires obedience and trust. The choice is yours. Ask God to show you His plan in your life and allow Him to lead the way. He will—just as He did for the nation of Israel.

Walking with God requires obedience and trust.

Donna is an Amazon #1 best-selling author of Unshakable: God Will Sustain You. With her education degree, she taught public school and corporate education. Now retired, Donna leads women’s ministry in their walk with Jesus. She loves teaching Bible studies, playing the piano, and singing. Donna lives in Florida with her loving husband, Keith, of 42 years. Their son, Bill, and his wife have three wonderful grandchildren with whom they love to vacation together.

Musings on the

Book of John "EAT MY FLESH AND DRINK MY BLOOD" – REALLY?

JOHN 6:52–70 NIV

Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

by Connie Hecker 52

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”

JESUS KNOWS THE PEOPLE WHO SURROUND AND FOLLOW HIM. HE KNOWS WHO IS AUTHENTIC AND WHO IS NOT.

A major turning point. So many followers now. Then this. Jesus, in Capernaum, has confounded the miracle-enthused crowd with deep truth about who He is, where He is from, why He is here, and what they must do to have eternal life. He reveals all this while in the place of authority, the synagogue. They do not like it. They find it “difficult” and “hard” to listen to. “Harsh, fierce, violent, stern, offensive, intolerable” are other translations of the Greek word. Who can hear this message? Even today, the church is divided over the interpretation of this passage. At that time, those who had followed Jesus into the wilderness, eaten miraculous provisions of bread and fish, witnessed miracles, and wanted to make Him king, now react to this as a violently repulsive thought. Imagine how that sounds. I am not into blood drinking. It is indeed hard to comprehend what Jesus means from this. We are still early in His ministry. As I read this, I am reminded of the parable Jesus told about the sower (Matthew 13 and Luke 4); I try to categorize according to the parable which group this is that walks away because Jesus’ words are so difficult to hear. They grumble. They mutter and complain. (Sounds familiar. Think of assembly instructions that come only with pictures.) I mutter and complain when I do not understand something; that is my bad habit. I do know how to change a bad habit. It requires me to go back to how it started and make a new choice. This is an old pattern—common to most children. Sometimes we choose to walk away—avoid that which we cannot understand. Me, when I am particularly childish, I attempt to grumble my way through—because I want to “get through.” Until I choose to shut up the grumble and think, and ask new questions that seek to understand the big picture, I remain stuck. I can choose to keep trying to understand or to walk away. We can choose to follow truth even when we do not

understand. Don’t let the grumble stick around; trust God to provide clarity, as we move forward in faith, eyes and ears and heart wide open. As Jesus speaks, many are downright offended, certain that what they are hearing is s horribly offensive. Doubt creeps in. Feelings and emotions boil over the words of “the One and only Son of God.” Doubt blooms. They don’t trust their own hearing, and they fully believe they understand what Jesus means. Do they doubt their ability to follow? Jesus directs His next question to that. They don’t believe because they know His parents. So He asks if they would believe if they saw Him ascend to where He came from before. (Note, according to Luke, some did see this eventually.) What will it take for me to believe without grumbling, without complaining? What will it take for me to trust Jesus without the doubt? I have had enough experiences, yet when I am tired and stressed, I slip into that muttering mode that serves to do nothing but lead me toward anger, bitterness, and resentment.

Am I really “eating” and “drinking” in Jesus? The word for “eat” here is not one that we use when we gobble down food in hunger, but rather when we chew over a meal, enjoying and exploring its taste. The word for “drink” is “receiving spiritually that which refreshes, strengthens and nourishes the soul” (Vines Expository Dictionary definition for the verb pinõ). I clearly need to prioritize my spiritual health as much as I attend to my daily meals. How foolish I am to my body when I do not take time to have a balanced meal and stay hydrated with water. How much MORE foolish I am when I neglect my soul’s food and drink.

MUSINGS ON THE BOOK OF JOHN

Lord, save me. Remind me of the truth that I can trust You even in my lack of understanding. I can follow You in my exhaustion and rest in my stress, from my stress. You have it handled. I can do this by following You, plodding forward in trust, inviting You into the boat where I am. I can refresh myself in You by drinking in Your Word, savoring every minute in Your constant presence that refreshes and nourishes me as I learn from You. There is no place I can be that You are not there with me. There is no depth too deep, no height too high, nor problem too hard, nor journey too difficult, that You are not there with me to rest in, to talk to, to drink in Your very presence. Jesus, You are One with the Father and the Spirit. Your Words are Spirit and Your Words are life. It’s not about life in the flesh, nor about carnal living. In Capernaum, the people had been seeking after You in their flesh for their flesh. You taught them that there is no eternal profit for the flesh, even though You healed and fed their bodies (and still do for us). It was and is all for the work of the Spirit of truth and life. For life eternal. Jesus knows the people who surround and follow Him. He knows who is authentic and who is not. Leaders have all kinds of followers. Jesus knows His betrayer; it was always part of the plan. The Father draws them all for a purpose. Jesus spoke of an eternal truth which some could “hear”; others only listened and were weirded out. They all had a choice to make: continue in faith or walk away? We all have a choice to make. Jesus lost many numbers that day, but He did not lose those whom the Father had given Him.

What draws me to Jesus? Who holds me there? Jesus. The number of followers shrinks. Is this a winnowing of truth? The scattered seed snatched away by the birds. The quickly formed seedling drying out and falling on hard ground. We always have a choice—while we yet live. Jesus confronts His disciples with an opportunity to leave, to bow out gracefully. None of the Twelve leave. Not even Judas Iscariot. Peter speaks for them all; he does not understand much at this time, but he knows this much: There is no other place to go. Only Jesus has the words of eternal life. They have enough to follow Him. I don’t always understand, Jesus, but this I do know: Only You. You alone are life, and I shall walk this life with You, wherever that leads me, regardless of those around me who may fail me, as I too sometimes fail You and others. It is only You who has the words of life. You alone are worthy. Let me feast and refresh myself in Your Word, in Your world, walking and discussing and turning to You as I journey this gift of life from You. You are the author and the finisher of time. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever. You are worthy. There certainly is none like YOU!

Connie Hecker, MFA, is a Scenic Designer, recently retired from teaching at Liberty University. She is a mom, stepmom, and grandmother. Her “first career” was in interior and industrial design. Her “second” was as Manager of Operations and Maneuvers (note initials) in her extended family. Her “third” was as a professor. Now she is discovering what God has in store as her “fourth.”

Young Voices THE NEXT GENERATION

by Ansley Willard

Living Free My name is Ansley Willard; I am 12 years old and live in North Carolina. I am homeschooled, which I love very much. If I could share anything about myself that would help someone else, it would be about anxiety. Anxiety used to be a big part of my life. I’m not sure where it crept in, but I know exactly how it left. The world tells us a lot of lies about who we are and how we should be. I grew up with God in my life, but after going through something traumatic, I felt God was far away. I think feeling like I wasn’t close to Him is what gave me the most anxiety. Going to school made things worse. I really don’t know why, but once I was able to start homeschooling, things got better. I love homeschooling because I get to be in an environment where I can be myself and I can be close to God and talk to my mom about everything. It’s not always easy. I miss going out of the house as much as I used to, and my little sister wants all my attention, but the pros are better than the cons. One thing I can say is that I don’t have anxiety anymore. It’s just gone. I believe that God used this to bring me back closer to Him and away from all the noise in the world. If you have anxiety, it’s not a bad thing or something you should be ashamed of, but you should tell someone or ask for help. I don’t know if I’ll ever have it again, but I am happy with where I’m at now.

A scripture that helped me is Psalm 23. I heard that on the radio in a song called “Still Waters” when I was going through anxiety; it’s about a girl who was also struggling with it. The song made me see that I’m not alone and gave me hope that I can be free of it, too.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (PSALM 23:1-4 NIV)

The most important thing I would like to share is that God can rescue us from everything, and because of that, I can be free of anxiety and free to be me!

GOD LOOKS DOWN ON US WITH A MUCH GREATER LOVE THAN THIS.

