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We are in a time where there is so much going on. It's easy to lose focus, even easier to lose hope, and downright difficult to hold on to happiness without the interruption of some terrible news. But folks, we have got to hold on and know that God is still God. He has not lost His power regardless of what it looks like. Be encouraged by the story of others in this newsletter
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When Death Called—by Tamara L. Dean
strength, willingness, and loyalty.
Are you able to still praise God
regardless of the situation? Is He
or is He not God at all times in
your life? I responded to the news
that my dad had returned home to
the Lord, by first praising God. As
a result, I believe God got right in
the middle of me and the pain.
His joy became my strength. Did I
still hurt? Did I shed tears? Yes,
and that’s ok. There is a time to
mourn, but there is also a time to
move on. You cannot become
stuck in regrets, or what could
have or should have happened.
You still have a life of purpose that
must be fulfilled. You must live on.
Others are counting on you. When
Moses died, the people mourned
for 30 days and then it was time
to move on. His successor,
Joshua, was in place, and God had
instructed him to continue the
journey over the Jordan, which
Moses was leading before he
died. Just because Moses was
dead didn’t mean God was dead.
He is alive and waiting on you to
cross your Jordan. He has
equipped you to get to the other
side of your grief. Here are a few
reminders to help you along:
1. Keep praising God! When every
strong force seems to be against
your mind and emotions, sacrifice
and release words of praise to
God. Don’t hold on to your
perceived right to be bitter or
angry. Give it over to Him by
praising Him.
2. Be thankful—I was 26 years old
when my dad died, but I found the
strength to say to God, “Thank you
I was at work when my sister
called and said, “Daddy has
cancer, and the doctor is giving
him only six months to live.” It was
June 1996. I left work, jumped in
my car, and drove an hour to
Lansing, MI, from Detroit
screaming and crying all the way
there. I refused to believe that my
dad had just received a death
sentence.
Once I arrived to Lansing, my
mom, who was the epitome of
strength at such a weak time in all
of our lives, gave me the run down
about the doctor’s plan to start
chemotherapy and what we
should expect going forward. The
next few months were an
emotional rollercoaster. With
each passing month, my dad’s
health spiraled downhill. The
hardest part of it was seeing my
dad, who was a man on-the-go,
stripped of his ability to walk. The
cancer had spread to his bones. I
watched his now frail body
struggle to use a walker to get
from the bedroom to the kitchen.
I remember walking behind him
thinking, “That is NOT my dad! My
dad is outgoing; he rides
motorcycles, he lifts weight, he is
strong, and he tinkers with cars.”
On October 26, 1996, after giving
my dad a kiss goodbye and telling
him that I loved him, I left the
hospital and drove back to Detroit.
Shortly after I arrived back, the
phone rang and it was my sister
calling to deliver news I dreaded
would come one day. “Tammy,
daddy died.” The best way for her
to say it was just to say it. There
was no beating around the bush
or leading up to it. I replied with
one word…, “Ok.” Then I hung up
the phone. I sat down on the edge
of my bed, very somberly and
without any feeling of sincerity I
said, “Lord, I love You. I praise
You.” I took a deep breath and
finished off with, “and I magnify
Your name.” Then I cried.
The next morning I was rejoicing!
Yes, you read it right. Rejoicing!
Weeping may have endured for a
night, but joy did come in the
morning (Psalms 30:5). What
happened? How could I praise
God in the midst of such a tragic
loss? Shouldn’t I have been
blaming God, wondering how He
could have let this happen? Why
didn’t He heal my dad? Why did
my dad have to die?
Remember Job, in the bible, when
all of his kids died a tragic death,
his cattle was burned up, his
sheep was stolen, his health failed
him and yet, in all this Job sinned
not, nor charged God foolishly
(Job 1:27). As a matter of fact he
said, “Though he slay me, yet will I
trust him:” (Job 13:15). No matter
what you face, no matter how
difficult it may seem at the time,
no matter how tragic the loss, you
must trust God enough to yet
praise Him. But, I lost my
mother. Praise Him anyway! My
child was murdered. Praise Him
anyway! I lost my job and now I
am about to lose my house. Praise
Him anyway! My spouse walked
out on me. Praise Him anyway!
