Lately I have been thinking about the exact word that brought me back to Jesus.

I had left the church I had attended since childhood, and for a few years my life was in upheaval. Then I was invited to the UCKG.

Within the first few weeks, I received the word that enticed me so much – “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts (Zac 1:3)

God was telling me to return to Him, but I was already back in the church. So what else was missing? In my mind I had returned after a long period of being absent, having strayed from His ways and being lost within myself.

It took me a few months to understand what God was really telling me. I had returned physically – attending the chain of prayers, being a tither, participating in Sunday morning services, giving my offerings when I had them, etc – but I had not really returned yet in my heart and mind.

I was struggling with doubts and fears, trusting and not trusting in God entirely, consumed by the past and afraid of the future, praying that God would guide me, but still following my own way.

Despite seeing some results in all my efforts and chain of prayers, I was still empty inside and feeling unfulfilled, because I was withholding the most important offering I had to give -– my heart and my mind.

I had decided to be a Christian in my behaviour, but not yet in my mind. I was acting as one, but not thinking as a child of God.

Hence, God is perfect and patient. That word remained stuck in my mind and week after week I would search for its real meaning. Then I got my answer – when I committed my feelings and fears to God, I heard His direction.

If you find yourself right now in this situation, you are back with Jesus but feel awkward as if something is still missing, just keep on searching. God will not leave you unanswered. He brought you to His house because He wants to bless you in a way that you will feel complete and blissful.

Only one thing is needed – make yourself available to hear His words. What is the word that has been pressing on your mind lately?

Your Big Sister,

Marcia Pires

In order for what you have to flourish, use it for the benefit of others

The most recent meeting of Godllywood’s 12 Parts of Me programme was themed: “I have it” and the evening’s message was reflected through an Italian flavour. Dressed in green, red and white, to represent the colours of the Italian flag, guests were given a piece of pizza dough at the beginning of the meeting.

Hostess Amanda Valle explained: “Now that you have the dough, what are you going to do with it? If you just hold onto it, it will dry out and be useless, but if you mould it into a shape, allow it to rise and then bake it, it will develop into something and have a useful purpose. If the dough is used to make a pizza base, it will feed others, which is the purpose of this month’s meeting.”

Each month a secret is shared to help women learn how to empower themselves and develop their best qualities while accepting the importance of changing aspects of themselves or their lives which do not serve them well. Unveiling the eighth secret, Amanda said: “We all have qualities, abilities and talents, but in order for them to flourish we need give generously and not expect to receive first. If we do good to others and feed them through positive encouragement, friendship and genuine concern, we develop the best, both in ourselves and in others. The key is: To have, we have to give.”

Amanda asked the professional women from diverse industry SECTORS who meet monthly to explore the secrets, network and develop friendships, to think about what they have and then consider whether they are allowing it to flourish. Are they making the most of what they have or not?

She shared two stories to illustrate the importance of planning and action. One concerned a friend who had A JOB interview, but approached it with a negative attitude believing others would be better than she was and she would not be appointed. Anticipating failure, she did not prepare in advance, slept late on the morning and did not have her clothes clean and ironed, ready to put on. Arriving at the interview without breakfast and feeling worried about her appearance, she created a bad impression and her fear was fulfilled. She did not get the job and her negative attitude, low self-esteem, self-doubt and insecurity contributed to this failure.

The other story was about another friend who was invited to attend the same job interview. She approached the OPPORTUNITY with a positive attitude, prepared her clothes the day before, got up earlier than usual, had breakfast and created a calm and confident impression. Her attitude and determination to succeed enabled her to be well prepared and she made sure she took the necessary action to ensure her success.

The women attending the meeting all agreed that all too often we expect our families to be good to us, respect us, to be sincere, yet we fail to give first because we expect to receive without giving. We feel we don’t have friends, yet are we friendly to others?

Amanda stressed the importance of giving what you have in terms of friendship, kindness and encouragement to others freely without any expectations. She asked: “What do you think you lack? The reality is that you have it already but perhaps you are failing to use it.” She challenged everyone to make a commitment to do good to others and see how situations change positively saying: “You have to change. When you change the way you think, you change your life, your circumstances and your environment.”

Agreeing that this is not always easy, women said that they could do it, because they have it – echoing the meeting’s message.

Although the theme was feeding others figuratively, the members of Godllywood who hosted the event, served delicious pizza to everyone as a demonstration of giving what you have without expecting to receive anything. A time of networking and friendship followed.

Women were invited to share how previous meetings have helped them and how they have applied some of the secrets and how they have changed as a result. Previous secrets include:

1. Equilibrium: To find balance in life.
2. To be conquered: To control our emotions and feelings and not to react to situations.
3. To be or not to be. How have we been influenced by others and what kind of influence are we?
4. The seven seas. The importance of making our homes a safe harbour where family can be encouraged and restored from the storms of life.
5. Poor me. Do not surrender yourself too easily.
6. I wonder if? Are we judged by the impression we create?
7. I am not easy. We do not have the right to give up on our dreams, but must persevere to achieve them.

