spring is here - First Baptist Church of Glenarden

Transcription

Grace
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
Women’s Ministry
Volume 8, Issue 1
Spring 2012
Magazine
By Women for Women
SPRING IS HERE
Revitalize, Renew and Rejuvenate
Moving Forward
Women’s Developing Women Activities:
Women’s Fellowship, 8:15 a.m the first Saturday of the
month at the Ministry Center except June, August and
October
-Saturday, May 5, 2 p.m., Women Developing Women
Groups Hats, Heels and Handbags High Tea, Worship
Center
-Saturday, June 9, 8:15 a.m., Combined Men’s and
Women’s Fellowship, Worship Center
-Saturday, June 9, 10 a.m., Annual Health and Fitness
Expo, Worship Center
-Saturday, July 7, Women’s Fellowship, Sept. 1, Saturday, Nov. 3, Sat. and Dec. 1
Grace
Magazine
By Women for Women
Features
Director Family Life Ministries
Department & Women’s Ministry
Group:
First Lady Trina Jenkins
Editorial Director:
Barbara Holt Streeter
Managing Editors:
Keisha White and Gervonna Williams
Department Writers:
Fabulous Finds......................................................................... 7
Jessica Davis, Mary Davisson
Norma L.Day-Vines, Sade Dennis,
Denita Johnson, Connie Pulliam,
Michelle Singletary, Mildred Stokes,
Barbara Holt Streeter and Mia Waldron
Contributing Writers:
Mommy, I am Back Home......................................................... 8
Ebonee Davis, Felicia Johnson,
Judy Mitchell and Marion Ann Wright
Lead Copy Editor:
Verna Smith
Moving Out: The Transition to Marriage.................................. 9
Copy Editors:
Marguerite Brown and
LaLeeta Hackett-Taylor
Renew Your Skin the Healthy and Natural Way:
A Look at Organic Skin Care and Cosmetics.................. 15
Lead Editor:
Marilyn Stackhouse
Editors:
Latrice Davis, Cassandra Logan,
Marilyn Mapp, Judy Mitchell,
Gloria Nelson and Takea Norris
Departments
First Lady’s Touch............................................................................ 2
Add Your Money Wisely................................................................... 3
It’s Tea Time...................................................................................... 4
Proofreaders:
Mary Brown, Veronica Collins,
Sandra Davis, Nicole Irby, Iris Perry and
Mia Waldron
Creative Director:
Everyday Etiquette........................................................................... 6
Darlene Jones Powell
Beauty From the Inside Out............................................................10
Financial/Production Coordinator
Health..............................................................................................12
Keisha White
Tasty Treats......................................................................................13
Photography
Youth/Young Adult..........................................................................14
Women’s Ministry at a Glance........................................................16
My Testimony: Hagar Teen Mom..................................................16
My Testimony: Marion Ann Wright..............................................17
Women’s Ministry Focus Studies.................................................18
Parenting.........................................................................................20
Inspirational ...................................................................................22
Reflections.......................................................................................25
Grace Magazine | www.fbcglenarden.org
Insana Collins
Photography Editor
Sade Dennis
Contact Grace at
[email protected]
Ministry Statement: Grace Magazine is a
lifestyle Christian women’s publication produced by First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s
Women’s Ministry. The magazine features
inspiring articles, ministry spotlights and
information to empower women in every season of their lives.
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FIRST LADY’S
Spring is here!
Revitalize, Renew and Rejuvenate
Every living creature needs nourishment, but it takes more than sustaining the body to meet our personal obligations and professional commitments. The wear and tear on our bodies can often seem challenging, leaving
us overtaxed, overwhelmed and in need of revival.
In this spring edition of Grace, take a moment to “revitalize, renew and
rejuvenate” your mind, body and soul. In our “Tea Time” segment, you’ll
discover why it’s important to take some time to renew and restore old
friendships or connect with someone new.
Throughout this issue, I hope you find ways to re-invigorate your entrepreneur spirit to jump start a new business or rebrand your image. Elevate
your style or change your look for less with Grace’s thrifty makeovers. Get
into physical shape, dance and renew your mind with a serene spa day. Find
a new restaurant, indulge (sparingly) in a decadent dessert or try one of the
Tasty Treat recipes. Included are articles on how to reconnect with teenagers, manage the changes that come with young adults returning and the
transition from singleness to marriage. You will also learn how to support
our sisters and youth in need, specifically as we explore a three-part series
on bullying in our parenting tips segment.
This spring, take time to reconnect, revitalize and renew your mind, body
and spirit as you tap into the life of someone else. You’ll be glad you did. As
always, share your comments or ideas with us at [email protected].
Until next time, walk in peace and love.
With the sweet love of Jesus,
First Lady Trina Jenkins
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Grace Magazine | By Women for Women
ADD YOUR MONEY WISELY
In 2012, finally pay off credit cards with the
’Debt Dash’ method
By Michelle Singletary
Most of us have made promises to
do something better. My home office
is still cluttered after I promised —
as one of my 2012 New Year’s resolutions — to keep it tidy. It was clean
for a while. Now it’s a hot mess again.
of paying off debts similar to running a 100-meter dash, a quick race.
You start by attacking — and I mean
ruthlessly — the debt with the lowest balance to get rid of it as soon as
possible.
But this is the year, right? This year,
I’m going to keep my office uncluttered. Or maybe 2012 is the year
you’re going to take that step to get
rid of your debt.
I’ve found in working with individuals and couples that when they can
knock off a bill quickly, it motivates
them to press on and aggressively
tackle their remaining debts.
Are you ready to change your financial life? It’s difficult, but you can
do it.
On the Debt Dash, you list your
debts and then take any extra money
you have — say, from reducing expenses or from a second job — and
apply it to the debt with the lowest
balance while making the minimum
payments on the others. When you’ve
paid off the first debt, apply the full
payment amount from the first debt
to the one with the next lowest balance, adding any extra money you
can, until that one is paid off. You
continue paying the debts this way
until they are all gone.
A couple in California, Felix and
Sandy (they asked that I not use their
last name), wrote to me just before
the end of December and requested
that I be their accountability partner
in getting rid of almost $49,000 in
debt on three credit cards. I’ve agreed
to help them keep their promise to
eliminate the debt by the end of the
year.
“I am a great fan of yours but a
lousy applicator of your advice,” Felix wrote. “This new year though, my
wife and I have a plan to pay down
debt and wanted to give you our
starting point and report back to you
one year from now to give you our
progress. We made some lousy decisions in the past, and so now we have
to correct them.”
Here’s where they stand now:
• Visa Gold: $17,151.
• Visa Platinum: $19,158.
• American Express: $12,569.
“Not pretty, I know, but we are determined this year to pay them off,”
Felix said.
There are a number of ways to pay
down your debt. One way in particular I call the “Debt Dash Plan,” which
I wrote about in my recent book,
“The Power to Prosper.” It’s a way
Here are some additional tips for
the Debt Dash:
• Don’t beat yourself up. “How
did we get into so much debt? I
know it started when we bought
our new house three years ago,”
Felix said. “We put some big purchases for the house and some
camera equipment I purchased
for my business on some of the
cards. And the rest? Your guess
is as good as mine. That’s the
sad part. Some of it could have
been avoided if we had listened
to your advice about want versus
need.”
Learn from the past, but move forward with hope. You can do this.
• Don’t leave off any debts. Put all
your debts on the list, except perhaps your mortgage.
• It’s okay to ignore the interest
rate. I know that some will criticize you for using this method of
debt reduction. They will argue
that it’s better to pay the debts
with the higher interest rates
first. Mathematically, it does make
sense. But it ignores the psychological reasons people get into
debt. Folks get energized when
they’re able to quickly cross off a
debt from their list. This, in turn,
often helps them rush through
their debt payoff and they don’t
end up paying much more in interest than if they started with
the debts that had the higher
rates.
• If two debts are about the same,
the debt carrying the higher interest rate is attacked first.
• Inform your creditor that your
extra payments are to be put
toward the principal and not
counted as an extra payment. In
fact, you might want to write a
separate check aside from your
regular payment.
I’ve asked Felix and Sandy to send
me updates so I can track their progress.
But I have a challenge for you.
Don’t be a spectator. If you’ve got
credit-card debt, join this couple on
their debt dash and let me know how
you’re doing, too.
Readers can write to Michelle Singletary
at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St.
NW,Washington, D.C. 20071. Her e-mail
address is [email protected].
Questions are welcomed, but because of
the volume of mail, personal responses
may not be possible.
