April/May 2003 1

Heavenly Tours is a Christian based & operated coach/tours Bus Company. Along with providing bus
rentals for your traveling needs, we will also be sponsoring different tours/trips & recreational
Christian activities for you to enjoy & fellowship with other saints throughout the year. Trips will be
leaving from the Washington, Metropolitan area. Heavenly Tours is the Washington, Metropolitan
areas true Christian tour company.

Founded by Co-Owner, Harold R. Spencer Jr., Heavenly Tours…allows saints to travel their
Christian experience, in an anointed atmosphere of fellowship & love.

DATE TRIP LOCATION

April 12, 2003 American Music Theatre Lancaster, PA

“One Voice: The History of Gospel Music”

June 7, 2003 The Tabernacle Lancaster, PA

June 2003 Fishing TBD

August 2003 Sight & Sound Lancaster, PA

“Daniel”

August 16, 2003 New York City Shopping Trip New York City, NY

October 2003 Sight & Sound Lancaster, PA

“Abraham & Sarah”

December 2003 Sight & Sound Lancaster, PA

“Miracle of Christmas”

For more information about our trips or to schedule a trip please give us a call or email us at
heavenlytours@hotmail.com.
2 April/May 2003
Look for more information as we go live in April at our website: www.heavenlytours.us
 Table of Contents
27 WE WALK B
WALK BYY FAITH
FAITH
Cover Story: LOVE OF THE CONQUERING AND NOT BY SIGHT

8
KING Each of us our on a God-driven
Interview with Bryan Lynch, Landscape & Christian path ...
Artist by Penelope Allen White
b y L.C. Tar
Tardy
ardy
Artw ork: "A Sense o
Artwork: off Beauty." b y Bry
Beauty." ant LLynch,
Bryant ynch, Artist 31 ARMY OF THE LLORD
ORD
How we can are in a battle to fight
off the wickedness of the devil ...
TESTIMONIALS 16 PRESSING TO WARD
TO by Rickey E. Macklin
THE MARK OF THE HIGH
5 VISIONS 35 WHO I AM IN CHRIST
After reading the article I CALLING IN CHRIST
by Chicago Long
started visualizing having my JESUS
own magazine called "Visions," Embracing new technology...
37 HOW DO I GROW?
I knew right away that the Holy by B.R. White
b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy
Spirit was speaking to me...
b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy 17 CHRIST IS ENOUGH POETRY CORNER
FOR ME 12 POEM OF THE MONTH:
6 MIRACLES WITH Testifying to the fact that Jesus “REMEMBERING MY FIRST
PRAYER
PRAYER Christ is all you need to be
LOVE”
Prayer from family members has satisfied and fulfilled...
by K armen Y
Karmen ork
York er
orker
truly healed me in difficult times. by B.R. White
While I was walking to my dorm
in the hallway, a piercing pain 12 ““ANO
ANOTHER D
ANOTHER AYS JOUR
DA JOUR--
18 REAL LOVE
went through my back. This was What is the meaning of “real
NEY”
a pain so sudden and powerful love”... b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy
that I had to stop walking and
b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy
lean against the wall... 12 & 13 “THE EPITOME OF
by Cedric R. White 19 GOD OF MY SILENT THIS JOURNEY
ARTICLES TEARS b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy
7 BEAUTY FOR ASHES: Book review of the new book, God
of My Silent Tears by Yvonne 13 “CHILD OF GOD”
THE TRANSFORMING b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy
Majett Cooper...
POWER OF THE LORD by Nikki Jones
The story of one girl’s transfor- 13 “JUST AS THE ANGEL
mation through the power of
21 GOD AT W
AT ORK IN
WORK SAID
Lord...
by Lisa Horan
YOUR LIFE b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy
What it means to be borne again
and living God’s way... 21 & 31 F
31 ello
Fello w shipping...
ellow
6 OUT OF THE OVER-
b y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy
FLOW OF THE HEART 38 CHRISTIAN AUTHORS
Examining how what we say out
of our mouths is actually what is
22 FIT BY GOD’S DESIGN CORNER...
in our hearts... How we can fight temptations ...
by Penelope Allen White by Sherise L. Shields 48 MINISTRIES...

14 AD
ADVVANCING IN GOD 27 HOW TO INVEST IN Upcoming Events...(inside
Explaining how we can grow by OUR CHILDREN cover)
studying God’s word... How to raise our children in Christ
by Karmen Booker by Gloria C. Okoro 49 SUBSCRIPTION ORDER...
April/May 2003 3
 Visions Christian Magazine
is available through
L.C. Tar
Tar dy Publisher
ardy Publisherss subscription.
President/Founder
Please give us a call at
Executive Editors (301)324-4975
Penelope White
VCM is also available
Managing Editors
online at
Karmen Booker
visionschristianmagazine.com
Columnist
Pastor Sheritha Bowman Revelations 2:1-5
Unto the angel of the church
Writers/Regular Contributors of Ephesus write: These
L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy things saith he that holdeth
Karmen Y ork
York er-Book
orker-Book er
er-Booker the seven stars in his right
Sherice Shields hand, who walketh in the
Lisa Horan midst of the seven golden
Gloria C. Okoro candlesticks;
Nikki Jones
Penelope Allen White I know thy works, and thy
Cedric R. White labour, and thy patience, and
BR White how thou canst not bear them
Darius E. White which are evil: and thou hast
tried them which say they are
Artist apostles, and are not, and hast
Bryan Lynch found them liars:

Graphic Designers And hast borne, and hast

Cody Beasley
patience, and for my name’s
Fred Booker
sake hast laboured, and hast
Chauntika Broggin
not fainted.
Minister Rickey Macklin
Nevertheless I have
Eresa T
Eresa ar
Tardy
ardy
somewhat against thee,
because thou hast left thy first
Proofer
love.
Jennifer R. Stovall
Karmen Booker
Remember therefore from
whence thou art fallen, and
Print Coordinator repent, and do the first works;
TCG Printing/W ashingt
Printing/Washingt on Times
ashington or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy
Circulation Coordinators candlestick out of his place,
except thou repent.
Bible references are from the KJV and NIV

Main Office
L.C. Tardy Publishers
Landover, Maryland
4 April/May 2003 (301) 324-4975
 Te s t i m o n i a l s
On December 3, 2002 searching for a job and cannot
while relaxed I read an article find one, you need to start working
in “Life in the Word,” a magazine in your purpose, and your purpose will

q produced monthly by Joyce

Meyer Ministries. The
by L.C. Tardy article was called, “Get
Comfortable Not
Knowing.” Joyce Meyer said, “I
challenge you to fast from reasoning
finance your future.” I realized that
the Lord had used Jennifer to
speak a word to me concern-
V isions ing my future, and God’s
purpose for my life, as well
as speaking to me through

q
for thirty days—make a commitment Joyce Meyer’s articles.
to yourself and God to stop trying to I immediately sat
figure things out, and I believe that as b y L.C. T ar
Tar dy
ardy down at my computer and
you do this, you will enter a new level Freelance Writer/Author
started putting together a
of God’s rest, begin to experience more of draft of the magazine called,
His peace and joy, and when you least expect it, “Visions.” The Lord had put me in
He’ll give you the heart revelation you’ve been remembrance of His Word, Proverbs 16: 9 “A
searching for all along.” I had decided to just relax and mans heart deviseth his
let the peace of God rule in my aaaaaaaaaaaa way, but the Lord
heart on that day. directeth his steps.”
After reading the article And my Lord also said,
I started visualizing having my “My Soul wait thou only upon God, “The steps of a good
own magazine called “Visions,” for my expectation is from Him.” man are ordered by the
I knew right away that the Holy Psalm 62:5 Lord.” Joyce Meyer
Spirit was speaking to me. The had referenced a
Holy spirit told me to read two scripture in her article,
books called, “Answering the aaaaaaaaaaaa Proverbs 3:5,6 “Lean
Call Discovering on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all
Your Purpose,” your heart and mind and do not rely on your own
written by insight or understanding. In all your ways know,
Jennifer R. recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will
Stovall, and direct and make straight and plain your paths.”
“Woman Thou Joyce Meyers said, “As long as you and I are
Are Called,” by trying to figure everything out on our own, we are
Minister Bessie proving that we are not trusting God. But when we
Ashworth; good choose to rely on God to let us know what we need to
friends and know, when we need to know it, we prove that we
Sisters at my are trusting Him and we put ourselves in position for
Church home, Him to move miraculously.”
Jericho City of On May 3, 2002, which was my birthday, I
Praise. So I attended the Joyce Meyer Praise Fest at the Capital
decided to Center, Landover, Maryland; on that day I was
“Answer the baptized with the Holy Spirit, and received my prayer
Call.” The Holy language. This is the best gift and miracle that I have
Spirit told me to ever received, and this magazine called, “Visions,” is
Top: Co
Covv er ffor
or the pr
premier off use all of my
emier issue o
Visions Christian Magazine proof of another one of the Lord’s miracles mani-
talent that He had
fested in my life.
given me, and put
it into the magazine called, “Visions.” In fact, fifteen
minutes earlier I had spoken to Jennifer Stovall about TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!! VCM
“Waiting to hear from God,” and the day before that
Jennifer had called me, and ask if I was at the Linda C. T ar
Tar dy is a F
ardy Frr eelance W riter/A
Writer/A uthor
uthor.. She is
riter/Author
8:00’clock Sunday service, because Assistant Pastor the Publisher of this magazine, Visions Christian
Joel Peebles had preached on “Working In Your Magazine
Magazine.. Ms Ms.. T ar
Tar
ardydy curr ently liv
currently es in LLando
lives ando
andovv er
er,,
Purpose.” Maryland and attends Jericho City o
off Pr aise-85
Praise-85
aise-85001
Pastor Joel Peebles said, “If you have been Spectrum Driv e-
Drive- L ando
Lando
andov v er,
er, Maryland.

April/May 2003 5
 Te s t i m o n i a l s
a total lung collapse.

P
rayer can change anything! “Is any sick
among you? Let him call for the elders of the As I went back to my room that
church; and let them pray over him, anoint- night, I called my parents. The
ing him with olive oil in the name of the lord. first thing I told them was
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the what had happened the
Lord shall raise him up…pray for another, that ye past few days and
may be healed. (James 5: 14-16)” what the doctor
Prayer from family members has truly healed diagnosed. After
me in difficult times. While I was walking to my dorm prayer on the
in the hallway, a piercing pain went through my back. phone with my
This was a pain so sudden and powerful that I had to
stop walking and lean against the wall, this did little to
ease the discomfort that I felt. I entered my room and
collapsed on the bed, having difficulty breathing and
feeling a numbing sensation come through my left
chest and left arm. I was afraid to fall asleep not
knowing what could happen next.
As the week passed I thought that the pain
was going to only be temporary. After about four

