START 2018

STRONG
START WITH YOUR
PURPOSE
BY ERIC OTCHERE

Years ago ,

I was a big fan of setting big New Year

resolutions. That appetite has changed in recent
times. I no longer begin my year with the
priority of writing what I will do and what I will
not do. But I must say that I am not
encouraging you to
go and throw away your hard written list for the
New Year.

14
 START 2018 STRONG
START WITH YOUR
PURPOSE

I just want to bring your

attention to something bigger
than a list. It makes a lot of
difference. Imagine with me for
a brief moment that you stand
at the harbor.

A captain comes on board a ship and start sailing. On

asking him why he is moving the ship, he pulls out a tall
list and reads, “I am going to Sweden, pick up some
travelers, visit the some old time friends and head for
home after 10 days.”

How will you react?

Certainly, you will look him in the face and repeat the
question again. You might think he didn’t understand. But
it is not lack of understanding. It is lack of clear purpose
for what he is doing.

Many of us behave like this captain. We start each year

with a tall list ready to go into action. We are driven by
activities without productive consent from our purpose.

And by purpose, I a purpose driven life Ask yourself:

mean the whole when we start e defining What is my life really
reason why you exist our purpose. about?
on earth. It’s Then, proceed with a
impossible to live list.
Enjoy the New Year.
 CONTENT
08 6 SIGNS THAT
YOU LOVE
WELL
BY ALICE MILLS

16 EXCLUSIVE
14
WHAT IS HOLDING
YOU
INTERVIEW
SHELLY WILSON
GRACE KAPSWARA

30
BECOMING YOU
NICOLE STUBBS

36
SINGLE & WAITING
BY FAITH J. ROLLERSON.
40 48
UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
BY JUANITA WOOLDRIDGE
DREAM HAILERS
BY ERIC OTCHERE

54
INTENTIONAL LIVING
BY CHAVONNE
THOMAS

NEW BEINNINGS
58
BY MARY EISENACHER

62 66
NEW BEGINNINGS
A CHANCE FOR
MONIQUE RAY
NEW BEGINNINGS
BY JOY JALLAH

68 NEW BEGINNING
SHONDEL JACKSON
COLOR
YOUR
WORLD
“Forget the
former things; do
not dwell on the
past. See, I am
doing a new
thing! Now it
springs up; do
you not perceive
it?
Aenean at quam non diam
posuere molestie. Donec
mauris mi, mattis vitae
dictum vel, lobortis ac leo
parturient montes,
nascetur ridiculus mus.
Sed dapibus gravida sem.
 BY ALICE MILLS

I am always amused by titles

like this one until I dive into the
topic. Learning to love well takes a
lifetime of dedication to the art.
Most posts on the topic of love read
like a long list of complicated
instructions. Or sometimes they
seem like a list of cliché’s strung
together.

So while I agree that love does indeed manifest as action, those lists
don’t prove generally helpful to me. After all, love requires a study
of others and their needs and wants. I know that my husband and
children each have very different ideas of what they need in order to
feel loved.

I thought I was good at loving for a long time, and could not figure
out why all my efforts seemed to fail. As it turned out, I did not love
my abusive first husband well. I think the relationship would have
ended far earlier if I had.

To love well comes from a place of strength and requires

fearlessness. Living with my first husband who had Narcissistic
Personality disorder let to a lot of trauma. And yet God did shore up
my weakness.

He gave me the You see, I always gave all and was

strength to love thought love required supposed to be
truly, beginning with a kind of masochistic happy receiving
telling the truth sacrifice in which I nothing in return.
about who I was and
what I suffered.
14
 6 SIGNS THAT
YOU LOVE WELL

My notions of
unconditional love were
highly romanticized but
in the end led to terrible
bondage. Unconditional
love should not entail
denial or dishonesty.

When we lie about who we are or cover up

how we feel for the sake of the other, we have
stopped loving. We have erected a straw man
in place of our real selves, and no one has a
real relationship with a mirage.

With every lie, we take a step away from the

other person and those lies must be uprooted
in order for real relationship to take place. So
here is my list of what loving well requires.

I fully admit that it is not full of practical or

cheery instructions such as date nights,
affirmations, and surprise breakfast in bed in
the morning, though those are wonderful.

Love is at once action and deeper than action.

Love is a state of being that is ultimately
inclusive, ultimately truthful, yet does not
press or control. Check out 1 Corinthians 13.
Or start with this:

14
 ALICE MILLS

1. You tell the truth with love. As was afraid he would resent me,
I grew out of the idea that love but on bad days coping with
means taking all the hits and chronic back pain, I resented his
never complaining, I learned to lack of consideration. I admit I
tell my current and wonderful was so frightened to show him
husband when his actions affect how I really felt. I was afraid he
me. By showing him who I am, I would think I was trying to guilt
love him in a way that gives him him. But my husband is a really
the opportunity to love me back. good man. He can tell the
difference between honesty and
As a common example, my manipulation. He stopped
husband often missed the throwing his things on the floor.
laundry basket by about six
inches every day. 2
You can be pleased. As a
For several years I tried all the recovering people pleaser, I was
Christian woman tricks like so focused on making others
thanking God I had a husband to happy that I did not give them
pick up after. But that covered room to reciprocate. One of the
up the issue. I dislike nagging so greatest gifts one can give
I decided to be honest. Really another is to joyfully accept their
honest with a side of overtures, their gifts, their
vulnerability. affections. Ironically,

I learned this from a rather

I told him that my back injury
made it painful. his socks on the
floor, I actually felt very lonely
inside because I thought maybe I
wasn’t worth putting clothes in a
hamper. I told him how I felt like
a terrible wife when I nagged. I
emotionally cold man I dated
who once asked me if I could be
pleased. I was so convicted. Did I
let others in my life please me or
was I too busy loving without
accepting love into return.

14
Since then, I try to just give the pure
joy of being thrilled with any
genuine attempt to give me love.
Why this can be difficult, I am still
not sure. But sometimes it is as
blessed to receive as it is to give.
Think of the last time you genuinely
gave someone pleasure. Bet you
liked that feeling. Are you denying
others that gift of feeling that they
can bring enjoyment to the lives of
their loved ones?
3.
You listen well. Listening to others
can be such a challenge. My
daughters could talk without
ceasing in their teens. But they
didn’t expect my whole attention
during those times, just my passive
presence. Sometimes though, they
would need my whole undivided
attention.
I struggle with this. My mind is a
kaleidoscope filled with ideas plus I
am a tad dissociative.
My husband and my kids (even as
adults) need focused active attention
regularly. To feel understood gives
them courage to face their lives and
more encouragement than the
wisest advice.
4.
You intercede well. If you do not
pray for your loved ones, you are
leaving their futures to chance. Who
better someone who loves them to
bring them to God’s attention? Do I
pray the same things every day? No. I
know God might not get bored, but I
sure do. I journal my requests for
them. I read scriptures over them.
And sometimes I sit and invite God
to love them with me, and to show
me how to love them better.
 6 SIGNS THAT
YOU LOVE WELL
5.
You are open-handed.. If you have to manipulate or arrange the lives
of your loved ones, you need a reality check. God has never once
manipulated or forced me to do anything. Nudged? Yes. Forced? No.
Control masquerades as love but is often just the fear of rejection.
Let go of the guilting. Let go of the stern lectures. In fact, let
everyone off the hook. Let them choose you. And if they don’t, love
them anyway.