3
Maintaining Friendships
By Mary Davisson
What does it really mean to be
connected? How does one get connected? When you are a part of
something, someone, a group or
an organization, how important is
it to remain connected?
Have you ever had a relationship where you thought you and
the other person would be “BFF,”
best friends – forever and the relationship took another turn? Perhaps you had a friendship that became stagnant and you thought it
would stay that way. Then God miraculously renewed it and now you
are closer than ever. Or perhaps,
you met a new sister and you just
clicked. It feels like you’ve known
her your entire life and now the
two of you are inseparable. We
gathered six ladies – Kimberly
Anderson, 35; Jonesie Gerald, 52;
Keira Jones, 42; Brenda Jordan, 72;
Adrienne Rodgers, 52; and Chantell Smith, 39 – who enthusiastically shared their insights about
connecting with new friends and
reconnecting with old acquaintances.
New Relationships: Divine
connection with the new
Grace: Where and how did you
meet?
Jones: Smith and I officially met in
the church doctrine class. However, a few months before, I had seen
Jones working out at the gym in
Ft. Meade, Md.
Smith: After we became friends,
Jones admitted that she admired
4
the way I carried myself and my
strengths.
Grace: What was the law of attraction between you?
Jones: I have a tendency to attract African-Americans who have
strong personalities and I immediately saw these qualities in Smith.
Smith: It was Keira’s discipline,
no-nonsense attitude, focus, drive
and commitment to pursuing God.
Our backgrounds are very similar;
she is retired military and I am an
active military member preparing
to retire. Also, both of us previously lived in Florida and worshiped
at the same church prior to joining
First Baptist Church of Glenarden.
Grace: How does God factor in
you becoming friends?
Jones: I feel God brought us together because He knows we can’t
travel this journey without having someone help us along the
way. Every now and then, we need
someone to encourage us and that
is one of Smith’s strengths. Where
I am weak, she is strong and vice
versa. I pray that we will allow God
to show us His purpose for our
lives. I truly want God to show me
how to love and support her in every way of her Christian journey.
Smith: I believe our differences
complement each other in a practical and spiritual way. I am more
people oriented and vocal than
she is. I can see God putting us together to grow and sharpen each
other on our spiritual journey as
ministers as well as sisters, but
also to be able to draw from one
another.
Grace: Where do you see the relationship going from here?
Jones: I must admit, I am a little
apprehensive when it comes to allowing people into my inner space.
However, I pray that in spite of
that, God will knit Chantell and
me closer together. Because of me,
I think the relationship probably
isn’t as close as it could be. One of
my weaknesses is I have a tendency
to sit back and watch what people
do because I feel some people put
up a front when it comes to friendship. I, on the other hand, take my
relationships very seriously. When
I befriend someone this means I
trust the person with my heart and
offer total support.
Smith: I see us being each other’s
bridesmaids, friends on the mission fields together and sisters for
each other’s journey.
Renewed Relationships: Divine
renewed connection
Grace: How is your relationship
different now than in the beginning?
Gerald: The relationship with my
friend, Kimberly, has gone through
significant changes since we initially met. At first it was a family
friendship. Our families had a lot
in common and we got along really
well. Through that our friendship
began to grow. However, I believe it
Tea Time
Second row: (Left-right) Adrienne Rogers, Jonesie Gerald and Chantell Smith
Front row: (Left-right) Brenda Jordan, Kimberly Anderson and Kiera Jones
was during the 2011 First Baptist’s
Women’s Retreat that we became
really close. We started to open up
to each other. The trust built and
before we knew it, we had shared
stories we’ve never shared with
anyone else. It was then we became true sisters for each other’s
journey.
lieve it is because we know that we
have each other’s back. We both
had challenges in certain areas
and having a sister help you get
through them one step at a time
has made all the difference in the
world. We are honest with each
other, hold the other accountable
and cheer on each other.
Anderson: My relationship with
Anderson: I have seen Jonesie’s
confidence grow in God. She is
not looking to the right or to the
left, but is focused on what God is
saying for her to do. She wants to
do the will of God, and waits for
God to answer rather than doing her own thing. I’ve also seen
her passion for people who don’t
know God. She has a love for them,
reaches out to them, teaches and
witnesses to them about Christ.
Jonesie has grown so much since
the beginning of our friendship.
I feel like we are more open now
than we’ve ever been before. We
are very transparent in our friendship, knowing that we can TRUST
one another with how we truly feel
about something and without the
feelings of judgment or criticism.
I don’t have to put on a mask; she
allows me to be myself. Our relationship is genuine.
Grace: What are some of the
changes you see in each other?
Gerald: I think there is a boldness
that we didn’t have before. I be-
Grace: How do you see God in the
relationship?
Gerald: Wow! He is all over it. I
read a quote once that said, “A
true friendship is a gift from God.”
I truly believe that God has orchestrated our relationship. That’s
from how we met to how Kimberly
and her family became part of the
First Baptist family, to how God is
using them in ministry. I also believe that God has used Kimberly
to show me His love during some
very trying times in my life. Had
I not had her to speak godly wisdom into the situation, I wouldn’t
have made it. It was important to
know that she cared, understood,
loved me unconditionally and was
available.
Anderson: I see a divine connection. I have had the strongest
connection with her since the
day we met. When I think of God
renewing something, I think of
God making it better, making it
stronger. We are building a bond
He has joined together. With this
friendship He is teaching me how
to be a better friend and to know
what true friendship is. Only God
could have done this. This is where
I see God in the relationship and
He continues to grow and renew
it each day.
Grace: What do you enjoy doing
together now?
Gerald: Talking, laughing, eating
and just spending time together.
Kim is an absolute riot, a great listener and a fantastic cook!
Anderson:
Laughing, talking,
shopping, being free in our relationship and seeing what God is
going to do in our lives.
continued on page 23
5
Everyday EtiQuette
Tea Etiquette –
Tips for Your Next Tea
By Barbara Holt Streeter
Tea parties – an afternoon tea or
high tea – are both opportunities
to celebrate friendship, and an occasion where etiquette, poise and
grace can be exhibited. As little
girls, many of us dressed up in our
hats, heels and handbags with our
doll babies as our special guests.
Now, as adults, you can enjoy your
tea time as you meet new friends
and build lasting relationships.
To prepare for a tea as a hostess
or guest, here are some tea tips
that will help you enjoy dining
with your sister friends:
•
After arriving and being seated, the first thing you should
do is place the napkin on
your lap. If you are wearing
gloves, remove them before
touching your food or drink.
•
Place your purse on your lap
under your napkin. Or if it is
a larger bag, under your chair.
•
•
•
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Always follow the lead of the
hostess. She will either serve
everyone at the party or invite
everyone to serve themselves.
Place your teaspoon at the six
o’clock position of the teacup,
and softly roll the tea towards
the twelve o’clock position
two or three times, without
stirring. Do not allow the
spoon to hit the inside of the
teacup.
Do not twist the teabag
string around the spoon.
Place it on an empty saucer
or a plate that should be set
•
out for this purpose.
•
As you drink your tea, raise
the teacup only, placing it
back onto the saucer in between sips.
As for the food, tea sandwiches are eaten first, followed by
the sweets such as cakes, pastries and scones.
•
Scones are always broken,
never cut. They should be
served with jam and clotted
cream or butter. The jam goes
on first, followed by the butter or cream.
•
Drink slowly and silently. No
one should be able to hear
you slurp or sip the tea. You
can add milk or lemon after
your tea is poured, but not
both as lemon curdles the
milk.
•
Depending on the number of
courses served, the silverware
on the table will vary. Always
start with the outermost silverware and work towards
the inside as the courses
progress.
Entertain with music,
poetry or great
conversation.
Most importantly,
enjoy yourself. This is
your time to relax and
be rejuvenated.
Fabulous
Finds
By Jessica Davis
These days everyone is looking
for creative ways to cut back on
spending. We have modified our
cell phone plans, cancelled premium cable channels and even
started clipping coupons to stretch
our hard earned money. We look at
our finances regularly, or at least
we should be, searching for any
corner that has not already been
shaved off. So what more can be
done? I recently sat down with
Myra Lucas, founder of Eye4You,
who shared her strategy behind
thrift store shopping. That’s a great
way to save a ton of money.
