Women's frontline magazine issue september 2017

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FRONTLINE INTRODUCTION

TO TOUCHING THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

SEPTEMBER 2017

WOMEN'S

MAGAZINE

CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT WITHIN

10 CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRIT FILLED WOMAN

YOLANDA SHERMAN

Music Laughter & Sisterhood

welcome to the September issue

on the cover Yolanda

TABLE OF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTENTS Eric05Otchere Ideas Aice Mills Kayl May 15 Shopping Yolanda Sherman Ivana Green 25 Recipes Shelly Wilson Superfoods, a refreshing thirst-quencher, and more!

Must-buys, Norpro Salad, and dressing shakers

Family Kitchen, Kids snacks for school, soft tacos

33 Features Go for Greens: Seven hefty, good-for-you green vegetable recipes

41 Restaurants Spices, Cinnamon & Clove, Tea Shoppe, Mixer's Pizza

pg.10

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WOMEN'S FRONTLINE MAGAZINE Table of Contents

Kayl May

04 26

44

08

From failure to success

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50 KATY LEE ASIAN CUISINE FEAST IntroductionAtoGAME touching the TheCHEF Superstious christian 32

Owner and founder of The Morning Peach

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Lost in the valley

36 NEW RECIPES

Michael Devon gives of a tour in garment Recipes that are better off as hem his Black Sword's Chinatown a dip for game season

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56 the Door

TOP 5 DESSERTS

Characteristics of a spirit 10 New Recipes by Chef Chef Nathan gives us lists filled woman Jacques for this season down his top desserts

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CAKES VS PIES Which side are you on? Best cakes and pies in LA

letter from the publisher I would like to welcome our readers to the September issue.

Looking back the last month, I can honestly say that it has been one of the most hectic times I have had in a while.

What do you do when life takes an unexpected turn?

Well, you adjust and make the necessary changes. Is it that simple? No!!!

Having said that, it could be a simpler thing like getting your tooth removed or a much more complicated picture like seeing a loved one fighting against a life threatening illness. Whichever way, it requires a lot of inner strength and a bucketful of prayer and patience. There

is an inner beauty within each one of us, and it tends to come out when life takes a sharp unfamiliar turn.

Be encouraged this month to treasure your loved ones and friends.

As we move into a new season, come join me at Frontline Magazine where we will share with you the joys of Autumn, as we open our spirit for more revelation and insight into the times ahead.

Yolanda Sherman is gracing the Front cover of this issue.

Read her story on page 10 Enjoy reading and please follow us on social media. blessings

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

"find us on social

media."

WOMEN'S FRONTLINE MAGAZINE-

Eat more bananas, avocado, chili and promegranate

ISSUE 5 | VOL 7 | JULY 2019

YOLANDA SHERMAN

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU

GOD HAS A

PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

I

’m sharing this in hopes that this may this bless and encourage you. Family, never give up on your God Given Purpose.

To help you walk in your God Given Purpose.

I want you to know that I am a living testimony. I would like to share a brief testimony of my life and my love for God and others.

My hope is that my testimony will allow you to see how God used my life for His glory and to change lives.

It wasn’t easy ministering to others while going to court cases for the release of my sons, as well as fighting a CPS battle for my grand baby.

During the same time, I had health issues (almost died three times), and financial issues.

I suffered physical and emotional abuse, rejection and struggled with work issues. I had challenges in my ministry and my marriage.

Look at where my Father has brought me from!

Now I am a 2017 Doctorate Graduate in Christian Counseling, my sons are fine. My beautiful granddaughter is back in our lives.

Praise God, my marriage is healed!

I am in good health. God has surrounded me with love from both biological and spiritual families.

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God

has blessed me to write two books, and become the CEO of Break Free Release Ministries International.

I’m serving in the community to change lives.

I have launched my counseling business and currently teaching dance classes to special needs children.

To add to the list, I offer mentorship to bring gang awareness to young people and W. O. O. (Women Overcoming Obstacles).

I’m often a featured writer for Women's Frontline Magazine and a radio talk show host on Break Free TV.