In the end, freeing someone to be who they are is an incredible act

of faith. It looks like releasing expectations and labels. But if you
want real love, if you want authenticity, you open your hands.
Control encourages lying. Do you love your family enough to let
them stumble and learn on their own? Enough to experience
consequences? Lastly, are you safe enough for them to be who they
really are around you? If not, time to get your love adjusted.

6.
You are accepting. If you really love someone, you are not dedicated
to their improvement. There is already a Holy Spirit and He doesn’t
have any positions for Junior Holy Spirits currently.
Take a look at the people in your life. Do you spend your time trying
to change them? Are you fundamentally disappointed in your
children or your husband?

If you find yourself rejecting your husband and children or shutting

them out, it is time for serious repentance. You are rejecting their
identity and shaming them. If you are disappointed in their actions,
then you may have to release your expectations and forgive. When I
see people work through this in prayer, the atmosphere in their
home begins to change. The presence of true love introduces the
presence of true hope.

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you see shortcomings. That too, is

real love. To admit imperfection is to entertain humility. And after
all, love is not proud and does not boast. And all those things on
this list? Shower yourself with that kind of love too. To love yourself
well is to teach your children how to love themselves and others.
T here is something holding you
my friend. Often there are bars of a
prison that are quite invisible.

The enemy at some point bound you

in some area. Likely it will be the
place of your greatest victory. But the
enemy has fully convinced you to
remain quiet. He has stolen your
voice.

Not just a loss for you, but surely it

will be a loss for the many others
bound in this same prison.
Perhaps courage is needed in this hour. For you have the power in
Christ to break through the prison bars. The power of life and death
is in your tongue and you are worthy enough to speak up and speak
out. Christ wants to restore your voice. Your ultimate healing will
come as your voice is heard declaring freedom.

The enemy has most assuredly told you it might embarrass you and
those close to you. Or perhaps he has told you it’s in the past and
not worth discussing…so you pretend it’s not there. And so the
prison remains.

Some even believe it doesn’t really affect them, “I’m over it.” Yet, you
have built such a wall surrounding your heart that no one can get
close to you. It has now affected every relationship you have. The
bars are strong and anything ignored will remain.

It has kept your heart closed to many situations and has caused
you a standstill in your destiny. But when you find your voice, the
train starts moving again as that which has held it back no longer
remains.

When you find your voice again you will begin to see others who
had the same prison walls. They were also silent and thought they
might never get out from behind those same bars.

Until one day ….

Someone who once was silenced …

Decided she would be silent no more…

Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound…
INTRODUCING
GRACE
KAPSWARA
Without sounding too
spiritual Grace
Kapswara is first a Exclusive Interview
born again christian, a
lover of God, and a
believer in Jesus
What are you
1
Christ. I am a wife to a
certain hunk called most
Kudakwashe passionate
Kapswara, and by the about in life?
grace of God we have
two beautiful children
Upendo ( Swahili name
meaning Love) and This will definitely be
Kuzivakwashe ( Shona relationships! let me expand more
on this, to me relations are what
name meaning the
make the world go round as such I
knowledge of God). We strive to see people get along,
also parent two building bridges instead of
amazing children, burning bridges, that is priceless
whom we took on after to me.
the passing on of my Impacting the lives of the less
sister and her privileged in societies is another
husband. I therefore of my passions, I live for
influencing the lives ensuring that
am a proud mother of a solution is provided for the
four! I am an needy regardless of the
international speaker circumstance, as such we run an
who is very orphanage in Chegutu, Zimbabwe.
passionate about the
kingdom of God.
 beauty

he was moved, and

just dropped her off
hurriedly went to

2 and waited for her afar

off,as a staunch Muslim
he did not want
receive the Lord Jesus
Christ as his Lord and
Savior.
anything to do with the
gospel of Jesus Christ,
Would you unknown to him, it was
My mother did not
even know what had
like to share on this day he would
transpired, and to cut
encounter our Lord
the long story short
your Jesus Christ.
when I was born they
testimony As my dad was parked,
named me Neema,
meaning Grace
As she walked slowly waiting for my mum he
because I was born
through the huge could hear the great
under a new era in
crowd of people at a evangelist saying "come
their lives (being the
crusade, my mother to Christ.... he resisted
third born out of four,
was about 7 months at first, however a time
I became the first to
pregnant with me, as passed he could not
have a Christian
usual her husband, my contain it,
name).
dad had

6
I firmly believe when one has been seek me and find me when you
shown great mercy, and seek me with all your heart".
forgiveness they tend to be more
passionate and zealous in what For prayer and fasting the longest I
they do: Acts 9- where we see have had has been 90 day, 7 of
Saul`s and his escapades which I spent in the prayer
encountering Jesus Christ mountain, seeking his face for
becoming a fervent worshiper of myself! I recall how I would have
the Lord as Paul. all night prayer meetings as
mentioned earlier, in which I
My life has been filled with would pray, I mean pray! no breaks
testimonies through persecution, I am not talking about our bring
Its been a tough journey but and share all night prayer
definitely rewarding. I started meetings, where we occasionally
seeking the face of the Lord as a have food breaks... all night prayer
young girl and by the time I was a was that, All Night Prayer, i sought
teenager I would hold my own all his face till the sun came out! Yes
night prayers in my own contained unbelievable but true!
'prayer room' seeking the face of
the Lord was and still is my Regardless of not having taken
deepest desire. part in Islamic practices but
having had roots in them through
I took on prayer and fasting, my dad, I felt it pleasurable to
attending revival meetings even in pursue God as the I felt and still
remote churches where we would feel the great grace and mercy he
walk through dusty and muddy endowed me with is unimaginable
pathways. It true what the Bible and I can`t comprehend, I can
says in Jeremiah 29'13 " you will never thank him enough!
WOMEN'S FRONTLINE
MAGAZINE
2018
 kind

3
all walks of life from through, through the
Tell us about the rich and wealthy grace of God they
your strengths to the poor and leave knowing that
disadvantaged I God will indeed turn
It has always been a things for their good.
uphold all people to
challenge talking I am generally a
high regard, and offer
about my own selfless individual
unconditional love to
strengths, as it who puts the needs
all. Loyalty and
appears I am blowing of others before my
consistency are again
my own trumpet, own.
my major attributes,
nevertheless I will try
and I believe this has
to mention what I hear
grown me.
many people say to
me which I believe are
I am a very strong
my strengths.
encourager no matter
God has given me the
what situation a
ability to embrace and
person is going
relate to people from
 What part of the church

4 does your ministry

represent?