In conclusion each guest was given a calendar page for June to remind them of this month’s lesson.

The next meeting will be held on 28 July 2015 at the Johannesburg Theatre. Themed: “True Beauty”. Everyone is welcome to attend and to bring a flower if they would like to do so. For details please contact newbeginning2015@uckg.org.za.

In our Moment with Big Sister, we try to publish a quote or a reflection that will lead you to meditate on it. Some are joyful, others bring fun and smiles, and few others cause us to ponder about our life.

I heard something recently that struck me deep inside “I love the Lord and what He has done in me and for me, but the best thing is watching what He has done through me.” And these few words are echoing in my mind more like a reminder of how being a real Christian should be like.

It is unquestionable what the Lord has done in us and for us. Just take a glance in your past life; how many disappointments, frustrations, complexes, fears, insecurities, grudges, heartbreaks and look at you now!

You may not be enjoying a perfect life but you will have to acknowledge that changes are undeniable. You are no longer that old and fragile being; you stand now tall and firm as a Child of God qualifying not only for temporary blessings but also for eternity with Him.

Up to this point of the sentence, I was fine with and able to agree to every word but the striking part came when I challenged myself about what is the Lord being able to do through me.

One thing is to accept His grace, mercy and love and His life poured for me but another thing is to be able to lay down my life to reflect His glory and power. And that requires sacrifice! God will not be able to use us if our will prevails to His. We will live the course of our lives not leaving a mark on this world, not impacting others, not making any difference.

Can you acknowledge what God is doing in your life and for you? But mostly is God being able to do any further through you? Each day must count and each day brings up the opportunity to be God’s tool. Think about that.

Your Big Sister,

Marcia Pires

I thought I was inferior towards other people, I would hide literally hide myself and was extremely shy, that caused me lots of pain and made me lose great opportunities in life.

At home with my family, each one would go separate ways, we would not sit together for meals, there was no harmony and all that together with my timidity, drew me away from them. I had difficulties to show affection until the day I came to know and join Godllywood.

Through Godllywood I overcame my timidity little by little, it was a great sacrifice to go against my nature, I understood that the way I was acting was not pleasing God and was not doing any good to me, so I started to fight against my own way of living.  Principally in the way I used to speak, I was misinterpreted many times because I did not know how and when to talk, then instead of isolating myself I started to think before speaking watch my words and now I have seen the difference.

I’ve learnt to have confidence in the way I speak, I’ve lost the fear that I had to expose my opinions and today I have courage. I started coming closer to my family, my parents and to my brother and so my house became a very pleasant place to live in, today there’s harmony in my home, we have our meals together and now we are united.

With the group, I realized that everything depends on the way we see and react towards the situation, if I look and think that I will not make it, so I won’t make it, but if I recognize my difficulties and limitations but also see that I am capable of overcoming them, that it’s possible, that I cannot give up, that I need to take my strength out of my weakness, I will become different in everything, and that’s what I did.  I learnt how to value myself, overcame timidity, changed not only regarding my relationship with my family but also inside of me.

I thank Godllywood for always helping me to be the best for God, for myself and for those who are around me!”

Eslaine Gabriela de 19 anos, member of the group of Rebeccas – Goias

Big or small, the bathroom is that part of the house we seldom remember to decorate with a little more style, as we usually just go for the basic neutral tones and white tiles. That can even be favourable to small spaces as it gives the impression of a larger room. But the fact of the matter is, we usually give our attention to the bigger rooms, the ones that are in first view of those who enter our house.

Today we have put some very good ideas that can be adapted to any bathroom, making it more practical and what is better, without spending too much. If for lack of better ideas you had given up on decorating in a different way, believe when we tell you, you can surprise your family with just a little bit of creativity and a modern touch.

There are basic rules when it comes to decorating the bathroom. Since it is a very humid room in the house, it’s important to choose the right materials. Here are the tips:

Before you start – look at the space you have got. If it’s all white, accent objects will surely lift the appearance of your bathroom, leaving it stylish with a hint of good taste.

Small spaces – usually tend to have things on top of each other, which can make it look messy. Make good use of the limited space and invest in a caddy, which is a good option for shampoos and shower gels. Don’t forget to put a vase of flowers, because apart from looking beautiful, it gives a touch of sophistication on sinks and vanities. Hang a cheerful picture of a landscape on the wall. Door hooks for towels and a small basket make organization easier and save space. You can find a great variety of organizers for blow dryers, flat irons and hairbrushes as well as dividers for drawers, making it easier to have everything in their place.

If you have no problem with space – you can invest on vanities where you can store towels in cute baskets, you can invest on bathtubs, bigger mirrors and plants. When you decorate your bathroom, you show care in providing a cosy environment for you and your family, even if it is only to be used for short periods of time. Bright coloured towels in big spaces are quite charming. As for bath mats, opt for microfiber ones as they are easier to wash and can be found in various colours and sizes. Use bright coloured accents on your bathroom and to modernize it, you can buy stickers – usually found on hardware stores – for a more elegant look.