God is opening so many doors that I can't tell it all right now, but I will release it soon.

God is a restorer of the faithful!

I give Him all the glory for my life's story.

I am now walking in my God Given Purpose; so can you!

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CHEF TONY'S NEW SPECIALTY RESTAURAN Â IS NOW OPEN

CONGRATULATIONS

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YOLANDA SHERMAN As Founder and Executive Director of Break Free Release Ministries (2007), Yolanda Sherman has inspired many to embrace spiritual change and live a more fulfilling life, free from bondage. Yolanda is a licensed Christian Counselor, board certified by the National Association of Christian Counselors. Yolanda is an ordained and licensed minister who holds both Doctoral and Master degrees in Christian Counseling from Juliana King University, an affiliate of the University of Family Bible Institute College and Seminary. She also received a bachelor's in 2012 in Christian Counseling from International Kingdom Christian Counseling and Bible Seminary and is a graduate of the Grace Bible Institute.

Dr. Sherman is currently hosting her very own TV show called "Break Free TV", airing on Fridays 7:30 p.m. on Rhema Word TV network (http://rhemaword.tv). Her No More Chains Radio Broadcast airs Sunday Mornings at 8 a. m - 9 a. m. on Rhema Gospel Radio. She is currently serving as an Associate Professor at Juliana King University. Once a year she hosts "Beyond the Veil Worship Encounter", (a national worship tour). She is also a writer for Women on the Frontline Magazine, and has completed her first book, NO MORE CHAINS! In December 2016, she released her sophomore book project, entitled, Behind the Mask: The Struggle To Balance Personal and Ministry Life.

Speaking from the heart of her own experiences as a wife, mother of two sons, and ministry coordinator, Yolanda has the unique ability to connect to women, men and youth from all walks of life. Through Break Free Release Ministries, she has forged a path of success , achievement , and faith based empowerment for others. She has accepted the call to help family members to develop lasting relationships, self- esteem, and self-worth. In Break Free Release Ministries Yolanda equips individuals with the necessary tools to realize their potential, to bring about personal transformation , and to release them from the chains that have them bound from walking in their God Given Purpose.

Yolanda's newest project W. O. O. ( Women Overcoming Obstacles), is a monthly broadcast that focus on helping women deal with real life issues.

Every marriage is different, so there are no one size fits all solutions.

There are ways to ensure you are ready to work for what you want your marriage to feel like and really be. If you are thinking of marriage or struggling in your marriage, you will want to hear from our speakers.

We want you at this event because we want marriages to work and not fail. If you are male, female, single, engaged, or married, this event is for you! Join us.

When

we think of "phenomenal women", names like Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, or Shonda Rhimes comes to mind.

Though these women have earned their crown, there are many that go unmentioned. Kayl Renee May is one that should be in that category. Kayl is one who shines a smile regardless of what her circumstances may be.

I guess this is why, till now, she is often looked over.

From her lips, you hear how she was raised like other normal kids. If coming from a strict home and raised with a belief that all women

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KAYL R. MAY

From her lips, you hear how she was raised like other normal kids. If coming from a strict home and raised with a belief that all women shouldn't be caught, unless dead without a head covering...a hat, that is. She testifies that she was surrounded by nothing but strength.

From her father, mother, aunts and uncles.

called for her to do so.

The understanding of relationships has propelled Kayl to jobs of excellence. Customer Service and Leadership being the key component.

Her genuine nature, some call it mother affection, has won even the darkest of hearts. Her way is to give them a second glance at their Being resilient was reality. Choices in second nature. There was choosing steps for a no time to lick your better future. Advising wounds, so to speak. them to take back what Quitting was never the was said about them name of the game. So (negatively) and turn it meeting her husband to into a positive. Being a be at 16, who shared mother has ensured her those same values, is a gift of nurturing. connection she's come to lean on when time has

Kayl can never be called a hoarder.

What she has is freely given to others. Simply ask for help, if she doesn't know, she'll connect you to someone who can. She has lived her life about building bridges. You can hear it when she speaks to millions on the live broadcast. Her concerns are about what can we do to heal the disconnection. Her efforts/voice connects so well to what is needed today.

