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REAL LIFE FAITH

March 2010

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Photo of Elect Lady Avis Hunter and Pastor Charles Hunter

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TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLES:

Honoring Pastors and Elders – By Minister Darlington Varr – Page 3

Heart and Soul; What Condition is Your Heart In? – By Elect Lady Avis Hunter – Page 8

Offense Management Bible Study – By Real Life Faith Magazine Editor Michele Jackson – Page 13

March Winds – By Christian Author Rhonda Herring Dent – Page 17

Missing the Mark – By Attorney Karmen A. Booker – Page 20

Life Matters – By Sally Williams, Director of Urban Life Ministries – Page 22

Be Careful How You Lay Hands On People – By Prophetess Diane L. Garrett – Page 28

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Money Makeover – Page 8, What Does “I’m Saved” Mean? – Page 11, Prayer of Salvation – Page 12, Black History Facts – Page 17, Fruit of the Holy Spirit Puzzle – Page 19, Match the Words to the Bible Verses – Page 22, Bible Trivia – Page 26, Love Lifestyle – Page 29, Kingdom Come Ministries Info. – Page

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© Real Life Faith Magazine all rights reserved.

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HONORING ELDERS AND PASTORS

By Minister Darlingston Varr

Photo of Minister Darlingston Varr

Aren’t you glad to serve a God who will pick you up when you fall down? My testimony is not perfect. I fell so many times, but I thank God that He wasn’t busy; and He wasn’t too holy, but He was willing to reach down low. When you have been down low then you can appreciate the God who is set up high. I am talking about a low experience. When I look over my life and think about what God has done for me, I think about how He reached down low to pick me up. Thank you, Jesus. When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for me, I can dance all night long. God has been good to me.

Sometimes we are caught up in our own selves; and we do not take the time out to appreciate the God that we serve. I’ve learned over the years that sound doctrine is needed. I can preach a sermon in fifteen minutes that causes you to jump up, but also causes you to walk out of here empty. I believe in teaching sound doctrine—something that will keep you. The only way you can be kept is when your spirit man is fed not just your emotional man. Many of us have been accustomed to only having our emotional man fed. Our emotional man has been fed so long that we are no good to the Kingdom of God. We are full of emotion and Christian talk. We don’t have Text talk. There are two kinds of talks in the church. You have the church talk and the Text talk. We spend our time on the church talk because it sounds good, seems easy and feels good. Not everything that looks good, feels good and sounds good is good for you.

Sometimes I wonder if a church is turned into a teaching ministry how many people would actually stay in the church. Too many feel that teaching becomes boring. The Bible says a time will come when people will have itching ears for things that are not sound doctrine. I believe that we are in a time when people do not want to hear what the Word of God is saying to the church. People want you to come into

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agreement with their lifestyle instead of coming into repentance based on the Word of God. I am so sad about the current state of the Church of God. Let me clarify. The church of God has grown because the Scriptures say upon this Rock I will build the Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. What is wrong is that the people of God are walking away from the very Rock upon which the church of God was formed on.

Turn your Bibles to 1 Timothy 5:17-18 (King James Version Bible) reads, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” What this means is that you cannot hold back from the man of God who is feeding you—not junk, not mess--but sound doctrine. The office of the elder in the church carries tremendous amount of weight and importance. The elder is responsible for your soul. He or she is a watchman over your soul. They help settle disputes in the church. They help feed the flock of the church. They pray for the sick. They watch over the church and its people. We are privileged to live in such a great country as the United States. America takes great pride in our troops—the men and women who are watching over our physical well being. That’s all good, but when it comes to the church of God we don’t take the time to watch over our spiritual lives. Our physical body is going to die, but we are going to live eternally spiritually. The elder is a watchman over your soul. Imagine being responsible for so many lives. If an elder gets tired and lazy and doesn’t pray, it can affect somebody’s life.

Where is the honor? I admit this is not catchy, but don’t be one of those more concerned with the packaging than what is in the package. Turn your Bibles to the book of Luke. Luke 13:6-9 (KJV) says, “He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” John 15:1-2 (KJV) says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” I am talking to you about the responsibilities of an elder or a pastor. They are tremendous responsibilities, but you, the congregants, also have responsibilities. If you want to know what will honor your pastor and elders the most is the level of your productivity. I know Elder Will Draughn personally. I know that he cares about the flock personally. If you are going to honor him it is impossible to honor the man of God if you have not learned to honor the God of the man. It is the God inside of the man and not the man himself that is being honored. In John 15 Jesus Christ describes Himself as the Vine. You are the branches of the vine. Jesus talks about being in the vineyard which is the church. In the vineyard you have vinedressers which are responsible for your upbringing. The only thing that brings honor is obedience to God and to the man of God. If you are obedient, your obedience shows up in your productivity. God has come year after year to the vineyard seeking out fruit. Have you ever made an investment for three years and you have not seen one result on your investment? The God that you serve is an investor. God is frustrated because He comes, and there is no return. He says I have poured too much into this investment. I’ve dunged you too much. I have provided for you too much. Where is the fruit—the product that you are supposed to bring forth? God is frustrated, so He tells the vinedresser to cut it down; uproot it; it is

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taking up space. This is serious. What are you doing with the teachings that you are receiving? What are you doing with the blessings that God has bestowed upon you? What are you doing with the gifts God has given you? Are you becoming productive? Or are you just becoming fat and comfortable and taking up space? Think about it. You have been saved for 10 years and have not won one soul for Christ yet. You are coming to church for the music, the man or girl that sits across the aisle from you. You haven’t gotten connected with the Vine Himself. All along what the man of God is trying to do is to bring you into contact, not with him, but with the Vine Himself. Jesus is the Vine.

Many churches have taught that when a New Year comes you automatically go up to a new level. What they don’t tell you is the same mind from last year brought into this year will put you back in last year. The man of God is saying that this is the year of testimony, but for you to receive testimonies, the things that you were doing in 2009 will not cut it into 2010. You have to raise your level and your standard of living. You have to increase your relationship with the God you serve, or else you are just going through the motions hoping. The church is full of a lot of people who are hoping. They say they are waiting on God, but when you look into the Word of God—waiting on God is not the absence of moving. In the Word of God people waiting on God were going forward. God is not slow or slack concerning His promises.

People in the church try to fool you saying bring your offering, and God will bless you. That’s not Biblical. You give your offering out of gratitude and obedience. Blessing comes by way of position. You have to be in position. If the church would spend time positioning people, the church would see the level of productivity increase. However, the church spends time trying to get into people’s pockets instead of spending time encouraging you to develop a relationship with God which will put you in position to be blessed. Stop letting the pimps keep pimping you out. They say refinance your mortgage, so that we can build a new church. Honoring the man of God doesn’t come through your pocketbooks it comes through obedience to God and the God on the inside of the man of God.

I am fed up with the church of the living God. It is time to get back to preaching what is right. You must honor the one who feeds you with sound doctrine. Yet the people’s ears are itching for something else—get-rich-quick schemes. God will prosper you, but you have responsibilities. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteous. The quickest way to a million dollars is to get into the will of God. It’s not in church membership or your relationship with the pastor; it is in the will of God.

