FROM WELFARE TO

WEALTHP.8

JUMP START YOUR HEALTH

TODAY!P.4

Beating Holiday Bluesp. 14

`

PASTOR & FIRST LADY BARNESPRESENT A NEW VISION FOR A MAGAZINE

CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

December / January 2013

It’s Here

7 STEPS TO GROWTHP. 10

stEdition is Here

A magazine about having a whole

and healthy 360-degree

Christian life

BY PASTOR GJ AND

LADY JUNETTA BARNES

It’s here. A Christian life-style magazine focused on elevating people’s

lives. We are grateful to God for the vision and provid-ing the resources to launch a successful magazine. The Elevate My Life (EML) Mag-azine strives to educate and inspire by providing content that will elevate the commu-nity and change lives. It’s important that people have a place to turn to that will sow growth-seeds into their life all throughout the week.

TO SUBSCRIBE VISIT WWW.ELEVATEMYLIFE.COM

The EML magazine is also about helping us to commit ourselves to goals, and help-

ing us set effective goals. We must realize that our goals are more than good intentions; they are reachable statements that can be fulfilled. Our goals should be something that has an immediate impact in our life, no matter how long-term they may be. If our long-term goal or mission is to be financially free in the next 10 years, our behavior should start changing now. Long-term goals aren’t started in the future; they are just ended in the future. The EML Magazine was created to get our goals, aspirations, desires and plans on track, so that can be realized in the future.

The vision of the magazine is to help us to strive for Godly excellence in all the areas in our life. These areas include spiritual development, financial development, educational development, social development, emotional

development, physical development and family development. These are some areas in our life that we must be committed to developing if we want to make sure every moment in our life is counting toward progress and the EML maga-zine is designed to get us there.

We believe that when people are exposed

to the resources, wis-dom and information they need, their life will elevate. We also believe that people will we elevated by positive and uplifting content. Our goal is that the EML Magazine will be a trusted source of en-lightenment and make a major impact.

TO SUBSCRIBE VISIT WWW.ELEVATEMYLIFE.COM

ElevateMyLife { Magazine }

info@elevationchapel.orgwww.elevatemylife.com

2931 E. Madison StBaltimore, MD 21205United States of AmericaTelephone: 410-929-GROW (4769)

Editor-in-Chief: Pastor GJ BarnesExecutive Editor: Lady Junetta Barnes

Managing Editor: Keisha ChapmanEditor-at-Large: Denise CookAdvertising: Antonio Murchison

Design and Layout:Elevation Media

Cover Photo: Caleb GJ Barnes

“challengesare just opportunities for God’s blessings” Pastor GJ Barnes

4

JUMPSTART YOUR HEALTH TODAY

By Dr. Asheia Wynne

5

As one year ends and another year begins, many peo-

ple reflect on the cur-rent year’s unfinished business. Numerous people scurry with ex-treme determination to finish incomplete projects, begin to work on things that previ-ously brought intimi-dation, and make plans for the upcoming year. However, most people tend to postpone goals of becoming healthier to the start of the next year.

I strongly encourage you to start now and begin making healthi-er choices. Don’t wait. Choosing to be healthy does not have to be a daunting task. It is possible to make bet-ter choices concern-ing health amidst the hustle and bustle of our lives. There are several simple, non-intimidating ways to incorporate health into the our routine, and jumpstart your new year immediately.

I’ve listed a few of my favorites here:

Drink Up!Drinking more wa-ter is one of the most effective ways to in-crease energy, stami-na, and vitality. After all, water is the fuel that keeps our bod-ies alive! Similar to poorly watered plants, if we forego drinking adequate water, we too can become limp, tired, and ineffective. Not to mention that substituting water in place of sodas is a great way to save calo-ries! With the average 20 oz. soda packing about 240 calories, drinking water instead may help to offset hol-iday weight gain.