Miracles with Prayer by Cedric R. White

2nd year FSU student

q
days of returning pain and short breathing I went to
visit the doctor. After taking some breathing test and
x-rays I was diagnosed with a probable leak or hole
in my left lung. The situation could persist and lead to
aaaaaaaaaaaaaa
“Is any sick among you? Let him call for
the elders of the church; and let them pray
over him, anointing him with olive oil in
the name of the lord. And the prayer of
faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall
raise him up…pray for another, that ye may
be healed.”
Prayerfully submitted,
James 5: 14-16
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
mother, I was still concerned about how the situation
would turn out. I continued to pray privately and my
parents prayed for my health status also. Over that
weekend there was a difference in how my chest felt.
The next Monday I reported to that same doctor
again to get more x-rays taken to see if there had
been any improvements or not. When the doctor
viewed the x-rays, the first thing he said was “There
are definitely more blood vessels reaching to the end
of the lung sac.” From that day on I have had very
little pain, if any, in my left chest and back area. No
medications were taken, just the prayers of my family
and myself. I know for myself God’s miracles can
and do happen with prayer! Thank you, Lord!
Cedric R. White
VCM

c2000 by Cedric R. White. Permission for use granted upon request

6 April/May 2003
 oneliness. Rebellion. person I ever really loved and the only person who
Desperation. If you had to made me feel accountable for my choices,” explains
L
q
describe the first two Angela.
decades of Angela “Somehow, that little boy always
by Lisa Horan Hansen’s life in three words or made me stop and
less, these would be the think about
ones. It wasn’t that Angela didn’t what I was
know God; she just turned her back
on Him for a time. But God never
Beauty for Ashes: The Trans- doing with
my life.”
turned His back on her. He knew His
her heart, and He had plans to use
the very struggles she endured to
forming Power of the Lord death at
age nine
bring glory to Himself. launch

q
signaled the
Born in Washington, D.C. to a single mother, Angela beginning of a life-changing
was sent to live in Mississippi with a grandmother she transformation process for Angela.
had never met when she was just two years old. As a
young child, she never felt she belonged. Then, after One of the most significant events in that process took
four years, her mother, of whom she had no recollec- place at a Christian retreat she was attending. “I
tion, moved Angela back to the Washington, D.C. area. wanted so desperately to believe I was a Christian, but
For Angela, this meant moving to a strange place with I just couldn’t believe that God had forgiven me,”
a stranger. “I remember crying out from the “I wanted so desper- remembers Angela. “It was
darkness in my new room asking Jesus to during quiet reflection at that
come into it and stay with me,” recalls ately to believe I was a retreat that I relived every
Angela. “I never doubted the Lord’s horrible thing I had done over
existence. I just didn’t have any Godly role Christian, but I just the years. Each time I recalled
models around me.” couldn’t believe that an event from my past, I heard a
voice saying ‘I know. I was
In the absence of such role models, God had forgiven there. And I still love you.’”
Angela’s struggle to fit in during her high school
and college years only intensified her own un-Godly
me,..” Months later, Angela heard another call.
behavior. She turned to alcohol, drugs, and sex as a This time, the call was not aimed at her
way of finding acceptance and masking her pain. salvation, but rather that of others. “At one of my
However, few people knew the real truth. She man- Emmaus meetings, a woman began talking about
aged to hide her addictions by doing well in school, in Kairos, a program that brings God into prisons, and the
fact receiving a B.A. from Colby College and, years spirit immediately jumped from within me,” says
later, a law degree from George Washington Univer- Angela. “As I talked to the women prisoners, my life
sity. and all that I had gone through began to make perfect
sense. I knew then that God’s plan was to use every
One aspect of her life that she could not hide, however, hurt I had ever experienced to help these women.”
was her failing health. Diagnosed with rheumatoid
arthritis at the age of 13, Angela struggled regularly Today, Angela is a living testimony to the transforming
with excruciating pain. During her sophomore year of power of the Lord. She lives happily with her husband
college, she was also given the grim news that she and their two adopted children in Silver Spring, MD,
would never be able to bear children. Later, she was and continues to share the Good News with women
diagnosed with fibromyalgia, a debilitating condition that prisoners in the area. In spite of the constant physical
causes severe swelling and pain. pain that she endures, Angela’s exuberance is hard to
miss. “The joy that I have has nothing to do with how
By the time she turned 23, Angela was at a crossroads. I’m feeling, nor does it have anything to do with me,”
Her health was declining, her rebellious behavior was she says. “It’s all about the spirit God has placed in
soaring, and she was reeling from the devastating loss me. Only He can give me the strength, grace, and
of her younger stepbrother. “He was actually the first inclination to do that which He has called me to do.” VCM
April/May 2003 7
 Cover Story

Love of Our Co
How Bryan Lynch Brings Hope through
qby L.C. Tardy Bryan, was truly humble and honored to have his Work
of Art on the front cover of a magazine. He expressed

I
t’s truly amazing how God brings his children that he is currently seeking out publishers, and believes
together when he needs to bring forth his that there is a company out there that will find merit in
Word. He searches the hearts of those with his work of art. He talked about the power of the Lord
a thirst to express the spiritual gifts and and how God can do a mighty work in his children. We
talents He has given to us. The Lord set a vision in my stayed in touch through email, and I kept him up to date
heart to do this magazine, “Visions.” regarding the development of the
After I received this vision from the magazine. I had no idea that I would
Holy Spirit, I decided to search the eventually do an article on Bryan Lynch,
Internet for a “clip art of Jesus,” or Landscape & Christian Artist. It was
art that resembled heaven, to put on then that I realized the Lord had spiritually
the front cover of this magazine. I lead me all the way to Roseville,
stumbled across a website that was California in search of a gifted artist, with
selling “Paintings,” I decided to a thirst to express his talent that the Lord
browse the site and view the had given him, and promote the Word of
paintings. All of the paintings were God through his beautiful Christian Art.
breathtaking and beautiful. But One of Bryan’s favorite scriptures sums
there was one particular painting it all up: “For the eyes of the Lord run to
that stood out from the rest. It was and fro throughout the whole earth, to
a beautiful image of Jesus with an show himself strong on behalf of those
illuminated cross in front of his whose heart is loyal to him.” (II
face. The work of art was entitled, Chronicles 16:9) As I stated earlier, it is
“Love of Our Conquering King, truly amazing how God brings his
Top: Bryan
Bryan Lynch, Artist. I was stunned. I couldn’t
Lynch, Landscape children together, and the Lord said,
take my eyes off of it. I double-clicked the & Christian Artist “And we know that all things work
painting so that I could view a larger version of it. together for good to them that love God,
Then, I just kept starring at it. I started to feel as to them who are the called according to
though Jesus was starring back at me, and speaking to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).
me. I knew then, that the Holy Spirit had lead me to
that website. I immediately searched for the artists BRYAN LYNCH
email address to ask his permission to use his Artwork
on the front cover of my magazine. Bryan Lynch is a young gifted 24 year old Landscape
It was a pleasure communicating with Bryan & Christian Artist. Bryan is a graduate of Sacramento
Lynch, the Artist who displays his God-given talent and State University, where he received his Bachelor of
gifts with excellence. I expressed how God had given Arts Degree in Art Studio, and minor in Business
me a vision to develop this magazine called “Visions,” Administration, in May 2001. He has been married to

8 April/May 2003
nquering King
his Landscape and Christian Art Work
Kim Lynch for three years. Kim and Bryan were (high medium of choice was oils. During Bryan’s first year
school sweethearts) they have no kids right now, but in college he studied many subjects, but in 1998
desire to in the future. Bryan currently works for Bryan’s passion for painting was once again
Pinnacle Telecommunications, as a CADD drafter. He reinforced. He was inspired by the work of “Thomas
and his wife live in Roseville, CA (15 miles above Blackshear,” a well known artist whose work of art,
Sacramento) Bryan had lived called “Forgiven,” had
in Los Angeles until he was aroused Bryan’s passion
ten years old, then his parents for painting. Bryan
moved to Auburn, CA. His expresses it this way, “It
parents are Mr. & Mrs. Craig wasn’t just the artistic
and Lorette Lynch. Bryan has ability of the artist that
two younger brothers, Keith struck me, but the
and Jay. Bryan explained that emotional aspect as well,
he received Jesus when he I can’t quite put it into
was a little boy, and that he words, but I felt the tug
renewed his faith and was in my spirit that art was
baptized when he was 18 something that God
years old. Bryan also wanted me to do.” So
explained that it was when he the next three years
had recommitted himself to Bryan had intensely
the Lord that brought him studied art, and fully
where he is today, and now developed his skills in
the Lord is unveiling the many the art field. Bryan
talents within him. Bryan began to take a stand in
attends Celebration faith and believe that
Community Fellowship, a God had given him this
church that is 2½ years old, gift. Bryan said, “I
and has 300 members. finally explored my own
t was a pleasure artistic voice that God

I being able to
interview Bryan Lynch. I would like to
share with you how the Lord has ordered
Bryan’s steps. Bryan expressed that he
had been creative in art since he was a kid, and
Top: Sense of
Beauty by
Bryan Lynch
Bryan
public
began
by taking
had set in my heart.”
getting
part
his name out in the
in art shows,
exhibitions, concerts, and presenting his
artwork at his church home. In May
seriously began pursuing it when he was a freshman in 2002, Bryan really began to promote his artwork to the
high school. He was able to explore different mediums public, and God’s blessings started to flourish in many
and styles, ranging from pencil to pastel, but his ways. His Christian prints are currently being sold in
several
April/May 2003 9
 Cover Story
Christian bookstores in the area that he lives. Bryan
stated that he trusts that his artwork will expand
outside the area, and he believes that God will enlarge
his territory in God’s time frame. Bryan is currently
apart of various websites that sell his art. His
landscapes have recently been accepted into some
galleries, and he will continue to explore more galleries.
I asked Bryan what inspires him and he replied, “To
pursue and create the type of art that God desires of
me, and the plans that I believe God has for me,
inspires me to seek him more in everything I do,
especially art. He desires to do great things through us,
but if we don’t seek and honor him, we will miss out on
his blessings and plans for us.” These are just a few
of Bryan’s favorite scriptures:
Psalm 37:4
“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you
the desires of your heart. Commit your ways to him,
trust in him also, and He shall bring it to pass.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11
“God may count you worthy of his calling, and that
by his spirit, He may fulfill every good purpose of
yours and act prompted by your faith.”
Ephesians 3:20
“And to Him who is able to do immeasurably more
that we can ever
dream or imagine,
according to the
power that is
within us.”
B
ryan
further
explains
what
inspires him, “It
amazes me to think
that as I strive to be
loyal to God that He
desires to show himself strong on my Top: Love of A
behalf. This changes the way I think Conquering
King-shown on
as far as not putting limits on what cover-by Bryan
God can do. God’s promises give me Lynch
hope, faith, and purpose in my art. It
is my desire to use my time, talents
and treasures for him and his kingdom. It may be a
cliché at times, but I really believe this. Thus, it gives
me great joy to create and serve God with my artistic
10 April/May 2003
‘Love of Our Conquering King’ Prints
available:
16x20" - $55.00
8x10" - $22.00
Iris-Giclee Prints on Arches Paper
Contact Information:
blynch777@hotmail.com
Phone Number: 916-772-4948
www.absolutearts.com/bryanlynch
talent.” Bryan states that God writes our skills, abilities
and talents in us, and it is our responsibility to develop
our talent and use iit to bring glory to God.
I thought that Bryan’s “Work of Art,” “Love of Our
Conquering King,” was simply a Masterpiece, and I
know that others will too, so I asked Bryan to explain
how this piece came together, and here is what he said:
LOVE OF OUR CONQUERING KING
This piece came together while I was working on
another piece entitled ‘Blessed Nation.’ As I was
working, I began to visualize Jesus’ face that I had
previously drawn, with a transparent, illuminated cross
over it. The piece is a combination of pencil drawing
and computer enhancement. To start, I scanned my
pencil drawing into my computer. On the computer, I
began to develop the cross, color and light. When I
include aspects of art on the computer, it is my goal for
it to not look computer generated. I believe that this
can be somewhat distracting and lessen the emotional
aspect of what one is seeing. I use the computer
program Painter 7. The important thing for me is
creating something that emotionally interacts with the
viewer. Creating the piece was very smooth and
everything just came together incredibly well.
Summarizing, I wanted the overall emotion of
‘Love of our Conquering King’ to speak on a deeper,
intimate level. One can feel both the love and power
of Jesus as He senses the agony ahead, yet also the
victory in store, as He will conquer death and the cross
by resurrecting from the grave.”
Here are just a few of Bryan’s favorite
Contemporary Artists, Danny Hahlbohm, Ovanes
Berberian, Robert Wee, and Impressionist Masters:
Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne. I asked Bryan what he
does when he is not painting, he explained that he
spends time with his wife Kim, and they both enjoy
music, movies, spending time with family, outdoors,
traveling, and most of all finding time to praise God for
the gifts and blessings he has given to them. I also
asked Bryan was he a leader or a follower?
“I would describe myself as a leader by nature.
I am not afraid in taking chances and going against the
flow of culture. I want to be the artist that God
designed me to be, and I thrive on the challenge of
trying to develop my own individual artistic voice. I
attended Promise Keepers in October 2002.
Something that one of the speakers said really struck
me. He expressed how important it is as Christians to
pursue significance over success. When we put
success over significance, we can miss out on some of
God’s plans and blessings that He has for us, but when
we pursue significance, He can use us in a powerful
way and we can experience more success than we
could imagine.”
“I try to keep this in mind everyday with my
artistic endeavors.” VCM
Linda C. T ar
Tar
ardydy is a F Frr eelance W riter/
Writer/
A uthor
uthor.. She is the Publisher o off this
magazine, Visions Christian
Magazine
Magazine.. Ms Ms.. T ar
Tar dy curr
ardy ently liv
currently
lives
in LLando
ando
andovv er
er,, Maryland and attends
Jericho City o off Pr aise-85
Praise-85
aise-850 01 Spectrum
Driv e- LLando
Drive- ando
andov v er
er,, Maryland.
Out of the
OVERFLOW
q of the Heart
by Penelope Allen White
ave you noticed that sometimes we say
H things from our mouths that are not really in
our hearts? The prophet Jeremiah said that
the heart is deceitful.
If we listen to people long enough, we
will eventually hear what’s in their hearts. This verse
tells us that what comes out of our mouths is a spillover
of what’s in our hearts. There is a connection between
the two. Always know that God sees the heart.
Though we may try to cover up what’s in our heart-
because we feel we
have to be “Out of the overflow of the
guarded and not heart the mouth speaks”
let people know MATTHEW 12:34 NIV
“Out of the heart, the mouth
how hurt, angry, speaks”-KJV
rejected, disappointed,
or even how happy we are.
One of the matriarchs of our church had been
bedridden for many years. Her speech was very
limited because of a stroke; yet, I always knew what
was in her heart because her mouth said ‘THANK/
THANK/THANK-anyhow Thank God” and GOOD-
GOOD-GOD” she’s saying God is good. What a
testimony -that even in what we might call trying
circumstances, what’s in her heart and in her mouth
was PRAISE TO OUR GOD.
Sometimes when I overhear my students say
something that is inappropriate (and I seem to hear
everything), they immediately want to apologize and
say, “I didn’t mean that “or “it just slipped” when in
reality the words have only reflected what the heart
condition is. If we say they slipped out-it’s because
we have been trying so hard to keep them in, but the
words were in the heart all along. Let us then submit
and admit. Acknowledge that we can not clean our
es
own hearts-only the blood of Jesus can do that and
then submit our hearts, mouths, and every part of
ourselves to the authority of the Lord Jesus. Then and
only then can wholesome and holy things come from
our mouths because that is what will be in our hearts.
PRA YER-Let the wor
PRAYER-Let ds of my mouth and the
words
meditation of my hear
heartt be acceptable in Your
Your
sight, O Lord. PRAISE GOD! Amen VCM
©2002 Penelope Allen White. Permission for use available upon
request
Scripture
“The Lord does not see as
man sees; for man looks at
the outward appearance, but
the Lord looks at the heart”
1 Samuel 16:7
April/May 2003 11
 Poetry Corner
Poem of the Month Jesus Christ is my first love. I've got to keep pressing, pressing my way,
For Jesus Christ is my first love everyday.