My husband and I serve under

Bishop Tudor and Pastor
ChiChi Bismarck, as Pastors
of married couples,
overseeing over 600 couples
in the church. Our ministry
therefore represents
marriages in the church.

In the last 4 years we have

done more than 200 weddings
in our church, there is a grace
of marriages over the house.
Our day to day activities
include pre and post marital
counselling sessions, we host
seminars, monthly
empowerment sessions to
help build the lives of these
various couples.

Iwill start with the anointing,

5 moving on to being kind and lastly

beautiful.

A respectable elderly preacher

What challenges once said, anointing attracts, and
when it attracts it attracts both the
do you meet in good and the bad. As a beautiful,
ministry as a kind and anointed woman,

beautiful, kind
8
 translates to a lot of things.
In some places people find it
difficult to receive from a women so In certain arenas you are misjudged
you have to work twice as hard. because you are stylish, look good
Women are normally just and take great care of yourself. In
associated with ladies conferences some parts of the world, a powerful
but we have a word for everyone woman of God is expected to have
and not just women. Sometimes no manicure, no make up, one who
being African is also a challenge. does not dress up, thus in such
arenas you can even be labelled for
The problem with being kind is you the mere reason that you take good
are easily taken for granted, care of yourself, how sad.
mistaken for a fool, and easily
abused. The general notion in On the other hand there are those
society is people who are kind have parts of the world were they
and yet people do not realize that appreciate beauty, and the challenge
we give out of a need, it is a comes when they verbalize it, even
sacrifice if anything! to the extend of approaching me
and passing comments which are
Being a beautiful woman in ministry rather suggestive.

6 HOW HAVE YOU

DEALT WITH
THOSE
CHALLENGES?
The bible says wisdom is the principal
thing... It is wisdom that carries me and helps
me how to relate with people from diverse
people groups.

I also seek counsel, from those around me

And off course through prayer, ask God to
take over and do only that which God can do
It's the grace of God, I just surrender to Him
He is the one who called me not me and so I
do as he wills, go where he sends me and
pour out what he has placed in me and allow
his to do the rest.
14
HOW DO YOU ESTABLISH
HEALTHY BOUNDARIES
BETWEEN CHURCH AND
7
FAMILY?

It can be so
difficult, because
with any other
corporate
profession in my
opinion it is better
to handle matters
because you are
dealing with egos
mainly and not
souls.
Many times you are back from a
mission you need to spend time
with the kids however ministry
won’t allow because someone is
on a deathbed, verge of divorce
you name it. So striking a
balance hasn’t been easy. I don’t
know how l do it, but l suppose l
am learning to prioritize knowing
that God comes first then my
 WHAT ARE YOUR
WEAKNESSES 8
I have a tendency of wanting to
please everybody, l am a people
pleaser! Even when I travel I am
ever in trouble with the
immigration as a result of my
bags I always have a little
something for everyone, because
l long to make life easier for
people the extreme of it is
however sad as it almost always
leads me in trouble.

What is your advice to

9 women who are like
you?
Women in ministry need to be well
rounded and knowledgeable on
issues beyond the church domain so
that they can be relevant to their
different spheres of influence.
Women in leadership in ministry
need to be wise in the ways of the
world as well so that they can
meaningfully impart to their
followers.

Is there something Be yourself! Stick to

your lane, God loves
you would like to
10 say to women
you, God has a purpose
for you. Stop looking
down upon yourself
today...... my message is plainly
Be Yourself!
14
 We often do the examining
part just before we take
communion, however when
First Sunday is communion I think of this scripture, I
Sunday and this scripture think that examining
yourself all time is a
1 Corinthians 11:28 reads. necessary part of growing
and changing; of
But let a man examine BECOMING you.
himself.
 O
Those words had a profound
effect on me.
ne of the definitions
of ''become'' is to grow, to be. I was walking around in a
depression and wasn’t aware
There was a point in my life of it until I started taking
where I had to take a long inventory of myself.
look at who I was. I literally
was standing in a mirror and I didn’t always not have
truthfully, I didn’t like what I confidence in myself or love
saw. for myself. Words are
powerful,
I was at a cross roads in my
life. I had to begin Proverbs 18:21.
questioning everything about
myself. Words that are spoken to us
and words we speak to
How did I get here? ourselves. I began to realize
Why did I gain so much that I had allowed other
weight? people’s opinion matter more
Why was I ugly to myself? to me than my own opinion of
What do I have to offer to myself and more importantly
the world? what God’s thoughts of me
are.
Many of us have asked
questions like this at some I had to start re-affirming and
point in life. speaking God’s word
concerning me.

I can think back about my life 2 Peter 3:9-11

and can almost pinpoint
situations that lead me to The Lord isn’t really being
believe something negative slow about his promise, as
about myself. It was usually some people think. No, he is
something that someone said being patient for your sake.
to me and I internalized it.

14
 BECOMING
YOU
BY NICOLE STUBBS

He does not want anyone to be

destroyed, but wants everyone to
repent. I began to pray the word of
God and ask him to show me who I
am and repent for allowing the
enemy and the “inner” me to speak
less of who I am.

I begin reversing my thought

process and change the way
the I spoke about myself. I
begin to re-define myself and
see myself through God’s
eyes.
It was realizing that I was
created in the image of God,
and that I’m on the mind of
God, that I could start to see
the woman I am becoming.
The process is not a pretty
one. Going through my
process, I had to take
ownership of my part in the
dysfunction in my life and ask
for forgiveness.
I also needed to forgive those Christ, he is a new creature:
who tried to tear me down
because of a lack in their lives. behold all things have become
God is so patient and faithful.
He never gives up on me. He
made me a Gift with gifts.
Everyday I’m learning how to
love me and embrace
everything about me.
I’m becoming more and more
comfortable in my own skin,
physically, emotionally and
spiritually.
I make declarations every day,
that I’m bigger, stronger and
better. I’m becoming, growing
to be all that God’s wants me
to be and that is someone who
is pretty amazing.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man in
old things are passed away;
new.

14
14
 BY FAITH J. ROLLERSON
I’m not quite sure I’ve mastered being
single nor waiting. I don’t know if
there are any real masters. There are
days when it seems that I have this
thing on lock, and then there are days
when my pillow is soaked with my
tears because the loneliness is so
painful.