Sacrifice is the act of giving up
something you desperately want
to hold on to. Sacrifices test your
Honey Bee Press
A newsletter brought to you by the Women on the Wall in loving memory of Annette “Honey” Grant
Volume 4, Issue 1
Inside this issue:
We would like to stand with you in prayer. There is so much power in agreement and prayer.
The enemy tries to make us feel like we are alone in this journey when in fact there are many
of us that are going through the same thing. The Women on the Wall believe that “sisters
need sisters.” We need each other to survive. In the kingdom, when one of us suffers, we all
suffer. We want you feel the weight of the prayer pushing you forth in your calling. Send us
your prayer requests and know that we will lift you up. No prayer request is too small or too
big. Email us at [email protected].
Featured Poem:
Experiencing the
Miraculous
2
A Note From Our Founder
Featured Article: The
Breakthrough
3
Featured Article: When You
Come to the End of
Yourself
Honey’s Reading Corner
4
Honey’s Recipe Corner
Featured Article: Peace Vs.
Distraction
5
Encouraging the Singles
Marital Bliss
6
Honey’s Recipe Corner 7
Featured Article: The Sun
Appears After a Heartbreak
8
Dr. Lee’s Prescription for a
Productive Year
9
Do You Want to Know Him 10
October—December 2014
We would love to hear from
you. Are you being blessed by
the newsletter? Is there a topic
you would like addressed?
The Honey Bee Press would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year! Thank you for supporting us for the last 3 years.
Page 2 Honey Bee Press
When Death Called continued...
Sometimes the very thing
that we prefer not to
happen, God allows and
despite us, God’s will is
perfected in our lives.
~Rev. Katrina Wallace
Rev. Letrice Weaver is the
author of An Invitation
from the King: Experienc-
ing God’s Power to Trans-
form You Into the Person
He Created You to Be .
She has items from her
“Because of Christ I am”
collection available for
purchase. Please email
for more information.
©Letrice Weaver.
7. Know that God loves you—What can
separate you from the love of God? Nothing!
His love will guide you to the other side. You
will rejoice again.
So, if death ever knocks on the door of your
family know this: the corruptible shall have
put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, then shall be
brought to pass the saying that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death,
where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory. But thanks be to God, which gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1
Corinthians 15:54-55,57). In the end, we
ALWAYS win!
They just live elsewhere right now. It’s
supernatural, but I have never felt my dad’s
absence. He was alive in my heart and I
found comfort in knowing that I will see him
again.
5. Don’t blame God—Fix your mind to believe
that NEVER will God be the problem.
Whatever happened, it wasn’t because God
failed. He NEVER fails. Somewhere along the
way someone may have missed it, but it was
not God.
6. Forgive—Forgive all who may be the
reason for your pain, including yourself.
Unforgiveness will clog the path to your
healing. It will root in your heart slowly
destroying your health.
for the 26 years I had with my dad. Some
had less than that. Some didn’t know their
father at all, but I had the privilege of having
him in the same household and for that
Lord, I thank You.” There will always be
something to be thankful for.
3. Mourn for a season, not for a lifetime—
Despite what we may have lost, we were
created to be strong in the Lord and in the
power of His might (Ephesian 6:10). You
were built to handle whatever comes your
way. Don’t spend your life dying, live for God.
4. Your loved one is in your future—If you are
a born-again Christian, and so was your
loved one, then they are in your future. You
will see them again. They are still living!
Experiencing the Miraculous—by Rev. Letrice Weaver
When you let go of the familiar
And all that used to be,
I will show you favor
And things your eyes have never seen.
Open up your eyes
For I’m doing a new thing.
Receive my fresh anointing
As I turn your wilderness into a spring.
The years of drought and lack are gone.
For harvest time is here.
I declare a new season in your life
Rejoice and be glad, for I’ve dried up your tears.
Yes, I’ve had to do a work in you
To prepare you for what I had in store,
Removing the limitations and bondages within
Those are “the former thing” and not part of you anymore.