Kayl May: wife, mother, grandmother, commentator, counselor, author... joins us, informs us, directs us. She shows no signs of stopping. But who knows one is living history when one is just living it.

Kayl is using her platform as an author of her first book "The Unveiling Of A Mask" to help others heal before entering into marriage and those struggling in their marriages.

As a guest on several relationship panels, she realized that those that are single and engaged had a very fantasized perception of marriage as she remembered the same as she had before her marriage as a young lady. Others that are struggling in their marriages really didn't know what to really expect.

They depended on what they saw and had learned from marriages as they grow up in their families and community.

"Marriage is NOT a Fantasy" How fantasy of marriage settles into the reality of marriage.

Newly engaged, and registering for wedding gifts, I chose two sets of champagne glasses — fancy crystal ones for special occasions, and cheaper ones for everyday use.

Yes, you read that right.

In my mind, we'd definitely need everyday champagne glasses, like for Mondays Marriage isn't what I

thought it was going to be 20 years ago, when I stood up in front of everyone I knew and promised to be married to my husband forever.

Marriage was an idea attached to a big party.

My boyfriend and all my friends would be there to see me in a really big dress. "Married" and "forever" were concepts I hadn't actually grown into.

Romantic relationships progress like life, starting in infancy and finally reaching maturity.

When I met my husband, I attached to him the way a toddler might attach to a strategically placed candy bar in the supermarket checkout aisle.

Like a little kid with no sense of object permanence, I could barely stand it if he left the room. I decided to marry him after about a week, but kept that to myself as best I You couldn't have pried could. We were him out of my hands if engaged in nine you'd tried. I was months afflicted by that mad, , married nine months crazy infatuation that is later. I couldn't probably the friendly understand why the

whole thing took so long.

This engagement and newlywed period brought our relationship into adolescence. It's that time when you're pretty sure you know what life's going to look like, mainly because you watched a lot of Dynasty as a kid.

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This period was characterized by a lot of getting: getting jobs, getting engaged, getting presents, getting to go on a honeymoon. We fought about who forgot to fill up the ice tray and solved the problem by moving into an apartment with an ice maker. Why couldn't everyone be as good at being married as we were?

Whatever forces a relationship into adulthood is usually this other, darker side of the marriage vows, the ones we kind of mumbled through because they'd never apply to us.

We'd be richer, not poorer, obviously.

We had two sets of champagne glasses after all.

Then life happened.

There are beautiful things like children and long walks and a canon of inside jokes that don't get old. But also banks fail and people get sick.

Maybe one of you forgets to renew the other's commuter parking permit.

you stop sweating stuff like the ice trays.

looking for someone to complete When life starts to happen, you them, some are looking for learn a lot about who your partner someone to uplift them, some think is. It's no longer Saturday night all it's about the wedding, some think the time. Adulthood can feel like a it's about the ring, but reality is you string of Mondays. must bring a whole person into the marriage, you must know your self Once you've moved through a patch worth for yourself, and understand of real life with someone, you learn the wedding, ring, and cake is just a a lot about the depth of their small part of a marriage filled with kindness, the strength of their love and being in love with your integrity, and the staying power of mate. their sense of humor. It's then that 13

THE SUPERSTITIOUS CHRISTIAN Manipulating God

W

hen I hear the word, superstitious, I see Michael Scott from The Office, saying to the camera, “I’m not really superstitious; I’m just a little stitious.”

light of the moon in order to rid themselves of warts.

Nothing but anguish and futility in that, I imagine. Superstition takes so many forms, and not surprisingly given human nature, is still present The other image that comes to mind in the current age where science is is a young person in 18thcentury supposedly doing away with old garb anxiously bathing a toad by the wives’ tales and replacing them 12

''

by Alice Mills

That we would like control over God should come as no surprise to us.