“Remembering I love Him because He first loved me.

He has been a true and faithful friend,

My Since I accepted him as my Lord and Savior.

He is always there,

First And never leaves me with burdens I cannot bear.

He leads and walks with me,

Love” So I can spiritually see.

He comforts and talks with me along life's stony road,

Which helps me press toward the finish line - my heavenly abode.
words by
What an honor to experience His awesome glory.
K a r men Bo o k e r His Word is the most beautiful life story. VCM

Before you were born Yet, you propelled to

journey “Ano
I prepared a journey
For you; A Universe of iniquity
ther
I lifted up the Sands
Now my brethren
Days
To cover you gracefully
So that when you Arise!
It’s Another Days Jour-
ney! Jour
You will have the
Inheritance of your
Father;
©Copyright June 2001 VCM w or ds b
ords by ney”
y L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy

You walked upon

The works of my hand
And played in it’s mist!
We have step over into God’s world now
You wandered in the We are no longer conformed to the things of
Fields of green foliage this world. We have been saved by grace, and not by
In the Garden of Eden Our own good works, we are covered now by the
You ventured through blood
The streams of Ethiopia Of Jesus, we are being raised by God the Father
Into the Children of Obedience “EPITOME OF
I instilled in you When we were once the children
My laws; that which
You obeyed;
Of disobedience, not knowing the w or ds b
ords byy
covenant of promise, without hope, living in
darkness, held in captivity
In you I created Before God can move us to a high level in Him
Sapphire, emeralds Before we see our breakthrough
And Gold, you withheld We are tried in the fire
The Glory; We are shown the things in which God

12 April/May 2003
 of G od” “As the appearance of the
And God sends his angels,
“C h i l d Ta r
d y more than 72,000 angels
bow

wo
rd s
by
L .C. charge over my life,
that is in the cloud in the
to keep me and
day of rain
bare me up in their hands
“Untitled”
You are a Child of God so was the appearance of
before I dash my foot
words by Penelope White
Marvelously made against the stone
the brightness
By God Psalm 91:11-12.
round about. This was the Although things are not perfect
If you can feel
appearance of the likeness Because of trial or pain
The work of God’s hand There’s a rainbow in my of the glory of the Lord.” Continue in thanksgiving
The stars room Do not begin to blame
The Moon across the ceiling, above Ever since that day, Even when the times are hard
In Your heart the window I looked for the bow in
Spiritually in vision
God’s light upon
it’s pink, blue “just
the sky.
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
The water, then
You are a Child of God
and white
I know it’s asOne week after talking to Hold on to what you know
the lady, Imagine life without His love
Marvelously made there to protect me
the as I was leaving Joy would cease to be
home Keep thanking Him for all the
By God
Handcrafted from
I met an lady on the
train angel it had just
finished
things
Head to toe
Placed in a garde
who carried a message
from God for me
said” raining,
I looked up, and there it
Love imparts to thee
Move out of “Camp Complaining”
Where the Nile No weapon that is known
River Flow she said, “On the day of was,
On earth can yield the power
You are a Child of God Rain” “On the day of Rain, Praise can do alone
Marvelously made look for the rainbow a pink, white and blue
so I did Quit looking at the future
By God rainbow, Redeem the time at hand
Divinely setup to lead the same as the one in my Start every day with worship
I went home and the
Marvelously made room.
lady called To “thank” is a command
By God
and prayed with me, and I knew that it was there Until we see Him coming
Saved by the blood as a sign of protection,
said, Victorious in the sky
Of the Lamb with a and promises from
Christ-like mind
“God wants to protect, We’ll run the race with gratitude
establish and ground you the Lord. Xalting God most high
Fearfully, wonderfully,
Marvelously turn to his Word and Just as the Angel said... Yes, there’ll be good times and yes
Obviously, designed read,” Ezekiel 1:28, and © Copyright May 2002 some will be bad, but...
By God… VCM it said, VCM Z ion waits in glory...where none
© August 15, 2002
wor ds by L.C. T
words ar
Tar dy
ardy
are ever sad! VCM

many prayers,
Has delivered us from, because God the father Penelope White
Don’t want us to forget where he brought us from, Numbers 6:24-26
For this reason we are able to see the widespread
of work

THIS JOURNEY” That still needs to be done to those who are held
in bondage, living in darkness,
Then are we able as Children of Obedience
L.C. Tar
Tar dy
ardy to minister effectively
the Word of God.
It is through our faith, testimonies that we are able to
bless others, win souls, and bring God glory!!
which is the epitome of this journey.

To God be all the Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

April/May 2003 13
 ADVANCNG
IN GOD
God’s desire is for us to grow. This is clearly indicated
through the Bible. Some scriptures that reflect this are:
II Peter 3:18
I Peter 2:1-3
Ephesians 1:17
Hebrews 5:13-14
HEBREWS 5:13-14 SAYS:
Strong meat are principles that are beyond the
foundational principles of the doctrine of Christ.
Hebrews 6:1-2 outlines these principles. It
reads:
Therefore leaving the principles of
the doctrine of Christ, let us go in
unto perfection; not laying again
the foundation of repentance from God’s desire is
dead works, and of faith toward
God, of the doctrine of baptisms
and of laying on of hands, and of
for us to grow.
resurrection of the dead, and of
Eternal judgment.
The Greek word for “perfection” is telesphoreo, which
means to be a hearer to completion; maturity.
So you see God wants us to strive for maturity in the
knowledge of Him.
How Do We Do This?
By reading, studying, and meditating on the Word of
God. II Timothy 2:15 admonishes us to study. It says:
Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a
good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed
when God examines your work. Know what his Word
says and means.
The Greek word for “spoudazo” means to make effort,
be earnest, be diligent, labour. So we must seek to
make time to read the word with understanding, on a
consistent basis. We must be consistently consistent,
14 April/May 2003
q
by Karmen Booker
Author
not consistently inconsistent. It is not only important to
read and study the Word of God, but to meditate on the
Word of God.
Joshua 1:8 reads: This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate on it
day and night, then thou shall have good success, and
thou shalt make thy way prosperous.
The Hebrew word for meditate is “haw-gaq” which
means to ponder; to think about carefully; deliberate.
After using the R=reading, S=studying, M=meditating
method, we must obey the Word of God. This requires:
A. Walking by Faith - Habbakuk 2:4; Hebrews 11:6
B. Fulfilling our God-give obligation
Ecclesiastes 12:13; I Samuel 15:22
C. Walking in God’s footsteps -
Jeremiah 7:23-24 and
II Thessalonians 2:15
When you attach yourself to God, you
follow (obey) where he leads. God
becomes the leader, instead of you.
However, you can detach yourself from
God by disobeying his Word. Disobedience causes one
to digress (go backward). As long as you are going
backward, you cannot walk forward. The two
directions are diametrically opposed.
Once you start going backwards, you open the door for
Satan to wreak havoc in your life through deception
and confusion. James 3:16 says: For where envying
and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
However, there is a way to turn and go forward and
get back on the straight and narrow path that leads to
life - eternal life. That way is REPENTANCE.
Benefits of Maturing
1. Discernment between things of God and the things
of the Devil. I once heard a pastor say this on the
radio, “Once you know the truth, you can recognize a
life.”
April/May 2003 15
2. Greater Revelation
3. Wisdom
PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK OF THE
TOWARD
HIGH CALLING IN CHRIST JESUS
Definition of Wisdom
Wisdom is knowledge and understanding. (Proverbs 2:6
and Proverbs 1:5 and 7)