You see I’ve had to separate
That which was not of me,
So you could see the “real” you
The you I’ve created you to be.
Though it’s been a journey
It’s not been in vain.
You’ve had to build my faith in the “unseen”
So your promises I could attain.
And so like Mary we say today,
“Be it unto me according to thy word”
For you will surely bring to pass
Everything we’ve seen and heard.
We embrace your will for our lives
So the miraculous can flow free
We’ll experience what we thought impossible
And enjoy the manifestation of God’s supernatural glory!
Grace and Peace to you family! As this year comes to a close, there is much to ponder especially with everything that is going on in the world
right now. I imagine some of us are making declarations for the year, while some are thinking very nonchalantly about the approaching year.
Normally the onset of the year is a time many seek God for what He would like to reveal as well as His direction for the new year. Some of us
seek Him, but don’t wait for definitive answers or confirmations; we just push forward in the regularities of our lives
and pray that God has His hands in it. Is this the right approach? One can only speculate. However, in seeking Him this
year, let's be sure to make real time for Him, so we can get true direction.
Some of us have learned quite well how to multi-task....caring for the family, working in or outside the home, attending
school, spending time with friends, ministry assignments, etc., but we can still find ourselves feeling like there isn't
enough time in a day to get everything accomplished. Sometimes we are so busy being busy that it interferes with our
time with God. Time is something I'm sure all of us treasure and wish we had more of, but one thing time doesn't do is
wait. Have you ever found yourself thinking "if only I had time I would.... spend more time in prayer, spend more time
reading the Bible, etc.?" There are so many things that occupy our time and lots of these things we need to do, but the
most important is spending time with God. Our main focus as Christians is to serve God and put Him first no matter
what else we have to do. While seeking the Father this year, remind yourself of what your focus should be each day.
It's vitally important for us to ask God to show us what He would have us do each day. Jesus said...'Love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And
the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-38). Loving God with all our heart, soul and mind,
means we desire to spend time with Him and give Him the best time of our day. This year's seeking God will not be like
times past...seeking Him this year will give way to some of you having encounters with Him like never before, while some of you will receive
assignments and find yourselves in unfamiliar territory. That's why your "seek" is important....you have to hear God with clarity and be ready to
receive instructions. Open yourself up to Him and allow Him to be the one on the throne of your heart. In seeking God this year, start your day
committing it to Him in prayer and asking for His help and guidance throughout the day. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans
will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3).
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and thank God for allowing us to cross over into 2015!
~Pastor Roxanna
A Note from Our Founder
Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 3
Dr. Roxanna Perry
Founder of W.O.W.
However he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing,
clothed with smiles, charming words, and a
dashing costume that covered his insecuri-
ties, womanizing ways, and not to mention his
problem with keeping his hands to himself.
In the beginning, the relationship was amaz-
ing. He was full of loving words and quality
time. There were little yellow flags being
thrown on the play by “ex-girlfriends” making
themselves known or family members leaving
innuendos to warn me. Let’s not forget the
one time that turned into the first of many
times when he grabbed me in the heat of an
argument. Those “flags” were no biggie be-
cause HE LOVED ME and would do anything
for me.
Thoughts like: Without him, who else would
want me? I’m better with him…He completes
me. Leaving him is not an option...plagued
me for years. After 4 years, he was in com-
plete control. My actions, clothing, body, and
mind was his. His tongue was like a sword,
stabbing me over and over again making it
known that no one else would want me.
When I began to spend time with the ultimate
Father, I learned I had value and my strength
and wisdom began to grow apart from what I
was going through. I feel like I woke up to a
love that was irreplaceable. This kind of love
offered praise rather than ridicule. God’s love
poured everything that was taken from me
I remember feeling alone and as if I had no
hope, no way out, and no strength to move
on. I found myself asking “How did I get
here,” “Why am I here,” “Was this what I de-
served,” and “What switch did I hit to make
him say or do that?” Ultimately, I knew and
kept repeating to myself, “NO REAL MAN
WOULD EVER HIT A WOMAN… he would treat
her like a queen and tell her how beautiful
she is and love her like his life depended on
it.”