If the man of God teaches sound doctrine, increase is bound to happen. If you obey sound doctrine, increase is bound to happen. Those are spiritual laws. You cannot defy them trying to get rich. Jesus Himself was the Master of teaching. He was a healer. Jesus put sound doctrine in His disciples. The purpose of the doctrine was to bring forth increase. Jesus said make disciples. The command is not to build bigger churches. The command is not to increase your membership. The command is to make disciples. We have enough church goers. We have enough Christians, but they are no good to the church of the Living God. They talk about the power. They sing about the power, but they have no power. When you sing, you sing lies. When you pray, you pray lies because you don’t believe what you are saying. How long will you continue to go through the motions? How long will you stay in the wilderness? Will it take 40 years for you? I bring you liberation. Get connected with God.

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We need to stop preaching the Gospel of control to keep people in the church. The Gospel is liberating. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. Yet many of us are still bound—been in the church for 30 years and still bound.

Parables are spiritual issues in contemporary language. If you have the skilled man of God that can take the Scriptures and make them relevant to you, he deserves your honor. I’m not talking about “Hallelujah,” “So Good,” screaming and humming. I can do that too. That’s not my goal. My goal is to get some Word into you. The Word will keep you. The man of God helps to uncover the truth in parables that we may increase.

The tree is you in John 15. Jesus is talking about your life. You have been coming year after year looking for something in your life, but He has not seen it. You have mastered your songs. You have memorized your Scriptures. You know the Bible back to front. You know the church talk, but I don’t see fruit. Jesus comes in and tells the man of God, cut him down; cut down the tree. I’m not trying to scare you, but I am warning you today that some of us have been in church too long; and God has been coming year after year seeking out some fruit from your life; and He is frustrated with you. Do you have one more year? I do not know. When God gets to the point of frustration, He has to cut you out from the root. I think it is time God should start cutting some people out from the root because it is one thing to be unproductive by yourself, but it is another thing to take up space that someone else can use. Jesus says you are encumbering the ground. What does that mean? You are wasting space. I’m here to warn you that if you are not connected to the Vine, God will cut you down, so that He can put someone else in your place. God wants to see something come from our lives. He does not want us to just become church goers. He wants you to become powerful citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Some of you are waiting to go to heaven to get the power, but have you read your Bible lately? Jesus said greater works shall you do not in heaven but right here. Let thy Kingdom Come to earth as it is in heaven. Stop waiting to go to heaven to become productive. You may never get to heaven.

You are so important to God that He prepared a pastor for you after God’s own heart. When the pastor is following God, you are to follow him--not to worship the pastor. God will not allow His glory to be shared with no one.

In order for God to plant His vineyard He had to till the earth. God had to disturb the earth to make you happy. God does not mind disturbing someone to make you happy. You are not here by accident. God willed you. You could have been born at another time to another generation. Your mother was not able to have an abortion even though the thought came across her mind because God willed you to be here. God willed you that is how important you are to God. You are the apple of God’s eye. The next time someone calls you out of your name, you ought to look them in the eyes and say, “God willed me to be here; I’m a child of the Living God; I am a royal priesthood.”

I know of no person who built a house or planted a garden without a purpose. God has a divine purpose for your life. My first purpose is to know God. What are you hungry for? What are you looking for? Can I recommend Jesus to you? Everything you need He has it. Everything you want He has it. Heaven and earth belong to Him.

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We honor the man of God through our obedience to the God of the man. You have to learn to appreciate yourself when others don’t appreciate you. David and his men had won a battle. They were on a high, but they came to Ziklag and found that while they were taking care of God’s business the enemy was messing with their personal business. Have you been there? You are liberating for God, but it seems like everything personal is going down the drain. What do you do? Learn from David. The men who had been celebrating with David turned their backs on David when they learned that their wives and children had been taken away. Sometimes you have to go by yourself. It would be nice for you to go with me. It would be nice for you to join me. But guess what, if you don’t go, I’ll go by myself. The Bible says that David encouraged himself in the Lord. Man of God, sometimes the journey will get lonely; sometimes just when you are looking for those that told you that they had your back, they will be gone.

In closing, saints of God, I just want to encourage you today by telling you that you honor your man of God by the level of your productivity. Nothing else will bring a smile to your elder’s and pastor’s face than seeing that you are producing to the level of grace that God has blessed you with. Reach out and make a difference in the life of others, participating in the building of God’s Kingdom. Learn to serve one another as God has called us to serve. These are the things that will honor your leaders; it’s not in what you say but in what you do. And remember that pastor or elder appreciation is not an event but an ATTITUDE, so show your pastor and elders that you have an attitude of God.

God bless you!

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Minister Darlingston Varr preached at the February 21, 2010, Appreciation Service for Elder Wil Draughn of Kingdom Come Ministries in Dumfries, Virginia. Contact Minister Varr at varrdarr@hotmail.com.

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Photo of Elder Wil Draughn

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$$$$MONEY MAKEOVER$$$$ Work, Give, Save and Spend. Be a generous giver who saves money and pays their bills on time.

Jesus Christ says in Matthew 22:21 (Amplified Bible), “. . . Pay therefore to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, and pay to God the things that are due to God.” Romans 13:7 (Amp) says,

“Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.” A spending plan is essential to everyday financial victory. Homework assignment: Buy a notebook. Use it to keep track of every

expense your family makes. Use the expense information collected and your income to create and to live by a balanced, realistic monthly spending plan. Over time financial victory will come.

“HEART & SOUL”

WHAT CONDITION IS YOUR HEART IN?

By Elect Lady Avis Hunter

Photo of Elect Lady Avis Hunter

The heart is a very vital part of the human’s mind, body and soul.

The condition of the heart is essential in people’s day-to-day living and in eternal life.

What are the definitions of “heart” in relationship to the mind, body and soul?

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(Mind) capacity for sympathy, feeling and affection: His heart moved him to help the needy; the center of the total personality, especially with reference to intuition, feeling or emotion: In your heart you know I'm an honest man; love (affection): the child won his heart.

(Body) anatomy: a hollow, muscular, pump-like organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins into the arteries, thereby supplying the entire circulatory system.

(Soul) spirit, courage or enthusiasm: His heart sank when he walked into the room and saw their gloomy face; the vital or essential part of one’s being, emotions and sensibilities; core: the heart of the matter. The principle of life, feeling, thought and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part; the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.

MIND – What we feel and think affects our heart and soul (spirit). What’s on our mind rests in our heart. If our mindset is set on God’s righteousness, we please our Heavenly Father. The Bible says “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” – Matthew 5:8 (King James Version Bible). Jesus Christ preached these words to a multitude of people within His Sermon on the Mount. Why? The condition of our heart is important to our salvation. Since our heart and mind are naturally full of evil thinking God causes people to repent of their sins, and God gives people a new heart as part of the free gift of a now and eternal relationship with God (salvation). God is the parent of people’s salvation.