'

But the superstition I am more interested in is the kind that we Christians fall into unawares. The ancient pagans were very serious about their foul little gods who were often brutal, bloody, and not surprisingly, rather human-like.

most encouraging verses and promises into categories. If I found myself in the midst of a difficulty with one of my children, all i had to do was find the topic and pray to my heart’s content. And let me make it clear that I do not think there is anything wrong with that The thrust of their religions was book or what it does. It is my own similar. Words, in particular, were soul that was in some error. very important. The power of a magic spell or mystic prayer was If when we pray, we lose sight of that if spoken correctly, with the the One to whom we are praying, right rituals in place, the deity we begin to mouth magic Bible found itself compelled to answer verses and prayers that we hear the requests of the person. others pray.

The purpose of pagan prayer is control born out of the usual fears of sickness, poverty, and other losses. Magic gave the pagans control over their gods.

The first time I became aware that I was erring on the side of the superstitious, I had in my possession a little purple book with the title, Praying the Scriptures over Your Children.

I went through phase where I asked God to “hide me in Christ� every time I felt anxious. I heard a preacher say those words, and it sounded very good to me. It was my good luck charm against an uncertain world.

The problem was not with the words, but with the assumption I made about the words.

The book organized all of the best, 13

If I said a certain prayer, then God had to answer it.

After all, I had said all the right things.

And therein lay the heart of the superstitious prayer. If I say the right prayers, God will have to answer me because I did it the right way. My performance “saved” me just as the performance of the ancient Philistine before Dagon saved him.

My prayers were not unemotional, either. I was sure at the time that I was performing some tremendous spiritual warfare with only one problem; my prayers went unanswered a lot of the time.

Prayer can be such a great unknown, especially for a new Christian. We fling desperate words into the air hoping they do not fall to the ground, that they will be caught by God who we think is up there. Meanwhile the trials we face come at us quickly, and God’s involvement can seem haphazard.

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I tried all the good pagan tricks, too. After all, I learned them in church. Abasing myself, confessing my utter unworthiness, using eloquence, or being very longwinded; these are the weapons used in religions everywhere.

They are of no use because they are pointed in the wrong direction. We perform for the others in the prayer circles or for a God that is way out there, beyond our knowing.

So how do you avoid being a superstitious Christian?

Here are a few that I keep in mind as I move in relationship with God

the superstitious christian

- He is in here and out there. I no the King and a Father who cares longer pray towards the outside, deeply about me and my needs. imagining God hovering outside the stratosphere, listening in on my words. God’s presence is felt by us in our spirit.

- God wants to let me in on what He is doing. I distrust prayers that shout That is, we worship in spirit and in at the devil. Why talk to him? The truth. He who dwells in us is easily devil is just a liar. If God is not found if we are quiet, prayer and answering my prayer, I can go to Him believe that He is. Before I pray at all, and discuss it. Sometimes He lets me I go silent and wait on Him. know that it will happen in His timing.

Knowing that He is pleased to live in me gives a pleasure to prayer that Sometimes He says it won’t, but not eluded me for a long time. to worry. But God rarely leaves me hanging because I know that He wants to speak to me as badly as I - God is on my side. I don’t mean want to speak to Him. that He agrees with me on everything, but that I don’t have to convince Him The God of the universe wants to talk of my needs. I simply ask and trust. I to me. His conversation fills the earth grew up in a home that thrived on in the revelation in nature, the debate. When I needed something, I revelation in scripture, and in the needed to make a case for it. I had to revelation of His presence dwelling in prove I was right. me.

As soon as I begin debating with No room for superstitious fear and God, I lose sight of who He is and I control when we are filled with the am back in performance mode, rather Holy Spirit than relational mode. I am not a desperate orphan; I am a daughter of

the superstitious christian

For the record, printed prayers can be beneficial. I find The Book of Common Prayer profound. Even Jesus gave us a formula; that is the key points of things we should keep in mind while in prayer in the Lord’s Prayer.

Keep in mind that one of the major points in that prayer is

The best way for me to keep my prayer life from becoming carnal is to remember that I am seated in the heavenlies with Christ.

Eternal life has begun; communion is here; joy is available now. “There is no fear in love,” says John the Apostle. The more that love draws me in, the fainter the superstitious, performing part of me becomes.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. God’s will in my life as it is So forget about the right words, the in Heaven. right rituals, or the cultural amenities we like with our Christianity. It is impossible to be What is God’s will for my life in superstitious when the Holy Spirit Heaven? Eternal joy, eternal has set you on fire. communion with Him, eternal life.

