April 2012

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

Color Him Bad! Financial Planning

A Note from the Editor

Thank you for taking the time to go inside God’s best. I pray that you find something inside that will uplift and inspire the NEW you. As we approach the end of the third month of this NEW YEAR are you on target for whatever goal you have set for yourself? Are you trying to shed those un-wanted holiday pounds or maybe your trying to manage your time wisely. I’m reminded of the scripture the that says, Be carful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known unto God. Philippians 4:6 KJV. It is His great pleasure in answering our request, but we must put in a little work ourselves. Faith without works is dead. So whether its shedding those pounds or time management it’s time to get moving on those things you have set out to do. Remember you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 NLT Again, thank you for taking the time to go inside. Dracy Lockett Publisher/Editor-in-Chief

Palace Living 5

Temple Up Keep 7

Kingdom Reads 8

The Truth About Relation-ships

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About My Father’s Business 11

Fashion 12

Let’s Break Bread 14

Making A Joyful Noise 16

Men’s Fashion 18

Contents

Financial Planning 19

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What do you see when you walk in your front door? Do you see a warm and beautifully main-tained area or do you see a hub of shoes, toys, clothes, car keys, school bags and other things kids and adults tend to shed off as soon as they get home? The hallway is a really impor-tant and often ignored part of the house. To get a sense of the impression it leaves, walk into your home with a critical eye. Consider your first impressions when you step inside and ask yourself if it’s time to revisit this neglected space. Create an Illusion of Space One of the key issues with hallways is the lack of space. There are many techniques that can help to create the illusion of a larger area. A basic solution to this is to get creative with mirrors. Try to keep the mirrors a reasonable size with a frame that doesn’t protrude too far off of the wall. Play with Paint Creative painting can turn a bland hallway into a decorative space and it is something you can explore yourself. Create a faux-marble floor, or use one of many techniques such as feathering, sponging and more to make the walls more playful. Add your own art stencils or decals. Regard-less of the decorative technique, keep in mind that you want to keep your colors light and bright to open up the space. Neutral tones work well to help blend into other areas of your home. Add a connected feeling by using a tone that is the same (or a shade lighter) as one of your main con-necting rooms. This alone will make a difference. Keep Storage as Storage If your hallway tends to become an automatic dumping ground for anything and everything, make sure to explore unique storage solu-tions. Keep shoes in wicker baskets under a bench. Make sure your closet is easy to work with, encouraging people to store their items inside. Have a small letter tray, or a key box by the door so that side tables don’t become cluttered. The key to creating hallway ambiance is to treat it as you would any room in your house. Keep it simple, elegant and functional and you’ll have created a wonderful, welcoming room.

Handling Hallway Décor!

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2 Corinthians 5:17(NKJV) says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” It’s time to walk in the “newness” of who you are. It’s time to live the change. Not just spiritually, but physically also. There are small changes that you can make, that will empower your body to exhibit the “new” you. According to Eating Well Magazine try these 3 Foods to Boost Your Mood: 1. Pick fruit, vegetables, fish and other whole foods. In a recent study of close to 3,500 men and women published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, those who reported eating a diet rich in whole foods in the previous year were less likely to report feel-ing depressed than those who ate lots of desserts, fried foods, processed meats, refined grains and high-fat dairy products. Previous studies have shown that antioxidants in fruits and vegetables and omega-3 fatty acids in fish are associated with lower risk of depression. Folate, a B vitamin found in dark green vegetables like spinach, beans and citrus, affects neurotransmitters that impact mood. It’s possible that the protective effect of the whole-food diet comes from a cumulative effect of these nutri-ents, says lead study author Tasnime N. Akbaraly, Ph.D. 2. Go ahead, order the bagel.

In a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, people who for a year followed a very-low-carbohydrate diet—which allowed only 20 to 40 grams of carbs daily, about the amount in just 1⁄2 cup of rice plus one piece of bread—experienced more depression, anxiety and anger than those assigned to a low-fat, high-carb diet that focused on low-fat dairy, whole grains ,fruit and beans. Researchers suspect that carbs promote the production of serotonin, a feel-good brain chemical. Also, the challenge of following such a restrictive low-carb diet for a full year may have negatively impacted mood, says study author Grant D. Brinkworth, Ph.D.

3. Have a little chocolate.

Eating dark chocolate (1.4 ounces of it,) every day for two weeks reduced stress hormones, including cortisol, in people who were highly stressed, a study done at the Nestlé Research Center in Switzer-land recently found. “Polyphenols (antioxidants) in chocolate, and also in fruits and vegetables, may have contributed to the changes [in stress] in this study,” explains Douglas G. Mashek, Ph.D., assis-tant professor at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. Psst: Be sure to account for the 235 calories that 1.4 ounces of chocolate delivers—or you may be stressed to see extra pounds creeping on.