Purpose of Wisdom
q
(Embrace New Technology)
Technology)
by
by B.R. White

Attention church leaders!!! It is very important that the

body of Christ is up to date with technology that is here
now and technology that will be arriving in the near future.
A. To be able to walk uprightly in honor to God. God For the past eighteen years I have been a sound engineer/
is pleased and greatful when you follow His command- audio consultant in the metropolitan Washington D.C.
area. As new technology come and go, one thing that I
ments (Proverbs 4:5-6 and 7-9)
have found that remains consistent is that churches in
general are reluctant to embrace new audio technology. On
B. Benefits of Wisdom are:
average it takes between five to ten years for audio
technology used in the entertainment industry to be used
1. Avoid a lot of problems and negativity in your life in the church. We have CD players and DVD players in
by making right choices. our home, let us now as churches begin to utilize these
2. Bless other people through the wisdom you have new technologies?
gained through counseling and praying with others.
For the past 25 years cassette tapes have been the media
3. Help others to change their lives.
of choice for communicating God’s Word in the church.
Excluding houses of worship, when was the last time you
Continue to Seek Wisdom purchased a cassette rather than a CD? Has your teenage
daughter or son ever purchase a cassette recording? One
A. Stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to of the purposes of our church audio ministries is to
righteousness and communicate and disseminate Gods word. How can we
peace. If you accomplish that with a media that fewer and fewer are
don’t you’ll veer using?
off the path, and
on to the path of Let’s consider the facts. A good quality blank duplication
darkness, that cassette, with case and preprinted label cost about one
leads to much dollar. For that same amount of money two CD with cases
trouble and total and labels can be purchased. A high-speed stereo
destruction. cassette duplicator (the selection are becoming fewer and
(Matthew 7:13- fewer) that make two to three copies in seven minutes cost
14) about $2,200. For a few hundred dollars more, about $3,200
you can purchase a high speed CD duplicator that can
make seven CDs in three minutes. With CD you have
B. Seek wisdom
digital sound, no tape hiss, no tape breakage, and a greater
like you would a
audio frequency range. CDs are sold at the retail level at a
hidden treasure.
price higher than cassettes.
Keep searching
until you find it, My last encouragement is to begin considering DVDs now.
and once you do, It has been estimated that within the next five years or so
apply it in your the VHS tape with go by the way of the Beta tape. Have
life daily. (Prov- you noticed that fewer and fewer movies are available on
erbs 8:10-11 and videotape at your local video rental outlet? Recordable
Proverbs 4:7) VCM DVD will be the replacement technology. Now is an
opportunity for the church to be leaders in media technol-
ogy and not followers as we get the gospel of Jesus Christ
out to the world. VCM

©2003 B.R.White. Reprinted with author’s request.

16 April/May 2003
 Christ Is Enough For Me
The Lord can also be your caretaker and doctor in time of sickness

qby
He can heal any wound or take away any sickness.
by B.R. White

C
hrist is all I need in life. He is there when no for and others I have tried real hard to get. I learned
one else is there. He provides me with all that God will provide your needs in His own time.
my necessities or He places people in my There is no rushing Him at all if you’re not ready for
life that will help provide for me. He is my what He has in store for you then you will not receive
friend I can talk to him at any time and He can it. There are a lot of things I sought after in life and
provide me with advice wondered why I was not
like no other can. He can getting those things but
give me advice through through growth and
reviling it through His word maturity I realize that I
or by examples in life. His am not ready for those
word and guidance to me things and I may never
is complete and straight to be ready.
the point unlike others.
Earthly advice can be In conclusion, I want to
incomplete or inexperi- tell you about the
enced unlike the advice necessity that God can
from my heavenly Father. offer which no one else
can. That is the gift of
Christ can also provide eternal life. This is the
nourishment for my body. only thing that’s worth
We cannot survive on food living for- it is everything
alone to survive. We need you need. The things of
the word of God to nourish this earth will pass away
our souls. I thought I but eternal life is for an
needed three meals a day eternity. The simplest
to survive and be healthy. thing about it is that it is
When I choose to fast for the only thing God will
one week and only eat one meal a day and concen- consider you are ready for if you ask. If you ask, you
trated on the goodness of God and what He has done are ready. Other requests you may have to mature for
and is going to do for me I was not hungry during the them, but not this one. God is love and life and every-
day. I realized that reading the Word was all the thing I need to prosper. He is everything I need in this
nourishment I needed. life and the life to come.

The Lord can also be your caretaker and doctor in ©1999 author, Darius E. White. Permission to use granted upon
time of sickness He can heal any wound or take away request VCM
any sickness. The only thing that is required of us is
faith and belief in Him. He will also provide all you
need that is ok according to Him. There have been a
lot of things I have wanted in life. Some I have asked

April/May 2003
April/May 2003 1177
 Without the love of God in your life, ever ything you do,
everything
ever
everyy rrelationship
elationship that you encounter will be in vain.
adies and gentlemen! It is
L time for a wake-up call! The
way the world has taught
q by L.C. Tardy
you to love is not “real love.”
The kind of love we have known most
of our lives have been a “Selfish love,”
that’s right! A selfish love. Every one
of us is looking for someone else to love us the way
we want to be loved. Our relationships are based on
self-gratification, expectation and role-playing. We
have actually forgotten how to love and, I will tell you
why. This is because when we left our first love, or
broke off the relationship from our very first love,
which is God. We became useless, so now we look
for others to make us feel useful, and loved. When
that person is not available, or we
don’t get what we are expecting
from that man or woman, we start
to feel alone, depressed, unloved,
unwanted. Here’s the worse part,
when that woman or man comes
home, there is a lack of communication
because your desires were not met; then
you both get into role-playing, pretending that there’s
something there, when it’s not. You become mentally
drained. So what do you do now? You start to look
for love outside of your relationship, setting yourselves
up for failure and pain again. Let me tell you sisters
and brothers something for your own good,
something that will benefit you for the rest of your
lives. First, let me ask you a question, “Do you think
that you could sacrifice your one and only child to die,
to save someone else’s life? That’s unimaginable!
Right? Well, God loves you so much that he gave his
one and only son to die for you, that’s right, for you,
and whosoever believe in him shall not perish, but have
eternal life, John 3:16. Jesus said, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but
by me.” (John 14:6) Until you decide to open your
hearts to the greatest love ever, you will live in vain.
You are never going to know what “Real Love” is until
you are fulfilled, happy and content within yourselves.
The only way to obtain this kind of love and happiness
is through the love of Christ Jesus. Without the love of
God in your life, everything you do, every relationship
that you encounter will be in vain. Pastor Joel Peebles
at Jericho City of Praise said, “The area of your
misery is the area in which you lack a relationship with
Christ.” Again, I will say, until you decide to open your
heart to the greatest love ever, you will live in vain;
you will continue to live as bondwoman or man, held in
captivity of your own mind, living in complete dark-
ness. (Until you are satisfied with the love of God
18 April/May 2003
alone, learning to spend time with yourself and God)
You will never be free. This is your only path to
freedom in your life. Romans 12:2 “And, be not
conformed to the things of this world, but be trans-
formed by the renewing of your minds.” to prove what
is good and acceptable to God. Christ wants you to
feel loved at all times, not just part-time, but even
when you are alone, you will never feel alone because
you will know that Christ dwells in your heart at all
times. Christs love is unconditional (Agape-Love) He
said, in Matthew 28:20. “I am with you always, even
until the end of the world.” Now, sisters and brothers,
has anyone ever told you this in your lives, and meant
it from their hearts? Our total existence is nothing
without Christ, for without Him, we are simply living a
life without purpose. Did you know that we were
created with a purpose in God’s mind and made in his
image? That we are his masterpiece, Wow! Do you
really know what that means? That means that we
are “Heirs of God,” and “Joint Heirs,” with
Christ Jesus, which means we have an “Inher-
itance.” That inheritance is wisdom, righteous-
ness, sanctification, and redemption, (redeemed from
the curse of the law) so that we can follow the law of
God, unconditional love, peace, freedom, salvation, and
prosperity for all eternity. All of this comes in a
“Grace-package.” Now, this is something that we will
never get living in this world without Christ. Do you
understand? God’s love is real, and so is his love for
you, but we must obey his commandments. The Lord
said in Deuteronomy 11:13 “So if you faithfully obey
the commands I am giving you today-to love the
LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart
and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your
land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that
you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.” If
you do not know Christ, you need to take the time right
now, and repeat these words: I (say your name) come
to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus. I know that I
am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I confess with
my mouth the Lord Jesus. I believe in my heart that
you (GOD) raised Jesus from the dead. I now invite
Jesus into my heart as my Lord. Thank You, Lord, for
saving me. Amen.
Fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace longsuffering,
goodness, faith, loyalty, honesty, gentleness, meekness,
and temperance. VCM
Linda C. Tar
Tar dy is a F
ardy Frr eelance W riter/A
Writer/A uthor
uthor.. She is
riter/Author
the Publisher of this magazine, Visions Christian
Magazine
Magazine.. Ms
Ms.. T ar
Tar dy curr
ardy ently liv
currently es in LLando
lives ando
andovv er
er,,
Maryland and attends Jericho City o off Pr aise-85
Praise-85
aise-85001
Spectrum Driv e- LLando
Drive- ando
andov v er
er,, Maryland.
 “GOD of My Silent Tears”
q by
by Nikki Jones
God of My Silent Tears, by Yvonne
Majett Cooper is an up-close and extremely personal
story of how, in the midst of the storms, God will never
leave you nor forsake you. Cooper tells us in blatant
detail how God took her through a wilderness experi-
ence, the test, to take her to the life that He had
purposed for her, the testimony. This story gives a true
account of how the Lord can turn our Test into our
Testimony, and touch the lives of a multitude of people,
regardless of race or religion.
The foreword done by Cynthia D. Lomax of Spread
the Word Ministries, truly captures the entire essence
of the book: Hebrews 13:5-6, Let your conversations
be without covetousness; and be content with such
things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave
thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may bodly say, The
Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do
unto me. As a reader, and a Christian, the amazingly
consistent level of faith that Cooper demonstrated from
beginning to end inspired me. I believe that when most
people hear of charges being brought against them,
they usually moved into a panic mode. Forgetting all
about the fact if God is for us, who then can be against
us?
Cooper sets the stage of the story by giving us a bit of
history about the prestigious career and lifestyle she
was living. she seemed to esteem herself highl,.
“based on the premise that she was a good person.”
Cooper states, “My family and friends held me in high
regard, and I held myself in high regard. If you want
to know the truth, I thought I was a honey bun and a
bag of chips.” In her mind, although she knew that
accepting gifts for favors, regardless of whether it was
before or after the deed,she rationalized her behavior
by telling herself that she was just helping people out.
Then God stepped in and allowed her to fall from her
self-proclaimed throne. Sometimes, when God wants
to pull us closer to Him, and remind us that He is in
control, He has to push us out on the edge where we
have to rely on Him. For Cooper, I would say this was
the edge.
But God knew what she could handle and what she
needed to give Him, the glory. God could have allowed
Cooper to just be thrown into jail, but He showed her a
continuous flow of favor. God allowed her to literally
go through this thing step-by-step. There were people
being used by God, even the prosecuting attorney, to
demonstrate that it would be only Him that could bring
her through.
Cooper’s journey to purpose led her from being a
prestigious Administrative Law Judge, to a convicted
felon, and into a Woman of God. The woman that God
called her to be. Over her eight months of incarcera-
tion in four different jail systems, you will experience a
very up close look at that journey.
After reading this wonderfully inspirational work, the
readers will find themselves rededicated and motivated
to continue in Faith in God and His promises. As I was
reading about Cooper’s jail experience, one scripture
kept coming to mind: “And do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and accept-
able and perfect will of God”(Romans 12:2, NKJV).
Because of Cooper’s obedience, and her humbling of
herself to share her testimony with the world, many
people, including those she shared cells with, will be
able to reflect on areas in their lives an walks with God
that need to be dealt with. Reading God of My Silent
Tears has been a truly eye opening experience. VCM
April/May 2003 19
20 April/May 2003
 “GOD AT WORK
When you are born
again, a whole new
process of birth begins.
The Spiritual process of birth
IN YOUR
is similar to the physical
process of birth, yet spiritual. God
raises you from a babe, to a child, to
a mature adult in Christ. You began to
LIFE”
see the works of God manifested in your
q q
life. You no longer conform to the doc-
trines of the princes of the air, or the things of
this world. “And be not conformed to this
world,” but be ye transformed by the renewing of b y L.C. Tar
your mind, that ye may prove what is good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2. You
become a new person, and the old person no longer exists in
you. You are now saved by grace, and delivered from the
darkness of this world, and placed into God’s marvelous
light. You are redeemed from the curse of the law, and
released to the blessings of Abraham. “Christ have re-
deemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for
us.” Galatians 3: 13. What this means is that we are no
longer under the laws of this world, but God’s Law, so
whatever we do, we are performing for an “Audience of
One,” and if it is not pleasing in the sight of God, you are
convicted by God, not the world. Now don’t get me wrong,
I’m not saying that you can go rob a bank, and because you
are not under the world’s law, that you won’t get arrested or
convicted. People in the world will chastise you, while God
is at work in your life. You see, God can’t come down here
and speak to you face-to-face, so he uses those in the
world, be it saved or unsaved. He will speak through the
biggest sinner on the streets, just to tell you that you need
to “Humble yourself.” so you need to know when God is
speaking, as well as whom he is speaking through. There-
fore, no matter what the circumstance is that surrounds you,
by performing for God, you are being humble and obedient,
having respect for God’s authority. You are being raised up
the righteous way; God is establishing and grounding you
to be mature adults in Christ; thereby knowing how to
respond to worldly matters. You can only know God’s
presence when you are walking in the Spirit, because the
flesh cannot understand the things of the spirit, and the
spirit cannot understand the things of the flesh. So during
the course of a day when you communicate with those who
are carnal, (have not submitted himself to Christ-walking in
the flesh) you have to keep in mind the things that your
Father God has taught you, and bear the infirmities of the
weak, and not please the flesh. Before I was “Born again” I
cared only about the things that pleased my flesh. I had no
shame or regard on what I did, but now my Father God
worketh in my life, and I obey because I am ashamed to do
what is unrighteous in the sight of God. Our Father said,
“What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now
ashamed? For
the end of those
things is death.”
Romans 6:21. Now my
Father God has taught me
that I am to perform for him
in the Spirit, and to be a servant
for Christ, and not a servant of
men, but to always be obedient and
humble as if I am serving the Lord. I
have been called to liberty, and will only
refrain liberty, only for an occasion to the
Tar dy
ardy flesh. It is through my faith that I am justified
by God, and receive his blessings. Therefore,
Galatians 3:14 tells me that I have received the
promise of the Spirit through faith.” Knowing this, I know
that God is at work in my life, because now I have access by
faith into the grace, and he said in his Word, “Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ,” by whom also we have access by faith
into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God. “And he also said in Romans 5:1-5, “And not
only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that
tribulation worketh patience, and patience, experience, and
experience, hope, and hope makes us not ashamed, because
the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy
Ghost which is given unto us.” It is through the grace of
God that I no longer bear the works of the flesh, but we
should bear the fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and
temperance. Galatians 5:22. Lastly, I have seen the power of
the Spirit of God at work in my life, he said in 2 Corinthians
10:4-6 “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds,
casting down imaginations, and every high thing that
exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing
into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, and
having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when
your obedience is fulfilled.” You know that God is present
when you can rejoice in the midst of being attacked by the
enemy, because God told you in Deuteronomy 1:17 “Be not
to be afraid of their faces that he is with me always.” God
has taught you the “Power of Prayer in Ephesians 6:18
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and
supplication for all Saints.”
So you need to let the power and peace of God rule in your
heart, know when God is at work in your life, and perform for
him only. After all, God’s purpose in raising you again is so
that you can deliver others who are held in captivity, living
in darkness, and offer them hope. Your primary purpose is
to shine your light in the lives of others, win souls for God,
and bring him the glory. That’s why we say:
TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY!! VCM
April/May
April/May2003
2003 221
1