A FOCUS ON HIM photo and writing by Lillian Cucuzza HOW GOD LOOKS AT US The Sandhill Crane parents looked at their first baby crane, called a colt, in awe and admiration. They couldn’t keep their eyes off their long-awaited newborn. The look of love was priceless. The pair struggled for the last several years to hatch an egg. Either predators ate the eggs or the shells never matured. The huge birds would move locations each time to start a new nest. Once the female lays an egg, it takes 28-32 days to incubate, and both the male and female take turns sitting on it. This time, the nest was in the middle of a small swamp. I was thrilled it was close enough for me to monitor and document it daily. I found the female sitting on two eggs in the nest that were laid one or two days earlier. I had never photographed a hatching or even captured the precious colts in their first week of life, so this was a gift from God to observe the nest for the next thirty-five days.

I snapped a photo of the first egg being broken from the inside out by the newborn colt. I thought it was dirt at first, but upon examining the photo later on my computer’s big screen, I realized it was a hole created by the colt’s egg tooth (designed by God for just this purpose) to help it break out of its shell! From that moment on, I was at the nest site every morning, noon, and sunset to capture the colts’ progress. I was blessed to get photos of the breakout from the shell and the fuzzball colt wobbling around on its huge feet and tiny body. I watched as it cuddled up to its momma, climbing onto her back and hiding in her feathers for protection. It swamp-walked to eat its first real meal provided by the adults. Sadly, the colt was snatched by a predator between the fifth and sixth day. The second egg never hatched. While I watched how adoringly the parents looked upon and nurtured this precious new creation for five days, it made me think of how lovingly God looks upon us and cares for us. It is incomparable! Just like the miraculous birth of the colt, we are all miracles from God, and He looks upon us with unlimited love and affection because we are made in His image. (Genesis 1:26-27) We were created to fellowship with and worship Him! We are God’s prized possession, the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). He knew us before the foundations of the earth. He created our inmost being. He knit us together in our mother’s womb, and we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-16), He is our hiding place (Psalm 32:7).

GOD KNOWS THE GOOD PLANS HE HAS IN STORE FOR US. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (JEREMIAH 29:11 NIV)

HE PREPARED THOSE PLANS BEFORE WE WERE BORN! For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared for us in advance. (EPHESIANS 2:10 NIV)

God looks upon us as His treasure with such great love that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to be crucified to pay the ultimate penalty we deserve for OUR sins! (John 3:16) Thanks be to God, Christ rose from the dead three days later to overcome death and give us the gift of eternal life with Him. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13 NIV). God’s love for us is matchless and unsurpassable! This photo of the Sandhill Crane parents looking lovingly at their colt brings me to tears. God looks down on us with a much greater love than this, despite our downfalls. God’s gift of salvation is the greatest act of love! YOU ARE LOVED INFINITELY BY GOD!

Lillian’s passions are nature photography and serving God. She is an international award-winning photographer, a best-selling author, illustrator, and a regular contributor to Voice of Truth magazine. Lillian uses her photography and writing talents to glorify and honor God for His beautiful creation. Visit, like, and follow her websites: www.LillianCucuzzaPhotography.com, www.HisCreationsLLC.com, Facebook and Instagram: @HISCreationsLLC, or email her at Lillian@HisCreationsllc.com.

Through s e y E a Mother' s by Diane Cheveldayoff HEAR AND OBEY In raising our family, my husband and I have prayed for God’s wisdom and guidance to teach our girls from an early age how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. The reality is that each of us must be able to recognize the difference between the Holy Spirit’s voice and outside influences. We added to our usual prayer when we internalized that the verbal acknowledgment of hearing the Holy Spirit does not necessarily mean that action will follow. Now we pray, “Holy Spirit, help us hear and obey You immediately.” When we truly listen and apply this principle, everything else falls into alignment. Hearing the Holy Spirit and being obedient to Him should be aligned and synonymous. As James 1:22 clearly states, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (NIV). Obedience has always been important in our family, and we have further defined partial obedience as disobedience. How many scriptures do we read or sermons do we hear that we never apply? Often, we barely remember the instructions God gave us five minutes after hearing them. If we hear the Holy Spirit direct, correct, warn, or prompt us…and we don’t act on it, then we are being disobedient. We must apply His teaching, not months down the road, but immediately. Otherwise, we rationalize, justify, and allow the enemy to use outside voices to influence our decisions. Trusted outside godly confirmation of what the Holy Spirit says is good, but we can’t ignore that God Himself wants our full attention and obedience.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. (PROVERBS 1:5 NIV)

Lack of action can be considered a sin of omission; that is, neglecting to do what God prompts us to do. Most people focus on sins of commission— those actions that are offensive to God. It’s usually easier to identify our disobedience when we make choices that dishonor God than when we turn away from the good deeds He calls us to. When we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit telling us, nudging us, or tugging on our hearts, we can choose whether or not to respond. Sometimes the choice is between the comfort of the known and the uncertainty of the unknown. Sins of omission can be detrimental. Minimally speaking, they may result in a simple feeling of guilt, such as when we do not call someone when prompted and later find the difference our call would have made. However, neglecting to follow God’s commands could also lead us to experience a delayed awareness, miss a blessing, or face an avoidable consequence; even worse, it could change the trajectory of our lives. Whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: sins of omission leave us unfulfilled.

So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. (DEUTERONOMY 5:32-33 NIV)

With each prompt from God, we either obey or we don’t. Our actions show if we fully trust Him or if we don’t. It’s up to us how rocky or crooked we make our own path. Take time to hear and truly listen intently to God, then immediately respond to His promptings. Immediate obedience demonstrates a heart to please our heavenly Father. Our goal is to live out the best life He has for us. In some way or another, we will all fall short; that is where the grace of God steps in. Forgiveness and mercy take over, and His unconditional love for us shines through! Psalm 86:15 proclaims, But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness (NLT). God will honor whatever we choose, but don’t we all want His best?

Diane is a professional meeting planner with over 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry—planning, contracting, and executing meetings and events worldwide (www.ExecutiveDiamond.com). She and her husband Les have been married 35 years, have three beautiful adult girls, and work together in their ministry, HALO - Highway, Healing Arts Life’s Oxygen (www.HALOHighway.com). Although she never envisioned being a writer, Diane loves the impact made on lives in the various ministries of Women World Leaders and World Publishing and Productions.

KINGDOM PROMISE:

AbundanceHope , , and aFuture by Kelly Williams Hale CHARIS: THE GRACE BEHIND YOUR GIFT Have you ever been in a season that you didn’t understand? Last year was one of those seasons for me. Over the course of three months, I attended seven funerals. Seven. I remember feeling the emotional heaviness of losing so many loved ones. And in the middle of that turmoil, the Lord kept bringing me back to one question: What am I doing with the time, the gifts, and the grace He’s given me? One of those funerals was for my friend Penny, someone I grew up with. Years ago, she and her husband did something that probably looked crazy to everyone around her—she founded a K-12 school focused on individualized learning and rooted in the arts. It wasn’t a safe choice. It seemingly didn’t make sense. But she had a gift—to lead and educate kids—that she stewarded well. She left a legacy that’s still standing today. I also lost my cousin Stephanie. She wasn’t only my cousin but became a dear friend who interacted often with the women in my Sisters Who Shine Facebook group, where she was always encouraging someone in the comments. Losing her, Penny, and five others in such a short window was a harsh reminder: None of us know how many days we have, but while we’re here, we get to decide what we do with our gifts. During those months, I kept coming back to 1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV):

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace... in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Every one of us has received a gift—not just the people in ministry, not just those with a platform or a following. All of us. And we’re called to be stewards of that gift. To steward simply means to manage. A steward doesn’t own what they’re caring for; they manage someone else’s business, on their behalf. Our responsibility is managing our gifts. So where does the gift come from? Grace. The word Peter uses is the Greek word “charis,” which means “grace.” It’s where we get the word charisma from. Our charisma—our giftedness—isn’t something we manufacture; it’s grace in motion—God’s empowerment to do what we could never do in our own strength. And that’s the point. If we could accomplish our calling in our own effort, what reason would we have to give God the glory? That’s exactly why our assignment (our calling) often feels bigger than we are. Penny’s school didn’t make sense on paper. My own journey of speaking and writing didn’t make sense either—I’m the girl who couldn’t stand to hear her own voice on the answering machine! But grace doesn’t need our comfort; it just needs our surrender.