Myra started Eye4You when she
realized that there are many women who wanted to look nice, but
did not like to shop. At Eye4You,
Myra takes time getting to know
her clients and does the shopping
for them. Myra can shop for anyone, regardless of budget. If you
have high-end taste, but a limited
budget, Myra’s secret to success
is thrift store shopping. Make no
mistake, there is a strategy to thrift
store shopping and it’s not for the
faint of heart. Here are 10 things
Myra suggests to tackle thrift store
shopping successfully:
1. Some thrift stores do not
have dressing rooms, so
wear clothes that allow you
to try items on over them.
2. Keep your hands free. It’s a
good idea to put your purse
in the trunk of your car. That
way you don’t have to worry
about setting it down or getting in your way as you shop.
3. Call in advance to find out
what days the store has
sales. Most thrift stores have
days when they take an additional percentage off and
you can really save a bundle.
4. Thrift stores can be overwhelming because they
have a lot of merchandise
that is organized differently.
One way to manage this is
by knowing what you want
and going straight to that
item. For example, if you
know you want jeans, go directly to the denim department and look for your size.
5. If something catches your
eye, grab it! If you leave it on
the rack and plan to come
back to it later, the chances
of it still being there when
you return is very unlikely.
Myra suggests pulling everything you want, then reassess the items right before
you checkout.
6. Do not use the thrift store as
an excuse to splurge. Set a
budget before you get to the
thrift store and stick to it.
7. Go to a few different thrift
stores and find one that
suits you. Some thrift stores
have a better shoe selection than others, while some
might have a better selection of plus-size clothing.
So do some research to find
which thrift store will best
suit your needs.
8. Thrift stores carry designer
items for a small fraction
of the retail price. Often
times you can find brand
new clothes with the tags
still on them. Even with the
tags, the thrift store sells the
clothes at a deep discount,
so you are sure to save.
9. Be patient and prepared to
look through every item on
a particular rack, because
you are almost likely to find
some of your favorite brand
names.
10.
Make sure you purchase
something that you actually
want and need. If it is not
something you truly want,
once you get home you will
have wasted your time and
money.
Myra shops for items that are
“inexpensive, but not cheap.” This
motto should be in every smart
shopper’s playbook.
If you would like to contact Myra to
learn more about Eye4You, please email
her at [email protected].
7
,
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Mom
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A Pew Research analysis of Census Bureau data shows that the
share of Americans living in multigenerational family households is
the highest it has been since the
1950s, having increased significantly in the past five years due
to various factors. The “boomerang kids,” young adult children,
ages 25-34, have returned home.
In 2005, over 80 million adult children returned home!
There are several reasons why
your adult son or daughter has to
come back home after being out
on their own for years:
Reason 1. The nation’s current
economic state
Reason 2. Life threating illness
Reason 3. Overwhelming debt or
repossession of home
By Patrice K. Carthern
me. Not to mention my husband
had never lived with my parents
and was having a difficult time
adjusting. The boys also had to
deal with the adjustment in living
with my parents. In the past, they
would go for sleepovers at their
grandparentsʼ home. Now they are
living with grandma and grandpa.
OMG!!! It has been interesting to
say the least.
Today, we are all together under
one roof. You may be thinking we
had a calm and smooth transition,
right? Far from it! In the beginning,
it was utter chaos because the kids
had more space to run around and
different rooms to go into. They
would also play us against my parents to get things done their way
after their dad or I would tell them
to do or not to do something.
Reason 4. Loss of a spouse
Reason 5. Unable to secure and
maintain suitable housing or employment
In 2009, my family and I (yes, I
said, “my family,” which consisted
of my husband and three boys)
found ourselves struggling to survive and had to move and live with
my parents. We moved in just before the big snow that year. And
just like dealing with the snow, we
had to make a lot of adjustments
with respect to how we handled
ourselves and interacted with
each other in very close quarters.
Bear in mind that I had not lived
with my parents for 12 years, so
it has been interesting to witness
the changes in my parents and in
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Patrice K. Carthern and her children
Living with my parents for two
years has improved. We are looking forward to getting back on our
own again. Am I anxious having
my own place? Yes, because I don’t
want to find myself struggling with
finances or finding an affordable
home.
God showed me in this situation
that His mercy is everlasting. I am
truly blessed because there are
people who do not have close family to turn to in a time of need. I
thank God for my parents opening
up their home and their lives to us.
I have come to love and appreciate them deeper than I had before.
I often reflect on the commandment, honor your father and your
mother and I treasure the relationship that I have with my parents.
|G|
Moving Out:
By Felicia Johnson
or do anything that will embarrass
or “cut him down.” There are certain things that happen between
my husband and me that only God
knows. To do anything else would
be to suggest that I don’t value
and love him as God commands. I
would also be giving others tools to
use against my husband long after
we have resolved our problems.
Most women desire or yearn to
be married. Finding the right companion to love and spend the rest
of your life with is a wonderful feeling. However, it is normal to experience marriage jitters before the
wedding day. Many women wonder
about the challenges during the
transition from being single and
married. As a newlywed, I learned
how to conquer issues, such as filling a void with my family, keeping my marriage private, sharing
household responsibilities and
having fun.
In accepting my transition, I’m
reminded of the Scripture, “When
I was a child, I spoke as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a
child; but when I became a man, I put
away childish things” (1 Corinthians
13:11).
Filling the void
As a newlywed, I felt great finally
being on my own with my husband.
I am now learning how to be con-
tent and know that I can’t have it
all. At first, I felt a void as my family had been my whole life. I missed
the long talks with my mom, playing Spades with my sisters and
brother and laughing at my dad’s
funny jokes. I learned quickly that
there will be special moments I
miss, but I know they will never
vanish. My husband and I now have
our special times and we make time
to visit our relatives almost every
Sunday. If we cannot, we call them
to say hello. Family holidays, such
as Thanksgiving and Christmas,
are always good occasions to spend
time with our families.
“Not that I speak in regard to need,
for I have learned in whatever state I
am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).
What Goes on in Your Marriage
Stays in Your Marriage
My husband is my covering. I truly love and protect him by showing
him honor and respect, and maintaining our privacy. I will not reveal
What happens in our marriage
stays in our marriage. At my wedding reception, my older sister gave
a lovely, profound speech about
how happy she was about our marriage. Then she said, “Keep your
family and friends out of your business.” Everyone started cheering
and clapping. It was hilarious, but
very true. To some people that statement may even seem harsh. Allowing people to interfere in your marriage can cause serious, irreparable
damage. It took me a while to really
understand because I was used to
caring too much about what people
thought about me.
“But I want you to know that the
head of every man is Christ, the head
of woman is man and the head of
Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3).
Household Responsibilities
My husband and I have decided
how we will share our household
responsibilities. It’s important to
establish ground rules and learn
how to compromise. Once you have
settled in with your new husband,
you will have to adjust to his habits
and vice versa. It’s all right if, from
time to time, one of you does a little
bit more than the other; it all balcontinued on page 11
9
Beauty from the inside out
Style Re-Invigorated
By Sade Dennis
The Proverbs 31 woman paints
a biblical portrait of womanhood.
She wore beautiful, colorful, high
quality garments. Today she would
be described as “having it going on.” In fact, some of the most
godly and admirable women in the
Bible “had it going on.” Esther, for
example, indulged in 12 months
of beauty treatments: six months
with oil of myrrh and the other
half with perfumes and cosmetics
(Esther 2:12). God does not mind
women looking and feeling great.
Occasionally, we all find ourselves needing to re-invigorate our
style. Some may find the need to
change due to a life event, aging,
a new job or just because. Others
find themselves needing to change
their style simply to find ways of
improving their outer appearance.
No matter the reason, we should
be excited to know that God wants
us to look and feel good. He wants
us to have a renewed, refreshed
and confident outlook, inwardly
and outwardly.
We can look our best if we follow these few simple tips and techniques.
Hair
Healthy hair in a style that flatters the shape of your face can do
wonders. For an updated look, try
bangs. Bangs are a very simple yet
stylish technique for an instant
makeover. Frame your face by
changing the part in your hair. The
way your hair is parted can easily
change the way you look with little
10
Jacqui Lanier
time, minimal effort,and no cost! A
middle part can give you a casual,
sleek look, especially if your hair is
straight, while a dramatic side part
with some hair swept across your
forehead can give you a chic look.
Makeup
Go outside of your comfort zone.
Do something completely different. Add a new technique to your
makeup regimen. Don’t be afraid
to put on less. Don’t be afraid to
put on more. The right eyebrow
shape consists of eyebrows that
extend from the outer to the inner
corner of the eye that slightly decreases in width. It will make a big
difference in your overall look.