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Psalm 33:18, “ The LORD watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love.”

GOD SEES YOU

LOST IN THE VALLEY

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Ivana Vereen was born with a purpose. Her mother, Dilcy Mae Vereen, gave birth to two sets of multiples; twins and triplets.

Finding an alternative way to cope with her hardships, Ivana lead a life of drug addiction, abuse, incarceration, and scandal hanging on by a thread, but always knowing that there was a purpose to fulfill.

She is one of the triplets. Her mother had one single birth and two multiple deliveries, unaware that she was pregnant with triplets until two weeks before delivering.

Today she walks in that purpose, teaching others that there is life after drug abuse, addiction, opposition snd past fsilures and mistakes.

The complications that her mother faced giving birth as all three children tried to leave the womb at the same time, mirrors the struggles and fight of her life.

She attributes her recovery and deliverance as well as her new mind to a rebirth of her soul, trusting in God to provide the strength she needed to turn her life around.

If it was not for God's grace, I would not be here...

She is not ashamed to tell her story, knowing that it may help others break free of the bonds that are keeping them feeling worthless, rejected, hurt, hopeless and ashamed.

Ivana has just published her very first book titled "Lost In The Valley!"

This book chronicles the life she lived while in a world of darkness.

God has brought her out into the light and she desires to spread hope to the hopeless and love to the lost.

Ivana has obtained a degree in Criminal Justice administration and has also received a full Governor’s pardon for the crime she committed while in active addiction.

Ivana has also obtained a C.N.A license and has worked as a certified Nursing Assistant working with mental health patients and caring for the Elderly Community.

She is now a senior in college studying for her Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with cognates in Social Sciences and Criminal Justice, she has already She is very active in Ministry and been accepted into her Master's is now a licensed and ordained first program at Liberty University.

Evangelist and now Pastor, where she pastors her own ministry Ivana now resides in Atlanta, GA "Victory In Christ Evangelistic with her children.

Ministries, Inc. Located in Douglasville Ga. keeping God first Ivana credits her new life to Christ in all that she does. and fully acknowledges that if it weren't for God's grace she would Ivana is the mother of seven not still be here. It's a new day and children; six sons and one she's walking in it! daughter, born last.

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Donec nulla ligula, scelerisque vitae elit eu, ullamcorper elementum est. Fusce vestibulum mi non diam blandit, in tempus metus luctus.

Suspendisse ornare, nisl id posuere accumsan, ipsum sem egestas mauris, a pellentesque elit mi ac felis. In ornare ligula sem, vel accumsan tortor porttitor luctus.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRIT FILLED WOMAN

1 SHE KNOWS WHO SHE IS she is depends on God for her very existence psalm 130

2 SHE

IS RESPONSIVE TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT “Man

shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) WOMEN'S FRONTLINE MAGAZINE

“ But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Phillipians 3:7-10

3

SHE

IS SURRENDERED

I can do all this through him who gives me strength Philippians 4:13.

4

sheI S

BOLD & COURAGEOUS

WOMEN'S FRONTLINE MAGAZINE

5 SHE

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you 2 Timothy 1:6

KNOWS HER SPIRITUAL GIFTINGS AND USES THEM

6 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.

Esther 7

6

SHE SPEAKS. .

8 SHE LIVES HER LIFE FULL OF PRAISE B R E W E D D E S S E R T S

C A F E

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

Psalm 86:12

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She manages her time wisely Proverbs 31:27 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

And all those who had believed were together, Acts 2:44-47

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SHE FINDS A TRIBE TO BELONG TO

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SHE NURTURES God comforts his people like a mother comforts her child (Isaiah 66:13)

Mitch Albom, For One More Day:

“Behind all your stories is always your mother's story.

Because hers is where yours begin.”

