May2012

Being a mother is an important role in life. The

Bible teaches that the mother has the responsibil-

ity of teaching the young women. (‘Titus 2:4).

Furthermore the Bible also says that her children

shall call her “Blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).

Mothers are expected to teach and nurture their

children. The process of mothering begins in the

mother's womb and everything a fetus needs in

order to grow and develop is channeled through

the umbilical cord. After the baby is born the

mother continues to be the integral conduit for

the growth and development of the child which

will ultimately become an adult. Aligning with

the scripture noted earlier, the mother has the

responsibility of teaching the young child the

necessary keys of life that will allow them to suc-

cessfully pass from one phase of life to the next

phase;Titus 2:3…..teachers of good things;

Mother’s Day is celebrated in the month of May

and The Voice would like to take a moment and

congratulate and celebrate all the mothers!

We want every mother to know that we are

grateful to have you in our lives.

The month of May's Voice of Manifestation

Newsletter spotlight features Mother Sandra

Barr. Take a moment to read her powerful testi-

mony. Your life will never be the same.

As always The Voice will continue to go across

the country and around the world touching the

lives of God’s people. Always giving God all the

glory and all the honor.

We invite you to be a part of this great commis-

sion by emailing your friends and family mem-

bers. Encourage them to do the same. Always

remembering that one plants, another waters and

God gives the increase.

We encourage you to read Dr. Jones' page and

this month Pastor Eddie Boles provides words of

reflection. Don't forget to touch and come into

agreement with the prayer focal on pg four. Take

a look at our W.O.W (Women of Worship) arti-

cle. You do not want to miss this reading. On

pages six and seven, Victoria Thompson writes

about 'Laundry Day': it is time to admit “Yes I

have issues….."

Be sure to catch, “Diary of a Single Christian

Man,” written by Michael Daniel.

Hot off the press: Ladies, let's welcome Très

Magnifique, listed on pages 16 & 17!

If you are interested in joining the Newsletter

team or would like to communicate with the

community or partners, please email Yesmin Ne-

gron at [email protected] or call 813-775-

5381.

Partners, share the link with your friends, co-

workers, & family. Email the link, its FREE!!

Till the next time, Manifest!!

Yesmin Negron

VOM Newsletter Dept Leader

In a world today filled with evil,

compromise, deceit, treachery, envy,

and jealousy, it can be very tempting for

believers to be drawn away from what

we know is the truth. Now, more than

ever, God is calling his sons to be differ-

ent from everything the world looks

like. It’s so easy to just follow the

crowd and do what everyone else does.

However, that’s not God’s perfect will

for believers. The word of God encour-

ages us to stay on the straight and nar-

row path, which is the one least likely

traveled.

Colossians 2:8. Beware lest any man

spoil you through philosophy and vain

deceit, after the tradition of men, after

the rudiments of the world, and not after

Christ. It’s very interesting that men

today, believe, are willing to follow, and

even base their lives on one man’s the-

ory, without any proof. So much energy

is spent today trying to disprove the Word

of God and the deity of our Lord and Sav-

ior Jesus Christ. The first word in Colos-

sians 2:8 is “beware”, which means to see,

discern, perceive by the use of your natural

eyes, or to gaze at. So, believers must stay

aware of what’s going on in the world

without succumbing to the dictates of the

world. We can no longer hide our faces in

the sand and pretend like things aren’t hap-

pening. The only way to promote change

in the earth is to be active and relevant

based on the Word of God. God desires to

have his presence made manifest in every

area of life, and the only way to accom-

plish this is for the Sons of God to stand up

and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The bible declares that creation waits for

the manifestation of the Sons of God; if

you didn’t know, that’s you and me.

Pastor Eddie Boles

Position Prophetic Watch

men and Intercessors on a

24 hour Prayer Watch-

Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s I will

not be silent, and for Jeru-

sale sake I will not rest,

until its righteousness goes

out as brightness, and her

salvation as a burning lamp. (Verse 6) I have

posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. Day

and night they kept at it, praying, calling out,

reminding God to remember (Verse 7) and they

are to give him no rest, tell he establish, and till he

make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Watchmen and Intercessors Positions

Each watchmen and Intercessor that are posted on

the wall, to take an elevated position from where

he or she can see into the distance to be able to

warn of coming danger or to proclaim good

tidings.

Watchmen and Intercessors on every Watch Hour,

Pray For Apostle Mark Jones and Family, Mission

Team and their Family as well as CFM Partners.

Mission Team 12:00 AM – 6:00 AM

Lord, release Your Angelic army to fight for CFM

mission team in the heavens against principalities

and powers in the name of Jesus. Lord, Your right

hand establishes CFM mission team and Your

holy arm strengthens them and gives them victory.

We declare Ephesians 6:19: And for the Apostle,

that he may speak words of utterance that are

given unto him, that he may open his mouth

boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

We pray for a supernatural outpouring of Your

spirit be manifested as the people in India are

transformed through the Apostolic teaching that

You have given to the Apostle for these people

and region.

3. Lord, we declare and decree that as CFM's mis-

sion team steps into the land of India as stated in

Romans 13:1: Let every soul be subject unto the

higher power. For there is no power but of God:

the power that been is ordained of God. We speak

to the powers that rule over President Patel and all

government officials that are subject to the same

powers; are subject to the power of the Almighty

God.

4. Lord, Your word declares in Col 3:3 that we are

“hidden” in Christ and in that there is full protec-

tion (because you are the shield), full confidence

(because the battle is Yours), full provision

(because you are the provider) for our entire mis-

sions team as well as their family members who

will remain in the United States.

5. Lord, release Your resurrection power upon

CFM mission team. We declare and decree signs

and wonders demonstrations of Your Spirit power

shall follow them. Lord, Your Word declares

greater works they shall do.