Wardrobe
Remove the saying, “I have nothing to wear” from your vocabulary.
This is especially true when you
have a closet full of clothes. Simple
enhancements to your wardrobe,
such as adding accessories, can
make a world of difference. For
example, wear a fashionable belt
over a sweater with a pair of jeans.
Transform that out of style blouse
into a vintage-inspired look by adding a sparkly broach or necklace.
Wear a pair of knee-high boots and a
colorful scarf you can turn a simple outfit into a stunning look.
Remember to have fun by drawing inspirations from classic and
trendy styles. Find hair, makeup
and clothing styles that fit your
personality and interests. And, to
cap off your new style, try smiling
to reveal your natural beauty. Reinvigorate your style today!
I sat down with an amazing
First Baptist Church of Glenarden
woman, Jacqui Lanier. We talked
— ENHANCE YOURS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
ances out in the end. You may be
able to relate if you’ve had a roommate. You had to adjust to each other’s living habits, good or bad. The
same applies to a marriage, except
your husband is your permanent
roommate and your life covering.
about what inspires her to look
great, as well as how she felt about
her makeover photo shoot.
Grace: How would you describe
Grace: How has your relationship
with the Lord impacted your new
glow?
Lanier: The power of lighting!
Professionals use lighting to highlight the good features and de-emphasize flaws. Although painful,
God has done a remarkable job
lately of shining light on my many
flaws and speaks very clearly about
what He wants me to change. And
I’m not talking about only wardrobe and makeup!
Lanier: Faith without action is
dead. It takes effort to have a relationship with God and an effective prayer life. I have a lot of
work to do. I’d like to believe that
I am powerful. I actually choose
how I react and respond. Frowning is a choice. Smiling is a choice.
Actually, a smile is the best. You’ll
either laugh or cry. My life is no
more perfect than anyone else’s.
I understand what it feels like to
feel helpless. Yes ... sometimes,
okay, maybe more than sometimes.
I get angry when I have to take the
high-Christian road while other
people just appear to do whatever
they want. I said, “Appear.” But my
reaction is not defeat. It’s power.
No, it’s not fair, but lift your head.
Wipe the tears. Open your eyes
and smile. We serve the light of
the entire world. Scripture tells us
that Jesus is the way, the truth and
the light! Allowing God to shine
through you regardless of how you
feel or how you think you look is
a choice. Do something! GLOW
girl!
Grace: How did you feel when you
Grace: Thank you so much
your current makeup regimen?
Lanier: I must admit, I am one of
those women who does not wear
makeup on a daily basis; only lipstick. I put in a little more effort on
special occasions. For me, church
is the special occasion.
Grace: Why did you want this
makeover photo shoot?
Lanier: I wanted to see what God
sees! I believe God views us at our
greatest potential, including physical appearance.
Grace: What did you learn from
the makeover photo shoot?
saw yourself after your hair and
makeup were done?
Lanier: Oh my God! And I meant
that most reverently!
Jacqui for your honesty and inspiration. |G|
“Love flows through a marriage
that lives up to mutual responsibility.
Love is not self seeking, it’s not easily
angered, it keeps no record of wrong”
(1 Corinthians 13:5).
Have Fun
Who says the fun ends once
you get married? There are great
ways to make your marriage fun
and adventurous. Think outside
of the box: go on road trips, plan
board game nights or travel to another country. On the spur of the
moment, my husband and I will
sometimes go to our favorite ice
cream parlor or debate each other
on fun topics. Being in a marriage
can be fun. When you commit to
your God-given role and do great
activities together and maintain excitement.
Although marriage is considered
a rite of passage as a key component or milestone into adulthood,
it is critical to understand that marriage is about sacrifice, commitment and becoming unified with
your spouse for a lifetime. I hope
some of the lessons I’ve shared
for my 2-1/2 years of marriage are
enriching ideas you consider during your transition as a newlywed.
Always remember to put God first,
and watch as your blessings overflow with happiness.
“May your fountain be blessed, and
may you rejoice in the wife of your
youth” (Proverbs 5:18). |G|
11
Health Department
Renew Your Mind, Body and Soul
By Connie Pulliam
When we see these three words
– mind, body and soul – grouped
together what comes to mind?
There are many things we may
think of like body weight, brain
power or maybe just feeling good.
If a person finds the perfect balance, the result is a healthy whole
person. How does one achieve
this balance? To begin to attain
this goal is to try not to look at the
mind, body and soul as one unit.
Although the mind, body and soul
function at their best when they
are all working in harmony, they
must be maintained individually.
We must keep each renewed and
refreshed.
Again, the question is, how is this
done? Well, let’s begin with the
mind. Your mind consists of your
brain which is the central processing unit. It takes in all of the information from your five senses. Your
mind figures in everything you see,
hear, taste, smell and touch. The
mind should be kept at its best,
always renewed and refreshed.
Reading is a fantastic way to keep
the mind refreshed and sharp.
Read the Bible daily. If you decide
to read a page, a chapter or a verse,
there will always be a renewing of
the mind when it is absorbing the
Word of God. Other supplements
come from reading magazines or
playing word puzzles. Some physicians even think that word games
help to keep your mental status in
tune.
12
The body is another important
part of the three. What are ways
to keep our bodies renewed and
refreshed? There is nothing like a
nice long walk on a bright spring
day. You not only reap the benefits of being in the presence of
God’s glory and with nature, but
you are exercising and toning your
muscles while strengthening your
heart and lungs. If you decide to
walk after dinner. think about all
of the calories you will burn! In a
safe environment, walking can be
done alone or with a partner. The
best part of walking is you do not
need to pay for a gym membership
to enjoy the health benefits.
Nothing can renew and refresh
the soul better than spending time
with God. Whether you are praying, meditating or listening to
God, spending time with Him is
always a great thing! During the
morning, noon or night, set aside
time to commune with the Lord.
When God fills your soul with His
goodness, your soul will surrender
the peace and feel renewed. “And
the peace of God, which surpasses
all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7 NKJV).
When our mind, body and soul
functions in harmony as a lifestyle, we feel so much better than
before! Take it a step further and
come up with other ways to renew
yourself. Let’s take this spring season to renew our mind, body and
soul! |G|
Spring Season Ideas
Mind
-Read the Bible
-Do word puzzles
-Read novels
-Prioritize your time
-Create and stick to a budget
and/or schedule
Body
- Have a healthy diet
-Walk/exercise
- Get the proper amount
of rest
- Fun time
Soul
- Spend regular time
with God
- Spend time with your
loved ones
- Time alone or "Me Time"
-Volunteer
treats
Tasty
SPRING 2012
By Mia Waldron
Springtime is a period of new beginnings and awakenings. For me, it holds a wonderful sense
of potential as the last vestiges of winter are being shaken off, giving way to the beauty of nature in
bloom. Brunch is a meal that often makes me think of springtime. It is the best of breakfast and lunch,
combining savory and sweet in a harmonious blend. These two recipes I altered are perfect for brunch.
One is my mom’s holiday pre-dinner treat; the other is a recipe from a co-worker of many years ago, which
I altered. |G|
Mom’s Sausage Stuffed Pastry
Ingredients:
1 pkg. puff pastry sheets
1 small onion, minced
1 lb. sage sausage (bulk)
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 medium green apple, diced
1/4 cup milk
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325˚ F. Thaw puff pastry sheets according to box directions. Cook sausage in pan until
browned. Remove the sausage from pan and reserve. Sauté the onions and apples in the same pan
the sausage was cooked until onions become soft, but not brown. Remove from heat, return sausage
to the pan and mix thoroughly.
Sprinkle cutting board with flour, open each puff pastry sheet. Using a knife, cut six to eight angled slits
on the outer 2/3 of each sheet. Spoon meat mixture into the center 1/3 of each sheet. Add half of the
shredded cheese to the top of the meat. Fold outer edges over the center, pressing the two strips together in the middle. Repeat with the second pastry sheet. Brush the tops of both loaves with the milk.
Bake for 15-25 minutes until pastry is golden brown and flaky. Remove the completed pastry from the
oven and let cool slightly. To serve, cut horizontally along the lines of the folds.
Mary Ready’s Scones
Ingredients:
2 sticks plus 2 tbs. butter
5-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup baking powder
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tbs. sour cream
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1-1/2 cups golden raisins
1-1/2 cups buttermilk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425˚ F. Spray two baking sheets with cooking oil and lightly dust with flour. Place all dry
ingredients (except raisins) and butter into a large bowl and blend until the mixture resembles coarse
corn meal. Add raisins and mix again until all raisins are separated. Add yogurt, sour cream and buttermilk. Mix only until dough holds together. Do not over mix!