Pay Closer Attention

Increase your aware-ness to what you con-sume by keeping a

food diary. Simply, take note of the things that you eat through-out the day. Be sure to add how those foods made you feel. Were there certain foods that caused you to be sluggish, feel bloated, or lose focus? Have you noticed changes in your body, or mood? Several ailments that we may be ignoring or treating heavily with medications may ac-tually be triggered by our food choices.

ExerciseParking farther away when we are shopping, choosing the stairs in-stead of the elevator in buildings, going for a walk as a family after meals, pacing the floor during phone calls, and starting new ac-tivity-centered family traditions are all ways that you can easily add exercise to your rou-tine during the holi-days and beyond.

Positive Thoughts

Many diseases are di-rectly linked to stress. If you do not currently see optimal results in your health life, it is possible that you have been thinking nega-tively. Laughter truly is like medicine to our minds, spirit, and body. Choose to be positive. Change your perspective to one of hope, faith, and love. Determine to see the best in every situation. Smile often, and speak life-filled words.

By making simple changes, you’ll be-gin to feel more ener-gized, focused, and at peace. Stay consist-ent, and watch your quality of life improve dramatically. You are only a few decisions away from becoming a healthier you!.

QuickquotesQ

Read quick points about elevating your life.

In life, we can make the mistake of becoming comfortable in our everyday existence. We like how things are going; we enjoy our routine; we are experts at life. Some of us even believe there is no need for change, and there is no need for growth. They live by the old adage, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” But, the truth of life is that anything that isn’t growing soon dies.

Never Give Up!Even though this small sentence that has been whis-

pered to most of us more than one occasion may seem to get old and worn out, but this small sentence can be

the difference between victory and defeat.

Commitment is What it Takes!Commitment breeds persistence. Commit-

ment is something that when it is used, it can be stronger than any amount of intelli-

gence, any amount of money, and any army. Commitment is something that can save a

marriage, save a family, or even save a soul.

It’s Not About Your Past!Many times we fall into the trap of my parents did it, so I shall do it too, but in reality, it doesn’t have to go

that way. We shouldn’t always be so quick to place the responsibility of breaking the generation curse on

somebody else. We are capable and responsible people to realize what needs to be changed. And if we claim to

not have to the resources to not know, then we have the ability to make them available.

Success- One of the most important ingredients in Success isn’t special talent or skill, but it’s wisdom and endurance.

- The secret to success is to master where you are now to get to the next level. If you don’t master and excel at your present level, it is hard to get to the next level.

Judgement- In just about every situation you can find a positive or a negative. Those who look for things tend to find them.

- You can’t judge people into living right; you have to grow people into living right.

- Just as you can plant seeds in your environment, your environment can plant seeds in you. Use good judgment.

Decisions- Results come from decisions. If we want different results we have to look at decisions.

- Never get to the point where you make decision out of desperation, but make decisions out of correct information.

- Addiction is all about emptiness. Every addiction comes with a thought. A thought of fulfilment that never is, so one is addicted because they are constantly chasing that fulfilment.

Quotes from Pastor GJ Barnes

8

welfare to

I will never forget the day years ago when I was sitting in the welfare office in Detroit, Michigan for what seemed to be many hours. I looked to left of me and there was a man who was drunk speaking to himself babbling about God knows what. To the right of me was a lady who looked like she was a heroin addict due to the marks that went up her arm that she continually scratched. I sat there thinking to myself “I know life has to be better than this…this is not me.” I was on wel-fare for years and every other program known to mankind. Every week was a struggle. On a good week I had $20 to last me the week. I was a single teenage mother with a lot of despair and a little bit of faith.I was ashamed of the predicament I found my-self in at this time, a very dysfunctional and abu-sive relationship with a career criminal (I had to call 911 so many times due to domestic violence I lost count). I had a high school education, a job working for minimum wage as a dental assistant, a child to raise and overall low self-esteem. To those who did not know me well I probably looked ok on the outside, but on the inside, it was a daily mental and spiritual battle. Bouts of depression, sadness, and an overall feeling of loneliness. At this time I was a practicing Muslim and did not get much encouragement from the Mosque. My family was very supportive of me but I had some decisions I had to make on my own. I had to de-