I believed my father would be the one to show
me how a woman should be treated, but how
could he when he made a practice of magni-
fying my inadequacies? How could he when I
witnessed him ridicule and demean my
mother? How could my father see I deserved
more when his blueprint of love and marriage
was either missing or distorted? How could I
know how to be treated when my blueprint
was messed up? I looked for the backup blue-
print, but there was none to be found. The
backup seemed to be under construction with
glimpses of a few new characters that in-
cluded side girlfriends with babies out of wed-
lock. Let’s not forget the manuals available to
this backup blueprint, How to be a Single
Mother and Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.
I have to admit that my vision was blurred so
of course the first thing that paid me any kind
of positive attention made me feel like a sip
of ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day.
back into me. The more time I spent with
God, the more empowered I felt. However, I
always found myself back in the arms of the
wolf, giving myself in every way I could…
thinking and hoping things would change if I
prayed just a little harder.
I thought that if he could just see that the way
he loved was hurting me then maybe he’d
stop. The wolf had a plan to destroy me and
break me in a way that nothing could be re-
placed. Both of us had reached the point
where we were done. Our “love” smelled sour
like an old dishrag being reused over and
over again. I was finally ready to walk away,
but his plan was for me to never be. He
wrapped his hands around my neck and
banged it repeatedly as if my head was a
hammer hitting a nail. Something triggered
my desire to breathe and the instinct to fight
grew from the pit of my stomach. Everything
became a blur.
I had reached my breaking point. Enough was
finally enough! I realized that my life had
value and that the value was worth more than
to be shortchanged by being placed in a
grave. The wolf tried to break me, but his
breaking was done. God helped me break
free.
Even as I write this, I continue to bask in
God’s glory for saving my life. I pray that shar-
ing my testimony helps you to realize your
The Breakthrough—by Candace Penn
Page 4 Honey Bee Press
When You Come to the End of Yourself—by Tonia Williams
“Faith is that indescribable strength and secret weapon of the soul. It allows us to persevere even when circumstances
and facts seem pretty bad and the truth is unbearable. Faith is what keeps us going when travel conditions are unfavorable
and we're not sure we can continue the journey. Faith is the light that leads us out of darkness and the map that guides
our way. Without faith, we would likely pull over to the side of the road, give up and watch everyone else pass us by. Real-
ize that faith is like a muscle; trouble and opposition may strain it, but in the end IT WILL GROW STRONGER.”
~Co-Pastor Joyce Fields, Redeeming Love Christian Center
Isn’t it funny how you can hear the same type
of message more than one way and realize…
Oh, God is talking to me about me (LOL)!!!
A few days ago I was sitting in a staff meeting
and just thinking, “Lord what’s next?” What
am I to do now? I have done X, Y, and Z and
now I am just done.” As the meeting started,
T.D. Jakes appeared on the screen and he
began talking about how to be in harmony with
God. This topic really touched me because I
believe that the key to happiness is being con-
nected, being in-tune, and being in harmony
with God. Pastor Jakes said many things but
what struck me, was when he said, “Grace fits
in the gap between my shortcomings or fail-
ures and God’s great ability to do all.”
We never really think about Grace until we are
forced to give it to someone or we really need
it for ourselves. Grace seems like one of those
“Christian catch phrases” that all believers use
from time to time; but it isn’t. Grace is some-
thing so much more than words or cute
phrases. Grace stands in the gap between me
and God. Grace stands in when I fall and fail,
start again, only to fall again. Grace is what
helps to sustain my faith when I can’t see what
God is doing on the “other side of the Jordan”.
Grace is the crossing guard bringing me across
the street to God who is patiently waiting me. 2
Corinthians 12:8-10 says, “Concerning this
thing, I besought the Lord thrice, that it might
depart from me. And He hath said unto me: My
Grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is
made perfect in weakness. Wherefore I take
pleasure in weakness, in injuries, in necessities
in persecutions, in distress for Christ’s sake: for
when I am weak, then am I strong.” This tells
me that God doesn’t need me to know all the
answers, I have to allow His grace to be enough
for me.