Turn out onto a floured surface and divide into four parts. Pat each part with floured hands into a 1" high
circle and then cut each circle into eight wedges. Place wedges onto prepared baking sheets and
brush with beaten egg yolk or milk. Bake for 12-15 minutes until scones are golden. Makes 32 scones.
Note: These freeze well immediately after cooled in a sealed freezer bag. Defrost one at a time, wrapped
in paper towel in the microwave for 1 minute.
13
YOUTH/young adult
Staying Connected With Our Teens
By Denita Johnson
"Train up a child in the way he
should go and when he is old he will
not depart from it," (Proverbs 22:6).
That biblical admonition may be
even more relevant now than the
day it was written. Today, parental authority may be undermined
by the media, other children and
even some well-meaning adults.
Our fast-pace lives, with many par-
ents making arduous commutes to
work long hours, often leave relatively modest amounts of time to
devote to our families. Then, before we know it, that little tyke is
a brooding adolescent with raging
hormones. Also, quite often we
don’t have a family network to rely
upon, something that many earlier
generations took for granted.
This is why we — as parents/
guardians and/or family friends —
must carve out time daily to communicate with children. This is
necessary to meet children’s emotional needs at each stage of their
development. This helps them become well-balanced individuals.
Here are some tips for staying connected with your teen:
1. Master new technology. Get your teen to show you the latest in social networking. This helps him or her feel
valued and shows that you are interested in what they are doing.
2. Praise them. We all like to be praised, but it’s especially important for the fragile egos of teens and children.
It helps build their self-confidence.
3. Be open and listen. Listening shows they have your attention and that you care.
4. Pay attention. Be aware of what your child does and with whom.This includes their choices in music and
video games.
5. Ask their opinion. Again, this shows you care and value their ideas — even if you disagree with them.
6. Keep rules and regulations. Always keep your teen aware of your rules and talk about them repeatedly.
7. Find time to talk. If possible, have regular one-on-one time with your teen, possibly while cooking or doing other activities. Have conversations about smoking, drugs, sex, etc., before they become issues. (Note: if
there is any subject you need help with, research the information with your teen.)
8. Respect their privacy. Teens go through changes and need a little privacy with boundaries.
9. Admit when you are wrong. Let them know we make mistakes, too.
10.Seek help. If managing your teen gets difficult, ask for help from family, friends or even professional counselors. We can have tremendous influence on teens by just letting them
know we are here for them. Keep doing activities with your teen. Keep
up with the things they like and don’t lose your sense of humor. Learn
and laugh with them. Remember, if we don’t stay connected and talk
with our teens, the world will.
|G|
14
Renew your skin the healthy and natural way:
A look at organic skin care and cosmetics
By Sade Dennis
Did you know that your skin is
actually the largest organ of your
body? The substances and products we apply to our skin are
absorbed into our bodies and
bloodstream. Therefore, it is vitally important to understand the
effects of products we put on our
skin.
According to www.healthguid
ance.org, the need for organic (or
natural) skin care and make-up has
become more than just a trend, but
a necessity for overall good health.
Organic products are made with
ingredients that are grown free of
synthetic (or imitation) pesticides
and herbicides. They also do not
include harmful additives such as
petroleum waxes, fillers and artificial chemicals.
Below is a list of healthy and
harmful ingredients to consider
when looking for skin care and
cosmetic products.
Here are a few healthy ingredients:
Algae Extract: A blend of three
types of red alga, Irish moss,
euchema and gigartina. These
extracts are high in iodine and
amino acids and very nourishing
to the skin.
Almond Butter: Butter made
from sweet almond oil. Almond
butter is a rich emollient and
skin conditioner.
Tea Tree Oil: The pure essential
oil from tea tree leaves, a powerful antiseptic, which is also helpful to treat acne.
Here are a few harmful ingredients:
Paraben preservatives (methyl,
propyl, butyl and ethyl): used
to slow down the growth of bacteria and extend the shelf life of
skin care and cosmetic products.
They’re often used even though
they are known to be toxic. These
preservatives also cause allergic
reactions and skin rashes.
Silicones: They coat the skin,
trapping anything beneath it,
not allowing the skin to breathe.
A very good way to recognize silicones is to look for “cone” at the
end of an ingredient.
Sulphates: Are what makes
products foam. These foaming agents are most commonly
used in shampoos, soaps, bubble
baths and other products which
produce lather. They strip and
deplete natural oils from the
skin, causing skin irritation such
as rashes and dry, rough and
flaky skin.
Undoubtedly, we are all concerned about our health and wellbeing, which means it is important
to be proactive in choosing good
products that are good. Choosing
healthy skin care products and
make-up is not difficult. At first,
it may be a little frustrating when
you’re trying to understand ingredient labels because there are so
many listed. The basic rule to remember is ingredients are listed
in descending order from greatest
to least. For example, if a skin care
product lists almond butter, tea
tree oil and algae extract (in that
order), then the product contains
mostly almond butter because it is
the first ingredient listed.
Now that you are familiar with
the ingredients so commonly used
in skin care and cosmetic products, you are empowered to make
wise choices for your needs. Most
importantly, we need to share our
medical disclaimer: please consult
a dermatologist or medical provider prior to using any products. |G|
15
In this issue of Women’s Group at a Glance, we have two testimonies from members
who share how the Women’s Ministry helped them through their journeys. Marion “Ann”
White shares her health testimony and the sister bond with Divine Discipleship Sisters.
Ebonee Davis shares her twin’s blessings and Hagar Ministry. Additionally, you will find
the Focus Studies Fall 2012 Schedule.
My Testimony Ebonee Davis
Hagar Teen Mom
My name is Ebonee Davis and
I am a 25-year-old mother of two
children. At the age of 18, during my freshman year of college
at North Carolina A&T, I became
pregnant with twin boys.
Blessed with a supportive family,
I was able to move back home with
my parents. However, I’d made
plans to return to college within
a year to finish my degree program. In the meantime, I worked
full time and took online classes
at night and on the weekends at
a community college. It was hard.
I was young and constantly trying
to find a solution to my situation.
I bless God! Through it all I had
an army of godly women speaking
into my life and praying for me. After being home for sometime, I became very active in youth ministry
and rededicated my life to Christ.
Soon after, I decided not to go back
to A&T after God showed me that
I needed to remain here where I
had the support of my family and
loved ones. That following year I
transferred to Howard University.
For the next four years, I flipflopped between working full-time
and going to school part-time. I
was a full-time student with a parttime job. That pace ended in my
final semester when I found myself working two jobs while taking
16
seven classes, all while still managing the home life of a mother.
I have no doubt that it was the
grace of God that kept me and my
children. May 14, 2011, after seven
years of sleepless nights, prayers,
tears, thoughts of giving up and
feelings of depression and loneliness, it all payed off. I walked
across the stage with my Bachelor
of Arts degree.
Ebonee Davis and her twins
I have been involved with Carolyn O’Bryant and Hagar Ministry
for about five years, which has
been a blessing. Carolyn has been
one of my mentors and confidants.
I truly believe she was one of the
people God used to set me on the
path He paved out for my life. And
I thank God for her and her vision
for this ministry. Recently, she invited me to serve on a panel, where
I spoke to Charles H. Flowers
High School students about the
realities of teen pregnancy. This
was important to me because I
often wonder if young girls look at
me and other single mothers, see
how God has blessed our lives and
get a false sense of teen pregnancy.
When I spoke to the students that
day, it was the first time I’d verbalized my story and all that God’s
done for me. It was amazing and
made me even more aware of what
God requires.
Looking back over my journey I
see God’s favor saturated throughout everything, from the financial
miracles to me landing jobs in
my field, to even blessing me with
children that are so easy to parent.
However, my family has been the
greatest showing of God’s favor
and mercy. I am most thankful to
God for a family that is as invested
in my education and the pursuit of
my dreams as I am. There are several things that I would have been
unable to do had it not been for
their support and encouragement.
God has transformed and refined
me through this journey and He
is still working on my behalf. I am
currently preparing to purchase
my first home and was just accepted into graduate school. He
certainly has a plan for me, and I
am eagerly anticipating His every
move! |G|
Women’s Ministry Group at a Glance
My Testimony
It’s never too late to say thank
you! I want to thank my family and
Divine Discipleship for Sisters
who prayed for me. This is my testimony.