6. We declare and decree CFM mission team

shall live and not die, and proclaim the Word of

the LORD: He has risen over them with healing in

His wings. Therefore, no sickness or plaque can

remain in or come near their body. We declare no

weapon formed against them shall prosper in

Jesus Name.

7. We come against the giants in the land as David

came against Goliath. The Lord has claimed the

land of India and they must come into alignment

and we speak that they will align according to

God's will. We bind every retaliating spirit and

back lashing spirit that tries to come against the

mission team and their families and finances.

8. We loose Michael and his host of angels to war

against these spirits. We bind every mind binding

spirit that is coming against the minds of

the mission team, every double minded spirit that

will try and hinder them from doing your will. We

loose clarity, peace, understanding, and compas-

sion.

9. We come against any and all security threats

that would attempt to transpire while the CFM

Missions team is in India, in the name of Jesus.

W.O.W. Women of Worship

2nd & 4th Thursday

@ 7pm

Dee Reid

The Maintenance Program

Maintenance - 1) The upkeep, sup-

port, or subsistence; livelihood: 2)

The correction or preventive meas-

ure. Autonomic - 1) produced by

internal forces or causes; spontane-

ous.

In life, we live and do

many things. This includes family,

church, work, kids, games, busi-

ness, etc. We wear many hats and

engage in many different things.

Our days get busy, and it seems as if

we've run out of time to take care of

the most important thing (YOU).

With so many things to do, it ap-

pears as though we have not enough

time in the day to accomplish many

of these tasks.

So, here comes the list of priorities.

Yes, that's right; priorities. In the

day and time we're living in, you

can't afford to skimp out on you.

The real you is in need of spiritual

nourishment on a daily basis. If you

look at it, you'll see that if your in-

ner man is not strong, then every-

thing else will be weak. You will

not be able to stand against the wiles

of the enemy. You will not be able

to overcome the daily warfare aimed

against your life. So, it's very impor-

tant for you to develop a mainte-

nance program that keeps you oper-

ating at your maximum capacity.

So, how do I develop this

"maintenance program"? Well, let's

first look at a race car and the

driver. In order for his car to per-

form at its maximum speed, the

driver would have to pull over and

get his car maintenanced at what

they call the "Pit". Now, I don't care

how good of a driver he is or what

brand name is on his car. If he does-

n't pull over and get new fluids,

tires, gas, etc. he will not have a

good chance at winning the race

that's set before him. It's the same

way for our spirit man. We are busy

doing ministry, work, business, chil-

dren and whatever else may come

our way. But,we have to pull over,

and take the time out to read, study

and meditate on the word. We have

to pull over and come before the

Lord in prayer & worship. We can't

be so busy that we starve ourselves

of daily spiritual nourishment. And;

just to add to this lifestyle once a

month or as many times as you need

during the month, you should go

through a deep cleanse. What do I

mean by that? Ask God what is in

my life that's not pleasing to you?

Where do I need to come up or go

down? Where areas do I need more

brokenness in, or humility? Why do

we need these deep cleanses? Many

times we go through our Christian

walk and get caught up in our own

proficiencies. We feel like we're

okay, and everything is alright. Not

understanding the many hits and

things that come against us on a

daily basis, we miss things. Some-

times, we just suppress them and

pretend like we're okay. Our walk

with Christ cannot be measured

by who likes us, and all the acco-

lades people give us. Why? God

is the only one who sees who you

really are. We can look good for

people, but is God pleased with

you. So, you have to keep it real

with God. Go before the Father,

and have him check your fluids,

oil, tires, filters, and gas. Let him

fill you up, again and again. The

songs says, "You provide the fire,

and I'll provide the sacrifice".

When we make this a part of who

we are, God will always enlarge

our capacity. He will obligate

himself to pour more of himself in

you. If you come hungry, he will

feed you; if you come thirsty he

will give you drink. Your momen-

tum will keep growing and grow-

ing. You'll always see yourself in

the movement, and not stuck in

the moment. You will produce the

God kind of fruit, and you will

flourish everywhere you go. Liv-

ing waters will live in you like a

spring that never runs dry.

Ultimately, people will see the

true and living God shining out of

you. Because your spirit man will

emanate what you give it. Your

spirit man will have an autonomic

reaction. Greater is he that's in

you than he that's in the world 1

John 4:4. The spirit of God will

operate in you without you work-

ing up a sweat. It will be an inter-

nal force working within you.

Phil 2:12

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye

have always obeyed, not as in my

presence only, but now much

more in my absence, work out

your own salvation with fear and

trembling.

So many times we go through things

feeling alone and confused, but why?

It’s one of many reasons: fear.

Typically, it’s fear of embarrassment;

our dirty laundry is being hung out to dry

in front of others, with us not wanting to

admit that we don’t have it all together.

Well, let me tell you, that is a trick of the

enemy to keep you from being delivered

and transformed!

Last month, our focus in Singles Minis-

try was Laundry Day. It’s time to fight

the enemy and stop allowing him to keep

us trapped and lying to ourselves. It’s

time to admit to others that, yes, I do

have issues; and yes, I do have problems

that I cannot solve by myself.

Silence is a trap, fellow believers.

Not only are we called to minister to the

needs of others, but we are also told to

speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4 talks

about us as a body of believers and how

each part is accountable to the other for

edification and maturation. In order to

grow and not be so moved by every little

thing, we must do the laundry. When you

come to service and hear the word, but

continue to struggle with walking it out,

it’s like washing a load of jeans and for-

getting about them in the washer for 2

days. Then, you remember and put them

in the dryer, but when you take them out

they stink. Yes you washed them, but

you waited too long to finish the process!

When you get distracted by life and

don’t implement what you have been

taught, by the time you do, you stink!

Let your brothers and sisters in Christ

help you do the laundry.

We are also told by God to admit our

faults to one another. The Amplified ver-

sion puts it like this, James 5: 16 Confess

to one another therefore your faults

(your slips, your false steps, your of-

fenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one

another, that you may be healed and re-

stored [to a spiritual tone of mind and

heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued)

prayer of a righteous man makes tremen-

dous power available [dynamic in its

working].