Now that you have learned with our tips, we want to challenge you! If they helped you with ideas for your bathroom decor, take a picture and send it to us. It will be our pleasure to see your creativity at work!

[Translation PT]

Woman’s Day March

In 1956 twenty thousand women marched peacefully to the Union Bulding in Pretoria protesting against injustices of the Apartheid laws. They delivered a petition and silently they stood their ground for 30 minutes.

This year in paying tribute to this legendary women, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God will be organising a powerful Women’s day March themed Determination, the vision of this Silent March is for a better society and the rights for women and children about rainbow nation.

The March will start at the Maponya Mall, in Soweto at 10am, on Monday,  10th of August!

Godllywood in South Africa will also be supporting this day.

So come and join us! Be part of the Determination March!

Today I want to write about something that is very important, but has been a stumbling block for me over the past few months – consistency!

When we plan and start working towards achieving some goals, in addition to  prioritising, we need to learn to be consistent.

We will never find all doors open to us or things coming our way easily.  We need to work on them and learn to persist, even when we do not obtain the results we expect.

I know we sometimes get discouraged or so busily caught up in our routine that  we tend to put aside what we were once so eager to achieve.

I am going to give you an example of my own.  I set the goal of writing one blog post a week which means at least four new messages every month.

It seemed so reasonable and, to a certain extent,  a very achievable target.  I thought so too, but in practice it hasn’t worked out as I planned.

I knew I would have a series of trips, meetings, events and other responsibilities that would not make it easy to reach my goal, but what I could not foresee was  that they would affect my consistency.

You may have noticed that I only managed to write two articles a month!

Honestly,  I feel like giving up the idea, but I know that if I do not train myself to insist on the right course of action, I will not reach my goal.

So, the word of the moment for you and me is consistency.  Train yourself to do what is necessary in order to achieve your goal. Do it repeatedly until it becomes second nature.

Even if I fail again in posting one article a week, although I will strive not to, I will be consistent in doing what I have planned.

Share with me in which areas you too lack consistency!

Your Big Sister,

Marcia Pires

After losing my mother at a very young age, I was in so much pain. To make this worse, my father added to my pain by not being around, especially when he was needed the most. I went for days without food and felt alone. All this caused a lot of anger and made me hate my father and even some family members.

I grew up with many bad feelings inside me. I held grudges, had bad thoughts and started having spiritual attacks, feeling tormented by death. I was always scared of the dark and being alone. All this made me look down on myself. I didn’t like being around people. I would always isolate myself.

I had no peace and felt a huge void inside. I tried many things to boost my confidence, but nothing worked out. Even after I obtained my honours degree, I didn’t feel better. I still had a lot of insecurities and neglected myself.

Everything began to change when I joined Godllywood. Through the meetings and personal tasks, I learnt that my life could change for the better if I allowed my character to change. After deep self- examination, I decided to forgive those who had hurt or disappointed me in any way. I also learnt to value myself and feel more confident.

I have so much peace inside me today. I love life and work to achieve what I want in life. I am happily married, with a very good job and own two small companies. Above all, I no longer have that void inside me. I am now filled with peace, strength and love.

Indeed it’s a privilege to be in Godllywood. I love Godllywood!

Selma Shikonde, member of Godllywood Namibia

We are still exploring our ability to set goals and plans and hopefully we have beaten that old enemy known as anxiety.

But there is one element which needs to be considered to ensure our plans will be effective and our goals achieved.  We need to identify what is really important and how quickly we need to accomplish it.

Priorities are set based on importance and time. You might have something that does not look so important, but when you have a certain deadline for it, time becomes the reason to make it a priority.

On the other hand, you might have a plan that is very important, but you are not committed to doing it within any time frame.

How do you balance such priorities – time and importance? The answer is yours alone.  Remember these are your plans, your goals and your life.

Jot down your goals and then next to each one, try to list reasons why it would be rewarding for you to achieve such a goal. Add a number of reasons to each goal.

Review your list and then consider some goals which are not so appealing, but which you are aware have deadlines.  If you miss one of these deadlines you might be putting projects at risk or creating a situation which could get you into trouble with the law.

To illustrate this, we know that for most people, submitting their income tax return is not a priority which feels very rewarding.  But, if you don’t do it, you’ll find yourself on the wrong side of the law, owing money to the government and  setting in motion a chain reaction which can eventually compromise your financial standing and credit rating.

Go back to reviewing your list.  Twenty items cannot be considered as priorities,  so cut the list down to a maximum of eight priorities, to be accomplished over three to five months.

As you achieve or complete some of the items, you can certainly add more to your list, but never compromise quality and efficiency for speedy completion.

This tip works for every “To Do List” you will create.  Learn to prioritise and you will find that besides being efficient, it saves time.

Your Big Sister,

Marcia Pires

I grew up without my mother or father, so was raised by my grandmother.  Since I did not know any other way of life, it did not hurt me that my parents were not around to raise me. I never felt that I did not have parents because my grandmother took care of me. My priorities when I was growing up were to work hard and succeed in life so that I could provide the best for her.