Being single seems must acknowledge, deal with,

and move on from the hurts of
to be a blessing and our past.
a curse, meaning in this is a We need to deal with the spirits
time in your life where you get
of: Rejection, betrayal,
to know yourself, but it also can
unforgiveness, bitterness, anger,
be a time when you feel so
and we have divorce the spirits
alone.
of boyfriends passed.
It shouldn’t be that a man is
It’s hard to be happy when you
needed to complete you, that
have all this excessive baggage
your life is less fulfilling
weighing you down, and you
because you don’t have one, but
sure can forget having a healthy
whereas a man doesn’t
relationship with anyone.
complete you, it is nice to have
someone to share certain life
The ultimate key to release us
moments with.
from these spirits is prayer.
To live a fulfilling single life, we
 BY FAITH J. ROLLERSON

much of myself so sweet words

I know that
1. I am fearfully and wonderfully
made, and
2. That before I even drew my first
breath that God had a plan for my
life. My destiny was already
mapped out.
There were a lot of detours and one
being broken relationships. And
they were broken because I was
broken. I didn’t understand my
worth, my value or my beauty.
I never took the time to get to
know me, even from a young girl.
Growing up I felt ugly. I didn’t think
from poisonous lips was music to
my ears.
I found myself giving myself to
men who only wanted sex, and I
made myself okay with that
because I didn’t believe I could get
better.
I was so broken that my mentality
was programmed to this self-
destructing behavior. I saw nothing
wrong with being a jump off, a side
chick, someone that’s called when
their other lady friends weren’t
available. I didn’t care.

I accepted their few I didn’t always protect I haven’t been in a

minutes of time myself either. My mind relationship in years,
because that was a was so distorted that I but I realized that
few minutes that I threw caution to the just because you
could pretend to wind for empty don’t have a
matter to them. promises. boyfriend/husband
14
It doesn’t mean you are single.
To be single, you need to be delivered and set free
from “them” and that takes time, prayer, fasting,
discipline, and commitment.

If you don’t then you won’t be single and waiting,

you’ll be single and throwing tantrums, or settling for
any Joe Schmoe.

One of the most freeing feelings in this world is being

freed from the weight of your past. I have made a
conscience decision that while I’m single and waiting
I’m going to live a life pleasing to God.

To stick to my so that I will be

assignment and to single in mind,
live as he created body.
me to be. The bible
says that if I delight Before God sends
myself in him then you a mate he wants
he’ll grant me the to be sure that you
desires of my heart. are in place to
I’m in the process handle the ministry
of God cleansing me of marriage.
from the inside out

We focus on not just being lonely growth, maturing, and

anymore that we do not take the preparation.
time to truly assess all that comes
with being a wife. Its more that Again, I haven’t mastered being
cooking, cleaning, and having sex. single and waiting, but my prayer
It’s about commitment and life is increasing.
covenant.
I have accepted that though I am
And God, before he sends a not married yet that doesn’t mean
husband, he needs us to have that there is anything wrong with
covenant with him. He wants us to me.
be
completely submitted to his will My time will come and when it
for our lives. Being single and does I will know that it is God’s
waiting is a time of learning, doing.
Reverend
All football fans have
John one thing in common -
Harvard was they cheer their teams.

the first But fans do not cheer

sponsor of their teams at all times.

Harvard
University.
 Whilst one category of fans will
cheer their team whether winning
or not (they are called raven fans),
another category only cheer their
fans when they are winning. Thus,
their level of support is minimal
when they are losing.

The second is so (Read Matthew 2:1-12).

characteristic of Ghanaian fans
when the national team is THEY ARE WISE
playing. Before they even finish (Matt. 2:1, 2):
the match, they will start
crucifying them of their Why did God invite the wise men
performance. to the birthplace of Jesus and not
any other people?
Dream hailers are much like the
first category of football fans. Dreams must attract the right
people. Right people are wise
They support you whether you people. What it means to be wise
are down or up in your game. is to apply the right information
in practical living.
One person who stands out as a
dream hailer is Barnabas in
the Book of Acts in the Bible. He
single handedly spotted and
raised the potential leaders in
both Paul and John Mark.

Such people have quite

disposition but make huge
contributions in lives. Jesus’
dream attracted the famous wise
men from the Far East who
exhibited five lessons we can
learn from about dream hailers.

14
They are hard to They are ready to
find. When found, correct their mistakes
they are ready to lay which can put your
down their lucrative dream in danger.
jobs and obey God Open yourself to wise
in order to support a men to support your
dream. dream.

THEY ARE fellow poor men.

Dream hailers rejoice
REJOICERS with people who
discover their
(Matt. 2:10):
dreams in life.
A typical poor man
The three wise men
thinks the rich man
“rejoiced
is the cause of his
exceedingly” with
poverty. Hence, they
the parents of Jesus.
don’t celebrate rich
Rejoicing is a
people.
decision not a
condition.
Rich men have a
secret that you can
If you don’t rejoice
only attract what
with others, they will
you celebrate. They
not rejoice with you
rejoice with people
either. Rejoicers
of their own kind.
instill confidence in
The poor man
the dream.
associates with
 people with the
THEY ARE attitude of gratitude
WORSHIPPERS and acknowledge
other people’s
(Matt. 2:11): contribution in the
world.
Dream hailers are
dream worshippers.
Worshippers don’t
They revere what fake.
you have. Worship They know they are
is a way of life. not the only best
thing that ever
People with the happened to the
heart of worship are world.

THEY ARE Harvard University

is now in the top
GIVERS five
(Matt. 2:11):
best universities in
the world. People
The dream of
such as Harvard are
establishing
dream hailers.
Harvard University
benefitted
They feed dreams
massively from
with provisions
Reverend John
such as gold,
Harvard who
frankincense, and
sponsored the
myrrh.
young institution
with £779 (half of his
Seek dream hailers
estate) and his
to sponsor you, and
library of around
seek to become a
400 volumes.
hailer yourself.

14

DREAM
HAILERS
THEY ARE GOD SENT
(Matt. 2:12):
The last thing about dream
hailers is that they are sent from
God.
Connecting dreamers to their
hailers is God’s business. Even
though they might
be far away, they will still cross
our path. Has it occurred to you
that it was after the wise men
visited Jesus that God instructed
them to leave for Egypt?
They got secured financially
before they took off to Egypt.
14
BY ERIC OTCHERE
Your hailers will find you.
Dreams are meant to be realized.
Dreams are meant to impact
other people’s lives.
All these can be achieved when
the right people are connected.
Lack of the right people can breed
frustrations.
Be watchful of who you invite to
your dream.
They must be wise, joyful,
worshippers, givers, and most
importantly God sent.
Today, as I He was gasping for
waited for the air and staring into
train, I noticed a a paper bag. I
young man who decided to
seemed to be approach him to
afraid. ask him if he was
feeling okay....
YOU Problems
Oh, difficulties...
how we love them
so. (Hint the

CAN sarcasm) There are

sooo many things
we go through in
lives that attempts

WIN!
to take us down,
whether you’re an
adult or youth.
.
BY CHANTE WHISONANT

I even bet some of the enough from the stuff, matter how old you get,
people reading this are might as well accept it. no matter where you
in the process of some run, there’s always
situations that would You’re tired of trying to going to be a problem.
make you say, “Yikes!”, accomplish something
am I right? that seems impossible OUR problem is when
to accomplish, and we accept ‘em and let
And I’m guessing you’re SICK of life them cause continuous
you’re at the point throwing it’s, “I told chaos in our lives
where you’re just about you so!” back in your because we gave up.
ready to give up and face every time you try.
drop everything. Why? The situation against
Again, am I right? us isn’t the problem,
Because you’re tired of it’s how we handle that
running, seems like you Maybe, but let me tell situation.
can never move far you something. No