How can we expect to reach the dimen-

sions that God has foreordained for us if

we don’t follow the directions to get

there? Believers, you don’t expect to get

your laundry clean without adding deter-

gent, so how can you expect to reach

God’s expected end for you without fol-

lowing his Word?

Another way to think of this is: account-

ability.

We need each other. The moment we get

into the thoughts of “My business is my

business, so mind your own” is the mo-

ment we cut off our own foot.

[AMP] Galatians 6:1-2 says: BRETHREN,

IF any person is overtaken in misconduct

or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual

[who are responsive to and controlled by

the Spirit] should set him right and re-

store and reinstate him, without any sense

of superiority and with all gentleness,

keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest

you should be tempted also. Bear

(endure, carry) one another's burdens

and troublesome moral faults, and in this

way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of

Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is

lacking [in your obedience to it].

How can we bear one another’s burdens if

nobody is admitting that they have them?!

And, why would anybody want to talk to

you if all you are going to do is judge and

criticize them?...With doing laundry, we

must take into account that there might be

some unseemly stains in other people’s

clothing, but this is not a chance to brag

about how well you wash or how poorly

they have done. It is an opportunity to say

“Hey, you know what, I did that once too

but this is how to fix it.” I encourage us to

study the entire chapter of Galatians 6 and

get a full understanding of what it means

to spiritually sow into each other’s lives.

Laundry is a daunting task when tackling

it alone, but just one pair of helping hands

makes a big difference. Be encouraged.

Tori

If surveyed, many believers would attest to the reality of being severely stretched during

this season of their lives. Regardless of the specific circumstances or situations, ultimately,

this stretch equates to one of faith. The bottom line is this: will you believe and trust God

at the level he desires to be believed. Will you expand your faith?

Webster defines “stretch” as a verb, “to amplify or enlarge beyond natural or proper limits”.

Focus on the word ‘beyond’. Stretch involves moving farther than what has become natural

or comfortable to you.

Yet, I want to concentrate on an interesting phenomenon regarding the “stretch”. Picture a

rubber band being forcibly stretched. What happens? Not only does the expansion occur,

but the rubber band can never return to its former structure. Whereas it was taut, the

enlargement has now changed its configuration. Variably, its capacity has now been in-

creased.

Nevertheless, some believers have not recognized the transition. Some have been crying

out for “more”, but are not willing to die. Because, ultimately, the stretch requires another

death. And, once stretched, one cannot return to the old. The Word states in Isaiah 43:18-

19, Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do

a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?

Shall you not know it? Shall you not understand the need for the stretch? Shall you not

know how you are being stretched? Shall you not recognize that your composition, your

configuration is changing? Shall you not realize that there is no returning to the old; for it

doesn’t fit you anymore? The “band” is widened and the circumference is greater.

Believers, receive the stretch and expansion! At this phase of your life, it’s truly all or noth-

ing! As your capacity is being enlarged, allow your faith to multiply exponentially! Let

God be the “I AM” in your life! For only he can take you beyond “your” natural! It’s time

for your faith to soar!

Wilma Weems

Food for Thought

Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the third person of the Trinity; Father, Son & Holy

Spirit. He is an attribute of God. He is omnipresent. David asked in Psalm 139:7

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? There

is no way we are able to move away from the presence of the Holy Spirit. He is eve-

rywhere. He sees all our struggles; knows all our issues; He has the answer to all.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send

in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,

whatsoever I have said unto you.

God desires communion with men. Once man opens his heart to God, then the Spirit

of God begin to reign in man’s heart. Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God

hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

“Crying Abba, Father”...As children of God, we need the protection of our Father,

therefore we call on Him. This is an expression of affection towards God when we

become His children. Psalm 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all

the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

There is an opportunity to become God’s children; to call Him Abba Father, to have

communion with Him, to be in His presences, to hear His voice and to know Him. It

is by opening your heart and allowing Him to enter in, to reign, and to govern. Your

life will never be the same.

I remember those days where I did not know Him. I was empty, with my issues

overwhelming me. I didn't know what I was going to do. I was feeling lonely in the

midst of many friends and my family. I didn't know Abba Father. I could not recog-

nize the affection in calling upon Him, until the day I was drawn in by Him. Oh,

what an amazing day! It was amazing to know that I was forgiven, protected, loved,

and accepted as His child. Now, I can say my life is not the same.

I encourage you to do the same. Allow Him to be your Abba Father. Let’s pray: Fa-

ther I come before you humble, admitting that I have sinned against you. Forgive

me. I believe Jesus Christ died for me. Come into my life, fill me with your Spirit,

show me your ways. Lead me and guide me. I give you my heart. I want to know

you, teach me how to pray your will to be in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Mothers in the Bible

DOWN ACROSS

1 2

3 4 5

6

7 8

9 10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

1. The mother of Solomon (II Sam 12:24)

4. The mother of Levi and five other sons (Gen

35:23)

7. The mother who told her daughter to ask for

the head of John the Baptist (Mark 6:22-27)

10. Grandmother of Timothy (II Tim 1:5)

11. The mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam

(Num 26:59)

13. The mother of Joseph and Benjamin (Gen

35:24)

15. The mother of Ahaziah. She sought to destroy

the royal lineage of David (II Chr 22:10-12)

16. The mother of Abijah (II Chr 13:2)

17. The mother of the prophet Samuel (1 Sam

1:20)

2. The mother of Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:42)

3. The mother of Jesus Christ of Naz-areth

5. The mother of Timothy (II Tim 1:5) 6. The mother of John the Baptist (Luke

1) 8. She is called a mother in Israel in her

and Barak's song (Judges 5:7) 9. The mother of Jacob and Esau (Gen

27:42) 12. Ruth's mother-in-law (Ruth 1:2-4) 14. The mother of Ishmael (Gen 16:15)

Quite often we only miss things or people when

they are no longer with us. A lot of times we take

our parents, children, husbands, wives or friends

for granted. We just presume that they will always

be there, even though we know that death is guar-

anteed and separation is sometimes unavoidable.