BODY – Caring for our physical body is very important in sustaining life. The body, mind and soul are interconnected. We have to do a variety of things to maintain a healthy physical body. We must eat, drink, exercise, get enough sleep and live balanced lives full of wisdom. We shouldn’t eat an excessive amount of junk foods, become alcoholics or drug abusers or live with a lot of stress. These are just a few examples of things that hurt our body. We have to be mindful of what we do and what we put into our bodies because it has an impact on our overall health; and as Christians, our bodies no longer belong to just us; they belong to God - “….know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19 (KJV). Taking good care of your physical body is a form of worshipping God.

As important as the physical body is, exercising, eating properly and other physical training of the body should play a lesser role in life than mental and spiritual training. 1 Timothy 4:8 (New Living Translation) says, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

SOUL – Learn how to eat and digest the Word of God for good mental and soul (spiritual) health. Jesus tells us, “. . . It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” – Luke 4:4 (KJV). We feed our soul and mind by reading the Word of God, studying the Bible, meditating on the Bible, listening to the preached Word of God, attending Bible Study and Sunday School. These disciplines are mandatory for a healthy mind, body and soul.

God says about the heart-changing-process of salvation in Ezekiel 11:19 (KJV), “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh.” When God gives people a new heart, they should be taught to do what Romans 10:9 (KJV) says,

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“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Once a person has the heart of God living inside of them, it’s time for the Christian to participate with God in developing spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity involves thinking the thoughts of God and behaving like God which is counter cultural (against the world system). Romans 12:2 (KJV) reads – “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” A Christian who has the heart of God has the ability to choose to please God or not to please God. A Christian who chooses not to please God has a mindset that is not right; this Christian will experience heart failure.

Heart failure can cost individuals their physical life. The same holds true in the mental and spiritual realm. Therefore, we must check our hearts for abnormalities and malfunctions. What is pumping in and out of your heart? Is your heart filled with envy, jealousy, hatred, malice, unforgivingness, slander, negativity, lust, ungodly fear, bitterness or any other evil? God desires for our heart to be filled with love, joy, kindness, compassion, encouragement, forgiveness, peace, positive thinking, righteousness, honesty and all other good things. All of us should simply ask God daily, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” – Psalm 51:10 (KJV).

Some people are heartbroken. Being heartbroken is usually caused by one or many broken relationships. Brokenness may have derived from unfaithfulness, separation, divorce, physical and emotional abuse, lies, deception, lust, unworthiness, etc. The Word of God reminds us, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength” – Proverbs 17:22 (NLT). A broken heart is not of God. God’s prescription for this ailment – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” – Isaiah 26:3 (KJV). God heals us through our mindset of seeking and trusting God.

In closing my brothers and sisters, I pray you will examine your heart often for abnormalities. Make sure that you first seek God and then cooperate with Him to do things to prevent heart attacks, heart disease, heartache or any type of heart failure. A healthy heart is the key to longer life, now and forevermore. God is concerned about the state of your heart, so you too should be concerned. May God bless you with a healthy mind, body and soul.

God Bless,

Elect Lady Avis Hunter

*To receive the God-designed benefit of reading, listening to, studying and meditating on the Bible and taking Bible classes, God has to call you into relationship with Him. Are you saved? Do you have an eternal relationship with God? If not, revisit the mind and soul section of this article; and read the following two articles on salvation.

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Elect Lady Avis Hunter is the wife of Pastor Charles Hunter of Kingdom Come Ministries in Dumfries, Virginia. She heads the Women’s Wellness Ministry and contributes to Hospitality Ministry, Real Life Faith Magazine, Transportation Ministry and wherever she is needed. She loves serving the Lord and His people via her God-given gifts and talents. She is a mother and a very proud grandmother. Family is very important to her!

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WHAT DOES “I AM SAVED” MEAN?

S Salvation -- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin is doing things contrary to the will of God.

Since God is perfect His will produces freedom now and forever. Not following God’s will produces bondage. All human beings have experienced bondage to sin from which they are completely unable to escape. Human beings are sinners in need of a Savior from sin (Romans 6:23 and John 8:34).

A All the work of salvation is done by God and freely offered. God has to choose and change you before you

choose Him. You cannot be good enough, smart enough or do works of any kind to enter into a relationship with God. As a consequence of this relationship, you escape the wrath and judgment God has regarding sin; and God never leaves you (Romans 3:23, Romans 9, John 6:44, John 15:16 and Isaiah 64:6).

L Love -- No one loves God before He calls a person into relationship with Him. God first loves those He chooses

to have an eternal relationship with Him and gives these people the desire and ability to love Him. In this earthly life God is maturing these people for marriage in heaven (Psalm 14, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:19 and Revelation 19).

V Victory -- Jesus Christ defeated the devil who is the enemy of God and people. God the Father gave Jesus a

bride (those human beings He has a relationship with) before the foundation of this earth for a relationship that starts on earth and will be consummated in heaven. The devil tried to stop the wedding, but God got the victory over him (John 10, Matthew 28, Romans 8:29-31 and 1 Corinthians 15:52-57).

A Awful -- God thinks sin is awful. God thinks sin is so bad that it requires a sinless, blood sacrifice as payment

for the consequences of the sins of His bride (Hebrews 9 and Hebrews 10).

T Truth -- The truth is that the only human in all creation found without sin is the God/man Jesus Christ because

He is God the Father’s only begotten Son born of the human, virgin Mary. Jesus went to the cross in Calvary, Israel, more than 2000 years ago as the sinless, blood sacrifice for the sins of His bride (Matthew 1, John 3, John 8 and Revelation 5). God is all relationships to Christians; He’s Husband, Father, Friend, Brother, Sister and Mother (1 Corinthians 8:6, Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:14, John 15:14-15 and Matthew 12:15).

I Idea -- It was God’s idea to make the bodies of His bride His temple. God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and

God the Holy Spirit live inside His bride. God is a multiple of one as in 1 X 1 X 1 = 1; and He is jealous for His bride; He shares her with no one; God protects her (1 Corinthians 3).

O Ordered -- As a bride of God, God is ordering sin out of your life and increasingly manifesting His holiness

through you. God wants total control of your life (Psalm 37:23).

N Never -- Most human beings will die. This is the first death. Yet the brides of God will never experience the

second death (commonly called “hell”) which is God’s wrath and judgment waiting for everyone who leaves this earthly life without a relationship with God and is one of the wages of sin. The bride will never cease to exist and will never leave the presence of God in paradise (Revelation 20:11-15 and Romans 6:23).

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PRAYER OF SALVATION

(IF GOD IS ASKING FOR YOU, ANSWER HIM AFFIRMATIVELY.)