It was unfortunate that when I was in my final year of high school she passed away. At that time, I lost hope in my dreams becoming a reality. The people who were supposed to encourage me were all gone.

After I joined Godllywood, the monthly tasks enabled me to believe in myself more. I found a job and my life started to change. When I was growing up I never gave much thought to being happily married. However my vision changed, thanks to the tasks, messages and monthly meetings we attended.

I am reaping the fruits of that by being happy in my marriage. Married life is a blessing from God.

With my past, I never thought I would be this happy, and I would not have it any other way.

Thembi Makhanya, she is a member of Godllywood South Africa. 

Godllywood members in Namibia paid another visit to the Katutura Hospital in Windhoek. They aimed to offer hope and joy to the patients and this month visited the children’s wards, carrying balloons for the patients and wearing colourful paint on their faces. The children could not stop smiling at the visitors whose arrival brightened up the ward. To their surprise, more was to come. The Godllywood members donated winter clothes to all the children who made the most of the occasion.

Putting smiles on children’s faces in spite of their pain in hospital was the only reward the visitors hoped for. Godllywood members felt the love all round as they left the hospital, already planning their next visit.

When we are listing our goals for the Year or embracing a new season in our life, it seems that we forget our human limitations and everything we haven’t done in years past now become our priorities.

We list many goals and long term ones are classified as immediate.

Of course, by the end of a time period, we realise we haven’t achieved much. We planned on 20 and have only accomplished two. Anxiety sinks in, followed by frustration.

Instead of honestly considering the much we planned for, we look down on ourselves as if we are the barriers to those achievements.

We push harder then and we are anxious about any outcome, even if it’s not within the standards required – so that we will have some small reason to feel better.

Anxiety is your and my biggest enemy.

We should toss it aside when planning!  You will not be able to accomplish 20 tasks in one year, especially if they have been pending for a long time.

If you have just made advances towards a goal, be it a personal change or a carrier achievement, don’t allow anxiety to lead you to precipitous or bad decisions.  It does not matter how long your journey takes, what matters is that you will get to the point you need to.  Persevere and be consistent.  Prioritise quality.

Confront reality with dignity.  You have not achieved what you planned, but  there is no reason to be anxious to set another goal. Give yourself time to work on what you have listed as priorities.  Do not disregard your needs and intentions,work on this goal that has not been achieved so far.

The most important lesson I have learnt is:  learn to celebrate the little you have accomplished and do not allow the much that is missing to put you down.

Live every day with intensity, not because you want to reach tomorrow, but mostly because you are making the most of every minute of this day.

Who knows if your greatest priority isn’t to learn to deal with anxiety?

Your Big Sister,

Marcia Pires

We can talk about how to achieve a virtuous spirit in so many ways, but we cannot run away from the core of the matter: we will only display a virtuous spirit if we feed from the source of Virtuousness which is the Word of God.

If we don’t have the Word, we don’t have Jesus. He is the word.

I am not talking about reading the Bible for the sake of fulfilling an obligation, but drinking from what God wants to reveal to each one of us, individually, when we make ourselves available to hear His voice.

It is when His word becomes our daily nutrition and when we live our lives based on His word. It is all about obedience, which will require the sacrifice of our own will and ways.

Being nourished by His word, we keep our salvation and are equipped to save others. We cannot give of what we don’t have, so we cannot save others if we are not saved first.

Through His word we learn the basics of how to develop intelligent faith – we know Whom we are following and why. We have our daily experience with Him and understand what He wants from us.

Even when it goes against our will, we know that somehow it is for our own safety.

We develop the fear of God. We learn that sincerity is a must. We uphold honour and we do not hide our mistakes. We understand that God corrects those whom He loves so our mistakes help us grow. With God’s love, we comprehend the real meaning of love – surrendering and caring. Above all, we are ready to sacrifice ourselves for we know that justice is to live according to God’s directions.

It is a work in progress and God is the greatest architect of our life. If you have identified some points you need to work on, so that your spirit grows in virtue, start on them right now.

The Fast of Daniel is ahead of us and who knows if it will be your last chance to have an encounter with God? If you do not know Him, face to face, you cannot display His spirit of virtuousness.

Your Big Sister,

Marcia Pires

The group of professional women who have been attending the monthly Godllywood 12 Parts of Me meetings, continued their journey of self-discovery and awareness in July as hostess Marcia Pires asked them to consider what they regarded as accepted standards for true beauty. Opinions differed but all agreed that while the visible trappings of fashion and makeup could change the external appearance of a person, the internal qualities and attributes which contribute towards true beauty, are timeless and never out of fashion.