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Heaven is for Real : A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back Now at first glance this title catches your attention. You yourself must stop and think yeah heaven is real. From all the publicity and talk shows, I had an inkling of what the book was about. The book is the accounts of a four year old near death experience. Where he meets Jesus and family members he had no prior knowledge of. Having 5 grandsons of my own ranging from 5-10 yrs of age I understand the appre-hension the parents must have felt as Colton unraveled his experience. He shared with them meeting his great- grandfather and his sister who was miscarried years before he was born. Colton goes on to explain that he saw angels and Jesus. This book is a light read less than 200 pages.

The Resolution for Men By Stephen and Alex Kendrick “A man cannot be passive about what the Scripture tells him to do for his family and expect to be found faithful to God in the end. He must see with spiritual eyes and realize that future generations are directly impacted by his daily decisions”. -The Resolution for Men

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We know that it is the Lord's will for people to have a mate if they desire one. In the beginning when

God created Adam, God Himself made this statement: "Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, completing) for him" (Genesis 2:18 Amplified).

The Lord wants to bring a mate to those who will ask Him and have the patience to wait for His choice. There are some single people who are constantly out looking for a mate, and they are miserable because God has not sent them one yet. They have prayed and prayed, yet they still have no mate. Some settle for Satan's provision instead of asking God for the pa-tience to wait for the one whom He would send. If they would look to Jesus and seek to please Him, rather than being concerned about a mate, soon they would find the right one crossing their path. Looking for a man or woman to just keep them from being lonely or just to fill their needs or to be a father or

mother to their children should not be the only reasons for desiring a mate. They also need to be con-cerned about what kind of husband or wife they would be for a mate. These single people are still much in the flesh if they just want their own needs met. They should ask the Lord to fill them with His love and peace. Being single is an important time to prepare us for marriage. It can also be a time to experience a closer communion with God. As we seek God to cleanse us of the world and help us become the kind of wife or husband that would bless someone, we will soon find that we are not lonely. First, the Lord would begin using us to bless others; then we will find we are content in Him. Eventually, in God's plan and timing, He will bless us with a wonderful mate so that both lives can be a witness for Him. We believe if a marriage cannot glorify the Lord, then it would be better to remain alone. There are worse things than being alone. One of these is to be out of God's will by compromising and marrying someone who does not feel the same way we do about the Lord. Marriage is the second major choice we make in our lives, and we should never enter into it without much prayer. To rush into a marriage can be disastrous. The most important decision of our lives, of course, is our decision to follow the Lord. This decision is not a one-time declaration, but a daily de-termination to follow Jesus above all. If we allow the emotional or soulish realm to dominate our lives we become more susceptible to the enemy leading us astray through someone. This area of the flesh should be brought under the Lord's subjection so that Satan does not get the advantage and con-sequently destroy our lives and ministries. So many have failed the Lord because they chose a man or woman over the Lord.

From the book Neither Male Nor Female by Betty Miller

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I’ve heard so much about this company within the last few months. So I thought I’d give it a “shout out” in this month’s issue.

Organo Gold is on a mission, spreading the knowledge of Gandomera to the four corners of the world. By using the cost effective network distribution system to deliver these Gandomera products, more of every dollar is shared with our growing Organo Gold family worldwide.

IGB and it’s partner’s are not responsible for the claims this product makes.

So many people are looking to add extra streams of income and this one seems to come along at the right time. Below you will find out a little about Organo Gold.

Think about your future. Where will you and your family be five years from now? You may know where you want to be, but do you know how your going to get there? Do you have a plan? Now more than ever it’s up to you to define you’re future. That’s where Organo Gold comes in the pic-ture.

Coffee is the second most consumed beverage on the planet after water. It’s the second most traded commodity after oil. People drink coffee all day, every day in almost every country around the world.

For more information about Organo Gold visit their website at www.organogold.com

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This is the year of the snap, crackle and pop! Yes! A pop of color is bursting from the runway like never before. The runway actually looks like a walking box of “skittles” or an arrangement of fresh fruit; Califor-nia oranges, lemons, limes and cher- ries; reds and cobalt blues like the ocean in the Caribbean. In order to be fashion forward this year, you must have confidence and plenty of it! No more just wearing black to be safe. Safety has taken a back seat and micro textures; silks, tie-dyes and lace have taken over. This is actually a reincarnation of the 60’s and 70’s. The greatest obstacle to beauty is the beast that hides behind the mirror and lurks in the shadows of your mind called self-consciousness. It speaks and whispers vicious untruths to make you weary in well doing. We must remember that Psalms 139:14 says, “I will praise you for I am fear-fully and wonderfully made, marvelous are your works and my soul knows very well.” We the people of God need only remember the word of God and not allow the beast to speak and eat us alive every time we try to cross the bridge to the other side where beauty really lies. So men and women of God, enjoy your new year and new look free from fear, free from shame, free from what others think about you. Don’t give in to the beast. Remember that you are fear-fully and wonderfully made in your spirit, your mind and body.