IF YOU HAVE NEVER TALKED TO GOD AND SAID SOMETHING LIKE THE FOLLOWING, PLEASE DO SO SINCERELY TODAY. “GOD THE FATHER, I AM TALKING TO YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. SALVATION EXISTS IN NO OTHER NAME BUT THE NAME OF JESUS. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AND COMPELLING ME INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR

SENDING GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CONVICT ME OF MY SINS AGAINST YOU, TO SHOW ME THAT I NEED YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS APPLIED TO MY LIFE AND TO WARN ME OF YOUR WRATH AND

JUDGMENT OF SIN ENDING IN ETERNAL DEATH.

THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME SO MUCH THAT YOU SENT YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON JESUS CHRIST TO PAY THE PENALTY OF MY SIN AND TO PROVIDE A WAY FOR YOU AND I TO HAVE A

RELATIONSHIP. PSALM 14 AND ROMANS 3 SAY THAT I AM NOT GOOD, WISE OR ABLE IN ANYWAY TO SEEK AFTER YOU AND SAVE MYSELF. THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR SAVING ME THROUGH THE WORK JESUS CHRIST DID DYING ON THE CROSS FOR ME, BEARING ALL OF MY SINS, PAYING THE PRICE FOR THEM AND PROVIDING A WAY FOR YOU TO LOOK AT IMPERFECT ME BY FIRST SEEING

THE PERFECT ONE, JESUS.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FAITH IN ME. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART AND CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR,THAT YOU RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, THAT

HE IS ALIVE TODAY, THAT YOU HAVE FORGIVEN ME FOR MY SINS, THAT I AM SAVED FROM YOUR WRATH AND JUDGEMENT OF SIN AND THAT I WILL SPEND NOW AND ETERNITY WITH YOU.

THANK YOU, FATHER. THANK YOU FATHER, FOR GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO NOW GIVES ME DAILY POWER TO LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND WAYS AND TO BE A WITNESS TO YOU IN

THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME FOREVER, FOR NEVER LEAVING ME ALONE, FOR LIBERATING ME TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE NOW AND FOREVER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO ME

OR WHAT I DO, YOU WILL NEVER FORSAKE ME. LET ME NOT TAKE YOUR GOODNESS FOR GRANTED. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL BE CHALLENGING AND CHANGING ME INTO YOUR

LIKENESS, THAT I WILL BE PROGRESSING IN THIS LIFE AND FULLY MADE PERFECT IN THE NEXT LIFE, AND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP MY LIFE TO LIVE FOR YOUR WILL AND WAYS. I COMMIT

MYSELF DAILY BY RELYING ON YOU TO TALKING TO YOU, READING, STUDYING AND MEDITATING ON YOUR WORD THE BIBLE AND LIVING ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD IN A WAY THE

PENETRATES EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GOODNESS! IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.”

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Offense Management Bible Study

By Real Life Faith Magazine Editor Michele Jackson

Photo of Real Life Faith Magazine Editor Michele Jackson

God seeks to penetrate every area of our lives. The Christian lives with no separation between the secular and the spiritual. God is developing us from being newly born again of the Holy Spirit into spiritual maturity. One aspect of spiritual maturity is the management of anger, hurt and other negative feelings when someone offends us.

Christians will experience offense, but God has called us to avoid acting out in sin. The Bible has a prescription for avoiding acting out in sin.

1). As Christians we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us. The Holy Spirit has given us the fruit of self-control. So control what you are thinking about. If you are meditating on things that upset you, stop it; switch to meditating on positive thoughts. Meditating on the negative causes us to magnify the bad instead of magnifying the blessings God puts in our lives and can cause us to act badly. Examine your expectations of people and things. Are your expectations realistic? Read Philippians 4:8 (Amplified Bible) which says, “For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”

2). If you do not cooperate with the Holy Spirit to operate in self-control, your anger, hurt or other negative feeling will come out not only against the person who offends you but also against other people and things. Practice controlling what you say to people. Have you ever been angry at someone, and because you are angry with them, you start finding a whole bunch of little things about them to criticize? Instead of a critical mouth, develop a mouth that seeks to compliment other people truthfully. Read 1 Peter 4:8 (Amp) which says, “Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].” Covering

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sin is not the same as cooperating with sin. For example if someone is compelling you to lie, love compels you to tell the truth, have patience while God changes the heart of a liar and maintain a mind and mouth that focuses and speaks about the best parts of a person who is sinning. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Amp) which says, “Love endures long and is patient and kind; love is never envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].”

3). Consider keeping a journal of all the blessings of God. God encourages Christians to aggressively take steps to remember what He has done for us. Read Deuteronomy 4:9 (Amp) which says, “Only take heed, and guard your life diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your [mind and] heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your children’s children—”

4). When someone does something or says something that makes you angry, confront them close to the incident of offense. Don’t let anger and offense simmer and grow. Read Ephesians 4:26 (Amp) which says, “When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.”

5). Speak the truth in love using the Six-Step Offense-Management Technique. Check your tone and mannerism for loveliness. Read Ephesians 4:15 (New International Version) which says, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

Six-Step Offense-Management Technique:

(1) State your feelings. Example: Suppose a couple is separated, divorced or never-married, and they have children; and the mother is tardy in picking up children. The father could say: “I am really annoyed when you call me on Friday afternoon and say you can’t keep the kids this weekend.”

(2) State the behavior. Example: “I have a problem with the children’s visitation on weekends being changed or cancelled without adequate notice.”

(3) State the message you receive from the behavior. Example: “It says to me that my time is not valuable.”

(4) State the solution to stop the behavior. Example: “If you can’t keep them on your weekend, we need to talk about this on Monday. In the event that I have already made plans for the weekend, we can be assured that the kids are cared for. Maybe we can come up with an alternate plan.”

(5) Ask for cooperation in implementing the solution. Example: “Can we agree on this solution?”

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(6) Seek to seal the covenant by all parties agreeing to live out the solution. Example: Both people say, “Yes, I will call you on Mondays if I need to make an alternate plan.”

6). Notice that the father did not start being late for the mother to get vengeance on her for being late toward him. Vengeance belongs to God. An example of vengeance would be a father who makes late or no child support payments to get vengeance on the mother for her lateness problem. Read Romans 12:19 (Amp) which says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.”

7). Notice that the father did not go to other people bad-mouthing the mother about her lateness. He spoke directly to her. Slander, gossip and stirring up strife are ungodly. Read 2 Corinthians 12:20 (Amp) in which the Apostle Paul is saying to the Corinthian church, “For I am fearful that somehow or other I may come and find you not as I desire to find you, and that you may find me too not as you want to find me—that perhaps there may be factions (quarreling), jealousy, temper (wrath, intrigues, rivalry, divided loyalties), selfishness, whispering, gossip, arrogance (self-assertion), and disorder among you.” Read Proverbs 6:16-19 (Amp) which says, “These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.”