IN HIS GRACE, GOD HAS GIVEN US DIFFERENT GIFTS FOR DOING CERTAIN THINGS WELL. (ROMANS 12:6 NLT)

GRACE DOESN’T NEED OUR COMFORT; IT JUST NEEDS OUR SURRENDER.

Peter says “varied grace”—meaning your gift and mine are never meant to look the same. Maybe you are gifted in business. Maybe your gift right now is raising your children; now that’s a clear season of stewardship. Maybe you are gifted at art, or teaching, or simply showing up for your neighbors. No calling is less spiritual than another. I spent years comparing my gifts to others’ callings, wishing I could do what they did, before I realized that was not God’s plan or desire. He’s asked me to steward what He has given me. Think of Joseph in Potiphar’s house (Genesis 39). Pharaoh trusted Joseph so completely that he never micromanaged him. That’s the picture of how God works with us. He’s not hovering, waiting for us to fail. He’s entrusted us, and He’s supplying the strength to carry out our calling, exactly as 1 Peter 4:11 promises: Whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies (ESV). The last piece is this: Receive your gift. It can be difficult to believe we’re capable of stewarding something significant if we don’t fully understand how loved we are by Christ. We are His daughters, and He loves to give good gifts to his children (Matthew 7:11). We simply have to say yes. Here’s my encouragement: Find somewhere quiet to sit and listen to the Lord. Ask God to show you what He’s placed in you, your “charis.” If you can, grab a piece of paper and follow this prompt: n n n n n

Draw a line down the center of the page. On the left side, write down who God is. In the right column, write down who God says you are. As you listen, ask Holy Spirit to reveal what He has placed in you. Then trust that the gift He gave you, however unexpected or however small it feels, was never meant to be hidden.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (MATTHEW 5:14-16 NIV)

Kelly Williams Hale is an author, speaker, and coach. Through inner healing and intimacy work, Kelly teaches women how to get past proving their worth and how to fall in love with God. You are invited to join her Facebook community—Sisters Who Shine— for inspiration, encouragement, and support. She can also be reached at thebebravelife@gmail.com.

A Call to Writers

WE’RE GATHERING AUTHORS FOR A NEW BOOK IN 2027:

ENCOUNTERING GOD: OVERCOME OBSTACLES. EMBRACE TRUTH. LIVE FREE. IS GOD NUDGING YOU RIGHT NOW? CONTACT US AND SEE HOW GOD MIGHT USE YOUR STORY! EMAIL KIMBERLY@WOMENWORLDLEADERS.COM OR CONNIE@WOMENWORLDLEADERS.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.

SONS OF THE KING by Dr. Jia Richardson

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” JEREMIAH 29:11 NIV

The God of Prosperity Listening to God is essential to living the purpose-driven lives that He has ordained for us. Sons of the King, the more you listen to God, the more your steps align with His and your plans lead towards a prosperous future. God knows what He has declared, and He is true to His Word, His will, and His way. God’s way is righteous, and He doesn’t wish for anyone to fall. Harm is not the portion of God’s intentions for His sons, but instead the intentions of His heart are to produce the byproducts of a hopeful future. If you pursue the plans God has for you in each decision you make, Sons of the King, you will have a rich hope and future. Sons of the King, the authenticity and fullness of the promises of prosperity are your inheritance. God has declared in Deuteronomy that we will experience His blessings if we obey the Lord our God. He will bless our towns and fields,

the offspring of our herds and flocks, and our fruit baskets and breadboards. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed! You are the sons of the God of prosperity. You are the sons of the God who has opened the windows of heaven. No good thing will He withhold from you. You are the sons of the living God who has prepared all that He has purposed for His sons with great joy. God’s love overflows in every place your feet will tread. The fullness of His grace is the overcast of joy, peace, and happiness. Sons of the King, God has great plans for you. He is mapping out a pathway that is complete in all of its ways and at every turn. God is the God of prosperity, and on His watch, His creation will only succeed and be victorious.

Women World Leaders

COVER STORY VOICE OF TRUTH

God's Design on Display photo and writing by Lillian Cucuzza Lillian Cucuzza, an integral leader in Women World Leaders, is living out her passion—her dream come true. Drawn to capture God’s wide array of creation, Lillian turned her hobby of photography into a business called HIS Creations. We are pleased and thankful that over the years, Lillian has allowed us to use many of her photos in correlation with biblical truths. God has a purpose for each one of us. The photo of the bee gathering pollen on the cover of this edition of Voice of Truth perfectly illustrates the connection between God’s design and our spiritual growth. Just as a bee moves from bloom to bloom to gather pollen for the hive, the Holy Spirit moves among us, turning God’s Word into spiritual nourishment that spreads faith in life. It is truly incredible how we can find nuggets on display in God’s creation that inspire us to dig deeper for His wisdom as we witness His miraculous processes at work.

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. (PROVERBS 16:24 ESV)

As I process this scripture, I turn it into the thought God brings to my mind: As bees turn nectar into honey, God takes difficult trials in our lives and transforms them into sweetness. In Romans 8:28, God promises He will work ALL things together for our good, and in so doing, He gives us wisdom, strength, and a deeper faith. The bee’s pollen gathering illustrates how we are meant to feed on God’s Word and share His love, making life sweeter for everyone we encounter. May you “bee” blessed today as you let the honey of God’s goodness drip from your lips, spreading His love to everyone you encounter.

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11th edition

| quarter I

Healing Heart and

Soul

by Alicia Renee Roberts Pocket Full of Sunshine There was a time when I wondered if joy would ever become more than just an occasional visitor in my life. Life has a way of bringing us seasons we never planned for. The loss of someone we love, the end of a relationship, unexpected disappointments, and dreams that never came to pass can leave us wondering if joy is something we’ll ever experience again. For a while, I believed that finding happiness somehow meant I wasn’t honoring what I’d lost. I carried an invisible weight of guilt every time I smiled, enjoyed dinner with friends, planned a trip, or found myself laughing unexpectedly. It almost felt wrong to experience joy while my heart was still healing. It felt a bit dishonoring, experiencing some pleasures in life while other people in my life were still buried in grief. But as I gazed out of my window on a sunny day, God gently began teaching me something beautiful: Healing isn’t about forgetting. It’s about learning to carry both grief and gratitude at the same time. Now, no matter what season I am in, I reflect on the small moments that have brought me joy: the warmth of the sun on my face while sitting on the beach and enjoying the sound of the waves. Taking in the aromas in a new coffee shop while catching up with a friend. Eating popcorn and watching a movie with my son. There is nothing too grand about any of these moments, yet experiencing and reflecting on each allows my heart to feel lighter. Joy doesn’t always arrive with fireworks; sometimes it can come through the ordinary moments. Remembering and focusing on those times has become my “pocket full of sunshine”.

Joy doesn’t always arrive with fireworks; sometimes it can come through the ordinary moments.

Psalm 84:11 NLT says, For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. In that passage of Scripture, we are reminded that God is our life-giving light and protection from harm. As the physical sun rises, it provides light in the once-dark places and nurtures and sustains life. Even when we don’t deserve it, the Lord forgives us and gives us grace for the day and strength to live victoriously. I find comfort in the realization that the Lord God, our sun, desires that we bask in the rays of hope and glory He shines down on us. Each healing process is unique; others may not understand how you heal. And life after loss may never look exactly like it did before. But that doesn’t mean that your future won’t be meaningful or fulfilling. Don’t allow guilt or the opinions of others to rob you of the life God is inviting you to live. Remember…

There is no shame in choosing to live again. There is no shame in smiling after heartbreak. There is no shame in creating new memories while still cherishing old ones. Joy is one of God’s gifts to us. Nehemiah reminds us, “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV). Joy doesn’t erase our pain, but it does give us strength to keep moving through it. As I continued to navigate heartbreak and moments of grief, listening to my heart and not denying my feelings helped me the most. When I needed rest, I took time to rest. When I needed time alone, I stayed inside and put my phone on do not disturb. When I was overwhelmed with sadness, I prayed and gave my cares to the Lord. When I needed joy and laughter, I reached in my pocket for sunshine and began to smile. Your pocket of sunshine may look different than mine. Maybe it’s taking a walk after dinner, reading your Bible before sunrise, listening to worship music during your commute, or watching your grandchildren play. Perhaps you find joy in planting flowers, serving someone else, or simply sitting quietly with God before the day begins. Whatever reminds you that God’s goodness is still present is worth holding onto. Healing doesn’t require you to choose between remembering your pain and embracing your future. It doesn’t mean that you can’t smile, chart a new adventure, or try to pick up the pieces of a life that may have been broken. With Christ, you can do all of those. Keep collecting the small moments of grace, peace, and unexpected joy. They are reminders that even after life’s longest winters, God still specializes in bringing new life.