q
by Sherise L. Shields
They seemed to be calling me. Tostitos. Key Lime
flavor. Sesame seed sticks. Carbohydrates. Any
kind. Crackers. Bread and peanut butter. These are
healthy snacks, right? So what’s the harm in eating
them? Even if I did finish almost half of the package in
one sitting. No one was watching. I’ll put them away
if someone comes down the stairs. No one will know,
right? Sure, they’ll notice that a bunch were gone, but
what does it matter? No one will think it was me.
Who cares that I had a piece of cake at work? No
one saw what I had there, right? And no one knows
what I had here, right?
FIT BY GOD’S DESIGN
No one cares...
Only me.
And God.
Oh, I feel so bad. Why did I do this? Why did I eat
so many? Now my body feels icky and my spirit feels
shaky. Why did I do that? Father, please forgive me!
I didn’t intend to do that. They were good, but I tried
to stop. I’m so sick of this happening! Why me? I
just wanted a few chips. But as I watched that
“Cosby Show” episode on Nickelodeon and then “As
Told By Ginger,” I just sat here, snacking. It’s like a
tradition. And then I had some dessert to have
something sweet. Just me, “Ginger” and my dessert.
And You, too, Father. I feel so baaaaad. I promised
before that this wouldn’t happen again, but it did.
Why?
PLEASE forgive me!!! I did not intend to do this—
again! I’m so sick of this!
This scene may be familiar to you. It happens over
and over again to many women—and men. Even
22 April/May 2003
children. So many promises. So many temptations.
And so many disappointments.
That is the enemy’s task: to get us to do the very thing
that we promised our Heavenly Father and ourselves
that we would not do (often many times before). And
after we fall into his trap, the enemy tries to make us
feel guilty about it.
Why do so many of us fail? Why do we keep falling
into that same trap? Often many of us go through this
cycle over and over and over and over… often ending
with the same promise: “Lord, I promise I will not do
this again.” And this prayer for forgiveness: “I
know—my body is a temple, and right now, my temple
is defiled. Lord, please forgive and deliver me.”
Yet, two weeks later, it happens again.
At the time that I am writing this, I am facing the
enemy’s particular attack on me to try to get me to
overeat. Why? Because he knows God has
preordained designated plans for my life and my body.
(Romans 8:29-30) So he attacks my appetite, making
me think I am still hungry, when I actually am not.
Instead, I am walking in his form of
hunger: gluttony. Also because my
flesh wants to do what it wants to do,
and what I want it to do, in my spirit, it
will not do, as the Apostle Paul said.
When I want to do good, evil is there.
I want to do God’s will, but there is
something waging war against the
law of my mind and making me prisoner to the law of
sin. (see Romans 7:14-23)
Knowing these things should make it somewhat easier
to attack him, since I know that he is doing this out of
fear. Yet, since the love of the Lord is more than
enough and He has equipped me to handle temptation,
to be honest with you, it makes me feel worse about
not following through with my promises to my Abba
Daddy. So I just feel badly.
“I know He wants nothing but the best for me, and I
have fallen. Again.” I say this over and over.
Then what began as the conviction of the Holy Spirit
(which had ceased once I laid a repentant spirit before
the Lord) becomes twisted by the enemy to become
guilt, which I feel towards myself. Then I begin to
wallow in it.
This time it lasts for an hour.
After feeling guilty for an hour, I realize (yet again)
that this was not of God. He loves me. It is not His
desire to make me feel guilty after I have already
asked Him for forgiveness! Only the enemy does that.
Jesus came to free me from shame and guilt. (Romans
8:1-2) Since it is not from Him, I shake it off. Or I try
to. I pray. I sing praise songs. I read the Word to find
Scripture to free me up from this bondage that keeps
coming up over and over. After 20 minutes, it is over.
Until the next time.
Yes, this is a cycle that I lived for years. When I had
my own apartment, it was a ritual. Tostitos and TV.
When I moved back home to live with my parents for a
bit, it became dessert and cartoons.
Yet through it all, God sustained me. He kept me from
gaining weight. He kept me healthy. He knew the
battle I was up against. I could not fight it alone. So
He always gave me the power to resist temptation. He
always provided an out. Yet, for some reason, I did not
want to take that out. I did everything I could to stay in
the will of my flesh; in my will. I felt helpless, yet I
knew that God was doing something behind the scenes.
Though it resulted in the same thing, each time I knew
I was closer to a breakthrough.
Several times, I even went to the altar for
deliverance.
I WANTED TO BE FREE FROM THIS
DEMON OF GLUTTONY!
I hated it so much.
I knew God would deliver me.
I was not alone.
Freedom!
Several times, I even went to the altar for deliverance.
I WANTED TO BE FREE FROM THIS DEMON OF
GLUTTONY! I hated it so much. I knew God would
deliver me. But what was taking so long? I knew He
would deliver me again, like He’s done so many times
before. In my spirit, I could see it, but what do I dountil
it is manifested?
I kept taking the spiritual tests that kept coming my
way. Some I passed. Others I failed. In the
meantime, I soaked up every lesson about self-control,
overeating—anything that would strengthen me against
that thing. I had heard once before that in order to
fight, you’ve got to be prepared. You’ve got to be
strong. You’ve got to be able to stand against the
enemy’s tricks—WITH THE WORD OF GOD. So
that’s what I used against it: “I am more than a
conqueror.” (see Romans 8:37) “Flee from
temptation.” “Place no other gods before Me.”
“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word
that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Then one day, my desire to sit in front of the television
stuffing my face ceased. God had taken away my
desire to overeat!
In retrospect, I am glad that He allowed me to see that
period. Sure, the temptations still come, but I attack in
the same way: with The Word of God. “Therefore,
there is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of
the Spirit of Life set me free from the law of sin and
death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
And I feel so FREE! “Why allow something to bind
you up that cannot help you, but only hurt you?” I
realized. “For if you live by the sinful nature, you will
die…” (Romans 8:13a)… Diabetes, heart disease,
obesity, depression-the list goes on…
From this experience, I learned an important lesson:
Find the ROOT of that issue and attack it. “…But if
by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body
you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of
God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:13b)
God does not want us to be in bondage. Sometimes
we overeat because we are depressed. Ask Him to
show you the root of that thing. He will reveal that
root to you and He will remove it, showing you what to
replace it with. “You have been set free from sin and
have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:18)
Joy, peace, self-control are yours. Good health is yours.
It may take a lot of prayer and fasting and belief that
He Who promised is faithful and just to perform it.
Just believe. Walk in it. I stand in agreement with you
that the Lord will give you a release from that
bondage—or any other stronghold that is holding you
back. It is not yours. Speak life over it, take authority
over it, give it to the Lord and watch Him work!
You see, we are not fighting against flesh and blood,
but principalities. For though we live in the world, we
do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we
fight with are not weapons of the world. (2
Corinthians 10:3-5)
There are some demons that are trying to hold you
back. You know them as addictions. The enemy wants
us to be hurt and depressed because he is simply
jealous of the place that we have in God. So he throws
things at us that we think are unconquerable.
Let me tell you what I heard Pastor Tony Evans
April/May 2003 23
 minister so eloquently recently: the term addiction is
the world’s way of telling you that you are not able to
control the thing. (The enemy actually tricked us into
thinking that these “addictions” are things that we
have to just maintain or simply get counseling for. But
we know that the devil is a liar, right? So anything
that comes from him or belongs to him is wrong.)
These things are actually strongholds. For example,
when we eat for emotional reasons like fear or to
relieve stress, we’ve trained our senses to believe that
food is meeting an emotional need in our lives, instead
of turning to God. A stronghold can be drugs, alcohol,
or sex as well.
Think of your mind as an open field. Next, imagine
the enemy tossing building materials like bricks and
wood to build the foundation, then the first floor of a
house. We can either hit those bricks and wood slabs
into the sea, using the Word of God or the NAME OF
JESUS (and never let satan build) or we can allow the
bricks and wood to pile up. If we let him build, the
enemy has set up shop in the mind. He has a nice,
cozy little bedroom inside of the house and a kitchen
where he can cook up whatever he wants and feed it
to you. Literally. Those pieces of wood and bricks
are the thoughts that he throws to tempt us to eat a
little more of we know we shouldn’t have.
Our flesh wants to take the road of least resistance,
so we often do not stop him, said Marty Copeland,
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s daughter-in-law,
during a recent series on Health and Nutrition on the
“Believer’s Voice of Victory” program.
We now have a stronghold.
And it is hard for Christians, because everything we
plan—all of our events—are centered around food, as
Copeland also pointed out. The world has other
outlets, like drugs and alcohol, that become their
strongholds. But for Christians, who tend to not turn
to sex, drugs or alcohol for relief, food becomes our
stronghold.
We need to realize that we do not need the food, but
we need to turn to God and pray about a situation.
(I’m speaking to myself too) and the Holy Spirit is
going to begin to remind us to do that.
“For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the
Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful
nature,” so they are in constant battle. (Galatians
5:17) During this period I learned a vital lesson:
Often, it is not even the enemy who is turning us to
food, but our own sinful nature-our flesh.
24 April/May 2003
What You Eat is Essential.
Now it’s time to MOVE!!!
Tae Bo founder Billy Blanks uses this Scripture to
remind you of a way to view fitness:
“You Walk By Faith; Not By Sight.”
The Surgeon General says that more exercise will
be the difference between a healthy adult/child
and a non-healthy one.
Here are some ways to spruce up your day with
exercise:
• Take a brisk 15-30 minute walk daily
• Walk the dog, sweep the floor,
• take the stairs, wash the car,
• play tag with your kids, bike, swim,
• play sports, walk with a pedometer.
First, it starts off as a little extra piece of cake. Then
it becomes not wanting to take a walk but to sit in front
of the television instead. Before we know it, we are
allowing him to build more and more, as we eat
whatever we want, not consulting the Lord first.
Eventually, we become too tired to exercise. This
continues for a week, a month, two months, a year…
(I’m speaking to myself too!)
The stronghold has grown. Some of us have allowed
him to build apartments in our minds; others ramblers,
and a group of us, mansions. But the Word of God
says that no matter how much we have allowed the
enemy to set up shop, the Lord is more than able to
free us from it.
Watch the sweet Hurricane Holy Spirit blow that
house to shreds, from the foundation to the top floor,
and blow all of his remnants into the sea. Then He
will guide you as you use the power that is inside of
you to overcome any temptation.
That means we can rebuke them, cast them into the
sea, ask God to remove them from the ROOT, so they
will never return again, in the Name Lord Jesus. Then
we can simultaneously release the sweet virtues of
self-control, peace and joy to work in our lives.
Remember: We are more than conquerors through
Christ Jesus who loves us. And we are not to
conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans
12:2a)
You see, the world’s way is to believe that the
addiction is something that we cannot control. That
 SOME WORD TO HELP YOU FIGHT THE
ENEMY AND CONTROL YOUR FLESH
FLESH::
1 Corinthians 6:19
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?
Psalms 37:23
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he
delighteth in his way.
Galatians 5:17-18
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the
other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Romans 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness.
Galatians 5:22-23 (particularly self-control)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
we have to live with it, hide it or be ashamed of it. But
the Apostle Paul said he gloried in adversity or
weakness. Because where we are weak, God makes
us strong! (Another lie of the enemy has been
dispelled. HALLELUJAH!!!)
Also, look at how the world glories in fast food and
food items that are not healthy for us. These things
are killing our bodies slowly. People say that it is okay
to eat it if we do it in moderation. Sure, moderation is
the key, however, so many of our foods are so
chemical-laced that I am not certain of their true
identities. When I read the backs of packages, my
question is: Am I eating Food or someone’s Science
Experiment?
“Why would I even want a smidgen of that inside of
me?” I ask myself.
I know. It is difficult to change behaviors that many of
us have grown up doing.
You’ve been there. You decide: “This is the day that I
am going to stop eating junk.” But no more than two
minutes later, you see that burger joint on the corner a
few blocks away from your job, where you shared so
many fond memories with a bacon and Swiss burger.
Then you pass by a fried chicken shack, your usual
dinner spot. Next to that is the Chinese place where
you’ve spent many dollars for “Fun Fridays.” Forget
about the oil, grease and other stuff that dominates the
recipe, masking the vegetables that we think are
healthy. Add to that the huge portion sizes… HELP!
“But I made a promise to stop…” You think to
yourself, unconvincingly. “Oh, one more won’t hurt.”
So, you make a turn into one of your favorite spots.
The flesh won one more time. These foods would be
fine to eat this if it was truly created in the way that
God intended our bodies to digest it: with olive oil and
other natural ingredients. Unfortunately, that is not
always the case.
Sometimes these foods are made to make you eat
more than one serving—so you can buy more. Fast
food restaurants are set up to make you return over
and over, making the doctors richer and richer off of
sick people. It is a set up of the enemy. But, being in
Christ, we see all of his tricks and can act accordingly.
I am not claiming any of that for you, because the devil
is a liar. But I see you eating healthily, for your body, in
the Name Lord Jesus. It is my desire that you know
the truth and for doctors to see less diabetes and heart
disease patients as a result of diet—something that we
can control.
A December 2001 U.S. surgeon general’s report stated
that More than 61 percent of American adults are
overweight, and 27 percent of them-50 million people-
are obese. We can stop the threat to our health. The
Framingham Heart Study shows that obesity doubles
the risk of heart failure in women. Other facts show
that a man with 22 extra pounds has a 75 percent
greater chance of having a heart attack than one at
healthy weight. Gaining just 11 to 18 pounds doubles
the risk of developing Type II diabetes-an illness that
has increased by nearly 50 percent in only the past
decade.
Weight is also affecting our children. The percentage
of 6-to- 11-year-olds who are overweight has nearly
doubled in two decades, and for adolescents the
percentage has tripled. Pediatricians are treating
conditions rarely before diagnosed in young people,
according to an August 2002 U.S. News article.
Lynn Swann, Chairman of the President’s Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports, stated that America
spends $117 billion a year on medical costs related to
overweight and obesity . . . And an additional $100
billion on the costs associated with Type II diabetes.
What if we had that $200 billion available for other
things? Swann asked. He mentioned needs of the
country, like schools, roads and public transit. I would
like to throw in this: What if we had those additional
funds to build up the Kingdom of God?!
April/May 2003 25
In January 1961, newly elected President John F.
Kennedy said “….ask not what your country can do
for you - ask what you can do for your country.” I’d
like to change this to: “…ask not what God can do for
you, but how you can honor Him with the body He
blessed you with, until He returns to take you home.”
Today, our battle against obesity is another major
threat to our well being as a Body of Christ. We can
be healthy to help those around us. But we cannot do
it as a law. That’s what dieting becomes, according to
Marty Copeland, fitness instructor/nutrition counselor
and wife of Kenneth Copeland’s son, John. But
instead, allow the Holy Spirit to have His way. And
train ourselves, like children, to follow Him. And if
you already have diabetes or heart problems, exercise
can increase your blood circulation and aid in the
healing process.
Ask God to reveal to you His dietary plan for your
body. “Then you will be able to test and approve what
God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
(Romans 12:2b)
And watch God manifest it Himself. You do not need
to live in bondage of addictions, no matter the root.
Jesus sees you FREE. So do I!!!
Please pray this prayer with me: “Father God, in the
Name Lord Jesus, I thank You for everything You
created, including me. Thank You for loving me.
Please forgive me for my sins, including not always
loving myself—Your Spirit’s temple—in the way that
You want me to. In not truly loving myself, I have
done some things that do not take care for Your temple
in the way that I should have. Please forgive me. At
the same time, I speak over my body and I reclaim it
for You. I rebuke you Satan, in the Name Lord Jesus,
for all of the lies you have told me about my body. I
am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139) and I
have been created for God’s purpose—not yours.
Therefore, Satan, I cast you into the sea and all of the
plans that you had for me, never to resurface. They
will not prosper, for no weapon that is formed against
me shall prosper. Thank You, Lord, for pulling up the
root of the overeating situation and any other product
of the enemy’s schemes. At the same time, I
simultaneously release the sweet virtues of Heaven
into my life. I release self-control. I release joy. I
release freedom to live for Christ, doing what He has
called me to do. I release clarity of purpose and I
allow Your love to infiltrate the areas that were hurt,
broken and bruised because of the lies of the enemy.
At the same time, I accept that I am to love myself so
that I can in turn love others, and I thank You for
teaching me and helping me to do that. Please give
26 April/May 2003
me, with the guidance of Your Holy Spirit, a dietary
and exercise program tailored especially for me and
my body-one that is based on my past experiences
and present and future needs. Thank You for helping
me to continue this new way of life. In the Name
Lord Jesus I pray. So be it. Amen.”
Now, please allow me to pray for you: “Dearest
omnipotent Father, thank You for creating us. Thank
You for desiring sweet fellowship with us. Thank You
for salvation. Thank You for Your love for us. Lord, I
pray, in the Name Lord Jesus, for my brother or sister
who just prayed that prayer with me. Lord, I know
that it is your desire that each and every one of Your
children walk in perfect health, as their soul prospers.
And it is definitely my desire, as You have placed that
passion inside of me. So many of Your children are
hurting and their bodies become the conduit of that
hurt. Now that Your son or daughter just prayed this
prayer that they would do better at loving themselves
and others, and that the enemy would no longer hold
onto them, I thank You for their DELIVERANCE! I
thank you for their PEACE! I thank You for their
completeness in YOU! Lord, in my spirit, I see
millions of men and women and children no longer
slaves to the bondage of overeating, no matter the root
of the situation. And I thank You for starting with
these precious ones who just prayed this prayer with
me. Lord, You who are just, mighty and righteous,
want nothing more than our love. And this we pray to
freely give to You. Thank You for loving us when we
aren’t always so lovable. You are always true to Your
Word. Thank You. Now, Father, You said that You
would provide an out for us whenever we are tempted,
so Lord, when these precious ones (including myself)
are tempted, I pray that we will see that way out and
take it, without hesitation. Thank You for sending Your
sweet Holy Spirit to remind us that we do not need to
fall to temptation. And thank You for His sweet,
gentle guidance. Please help us to follow Him.
Gratefully, In the Mighty, matchless and righteous
Name of Jesus we pray. The Name that holds ALL
power. So be it. Amen.
I praise God for you and for your new, free life in
Christ! As in all other changes, be sure to support this
change with the Word of God. Remember: With each
level there is a new devil. Be ready! VCM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sherise L. Shields is a writer and minister of Christ from Largo
Maryland. She attends the Jericho City of Praise, a mighty
ministry where Jesus is the Lord, which reaches out to hurting
people through the Word of God. She has written for many
newspapers, including USA TODAY, The Oakland (Calif.)
Tribune and The Kansas City (Mo.) Star. This article is an
excerpt from one of the books she is working on. It was
originally written on January 16, 2003, as a personal testimony,
and has been amended for immediate publication in Visions
Christian Magazine, Inc.
 q
by Gloria C. Okoro
How to Raise Our Children
HOW TO INVEST IN
In Christ.
The Word of God says that our
children are a heritage from God
OUR CHILDREN
[Psalm 127:2]. They are “reward” and
a “blessing” from Him. He commands
us to “train a child in the way he
should go, and when he is old he will
not depart from it” [Prov.22: 6]. In
John 14:6, the Lord Jesus says, “I am
the Way, the Truth and the Life…”,
and He thus commands us to “suffer”
them to come to Him, for of such is
the kingdom of God. This command God gave us over
our children is a responsibility, and as a responsibility,
we have the authority to raise our children to be the
entire the Father has planned them to be.
We start by leading them to make the decision
to accept Jesus into their lives to be their Lord and
their savior as early as they can speak. In my book,