8). Notice that the father did not try to manipulate, force or intimidate the mother as techniques to change her lateness behavior. Read 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amp) which says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

9). Notice that the father did not judge or insult the mother. He did not call her names, swear at her or cuss her out. He made a simple factual statement about his feelings and her behavior. He says, “I am really annoyed when you call me on Friday afternoon and say you can’t keep the kids this weekend. I have a problem with the children’s visitation on weekends being changed or cancelled without adequate notice. It says to me that my time is not valuable.” Read Matthew 7:1 (Amp) which says, “DO NOT judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves.” Read Proverbs 12:16 (NIV) which says, “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks and insult.” Read Ephesians 4:29 (Amp) which says, “Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.”

10). Notice that the father does not remind the mother of past issues that cannot be changed. Instead he explains precisely what needs to happen to solve the offense from now on. He says, “If you can’t keep them on your weekend, we need to talk about this on Monday. In the event that I have already

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made plans for the weekend, we can be assured that the kids are cared for. Maybe we can come up with an alternate plan.”Once an issue is dealt with, get over it. Do not keep repeating the same offense to someone over and over again. Train your mind to forget and forgive the offense. Read Proverbs 17:9 (Amp) which says, “He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.” Read Luke 17:3 (Amp) which says, “Pay attention and always be on your guard [looking out for one another]. If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him.”

11). Notice that the father took the initiative to set up a covenant that binds both parties on the rules of behavior to avoid this conflict in a way that is not demanding but is respectful, peace-seeking, humble, in Spirit and in truth. He says, “If you can’t keep them on your weekend, we need to talk about this on Monday. In the event that I have already made plans for the weekend, we can be assured that the kids are cared for. Maybe we can come up with an alternate plan. Can we agree on this solution?”Read Proverbs 15:1 (Amp) which says, “A SOFT answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.”

12). Notice that when the father and the mother agree to call on Mondays if plans need to change, they have sealed a covenant that draws in God to maintain it. Read Matthew 18:19-20 (Amp) which says, “Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them.”

13). Offense management requires dying to self. The fleshly man wants to either avoid or attack people in conflicts instead of operating in humble assertiveness. Pray, fast and meditate on the Scriptures in this Bible study to handle offense better. Stop feeding offense by operating in patterns contrary to Bible lessons. Practice; practice; practice. The fleshly man dies by NOT feeding the fleshly appetites. Read Romans 8:5 (Amp) which says, “For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.”

14). Homework: Think of a conflict you had. Describe it. Use the six-step technique along with the other techniques in this Bible study to handle it.

Michele Jackson is a minister of Kingdom Come Ministries of Dumfries, Virginia. She is the editor of Real Life Faith Magazine. She teaches adult Sunday School and prepares Sunday Breakfast weekly. She maintains the church flower garden and inventory. She has a BA in Communication with a double major in Political Science and minors in International Studies and Spanish Language. She lives with her son, Rafael Fowler, in Woodbridge, Virginia.

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BLACK HISTORY FACTS 2/11/1989: Barbara Clementine Harris was consecrated as a bishop. She is the first woman to be ordained to the episcopate in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

2/20/1885: The North Carolina General Assembly incorporated the town of Princeville, NC. Princeville is the oldest Black incorporated town in the US.

8/30/1856: Wilberforce University, the oldest private, historically black university in the United States, was founded. The university was named after abolitionist William Wilberforce who was key to overturning slavery in England.

March Winds By Rhoda Herring Dent

Photo of Christian Author Rhonda Herring Dent

On the average, March is known for being the windiest month in the year. I am sure many are familiar with the phrase “March Winds.” It is no coincidence that the windiest month comes during the month transitioning from winter to spring. The contrast between cold and warm air causes pressure. When a difference in pressure exists the air is accelerated from a higher to a lower pressure. Pressure is the weight of the air above a given location. High pressure causes the air to sink and low pressure causes air to rise. When the air lowers to the ground and has nowhere else to go it spreads out horizontally and replaces the air that is rising and begins to move across the earth's surface in a form called wind. The greater the difference between areas of high and low pressure and the shorter the distance over which the pressure changes the harder the wind blows.

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The wind has always amazed me and is somewhat of a mystery because although we know it exists we cannot see it. We can feel the slight touch of the wind brush against our skin or see the slight sway of a leaf or bush that has succumbed to the affects of a gentle wind. We can also see the effects of that same gentle wind in its strongest form and experience the devastating effects of a tornado or hurricane. Even still, in its strongest form the wind can assist in carving structures by movement of erosion. Strong winds and water have formed some of the exquisite natural wonders of the world, such as the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire and the Queen Head in Taiwan. The wind is amazing. The wind changes structures by wearing off the weaker parts; some structures are changed by gentle winds and other structures are changed by strong winds. The Holy Spirit is the wind changing the weaker parts of our nature into the strength of God expressed in qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Man cannot govern the movement of the wind. The wind blows where it wants; we can hear the sound of it, and see its affect on people and things to let us know that it is present. The wind reminds me of the Scriptures in John 3:5-8 (New King James Version Bible), “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Like the wind, God the Holy Spirit is not usually seen, but the results of receiving the Spirit can be seen. We can easily see the effects of the Spirit’s transforming work in our lives and in the lives of others. The Spirit desires to live and flourish in a vessel that bends and yields to His presence. However, the Spirit also lives in vessels that at times oppose His work. God uses the gentle wind to change the yielded vessel. Sometimes God has to use strong wind to change an opposing vessel. The Spirit's work is sovereign, and He touches whom He will and cultivates gifts as He transforms individuals. He is the same wind that the disciples experienced on the day of Pentecost. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting" (Acts 2:1-2, King James Version Bible).

During my journey as a Christian I have learned many ways in which the Spirit has worked in my life. My experiences have given me a better understanding of how the refreshing wind of the Holy Spirit can guide my heart and mind. As we continue on the journey set before us as Christians our experiences should teach us that we cannot govern the wind of the Holy Spirit any more than we can govern the wind that blows upon the earth. The wind of the Holy Spirit is constantly guiding, directing and seeking to do a perfect work in us. The wind of the Holy Spirit quickens our spirit when we are wrong, speak wrongly and when we do not demonstrate love in everything we do and the way we live. He gently guides us, so that we will do the things and live the life that God wants us to live. When we relinquish our attempt to govern the wind of the Spirit, He will then become our leader, and we will become His follower. In the same way, with our faith and trust in God, we can live our lives with the expectation that we will experience the good effects of the wind of the Spirit who lives in each believer. Allow the Spirit to bring a cool refreshing breeze that produces a calm that fills our souls with the longing to become more like Jesus. As we submit to the calming Spirit and the gentle whisper of the wind within us, He will make something beautiful of our lives. He will impart a crisp, clean and sensitive desire in us to seek the

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things of God and to seek His Word. The Spirit is like a cool breeze that comforts and refreshes us like a refreshing drink of well water on a hot summer day.

When March winds toss us to and fro there is a secret place we can go to find refuge from the strong winds. The refuge we must seek is in the face of our Father. We must also look to Jesus and the Spirit who is called the Comforter. Jesus is the gift from our Father, and the Comforter is the gift from Jesus. When we receive the precious gift from Jesus and bend to the gentle breeze of the Spirit a time of refreshing will come. “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen” (Ephesians 6:24, KJV). Until next time, be blessed!