Alicia has faced her fair share of obstacles but perseveres in the face of adversity and empowers other women to do the same. She has successfully balanced life as a single mom, working as a Corporate America executive, entrepreneur, and serving her community through church work and as a member of her sorority. Her commitment to helping others achieve their goals inspired her to become a best-selling author, speaker, and certified confidence and inner-healing coach. In 2020, she founded The Confident Lily, a personal development company that equips women all over the world to heal emotionally, be more faithful, find their personal power, and live their best life confidently. If you are in need of putting the pieces of your life back together, visit www.confidentlily.com/pieces for free resources and support.

Loving Little Me

by Jessica Prukner

t was supposed to be a routine visit. I had entered my fourth decade of life, and some routine well screenings came along with the new territory. I had no lumps or concerns; it was simply the age to start checking things out. I had put off making the appointment for a few weeks but finally found an office close to home and worked up the courage to go. I walked into the building, and immediately my armpits started sweating. I walked up to the counter. “Name?” “Jessica Prukner,” I said quietly, feeling like this friendly check-in lady was my mortal enemy. “Here is your clipboard of forms. Please go fill them out,” she said, pointing at the waiting room seats. I sat down, feeling like I couldn’t catch my breath. My heart was racing so badly in my chest that I paused to check my heart rate on my Apple Watch. Over 100 beats just sitting down! It is usually around 60, I thought with alarm to myself as I watched it climb to 115. What is wrong with me? Am I having a heart attack? 70

Come with me on this journey as I tell my story of healing.

Despite freaking out inside my head, I managed to fill out the forms and make it to the next waiting room, where I was told to put on the cute pink gown. By that point, I was sweating and felt like I was going to throw up. Somehow, I managed to make it through the mammogram screening without passing out. When I got to my car, I immediately broke down crying! I was pretty sure I just had an anxiety attack. If I didn’t find help, I would die from stress and anxiety long before the things I was being screened for would affect me. I needed help. The results of the screening were fine, but I definitely was not. This season of life was already a struggle for me. I had landed in a place of severe depression after many life challenges. I was dealing with the loss of

a business and people I loved dearly, moving multiple homes across states, caring for one child with an autoimmune disease and another who was neurodivergent, and handling my own autoimmune sickness—all while trying to deal with everyday life. I was exhausted and depressed, and, to top it all off, my marriage was struggling. This was no way to live. I read my Bible, spent time in nature, took healthy supplements, exercised daily, and saw a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) therapist weekly. Still, I was unable to show up for myself or my family. Trying to be happy and positive felt like a full-time job. Desperate to find answers, I went for a brain scan at Amen Clinic in Hollywood, Florida. When my scan came back, the clinic set up another appointment. The doctor showed me my brain on the screen as he tried to explain that my lobes and cortices showed I had PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). I was so confused. He kept reading findings and saying words. According to him, I had medical PTSD; I had scored very high on the complex trauma test (look this up!). While I was happy to hear that there was a reason for how I was feeling, I had so many questions: How do I have PTSD? What trauma? I processed through my life; I had no big T’s. I had never been to war. I was never in a serious accident. I was never sexually assaulted. Still, the doctor told me to find someone local who uses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. More words I didn’t understand. But I moved forward to the next step of solving my problems.

I could see what I longed for, but I couldn’t grasp it.

A BEAUTIFUL MESS

In this new article, “Loving Little Me,” I will share my journey of internal healing with you. I didn’t simply “fix” my anxiety, depression, or even PTSD; I’ve spent the last four years diving deep into my entire life’s trauma. And now I want to open up and share my real, raw, and painful experiences that led to healing, wholeness, and everything the Holy Spirit offers: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control. My therapist has taken me on a journey to find where “Little Jessica” was hurting, alone, and needing someone to love, see, and know her. I invite you on this journey with me. My prayer is that as you come along, you will find your own healing; find your own “Little You.” I pray you will see how much Jesus loves you—all of you—and that He will show you how to love yourself as much as He loves you. There was a time I read about the fruits of the Spirit and thought, I want those attributes in my life so badly, but it seems as if they are behind a glass window. I could see what I longed for, but I couldn’t grasp it. I didn’t know how to put on the qualities that Jesus had waiting for me! My journey of healing with Jesus has allowed me to embrace the attributes of the Holy Spirit, to clothe myself in them, and to allow them to become who I am. The beautiful part is that my healing didn’t require me to do all the work I had been doing; I only needed to allow Jesus’ love and grace to flow through me. Come with me on this journey as I tell my story of healing. Dive deep with me as I explain the process and the path I found to greater self-healing. Jesus loves you so much, and He wants you to love yourself with the same love.

Jessica Prukner is a bestselling author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves encouraging others to discover the freedom, healing, and hope that God offers. Her greatest passion is pointing people to the peace and freedom found in Christ. Jessica lives in Florida with her husband, Ian, and their three children, including one who is now away at college.

L ve Cards SPREAD THE GOSPEL MESSAGE OF CHRIST TO THE WORLD.

Pass them out to anyone God puts on your heart. We invite you to partner with us and share these beautiful LOVE CARDS while out and about in your day-to-day routine. The QR code on the back of the card will direct people to watch a life-changing, 6-minute video provided by our friends, The Heaven Guy Team. Available in six languages, the video shares true love— the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Order your set of LOVE cards (qty. 50) when you visit womenworldleaders.com, click the “Donate” tab, and designate your gift of $25.00 or more to “WWL LOVE CARDS” via the dropdown menu. Scan the QR code above to watch the video now. Then visit womenworldleaders.com to order your LOVE cards and begin your mission of sharing the gospel—one card at a time!

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Ever Interceding

WE HAVE NOT CEASED TO PRAY FOR YOU, ASKING THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL IN ALL

by Diana Brown

SPIRITUAL WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING.

Praying Like the Apostle Paul If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to pray or wished your prayers felt deeper, you’re not alone. The good news is, we don’t have to guess how to pray. The Apostle Paul gives us a simple but powerful example of what heartfelt, meaningful prayer looks like. When you read his letters, you notice something right away: Paul doesn’t just pray about problems; he prays with purpose. Paul’s prayers are full of gratitude, growth, strength, and a deep love for Jesus. Let’s walk through his pattern together in a simple, conversational way.

1. Start with Gratitude Paul almost always begins his prayers by saying thank you. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you (Philippians 1:3 ESV). It’s like he’s reminding himself—and us—that God is already at work.

What this looks like in real life: Before jumping into your requests, pause and think about what’s already good. Who are the people you’re thankful for? Where have you seen God show up?

You might pray something like: “Lord, thank You for the people in my life. Thank You for caring for me and being faithful—even in ways I don’t always notice.” 74

(COLOSSIANS 1:9 ESV)

LET GO OF CONTROL AND TRUST GOD WITH THE OUTCOME.

Your Turn: This week, I’m thankful for:

People who were a blessing to me this week:

2. Pray for Growth, Not Just Change Paul doesn’t spend all his time asking God to fix situations or circumstances. Instead, he asks God to transform hearts. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more (Philippians 1:9 ESV). That’s a shift, isn’t it? Instead of “change this situation,” it becomes, “change me in the middle of it.”

What this looks like: Ask God to grow you—especially in love, patience, wisdom, and understanding.

A simple prayer could be: “God, help me grow today. Help me love better, think more wisely, and respond in a way that reflects You.”

Your Turn: Where did I see growth in my life this week? Love Patience

Faith Wisdom

Trust Other:

What did I learn?

EVER INTERCEDING

3. Ask God for Inner Strength Paul knew life wasn’t easy. But instead of asking for a problem-free life, he asked for strength to walk through it. He may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being (Ephesians 3:16 ESV).

What this looks like: When things feel heavy, don’t just ask for escape—ask for strength.

