A Change Is Gonna Come

There is an adage that says – You keep getting what you get because you keep doing what you do!

Within Weekly Wisdom: 52 Ways to Live a More Fulfilled Life, author Cherilyn Azubuike gives her readers common sense information and practical application to explore for every week of the year.

Told with humor, common sense and much insight, Weekly Wisdom challenges the reader to look inward in order to examine self and assess their possible toxic environment and relationships.

Victorious Magazine Launch Celebration

VICTORIOUS Magazine is the cornerstone of our public communication, providing access to articles representing our victorious message! By reaching out directly to each woman and touching on the concerns that are on her heart we are able to encourage her to press on toward her dreams to live victoriously, taking control of her own destiny and achieving her true purpose. Our editorial content is designed to validate the importance of the things that appeal to her on all levels - personally, professionally, spiritually, and mentally - in a way that only women can understand.

Our article categories include Destiny & Purpose, Inspiration & Empowerment, Stewardship, Victorious Living, Victorious Wellness, and Style & Grace. The publication launched its digital version March 30, 2009. The first print issue of VICTORIOUS MAGAZINE will hit the newsstands September 2009, with an initial circulation of 25,000.

Victorious Magazine Featured Columnist

Featured Columnist - Shawneda Marks


Shawneda Marks is the activist author. She loves to sound the trumpet about important issues and entertain. In addition to being a wife and mother she is the founder and director of Wellness Walkers Foundation, Incorporated and an independent author. Her heart and passion surround helping people “WalkGreen” through life in total wellness in an affordable way. Marks’ novels address health issues as they relate to the faith based community and spark conversation, revelation and hope. The nonfiction books are written at this time explicitly for teen and adult women to be encouraged, empowered to be beautiful from the inside out and most important emotionally well! For more information, please visit www.wellnesswalkers.com

National Stroke Awareness Month

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. According to the National Stroke Association one half of all African American women will die from stroke or heart disease. This is a disheartening statistic (no pun intended). Also as startling is the medical fact that twice as many women die from stroke than breast cancer each year. Stroke also known as a “brain attack” is when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting the blood flow to an area of the brain. There are no measurable reasons for the excessive amount of stroke and heart issues that African Americans are affected more than Caucasians.

Check out the rest of this article at VictoriousMagazine.com.

For the full schedule visit, http://bit.ly/VictoriousMagazineLaunch.

MEET AUTHOR PAULETTE HARPER

Paulette Harper is an emerging Christian Author making her debut with her first inspirational book That Was Then, This Is Now, This Broken Vessel Restored, a compelling story of deception, heart-ache and ultimate victory. In 10 chapters she masterfully uncovers the hidden obstacles she faced as the “first lady” and how she eventually broke through those barriers.

A native of Pittsburg, CA, Paulette travels as an Inspirational speaker and licensed minister teaching people how to overcome life’s unexpected experiences by delivering a strong message of hope.

Beyond her writing ability she has a passion to lead people to a clear and precise understanding of how life challenges can become one’s ultimate source of victory by sharing solid, biblical principles that will enable people to find a way out of every trial so they can reach their God given potential.

Paulette, tell us about yourself.
I am a native Californian, inspirational speaker, Christian inspirational author, licensed minister, workshop facilitator and founder of Broken Vessel Ministry.

When did you begin to realize God was calling you to write?
My writing journey started in Jan 2007. I really believed that God wanted me to share how I overcame the testing and trials in my own life and how I could bring hope to those facing hard and challenging issues today.

Tell us about That Was Then, This Is Now, This Broken Vessel Restored.
In That Was Then, This Now I chronicle a time in my life in which I faced one of the most devastating events in which I had to overcome. It is a heart-felt story of my lost from divorce but ultimately the victory God gave me by standing, enduring and having the audacity to believe Him through it all.

What influenced you to write this book?
The inspiration or influence came from God of course, but I wanted God to use my life experiences to help bring hope, encouragement and healing to those who are hurting. I wanted something good to come out of my disappointment, my set-backs and trials that would cause anyone who would read my book to be optimistic regardless of the circumstances. I was certain that this was the direction He wanted me to take.

What do you hope readers will learn/discover from reading That Was Then, This Is Now, This Broken Vessel Restored?
I want my readers to get inspired, encouraged and empowered. When they read my book they will realize that God is able to bring total restoration no matter how difficult the situation, circumstances or trials. The inspiration will come because they would have read about the life of someone who made it through. They will be encouraged because in the book I give them the worse situations but those situations come with scriptures that they can use to help them with what they are facing. People will definitely be empowered, empowered to face everything in life.