By Yalanda WilsonBy Yalanda WilsonBy Yalanda WilsonBy Yalanda Wilson

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As you walk in the beauty of holiness and the confidence that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you; be fashion examples to everyone who lays eyes on you remem-bering you are the only Jesus that the world will ever see. In your spirit, mind and body, see yourself as God sees you – perfect. And when the spirit of God is leading you, you instinctively and intuitively know what to say, what to do and what you should wear. Then your unique language of beauty will be displayed by your body de-sign pattern. In this process you will develop self-acceptance, balance and harmony. This will create and capture a visually pleasing relationship between you and your clothes. Now you are on your way to finding and creating your fashion and style personality type. Personality – an individual’s unique way of expression. Style – a way of dressing, speaking and acting. Trait – your individual preference; a distinguishing quality or an inherited char-acteristic. Personality and style are interdependent. The more you understand your person-ality and enhance your best qualities the better chance for creating and developing your per-sonal style or the style that exudes your own personal energy. Terms like natural, classic, dramatic, sporty, romantic and trendy are used to describe a range of fashion personality types. Discovering your fashion personality is the beginning to achieving amazing personal style. Men and women of God, thank God we made it to another glorious year – another chance to perfect our gifts and talents and pray through and walk out God’s plan for our lives. I am Chevelliea, owner and operator of Chevelliea’s Image Consulting. Chevelliea’s creates unique imaging that gives clientele that tangible connection to their personal style. It is my pleasure to share with you biblical truths and fashion élan (enthusiasm). Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Our beholder is God the Father and how He sees us should be most important.

Pictures from www.weconnectfashion.com

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On Milwaukee.com 2011 Award Winner: Best Brunch Blue’s Egg The menu at Blue’s Egg reflects the melting pot of the American culinary creation as seen through the eyes of Lady Liberty. Taking traditional old world ingredients and infusing fresh products and made-from-scratch techniques, France, Italy, England, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Scandinavia, Northern Africa and just a smattering of Asia are all represented on the Blue’s Egg menu. Take a look and you’ll find these aren’t necessarily traditional meals. Rather, Blue's menu blends the sim-plicity of old world ingredients, the timeless vision of immigrant cooking and the originality and sustain-ability of fresh concepts. While here at Blue’s we encourage you to embrace ancestral tradition with a relaxed meal, we also under-stand that often times, the rush of the typical day keeps you from sitting down to eat. Therefore, Blue’s offers either a full dining room experience or a carry-out counter for coffee and bakery. Whatever your inclination, you can grab something quick and basic or slow down for a meal that’s long and generous. In addition to serving fresh breakfast and lunch, we strive to be a great member of the community by sup-porting causes, organizations and individuals in the Milwaukee area. Each day at Blue’s, you can order the “Egg Plate” and know that one dollar will be donated to a monthly-changing, local organization. By re-maining sensitive to quality, value, service and the greater needs of the community, we strive to preserve the EGG: Everyone’s Good Graces We serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. In order to provide you with the best in food, beverages and atmos-phere, Blue’s is a smoke-free restaurant. Opened in July 2010, Blue’s Egg is owned by Dan Sidner and Executive Chef Joe Muench. A sister res-taurant to Maxie’s Southern Comfort, Blue’s urges you to dine with her during the day and then head just eight blocks east to meet us at Maxie’s for dinner. Our goal is to provide hospitality, vision and a slice of community every day. We look forward to serving you and getting to know you in the months and years to come. Cheers!

For more information about Blue’s Egg visit them at www.bluesegg.com. Photo by Maureen Post 14

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If you thought Christians listened to When the Saints Go Marching In to get in the mood, Bishop Jakes proves you WRONG again! To listen to a sample of “Sacred Love Songs 2” visit www.amazon.com

The 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards will take place April 19 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. The award show is produced by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) to offer the most comprehensive platform of music celebrating Christian and Gospel music. For more information visit www.doveawards.com

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Style / Men’s Fashion While women are enjoying a pop of color to their wardrobe this spring. Here are some rules to dress by for our brother’s in Christ!

Okay, so don’t let that POP of color be for the ladies only!