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

FROM FAILURE TO SUCCUESS LESSONS FROM PETER THE FISHERMAN

by Eric Otchere

E

veryone under the sun has gone through failure before. We might have failed an exam, business gone under or marriage gone badly. Probably, you are like the great genius Steve Jobs who built Apple Computers and was fired. Failure is part of life but not a final part of life.

During my first degree, I failed many times in my Psychology course. From level 100 to 300, my results were full of pass marks and Fs. But when I got to level 400 I had some As in the same course.

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My task in this article is to use the life of peter in the Bible to learn how to go from failure to success in any venture. Read the full story in Luke 5: 1-11.

THE FAILURE Peter Incorporated was a business venture into fishing.

They had done it for many years and were extremely good at it. But on day, things did not go well. They went to sea but had nothing to show for their efforts. They failed. Three things can help us to appreciate the failure of Peter and co.

Quitting

Mediocrity.

When some people fail, they give up trying again. In verse two, we find that Peter and co had their system of operation, the boat, standing by the lake. The boat is meant to be in action in the lake and not standing.

Again when some people fail, they settle for less in life. In verse three, we read that Peter and co decided to wash their nets instead of trying the second or third time.

A standing boat is an inactive boat. If we allow ourselves, our failures can instruct us to stop pursuing any more goals.

Quitting is when you stand in the tracks of life without any steps to move forward. The leader’s best friend is called action and not quitting.

They probably might have told themselves that they had done enough. In the arena of success, trying is not enough.

Rather, result is king. If we are results minded, we will stop at nothing to achieve what we desire in life. Mediocre people are already failures in life.

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LESSONS FROM PETER THE FISHERMAN

Language When people fail they tend to speak the language of universal failures. In verse five, we read of Peter’s response to Jesus that, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing…” Someone has said that activity doesn’t equal productivity.

Their language shifted from success to failure. I am sure when they started the fishing journey they told themselves positive vibes that they will succeed but due to failure, they spoke otherwise.

Failures have a certain way of speaking that discourages everybody.

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THE SAVIOUR All of us will fail in one way or the other, but what does it take to turn your failures around?

In the story of Peter and his partners, the introduction of Jesus in their lives turned their stories around. Jesus was their saviour.

He was their mentor who advised them best practices that helped them to turn their fortunes around. He was the inspiring voice that brought hope to their hopeless situation.

Our focus here is to discover how Peter and co. responded to their saviour or mentor.

Listening To turn failure around, you need to listen to the voice of reason and hope. It is not enough to have a mentor.

The ultimate question is: do you listen to and act on their advice?

When you hear a mentor or role model talk, lend a listening ear.

Listening is different from hearing.

Hearing is passive but listening is active participation in the knowledge and wisdom being dished out. Peter listened.

Acting What you act upon is the wisdom or insight that you treasure. The next thing Peter did after listening was to take action on the words of Jesus. The great apostle James once said that we must not just be hearers only but doers of instructions (James 1:22).

This is important because action alone produces results. then acting on their wisdom in order to succeed again or for the very first time in your life.

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Collaborating Partnership brings more success. When he heard the words of Jesus, he didn’t go about doing it alone but went with a team. John C. Maxwell said something to the effect that a player scores a goal but a team wins a match.

He didn’t go alone but went with his immediate business partners. We must learn to work with teams if we want maximum input to yield massive success.

THE SUCCESS What were the results after they listened and acted on what Jesus said? Brian Tracy likes to say that when we do what successful people do we will get the same results they get. When we listen to the voice of wisdom and act on them, we are prone to succeed. Here are three results of their obedience.

Abundance When you listen to experienced people and act with wisdom, you will have abundance in life. They caught more fish. They went from nothing to plenty. Success

in life is defined by abundance.

System There was a net breaking phenomenon which signified overflow in blessings.

This is a hundred times more effect that hit Pater and co. heavy. Their capacity was smaller than their harvest.

If you don’t have a big capacity to contain the harvest you are praying about, your net will break. Paul wrote that God can do far more than we expect. Just strengthen your systems for the harvest.

Partnership.

They recognised the role of other people in success. This is different from collaboration mentioned above. This has to do with inviting more people to help with the harvest. They called for more people. You cannot serve the business market alone.