How many times do we say something unpleasant

or do something offensive to someone we love?

We get angry, sulk or maybe stop talking to that

person for whatever reason. Why? Because we

always think that tomorrow we will apologize or

make up with them. The sad thing is, sometimes

tomorrow might be too late.

Taking others for granted could be something as

simple as not spending enough time with them. I

remember I used to visit my mother very often.

After a while though, because of work commit-

ments and other things, the visits became less and

less. Now she has become ill with Hydrocephalus

and dementia.

Every time I hear of a teenager being shot or

stabbed, my heart goes out to their parents. Not

just because of their loss, but also because of the

times we take our children for granted. We don't

think that they will die before us, because that's

not the normal process of life. But life is not pre-

dictable and anything can happen at any time!

On this Mother's day, or any day for that matter,

hug your mother and tell her how much she means

to you. If you can't see her, call up your mom and

tell her how much you love her. It may seem like

nothing when you do it, but cherish every single

moment you have with her. So, don't take your

mother for granted. Sure, she may nag you and

get on your nerves from time to time...but would

you truly be happy if she wasn't there? I guess this

just solidifies the saying, "You don't know what

you've got until it's gone." No truer words have

ever been spoken...no truer words.

How can we best honor our moms? (Below are a

few ways.) That's what we should be asking our-

selves. Cherish those around you. The next time

you're sharing a special moment with someone

you love, having a laugh with some friends, or

even fighting with one of your parents; remember

our lives are but a fleeting moment in time. They

come and go so quickly. Live each day of your life

to the fullest, as if it's all going to end tomorrow.

You have to live for what you have; live for now,

grasp every second that you can. Don't be prideful!

Don't take your mothers for granted, or anyone

else either!

How to Love Your Mother:

1. Verbally - We should tell our mothers every

day that we love her; say it repeatedly. God made

women emotional beings - to know how to love

and how to be loved. Also, we always need to

think on the many qualities of our mothers, &

praise them over these things. We never should

criticize our mothers. The Bible says to honor our

parents. If we must correct our moms for any mis-

takes, we must do it lovingly, and not harshly.

2. Physically - A mother needs to be touched.

Hold them and give them hugs and kisses. They

fostered many attributes and qualities within us.

Some of them we weren't even aware of. Also,

remember our moms were the main people that

held and took care of us when we were babies. So,

we should continually return the physical affec-

tion.

3. Patiently - Nobody is perfect. Consider all a

mother has to think about and do. Consider all the

things that we expect our mothers to say/think/do.

Mothers have a great load of responsibilities.

Knowing this; don't ever be rude, harsh, or disobe-

dient to either of your parents.

4. Gratefully - Loving our moms gratefully means

we want to genuinely show them we love them.

We should want to find ways to genuinely express

our gratitude, to the point our moms have no ques-

tion in their minds about our appreciation towards

them.

5. Generously - We must share with our moms

what we have all the time. What can we do for

and to them? Listen carefully to her, to see what

she wants or needs. Usually, she won't tell you

anyway, so you won't worry about her. Make sac-

rifices and give to your moms, if necessary.

6. Tenderly - Sometimes moms have a tough time,

and sometimes they can't/don't live up to task. So,

we must be tender. Love & devotion can't be pur-

chased. Be sensitive to what we hear our moms

say/do/etc. Also, have sensitivity for what we

don't hear them say/do/etc. We should listen to

our moms genuinely, and carefully. We must en-

courage our moms to talk with us, providing gen-

eral encouragement in everything. What we are to

them is far superior to what we can give her. Our

moms deserve and need our listening ears, and

encouraging words.

7. Time giving - Our moms deserve our genuine

listening ears, genuine time and genuine attention.

8. Forgivingly - There is never any condition or

excuse for not forgiving our moms for any of their

faults. Just think how our moms often forgave us

many times. Some people have a harder time more

than others forgiving, but we must still forgive at

all costs. Don't ever take anyone for granted!

9. Devotedly - We must defend, protect, & sup-

port our moms. To be devoted means we care

about our mom’s safety; what she has, doesn't

have, etc. We must comfort her when necessary

and be faithful to her. All that we are, she is a part

of that. She must be a big part of our lives. She

brought us into the world. Be trustworthy of, and

to her. Never lie to your mom!

10. Cheerfully - Don't dump baggage on your

mom when you hurt, are bothered, &/or other-

wise, etc. Talk of cheerful things. Talk about all

the good things and wonderful memories - this is a

gift to her, especially with her aging. Go to bat for

those you love and are devoted to. Protect and

defend them all.

As always, thanks for reading. Until next time, be

empowered to be all that God created you to be!

For men, change doesn’t come easy.

Men don’t like to appear weak nor subservi-

ent. We sometimes value independence too

much. So, for a man to change to someone

else’s system or way of doing things, it’s like

a foreign concept. Our heads can be like iron

walls where nothing penetrates; nothing has a

chance to conceive and grow into something

beautiful. Sadly, many men die stuck in their

dysfunctional and non-productive ways.

Men can learn a lot from women when

contemplating the birthing process. As a fa-

ther of three, and having been married for 10

years now, I’ve learned a lot from my beauti-

ful wife. A woman already knows before she

conceives that there will be pain in childbirth

and a drastic lifestyle change afterwards. This

change is certainly not comfortable. In spite

of knowing this, we see that the woman is still

looking forward, casting most of her thought

to the joy of bringing a little one into the

world to love and care for. So just as the

woman puts herself in a position to conceive,

men are suppose to put themselves in position

under God in order to conceive spiritually and

intellectually. With the help of spiritual mid-

wives, others appointed by God to guide us to

maturity, we can give birth to a new man and

new concepts.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I appre-

ciate my mother’s “labor of love” and how

she went through so much for me so I would

have a fighting chance in a cold, unfriendly

world. Because she was willing to change her

life to accommodate my coming into the

world, I should be able to lay my life down

for the benefit of others and the generation

following mine. Men of God, let’s take the

time to really show the women in our lives

how much they mean to us and how much we

appreciate them. Before I knew Christ Jesus, I

saw Him in my mom. Be blessed and mani-

fest.