cide to take the God given authority and control over my life and start the process of change.How does one change? I heard people talk-ing about what one should do to change but it seemed so out of my reach. I always thought peo-ple who obtained success had some rich relative or something that I just did not have; otherwise I wouldn’t be in the situation I was presently in. The question I asked myself is how do you take nothing and turn it into something. How do you have a positive mind-set ALL THE TIME? Sure I had some good days, but was it possible to be encouraged and happy everyday? How do you push forward when everything around you looks backwards?Something in my spirit spoke to me one day, that the thing that I had to change first was my mind-set. At the time I wasn’t sure what sparked it, but I know it was God and the seeds that was sown in to me from my parents who to this day are entre-preneurs. In fact, it was also friends around me that would encourage me to go to church and “try this Jesus.” My praying grandmothers who were always both women of God were also in my cor-ner. I realized in that moment that the beginning of a change had happened and I realized that I had a poverty mind-set. I would define a poverty mind-set as one who subscribes to a state of being inferior in self-worth and ability. My mind-set was my biggest

Article by First Lady Junetta Barnes

WEALTH

9

WEALTH

problem. Don’t get me wrong! In life one may find that they need assistance from a government program such as food stamps. The problem can come when that becomes a way of life. For exam-ple, thinking that the only way that we will ever eat is by an assistance program or borrowing money from friends or loved ones. Again, there may be a season of needing this support but this should not become a way of life. Even in the mist of our dependence, we have to figure out how we can be self-sufficient. I had to stop trying to cut corners and thinking that someone owes me something. It’s like a “hustler’s” mind-set. How can I beat the system? A good test of where your mind-set re-sides is when you think about someone who may have passed and left an inheritance. Is the first and only thing we think about is “what did they leave me?” or “why didn’t they leave me something?” I always had my hand out expecting someone to give me something. But the truth is no one owed me anything. I had to realize and accept respon-sibility for my current situation. My grandfather used to always say “most people are exactly where they want to be.” I find this so true when I was a person in a poverty mind-set. I know there are ex-ceptions like someone having health issues or oth-er unexpected issues; that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about healthy, able-bodied individuals who choose not to take responsibility and change their lives.So in order to change my life I began to read books on money management, positive mind-set, and overcoming adversity. I had to submerge myself with a new way of thinking. I was like a butter-fly in the cocoon stage. I was preparing to shed that cocoon and spread my wings. If I wasn’t lis-tening to gospel music, I was listening to motiva-tional tapes or shows. I was reading books that

taught me a new way of thinking about money and achievement. I was hungry to learn the “secret” of those whom I considered successful. In addi-tion, I got saved, joined a church, and was an AC-TIVE member. There is a big difference with just joining a church and becoming active. I started to take advantage of workshops and sermons given as it related to healthy relationships, the power of prayer, and living a Godly lifestyle. I started at-tending classes at a community college, and I even started a business out of my apartment. I started to take control!Now I run a multimillion dollar company, am a graduate with honors from Eastern Michigan University, help with ministry with my amazing husband who pastor’s The Elevation Chapel AME church, and the list of Godly accomplishments goes on and on. I decided through the power of Jesus Christ to take authority and control over my life. I’m not saying it was as easy as just flipping a switch and overnight my life was changed. It was a process. The thing that did happen in an instant was the decision to change. The process requires patience, perseverance, and faith in achieving the Kingdom lifestyle that the Bible talks about. In-stead of being the teenage single mom with a whole lot of despair and a little bit of faith, I became the teenage single mom with a whole lot of faith and a little bit of despair. I truly actually started to be-lieve the Bible verse Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through Christ which strength-ens me.” I did not know exactly how to do every-thing, but I learned through educating myself and the power of God. You may not have had control over what your past bought to you, but you sure have control over the direction of your future. It all starts with renewing your mind and believing that through Christ, all things are possible.