People say to me all false hope for things Why would the
the time, “Chante’ I to change.” trouble want to STOP
can’t do this. I give causing trouble? But,
up. Nothing is gonna See, sentences like WE can stop the
get better. I mean, it that is what stops us. trouble. WE can fight
hasn’t yet. Will everything it. It will only get
And I’m not gonna change on it’s own? better if you allow it
wait around with Of course not! to.
14
Against All Odds happened back then, I
Shoot, I almost fought the odds against
Nothing ever changes attempted to end my me. My bullies became
because we don’t push life multiple times, I the reason I’m an
ourselves to change. felt like there was no author.
It’s our life. It’s our reasoning for it. But
peace, and it’s something in me just
our happiness. would allow myself to
go through with it.
Wouldn’t you want to
control that? “But how I knew that it wasn’t
do I do that?” Well, I’ll worth it. I was right.
tell ya. But you have to Despite how I felt, My pain paved the
listen to a story first. despite what I went way for my purpose. I
through I made it out. became what people
Everywhere I’ve moved, said I couldn’t be
all my life, I have been How? despite what they all
bullied, misused, talked said and did.
about, disrespected, I told myself I could do
torn down, made fun of it. I MADE myself do it. Through the Lord, I
and more. No matter what you’re came out stronger even
fighting, no matter though the situation
People would laugh at what you’re life is like, was made for me to
my dreams and say I you CAN do it. grow weaker.
could never do. I was
made to feel useless Trust me, God can and
because I was told that will do the same for
I am useless. you, but only if you let
him.
I felt I was stupid
because I let their
words program my Against all the odds Against all odds, you
mind into thinking I you will come out on will pull through. No
was stupid. top! matter what happens,
you can and WILL win.
I wanted to kill myself The thing is, that can
so many times because only be so if you’re still
I was just so tired. I in the ring putting up a Love, kisses, and
didn’t want to wake up fight. blessings,
in the morning. I didn’t
want to go to school. No matter what Min. Chante’
 UNREALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS BY Juanita Wooldridge

On New Year’s Day, the first day

of the year, people are so
caught up in making
resolutions or changes,
determined to make
corrections in their lives
through acts of self-
improvement in their personal
lives, that we make unrealistic
expectations.

As people get caught up in the moment and realize

that these changes are unattainable and that they
are unable to keep them the failure to succeed and
the weight of their original burden becomes that
much heavier and they began to see themselves in
an even dimmer light than they may have before.

These resolutions or vows are often fueled by a

sincere desire to make changes because of loss of
a job, breakup of a marriage or family, sickness or
disease, or any number of reasons because of what
these vices have produced in their lives. Sexual
immorality, drug abuse, teen pregnancy,
homosexuality, alcohol and tobacco,
overspending, gluttony, pornography, murder,
abortion -- -- -- -- --

The Christian, the resolutions, vowing changes in their

born again child of and declaring before lives. Note the
God, is not exempt God and themselves emphasis here, that
from this painful that this coming year they are going to
process. Many they are going to make the changes.
Christians also make make some serious
But when we as Christians take it
upon ourselves to solve the
problem, we are taking it out of the
hands of our All-Sufficient God who
has declared that He is the One who
will do the work in us.
It is not through our works but we
must rely upon Him, He is our
Problem Solver. When we come to
Him vowing to give up this and that
instead of asking for His strength
and His help in our weakness He is
not bound by His Word to respond
to that vow.
28:20-22 “Then Jacob made this vow:
‘If God will indeed be with me and
protect me on this journey, and if he
will provide me with food and
clothing, and if I return safely to my
father’s home, then the LORD will
certainly be my God.
And this memorial pillar I have set
up will become a place for
worshiping God, and I will present
to God a tenth of everything he gives
me.’ “ We can see in this passage
that Jacob is trying to make a
contractual agreement with God.

We must be honest before God and If You do this then You will certainly
admit that even though we may be be my God and I will give You a
Christians and love the Lord, there tenth of everything.
are those of us that also suffer from
some of the same worldly bondage. We often do the same today - we try
to play mind games with God, not
Even if we make resolutions before realizing that God knows all things,
God that we will spend more time in even the games we are playing.
His Word, in His Presence, in
Ministry, we are still actually
making vows before GOD. As we As we yield our specific areas of
yield our specific areas of need to need to God, He is the only One who
God, He is the only One who can can really help us. When we make
really help us. that resolution or vow to God, we
are in a sense telling God that we
When we make that resolution or are the one who will fix the problem.
vow to God, we are in a sense telling Often a believer or even an
God that we are the one who will fix unbeliever may even try to barter, to
the problem. Often a believer or make a deal with God. A vow could
even an unbeliever may even try to include all promises to perform
barter, to make a deal with God. A certain things for, or bring certain
vow could include all promises to offerings to, God, in return for
perform certain things for, or bring benefits which were hoped for at His
certain offerings to, God, in return hand.
for benefits which were
hoped for at His hand. NLT Gen.
Gen. 28:20-22 “Then Jacob made
this vow: ‘If God will indeed be with
me and protect me on this journey,
and if he will provide me with food
and clothing, and if I return safely
to my father’s home, then the LORD
will certainly be my God. And this
memorial pillar I have set up will
become a place for worshiping God,
and I will present to God a tenth of
everything he gives me.’

“ We can see in this passage that

Jacob is trying to make a
contractual agreement with God. If
You do this then You will certainly
be my God and I will give You a
tenth of everything. We often do
the same today - we try to play
mind games with God, not
realizing that God knows all
things, even the games we are
playing.
Fulfilling of a vow was considered
as a sacred and binding duty. A
vow was as binding as an oath and
therefore was to be kept to the
letter and not to be made lightly.
Genesis 30:2 “If a man makes a
vow to the Lord, or swears an oath
to bind himself by some
agreement, he shall not break his
word; he shall do according to all
that proceeds out of his mouth.”
A vow or resolution is a contract
with God with Whom we are in
covenant. If we can’t fulfill those
vows that we make, then we ought
not make them because if we do
we are breaking our covenant
relationship with our God Who
wants nothing more than
relationship with us.
It should always be our heartfelt
desire to give our very best to God
but to be very cautious of making
resolutions or vows to Him. For He
will hold us to these vows.
Deuteronomy. 23:21-23 For the
LORD your God demands that you
promptly fulfill all your vows, or
you will be guilty of sin.
 UNREALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS

However, it is not a sin to

refrain from making a vow.
But once you have
voluntarily made a vow, be
careful to fulfill your
promise to the LORD your
God.

It is much better to talk

with the Lord about our
issues specifically, about
areas in our lives that we
want to work on, and need
Holy Spirit to help us to
overcome them.