You could pray: “Lord, this is hard, but I know I’m not alone. Strengthen me from the inside. Give me endurance and courage today.”

Your Turn: Look back at the hard moments. What challenges did I face this week?

How did God help me through them?

4. Focus on Knowing Jesus More than anything, Paul wanted a closer relationship with Christ. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection (Philippians 3:10 ESV). Not just know about Him—but truly know Him.

What this looks like: Make knowing Jesus—not just having Him solve problems—the priority of your prayers.

You could pray: “Jesus, I want to know You more. Help me recognize Your presence and understand Your love in a deeper way.” 76

BY DIANA BROWN

Your Turn: Think about your connection with Jesus. When did I feel close to Jesus this week? "

When did I struggle to stay connected?

What is one step I can take to grow closer next week?

5. Pray for Other People Paul constantly prayed for others—not just for their needs, but for their spiritual lives. "

We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9 ESV).

What this looks like: Think of someone specific and pray for their faith, their strength, and their walk with God.

You might say: “Father, be with [name] today. Help them feel Your peace. Guide them and grow their faith.” "

Your Turn: Consider how you’ve been lifting up others. Who did I pray for this week?

EVER INTERCEDING

PRAYING LIKE PAUL ISN’T ABOUT SAYING THE PERFECT WORDS—IT’S ABOUT HAVING A REAL, HONEST CONVERSATION WITH GOD.

How can I continue praying for them?

6. Keep God at the Center At the end of it all, Paul brings everything back to God’s glory. To him be glory… throughout all generations (Ephesians 3:21 ESV). It’s a reminder: Prayer isn’t just about us; it’s about aligning our lives with Him.

What this looks like: Let go of control and trust God with the outcome.

A closing prayer could be: “Lord, I want my life to honor You. Lead me, shape me, and use me however You choose.”

Your Turn: Let go and trust God with what’s ahead. What do I need to surrender right now?

What am I trusting God with for next week?

BY DIANA BROWN

A Simple Way to Remember It If you want to keep it practical, here’s Paul’s pattern in a nutshell: n n n

Start with thanks Ask God to grow you Pray for strength

n n n

Seek a deeper relationship with Jesus Pray for others Surrender everything back to God

Share with us how you are in your prayer life. How did God work? How did you pray? What ministered to your heart? Send an email to: Diana@womenworldleaders.com

We love hearing your God stories!

A Simple Prayer Inspired by Paul Heavenly Father, "

Thank You for Your grace and for the people in my life. Help me grow in love and understanding. Strengthen me through Your Spirit, especially when life feels hard. Draw me closer to Jesus and help me know Him more.

I lift up those around me: Guide them and " encourage them. And in everything, Lord, may my life bring You glory. Amen. Praying like Paul isn’t about saying the perfect words—it’s about having a real, honest conversation with God. When you keep it simple and focused on Him, your prayers naturally become deeper and more meaningful. 79

More of You, Lord by Natalie Keith A reflection on flesh, Spirit, and surrender I know one thing is certain: if I don’t have more of Jesus, then I am feeding more of my flesh. Something needs to grow, because something is always in charge. Flesh or Spirit—which one is leading? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (GALATIANS 5:22-23 NIV)

So I am always asking Jesus for more of His Holy Spirit. I don’t want more of my flesh. The Word says those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8). I don’t know about you, but when I’m living in the realm of my flesh, I reap destruction: impatience, rudeness, anger, overspending, anxiety, and no selfcontrol. Actually, all the things opposite of what Galatians 5:22 speaks about. No wonder living in our flesh doesn’t please God.

The War of Asking for More Asking for more of Jesus is simple, but our flesh wages war against it. When we ask for more of Jesus, He may ask us for more: prayer time, to wake up earlier to read 80

We are all called and chosen for such a time as this.

the Word longer, or sacrifice time to serve our neighbor. He may ask us to put down something we’ve been holding onto, for example, trusting His guidance for our finances. When we ask for more of Jesus, we have to make room. I can tell you, I’m in a season of making room right now, and it isn’t easy. I want my flesh fully submitted to the One who died to give me His Holy Spirit. But habits, lies that I believe, and needed behavior modification, among other things, hold me back from fully surrendering my flesh, hindering me.

He Meets Us Where We Are God our Savior meets us where we are. He helps us in our time of need. His goodness and mercy chase us down—even when we’re enjoying our fleshly behaviors. He shows up and says, “Enough. It is time, My daughter/ My son. It is time we lay the old down so I can give you the new.”

The Time Is Now That time is now. If you are reading this, God is reaching out to you. The time is now. God wants to fulfill the promise He has over your life, but you must lay down the things that trip you up. You must say no to your flesh and yes to more of the Lord. More of His Holy Spirit. Surrender your will for His, because His will is the promise over life from before we were even born. We are all called and chosen for such a time as this. How can we obtain the promise when there’s no room for more of Him because our flesh is taking up all the room? The time is now. The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here. But we must do our part: Say no to our flesh, turn from our wicked ways, take up His cross, and follow Him. Nothing we give ourselves will ever satisfy us like more of Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

Let’s Start by Repenting So let’s start by repenting. Let us ask Jesus to forgive us for feeding our flesh when we could be feeding His Holy Spirit within us. Then, as the days go on, watch for what He asks of you. How does He want to give you more of His Spirit? Be awake and alert.

Pray with me: Father God, I come to You humbly and ask for Your forgiveness. I thank You for sending Jesus to die for me and all my sins and fleshly behaviors. I thank You, Holy Spirit, for guiding, leading, and comforting me in this time. Father, I ask that You help me die to my flesh so I can make room for more of Your Holy Spirit. I know Jesus died not just for my eternity, but to save me from myself every day. I thank You for forgiving me, loving me, and setting me free in every area of my life. I trust that Your plan for me is good and not of harm—plans for hope and a future. Help me make the room You need to accomplish Your will, not just for my life, but for Your kingdom. I ask this all in the mighty name of Jesus.

Natalie Keith is a Jesus-loving, fast car-driving, coffee-obsessed wife and mama of two amazing kids. Natalie is an entrepreneur who builds businesses with heaven’s blueprint and bold kingdom purpose. She is the founder of Brideside Life and the creative force behind Dare to Be Great—a raw, real media series (coming soon to Amazon and Netflix, in Jesus’ name!) filled with miraculous stories that stir the soul and challenge believers to rise up and walk boldly in their God-given greatness. Whether writing for ministries, building an orphanage in Uganda, planning retreats in Costa Rica, or capturing supernatural God stories on camera, Natalie is all in for kingdom work—and loving every second of the wild, beautiful ride.

MORE of You, LORD by Natalie Keith Una reflexión sobre la carne, el Espíritu y la rendición Sé una cosa con certeza: si no tengo más de Jesús, entonces estoy alimentando más a mi carne. Algo tiene que crecer, porque algo siempre está a cargo. ¿La carne o el Espíritu? ¿Cuál de los dos está liderando?

En cambio, el fruto del Espíritu es amor, alegría, paz, paciencia, amabilidad, bondad, fidelidad, humildad y dominio propio. No hay ley que condene estas cosas. (GALATIANS 5:22-23 NIV)

Por eso siempre le pido a Jesús más de su Espíritu Santo. No quiero más de mi carne. La Palabra dice que los que viven según la naturaleza pecaminosa no pueden agradar a Dios (Romanos 8:8). No sé tú, pero cuando vivo en el terreno de mi carne, cosecho destrucción: impaciencia, mala actitud, enojo, gastos excesivos, ansiedad y falta de dominio propio. En realidad, todo lo opuesto a lo que menciona Gálatas 5:22. No es de extrañar que vivir en la carne no le agrade a Dios.

La guerra de pedir más Pedir más de Jesús es sencillo, pero nuestra carne libra una guerra contra ello. Cuando le pedimos más de Jesús, Él puede pedirnos más a nosotras: más tiempo de oración, despertar más temprano para leer la Palabra por más tiempo, o sacrificar tiempo para servir a nuestro prójimo. Puede pedirnos que soltemos algo a lo que nos hemos estado aferrando, por ejemplo, confiar en su guía para nuestras finanzas. Cuando le pedimos más de Jesús, tenemos que hacer espacio. Te puedo contar que en este momento estoy en una temporada de hacer espacio, y no es fácil.