Last year, my doctor told me
based on two previous x-rays; it
looked as if I had Sarcoidosis a
disease that results in inflammation of body tissues. Sarcoidosis
can appear in almost any body
organ, but is most often in the
lungs or lymph nodes. It is the
disease that the late comedian/
actor Bernie Mac had, wanted me
to take another x-ray. I asked my
family, friends and DDS to pray
for me and they did. I went for my
results and my doctor said, “All I
can say is WOW. The difference
in your results from the previous
test and the latest one is dramatic.” My lungs were healing without
any medication. I still have a few
issues, and I must see a specialist,
which is ok because I know it’s not
over until my God says it’s over.
Marion Ann Wright
During this time, I experienced
various challenges, I was unemployed, tried to get my nephew
from Arizona enrolled in school.
I also received a letter stating that
my account had been garnished
and had no idea what I was going
to do for Thanksgiving. I immediately logged onto my account and
thought, “please not this, too.” I had
just paid my electric bill, but the
money had not been withdrawn.
I thought the garnishment would
have taken the money allocated for
the bill since it was well past the
garnishment activation date. However, the day after the payment
went through, the garnishment
was activated. The lawyer who submitted the garnishment paperwork
said the money should have been
withdrawn from my account. God
continued to bless me. Then, I received a text asking if I needed anything for Thanksgiving. A friend
informed me that she had been
chosen to receive a yearly gift and
thought of me. Again, thanks to my
Father!
With my next blessing was I was
offered a job with a company that
I previously had a contract. Although it’s part time, I am grateful.
I see His hand and I believe more
is to come. This has been a grueling time. I say all that to say, I am in
a storm, but not getting wet. Even
when I feel a little rain, the breeze
changes direction.
Thank you, DDS. I don’t want
to lose this connection. The time I
have spent with my sisters has forever changed my thinking. There
are women like me who love God
with their whole heart and soul,
and whose prayers sustain me.
They help me to keep my focus on
God as I weather this stormy season. |G|
I am in a storm,
but not getting wet.
17
Women’s Ministry Focus Studies
Fall 2012
APPLE OF HIS EYE – Part 2
Facilitators: Aubray Robinson &
Mary Davisson
Dates: Saturday 9/8 – 10/20
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Book: Jewel in His Crown:
Rediscovering Your Value as a
Woman of Excellence (Book and
Journal) by Priscilla Shirer
Purpose/Overview: This 6-week
study empowers women of all ages
to develop a firm sense of self,
based on who they are in Christ
Jesus, through discipleship. If you
suffer from low self-esteem, this
study is just what the Lord has ordered for you.
BEDROOM SECRETS
Facilitator:
Minister Deborah Leaner
Dates: Wednesday 9/12 – 10/24
Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Book: Bedroom Secrets by Deborah Leaner
Purpose/Overview: Marriages are
being attacked by attitudes of confusion, brokenness and bitterness
which seek to steal, kill and destroy.
Bedroom Secrets seeks to heal the
brokenhearted and create a pathway to forgiveness through frank
and open discussions about real
issues affecting marriages and sexuality. In this 6-week study women
will learn to “speak life” into their
marriages and relationships before
major problems occur.
DADDY PAIN
Facilitators: Wanda Davis &
Millicent Alexander
18
Dates: Thursday 10/11 – 11/15
Time: 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Book: Longing for Daddy: Healing
from the Pain of an Absent or Emotionally Distant Father by Monique
Robinson
Purpose/Overview: Every little girl
yearns to be “Daddy’s Girl.” No
relationship is more pivotal to a
woman’s emotional development
and identity than her relationship with her father. For those
women who know the pain of having been wounded or rejected by
their fathers, we will help you to
unlock the door that leads to understanding, healing, forgiveness
and restoration. This 6-week study
is just what your heavenly Daddy
ordered.
JONAH
Facilitator:
Minister Kim Henderson
Dates: Thursday 9/27 – 11/15
Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Book: Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer
Purpose/Overview: An interrupted
life is probably an accurate descriptor for all of us, don’t you
think? Your interruptions may differ from mine. Yet interruptions
can be difficult to manage, no matter what or whose they are. Another year of singleness, a spouse’s
secret revealed, a heartbreaking
encounter, a burst of success in
business, redirection in ministry
or a new baby or two. Though we
wish to avoid them, every season
of life seems to include a few. They
shock us; they shake us; they com-
pel us to change. So welcome to
Jonah, a 7-week focus study. Jonah
knows how life interrupted feels,
and he’s got a firsthand account of
how yielding to God is the best decision after all.
MADE TO CRAVE
Facilitator: Pamela Jordan
Time: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Book: Made to Crave by Lysa
TerKeurst
Purpose/Overview: Craving isn’t
a bad thing! Has food become
more about frustration than fulfillment? Made to Crave is the missing
link between a woman’s desire to
be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make
that happen. Join us during this
7-week study and use it as a helpful
companion alongside your healthy
eating approaches.
MARRIAGE FROM A-Z
Facilitator: Carolyn Tatem
Dates: Saturday 9/8-10/20
Book: Marriage from A-Z by
Carolyn Tatem
study will give you godly principles for a successful marriage. The
writer’s vulnerability about the
challenges in her marriage, blended with biblical truth, will engage
and enable you to identify. This focus study is for single women who
desire to someday be married.
Women’s Ministry Group at a Glance
RAISING GODLY CHILDREN
Facilitator: Tyra Lane-Kingsland
Book: None
focus study helps women understand God’s purpose and plan for
raising godly children. Women will
also understand their high calling
of motherhood as they raise godly
seeds.
SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL
LIFE ISSUES FOR SENIORS
Facilitator:
Deaconess Betty Green
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Book: None
Purpose/Overview This 6-week focus study will help women view
and understand aging as an opportunity for growth and fulfillment, despite its challenges. It
will encourage women to live out
their lives fully for the kingdom
by using their God-given gifts and
talents, wisdom and experiences,
while simultaneously receiving,
giving and serving.
THE BLESSING OF
ADVERSITIES
Facilitator:
Reverend Annie B. Darden
Time: 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Book: None
Purpose/Overview This 7-week focus study provides practical and
spiritual tools for women to handle
difficult and stressful times. These
sessions will help every woman to
be prepared for those inevitable
times called “trouble” and not lose
their temper or hair.
THE EXCELLENT WIFE
Facilitators: Constance Nwosu,
Maria White & Geneva Pearson
Time: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Book: The Excellent Wife
by Martha Peace
study teaches women what it really
means to be a godly wife, which
is an excellent crown to her husband (Proverbs 12:4). The study
is designed to provide wives with
practical tools and biblical insight to maintain and/or develop
a healthy and vibrant relationship
with their spouse regardless of the
issues they face. Not only will the
women learn what God requires of
a Christian wife, but they will learn
how to obey God’s commandments
in order to become that wife.
THE HOME EXPERIENCE
Facilitator: Jackie Parker
Book: The Home Experience: Making Your Home a Sanctuary of Love
and a Haven of Peace by Devi Titus
and Marilyn Weiher
Purpose/Overview: This 10-week intensive study is designed to train,
disciple, discipline and encourage women that their homes are a
sanctuary of love, a haven of peace
and where ministry takes place.
Married and single women will
learn how to draw the women’s
heart back towards home.
THE OTHER WOMAN
Facilitator: Yvette Haley
Time: 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Book: None
Purpose/Overview Have you been
the married man’s other woman or
has your spouse been unfaithful to
you? If so, this 8-week focus study
is designed to bring healing from
those ungodly relationships by
helping you understand that you
are loved by God. Allow God to
transform your life and make you
whole again.
WISDOM FOR WORKING
WOMEN
Facilitator: Minister Beverly Little
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Book: None
study is designed to assist women with balancing life’s demands
God’s way by providing biblical
principles for workplace success.
REGISTER Prior to the Focus Study
Start Date
1. In Person at the Ministry Center
Women’s Fellowship (July 7,
September 1, and October 6, 2012);
2. In Person at Women’s Conference
(Oct. 7, 2012);
3. Email focusstudies@fbcglenarden.
org beginning now (when
registering by email please include
your name, email address and
phone number inside the body of the
email); or
4. Call 301-773-3600
19
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones But
Names Can Really Hurt Me
By Norma L. Day-Vines, Ph.D.