Hostess Marcia Pires explained that society has an accepted concept which defines a beautiful woman and although individual standards may differ, we all feel a need to conform to the accepted norm of a body shape, hair style, skin colour, height and weight which are portrayed in the media as being ideal. Everyone measures themselves against this benchmark, with the vast majority feeling that they fall short and are not good enough. In extreme cases people damage themselves and their health in a desperate attempt to conform and achieve the perceived societal standards of beauty.The popular and successful 12 Parts of Me programme allows women to consider different areas of themselves, their relationships and their circumstances, offering guided reflection on whether there is anything which if changed, would enhance their lives. Once areas have been identified, secrets are shared on how to implement beneficial changes to help transform people and lives.

While the external appearance may be attainable through purchasing fashionable items or applying makeup, it is far more difficult, but extremely important to focus on the internal qualities – the content and essence of each person. If these are beautiful they are reflected externally through a caring smile, shining eyes, glowing skin and a serenity and acceptance of who we are which far outshines temporal external features or fashion trends.

A woman who is secure in herself, who knows who she is and accepts herself, exudes a confident image. A woman who has good qualities including wisdom, care and compassion, kindness and generosity of spirit who is prepared to stand up for her values and beliefs, inspires and encourages others through her presence – her true inner beauty.

Marcia Pires encouraged women not to focus on the negativity around them, the critical comments made by others, or judgemental attitudes which destroy our self-esteem and self-confidence, but to accept the truth that each one of us is a unique creation and as individual as our fingerprints. She said: “Many of us have the incorrect impression of ourselves, believing we fall short of the acceptable standard when compared with others, but the reality is that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ and each one of us is so precious.”

She said: “While taking care of your health and your external appearance is important, it is far more critical to look at who you are and change any qualities which do not serve you well. By identifying and removing anything critical, judgemental or negative within us, we can transform our outer beauty to reflect who we are on the inside. It is essential to feel good about yourself and stop dressing to try and cover up who you are.”

Unveiling the ninth 12 Parts of Me secret, Marcia Pires said: “The secret of true beauty is to double the effort to work on your internal issues and focus on showing your inner beauty to the world. This timeless beauty never goes out of fashion and is sought after by all who long to reflect radiance and composure. Be confident and content with who you are and see yourself as precious, unique and truly beautiful. Others will see these qualities in who you present to the world.”

Relating her message to the abundance and variety seen in nature, Marcia Pires pointed out that the beauty of flowers is attained through their individual perfection and the variety between different species. It is part of the creative design that each person is unique and different – why would we all want to appear the same and be rigid followers of fashion and a standard imposed by society on what is beautiful and what is not? She said: “Embrace your own individuality and your qualities and attributes and celebrate who you are. Your clothes and make up should be an extension of your inner beauty.”

Women were asked to think about whether they saw themselves through the eyes of society or through the critical and judgemental eyes of others, with the majority admitting that that do and that they do not feel good enough. Marcia Pires encouraged the women to see themselves as one individual, not one in the crowd.

The purpose of Godllywood’s 12 Parts of Me programme is to help women to understand their important role in society and to assist them in establishing strong and functional families. Mrs Pires explained that women could only share this wisdom with future generations if they valued themselves and demonstrated their self-acceptance through their attitudes and behaviour. She said the key to this was for each person to feel special and to tell others repeatedly that they too are unique and special.

The challenge for women during the next month is to focus on internal transformation where necessary. Women were asked to identify what needs to change and make a decision to invest in their true beauty. Some may need to invest in making themselves strong and confident while others may want to work on standing up for their values, eliminating judgemental or critical attitudes and showing more understanding, acceptance and compassion. In conclusion, Mrs Pires said: “Even though each one of us has shortcomings, we never stop being special.”

You are invited to join us.

For details please contact newbeginning2015@uckg.org.za.

Qui n’a jamais rêvé? Un rêve de réaliser de grandes choses, d’avoir du succès, de construire une famille, d’être quelqu’un de prestigieux dans la société et ainsi de suite … ?

De tels rêves peuvent être communs pour beaucoup, mais pas pour ceux qui ont subi la douleur de l’abus. Leur espoir a été volé et leurs rêves sont devenus inaccessibles et démoralisants.

Toute sorte d’abus est traumatisante, particulièrement quand cela s’est produit pendant l’enfance. La tendance est, pour une personne qui a subi l’abus, de s’isoler et beaucoup terminent en souffrant de la dépression. Peu importe combien douloureux et irréversible les conséquences peuvent sembler, la récupération peut avoir lieu.

Conscient de ceci, le groupe Godllywood a consacré du temps à aider dans la récupération de filles, âgée entre huit et vingt ans, qui ont été sexuellement abusés et rejetés par leurs familles. Chaque mois le groupe visite une résidence pour abri de soin appelé “la Maison”, une maison de sauvetage et d’abri pour des enfants abandonnés, privés et négligés

Là-bas ils conduisent des activités pour aider les filles à réintégrer dans la société et de rêver d’un avenir meilleur.
Récemment les filles ont participé dans une journée de Spa, elles ont appris à voler de leurs propres ailes et elles ont tenu une Journée des Arts et de Métiers, fabricant et affichant le travail d’art pour refléter leurs talents. Parmi les nombreuses autres activités tenues se trouve l’heure du thé, les donnant la chance d’interagir avec les uns les autres et crée des liens d’amitié et de confiance.
Dans leur dernière visite; les membres du Godllywood a souligné l’importance de rêver à nouveau, de se battre pour leurs buts et de développer leurs talents.