Itis important to remember that our words, whether spoken to God

or one another are not to be taken lightly. With the very words of
His mouth our God spoke creation into existence.

We must be cautious of the words that we speak because there are

always ears that hear because God hears every word. Vows, whether
good or bad, spoken in haste, are very often hard to fulfill and as
scripture tells us it is better not to make a vow than to break it. We
need to be cautious very of the words that we speak.

Have a Joyous New Year. Blessings in the Name of Our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ!

14
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 NEW by Mary Eisenacher
BEGINNINGS
Our good future is fused with the
experiences of the past. All that
God has taught us bears fruit in
the many new beginnings of our
life. I have always loved seeing
new things come to life . . . the
seed that sprouts and turns into a
plant with beautiful flowers, the
conception that turns into a
precious little newborn baby, and
the life of a person that begins to
turn into a calling from God.

My parents prayed for me as a baby would turn into a spiritual educator

in the cradle that God would use myself through the work of the
me. When I was growing up, my ministry.
mother thought that my brother
would be the preacher. She was New beginnings for you could mean
right because He is a minister in a new relationship, new job, or new
the context of his life, and I am the commitment to Christ. That always
ordained minister – consecrated as comes with an untangling from the
a prophet and apostle (my old.
functions).
There can be pain involved. It can
It took many new beginnings to get come with sleepless nights, in
me to where I am today. Believe me trepidation (fear, anxiety,
when I say that I had no idea as a nervousness, apprehension) – if
shy non-verbal child where I was you do not have the leading of the
headed. I had no inkling that when I Holy Spirit, or
got out of college, I would work for
educators – and later on in life I

– if you do not have blows of others who correctly, you can

the leading of the do not understand second-guess/hold
Holy Spirit, or if you what God is doing off/and miss the
are cooperating with with you. Even if you mark.
the crushing have heard

14
 What is a beginning?
Our God can be very specific. I
know, because He has had me It is early stages or a start. A new
leave the comfortable past and beginning is something in early
forge into the future - only on His development. It is like a painting
say so. Others shook their heads that the artist is just starting – it
in unbelief. The consensus was does not look like much at first.
that I had lost it. However – after a There are initial stages and steps
reasonable amount of time – those to be followed.
same people had to admit that I
had been bold enough to make the Psalm 37:22-24
change and reap the rewards. 22 For those blessed by God will
Hallelujah! [at last] inherit the land,
But those cursed by Him will be
What has God birthed in your cut off. 23 The steps of a [good and
spirit to do for Him? What will it righteous] man are directed and
cost you? How can it really come established by the Lord, And He
full term and be birthed in the delights in his way [and blesses
natural? his path]. 24 When he falls, he will
not be hurled down, Because the
Those are questions for the Holy Lord is the One who holds his
Spirit. All can be answered if you hand and sustains him.
are diligent and patient in the
wait. Pray! You can expect Him to be with
you. There is an opening up –
The answers will come. If they do performing like a beautiful
not, continue what your last order rosebud that finally opens up.
was that you were sure of it being There is a launching – like a boat
from God. God wants to leaving the dock. There is an
communicate on some level with establishment of the new – it will
you so that you will understand. transcend your original thoughts
Just keep at it! Keep seeking Him! or dreams.

Jeremiah 29:13 It is a creative process. Just as God

spoke and there was light, your
You will seek me and find me voice in the matter will begin to
when you seek me with all your create the new.
heart.
 NEW BEGINNINGS
There comes a time of
inauguration – a so-called
appointment, swearing in, or
ceremony where (as the visionary)
you are formally recognized. With
that comes activation,
introductions, and instigations
(promptings, encouragements, and
provocations). Yes, the
provocations come – those times of
aggravations, hassles, vexations,
and frustrations. It does not all
come neat and clean.
You become the one to push those
negative things down that are not
of God, and speak it the way you
want to see it – just like Abraham!
Romans 4:16-18´7
16 Therefore, the promise comes by
faith, so that it may be by grace and
may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s
offspring—not only to those who
are of the law but also to those who
have the faith of Abraham. He is the
father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I
have made you a father of many
nations.” He is our father in the
sight of God, in whom he believed—
the God who gives life to the dead
and calls into being things that
were not.
Are you scared yet?
NO! You are not! Because . . . when
God tells you to begin something
by Mary Eisenacher
new, He will provide what you need
and walk with you through the
whole process. Yes, He will! When
you are obedient, you know it will
be worth it (based on your past
experiences with God).
I think of each new day and the
sunrise. It is so exciting to see a
beautiful sunrise. When I was
pregnant with my son, I saw every
sunrise. Even in the womb, he
started moving around at 6:30 in the
morning. I had lots of times of
reflection while looking out the
window and greeting the morning.
Those were times of wonderment at
who this child would be, what he
would look like, and how God would
use him. It was a time of great hope.
God did not disappoint me with
him. We did not have the privilege
of seeing our children through
sonograms, so we had to rely on our
Holy imaginations – just as you will
need to do regarding your dreams
from God.
When you begin to dream with God,
He will not disappoint you. He has a
plan, purpose, and destiny for you.
Read Jeremiah 29:11
It is time to dream big for a new
beginning somewhere in your life.
Seek Him about any blueprints He
has that you have not seen yet.
14
Ask for a Holy imagination for I went to see a prisoner who was
what He has for you. He will do it dying. He was handcuffed to
by bringing His plans out and the bed and had an officer on
exposing them to the light for each side of him. He cried when I
you to see. asked him how I could pray for
him.
However, I want to caution you to
make a new commitment to Him He told me that he knew early in
and a promise to follow His his life that God had asked him to
leading in the process. be a minister. He said “No!” to
God and never answered the call
Then, you will not run ahead of on his life. He was very
Him or lag behind. I remember a remorseful. I prayed with him and
time when I was a volunteer never forgot the wasted life that
chaplain in the local hospital. was about to end with a

criminal record – not accomplished? matter what you have

that God did not done or where you
forgive him that day, It is really not a hard have been. He will
but that there could thing to do. To get accept your
have been so much genuine with God and repentance and hear
more that he could ask Him what His your prayers.
have done and how heart is for you . . .
much happier his life will be a bonus, with I want to leave you
could have been. many rewards as you with one more
“answer the call.” thought: If God can
Do not let your life go Trust me, He will not give you a vision of
by without seeking the turn you away. His ear something that you
face of God or what is perked and waiting can do to meet
you have been created for you! someone else’s needs,
to do. Each person is would you be
unique, and fine, and He longs to hear from interested?
needed. If you say you! Your voice will
“No!” . . . what will not reach him in a Most of us want to
be done? If you say moment’s notice. help someone else! I
“Yes!” . . .what will be And, it does not do not believe you are
 by CHAVONNE THOMAS

C an you believe 2018 is here? I am sure in 2017 you

experienced many highs and lows. There were times where you saw
God show up in amazing ways, and then, there were times where you
worked hard to keep your peace, your smile, and your faith. Despite
all of the challenges of 2017, it is time to look forward to an amazing
2018. How will that happen? It will happen with intentional living.
Often we can find ourselves in a cycle of daily responsibilities. We can
live our lives on cruise control experiencing a level of happiness and
fulfillment. We do not realize it, but we begin to allow life to lead
us rather than us making intentional decisions and plans to live the life
that we desire. The dreams, goals, and desires that you have in your heart
will only be realized when you choose to live intentionally.