Bullying refers to the repeated
pattern of intimidation and aggressive behavior inflicted by
more powerful individuals against
individuals they perceive as less
powerful, weaker or more vulnerable. For one reason or another,
bullying can assume many forms,
including but not limited to name
calling; social exclusion or isolation; hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting; coercion; extortion; spreading
rumors; and cyber bullying via cell
phones or the Internet. These behaviors usually begin during early
childhood and in, the absence of
appropriate adult intervention,
can escalate during adolescence
and young adulthood.
In the African-American community bullying takes on all the
above mentioned forms, as well as
which are specific and unique to
our community. For example, the
sheer diversity of hair and skin
color breeds a devastating form of
personal violation in which children and adults alike are ostracized
for not fitting within narrow and
arbitrary standards of beauty. Additionally, children who work hard
in school and achieve good grades
are sometimes ridiculed for “acting white.” Faulty logic presumes
that a positive African-American
identity and academic success are
mutually exclusive. We seldom refer to these racialized incidents
as bullying, but indeed they are!
At its most extreme, bullying can
manifest as black-on-black crime,
an unfortunate phenomena that
threatens to destroy what remains
of Black solidarity. Whether bul20
lying manifests as a universal or a
culture-specific dynamic, it is detrimental.
In the past, when people talked
to children about bullying, they
emphasized the role of two primary individuals – the bully and
the victim. Essentially, the bully is
the child who inflicts violence on
a target; the victim is the target or
child whom the bully torments.
Experts have identified a third role
in the bullying scenario, that of the
bystander., who witnesses bullying
events, but do not help to eliminate
the bullying behavior. Bystanders represent an important group
of children, especially since most
bullying behavior takes place within the direct purview of bystanders, and bullies thrive on having an
audience. If the audience cheers,
the bully continues his or her inappropriate behavior. But imagine
the impact on the bully when bystanders collectively condemn the
bully. Chances are the bully would
be discouraged from continuing
his or her misbehavior.
Research shows that most bystanders want to play a role in
stopping bullying behavior, however, most children choose not to
get involved due to fear, confusion
and concerns about safety. Bystanders have to be empowered to
intervene in an appropriate manner. Research indicates that if a
bystander discourages the bully,
there is a 50 percent chance that
the bully will stop. As adults, we
must teach our children about the
bystander’s relative influence in
curtailing bullying behavior.
As Christians, we have several
biblical examples of individuals who took a courageous stance
against injustice despite the risks
involved. In the Old Testament,
Queen Esther found herself in a
precarious position when the king
granted Haman permission to kill
the Jews. As queen, Esther could
have remained a passive bystander and her status as queen would
have insulated her from the threat
of death (at least temporarily), despite the fact that she was Jewish.
Undaunted by what seemed like
insurmountable peril, Esther interceded, devising a clever plot to
save her people from death and
destruction.
Jesus, when presented with an
adulterous woman who, by law
,should have been put to death,
He instead admonished the crowd,
saying, “He who is without sin among
you, let him throw a stone at her first.”
(John 8:7). Perhaps He could have
conceded that her sin was punishable by death. but instead Jesus
forgave her! Let us teach our children to step in on behalf of others
as our Savior does for us.
As parents we, have a responsibility to instill in our children the
values of courage, social justice
and advocacy. Proverbs 22:6 teaches us to “Train up a child in the way
he should go, and when he is old he
will not depart from it.” In fact, God
punished Eli because though his
sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were
out of control and lacked personal
restraint. Eli did nothing to discipline them in the tabernacle.
parenting
Parents must play a decisive role
in their children’s lives. As their
first teachers, we have an obligation to instill in them the importance of acting within the will of
God. This includes interrupting
the bullying cycle and encouraging our children to act with a sense
of personal conviction. If we are to
teach our children about the role
of the bystander, we must serve
as appropriate models that recognize and challenge various forms
of social injustice. Deuteronomy
1:17 states, “Do not be afraid of any
man.” Children should be taught
that it is courageous to help others
and not to fear when standing up
for what is right.
Stan Davis, author of Empowering Bystanders in Bullying Prevention, recommends that if children
are uncomfortable disclosing the
details of the bullying event, they
might tell an adult to watch a
particular location in the school
where bullying is likely to occur.
Davis also recommends that bystanders give victims an escape
route by telling the victim that a
teacher would like to see them.
The bystander can also contact
the victim at home and provide
encouragement to him by saying,
"I saw what happened today and I
didn’t know what to do, but I don’t
think you deserved it.” Each of
these strategies helps the bystander provide support to the victim in
an indirect manner. Schools now
have curricula that provide groupbased responses to bullies, as well.
Regardless of the strategy that we
use to empower children to take
an active stance, we need to help
them recognize that silence implies their approval of the bullying
behavior.
Given the escalating levels of
violence in schools today, parents
have a compelling rationale for
helping their children take a more
active stance when they observe
bullying behavior. |G|
"First they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the trade
unionists, and I didn’t speak out
because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I
wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for me and there
was no one left to speak out for
me. "
– German pastor Martin Niemöller,
who opposed Hitler and his Nazi
regime as they perpetrated one
of the most egregious human
tragedies in recorded history
21
inspirational
HOW LOUD IS YOUR PRAISE?
By Mildred Stokes
Jesus is Lord, our Redeemer
and Keeper, and we bless His Holy
Name. What virtues can we speak
of about our Triune God in all His
Righteousness?
In Psalm 103 and 145, David declares these things: The Lord is
gracious and full of compassion;
His greatness is unsearchable and
far beyond the realm of our understanding; He is righteous in all His
ways and His tender mercies cover
all His works; He is near to those
who fear Him and He hears their
cry when they call out to Him; our
Lord God is slow to anger and
great in mercy; He will preserve all
who love Him; and of necessity, our
Holy God is kind to the unthankful and the evil, for He blesses all.
In the newness of spring unfolding all around us, it is wise
to remember to acknowledge our
Creator God in all His Majesty. His
radiance and manifold pleasures
are a gift inviting us to worship and
fellowship with Him. God reaches
down and opens opportunity for
us to capture and reclaim in His
name all which He has provided.
How are you blossoming? How
loud is your praise?
In the book of Psalms, many passages remind us of the beauty and
blessing of giving. Regardless of
the situation or persons involved,
God sits in the middle of our mess
listening to us, His prized creation,
"He carries us through every challenge that comes our way. For the
believer knows that “nothing is too
hard for [God]” (Jeremiah 32:17).
And we know that no weapon
22
formed against us can prosper or
overtake the grace of our loving
God. The blessed assurance of
these things is confirmed in the
Word of God. It gives us the confidence to embrace an abundant life
in Christ Jesus.
In Luke 17:11-19, the parable of
the10 lepers teaches us the importance of remembering where our
help comes from. These 10 men
were in search of freedom from
their harsh suffering and pain.
They had heard about Jesus’ powerful healing ministry, but had not
met Him.
It appears that these troubled
souls lived in the expectation of
a chance meeting with Jesus. For
when they recognized Him coming from afar, they shouted out His
name and asked for mercy. And
when Jesus saw them, He did what
He was known to do. Jesus had
full compassion on them and expressed His love. He simply spoke
a word of deliverance, gave them
instructions and sent them on
their way.
When we study these passages
carefully, there is an implied message. At the time when the 10 lepers left from Jesus’ presence they
were not yet — in that moment —
visibly healed. As they moved away
and journeyed to obey His instructions, cleansing from their leprous
affliction took effect. For the hope
that they held dear in their heart
was believed. Psalm 146 speaks of
the joy and happiness that hope
and trust in the Lord brings.
Digging a little deeper, there is
another implied message in this
text. The one leper, the Samaritan foreigner, realized his cleansing and healing as it was occurring. There is a sense of absolute
urgency that caused him to rush
back to thank Jesus. His renewal
in healing was such a blessed and
humbling experience.
When Jesus inquired about the
other nine who were cleansed,
the healed one did not answer. He
simply worshipped. “… with a loud
voice glorified God, and fell down
on his face at His feet, giving Him
thanks” (Luke 17:15-16). We can
only imagine the sound of high
praise that came from his lips, for
he had such great faith. It must
have been an enormously lengthy
and tearful shout of victory with
the release of pain and torment
that had him bound for so long.
Praise be to God for His healing
power!
As we look in the mirror of our
lives, what victory shout of healing
and renewal do we offer unto the
Lord? How loud is your praise?
What God expects in earnest measure is that we reverence the sufficiency of His grace towards us.
He is the source of our strength
and worthy to be praised. In any
achievement or demonstration
of prosperity, let us remember to
express our gratitude in humility.