10

There are many different quotes about change: ”He who rejects change is the ar-chitect of decay. “ “The only human institution which rejects progress is the cem-etery,” “You must welcome change as the rule but not as your ruler,” and “Change is inevitable....” The fact is Change is EVERYWHERE! Look at our cars, clothes, music, food--nothing is how it used to be. One of the big-gest things to change how-ever is us.Now, there will be people that you may think do not have the capacity to change--well, they do. Perhaps it’s just that they haven’t been properly motivated to actual-ly DO so. For example, think of someone you know that

is recently out of a relation-ship. Often you see a change in them (hopefully this is af-ter the listening-to-sad-love-songs-eating-ice-cream-straight-from-the-carton phase). They may want to go out more, go to the gym, dress nicer---something may have motivated them to change. At work? Perhaps a supervisor who was a nu-ance now appears to be more “friendly” to you after you hit it off with the new boss, even with you, perhaps you want to DO more, BE more. But you seemingly are stuck. Sucks, right?Well, there is good news! You DON’T HAVE TO BE STUCK! You can start right now! Below, are the “ steps of growth. The 7 steps can help

you grow and change right before your very eyes!

1. Become DISSATISFIED with the status quo. This is critical. When a person is tired of the “norm,” or the usual and is TRULY unhap-py, then growth can start.

2. ENVISION where YOU need to go. Most people al-ready know what “growth and change” looks like; per-haps they have a picture on their desktop, refrigerator, or their phone. Recently there was a HUGE jackpot for the lottery. When people were asked what would they do if they won, many people had a vision planned: vaca-tions, investments, etc... The truth is that even without the

7 STEPS TO GROWTH

ARTICLE BY GARRY O’NEAL JR

11

lottery, we can have vision and plans. Make sure that you know where you need to go, and what it looks like when you get there.

3. DEVELOP a process by which to get to growth. Nowadays, most people do not use maps, we use GPS systems, which now is even an application on our phones! The reason why we use GPS? Think about what it does: it asks YOU where would you like to go, and once you enter the destination (see #2) it tells you within SECONDS how to get there. Although we still travel, the process we use changed. We as people operate relatively the same way. Most of us may know what the change and growth looks like that we seek, but we need to be clear about the process we’ll use to exhibit the growth we seek.

4. INVOKE YOUR WILL to make it happen. See, this is where a lot of people fall short. Sure, they are tired of the situ-ation, and know what change would look like. However its only when we invoke our full will and dedication to change,

we’ll begin to see results. Where there’s a will there’s a way!

5. TAKE ACTION to make it happen. This condition falls right in line with the one previ-ously mentioned. DO SOME-THING! Recently I had a friend lose a job, and she was DES-PERATELY looking for anoth-er. She got her resume togeth-er, identified jobs she wanted, and after getting advice from several people, had a plan of ac-tion. The next day I talked with her, and asked about her pro-gress. She stated that she “just didn’t feel like” doing the things she so emphatically stated just 24 hours prior. A plan of action is only a “plan,” make sure you do something with it.

6. EVALUATE your action steps. Have you ever put to-gether something, and it didn’t seem right (shame on you IKEA and your 405 steps for a table).

Sometimes you need to look at your action steps and see if they are helping/hurting you towards your goal. If you are trying to lose weight, going to the gym 3-4 times a week seems like pretty good action steps. Heading to the nearest all-you-can-eat buffet right after that visit to the gym? Maybe not so much.

7. RECOMMIT to your jour-ney. Look at it this way, the things that lead to you wanting to change didn’t happen over-night, so change and growth equally don’t happen either. If you are in major debt, there had to be a consistent routine to get you in that position, so equally it will take the same ef-fort to get you where you want to be. The key here is to be real-istic and optimistic about your change. Will you be faced with challenges? Sure. Have some doubts? Possibly. As long as you realize that you have put yourself in a great situation to be successful, realize change and growth WILL happen. Re-member, change is inevitable, and the only thing constant IS change.

“Change is inevi-table, and the only thing constant IS

change.”