How Do We Invest In Our Children?, I gave some
illustrations on various visual aids that can help us
explain salvation message to them. This includes the
illustrations on the condition of the heart and the life of
the sinner [the life where Satan reigns as king] before
he invites the Lord Jesus to be the Lord of his life. In
the Bible, the Lord Jesus gave illustrations of the
prodigal child and the lost coin. The use of the visual
aids helps them to understand the condition of the life
without Christ and then, invites Him into their lives. In
this case, we lead them to confess with their mouth
the Lordship of the Lord Jesus over their lives, and to
believe in their hearts that God has raised Him from
the dead. The Word of God says,
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you
shall be saved. For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation [Romans 10: 9,10].
Having surrendered their lives to the Lord Jesus
Christ, we begin to train them in the Way they should
go [the Way of the Lord, Who is the Lord Jesus
Himself]. The Lord God commanded the children of
Israel concerning His word saying,
You shall teach them to your children, speaking unto them
when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way,
when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall
write them on the doorposts of your house and on your
gate [Deut.11: 19-20] NKJV.
This is the Lord’s command to us parents
today. It demands diligence and
consistency. We therefore teach them the
Word by reading it to them always,
teaching them memory verses [I
illustrated many interesting ways to teach
memory verses to our children using
visual aids in my book], and sharing with
them the stories of the heroes of faith. As we diligently
teach the Word of the Lord to our children always and
in accordance to the Lord’s instructions, this will help
our children and us to keep the Word in the midst of
our hearts and in our eyes always. In Hebrews 10: 16
The Lord says:
“This is the agreement [testament, covenant] that I will set
up and conclude with them after those days,…’I will
imprint My laws upon their hearts, and I will inscribe them
on their [minds [on their innermost thoughts and
understanding]’”
Thus, the Lord will cause His word to be
imprinted in their spirits. and He will be teaching them
by Himself, guiding them in life through His Word
which He deposited in their inner mind. His Word in
them will be a lamp unto their feet and a light unto
their part. And because they are founded on the solid
Word of God, they will not depart from the Way the
Lord Jesus, but they will be fruitful and always flourish
like trees planted by the rivers of water.
Those stories of the heroes of faith teach them
lessons of perseverance, faithfulness, patience and
steadfastness in spite of pressures. This include the
stories of Joseph, the young man who resisted the
ungodly advances of Potiphar’s wife and was falsely
accused and thrown into prison. He like Daniel
determined in his heart not to defile himself and sin
against the Lord. Daniel and the three other Hebrew
boys also each faced times of great trial, but they all
determined in their hearts not to deny their faith in the
Lord in spite of the fiery furnace and the lions’ den.
Esther the young Jewish virgin girl who was made the
queen of King of Persia also took a risky step of faith
affirming “If I perish, I perish”, and thus saved her
April/May 2003 27
 We start by leading them to make the decision to accept Jesus into their lives to be their
Lord and their savior as early as they can speak.
people from the law that was established for the
destruction of all the Jewish people. All these people
trusted in the Lord in spite of the pressure that came
against them to do otherwise, and the Lord faithfully
honored their faith in Him. This shows that God is
faithful. Our children will therefore learn that God is
faithful and will put their trust in the Lord who will
never disappoint all those who put their trust in Him.
In teaching them the Word, we are also mindful
of their environment, the kind of friends they keep and
the things they watch on the television and on the
Internet. All these have great influence on their
development both psychologically and mentally. Many
programs we see as children programs do not help
them because of the kind of things such programs
teach them. This includes those pokemon shows, and
all those shows that teach them lessons on violence,
occultism and rebelliousness. When we listen to them
closely at times, we see and hear them role play those
pocket monsters of pokemon, and saying things that are
strange, such as “mesmerize”, “my Psychic powers”,
which they all pick from television. All these games
teach them horrible lessons on occultism, which the
Lord forbade. Pokemon means pocket monsters which
they even put in boxes of cereal so that children will
always carry these monsters which would fight for
them against their enemies. This is witchcraft. The
Word of God warns: “There shall not be found among
you any one who makes his son or his daughter to pass
through the fire, or that useth divination…or a witch…
or a wizard…’[Deut.18: 10]. God drove out those
Hittites, Canaanites, and Jebusites from their land and
gave their inheritance to His people because of such
practices. And He warns them not to practice those
abominable things lest the land vomit them. They
disobeyed God, and were carried into captivity. We
have to be careful what we allow our children to
watch, pick, or read. They don’t need to watch those
Harry Potter magic shows or read such books and so
forth for all these influence them. Christian children
videotapes and software are very good substitutes...
As we teach the Word to our children, we also
depend on the Lord through our prayers to continue to
do His great work in their lives. A pastor used to say
that any failure in life is a failure in prayer. Prayer is a
great tool that releases the power of God in our lives,
circumstances and in the lives of our children as we
28 April/May 2003
continue to intercede for them. The Lord Jesus, in one
of His parables of the kingdom says:
The kingdom of God is like a man who sowed good seed in
his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came
and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When
the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also
appeared. The owner’s servant came and said, “Sir, didn’t
you sow good seed in your field? Where did the weed come
from?” “An enemy did this,” he replied [Matt. 13: 24-28]
An enemy did that because the owner of the field
was sleeping. This is what happens in the life of our
children when we are not diligent in praying for the
spiritual lives of our children. We will not know when
the enemy will go and sow contrary seed in their lives,
which will start manifesting when we cannot control
them. As we pray diligently for them and listen to their
conversations, the Lord will continue to reveal to us a
lot of things that is happening in their lives. He will so
much alert us each time the enemy tries to strike in
their lives so that nothing ever takes us unawares. As
we pray for them, we need to stand on our authority as
believers and as parents. The Lord says, “My people
perish for lack of
knowledge”. When
we understand our
authorities as children
of God who have the
power to use the
name which is above
all names – the name
of Jesus, we can
stand upright at all
times. Also the Lord
Jesus says to the
believers in Luke 10:
19, “Behold I have
given you authority
and power to trample
upon serpents and
scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and
ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]:
and nothing shall by no means harm you”. Our
authority as believers is our legal ground to stop the
enemy in our lives and the lives of our children. Also,
as parents, because the Lord gave us responsibility
over our children, we have authority over them. The
centurion understood the issue of authority when He
asked the Lord Jesus Christ to speak the Word only,
April/May 2003 29
for his servant will be healed. He understood his
authority as a commander and as one who have all his
subjects under his control. In the same way, the Lord
Jesus has authority over diseases and that the diseases
would obey the voice of Jesus. The Lord Jesus
marveled on his faith and the centurion’s faith, which
he placed on the authority of Jesus over diseases,
saved him. We parents need to understand that the
enemy cannot operate in our children’s life except he
goes through the authority of the parents – that is
except parents gives him room to do that. This
includes fear, anger, frustration, ignorance of the Word
of God and disobedience to the Word of God. But the
Word of God warns us not to make any room for the
enemy.
We are rather to resist him steadfast in faith. This is
also why we need to teach our children to obey their
parents in the Lord as the Word commands them in
Eph. 6:1-2, so that it will be well with them. For when
they obey their parents in the Lord, they will stay
under their authority of their parents, which also is
their protection.
Let us also remember the place of the blood
of Jesus in our prayers, and the Word of God. The
word says that they overcame him [the enemy through
the blood of the lamb and the word of their
testimonies. The word of God in our mouths is the
Sword of God in our hands. The word {Jesus]
defeated him on the cross and the victory of Jesus
Christ on the cross is our victory.
The Word of God encourages us in our
obedience and our diligence in raising our children in
Christ not to be weary in well doing for in due season,
we shall reap if we faint not. The Lord shall cause our
children to fulfil their destinies and He will reward us
parents. Our nation shall be great and God Himself
shall be glorified.
For more information on raising our children in Christ, order
How Do We Invest In Our Children? by Gloria C. Okoro. [for
Ordering information turn to page…]. VCM
Scripture
“Commit your way to the
LORD, trust also in Him, and
He shal bring it to pass”
Psalm 37:5
30 April/May 2003
We walk by faith and not
by sight…
q
by Penelope A. White
“We walk by faith and not by sight...”
2 Corinthians 5:7
God’s grace and peace to you, my dear brothers and
sisters in the Lord,
As you travel on this Christian journey, please know it
is my blessing, privilege, and pleasure to have traveled
with you and my, my, my- how the Lord has indeed
blessed!
God used your Pastor, my dear friend, Rev. Dr. Diane
to be tangible evidence of His answer to my urgent
prayer. Thank you seems so inadequate to express all
that is in my heart, perhaps the Lord will reveal to you
my heartfelt appreciation for your role in this phase of
my journey.
Remember that each step is planned by our Guide,
Who is also our Destination as we continue on this
God-ordained path. He has traveled from the begin-
ning to the end of this road, so graciously put us on the
path, and leads us step by step to insure our safe
arrival (with lots of joy and adventure along the way)!
It is not a dull journey !
When you seek the Lord for guidance and ask “Lord,
which way?” May you hear His voice say, This is the
way, walk in it”. Many sojourners have gone before
us to show us the way, yet so many are lost and can’t
find that way. If we but stay alert to the road signs,
encourage those who journey along side us, determine
to not take one step off the right way, and invite others
to walk with us, we can hasten the day that level paths
can be made for other travelers.
Please keep a journal so that when we met again on
the next leg of this journey, I will know all the details of
your travels. My heart rejoices in anticipation of all
that we will share. In the meantime, know that the
Lord longs to be gracious to you and that He rises to
show you compassion on your journey.
Numbers 6: 24-26,
Your sister and roadmate, Penelope White VCM
 q
by Rickey E. Macklin
Army of the Lord
“JUST STAND”
STAND”
nbeknown to most Christians,
U spiritual attacks are waged against us
everyday of our lives. Unfortunately, out of
ignorance we commit to fighting a spiritual battle using
carnal methods. We quickly forget the principle Jesus
shared with Nicodemus. Although the content of this
passage of scripture deals with being born again, Jesus
makes it plain that there are two natures at work
within man. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “That which is
born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)
You must understand that your fight is not against the
devil per se. The Lord Jesus has already made an open
show of him, and he is a defeated foe. Your battle is
against his wiles, tricks, deceptions, illusions, concealment
of the truth, and the evil spirits that he sends on
assignment to your life. Say — you’ve been around for
a long time and you know every trick in the book? Well,
my dear friend, I submit to you that Satan has been
around much longer. He has 6,000 years of experience
under his belt. He’s been studying mankind from the
Garden of Eden - through the crucifixion of Jesus - to
our present age. He knows every trick in the book as it
relates to pulling man off course. Don’t fool yourself!
Listen to Paul’s words to the Corinthians who thought
they had arrived at a specific mark in life.
I Corinthians 10:12
12 - Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall.
So then, Satan operates undisturbed by your ideas of
spiritual awareness - regardless of your title or age. He
focuses most of his attention on your mind. It is his desire
to allure you to question your identity. You see, if he can
get you to question your identity, then he can and will use
this to cause you to forfeit the inheritance that the Lord
Jesus has made available to you. However, the Bible
says that the devil is a liar and the father of them. (John
8:44) We cannot continue to succumb to the devil’s lies.
We must walk in the truth of whom God has called us
and by faith in Him, allowing Him to bring us to His
expected end. These two principles of spiritual warfare
demands us to study the Word of God to discover who
we are and what God has predestined us to become in
Him.
The word of God tells us in Hosea 4:6 that God’s people
are destroyed for the lack of knowledge. This does away
with the old adage, “what you don’t know won’t hurt
you”. The truth of the matter is “what you don’t know
could kill you”. We must understand that there is a
constant battle going on and that as Christians, we cannot
just sit back and expect to gain the victory. Please, keep
this principle in mind: There can be no victory without
confrontation. As my Late Bishop, James R. Peebles
Sr., would say, “That which you compromise you are
going to lose” and “if you don’t stand for what’s right,
you will fall for anything.”
I wrote the book “God’s Whole Armor” out of my very
own struggles with right and wrong. As a Christian and
one brought up in the church from youth, I understood
God’s requirements from his people but how to perform
them I found rather difficult even at the age of nine.
Well, some years later after graduating from college I
joined the US Navy. At that point, I did not realize that
God was going to teach me a lesson that I would never
forget. During the time that I joined we were engaged
in the Gulf War. God began to teach me through the
victory we won in the Gulf how to win wars.
What I discovered was that we win wars because of the
5 P’s principle I had heard someone quoted years ago.
“Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance” The US
win wars not just because we have the latest and greatest
weaponry and have been trained well in how to use them,
but also because we study our enemies, learning of their
strengths and vulnerabilities. I would have to apply these
same principles to our enemy the devil to be as victorious.
Well, this was good for me but the burden was not
removed because many other Christians I knew were
experiencing this same struggle. Thereby the book was
birthed. This book discusses with practical application:
April/May 2003 31
(1) Who is our enemy?
(2) What is in the mind of our enemy?
(3) When will our enemy attack?
(4) Where is our enemy located?
(5) How will our enemy attack?
(6) Why does our enemy so desperately want to
destroy us?
Now, I do want you to realize that you have an enemy
whose name is Satan and the Devil but he goes under
several aliases. Some of which are “the anointed cherub,”
“son of the morning,” “angel of light.” Other names
include Abaddon, the accuser of the brethren, the
adversary, Apollyon, Beelzebub, Belial, the dragon, the
enemy, father of lies, god of this world, King of Babylon,
ancient serpent, prince of the power of the air, son of
perdition, the tempter, the wicked one and the devil. The
word devil is an English translation of the Greek word
diabolos, which means to slander. But you must
understand that you have power over all the power of
the enemy. Let’s take a look at Luke 10:19,20.
19 - Behold, I give unto you power to tread on
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of
the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 - Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits
are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your
names are written in heaven.
The first power mentioned in verse 19 comes from the
Greek word exousia which means authority and the
second comes from the Greek word eunamis which
means ability and might. Jesus is saying unto us that
even though the enemy has power you must understand
that it is limited. You ask me how I know? Because
every thing that is created has limitations. The only entity
that is not limited is God Himself. He alone is Jehovah -
the Self-existing One. So, Jesus says that I have given
unto you authority (the usage of the name Lord Jesus)
over all of the ability of the enemy (Mark 16:17,18). Jesus
goes on to set the record straight by saying that this known
fact is nothing to get excited about (demons and evil
spirits are suppose to listen to you). But if you are going
to get excited, get excited over the fact that your name
is written in the Lambs book of life!
Now, Soldier you need to get into the word of God and
find out who you are and what has been made available
unto you. And as I use this term soldier I do not use it
lightly because the biblical phrase that identified a man
as a soldier was that he “drew the sword.”
32 April/May 2003
1 Chronicles 21:5
5 - And Joab gave the sum of the number of the
people unto David. And all they of Israel were a
thousand thousand and an hundred thousand
men that drew sword: and Judah was four
hundred threescore and ten thousand men that
drew sword.
For the Christian, the sword is the only piece of offensive
weapon he has. Yet like the Hebrew writer puts it, the
word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword!
(Hebrews 5:12) So if you are not drawing your sword
you cannot be considered a soldier.
In Genesis 1:26-27, God created mankind in his image
and likeness and gave them dominionship over all the
works of his hand. Then in Psalm 115:16, He further
reiterates this by saying that the heaven belongs to him
but the earth has he given to the sons of man. God has
literally taken the title/deed to planet earth and has put it
in the hands of his most capable sons and daughters to
occupy it until he returns. And hey, just like Daddy God
rules heaven we should also be ruling earth. We should
walk like him; make decrees like him; act like him; and
love like him. In Matthew 18:18 Jesus says that I have
given unto you the keys. The keys represent a few things
– two of which are access and authority. Now, here’s
a problem that many have. They have allowed the enemy
to come up in their God-given homes; sit back in their
God-given lazy boy chairs; prop his feet up on their God-
given stools and command the believer bring him a drink
from their God-given refrigerator. But the Devil is a
Liar! You must arrive at the point where you can boldly
say that, you’ve had enough of that stuff – kick the devil
out and command the peace of God in your home – in
the name Lord Jesus! So how does he get in there in the
first place? Remember that he’s the master deceiver.
When I was a little boy, I remember the older folks saying
that if you aren’t a good little boy “the devil is gonna
gitcha!” I was told that he lives way down under the
ground in a place called hell, and that he had a long fork
with a sharp end which he used to rule Hell. They said
he was an ugly old creature that was black and red and
had a long tail that followed behind him. They also said,
“Be good or else the Boogie Man is gonna gitcha!”
However, when I became grown, I found out to my
ultimate surprise that the devil could be bodaciously fine!
There are times when he has the body of a sculpture’s
dream; and then walks with the grace like the stroke of
an eagle’s wing. We must not forget that the word of
God describes Satan as an angel of light. What am I
saying? Don’t be fooled! The devil knows how to
camouflage the hook by putting the right kind of bait on
it. He will also adjust the bait accordingly. According to
what? According to your desires.
As a believer however, remember that God would not
have you ignorant of Satan’s devices – his plans and his
modes of attack. What is his desire? His desire is to
distract you in an attempt to take you out of the fight.
What is a distraction? It is simply, a momentary tool
used by the devil to pull you out of the presence of God.
How shall he get you off the battlefield? Let’s see …
how about sicknesses? Loneliness? Death? Suffering?
Tragedy? Women? Men? Ungodly positions? The lottery?
Family members? – I believe you got it! All of these
are attacks on who you are and who God has ordained
for you to be. He manipulates situations and
circumstances that bring distractions to set you up for
the kill. But again, I say unto you that God would not
have you ignorant. Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 – 18
says to stand. It reminds me of what one famous
gentleman called God. He referred to God as the
“Unmoved Mover”. God says I want you to respond
like me when things began to happen in your life – be
unmovable and unmoved. When sickness does visit your
body – when you experience a bad marriage – when
your children become unruly, be determined within your
spirit not to be moved. Regardless of the situation – just
stand! For you football fans, it reminds me of what my
coach use to tell us down in the red-zone; we called it
goal-line defense. We would defend our goal line at any
cost. Sure the battle will intensify at times – sure the evil
days will come but when we suit up with the whole armor
of God, we receive God’s ability to STAND. Paul tells
Timothy in his second letter to endure hardness as a good
solider of Jesus Christ. Then he states why. He says
because no man that warreth entangles himself with the
affairs of this life – because he has the prime mission to
please Him (God) who has called him to be a soldier!
After you’ve done all you can, Just STAND! VCM
Scripture
“From childhood you have known the
Holy Scriptures, which are able to
make you wise for salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 3:15
April/May 2003 33
34 April/May 2003
 WHO I AM IN CHRIST
Composed by Brother Chicago G. Long