Hey honey, I just wanted to let you know that you are a blessing to the kids and me. You are an amazing mother; so kind, gentle and loving. Happy Mother’s Day! Antonio Miranda

Antonio & Cassandra Miranda

heavy and overpowering. Try

not to apply too much or

wear full super long lashes

attached with hair glue, when

trying this look. Ladies, less is

always best. Use individual

lashes for

fullness and keep

it as natural as

possible. Get the

Look: Maybelline

line stiletto liquid eyeliner

(Wal-Mart $5.94) Individual

eyelashes $16 & LORAC

Baked Matte Satin Eye

Shadow ($22) at

Sephora.com. Also, try these

other colors below on lighter

EYES...Here are some quick

tips on how to wear eye

shadow. Plenty of African-

American women think they

can’t rock bright colors, but

I’m here to prove you wrong.

If you have a heavy eyelid,

blue, purple or yellow

eyeshadow are just as risqué

as black, without being too

Ooh -La l a ! . . . Smal l moves , b ig impact

Lips.. Not only does CoverGirl

LipPerfection Lipcolor, $6.50,

come in

more than

40 trendy

colors, it’s

also packed

with lip-

softening shea butter and avocado

oil that keep your pout pillowy

and plush. Try a new delectable

Fashion, Beauty, & Current Events. real people real style. May 2012

Très Magni f ique !

wallet and the fashionista inside of you.

I want everyone to look and feel their best, and

with the right tools and personal guidance from

yours truly, bringing out your inner beauty will

come easy. I will share those dos and don’ts that

you need to hear, along with tidbits on all the

recent trends, and beauty skin tricks. I will give you

the inside scoop on hairstylist, wardrobe ideas, and

those crucial but often overlooked finishing

touches.

And for all of you who desire to be truly informed,

we don’t stop at just fashion. Here, we will also

explore the world and stay on top of those current

events that will keep your beautiful mind flourishing.

World news, special events, and humanitarian

opportunities are just a few of the many topics we

will explore.

Don’t find yourself left behind. Keep in touch and

stay fashion forward with me at Très Magnifique!,

where it’s more than a beauty blog, it’s a

movement.

color that will make your lips

pop. Nail it!!! Save money on

Mani’s and Pedi’s by purchasing

your own polish. Try O.P.I, their

polish is usually $9 and you will

find all the latest colors. Although

bright colors are in right now,

keep it simple and elegant.

Dirty skin, clear it up! I use a

lot of Clinique products to keep

my skin clear and vibrant. One of

my favorite is the even better skin

tone correcting lotion.

T r e s M a g n i f i q u e ! Blogger ’s Welcome Note

Issue 1.

1Timothy2: 9-10 “Women

should dress modestly, with decency

& propriety, adorning themselves, not

with elaborate hairstyles or gold or

pearls or expensive clothes, but with

good deeds, appropriate for women

who profess to worship God.”

Calling all Très Magnifique (very beautiful) people!

Welcome to the new Très Magnifique! blog. Finally, the

ultimate destination for fashion, beauty and current

events is here! We will explore high-end and

affordable brands from all over the world. From chic

-to-sleek, we will find replicas of high-end brands

that’s affordable, reasonable and will appeal to your

Color is back ! Ladies, DO NOT BE

SCARED OF COLOR on your lips...

My Musings:

I simply love to wear white! After

Labor Day, before Labor Day, any day,

everyday, 365 and 24/7, white is always

in. It’s my now and forever, my guilty

pleasure.

Beauty Q+A

Q:What will remove

darkness around my eyes?

A: Drink lots of water &

Get plenty of rest. I

know it sounds very

cliché, but you really do

need your beauty sleep. Also, use an eye

cream. I like Clinique all about eyes

cream its $29-$47.50. It’s for all skin

types.

Très Magnifique!

Before you establish a wardrobe of sharp

clothes, learn how to take care of them.

Learn how to shine your shoes. Learn how

to iron your shirts, trousers and jeans.

Learn how to properly tie a tie. You don’t

need the most expensive, highest quality

clothing in the world to make you look

sharp. All you need to do is take care of

your investment. By learning how to take

care of your investment, you will not

only look sharp, but the shirts, shoes

and hats you purchase will last longer,

giving you more chances to look the

part. With that said, gentlemen,

remember being fashionable is all about

coordination. So, when you're

purchasing clothes, mix colors. Today's

man should blend vibrant colors and

dare to be bold, but remember that

subtlety is the key. However, not just

Rea l Men Rea l S ty l e

Fashionable Gentleman: Pastor Mark Jones Jr.

any color will do. Try something new.

Colors, such as orange, greens, and

mustards, which used to be accents, are

now considered focal points of men's attire.

A perfect example would be Pastor Mark Jr.

He takes risks, but refrains from going

overboard. It is important to find balance

between calculated risk and proper

restraint, fellas. Take notes from the God

fearing man, because

learning how to

match a green tie

with an orange pair of

slacks can make all

the difference in your

style and will open

your wardrobe to a

world of possibilities.