ESE TIEMPO ES AHORA. SI ESTÁS LEYENDO ESTO, DIOS TE ESTÁ EXTENDIENDO SU MANO. EL TIEMPO ES AHORA.

Quiero que mi carne esté completamente sometida a Aquel que murió para darme su Espíritu Santo. Pero los hábitos, las mentiras que creo y la necesaria modificación de conducta, entre otras cosas, me detienen de rendir por completo mi carne, y me estorban.

Él nos encuentra donde estamos “Dios, nuestro Salvador, nos encuentra donde estamos. Él nos ayuda en tiempos de necesidad. Su bondad y su misericordia nos persiguen, incluso cuando estamos disfrutando de nuestros comportamientos carnales. Él se presenta y dice: "Basta. Es tiempo, hija mía/ hijo mío. Es tiempo de dejar lo viejo para que yo pueda darte lo nuevo.”

El tiempo es ahora Ese tiempo es ahora. Si estás leyendo esto, Dios te está extendiendo su mano. El tiempo es ahora. Dios quiere cumplir la promesa que tiene sobre tu vida, pero debes dejar a un lado aquello que te hace tropezar. Debes decirle no a tu carne y sí a más del Señor. Más de su Espíritu Santo. Entrega tu voluntad por la suya, porque su voluntad es la promesa sobre tu vida desde antes de que nacieras. Todas hemos sido llamadas y escogidas para un momento como este. ¿Cómo podemos obtener la promesa cuando no hay espacio para más de Él porque nuestra carne está ocupando todo el lugar? El tiempo es ahora. El momento que todas hemos estado esperando ha llegado. Pero debemos hacer nuestra parte: decir no a nuestra carne, apartarnos de nuestros malos caminos, tomar su cruz y seguirlo. Nada de lo que nos demos a nosotras mismas nos satisfará jamás como lo hace más de Jesús y de su Espíritu Santo.

Comencemos por arrepentirnos Así que comencemos por arrepentirnos. Pidámosle a Jesús que nos perdone por alimentar nuestra carne cuando podríamos estar alimentando a su Espíritu Santo dentro de nosotras. Luego, a medida que pasen los días, esté atenta a lo que Él te pida. ¿Cómo quiere darte más de su Espíritu? Mantente despierta y alerta.

Ora conmigo: Padre Dios, vengo a Ti humildemente y te pido tu perdón. Te doy gracias por enviar a Jesús a morir por mí y por todos mis pecados y comportamientos carnales. Te doy gracias, Espíritu Santo, por guiarme, dirigirme y consolarme en este tiempo. Padre, te pido que me ayudes a morir a mi carne para poder hacer espacio para más de tu Espíritu Santo. Sé que Jesús no murió solo por mi eternidad, sino para salvarme de mí misma cada día. Te doy gracias por perdonarme, amarme y liberarme en cada área de mi vida. Confío en que tu plan para mí es bueno y no de mal —planes de esperanza y un futuro. Ayúdame a hacer el espacio que necesitas para cumplir tu voluntad, no solo para mi vida, sino para tu reino. Todo esto lo pido en el poderoso nombre de Jesús.

FROM

g g n i n l i t a ur e H H TO

NOW

by Lori Nolan POWER OF OUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS When I began my healing journey five years ago, I had no idea how important it would be to transform my thoughts and the words that came out of my mouth. That is a responsibility God has given us to steward. He has given us His truth in His Word, and what we do with that truth is up to us. We are free-will agents. We are called to renew our minds with the Word of God, examine our thoughts, make them obedient to Christ, and guard our hearts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV):

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Proverbs 4:23-24 (NIV):

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. What does all this mean on a day-to-day basis? It means that every day we need to be in God’s Word, meditating on it and hiding it in our hearts so that when we speak about ourselves, our circumstances, or someone else, God’s truth comes out. I knew I had experienced miraculous healing when I first 84

began my journey. In His love, God gave me visions of who I was to Him, replacing the lies the enemy had told me for years. Those visions are still emblazoned in my mind today. All praise be to God! I had no idea He was also taking me on a deeper journey of transforming my mind and my words—a gift that would help me maintain my healing and walk it out daily. The thoughts I had about myself had changed. I no longer felt worthless or without value because, during my inner healing session, Holy Spirit replaced those thoughts with His truth and showed me how special I was to Him. We have a real enemy, the father of lies. The Bible calls him a thief, and he fuels the lies that threaten to destroy us before we are healed, then attempts to steal our healing afterward. When God called me into ministry, the

enemy tried to convince me I wasn’t qualified and that my life wasn’t perfect enough. I had to seek the Lord, speak His Word, and rebuke those lies. When our thoughts and words don’t align with the Word of God, we can hinder the blessings God wants to give us and even affect our prayers. I’ve learned that the enemy seeks access through our emotions—our heart and soul. If he can ensnare us with lies and corrupt our thinking, discouraging words will inevitably follow. Whether it’s a health condition, a relationship that seems hopeless, or a new opportunity for growth, the enemy will bring lies to keep us from experiencing God’s miracle, restoration, or promotion. When we meditate on God’s Word day and night, as He instructs us, we come to know His truth and hide it in our hearts. Psalm 119:11 (NIV): I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. This is how we keep our minds pure and our speech from becoming corrupted. As we continue our healing journey, we need to remain mindful and ask Holy Spirit to correct us quickly. Psalm 39:1 (NIV): I said, “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.” Not every hard or impossible situation is from the enemy; some are, and some are just consequences that need to be dealt with. Discipline yourself to take every thought captive, and if necessary, put a muzzle on your mouth so you don’t give the devil additional opportunity to lead you down a path that could hinder what God wants to do. God is the God of miracles. He does the impossible. He is the God of restoration. He has good plans to prosper us, give us hope and a future, and He works all things together for good for those who love Him. Let’s train our minds to rehearse God’s Word and hide it in our hearts so that when we speak, His truth flows from our lips and we can walk confidently in the purpose He has called us to.

He has given us His truth in His Word, and what we do with that truth is up to us. Lori Nolan is a published author and speaker; her first book, The Balanced Life Method: The 7-Pillar Blueprint to Lasting Health and Wellness, launched in June 2024. After spending years in the fitness industry and health coaching in the medical space, Lori recognized that the soul and spirit of a person must be healed before the body can be. In 2017, Lori Nolan Health, LLC was formed, and God gave her the 7-pillar approach. Whether through personalized one-on-one coaching, dynamic group workshops, or impactful corporate wellness programs, Lori redefines what it means to live well. Rooted in a commitment to faith and personalized care, Lori helps people reclaim their health, guiding them toward sustainable wellness and a renewed sense of purpose.

General of Joy by DeAnn Alaine

My Plate Is Naked!

hat is your favorite meal? I’d have to say mine is surf-n-turf. MMmmm, lobster, crab, coconut shrimp, steak, and a loaded mashed potato—with either a crem brulé or cheesecake! Eating dinner as a kid, I had one option. My mother was not a short-order cook! What she made, we ate. About once a year, my mom would love to make one of her favorite meals: liver and onions. (Did you just hear me dry heave in the background?) Plus, she would make this brown gravy that did not help; it looked like brown on brown with more brown. Thinking about the smell and texture still puts the same look on my face I get when opening a dirty diaper. We always knew when Mama was going to make that meal because she would have that silly grin on her face and say, “Oh, you’re going to love dinner tonight!” It took me hours to eat that meal. I think I even fell asleep at the table once. When my dad entered our family picture, he too hated liver and onions! But he had an approach that made me love him even more; he taught me how to dress up my liver as a burger! We would stack on lettuce, tomato, cheese, ketchup, all the fixins—just to help trick our brains. I have to say, it still tasted crummy, but at least it had other colors and textures besides brown. And yes, we were a “eat all the food on your plate” kind of family. What meal did you have to eat as a kid that still makes you shiver? As a marketplace ministry leader, I had unknowingly become a professional plate-spinner. Every opportunity looked like it had “God’s favor” stamped on it. 86

My plate becoming naked wasn’t about loss. It was about love and joy!