Rhonda Herring Dent

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Rhonda Herring Dent holds a BS Degree in Business Administration, majoring in Accounting, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. She is a Christian author, and her first book, Ever Changing, was published in June 2009. Contact her via her website www.e-rhonda.net or at her email address everchanging@e-rhonda.net.

FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PUZZLE

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL

S T V H L S E L F N M O L D G H K A W V B N P O P J O P J O E W S A F G H J L O V B N N X A S D A N B N M F K L S E I R V E D O O G O O T D F U T L L H J O L L F Y T T I B N T O D T A L R T R I U S T K I N D O L F D H S V B N X N X C V J M E S Q T H P S S N T B O H F H G R O N E N M O S N T O U G K S E M O E O J V U P W V B F S X Y R W S A E I L I S S A P W T U A E U A T V H A L S E J K E A T O N T E E C W G S A L M T T R M S I Z O N C X E R R D E B M N R H C U N B W K I L G B T M P T Y M W T N Z X R T E E T G E L H J K E M D W H T Y J L D N E M G E R T L Y H S E S D K L N Z W T F Y Q B N O S E F C Y H O T T S C P O F A I C D F F U A I M C S A R Y O F T B N C V E V A N T L E A M P L O F F G J O V N O X T Y E X O O M T Y X D N M Q Z N P L P L O V S M W T R V G O O D N E S S S T V L S E E B Z V B N G T Y K L Z A Q F G N K P A E I D E R S T R G T K L S I Y O U A W C G T S E F T J M L A C S

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MISSING THE MARK

by ATToRNEy KARMEN A. booKER

Photo of Attorney Karmen A. Booker

The Greek verb for sin is “harmartano,” and it means to miss the mark; to not share in the prize; to err due to faults; to offend; to trespass. The Hebrew verb for sin is “chata,” and it means to miss; to forfeit; to lack; to cause to lead astray. When people sin, they miss the mark. That is, they miss the blessings of love, joy, peace and fulfillment that come with obeying God’s Word. In 2 Timothy 3:16 (King James Version Bible) it says that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Therefore, the Word of God is your Instruction Book for Life. It leads and guides you along life’s journey. Psalm 119:105 (KJV) says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” The key to this powerful Instruction Book for Life is that you must have faith in the Bible. Faith means more than just believing. It means totally trusting, depending upon and being confident (assured) of the Word of God. In John 1:1-4 (KJV) it says that “In the beginning was

the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

God admonishes us to love the Lord (Word) with all your heart, mind and soul. We show that we love the Lord (Word) by obeying it. Deuteronomy 30:2 (Amplified Bible) says, “. . . obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being.” We should not just be hearers of the Word, but doers also, according to James 1:22.

When you obey the Word of God, you live a life of prosperity, good success and wisdom. Joshua 1:8 (Amp) says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart out of my mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your

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way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.” Matthew 7:24 (Amp) says, “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who builds his house upon the rock.”

Another key to the Instruction Book of Life having operation in your life and yielding results is to deny your will and emotions. You must deny your desires, such as to sleep in rather than go to church. You must deny your emotions, such as to maintain anger rather than forgive. You must deny your will, such as to work a job, rather than start the business God wants you to start. Make a decision to follow God’s will.

God’s will is that you deny the self life – self seeking, self pleasing, self confidence and selfishness. You must be liberated from the self life. Only then will you be able to experience the fullness of God – the abundant life that comes from reading, studying, meditating and applying the Word of God in your life. This pleases and glorifies God.

The denial of self is a daily process that requires a daily decision of denying self and accepting God’s will for your life. Your life will be constantly renewed (changed) to conform to God’s way (attitude, emotions and actions) of living. As your mind is renewed and your actions conformed to the Word of God, then you will experience love, joy, peace and good success.

God desires for His children to enjoy life on an ongoing basis. God doesn’t just want us to enjoy life for 3 years, 5 years or 10 years, but He wants us to enjoy life continually. In John 10:10 Jesus Christ, the God/Man, (Amp) says, “. . . I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” Psalm 28:7-8 (Amp) says, “The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. The Lord is their [unyielding] Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to [me] His anointed.” Even when we go through hard times, God wants us to enjoy life. Romans 5:3-5 (Amp) says, “Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswering endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________Karmen A. Booker is a business attorney that specializes in 501(c)(3) tax exemption applications, corporate, limited liability company, and nonprofit entity formations, copyright registration, trademark search and registration, writing business plans and contracts, asset protection and estate planning services. She is also the founder of Wings of Love Ministries (WOLM), which is a teaching and evangelism ministry whose vision is to encourage and to inspire people to accept and to commit their lives to Jesus Christ, so their lives will be transformed into righteousness; and they will experience unceasing love, joy and peace. Contact her at wingsoflove8@yahoo.com to receive a copy of her product catalog, and visit her website at www.compuperfect.net.

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MATCH THE WORDS TO THE BIBLE VERSES EXAMPLE: Draw a line connecting the words “Meditate on it day and night” with the Bible verse Joshua 1:8.

Meditate on it day and night John 1:1 Pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswering endurance

Matthew 7:24

A sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who builds his house upon the rock

2 Timothy 3:16

In the beginning was the Word Deuteronomy 30:2 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet Joshua 1:8 Obey His voice Psalm 119:105 All scripture is given by inspiration of God Romans 5:3

Life Matters

By Sally Williams, Founder and President of Urban Life Matters

Photo of Sally Williams, Founder and President of Urban Life Matters

Over nine years ago, I made the decision to abort my baby. I grew up in a Christian home, was the youth department president at my church and was highly respected by my pastor and elders. However, while in the church and in a leadership role I was involved in a sexual relationship with my boyfriend. I became pregnant and my boyfriend and I decided that abortion was the answer to an unwanted pregnancy. I knew abortion was wrong, but I didn’t know enough about life to say “no” to abortion.

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Where Were the Answers? When I had my abortion, there was so much I did not know. Why hadn’t anyone told me exactly what I was doing and the consequences of my decision? Although I didn’t have the answers then, God has led me to the knowledge and the truth. Five years ago God confronted me with the sin of abortion, and He has forgiven me and set me free from the horrific crime I did to my baby girl. God has also called me to educate those that are considering abortion, to be a listening ear and a shoulder for both women and men to cry on who had abortions and lead them to healing and to raise the awareness of abortions in African American communities in a loving and compassionate way.