Who are you? I’m the righteousness of God, in through, by and because of Christ Jesus, I am an heir of
God, I am a joint heir with Jesus Christ, I am more than a conqueror, I am a soldier In the army of the
Lord, I’ve got my feet shod in and
With the preparation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I’ve got a helmet of salvation, the breast plates of
righteousness, I’ve grown a great shield of faith, above all I’ve got the word of God that stands on Its
own, Its sharper than a double edge sword, I command over 72,000 angels, I am a prayer warrior, In
The spirit and in the natural, I am indeed a worshipper, I control my atmosphere with God’s praise, I
been given the keys to heaven, that whatso-ever I bind on
Earth shall be bound in heaven, I am the Image of God, I’m created in His
Likeness to do like things, I’m purpose filled, spirit filled, I’m full of the
Faith, God has giving me great talents and wisdom and I use it to his glory, I am
The called, I am a peculiar person, I am a royal priesthood and a holy nation,
I am a child of the most High God, I am the light of the world, I am rooted and
Grounded in the word of God, I am God’s hands and feet; reaching out and walking
Out to this dead world, I am humble, I am meek, and I am slow to speak that which I want to
Say and swift to hear what thus smith the Lord, to say to myself or to minister.
I am a flame of fire, I am good, I am great, I am all that God says I am, I am
A servant of the great I am, I am patient, I am loving, I am my brother’s keeper,
I am forgiving, I am God’s anointed, I am heavily equipped and dangerously
Loaded with the word of God, ready to rightfully divide it and speak it in love,
I am compassionate and I do have the mind of Christ, therefore I am a leader in
The kingdom of the most High and holy God................I am not like anybody
Else but my Heavenly Father ........God bless !! And peace be unto you in the
Name of the Lord of lords and King of kings! Now go give God some praise!
Just for who you are! And who He is to you! VCM