12

Most of us have heard the old saying, “God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason – so we can listen twice as much as we talk.” Although I’m not sure of who

first said this, it certainly holds a great deal

of truth. It’s also a great visual reminder of

how to effectively communicate as an active

listener. In fact, when it comes to commu-

nication, listening actually requires more fo-

cus because in order to be effective, we also

have to practice patience and selflessness.

In other words, when you are actively listen-

ing, you are not trying to explain, defend or

prove your point – it’s no longer about you.

It’s about the person you are listening to.

As simple as this might sound, it requires ef-

fort on our part. This effort comes in the form

of selflessness. After all, there’s something in

our human nature that loves to be “right” and

ultimately to be understood. Often, we not

only want our opinion to be understood, but

also validated.

There are several ways the word listen can

be defined. The first definition says, “Give

one’s attention to a sound.” The second, “to

pay attention; heed; obey.” Thirdly, listening

is defined as “to wait attentively for a sound”

and finally, listening is defined as “to convey

a particular impression to the hearer.”

Let’s explore these definitions in detail to

better understand how we can become more

effective at listening to others.

Listen Twice As Much As You Speak Article by Junice Rockman

LISTEN UP

13

Junice Rockman is a Certified Life Coach, Journalist & Relationship

Expert. Send feedback to jrockmoti-

1. Give Attention To A Sound

The key word in the first definition we’re ex-

ploring is “attention.” This means that when

we are listening we need to lend our full focus,

awareness and detailed thought to hearing

what is being said to us. In other words, we

aren’t just taking that silent time to calculate

our response, but that we are acknowledging

the feelings of the speaker.

2.Pay Attention, Heed & Obey

We’ve talked about giving attention, now

what about heeding and obeying? Ouch! Two

words that sometimes don’t come easily for

us, particularly when dealing in issues that

we are passionate about. But this definition

tells us that when we listen, there should be

corresponding action, which comes in the

form doing our best to follow the directives or

advice of the person we are listening to.

3.Wait For A Sound In our society, we can be so used to of-

fering unsolicited advice, feedback and opin-

ions, sometimes we forget that the other per-

son may just want someone to listen, with no

judgment, critique or advice. So the key word

in this definition is “wait.” It is a good habit

to practice waiting to speak and also waiting

for the speaker to request your advice. Until

they do, they may just be looking for a safe

place to vent without feedback. Sometimes

it’s good to even ask, “Would you like my

opinion,” before you offer it.

4. Convey Impression to the Hearer

Finally, you want to convey an impression.

So when you are listening or giving feedback,

look the person in the eye, sit up straight, be

still, patient and un-distracted. Convey to

them how much you value what they are shar-

ing with your supportive body language. You

will be amazed how much you learn about

yourself, others and the world around you, as

you become a more effective listener.

LISTEN UP

Junice Rockman is a Certified Life Coach, Journalist & Relation-ship Expert. Send feedback to jrockmotivates@gmail.com or fol-low her work at www.jrockmotivates.com

14

What images race through your mind when you hear the months November, December and Janu-ary? For most individuals, these months conjure pleasant images: turkey and stuffing, travelling by car or plane to families’ or friend’s homes, presents, shopping for loved ones, laughter, love and hopes for a better year. However, for a number of other people the holiday season brings unwelcome guests – stress, depression and anxiety.

According to statistics from the National Mental Health Institute, 4 to 6 percent of the general popu-lation experiences an increase in depressive symp-toms during the late fall and early winter months. This is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and these individuals may sleep too much, have lit-tle energy, feel depressed or have increased levels of anxiety. This type of depression is a result of the change in season and the lack of available sunlight during those months. In addition to individuals who suffer from SAD, there are people who battle with depression and anxiety throughout the year and the joy and festivities of the holiday season seem to amplify their own inability to experience pleasure. The holiday season may also be difficult for those that have lost loved ones and for people who are ex-periencing financial hardship because the holidays bring feelings of being overwhelmed with the finan-cial obligations of the season.