The Impact of Abortion Did you know that the Guttmacher Institute reports that nearly 14 million African American babies have died from abortion since abortion was made legal in 1973? Have you ever really thought about what that means to our world? Nearly 14 million people that God created for a purpose are “missing in action” from our society. Along with these 14 million babies are 28 million men and women (the parents) who are wounded from the loss of these babies whether they acknowledge the wounds from the loss or not. These babies are missing from our lives physically, but mentally and spiritually they are still active in our lives. I thought that after I walked out of that abortion clinic that all of my problems from this unwanted pregnancy would be over. However, the reality is that the baby never went away; yes, physically the baby is dead, but mentally and spiritually my child still lives with me. I still see her growing through the stages of her life. I did not know that after an abortion both women and men may experience stress, regret, depression, guilt, suicidal thoughts, relationship problems, anxiety, anniversary grief, unforgivingness and other mental health issues and spiritual issues. If you have experienced an abortion, God loves you. He wants you to confess your sins, repent, receive his forgiveness and forgive yourself. The same God that has set me free can set you free. God has great work for you to do. Become educated about abortion. Hosea 4:6 (King James Version Bible) says, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge . . .” Abortion is killing a baby. When I had my abortion I did not know anything about fetal development. I did not know that at 22 days after conception a heart is beating with the child’s own blood; at eight weeks the baby has every organ, bones begin to replace cartilage, fingerprints begin to form and the baby can hear; at 12 weeks the baby’s body has all the parts necessary to experience pain including nerves, spinal cord and thalamus. At 12 weeks the baby also has vocal cords and can suck her thumb. I did not know what the Bible says about life and what God says about His human creation.

What Does God Say? Proverbs 24:11-12 (New International Version Bible) says, “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?” Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

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Psalms 139:13-16 (NIV) says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalms 127:3 (New Living Translation Bible) says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV) says, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” Exodus 4:11 (NIV) says, “The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” Matthew 18:14 (NIV) says, “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” Proverbs 6:16-19 (KJV) says, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Life – predestined, purposeful and precious Abortion not only kills a baby; it harms the baby’s family and other people. I did not know that my decision to abort would hurt others. One day my mother asked me, “How old would the child (her grandchild) be?” I thought to myself, this wasn’t just my baby; it was my mom’s and dad’s granddaughter, my sister’s and brother’s niece, my niece’s and nephew’s cousin, somebody’s friend, somebody’s wife and most importantly God’s vessel created with purpose. In the Bible book of Genesis, chapter 25, verse 23, we see that many others are affected by a baby when God said that Rebekah had two nations in her womb. The large number of abortions in the United States has killed nations. The following facts numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 come from the Guttmacher Institute report “Trends in the Characteristics of Women Obtaining Abortion” (1974-2004) and fact number 4 comes from the U.S. Census Bureau:

Fact #1: Thirty-seven percent of abortions in the U.S. are performed on Black women, but Black people only make up 12% of the population.

Fact #2: Black women have the highest rates of abortion at 50 terminated pregnancies out of 1000 (White women 11 in 1000, Hispanic women 28 in 1000).

Fact #3: Since the legalization of Roe vs. Wade in 1973, nearly a quarter of all pregnancies in the U.S. have ended in abortion.

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Fact #4: The U.S. Census Bureau released reports tracking population growth from 1900 to 2000. The population has steadily increased since 1900, but the rate of the White and the non-Black minority population has grown most significantly. With varying reasons for population growth and stagnation within the Black community, Black abortions may have a significant impact.

Fact #5: Nearly 14 million Black pregnancies have ended in abortion since 1973.

Fact #6: Although the number of abortions has decreased in the last decade, abortion is still significantly high for women in poor economic conditions.

Fact #7: Nearly 25% of all abortions are done because women say they cannot afford another responsibility.

Fact #8: Blacks have a higher pregnancy rate than Whites, but at least 70% of pregnancies are unintended.

Fact #9: Forty-two percent of America’s 3.1 million pregnancies per year end in abortion.

Fact #10: Most Planned Parenthood clinics and abortion facilities are located in low-income and urban communities where the population is predominantly Black and Hispanic.

Why Are So Many Having Abortions? People are not planning parenthood. Many unplanned pregnancies are “resolved” by abortion. Abortion is being used as a form of birth control, especially among those living in poor economic conditions. Abortion has killed more Black people than AIDS, cancer and heart disease combined since 1973. In the early 1900s those promoting contraceptives and abortion had a racist agenda. Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood (originally called the American Birth Control League), said in 1922 in the publication Woman, Morality, and Birth Control, “Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.” Sanger wrote in a letter to Dr. Clarence J. Gamble dated December 10, 1939 that, “The minister’s work is also important and also he should be trained, perhaps by the Federation as to our ideals and goals that we hope to reach. We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population… and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.” Let’s not help Planned Parenthood and their kind kill people. If you have experienced an abortion, God loves you. He wants you to confess your sin, repent, receive His forgiveness and forgive yourself. The same God that has set me free can set you free. God has great work for you to do. Surrender to God, and let’s see the way He sets you up to help others.

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Sally Williams is Founder and President of Urban Life Matters, which is a global organization based in Indianapolis, Indiana, dedicated to raising awareness, facilitating healing and celebrating life values within urban communities. She is an ordained evangelist. Sally is available for speaking engagements and trainings. Visit her website www.urbanlifematters.com or send an email message to sally@urbanlifematters.com.

BIBLE TRIVIA JANUARY 2010 ANSWERS

(VERSES ARE FROM THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE).

What was the name of the Christian faith before it was called Christianity?

THE WAY (ACTS 19:23, ACTS 22:4 AND ACTS 24:14).

True or False. One of Jesus’ brothers was named Judas?

TRUE (MARK 6:3).

Name the city that Lot, his wife and two daughters first take refuge in after leaving Sodom.

ZOAR (GENESIS 19:16-23).

True or False. Edom, the nation of the descendants of Esau, is a current nation of Arabs?

FALSE. THE BIBLE SAYS EDOM WAS TO BE DESTROYED. (ISAIAH 34, JEREMIAH 49:7-22,

EZEKIEL 25:12-14, EZEKIEL 35:1-15 AND BOOK OF OBADIAH. HISTORIAN JOSHEPHUS

SAYS EDOM CEASED TO EXIST IN A.D. 70. SEE THE ARTICLE “EDOM IN BIBLE PROPHECY”

http://WWW.THOMASWILLIAMSON.NET/EDOM.HTM).

True or False. God describes Israel as his seventh-born son?

FALSE. HE DESCRIBES ISRAEL AS HIS FIRSTBORN SON (EXODUS 4:22).

Who is Shear-jashub?

HE IS A SON OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH, AND HIS NAME MEANS A REMNANT WILL

RETURN (ISAIAH 7:3).

True or False. In Asia miracles were done where handkerchiefs which had touched Paul’s skin were put on the sick, and their diseases left them, and also put on people with evil spirits, and the evil spirits came out of them?

TRUE (ACTS 19:10-12).

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Was it true or false when the Pharisees said in John 7:52 that the Scriptures say that no prophet comes from or will rise to prominence from Galilee?