So what should I do when I come to the end of
myself? Well this is a big one….. When I come
to end of myself, I should stop and let God do
what only He can or will do for me: show up,
show out and make it happen. Being at the
end of myself is the key to where I need to be
for God to do “Him”. As long as I struggle with
an issue, person, or whatever is vexing me at
the moment, God will allow me to do so; He is
after all a perfect gentleman. He will not
touch a situation in my life that I won’t allow
Him to be King over. If I could do this on my
own, why would I cry out to God for help? If I
keep shouting to God, “I got this” then He will
let me keep trying to get it.
When I get to the end of myself and realize
that no amount of crying or worrying is going
to solve the problem and begin to trust God
to be who He said He would be in my life, my
situation changes greatly. Things aren’t so
hard and maybe I can go one more mile run-
ning and completing this race...
PrayHers 31-Day Challenge: In Hers is Yours by Tamara L. Dean
What Are You Willing To Give In Order To Receive?
How about 31 days? Imagine if everything you want in your life –
peace, prosperity, health, a great career, and a happy family –
were tucked away inside of a tiny seed and the only way you could
have what’s inside of that seed was through prayer and helping
someone else to receive their desires. Would you pray? Would
you help? Well, you are a seed and tucked away inside of you is
everything that pertains to the life you desire. How do you
unleash those desires? You sow into the lives of others. Don’t
spend another day consumed with just your own hopes and
dreams. Pray about HER career, HER finances, HER marriage, and
HER aspirations and watch YOURS grow as a result. So, grab the
sisters in your women's group, your church, grab your friends and
family and unite for 31 days of unselfish love one for anotHER!
“… whatsoever a [wo]man soweth that shall [s] he also
reap” (Galatians 6:7 ).
Honey’s Reading Corner
Visit Tamara Dean’s website
at www.prayhers.com to
order your copy today!
Honey Bee Press Page 5
Ultimate Cranberry Pudding—by Lisa Kreft
Ingredients
6 tablespoons butter
2 cups white sugar
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups evaporated milk
1 (12 ounce) package cranberries
1 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups white sugar
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch Bundt pan. Mix together the flour, baking powder
and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the 6 tablespoons butter and 2 cups sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour mixture
alternately with the evaporated milk. Stir in the cranberries. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let
cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
4. To make the Hot Butter Sauce: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup butter, 2 cups sugar, and cream. Bring to a boil over medium
heat, reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Serve slices of cake generously covered with hot
butter sauce.
Honey’s Recipe Corner
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Peace Vs. Distraction—by Minister Patricia Eubanks
Parents never want to see their children un-
happy or crying. They want them to calm
themselves so that they can tell them what
the problem is. The child may have fallen
while on the playground and runs into the
house with tears streaming down her little
face, crying so hard that she can't talk or tell
Mom or Dad what happened. Most parents
would say, “Calm down so you can talk and I
can help you.”
We can all imagine this, right?
Our lives are full of distractions, as its goal is
to throw us off the course of what we were
put on earth to do. The dictionary says a dis-
traction is a thing that prevents someone
from giving full attention to something else.
Another meaning is an extreme agitation of
the mind or emotions. It's like a yield sign
being placed in the middle of a street where it
is not needed; it slows down our progress.
In my life I have had many distractions and
I'm sure you have as well. Maybe we can't
control the distractions that come at us, but
we can control how we respond to them. We
take control by learning to not live our lives by
the emotions that come to us because of the
distractions. Emotions are a natural part of
life, but we are not suppose to be ruled by
them.
I use to be the poster child for living by my
emotions. God is saying to us when we allow
our emotions to lead us as this child on the
playground, we will not be able to hear His
still small voice speaking to us. Yes, some of
the distracting trials hurt and scar us badly,
but our Lord is there ready to clean us up and
put a band-aid on it to start the healing proc-
ess.
Now let the healing begin!
We start with seeking the presence of God in
prayer. In His presence is how we learn to
tune into His voice and that voice brings a
peace. Prayer is not a monologue, it's a dia-
logue. We talk then listen, awaiting His re-
sponse. If my children always talked to me
and I never responded in some type of way, it
wouldn't be a balanced relationship. It's the
same with our Heavenly Father. He will speak
to our spirits through His Word, through other
people, or however He sees fit. He is never
limited in the way He communicates.