Alluring & Appropriate clothes: Hits and Misses

God wants you and me to represent him in how we’re dressed and groomed. He

wants people to see his character in us and not be distracted by too much glitz,

immodesty, or flashy clothes. Look1: A plain jacket and pearl necklace gives you a

more classic look. Look 2: Ladies, you purchased a skirt, so get all of your fabrics

worth. Please don’t leave the store with half of it. I know I’ve done it before and am

guilty of not properly checking length. I was so upset with myself when I sat down

at church and realized that I’d been robbed of material. If you have long legs, like

me, and everything seems short on you, carry a nice cloth to cover your legs when

you sit down. Disclaimer: I’m not saying it’s ok to wear short skirts. Look 3: A belt

can transform your wardrobe to a whole new level if you pick the right size and

color. Remember, color is your friend and you should never be afraid of long dresses

or skirts. Pencil skirts and dresses will always be in. They are very chic and classic.

Likewise, keep in mind that a little can make a big statement. Purchase look 1 & 2 at

BlackHalo.com and look 3 at StopStaring.com

“It’s more than a blog, it’s now, it’s fresh, it’s revolutionary, it’s a movement.”

Childhood and Family:

When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all He

has done for me, my soul cries out hallelujah be-

cause I never would have made it without Christ

in my life.

I am Sandra Lester Barr and I have lived

in Tampa, FL. most of my life. My parents and

two older siblings moved to Tampa from Perry,

Georgia when I was three months old. I am the

third child of five children, (three brothers and

one sister), born to Mr. Jack Lester and the late

Mrs. Beatrice Lester. My beloved mom passed

away February 7, 2010, Super Bowl Sunday. The

New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl game

that year. I will always remember the Saints win-

ning because it was my mom’s home going cele-

bration. Now, my adult siblings and I care for my

dad on a daily basis. My oldest brother resides in

Atlanta, Georgia. He has pastored a church there

for over thirty years.

Because it is Mother’s Day, I want to

focus on my parents and my childhood. I praise

God for my ninety-one year old dad who is in

great health, except for being diagnosed with

Alzheimer a few years ago. One thing I really

appreciate about my parents is that they made us

(siblings) go to church and prayer meeting when

we were growing up. We had no say so in the

matter-that was a given fact. If you lived in their

house, you were going to church. So, ever since I

can remember, church has been a part of my life.

I am so grateful that my parents instilled the love

of God in my life.

My dad didn’t want my mom to work

because he wanted her to stay home and take

care of his children. My dad was a provider and

my mom would budget the little money he

made to a penny. My mom said, “If you make a

dollar- save a dime”. I have fun memories of

my childhood. I remember my mom dancing

and playing with us as children. I remember my

dad giving us 5-10 cents every Friday as our

allowance. My brothers and sister would go to

the neighborhood store to buy our cookies,

candy and a drink. I remember my dad taking

the family on Sunday afternoon joy rides in the

car- we didn’t have money to do fancy things,

but I remember those sight seeing rides. God

truly blessed us with great Christian parents.

Because of the love and security I received

from my parents, I looked for “security” in a man

when I got married.

Defining Moment:

My dad is a praying man - even at 91

years old, you can hear him praying to God as he

sits in his chair enjoying the outdoors. My dad

had a family tradition (passed on from his dad)

that on New Year’s Day, my dad would wake up

each family member (5 A.M.) and we gathered

around my parent’s bed and prayed the New

Year in. He always prayed first, followed by my

mom. All the children had to pray as well.

Even when my siblings and I married

and moved out of my parent’s house, my dad

would still come to each son or daughter’s house

and pray (early in the morning) on New Year’s

Day. He would bless your house- thanking God

for the past year and he prayed God’s blessings

on the New Year (what a blessing). We didn’t go

out and party on New Year’s because we had to

be in church, “Watch Night Service” and at mid

night we prayed the New Year in. My dad’s

motto is, “A family that prays together, stay to-

gether”.

Marriage:

My husband is Joseph Barr Jr., Tampa,

FL. and we were united in holy matrimony Sep-

tember 12, 1970 (41 years ago). We are proud

parents of three adult children (Joseph III, Erick,

and Erika) and are blessed grandparents of ten

grandchildren. My husband had three children

prior to our union and we have three grandchil-

dren and one great grand child from those rela-

tionships. My husband was placed in the VA

Nursing Home three years ago because he was

diagnosed with vascular dementia, secondary to

vascular hypertension and Alzheimer’s. My fam-

ily and I are still adjusting to the change in our

family dynamics because of the devastating Alz-

heimer’s disease.

Needless to say, after forty one years of

marriage I can attest that there is a God because

God saved my marriage (approximately 37 years

ago). I remember that I always wanted a man like

my dad, a great provider. Well, God blessed me

with a great provider, but my husband also

brought a lot of baggage into the marriage because

of his childhood. I didn’t know this until we were

married. His childhood was totally different from

mind. His parents were alcoholics, always moving

from one house to another. Many times, a

neighbor would tell him where his parents had

moved to when he came home from school. In

order to have a little money, he got a job as a shoe

shine boy and his parents wanted his money to

buy more alcohol. So, he lived on his own at a

very early age. My husband has painful memories

of his childhood- abandonment by his mother. Or

on Christmas, he would only receive an orange or

apple or sometimes nothing at all. A dear lady

named Camina Hills took him in (she had two

sons) and provided a place for him for many

years, just like a real mother (until he went to col-

lege).

Once we were married, I found myself

verbally fighting a husband who had controlling

and jealousy demons. Initially, I was not a sub-

missive wife (selfish and prideful), but the Holy

Spirit taught me how to be a submissive wife and

that was a big challenge. Through painful circum-

stances, I learned not only submission, but I

learned how to trust God with my life. My testi-

mony is Philippians 4:6-7. I didn’t have peace in

my marriage, so I cried out to God and He an-

swered my prayer. This was a defining moment in

my life when God gave me peace in my mind and

heart. Even though I grew up going to church, I

never had a life changing, personal experience

with God. God proved Himself (Jehovah Shalom)

and now I will serve God the rest of my life. God

changed my LIFE when He gave me His peace.

Education and Church Experience:

I was educated in the Hillsborough

County School System. I was a Licensed Practical

Nurse (received training from Brewster Voca-

tional School). I received an AS Degree in Nurs-

ing from St. Petersburg Jr. College, St. Petersburg,

FL and a BS Degree in Nursing from the Univer-

sity of Tampa, Tampa, FL. I am a retired RN from

James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL since

December, 2004.