“Quand nous avons commencé ce travail ici, nous avons trouvé des filles sans perspectives dans la vie et sans rêves. Beaucoup ont avoué qu’elles préféreraient mourir que de vivre avec le souvenir de l’abus elles ont souffert. Avec le travail que nous faisons chaque mois, nous pouvons clairement constater de progrès dans leurs vies. Certains se remettent rapidement, et ont même reçu la permission leur permettant d’assister aux réunions de l’église et se libérant de leur passé. En plus de beaucoup de ces activités, nous montrons aussi qu’avec la foi et la confiance en Dieu, nous pouvons surmonter n’importe quelles luttes quotidiennes. Nous pouvons transformer notre passé en une force pour le présent et être un exemple d’accomplissement,” a dit la Grande Soeur, Ana Paula Teixeira, responsable du travail effectué dans “la Maison”.

We have counselled many people with this dilemma. They come to church and they try to walk according to God’s Word, but oddly enough, they are unable to have an encounter with God. They even know the Bible and understand the meetings, but for some reason, they do not develop spiritually. People who arrive to church after them are able to grow spiritually but they don’t. That’s where the title of today’s question comes from: what prevents me from having an encounter with God?

The answer is so simple that at first you will find it too simple to be the solution to your dilemma… but it is, what keeps you from having an encounter with God are the daily distractions.

What do you do after the meeting?

• You run to catch the bus or take your car out the garage before you have to deal with a long line.
• You look for someone to talk about what happened the night before.
• You check your Facebook or Instagram to see what’s been posted.
• You try to get home quickly not to miss your favorite TV show.
• You take advantage of the rest of the day to do a lot of things.

There are people who go to the first meeting of the day just to have the whole day available. Not because of work or family, but simply because they want to enjoy the rest of the day to themselves.

The meeting ends up being a ritual. You simply go to church because it’s the day to go and not because you want to have an encounter with God.

The daily distractions have weakened the faith of many and if I’m not careful, this can happen to me. There are many things to do, so many emails to read, so many projects to get started and many comments on my social networks to read, if I’m not vigilant, I will distance myself from God too, even doing all the things I do in His name.

Be careful friends. Sometimes the problem you are going through is precisely because of this, to distract you from your spiritual goals. Nothing and no one should be prioritized above God, He, unlike many, values Himself and will not live in those who do not value Him above all else.

In faith.

 Cristiane Cardoso

Helping others is a task that brings great pleasure. You automatically gain a position before people and with that more responsibilities. People listen, respect and even admire you – something that doesn’t always happen at home. And if you are not careful enough, that gets to be your main motive in helping others, not because it’s the right thing to do, but because it’s good for you. This happens a lot in Church… you feel good, accomplished and very useful. The desire to “serve” by helping people grows.

Unfortunately, that does not mean that you are doing the work of God, despite that you think you are. One thing is that you help others and another thing is to do the Work of God. The difference is precisely in the reason why you do what you do.

What has been your motive in helping others?

Many times the answer will not because of God.

Many people do it for themselves, for other people, to please the leadership or to avoid being charged. Others do it for recognition, to receive something in return or to be given more responsibilities in the future. And others do so because they want to make up for the mistakes they made in the past.

It’s very easy to get confuse. You think: “I am helping someone, I’m just doing the will of God”. But His work is far beyond what we see at first glance. It’s not enough to just do something that He asked us if we don’t do it for Him exclusively.

A clear example to show the difference of intention of what we do for God is in the story of the the poor widow. She gave her two coins and asked for nothing in return. It was not to receive a blessing, nor to draw the attention of the people there. She simply did it for God and that called the attention of the Lord Jesus a lot. If there were any hidden intentions, her offering would not have been accepted.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21: 1-4 

So, after all, why do you do what you do? If it’s not for God, then it’s not part of the Work of God.

In faith.

Cristiane Cardoso

How do I participate of the “Pledge Day”?

The “Pledge Day” is the Godllywood graduation for candidates approved in the RUSH period. At this function, they learn more about the group and take part in a very special welcome ceremony. Each graduate invites her own guests, and Godllywood members are also present to celebrate this important day with them.

What happens on Pledge Day?

The group is introduced to the guests and any who wish to join are provided with the necessary information. The new graduates then take a pledge (vow), agreeing to abide by the rules of the group from that moment forward.

The Pledge (Vow)

All graduates wait for the moment of the Pledge, and when it comes, they all stand and make the following pledge:

“I pledge to be exemplary in speech and behaviour…
To be discreet in my appearance…
To be a positive example at home, at work and at school…
To be courageous and humble to accept correction, and change…
And to build a strong faith in God.
I promise to look at the good in people. “

Guests

All women who want to know more about the Godllywood group and even join are our special guests. At this event a new method of member selection will be introduced which will open up even more opportunities for all who wish to be better for God.