Distractions serve to keep us in fear, frenzy,
hysteria, mental distress, madness, insanity,
mania, agitation, and/or perturbation. We
have a solution to all of that, thank you Jesus!
The peace of God that surpasses ALL under-
standing that will keep our hearts and our
minds is the weapon we need to fight the
distractions of life.
A distraction is nothing
the destruction of your
dream in slow motion.
~Bishop Dale Bronner
Minister Patricia Eubanks is the founder of M.O.T.H.E.R. (My Opportunity to
Help Everyone Resource). M.O.T.H.E.R. is a faith & community-based organiza-
tion, whose goal is to inform, prepare, and support parents, especially the sin-
gle parents doing a job of two by themselves. Never in history have our children
been in a greater need of strong parents and never have parents been looking
for answers to make life for their children better. A strong and well-balanced
child comes from a strong, well-balanced parent. Please visit the blog and web-
site she has created for parents at:
http://peubanks5.wix.com/eubanks.
As the year comes to a close and the
weather gets colder and the winter holidays
step on the scene, it becomes apparently
obvious that people are “bundling” up for the
season. No, I haven’t done an official study
or anything, but over the last sixteen years or
so, I noticed most people have some type of
love interest secured for the winter. I even
did a quick Internet search on the correlation
between new relationships and the seasonal
changes and it seems like my theory proves
to be true. The fall/winter months are where
most new relationships are formed.
The attempt is not to prove why that is the
case, but I do want to ask...are you a desper-
ately seeking single during this season?
It is natural to desire a mate, but are you so
desperate that you will take anybody from
the opposite sex? Every time I end an article
in this section I always say, “God wants His
best for us! Be encouraged.” This is not just
something that I am using to be a concluding
phrase, but I mean just that. God wants His
best for us. If we are desperately seeking
someone to fill a place in our lives that only
God can fill, then we can easily find our-
selves in a relationship with someone who
was not designed for us. Is that what you
really want?
As time continues to move on and you don’t
change your relationship status, I can see
where thoughts like...maybe it’s something
wrong with me...maybe my list is too unreal-
istic, maybe I should just get with so-n-
so...can invade your mind. We have to
shake those thoughts before they consume
us. If there are indeed changes that you
need to make, make those changes for you
and not for someone else. If God has been
prompting you to do something about your
weight, then do something about your
weight for your health, but not as a way to
gain the attention of someone. If God has
been talking to you about your attitude,
change your attitude so that you can bear
Godly fruit, not because you want to fit into a
type that a person likes.
Men and women have to trust God to reveal
to them who their help-meets (someone
suitable) are. Let’s not take the idea of trust
lightly. Don’t we trust God to wake us up in
the morning? Don’t we trust Him to let our
vehicles crank up? When we take matters
into our own hands because of our impa-
tience and try to make things happen, it’s
like we’re saying to God, “I don’t trust you.”
David was given a promise by God that he
would be king. He was given that promise at
a young age. He went through many trials
before he became king. He was even run-
ning for his life at one point. When he got
the promise, he didn’t go out trying to make
a bid on a castle nor did he attempt to build
his kingly entourage. David waited on God to
do all of the heavy lifting. I’m sure it was not
easy...we can surmise some of his difficulty
by reading his journal entries in the book of
Psalms...
Don’t let the fact that you are not in a rela-
tionship become a god in your life. Keep God
first and allow Him to do the heavy lifting.
Being desperate for a relationship will only
distract you from your God-given purpose.
Don’t let this current fact destroy you. Keep
giving it over to God in prayer. God knows
and He sees…
Know that the enemy of your soul desires to
destroy you so keep your heart guarded. If
you are being bombarded with potential
mates, lay them on the altar and seek God as
to how He wants you to proceed. Don’t let
desperation dictate who is the best for you,
because it is not qualified to make a well-
informed decision. Allow God to do what He
does best...be sovereign, be the solution
giver, and provide what’s best.
Be encouraged...God wants His best for us.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,
and obtaineth favour of the Lord. Proverbs
18:22.