IT IS FALSE. ISAIAH PROPHEZIED IN ISAIAH 9:1-2 (AMP), “BUT [IN THE MIDST OF

JUDGMENT THERE IS THE PROMISE AND THE CERTAINTY OF THE LORD’S DELIVERANCE

AND] THERE SHALL BE NO GLOOM FOR HER WHO WAS IN ANGUISH. IN THE FORMER

TIME [THE LORD] BROUGHT INTO COMTEMPT THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF

NAPHTALI, BUT IN THE LATTER TIME HE WILL MAKE IT GLORIOUS, BY WAY OF THE SEA

[OF GALILEE, THE LAND] BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE NATIONS. THE PEOPLE

WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT; THOSE WHO DWELT IN THE

LAND OF INTENSE DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM HAS THE

LIGHT SHINED.”

On the first day of the second month of the second year that the Israelites left Egyptian slavery, the Lord told Moses to take a census of all the male Israelites. Name the tribe of the twelve tribes that had the largest number of men?

JUDAH HAD THE LARGEST NUMBER OF MEN; JUDAH HAD 74,600 (NUMBERS 1:27).

How many days did the Israelites mourn the death of Aaron, the brother of Moses?

30 DAYS (NUMBERS 20:29).

True or False. Isaiah prophesized that the nation Israel would be formed in one day?

TRUE (ISAIAH 66:8). THE MODERN NATION OF ISRAEL WAS FORMED WHEN ON MAY 14,

1948 GREAT BRITAIN WITHDREW HER MANDATE OVER WHAT WAS THEN PALESTINE,

AND IMMEDIATELY ISRAEL WAS DECLARED A SOVEREIGN STATE. ISRAEL HAD NOT

BEEN A STATE FOR MORE THAN 2,000 YEARS.

True or False. God describes Nebuchadrezzar, a king of Babylon, as a king of kings?

TRUE (EZEKIEL 26:7).

True or False. Moses uses the word “Satan”?

FALSE. MOSES USES WORDS LIKE “SERPENT” TO DESCRIBE SATAN, BUT HE DOES NOT

USE THE WORD SATAN (GENESIS 3 AND NUMBERS 21).

True or False. Noah was a woman?

TRUE. THERE IS A NOAH WHO WAS THE DAUGHTER OF ZELOPHEHAD (NUMBERS 26:33).

True or False. God told Joshua to keep on his shoes because Joshua was on holy ground?

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FALSE. THE PRINCE OF THE LORD’S HOST TOLD JOSHUA TO TAKE OFF HIS SHOES

BECAUSE HE WAS ON ONLY GROUND (JOSHUA 5:15).

Be Careful How You Lay Your Hands on People

By Prophetess Diane L. Garrett

Photo of Prophetess Diane L. Garrett

1 Timothy 5:22 (King James Version Bible) says, “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” This sentence contains three separate, but interconnected parts: (1) lay hands suddenly on no man; (2) neither be partaker of other men’s sins; and (3) keep thyself pure. If a person lays hands on another person, the person laying hands is able to partake of the other person’s sins, and thereby compromise their purity. This happens when a person lays hands on another person; the other person is delivered from sin, but the person laying hands comes under spiritual attack. Before laying hands on someone, make sure that God the Father has applied the blood of God the Son Jesus Christ to your life; are you saved?; do you have eternal life? The seven sons of the Jewish Chief Priest Sceva went around trying to lay hands on people and cast out demons, but they came under spiritual attack because the blood of Jesus Christ had not been applied to their lives; God did not have a relationship with them whereby their sins were forgiven because of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on a cross more than 2,000 years ago in Calvary, Israel, subsequent resurrection from the dead three days later, and release of God the Holy Spirit to empower those whom God chose before the foundation of the world to live eternally with God (Christians). Acts 19:15-16 (KJV) records how a demon (evil spirit) responded to those laying hands on others without first being covered by the blood of Jesus; “And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

God uses pastors, those in the healing ministry and other Christians to lay hands on people as a means for God to deliver a person from sin. Yes, God uses lay people for healing. Mark 16:17-18 (KJV) says of all Christians, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not

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hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” The enemy, Satan, would love to bring into bondage those whom God is using to bring liberty (healing) to others. Satan seeks for Christians to be partakers in sin. However, 1 Timothy 5:22 (KJV) counsels, “. . . neither be partaker of other men’s sins . . .” The word “partake” means to take or have a part, to share, to participate, to take or be given part or portion and to have part of the quality, nature or character of something. For example, if a Christian lays hands on someone who is participating in sexual relations outside of marriage, Satan or his demons may try to tempt that Christian with fornication or adultery. Remind Satan and his demons of the blood of Jesus Christ which continuously gives Christians the purifying power of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation to sin.

When a Christian lay person or minister lays hands on a person the Christian often does not know much about the person. Pray and fast before laying hands on people. A hierarchy of demons exists. The person who you are laying hands on may have a demon that does not come out except by prayer and fasting. This is the kind of demon that Jesus and the twelve apostles encountered in Matthew 17. The twelve apostles were perplexed as to why they could not cast out the demon, so they asked Jesus Christ, whose name is also Yahu’shua (God is salvation). Jesus says in Matthew 17:21 (KJV), “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Christians, make prayer a way of life and fasting a regular practice, so that you are prepared to lay hands on people at all times. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) says, “Pray without ceasing.” Jesus says fasting is a regular feature of Christian’s life when He says in Matthew 6:16 (KJV) “Moreover when ye fast . . .” The bold text is my emphasis.

Prayer and fasting connect us with God who is pure. Some of the meanings for the word “pure” are having a homogeneous or uniform composition, free from adulterants or impurities, free of dirt, defilement or pollution, containing nothing inappropriate or extraneous, having no faults, sinless. 1 Timothy 5:22 (King James Version Bible) says, “. . . keep thyself pure.” Christians, cooperate with God to allow His purity to come out of you, to cover you, to cover your ministry and to stop the transference of sin and defilement from the enemy. Christians laying hands on people are doing a good work. Practice these teachings, and do not allow the enemy to insert himself in your good works.

Prophetess Diane L. Garrett is the senior pastor of Light of Life Ministry Outreach Center in Sacramento, California. Please contact her at prophetessdiane@gmail.com.

LOVE LIFESTYLE:

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on

people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find

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life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets

generosity," Luke 6:37-38 (The Message Bible).

KINGDOM COME MINISTRIES

PASTOR CHARLES HUNTER

PHONE: (703) 868-1142, EMAIL ADDRESS: PASTORHUNTERKCM@AOL.COM

WWW.REALLIFEFAITHMAGAZINE.COM

CHURCH LOCATION: 17832 Jefferson Davis Highway (Route 1), Dumfries, VA 22026

ADDRESS FOR DONATIONS: P.O. Box 1112, Dumfries, VA 22025

MINISTRIES: Sunday Prayer (at 9:00 a.m.), Sunday Breakfast (at 9:30 a.m.), Sunday School (at 10:00 a.m.), Worship Service (at 11:00 a.m.), Wednesday Bible Study (at 7:00 p.m.), Women’s Wellness, Transportation, Real Life Faith Magazine, Youth Ministry, Hospitality and Grounds.

VISION STATEMENT: We provide the Community with a preaching and teaching Church that strives to help people of the Community grow to their full potential spiritually, mentally and socially.

Photo of Kingdom Come Church Home

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