I am a part time student at Dallas Theo-

logical Seminary (DTS); Tampa, Fla., Extension

Campus and studying to receive a Master’s De-

gree in Biblical Studies since 2007. I took a leave

of absence in 2010 because of family circum-

stances (husband’s illness).

I accepted Christ and was baptized at a

local Baptist church when I was six years old. I

remained faithful, loyal and served in many lead-

ership positions at that Baptist church for over

fifty years until I became a partner at Center for

Manifestation (CFM) since November 2008. I had

prayed over and over, asking God to lead me to a

church where I could spiritually grow because I

needed a spiritual father to nurture and

develop me for ministry. I knew within

myself God has called me to ministry.

Defining Moment and CFM:

How I learned about Center for Manifes-

tation is a miracle in and of itself. I

knew nothing about an apostolic house

or ministry. Dallas Theological Semi-

nary had an Open House for potential

students to attend DTS and Annette

James (a partner at CFM) attended Open

House. During the lunch break, I met Annette and

we talked for a few minutes because she thought I

was someone she knew. Shortly afterwards, I went

to the ladies room and Annette followed me there.

She said to me, she planned to attend Open House

but she had an emergency at home with her son.

However, she couldn’t cancel coming to Open

House because she knew she had an assignment

from God - she had to come.

Annette said to me, “I was the reason why

she had to come to Open House.” I was really

going through with personal and difficult situa-

tions (Annette didn’t know this). She prayed and

ministered to me and she quoted, Is. 59:19; “When

the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the

Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” That’s

all I needed to hear. I was so overwhelmed by

God’s presence. He sent a special messenger just

for me. I am so glad Annette was obedient to the

move of the Spirit.

I visited the church (CFM) a few Sundays

later and Apostle was teaching on the Spiritual

Gifts series; just what I needed to hear (Apostle

always teach in a series). I had to keep coming

back to CFM because I needed to hear about all

the gifts of the five fold ministry. And the rest is

history. I am presently Asst. Director of the Be-

nevolence Ministry and the Ministry Leader for

the Welcome Ministry.

Defining Moment- Spiritual Impact:

I praise God for my spiritual father and

mother, Apostle Dr. Mark Jones and Lady Lisa

Jones. Apostle teaching has made such a powerful

impact in my life. Series after series, over and

over, God uses him to minister to my very core

being. It is so amazing how in tune he is to my

spiritual needs. During the week, I sometimes

wrestle with a particular situation- an inward war-

ring within my self and Apostle will teach on just

what I had been wrestling with. God gives spiri-

tual correction. Amazing, isn’t it?

Lady Lisa is amazing and so down to

earth. She is spirit filled, courageous, sweet, kind,

great teacher, transparent and a comedian. She is

really funny. She is her own person. I am so

blessed to honor her as Lady Lisa Jones of Center

for Manifestation.

My Calling:

I know God has called me to help hurting

women. One Sunday while in praise and worship

at CFM, the Spirit within me spoke and said,

“Nurture My daughters”. God loves us so much.

We must be open, obedient and available so God

can use us. I want to encourage mothers every-

where that they must learn to lean on God for His

wisdom, strength, and love to raise their child or

children. Parenting is not easy, but it is a privilege

and blessing from God. As a parent, what you do

and how you do it will impact your child for the

rest of his/her life. Mothers, my life and my hus-

band’s life are an example of how your childhood

can have an impact on your life- be it positive and

negative.

Motherly Advice to Mothers:

My mother and church Mother Benton

made such a difference in my life. Mother Benton

always told me, “Be encouraged”. Mothers, my

message to you on this Mother’s Day are, “Trust

God (not society) to raise your children and be

encouraged. Mothers, no matter what you are per-

sonally going through, no matter how young you

are, and no matter what difficulties you are strug-

gling with in life; don’t abuse your children. Love

your children. Teach your children the value of an

education. Take time and do fun things with your

children. Play with your children. Pray with your

children and read the Bible with your children.

Take your children to a Bible believing and Bible

teaching church so they can learn values and prin-

ciples according to the Word of God. Pray and ask

God for guidance, wisdom and strength to be the

mother He called you to be. Lastly, be an example

of a Christian mother to your children.

To my daughters Erika (mother of five-

she has two sets of twins); Shalanda (mother of

two), Keisha (mother of three), and mothers eve-

rywhere, Happy Mother’s Day.

Sandra Barr

From a woman to a mother

Is a transition like no other

Mothers are praying vessels you see

They understand how and why things ought to be

She cries out to the Father

Then patiently waits for an answer

Mothers listens to our every dream

And scrutinize our every need

Mother gives us that sense of peace

That helps our problems to decrease

Mother wears a smile like no other

When the cares of the world flows like a river

So many sacrifices she makes for us each day

We simply take for granted the price she has to pay

Mothers instill in us a life of integrity

Which helps us to keep our sanity

Mother teaches us value

And that faith in God is part

Never to disrespect her

That's God’s command from the start

A mother’s love is that lifetime bond

Which always gives a positive respond

Mothers are our first sense of relationship

Within our hearts remains that written script

That mothers are a wondrous gift.

Written by Sister Jennifer Cole

A MOTHER'S DAY TRIBUTE

Following the Chronological Bible

Reading………..The Book of Ruth

The Book of Ruth

Setting: Time of the Judges

Places: Land of Moab and later Bethlehem

Authorship: Uncertain and it is not given in the

book

It is a beautiful story of love, devotion, faithful-

ness, commitment and obedience. Ruth was a

Moabite who married a Hebrew. She became a

widow and bonded to her mother-in-law Naomi

whom she loved.

Ruth’s name in Hebrew is Reuit which means

“friendship or association.” Ruth in Greek is

Routh and the Latin name is Ruth.