CONCLUSION

failed but they were ready to learn what could help them to bounce back in their chosen business.

Where have you failed?

How are you taking it?

You should probably learn from Peter by looking for strategic mentors and then acting on their wisdom in order to succeed again or for the very first time in your life.

Going from failure to success is not just a miracle but a partnership with God. Peter and company recognised that they had

Eric Otchere (My mission is to help build spiritual and mental capacities) reach me on WhatsApp: +233242355152 Email: otchereeric@gmail. com

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ALICE MILLS

POEMA CHRONICLES

INTRODUCTION TO TOUCHING THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT

S

Today is the day to come to Jesus and touch the hem of His garment.

Isolation, from others or from God, due to negative emotions such as shame or grief, often leave us enduring a kind of perpetual anxiety. We need contact with God and with others in order to feel safe and loved.

The story of the woman with the issue of blood is a case in point. She was ‘unclean’ due to the physical issue she suffered. Ritual impurity is not something we identify with in our society, but the aspect of shame and isolation is. Our negative emotions flow from us, defiling others.

Ritual impurity is not something we identify with in our society, but the aspect of shame and isolation is. Our negative emotions flow from us, defiling others.

In those days, no one could go near her without having to go through a purity ritual. Just like her, if we are caught up in fear or guilt or some other powerfully destructive emotion, we drive others away.

She touches the hem of his garment, and Jesus, unlike the rest of the world, is not rendered unclean by her touch.

Instead, she is made clean.

In the Old Testament, people are made unclean by the things they come into contact with.

What a turnaround that in the New Testament, Jesus touches the leper, the woman with the issue of blood, even the dead.

The loneliness alone can lead to some pretty severe depression. So she must take a huge leap of faith as we must do. She stealthily goes up to Jesus and touches the hem of his garment.

Many of us try to stealthily avail ourselves of God’s We hide our pain. We pray silently in church; we castigate ourselves for our uncleanness, whether from our own sins or sins that were committed against us.

How fortunate we are that we have a God that will heal us even in our fear.

He is never made unclean, rather, they are made clean by contact with Him! We too are made clean because of our contact with Him. In fact, as salt and light, we then go out into a fallen world and bring light to the darkness, and cleanse what is impure.

In this exercise, we are going to seek after that touch, that power that flows from Jesus into our hearts, stopping the flow of grief, shame, fear, regret, and whatever else has kept us from wholeness and community.

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

For a woman to touch a man in this culture was unseemly at best. But look in your heart.

Are you not desperate for a touch from the Savior?

So first push through the emotions and thoughts that crowd around your heart and mind as you move towards Jesus.

45 And Jesus said, Who touched me?

When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Luk 8:43-48

As you focus your attention on these verses, imagine how difficult it must be to sneak up on someone in a crowd and touch them. It would require some determination and focus to push your way through and then casually kneel down and grab hold of the hem of Jesus’ long robe.

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As you focus your attention on these verses, imagine how difficult it must be to sneak up on someone in a crowd and touch them. It would require some determination and focus to push your way through and then casually kneel down and grab hold of the hem of Jesus’ long robe.

For a woman to touch a man in this culture was unseemly at best. But look in your heart.

Are you not desperate for a touch from the Savior?

introduction to touching the hem of his garment So first push through the emotions and thoughts that crowd around your heart and mind as you move towards Jesus.

Grasp hold of the wholeness of Christ, letting him stop the flow of complaint, of bitterness, of grief, and of fear from your heart.

In our times with Him, we must always push through the multitudes in our own mind.

Now imagine Him turning around.

He sees you. He is glad to see you and He gives you His hand and helps you rise.

Our families, our work, the chores ahead of us, the long sheaf of bills; “Your faith has made you well,� He these are the throngs that press says, for He knows that to still your around us, keeping Jesus out of mind and heart in order to seek reach. So use determination and Him out is an act of faith. Touching focus and move through these His garment is an act of faith. And distractions.