Chicago

April/May 2003 35
36 April/May 2003
q
by L.C. Tardy
HOW DO I GROW?
irst, we as brethren have confessed with our mouths the Lord Jesus Christ, and believed in our

F hearts that God has raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:9. Now we also have trusted and
heard the “Word of Truth,” the gospel of our salvation. We have believed and now we are
sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is our inheritance. Ephesians 1:13. We are brought with a
price, and our peace have been paid for by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, by grace we are
saved, and we walk not as children of disobedience, but as Children of God. “We are raised up together
and seated in heavenly places with the Lord Jesus Christ.” “We are no longer gentiles in the flesh, nor
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, or strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope,
and with out God in the world.” “ Through Christ we have access by one Spirit to the Father.” “We are
built upon the foundation of the Apostles,” Ephesians 2:20, who have been called to setup the church, the
Pastor, who is the under Shepard lead by the Chief Shepard, the Teachers, who breaks down the “Word,” for
application, the Prophets, who hears from God. We as brethren grow into a holy temple in the Lord. Since
we have tasted the “Grace of God,” we should no longer be “babes,” in Christ, and need to put aside all
malice, guile, hypocrisy, envies and evil speakings, and let no corrupt communication proceed from our
mouths, but build up a Spiritual house, a holy priesthood, and offer up Spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ. Growth is a must and a requirement in God’s work. Paul let us know that it is not enough
just having imparted into our spirit eternal life, but we need to grow so that the works of God will be
manifested in our lives. Hebrews 6:1-2. Therefore, those Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers and
Prophets who are chosen by God for the Saints to be perfected through the working of their ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ, who also are Leaders. Ephesians 4:11. We as saints will learn from our
leaders, to come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We need to grow from “Childhood,” having not a
weak-will, unstable, unreliable, wavering, and changeable spirit, nor torn between the carnal (fleshly)
and the spiritual things, attempting to worship God by clinging to the things of the world, nor being
tossed to and fro, carried away with every wind of doctrine, Ephesians 4:14, but we will grow up in Christ
Jesus from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies,
according to the effectual working in the measure of every part that makes increase of the body to the
edifying of itself in love, and Christ will dwell in our hearts by “Faith,” so that we will be rooted and grounded
in love. Therefore, we must understand that it is through “Faith,” acting on God’s Word, that we now
understand that the worlds were framed by the “Word of God,” so that things which are seen were not made
of things which do appear. So “Faith,” is the substance, belief, trust and loyalty. We now believe that He
(GOD ) is. Therefore, we can trust in the things we hope for, because our “Faith,” is the evidence of things
not seen, and the things that we believe in God for will come forth. But without faith it is impossible to
please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. Hebrews 11: 6. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12. VCM

April/May 2003 37
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