For it is always our duty to return
and give glory to God in everything
(1 Thessalonians 5:18). Amen. |G|
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
n
rda
da Jo
n
e
r
B
s
right)
oger
(Left- drienne R
A
and
Restored Relationships:
Divine reconnection.
Grace: Share your story with us.
Rogers: Let me start off by saying my cousin, Brenda, and I are
very close. However, a few years
ago an incident happened which
nearly destroyed our relationship.
To make a long story short, I was
at work and received an urgent
phone call from my mother-in-law
that my twin grandbabies were in
desperate need of some personal
items. At that time, my supervisor
was on leave and I was acting as
secretarial services supervisor to a
staff of about 45 employees. I was
quite busy that day and could not
leave. In desperation, I called my
cousin, Brenda, and asked her to
help. I got an answer that I wasn’t
expecting. I became very upset
with her response and immediately hung up the phone.
Without delay, she called back and
said she would pick up the items
for my grandchildren, but I told
her, “Nevermind.” However, she
did anyway. When I arrived home,
Chantell Smith
I called my sister and shared what
happened. She tried to console
me, but I was too hurt to receive
her voice of reason. My spirit
was closed. I also withdrew from
Brenda and refused to accept her
phone calls.
Grace: What steps did you all take
to restore the relationship and
what role did the Lord play in it?
Jordan: One day I took the initiative to call Adrienne to try to work
out the situation because I knew
she was still very upset with me.
Rogers: The Lord used my sister to
call Jordan and they talked about
it. At that point, my sister encouraged Brenda to keep reaching out
to me. Brenda was very persistent
in calling me even after I refused
to accept her calls. Eventually she
decided to step back for a while
and give me the space I needed.
She also asked me to forgive her
and I did. Although we sought to
reconcile, we moved cautiously
and carefully in the beginning.
Now God has completely restored
our relationship and it’s like nothing ever happened.
Grace: What would you do differently to avoid this from happening again?
Rogers: I would truly listen to hear
what the person is saying before
responding, and not assume everybody will always come to my
rescue in a time of need and I will
always have a back-up plan.
Jordan: Respect other people’s
perception of a situation and give
them time to process things in
their own way.
Grace: How has the relationship
matured each of you? Where do
you see growth?
Jordan: The maturity part for me
was learning that sometimes we
have to step back and wait for
God’s timing to resolve our conflicts and issues.
Rogers: So true. Now we are more
transparent with each other. We
try to call each other at least once
a week or every other week. We
23
Grace
Magazine
Needs You!
Attention all
Production Artists
and Graphic
Designers!!
Do you have
experience with
Adobe InDesign?
Do you have an
interest in becoming a
part of the Grace
Creative Team?
Well, join the Grace
Magazine Ministry.
Please contact grace@
fbcglenarden.org.
Circle, left to right: Chantell Smith, Jonesie Gerald, Kimberly Anderson,
Mary Davvison, Brenda Jordan, Adrienne Rogers and Keira Jones
keep each other abreast of church
services going on and upcoming
women’s fellowships. I am a sensitive person; however, I think I have
matured by trying not to let my
emotions control me. To manage
this area of my life, I speak God’s
Word over me and my problems. I
understand that we all have issues
we are working on. But for the
grace of God there go I.
Don’t expect someone to always be
there for you and/or to think like
you. Each of us is different and so
is our response. Also, I try not to
judge others or compare myself
with them. When I find myself doing that, the Holy Spirit convicts
me. Lastly, the serenity prayer has
helped me tremendously: “God
grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change, courage to
change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference.”
Conclusion
Time spent with the group and
each lady individually allowed me
24
to see God’s tremendous power
working. Ecclesiastes 4:12 illustrates the importance of Christian
relationships and emphasizes the
concept of two Christians bound
together in Christ are stronger
than they are individually. “Though
one may be overpowered, two can
defend themselves. A cord of three
strands is not quickly broken.”
NIV. The New King James Version
says, “And if one prevail against
him, two shall withstand him; and
a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Although many refer to this text
in the covenant of marriage, it also
rings true in other relationships.
Including God in our friendships
helps us maintain Godly friendships. Are there some relationships that you need to restore and
renew? Why dont you make that
call today. |G|
reflections
Life Lessons
By Barbara Holt Streeter
How often do you take ME time?
Seriously, think about it. How often do you step away, walk away or
drive away from the busyness of
life? I have to take ME time daily, 15 to 30 minutes, to revitalize,
renew and rejuvenate my mind,
body and soul. It’s important to replenish ME. But many of us do not
take the time.
Wife, mother, grandmother,
aunt, sister, business owner, career woman, stay-at-home mother
and caretaker are only a few of
the titles that represent our roles.
In the midst of our daily routine,
we often forget about replenishing ourselves. We focus our time,
money and resources on family
and friends. We will spend our last
dollar, cook dinner with only three
ingredients for a family of six,
clean the house while watching
children, manage a business, prepare for a ministry meeting, drive
children to their activities in the
midst of a migraine headache and
remain humble without losing our
mind. Superwoman, right? Wrong.
Although, society and the media
show superwomen, what does God
say? He wants us to be a Proverbs
31 woman and not run around
frantic. He wants us to be rejuvenated so we can hear His voice and
direction for our lives. That’s why I
want and need to be a better wife,
daughter, aunt, sister and friend,
but most importantly a better ME.
I schedule ME time to rebuild
my inner and outer strength.
Don’t laugh, try it! Take your smart
phone or daily planner and schedule a 15-minute appointment with
yourself, preferably early in the
morning for one week. My cell
phone alarm rings for my 6:45
a.m. daily appointment for me to
pray and exercise. With the temperature changing, I walk in my
neighborhood with my dog, Big
Boy. I read my daily Word and listen to music while I walk. There is
no excuse for not having ME time.
Whether you have five children,
no children, a husband, dog or are
a caretaker, you must accept and
understand that you have to take
care of YOU! If you don’t take care
of you, who will?
I recommend creating a special
place in your home where you can
sit still, meditate and reflect. You
can use your closet, bathroom or
bedroom; just make it your special
place. Be sure to bring your tools
with you. I have a meditation corner with my wicker chair, blanket,
pillow, candle, hot tea and journal.
Seek God early in the morning.
Psalm 63:1 says, “O God, You are my
God; Early will I seek You; My soul
thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You
in a dry and thirsty land Where there
is no water.”
Enjoy this spring season to find
the inner you, spend time with
friends, meet new friends or find
a hobby, but most importantly,
revitalize, renew and rejuvenate
yourself. Please share this issue
with your family and friends. You
can also download Grace at www.
fbcglenarden.org/grace_magazine.
We want to hear from you. Share
your comments with us at grace@
fbcglenarden.org. |G|
Let’s Stay Connected
25
First Baptist Church of Glenarden is a progressive ministry with a strong emphasis on
relevant biblical teaching and preaching the Word of God. Under the leadership of
Pastor John K. Jenkins Sr., First Baptist has grown to comprise more than 10,000 active members,
100-plus ministries and programs, four Sunday worship services, and a well-attended Tuesday
night Bible Study. Pastor Jenkins and his devoted wife, First Lady Trina Jenkins, have dedicated
their lives to winning the lost and developing dynamic disciples to impact the lives of people in
our community and throughout the world.
Worship the Lord with us!
S u n day W o r s h i p
Worship Center
8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon services are held
at the Worship Center.
600 Watkins Park Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
(Mailing Address)
Praise and Worship begins 15 minutes
prior to the start of the 8 a.m. and
10 a.m. services only.
M i n i s t ry C e n t e r
3600 Brightseat Road
Landover, MD 20785
6:30 p.m. service is held at the
Ministry Center, except on 4th Sunday
(Communion service) and special events
as noted.
Phone: 301-773-3600
www.fbcglenarden.org
Email: [email protected]
b i b l e s t u dy
Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at the
Worship Center and Wednesdays at
noon at the Ministry Center.
on radio
on the web
Saturdays
WPRS Praise 104.1 FM - 9:30 a.m.
WAVA 105.1 FM - 10:30 a.m.
Live Worship Services Broadcasts:
Sundays at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon and
6:30 p.m.
Bible Study on Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
24-Hour Television and Video on
Demand
ON YOUR S M ART
PHONES AND IPAD
FBCG Worship Services live at
www.fbcglive.com Sundays at 8 a.m.,
10 a.m. and noon;
6:30 p.m. service can be viewed live
at www.fbcglive.com/MC
Photo by Jim Kumorek, courtesy of Worship Facilities Magazine

spring is here - First Baptist Church of Glenarden

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