God is a rewarder of those who believe that He is and seek him Imagine you are now near enough with a diligent heart. to Jesus to touch Him. My guess is to avoid detection, she came up Ask Him to fill you with every behind Him. Reach out your hand, blessing. physically or in your mind, it does not matter.

Receive His joy and His peace.

Reach out and touch the hem of his Throughout the day, close your rough, homespun garment. It is hand, grabbing onto the hem of his soft from use and many washings. robe, wrap yourself in His love, and As you grab hold, welcome the receive anew the peace of God that power of God into your body, mind, passes all understanding. and spirit. Feel the power come in through your hand, your arm, and into your heart.

NEW SEASON

THE DOOR

BY SHELLY WILSON

I spent the day being reminded of my first calling… ”seek first His Kingdom and righteousness….then ALL will be added…”

I have been looking for a door….The Door. The Lord kept nudging me about a door. It may seem odd but nonetheless..

He kept saying there was a door. This door I felt would meet needs for the

ministry to continue and flourish…

Yet as I rehearsed in my wilderness closet a song He had given some years ago…He used the lyrics to capture my heart today…and He certainly got my attention.

“Sometimes Sleepy eyed and weary I stumble in and close the door…”

abruptly stopped walking…”the door…” I said. The door I was singing about was the door to my closet with Him. My secret place of abiding. The very place that transformed my walk with Him. It was where He taught me to hear His voice intimately and to know His presence well.

As I sat with Him this morning I realized that the heart often goes before us… we are there but we are not there…our minds wander into the day instead of simply being in His presence….resting in Him…drawing from His strength and heart desires.

It was/is my safe place where I can pour out all that stirs within me…. nothing is left hidden there. It is where I can say anything so He can heal everything. It’s where He taught me to make magazines and how to hear a song begin when He opened His heart to mine…

Even studying at times keeps us from simply “being with Him…” all becomes a form of ritual rather than a living relationship of fellowship and simply abiding in Him.

I

As I said, “Lord I never meant to Suddenly I realized the door was move away from you…” I saw a never a door of opportunity… but mighty rushing river that swept me merely the door that shut me in with away. Then I continued, ” I’ve been Him. swept away Lord? Swept away by the phone, the needs, the ministry, I’ve taught on this for years yet in the to-dos, the concerns, personal this season I find the busyness of pains and struggles that occupy ministry….the needs are so great… yet my heart and mind, and , yes, even my need is still greater….and my calling is first to seek Him…how easy the church…” it is to allow all manner of things to crowd Him out.

THE DOOR I said softly, “that door I’ve been looking for is the door that opens into your heart and presence. The door that must be guarded at all cost isn’t it?” I realized He was merely calling me home.

to bear witness in our lives….in a most beautiful way.

It’s this moment and this embrace that I desire daily… the great adventure and love affair that is mostly indescribable in mere Then the most beautiful presence words. of The Holy Spirit surrounded me to assure me I had found the door May you know His embrace I needed. The door to The today…and guard your closet door Door…which causes all else to fiercely. There is nothing more align according to His will. important…nothing… and if He sees you begin to be swept It was nothing short of an away…He will lovingly woo you embrace. There is no lack in this back, even if He has to cut a few embrace whatsoever….this is the branches to do so… joy of following Jesus.

The fellowship with a God that so loves us that He allows His Spirit

THE DOOR Quietly I close the door behind me And set His Music on low Waiting my heart to get settled Letting the world now go.

Slowly I confess my heart pondering My admitting of busy busy roads And telling Him how very sorry I am for wandering so.

Tenderly His presence does touch me And I then could barely move For thick was the room and His breathing And little tears trickled down soon.

For He had been waiting so patiently For my heart to return in full And often I’d sit in this closet Yet, far far away from the room.

My mind was scattered and chaotic No rest was allowed to ensue A ritual and nothing but habit Had infringed on the love I knew.

Walls of years and heartache Had caused a mountain unseen But now a bridge was restoring All that was robbed from Thee.

For jealous He is for my heart strings To remain so connected to His And cut He will all attachments That draw me from practicing this.

For weak and feeble I shall be If from His presence I withdraw Where strength is gained in the waiting And restore He does then the “ALL…”

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