Every need felt like my assignment. Every open door looked like it deserved a grand opening celebration. Then one day I said, “Lord... this is just too much. My plate is overflowing. I need You to help me get rid of some of the excess.” My calendar was full, and my soul was exhausted. I was suffering from iteration constipation! Yes, I said constipation. I was taking in opportunity after opportunity without digesting what God actually wanted me to carry; the result was a naked plate and joy depletion. When I told Him it was too much, I thought He’d scrape off a few side dishes. Instead, He took the whole plate! Can I just tell you? I was not expecting that answer. One ministry paused, speaking invitations were gone, projects disappeared, even relationships shifted. At first I thought, “This is great! Lord, thank you.”

As more responsibility was removed, I became very curious and quiet. Then it hit me: My plate was naked! As soon as some things were removed from my plate, my body started to decline: sore throat, fatigue, headaches, no voice at all! This wasn’t just for a few days; it went on for weeks.

He said, “Can you embrace the empty plate? Haven’t I said that my yoke is easy and my burden is light? (Matt 11:30) Do you have anywhere you need to be? Do you see that I have cleared your plate for your good and for my glory? My call on your life does not waver when you’re on your back. My love for you doesn’t change with works. It just is. So rest and recalibrate.” My plate becoming naked wasn’t about loss. It was about love and joy!

Now I’m even more grateful when I can rest in His lap. Is my body fully healed? It’s on its way. Does my own inability change His heart for me? Nope. Does it change His call on my life? No! Am I able to accept the assignment of “rest and recalibrate” without going bananas that I’m not doing what I used to be doing? YES!!! So let me ask you: Could you use a naked plate? Let me encourage you to choose it now before He chooses it for you. Sometimes a joy calibration looks like a naked plate, but it still beats liver and onions. Your 4-Star General of Joy,

DeAnn Alaine

“Um, Lord… ” Have you ever started a question and never finished it because you already knew He was going to speak to you? That’s what happened to me, so I’ll tell you what He told me.

DeAnn Alaine is a comedienne whose mandate from the Lord is to bring joy to the world. She's a contributing author of Miracle Mindset and the creator/director of the multi-award winning sitcom, Fade Away. If you’d like to view the trailer or book DeAnn for your next ladies event, go to www.deannalaine.com.

POWER POINTS: GOD AT WORK THROUGH WOMEN LEADERS YESTERDAY AND TODAY by Leecy Barnett

Standing as I do in view of God and eternity; I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone. ~ Edith Louisa Cavell, October 11, 1915 1

Edith Cavell Edith Louisa Cavell was born on December 4, 1865, in Swardeston, a small village in Norfolk, England, where her father, the Reverend Frederick Cavell, was the local vicar. It seems that as a child, Edith, like many preachers’ kids, found church uninspiring. “Edith wrote to her favourite cousin Eddie, ‘Do come and stay again soon, but not for a weekend. Father’s sermons are so long and dull.’” Despite this, Edith considered Christian education valuable. On her own initiative, she wrote to her father’s bishop to get permission to build a Sunday School building for the Swardeston church. The bishop agreed to help if the local congregation raised some of the money.2 Edith and her sister painted and sold postcards as their contribution. This project offers a glimpse of the world leader that Edith was to grow up to be. 88

Although her parents were poor, they put a premium on education, so they paid for Edith to attend boarding school. There she learned French among other subjects. After graduation, she became a governess in several English households, as well as with a family from Brussels, Belgium, from 1890 to 1895. At the age of 30, Edith returned home to her father, who was suffering from illness. When he recovered, Edith decided to change careers and enrolled in a nursing course in a London hospital. After graduation, she worked in hospitals around England until, in 1907, she returned to Brussels. Traditionally, “nuns had been responsible for the care of the sick [in Belgium] and, however kind and well intentioned, they had no

training for the work. Edith Cavell, now in her early forties, took charge of a pioneer training school for lay nurses, on the outskirts of Brussels.”

Edith and all those involved in the Belgian Resistance knew that the Germans considered their actions treasonable and punishable by death.

World War I broke out as, on August 4, 1914, Germany invaded neutral Belgium. Great Britain had pledged to support Belgium, so they declared war on Germany. Edith found herself an enemy alien in an occupied country. Her clinic became part of the Red Cross and treated wounded soldiers, regardless of which side they fought for. Although she was neutral in her nursing, she felt compelled to help smuggle stranded British and Belgian soldiers out of the country to the unoccupied Netherlands. Edith connected with a group of Belgian nationals to help the soldiers escape.

After having helped 200 Allied soldiers leave Belgium, a collaborator betrayed the underground Resistance to the German authorities. “Two members of the escape route team were arrested on July 31st, 1915. Five days later, Nurse Cavell was interned.” Whether it was because she believed her co-workers had confessed or because she felt obligated to tell the truth under oath, at her trial, Edith fully acknowledged her role in helping Allied soldiers, and the Germans sentenced her to death by firing squad.

1 Fell, All references in this article come from McFadyen, Rev Phillip, Chamberlin, Rev David, Miller, Nick, “Edith Cavell 1865-1915 – A Norfolk Heroine” 1985, 1997-2020. http://www.edithcavell.org.uk (Accessed 16 June 2026). 2 According to the Inflation Calculator £300 in 1875 would be worth £44,630 today in terms of equivalent purchasing power. https://www.officialdata.org/uk/inflation/1875?amount=300 89

POWER POINTS

The night before her execution, Edith told the British chaplain who visited her, “I am thankful to have had these ten weeks of quiet [during imprisonment] to get ready. Now I have had them and have been kindly treated here. I expected my sentence and I believe it was just. Standing as I do in view of God and Eternity, I realize that patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.” Immediately after her death, the Allies made Edith into a martyr for propaganda purposes. After the war, she was commemorated as a patriotic hero with statues and memorials in Britain, France, Australia, and Canada. But her true heroism was to rise above mere patriotism. As a follower of Jesus, Edith recognized the image of God in all humanity, forgave her executioners, and took seriously Christ’s command to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44 NIV). Edith Cavell was a nurse just doing her duty, yet she became a Woman World Leader who set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12b NIV).

Edith fully acknowledged her role in helping Allied soldiers, and the Germans sentenced her to death by firing squad.

BAND OF BROTHERS

BOOTCAMP Empowering Men for Thursday, Nov. 5 – Sunday, Nov. 8

Excellence

Band of Brothers has the answer to the war on men! Men gather to form a brotherhood and learn how to be a better husband, father, and friend. They share release of deep life wounds through the power of forgiveness. A life change is the victory at a Band of Brothers Bootcamp. Ladies, please share this with the men in your lives — your husband or boyfriend, sons, sonsin-law, nephews, and friends. They all need what this bootcamp offers. Band of Brothers is ready to meet them where they are.

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VOICE OF TRUTH

STORIES TOGETHER WE ARE WORLD CHANGERS How are you sharing Voice of Truth? Write us. We want to share your joy of spreading the gospel of Christ throughout the world.

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MEET Lauren Burns FROM SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

THE POWER OF TESTIMONY AND TRANSFORMATION I was introduced to Women World Leaders through my friend Lynn Strickland. As she shared the heart and mission behind this incredible ministry, I knew I wanted to learn more. Later, after speaking with Kimberly Hobbs and hearing her passion for empowering women to know Christ, grow in their faith, and walk alongside other believers in authentic community, I was inspired by the vision God had given her and the Women World Leaders team. One of the many things I love about Voice of Truth magazine is its collection of powerful testimonies. Scripture reminds us of the importance of sharing our stories. Revelation 12:11 (NIV) says, They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. There is something powerful about hearing how God meets people in their darkest moments and transforms their lives through His grace. In the last edition of Voice of Truth, “Gospel Grace” by Amanda Zerilli deeply resonated with me. She wrote that brokenness is not the end of the story; it is often the beginning. Those words spoke directly to my heart because my own story began in brokenness. My parents divorced when I was just 4 weeks old, and when I was 7, my father kidnapped me and took me to the Middle East. For much of my childhood and young adult years, I struggled to trust Jesus as my good heavenly Father. I often wondered, How can God be a good Father when I don’t know what a good father looks like? Yet, through His faithfulness, God patiently revealed His heart to me. As Amanda described in her article, the Gospel transforms us. Just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, God’s grace has the power to bring beauty from brokenness and life from places that seem beyond repair. His Word renews us, restores us, and transforms even the deepest wounds. I am grateful for Amanda Zerilli and the Women World Leaders team for the many ways they continue to pour into women through books, podcasts, Bible studies, and