The Moabites were descendants of Lot

(Abraham’s nephew). The key word in the Book

of Ruth is Kinsman-Redeemer (Ruth 3:9) and

the theme of Ruth is Redemption. Boaz, her kins-

man-redeemer, was from the clan of Elimelech.

Elimelech was Naomi’s husband. He was from

Bethlehem and one of his sons was married to

Ruth. Unfortunately, the 2 sons of Elimelech and

Naomi died leaving Naomi, Ruth and Orpah (not

Oprah) widows. When Boaz redeems Ruth and

takes her as his wife, she takes her place in the

lineage of King David as his great grandmother;

but more importantly in the line of Jesus Christ,

the King of Kings!

Some key verses are Ruth 1:16 and Ruth 3:11.

A key chapter is Chapter 4, where Ruth moves

from widowhood and poverty to marriage and

wealth. The law of redemption of property can

be found in Leviticus 25:25-34. The law of a

brother’s duty to raise up children in the name of

the deceased is found in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.

In a Bible Dictionary, look up Kinsman-

Redeemer to get a full definition. The book of

Ruth can be divided simply as follows:

Ruth’s Love Is Demonstrated - Chapters 1 -

2

Ruth’s Love is Rewarded – Chapters 3 – 4

Things to Think About:

If you were Ruth would you have stayed with

your mother-in-law? Would you have listened to

her and trusted in her? Or would you have been

like Orpah and turned back ?

Who is our Kinsman-Redeemer?

What is the real importance of Boaz?

This is not just a story, this is a portrayal of the

work of Christ as our Ultimate Redeemer.

How can you apply this book to your life today?

What is the importance of faithfulness, obedi-

ence, devotion and love?

Next Month the Books of I & II Samuel

Teacher Eva Johnson

Not Just for Teachers

Only

One of the hardest things we face as

CHRISTIAN single people is finding a place

to hang out and let our hair down, especially

in Tampa. A single non-Christian person

would have very little problem finding some-

thing to do, especially at night. As Christians,

we tend to run into a dilemma, in that our op-

tions are narrowed down to movies, bowling,

and skating. One could imagine that those

options can get boring at times. So where do

we go to let our hair down, relax, and have a

fun night out? Well, you can always perform

an internet search for Christian businesses in

your area; such as cafés and theaters. There

are even a few Christian hang outs that have

music with dancing. Also, there are also po-

etry readings, Christian comedy clubs and

more. Give them a call before heading out

there, because just like not all people who

claim to be Christian, are; the same goes for

hangout spots. Additionally, you can check

the social events at other churches. Conse-

quently, it’s just good health to schedule your-

self moments of rest and relaxation, find a

hobby, or find a group of fellow Christians to

hang out with. I cannot stress enough the im-

portance of going out in groups.

I know finding such places will be difficult.

So, here is a short list of hangout spots that

my friends and I have found along the way.

Organic Life Coffeehouse 1900 Oak Grove Blvd

Lutz, FL 33559

813 527 6911

Live music played every Friday night. Strong

supporters of missions work throughout the

world. All of their menu items are all natural.

A very relaxed, laid back atmosphere where

you can sit, talk and listen to some music.

Tampa’s Alternative Christian Events

(T.A.C.E.)

First Friday Mixers and Gospel Concerts

Search for them on facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/Tacetampa

Great event for networking and just hanging

out. Live music from local Christian groups,

live poetry, and so much more.

Night of Expression 3102 E Lake Ave

Tampa, FL 33610

June 2nd 2012 @ 7pm

727 504 8667

A night of inspirational poetry and music.

Tune into Diary of a Single Christian Man on

Live365.com Manifesting Praise Radio on

Saturdays @ 5pm.

Hola CFM Family! This session of Teaching Champions will focus on the brain. Most teachers are familiar with research done on brain based learning and, like myself, have implemented several practices that in-volve creating a classroom environment and facilitating lessons that stimulate student’s natural love of learning. With all that we do to ensure that all students have an equal op-portunity to excel, it is of the utmost impor-tance to remember that learning begins at home. With that being said, I submit to you some very simple and practical tips that you can implement at home [and in your own workspace] to optimize [you and] your child’s capacity to learn and boost the mem-ory.

Honor your child’s uniqueness. Inter-est and motivation vary from individual to individual. Engage your child in activities [i.e. board games, educational programs, & family outings] that will release your child’s inquisitive nature.

Reduce the [perception of] threat and stress. Avoid embarrassment, sarcasm, and humiliation as a means of discipline as they impair concentration and judgment. Even more-so, they are inappropriate practices for the overall development and well being of any child. Create a safe and supportive envi-ronment that allows your child to feel loved. Hug ‘em and kiss ‘em regularly—even when they don’t want you to [anyone with teenag-ers will know what I’m talking about.] Re-duce stress through predictable routines and

through proven techniques [i.e. physical ac-tivity and deep breathing.]

A few other tips: 1. hydration—students become restless and have scattered attention even when they are mildly dehy-drated, 2. better air quality [more oxygen and less carbon dioxide] with green leaf and flowering plants, 3. sleep—there is no set amount that fits everyone—the key here is to know thyself, 4. food—the brain is only about 2% of the adult body’s weight but it consumes about 20% of the body’s energy—some brain foods are fish, leafy greens, chicken, and fruits, 5. adding aromas: laven-der-reduces stress, peppermint-refreshes and invigorates, vanilla-relaxes and soothes, apple-relaxes brain waves and reduces blood pressure, and 6. avoid drug and alco-hol abuse which kill brain cells.

Learning is a process that takes place throughout the day—7 days a week—not just during school hours. Implementing a few simple practices intentionally ‘keeping the brain in mind’ will allow you and your child the opportunity to grow and excel op-timally as lifelong learners.

Point to Ponder—“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance…” [Prov. 1:5 ESV] Until next time… Best Regards,

Felecia L. King