Regardless of which group you may fall in, I would like to provide you with some tips, which may be helpful for learning how to thrive during the holiday season:

1) It is okay to miss loved ones. If someone close to you has recently died or is sick realize that it is normal to feel sadness. It is also normal to cry and miss the person immensely. We often have the misconstrued belief that because it is the holiday season that we should force ourselves to be happy; however, I encourage you to talk about your emo-tions and acknowledge how difficult it is to be with-out them. Some families find it useful to remember the loved one during the holiday and to share posi-tive memories of that family member. Often sharing positive stories can evoke moments of laughter and closeness and remind you how much that individual was loved.

2) Support, Support, Support. Confide in peo-ple that you trust. Those people may be your fam-ily members, friends, pastor or therapist. Let those people know that you are going through a difficult time and that you need their support. It may feel easier to alienate yourself but I urge you to talk to at least one person about how they can help you dur-ing this difficult time.

3) Don’t forget to exercise! Exercise releas-es a brain chemical called endorphins and it can have great benefits for your emotional and physi-cal health. Research has shown that exercise can sometimes produce a decline in depression some-what similar to that seen in antidepressant medi-cations. It may not be a replacement for treatment prescribed by your medical doctor but it might just help. In therapy, I often strongly encourage clients to engage in exercise because one of the symptoms

“DON’T LET THE HOLIDAYS BECOME SOMETHING YOU DREAD”

B E AT I N G HOLIDAY BLUES

BY DECIA DIXON, PHD

15

of depression is loss of energy. One beneficial side effect of exercise is an increase in energy, which can ultimately help to increase mood.

4) Make a budget and stick to it! Whether you are hav-ing financial hardship or not, I encourage everyone to be a good steward over their money during the holiday sea-son. I recommend that before you go shopping for loved ones you decide how much you can afford to spend. Don’t equate holiday happiness with a lot of gifts. Be creative if you do not have the finances – look on websites such as Pinterest and make homemade gifts, have a family gift ex-change or donate money to a charity in a person’s name.

5) Practice saying the word “NO.” The holidays are a busy time and you may be asked to participate in activi-ties that you may not have the time or the desire to attend. Saying yes when you want to say no may leave you over-whelmed and resentful. Set limits for yourself and learn the art of saying no to things that you can’t commit to. Friends and colleagues will understand if you can’t partici-pate in every activity.

6) Take some personal time. During the rush of the holiday season make sure to take personal time for your-self. Spend 15 minutes alone, without distractions, to re-fresh and recharge. Take a walk, listen to relaxing music or close your eyes and breathe deeply. Find something that clears your mind and restores your inner calm.

7) Consult with a physician. If you feel you may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a chemi-cal change due to lack of sunlight in the winter months, contact your doctor. It can be treated through the use of artificial sunlight.

8) Refocus your thoughts. Find joy in the simple things of your daily life and find contentment within your-self. You can choose to think depressing thoughts or those that are uplifting. It is not easy but it is up to you.

9) Volunteer. Find some time during the holidays to give back to others. You can volunteer with a local charity or you can participate in a Thanksgiving or Christmas din-ner for the homeless. By volunteering to help other people in need, you might find new meaning in the holidays, and new opportunities for employment.

10) Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, unable to sleep, irritable, hopeless and un-able to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.

The holiday season can be hard for those that suffer with anxiety and depression. However, don’t let the holidays become something you dread. With some positive thinking and the application of effective strategies, you can find the peace and joy during the holidays that you deserve.

Decia Dixon, PhD lives in Atlanta, Georgia and is a licensed psychologist. She is in private practice at Atlanta Area Psychological Associates in Marietta and Cumming, Georgia. She is a published author in a book chapter, technical papers and newsletters. She has presented at conferences around the country, consulted with organizations and taught post-secondary psychology courses.

7 Reasons to join Now

1. Sermons that are easy to apply to life

2. Amazing uplifting worship

3. Fun Children’s church during service

4. Ongoing cutting edge workshops and conferences

5. A Friendly atmosphere

6. Community Activism & Service

7. Fun for the Whole Family

www.elevationchapel.org | 410-929-GROW (4769)

Pastor GJ and First Lady barnes