AUTHOR, SPEAKER, PODCAST HOST

Voice of Truth magazine. Their mission to empower, equip, encourage, and inspire women in their daily walk with Jesus is making an eternal impact. May we never underestimate the power of our testimony. Our stories are not just about what we’ve been through— they are reminders of God’s faithfulness, redemption, and transforming grace.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe. (PSALM 107:2 NIV)

global

connections by Amanda Zerilli

A Playground, a Princess, and the Power of One Faithful Church I have the incredible privilege of leading mission teams around the world, but every now and then God allows me to witness something that stays with me forever. Panama became one of those moments. This summer I led an open mission trip with Kids Around the World. People from all over the United States said yes to God’s invitation. Many of them had never met before boarding the plane, yet they quickly became family as we traveled together with one purpose. We were there to build a playground for a church that has faithfully served one of the darkest communities in Panama for more than thirty years. This was not a community most people would choose. It is a forgotten neighborhood filled with drugs, abuse, 94

Healing, andplaces Jesus Hope, belongs in the Transformation in Kenya that seem impossible.

poverty, and brokenness. It is the kind of place people often drive past without ever stopping. But God has never forgotten it. Thirty years ago, a pastor and his wife felt called to plant a church there. While many would have run from the darkness, they chose to stay. They believed Jesus belongs in the places that seem impossible. Over the years, they realized the children desperately needed more than a Sunday church service. The local schools were filled with corruption and violence. Parents were afraid to send their children there. So this faithful church did something remarkable: They turned their church into a school. Every weekday those classrooms became a safe place where children could receive an education while learning respect, integrity, and the

WE WANTED THE LITTLE GIRL WHO HAD BEEN REJECTED, ABUSED, FORGOTTEN, AND OVERLOOKED TO KNOW SHE WAS SEEN. love of Christ. Long before Kids Around the World ever arrived, these pastors had already committed their lives to raising a different generation. When our Panama team connected with them, we knew this was exactly the kind of church we wanted to stand beside. Together we introduced our OneMeal food program so children would receive nutritious meals. We trained their leaders to teach KIDStory so children could discover the truth of God’s Word in a way they could understand. Then our team arrived to build a playground that would become another tool to help this church reach its community. People often ask me how a playground can make such a difference. The playground is never the destination. It is an invitation. Children come because they want to play. Families gather because they know their children are safe. Relationships begin. Trust grows. Then the local church has the opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with an entire community. That week I met a little girl named Shaddai. She was about 8 years old, and the first time I saw her I could tell something was different. There was sadness in her eyes that no child should ever carry. Even though she smiled politely, it felt like the weight of the world rested on her little shoulders. As we spent time with the church, we learned her story. When Shaddai was younger, her own mother sold her. Even writing those words still brings tears to my eyes. Eventually, her mother disappeared. Shaddai’s grandmother discovered where Shaddai was, rescued her, and brought her to safety. What a hero. Later, when Shaddai experienced bullying at school, this church opened its doors to her and welcomed her into their school family. They became what every child deserves. A place to belong. One afternoon our team gathered around Shaddai to pray. None of us could fully explain what happened in that moment, but we all sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit in a way that is difficult to put into words. Tears streamed down our faces as we knelt around this precious little girl, asking God to heal the wounds no 95

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

one could see. We wrapped our arms around her and held her tightly. I remember thinking that every child deserves to know what it feels like to be loved without conditions. The next morning was our playground dedication. Children filled every corner of the community, excited to see this beautiful new place that had been built just for them. As our team prayed together, one thought continued coming back to us: Shaddai should cut the ribbon. Out of every child there that morning, we wanted her to be the one to open this playground. We wanted the little girl who had been rejected, abused, forgotten, and overlooked to know she was seen. She mattered. She was chosen.

Every child deserves to know what it feels like to be loved without conditions.

As Shaddai stepped forward, our entire team celebrated her. At that moment, she wasn’t defined by her past. She wasn’t the little girl who had been abandoned. She was our princess. After cutting the ribbon, she ran onto the playground with the biggest smile across her face. Later she told us something I don’t think I’ll ever forget: “I’ve never smiled like this before.” Those words still echo in my heart. Sometimes people look at a playground and only see metal, plastic, bolts, and slides. I see restored dignity. I see children laughing for perhaps the very first time. I see churches gaining the trust of an entire community. I see the gospel of Jesus Christ becoming tangible. The story didn’t end when we flew home. Our mission team couldn’t stop thinking about Shaddai. Together they decided to provide the financial support for her uniforms and tuition so she could continue attending the church’s school full time. One act of obedience led to another. One playground became part of one little girl’s future. Then something else happened that none of us expected. Representatives from the Panamanian government attended the playground dedication. After seeing what this church and community had become, they

BY AMANDA ZERILLI

committed to completely renovating the soccer field beside the school and playground. They also announced plans to bring athletic programming into the community to help develop the next generation. It reminded me that when the Church steps into broken places with love, others often follow. That is why I love what I get to do. Kids Around the World isn’t simply building playgrounds. We are empowering local churches in communities around the world to become places where children are fed, discipled, protected, and reminded that they are deeply loved by God. Today, we partner with churches in more than 250

communities across the globe because we believe lasting transformation happens through the local church. Whenever I think about Panama, I don’t first remember the playground. I remember a little girl named Shaddai. I remember a faithful pastor who refused to leave a forgotten neighborhood. I remember a grandmother who rescued her granddaughter. I remember a mission team that became family. Most of all, I remember that God is still writing redemption stories. Sometimes He begins with something as simple as a playground. And sometimes, He uses that playground to remind one little girl that she is a daughter of the King.

THIS IS THE DAY T HE L O R D HA S MA D E; W E W IL L R EJO IC E A ND BE G L A D IN IT.

P S A L M 118: 24 K J V

Women World Leaders

THANK YOU OUR PURE DEVOTION

As a ministry, we hereby dedicate this magazine unto the Lord Almighty. He is our rock, our provider, our Savior, and the love of our life. This magazine thanks the Lord for providing all of the women, the finances, and the strength to complete a task such as this. All glory, dominion, and power; praise His holy name. We bow down in complete reverence and love to our King of Kings.

Praying for you, Daughter of Z ion Lifting you up, Sister, before the Lord of Hosts. Asking the Lord to bless you in all of your ways—to humble your heart that you may receive the ever-flowing love and mercy of Jesus. Praying His sacrificial care towards you would stir you on to do good works and that His tenderness towards you would allow your full, reverent commitment to Him. Asking for repentance tears, that your trust in Him may increase as you receive every ounce of soul-satisfying grace that He has to pour upon you. Praying living waters would well up in you richly, providing all of your needs with His abounding presence. Asking our Father God to carry you to the fountain of life. Praying you will run this race with His merciful heart, carrying His truth. May His Word fill you in abundance. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

To our sister and friend, Kelly Williams Hale. She has spent numerous hours laboring in love for our Savior to graphically design this magazine! Her heart of passion, creativity and love exude in everything she does! Thank you Kelly for the beauty you’ve made come alive through these pages! Much love to you!

A special thanks goes to Johana Torres, our translator for Voice of Truth and Women World Leaders. Johana is a faithful Woman World Leader who has supported this ministry with her time, talents, and prayers not only for us all, but graciously for the Hispanic community who is close to her heart. She has a passionate desire to serve God first in all that He calls her to do at home, in the family business, and in ministry. Thank you Johana for being a committed volunteer of your time. We love you.

womenworldleaders.com A unified, global women’s ministry empowering one another to follow Christ and to love in abundance; cultivating women warriors in their purpose by His promise and power.

Get Your Copy! Voice of Truth is a beacon of hope, a source of strength, and a reminder that you are not alone on your journey. We believe every woman deserves to feel supported, inspired, and loved by God. That's why we invite you to join us in spreading joy and beauty by donating any amount to receive uplifting articles, heartwarming stories, and empowering messages—delivered straight to your mailbox. Your contribution will not only help us continue to produce this invaluable resource but will also enable us to share the message of Jesus to more women. Together, let's make a difference—one heart, one magazine at a time. Thank you for being a part of our mission to uplift and empower women everywhere. Become a monthly donor today! All donations are tax deductible.

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Voice of Truth: 25th Edition, Quarter 3 2026