How to participate?

Check out the list of addresses below to see if the event will take place in your province.

What to Wear?

The new graduates and members of the group will wear either skirts and blouses or dresses. Feel free to choose your own outfit.

Johannesburg – 31st October 2pm

25 Plein Street, Johannesburg

Cenacle of the Holy Spirit – JHB, Park Station

Gauteng, South Africa

Bloemfontein – 31st October 2pm

60 Church Street – Next to Hoffman Square

60 CHUCH STREET, Bloemfontein

Free State, South Africa

Cape Town – 31st October 2pm

9 Buitenkant Street

Cenacle of The Holy Spirit – CT, Cape Town

Western Cape, South Africa

Durban – 31st October 2pm

465 Anton Lembede (Smith) Street Opposite Dudoc Centre

Cenacle of the Holy Spirit – DBN, Durban

KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Pretoria – 31st October 2pm

175, Nana Sita Street

Between Paul Kruger & Bossman Street

Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa

Other Countries:

Kenya – 25th Of October 2015 – 3pm

1 Kijabe street

Globe Cinema

Nairobi, Kenya

Botswana  – 31st October 2pm
Cenacle Gaborone Main mall opp President Hotel next to Central Police Station

Nambia – 8th November 3pm

32, Independence Avenue,

Ausspannplatz, Windhoek, Namibia

Zambia – 31st October 2pm

Cenacle of the Holy Spirit

Plot 20881 Kafue Road, Lusaka

The secret to flourishing is to be nourished spiritually

Women in Action and Godllywood’s 12 Parts of Me programme introduced the tenth secret at the monthly meeting in September, sharing life lessons from Pearl Harbour with guests in a Hawaiian party-themed meeting. This growing group of professional women from different industry sectors, meet to network, share and learn lessons to help empower them to make changes and enable them to broaden their opportunities and make the most of themselves.

Reflecting the Hawaiian theme, many guests were dressed in colourful floral outfits with garlands of flowers in their hair or round their necks. On arrival they received a bottle of water branded with flowers and leaves which awakened their interest in this month’s life lesson and secret to success.

Hostess and speaker Marcia Pires showed breathtaking slides of Hawaii’s picturesque beaches and exotic vegetation, edged by the crystal clear water of the Pacific Ocean, with guests agreeing it was a dream destination. She outlined the islands’ history saying Hawaii was occupied by a diverse population of Asian people who all faced a devastating and life-changing catastrophe on 7 December 1941 when hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbour. The bombardment lasted two hours and destroyed 20 American naval vessels including eight enormous battleships and almost 200 aeroplanes. More than 2,000 American soldiers and sailors died in the attack and another 1,000 were wounded. The seashore was contaminated by oil and the entire country was completely decimated. This was the catalyst which forced the United States to join World War II.

In the aftermath of this devastating destruction, people were wary of each other but faced the daunting challenge and worked together to rebuild the country. On 21 August 1959, they voted for their Asian colony to join the United States of America, becoming the 50th state.

Marcia Pires said: “What relevance does this historical story have in our lives? The determination of the Hawaiian people to rebuild their country and work together to achieve their goals, enabled them to overcome this tragic and terrible situation. Their secret to success is that they remained strong throughout the challenges. They healed their damaged relationships with each other and rebuilt their islands, developing Hawaii into one of the top tourist destinations.”

Likening women to Hawaii she said: “Each one of us has had difficult experiences which have contributed to destruction in our lives. We may have been hurt by others, or betrayed or disappointed, and these events have damaged us. We can only stand firm in these situations if we are nourished. As Hawaii is surrounded by water, the vegetation thrives, the roots go deep and nature flourishes. The bottle of water we have given you today is symbolic of your need to be nourished in order to overcome difficult situations.”

She continued: “Damaged women often cut themselves off from others and withdraw to a dry place, a desert, where there is no nourishment. In this place we blame others, we look down on ourselves and we cannot find a way to make a new life out of destruction as Hawaii did. Humans by nature are self-destructive – we can easily list our faults and shortcomings, but we find it difficult to acknowledge our strengths and talents, so we often find ourselves in a desolate place.”

She shared the secret of success, saying: “If we are rooted in our faith, whatever it may be, we find nourishment and spiritual strength to remain firm and find a solution to life’s challenges. With faith we find encouragement, forgiveness and peace in times of trouble.”

Women were asked to think about their lives and the betrayal, hurt, loss, disappointment, abuse or unemployment issues they have faced and asked: “Have you remained? Were you able to overcome and build a new life or did these situations destroy you?”

The reality is that women survive – because they have to. But deep down they have not overcome the damage. They tried to forget and appear to be coping, but they lost a piece of themselves and subsequent challenges causes them to break down because they have not been restored. Memories of the past hold women back and prevent them from thriving and flourishing as Hawaii has done.