What has God put in your heart to do that has only remained dormant?
Has God called you to prayer?
Has God called you to a greater level of study of his word?
What instructions have God given you lately?

When we live intentionally we live a more fulfilling life, and we will

experience more victories.
If we desire better or more for our lives, then we have to be intentional
about how we live every day.
Here are some steps we can take for intentional living in 2018:

1. navigate through life.

Seek God in Prayer- I heard a
preacher say that when we meet God
in prayer, God begins to reveal to us
concerning matters of our hearts.
Therefore, when we get God’s insight
we live at an advantage.
Wow. Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the
Lord with all your heart, and lean not
to your own understanding. In all
your ways acknowledge him and he
shall direct your path.” In prayer, we
are showing God that we trust Him,
and we are relying on him to help us
You have to seek God for direction
and there you will find growth,
victory, and revelation. As we begin
to dialog with God, we allow him to
download information that within
ourselves we have no knowledge of.
Therefore, in 2018, run hard after
God. When your passion matches
your pursuit, you will see God’s
power and glory manifested in your
life.
 BY CHAVONNE THOMAS

INTENTIONAL
LIVING
2. Study the Word of God-The Bible 3.
says in Palms 119:105, “His word is a Plan and Organize- Intentionally
lamp unto my feet and a light unto living requires a plan. Do you have a
my pathway.” When we study God’s mentor? Do you have an
Word, we get wisdom and accountability partner? Have you
knowledge on how to accomplish purchased a planner or journal? God
our goals. gives me a lot of ideas in a given
day. I have to journal my ideas
We have the opportunity to down, so that when God wants to
discover the heart of God reveal something, it
concerning his does not come and go as merely a
plans for our lives as his children. great idea. The Bible says to write
the vision.
Psalms 37:4,
“Delight yourself in the Lord, and Whatever God has shown you, it is
he will give you the desires of your time to follow through. Do not stop
heart.” until you reach your destiny. I want
to take this moment to encourage
As we put God first in our lives, he someone who has been working
is going to show himself mighty toward a dream. Don’t quit.
and strong in our lives. It is not for Keep moving forward.
us to give up or throw in the towel
when it gets hard or the wait is too What God has shown you, believe
long. Instead, it is for us to trust His that in his perfect timing, God is
word until we see the manifestation going to bring it to pass. God is
of His promise for our lives. building, recreating, and stabilizing
his people in this season.
Therefore, we have to be
intentional about our time to study Let him finish what he started in you! Plan
God’s Word. It is in study of God’s and organize the things that needs to be
word that we can decree and done to reach that goal, finish that
declare what His word says book, start that business, expand
concerning our futures, our present that business, and so much more.
circumstances, and the transition
process from one point to another.
 Allow God to be God in your life.
In order for great results, it will take maximum effort. It is time out
for underdevelopment, under-representation, and
underachievement.

Intentional living is taking your life back from stress, your job, and
responsibilities that can cause you to be stuck in a cycle of a life
you have not desired. It is not for anything to consume or control
you, but it is for you, with the help of God, to shape your life into
the way it was intended before the foundations of the world.

Will you believe for greater?

Will you live as God has intended for you to live?

Will you accomplish the dreams and goals that God has placed
upon your heart?
Do you know your value?
Will you plan for a better tomorrow?
LIVE INTENTIONALLY!
Start today for a 2018 that will shock you and everyone around you!
by Monique Ray

My life hasn’t always been

easy, and I can’t say that it
was because of other people.
At some point in our life we
must take ownership for our
own actions and realize that
it’s just us.
 I’ve made some wrong
choices trying to live a life I
wasn’t created for, but I thank
God for being a God of
second chances.
renewed it was then I begin
to receive my New
Beginning. I was able to
start living the life God had
created for me.

I had to renew my mind in When I was living in

Christ which is what the darkness of my own self I
word of God encourages us couldn’t see God’s truth.
to do.
Once when my mind was

Darkness keeps us When I begin to let go us to handle our Godly

blind to the way of of the things and earthly assignments;
God intended for us to people that God didn’t which we were created
live. once we ordain for my life, it for.
surrender to the Will enabled me to have a
of God we can new beginning. One of my Godly
embrace our purpose assignment is to be a
in its entirety. “Therefore if any man source of help woman
be in Christ, he is a new that is assigned to me.
God created us for his creature: old things are
purpose and to truly passed away; behold, all
understand that things are become new.’
purpose it requires a When we become new
relationship with God. in Christ it empowers

Letting them know
who God is and who
she is in God.
Ensuring her no
matter what she’s
going through that
if she turns it over
to God, and find her
secret place and say
yes to God Will and
His Way.
14
Then and only then But I’m here to let you
God can restore her know that you don’t
and turn every have to live in pain. You
situation around. don’t have to suffer in
silence.
We as women suffer
in silence and we’re There is an out and the
afraid to get help. We way is through Jesus
diminish ourselves Christ. God can fix
by thinking we every situation, but it
deserve the hurt and requires you giving it to
pain we go through. him.
 BY MONIQUE RAY

NEW I look at my life and realize that

everything that ever happened to
BEGINNINGS me had purpose. I’m glad that I
finally came into alignment with
the Will of God concerning me.

joy. It’s brings me joy, because

For the first time, I’m excited about that’s what I was created for. I was
my future. I serve a God who loves created to help others and to
me so much that he didn’t let me encourage them.
stay in darkness, but who pursue
me. He never gave up on me, “Wherefore comfort yourselves
because he knew exactly when I together, and edify one another, even
would come to him. God knew the as also ye do.”
meticulous moment I would turn
my life around and accept the I’m embracing my New Beginning
plans he has for me. and the path that God created me
for. I’m walking into my Destiney
Often, times I hear people say that knowing that God hand is on my
this Christian walk is hard, but I life. Because I finally know My
totally disagree with that Value and the God I serve.
statement. I think what makes a
person relationship with God “I can do all things through Christ
seems hard to them; is they have which strengtheneth me.”
not surrender totally to his Will
concerning them. I encourage you to align yourself
with the Will of God concerning
When we as people surrender to you. Embrace your New Beginning
the Will of God, not our will, but that God has for you. Know that
His will; life become so much You were “fearfully and wonderfully
easier. It’s only hard when we still made” and created in the image of
want God to accept the things and God.
people we’re not willing to let go
of. God loves you and he have so much
more for you. Embrace you New
The mere fact that my life stories is Beginning and Soar in the Will of
helping someone brings me great God.
14
And when
Jesus saw her,
he called her
to him, and
said unto her,
Woman, thou
art loosed
from thine
infirmity.
THE NEW
BEGINNING
BY JOY JALLAH