Walk-Over Derby 100 Grey Suede/Yellow Sole ($249; walkover.com)

Parisian Knot

The Parisian Knot is the most popular knot. Here’s how to tie a scarf in a Pari-sian knot. Take the scarf in both hands and fold it over lengthwise; drape it around your neck; insert the loose ends through the loop hanging in front of you and pull them through. You can play with the tautness of the knot and the thickness of the scarf by doubling lengthwise, if you wish.

1. Adding a Scarf gives you major cool points.

You won’t be mistaken for your father wearing these slim-fit sun-faded chino pants $125; repaired

sun-faded chino pant $165 (ralphlauren.com)

3. Not your father’s Khakis

Jimmy Choo is presented in canvas and luxurious mock croc leather ($295; jimmy-choo.com)

New Era Faux Snakeskin 59FIFTY Hat ($29.99; (New Era Flagship loca-tions)

2. Step up your shoe game

Take a walk on the wild side with unique finds in exotic Skins. Lay out the big bucks on the real thing, or try faux interpretations with subtle trim.

5. Color Him Bad!

There are a lot of cool bags out there from sleek duffels to chic back packs. 1.) Burberry Check Print Crossbody Bag; $695, 2.) Marc New York Vintage Leather Weekend Duffle Bag; $345, nordstorm.com, 3.) Canvas Utility Backpack ; $168 (ralphlauren.com)

4. Tote it in style

1. 2.

3.

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“and he replied to Ephron as everyone listened. “No, listen to me. I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.” Genesis 23:13 NLT If your loved one died right now what would you do? Do you know if they have a life insurance policy, burial plot, etc.? I know we don’t like to think about these things, but it’s a conversation that we should have with those we love. How many times have you seen or heard when someone dies that your local bank has set up a memorial fund? Would you know what to do if faced with having to bury your loved one? Financial planning is something that many of my friends my age were never taught. It was something that wasn’t discussed in our homes while growing up. Part of financial planning is life insurance. Not until I was a working adult and seeing so many of my friends having to plan and for most of them pay out of pocket to bury a loved one did I think about life insurance, burial plots, etc. Exactly what is life insurance? What’s the difference between Term and Whole Life Insurance? The basic difference between term and whole life insurance is this: A term policy is life coverage only. On the death of the in-sured it pays the face amount of the policy to the named benefici-ary. You can buy term for periods of one year to 30 years. Whole life insurance, on the other hand, combines a term policy with an investment component. The investment could be in bonds and money-market instruments or stocks. The policy builds cash value that you can borrow against. The three most common types of whole life insurance are traditional whole life policies, universal and variable. With both whole life and term, you can lock in the same monthly payment over the life of the policy. Whole life insurance is expensive: You're paying not only for

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insurance but also for the investment portion. That extra cost might almost be worth it if these policies were a good investment vehicle. But usually they aren't. Insurance agents like to call these policies retirement plans, emphasizing the "forced savings" inher-ent in forking over the premiums each month "for retirement." Everyone's circumstances are different so what might be right for one person might not necessarily be the right policy for an-other. Life Insurance can be Whole Life Coverage, Universal Life Coverage, Term Insurance and Permanent Life Insur-ance. Before making any decision get as much information as possible and make sure you read all the small print. Information can be found by logging on to the Insurance Companies web sites or contacting an Insurance Agent. It can be difficult to make the

right choice but professional advice is always available if needed. Get as many quotes as possible before signing any documents as Insurance Companies vary. It is possible to get a good deal by comparing what the Insurance Companies are offering. Be careful if a quote seems particularly cheap against the others. This could be because it does not cover for essential aspects that might be important to you. By taking your time you should be able to get a good deal without paying more than you should. By taking out Life Insurance on yourself it is the best way of making sure your immediate family does not suffer financially as well as emotionally. Life Insurance is a way of protecting your next of kin against financial hardship in the event of your death. Premi-ums must be paid each month for the whole of your life and the policy only matures upon your death. Upon your death the beneficiary will receive a lump sum of money which will help towards funeral costs and other expenses they might have to pay. Premiums for term insurance are downright cheap for people in good health up to about age 50. After that age, premiums start to get progressively more expensive. The same holds true for whole life policies, though people who need coverage starting in their 60s and beyond may have no alternative but to buy whole life. Most compa-nies simply won't sell term policies to people over about age 65.

If you have a need in your life take it to Jesus. If you need healing, a breakthrough, deliverance take it to Jesus. Most importantly if you need salvation Jesus is just a prayer away. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior simply pray this prayer: Father in the name of Jesus I know that I’m a sinner and I’m lost without you. I believe in my heart that Jesus died on the cross and on the third day was raised again. So I accept you today to be the Lord of my life. Satan you no longer have any legal rights to anything about me. As of this moment I belong to Jesus Christ and I’m off limits to you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen! It’s that simple and if you believe in your heart the prayer you just prayed you are now saved!

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