Concluding the motivational talk, Marcia Pires said: “The secret to overcoming destruction and devastation, and to finding joy and happiness, is to be nourished spiritually. When our roots are nourished, we flourish. The challenge for each one of us is to trust in our faith, to be certain of our belief, and know that when our lives are healed, we will be able to remain, even with difficulties. When women are strong, we can help and encourage others. When families are functional, communities, provinces and the nation will be transformed.”

Tout le monde sait que les femmes sont intéressées par tout ce qui est en rapport aux soins esthétiques. Pour le prouver, elles chassent follement a travers des magazines, des programmes de télé et des vidéos de ‘’Comment faire’’ et des blogs sur Internet. C’est ainsi qu’avance l’univers féminin aussi rapidement.

En raison de leur désir d’entrer dans des normes de beauté établies, elles font de grands efforts. Beaucoup dépense du temps et d’argent, parfois risquant même leur santé et pourtant elles ne sont pas satisfaites.

Le nombre des femmes qui subissent la chirurgie esthétique et d’autres qui voudraient changer quelque chose çà et là augmente de jour en jour. Celles qui ne le subissent pas sont celles qui ne peuvent pas se permettre de telles procédures.

Il n’y a rien de mal à vouloir changer et désirer de se sentir meilleur dans son apparence, mais je suis inquiète au sujet des femmes qui sont si malheureuses de leur apparence qu’elles sont capables de faire n’importe quoi pour changer leur apparence. Est-ce que c’est si mauvais ce qu’elles voient dans le miroir? Après tout, qui donne la beauté à la femme ?

Je voudrais parler de la beauté que le temps ne peut pas nous voler, qu’aucune carte de crédit ne peut acheter, qui ne vient pas de notre ADN, mais qui est totalement accessible à ceux qui investissent dans les choses qui vont au-delà du physique pour devenir vraiment belle.

Je vous suggère de lire cette liste jusqu’à la fin. Elle montre comment les femmes de tout âge peuvent apparaître laides et maladroites, peu importe combien elles dépensent aux soins esthétiques. C’est inutile de chercher des vêtements et maquillage les plus branchés et à la mode, quand vous ne savez pas ce qui est bon et mauvais pour votre conduite et votre vie.

Neuf “Non-nons”

Dire des jurons : si ces mots étaient bons, ils ne seraient pas bipés à la télé. Les seules personnes qui doivent jurer quand ils parlent sont ceux qui ne peuvent pas communiquer ou dire ce qu’ils signifient dans une meilleure façon.

Parler et rire bruyamment : En plus d’être indiscret, cela dérange les autres et crée une mauvaise impression.

Chewing-gum : Voyant la mâchoire de quelqu’un remuant constamment n’est pas si agréable. Alors qu’on peut comprendre un tel comportement en un enfant ou même un adolescent, il n’est jamais un look élégant pour une femme.

Mauvaise posture : Quel est utilité de porter une tenue de princesse et ensuite se vouter quand vous êtes assis et dévoiler une décolleté disgracieuse ou de soutien-gorge ?

Étant autoritaire et exigeante : Les femmes qui se comportent comme ça ont tendance à traiter les autres comme si elles sont des moins que rien. Seulement ce qu’elle pense et veut qui compte, donc elle se retrouve seule et malheureuse.

N’évoluant pas avec le temps : Dans notre monde qui change rapidement, tout chose est voulu avec empressement. Dans le temps de nos parents, on avait un mois pour faire des choses. Aujourd’hui, si souvent on nous dit “C’étais nécessaire hier!” C’est ainsi que le délais travail. Il y a cependant des femmes qui ne suivent pas la notion du temps et insistent de vivre au siècle passé. Elles sont fières de dire qu’elles ne savent rien à propos d’un sujet ou se vantent même qu’elles n’ont pas d’adresse électronique. Ce n’est pas bien!

Étant dépendant des autres : Celles qui ne veulent pas prendre des décisions, savent jamais faire des choses par elles même ou passent des responsabilités aux autres.

Étant non informé : Il y en a des femmes qui n’aiment pas lire, suivre les actualités et n’investissent pas dans leur intelligence. Ce qu’elles disent ne vaut pas la peine d’être écouter parce qu’il n’ajoute a rien à la connaissance.

Étant faible et sensible : Y a-t-il une utilité d’être belle, mais d’être aussi fragile que la porcelaine? Un mot sévère est suffisant pour faire réduire une telle femme en larmes. Qui peut la supporter ?
 
Cette liste montrant ce qui sabote la beauté féminine pourraient être encore plus longue.

Avez-vous détecté des domaines dans lesquelles vous pourriez faire des erreurs ?

Détendez-vous. Si vous avez lu jusqu’ici, c’est parce que vous voulez changer. Ce souhait, ainsi qu’avec une bonne attitude et de la discipline est tout ce que vous avez besoin pour devenir une femme forte et élégante, incapable de faire du mal, même dans les situations les plus difficiles. Bien sûr, on ne finit jamais d’apprendre. Soyez toujours forte à votre confrontation de vos défis!

Nubia Siqueira

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