It is a new season and time for The new beginning is a place to

new ventures, adventures and develop a place of trust. A place of
moving into a fresh new start in expectations. A place to explore
life. It can be scary at times when new beginnings. To become better
going through transition. Moving in learning and growing in life.
from one place in life to another
place in life. However there is no New beginnings always produce
need to be scared, rather, changes and bring greatness from
become more courageous, all odds. The new beginning is
fearless and adventurous in life always a place to completely get
closer to God.
Just move forward into the new
beginning. It will bring growth and Where ever you find yourself in
better changes. When you trust life, make the best out of it. Also
the small beginnings and become let your light shine. Be example
faithful in the small things in life for others when the new beginning
you will receive more and it will become a reality in your life.
be a blessing in your life.
Always a fresh start in life is
Life is full of ups and downs. Be needed. It is a place of self
ready for the unexpected in life. discovery. A place of knowing God
And remember that the bible says, is working things in your favor. A
''all things are working together place of holding onto the
for good for those who love God promises of God.
and are called according to his
purpose.''
 A place of believing and trusting in the new
beginning. New things will spring fourth
through your life. See God work wonders in
the new season. New beginning spring fourth
miracles and opportunities. Just your effort to
go forward in life and to live the new life
makes a big difference.

All things are possible to them who believe.

God mercy are new everyday. Trusting in the

promises of God for your life. New beginnings
is a time of being focus in life. It is time to
follow the leading of the spirit of God. New
beginnings always bring instructions to
follow, and guidance to live by.

God will order his lives of his beloved. Only believe and you
beloved steps. The God is always side by will see the glory of
hope of glory is side with us. God is God. It is so
living and active in near. brilliance to begin a
the fresh start in life.

14

Somehow we feel more
comfortable holding on to what
was, rather than embracing
change. We feel more
comfortable to hold onto a
situation or circumstance that
may be ninety percent unhealthy
for us, rather than trust God to
embrace a new beginning.
Many of us use excuses such as,
“I know what I have now, but I
am not sure what I would be
getting”, in order to justify
staying in an unhealthy
situation.
In Philippians 3:13 , Paul says,
“Brothers, I do not consider that
I have made it my own. But one
thing I do: forgetting what lies
behind and straining forward to
what lies ahead.”
Change is not the most
comfortable thing, but there are
NEW
BEGINNINGS
by Shondel Jackson
Letting go of the
past is not always
easy. It is one of the
most difficult tasks
for some of us.
times we will be required to let
go of the past, in order to
embrace the new beginning that
God has for us.
Many times forgetting what lies
behind may mean forgiving
others of the wrong they have
done to us, and moving forward.
It may sometimes seem easier to
hold onto the hurts, and the pain
than to let go of the wrongs that
were done to us and forgive.
Forgiveness is not the easiest
task to complete, but it is more
beneficial to forgive than to hold
onto malice, and bitterness in
our hearts.
Embracing the new beginning
God has for us would mean we
have to sometimes forgive others
and make a decision to leave
past hurts, pain, rejection,
disappointments and bitterness
behind.
 The Bible is filled with
examples of men and women
that had to make a decision to
leave the past behind, and
embrace the new beginning that
God had in store for them.

One great example of new

beginnings is seen in the life of
Joseph as depicted in the book of
Genesis. Joseph was the second
youngest of twelve brothers born to
Jacob who was also called Israel.
In Genesis 37:3–4 (NIV) it says, “Now
Israel loved Joseph more than
any of his other sons, because he
had been born to him in his old age;
and he made an ornate robe for him.
When his brothers saw that their
father loved him more than any of
them, they hated him and could not
speak a kind word to him.”
Joseph was the love of his father’s
life. This caused his brothers to
envy him and hate him. Further in
this same biblical account, we see
that the Lord gave Joseph a dream
about his brothers bowing down to
him. Joseph told his brothers the
dream and this angered them even
more. The anger coupled with the
jealousy, lead them to plot Joseph’s
demise, and they eventually threw
him into a pit and sold him into
slavery.
If anyone had reasons to be bitter
was Joseph. All Joseph had was a
dream, which he innocently shared
with his brothers. Because of this,
he was envied and sold into slavery
by his brothers. And to make
matters worse, even when he
thought that things could not have
gotten worse, and he had gained
favor with Pothier, his master and
placed as head of the master’s
household, he was accused of
attempted rape by the master’s
wife.
Joseph had every reason to be bitter.
However, had he held onto
bitterness, he would not have been
able to embrace the new beginning
that God had in store for him.
We see in the end results of the
story that Joseph was eventually
made second in command of Egypt
and it was all part of God’s strategic
plan. His brothers eventually did
bow down to him as was seen in the
dream.
Itdoesn’t matter what direction something, and you have been
your life may have turned, once disappointed so many times, that
you hold onto your God given you do not even want to try
dream, God will eventually bring it anymore. The hurt and pain of that
to pass. It may seem as if you are situation is so deep that you are at
being steered away in a different the point of giving up.
direction from your dream. What Nevertheless, we have to let go of
you are going through may not the past in order to embrace the
even make sense, but know that new beginning.
God will use every hurt, every scar,
and every wound to advance you Have you ever found yourself in a
into your purpose. place where you see no way of
getting out? I have found myself
Like Joseph, you may have gone there a few times. A place where
through severe abuse by the hands my heart ached so much that I
of someone you have trusted. You wondered where was God.
may have suffered severe
disappointment after having Yet after a while, when you look
several doors close that you were back at your life, you want to know
so sure you would have been able how did I make it through that
to walk through. You relive time? It was the God of new
the pain and the hurts daily, and beginnings that brought you
every time you think about it, through. The problem is, the devil
forgiveness sounds like the will always try to magnify
task that is impossible to achieve. everything we are go through and
the truth is, our problems are really
It may even be that you have tried small in the eyes of God.
so may times to achieve
We should never limit God to one opportunity, one door, one
relationship, one job interview or one-exam results. God always
has another job, another door, another
relationship or another opportunity. He is a God of endless
possibilities, a God of new beginnings.

He is the author of your story and it will be a successful story.

God always has a back-up plan. The enemy is just too stupid to
know this. If the enemy had known that Jesus would have been
raised from the dead three days after He died, he would have
never planned His death.

Like Joseph, God is requiring us to let go of some things that

may be holding us from moving forward. It may be past hurts,
wounds and disappointments. It may be some people that the
Lord is asking you to let go of, or it may be a certain
environment that you are constantly dwelling in that is not
bringing glory to the Lord.

Whatever it may be, only you know what the Holy Spirit is
asking you to give up. If you yield to the Holy Spirit
and let go of what the Lord wants you to let go of, He will give
you a new beginning. Let go of every hurt, every rejection and
disappointment and allow God to usher you into the new
beginning that He has in store for you. That’s His specialty; He
is the God of new beginnings.

God bless you all.