What advice can you give to a woman experiencing bitterness due to a broken relationship?
The first thing one must do is to forgive. I realize that this might be hard especially if the other person has hurt you badly but healing will only come when we release those that hurt us. This passage speaks strongly on how important it is to forgive. Mark 11:25-26

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your failings and shortcomings. Once you release those that have offended you God will began restore and heal you of the bruises and scars. Read Chapter 2 of That Was Then, This Is Now: Don't Get Bitter, Get Better.
Where can readers order your book online?

That Was, Then This Is Now is available on CD, digital download, e-book and paper back at www.tatepublishing.com or Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and at all your major bookstores.

For more information about Paulette and her new release “That Was Then, This Is Now” visit: www.bvministry.org.

See the February Book Review Below.

Laying The Axe To The Root

Illusions by Wanda B. Campbell sheds light on what many are dealing with in one form or another – addiction.

Three years into what was once a sensual marriage Denise Hightower discovers her husband’s imperfection. Shocked, dismayed and confused by the discovery and the advice she receives, Denise begins to lose her self-confidence.

Although attempts to overcome on his own are noble, stumbles and mixed signals from Bryce only serve to heighten the friction between the couple. It will be the wisdom from a most unlikely source that will help Bryce to turn away from how he has been programmed to think, in order for him to deal with the root of his problem.

Through the pages hard questions will be asked, pondered and agonized over as the two struggle with self-identity. Do not allow the fact that the main characters are religious leaders throw you. What they and many who will read this most inspiring story have and may still be experiencing, is real. It is real and can be overcome when honesty and a willingness to do what it takes, become the tools of application.

Dialogue With the Author

The opportunity to spend any length of time with Wanda B. Campbell is time well-spent. This selfless, humorous and wise woman has much to say and has a very special way of presenting her thoughts. The impression she leaves upon others has nothing to do with a verbal list of self-accolades she could rattle off; it is more her presence, her soft chuckle, or that certain look that says she knows more than she may say. In addition to that, she is a talented writer. By combining what she believes with her literary gifting, she has become a shining star among those raising the standard for Christian fiction writing.

An avid reader since childhood, Wanda responded to the voice in her head by penning and self-publishing her debut novel, First Sunday in October, (January 2007). A romantic at heart, Wanda uses relationships to demonstrate how the power of forgiveness and reconciliation can restore us back to God and one another.

Author Campbell is truly an example of the adage, ‘your gift will make room for you’. Her journey from contest hopeful, to contest winner, to self-publishing, to traditional publishing, is stuff that Hallmark movies are made of. More than her literary achievements, I find her insight, genuine caring for others combined with spiritual gifts, an asset for those blessed to come in contact with her. Conversations with Wanda are filled with humor and wisdom most associate with a more age-seasoned saint.

Through her literary renderings Wanda is very open regarding the necessity for integrity on every level of leadership. This is seen throughout the pages of Illusions as she reveals the expectation of a majority of church leadership for wives to cover the flaws of their husbands. Yet, in doing as she has been taught, it is she (the wife), who is left uncovered. It is this role reversal that breeds seeds of discourse within the family unit.

Candidly Wanda speaks of her desire for her readers to understand that, “It is okay not be perfect.” She goes on to express that we should not become so engrossed with things/position to the degree that we cannot or refuse to be honest. “Be true to yourself,” is the advice she offers to those who may not understand how to walk away from destructive habits. “There is help for the addict. There is help for YOU, if you want it.”

As a Kingdom scribe Ms Campbell is not reticent when proclaiming the necessity of responsibility. “If God has trusted you with His baby, you have to carefully nurture the baby.” As for her future she is clear that ministry is her first priority. It is her ministerial gift combined with her writing that she hopes will help to bridge the gap between the world and Christians and the walls separating the Christian community from one another.

Wanda resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband of nineteen years and two sons. She also has the unique position of being the oldest of five siblings (on one side of her family) and also the youngest of twelve (on the other side of her family). Her hobbies include writing, reading, traveling, and collecting magnets from around the world. Wanda proudly proclaims herself to be the biggest Oakland A’s fan.

The Truth Shall Make You Free

The Lovechild is a representation of what far too many families share - secrets.

Six years away from her dysfunctional family is not enough time to prepare Makaeli Hunt for what awaits her homecoming.

Coming home reveals that not much has changed in terms of the fragile state of her mother, an estranged brother, one abusive and one domineering sister. What will change will be the uncovering of secrets that are at the root of their fears and inability to move forward. Most of all Makaeli will come to understand the power of forgiveness.

Ashea Goldson has written a novel with a fresh voice and a strong message. That voice, aided by biblical truths, has the ability to open the eyes, ears and spirit of understanding to those who will listen. The message boldly pronounces that when you choose to move beyond painful pasts, you will find that the present and the future is worth living in and striving for, fully healed.