Marriage is about relationship, commitment
and permanency. God intended for man and
woman to be able to relate to one another, be
committed to one another (stand together as
one) and for it all to last a life time. Adam
and Eve did not consider divorce when their
marriage was attacked. Three of the greatest
challenges facing marriages today are the
inability of couples to relate, commit and stay.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my
bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be
called Woman, because she was taken out of
Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father
and his mother, and shall cleave unto his
wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they
were both naked, the man and his wife, and
were not ashamed. Genesis 2:23-25
Adam knew that Eve was a part of him. He
was committed to being with her. Think
about it; if we viewed marriage this way to-
day, would we be so quick to leave our-
selves? If we saw ourselves as husband
and wife as one, would we hurt ourselves
with thoughtless words? If we truly left our
father and mother (or other family members
and friends) and cleaved to each other,
would it be so easy to pick up the telephone
and talk about ourselves? My husband often
tells me that I am him and that he is me. At
first it sounded cute and a little funny, but
the more I learn and experience in our mar-
riage, the more I understand that what he is
really saying is that “we are one”. Whatever
he does to me, he does to himself. What-
ever he does for me, he does for himself.
Whatever he invests in me, he invests in
himself. One day the light went on! J. Now
that I fully understand, I can say reciprocally
that whatever impacts or benefits me, im-
pacts or benefits Dwight also. Whatever is
invested in me is invested in him.
9 Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their labor: 10 If either
of them falls down, one can help the other
up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one
to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down to-
gether, they will keep warm. But how can one
keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be
overpowered, two can defend themselves. A
cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Adam and Eve were comfortable with each
other. They were naked and were not afraid,
not just physically, but also spiritually. Adam
and Eve understood that God placed them
together. Our wedding vows confirm the
same. Separation is not the first line of de-
fense, looking to someone else for comfort is
not an option, we must come to the realiza-
tion that our commitment is “until death do
us part’.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due
benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto
the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her
own body, but the husband: and likewise also
the husband hath not power of his own body,
Honey Bee Press Page 6
Are You a Desperately Seeking Single?—by A C Nelson
A Kingdom Investment—by Vinicia McNeil Joyner
Marital Bliss
Encouraging the Singles
Honey Bee Press Page 7
but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come
together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. I Corinthians 7:3-5
Marriage is a kingdom investment. Investment in the context of marriage means to devote to or give time, talent, emotional energy, etc. or
whatever it takes, whenever it is needed for a purpose or to achieve something. The goal of investing is increase. Nobody wants to invest
and end up with the same or less than they started with. When two become one in the marital relationship they receive an immediate return
on their investment. They are now twice as good, twice as strong, twice as smart, twice as willing, twice as able…as they were. This is their
first kingdom investment as a couple, bringing their whole selves into the marital relationship.
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy
vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9
God made Adam and Eve work partners. They had assignments in the garden. When God came to fellowship in the cool of the evening, He
spent time with them. Working in the garden was their ministry assignment so to speak. They worked cooperatively in fulfilling the tasks
that God had given them to do. When Adam was single, the job was all his, but when he took a wife, God made room for Eve in the kingdom
plan. Working together in ministry is the second kingdom investment. This does not mean that you will both be assigned to the same task,
but it does mean that you will support one another and work together as husband and wife to ensure that your kingdom investment accom-
plishes that which God has ordained and that there is a return.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the
sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
Psalm 128:2-4
Children are a part of God’s plan for marriage. Children are a kingdom investment. Whether the children are biological, adoptive, kinship,
friends of friends of friends or extended family, God has ordained the marital relationship as the place to invest in, care for and raise chil-
dren. Each generation that is added reaps a greater return on the initial investment. Even after the fall God still moved forth with His plan
and blessed Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply”.
Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of
the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Psalm 127:3-5
Regardless of the season of life in which we marry, living the rest of our lives together is the promise we make to each other and to God. We
agree to do it His way. We commit to a relationship that honors God, each other and our family. Marriage requires a continuous flow of spiri-
tual deposits. Making a kingdom investment in marriage means committing to the relationship, working to make it successful, and weather-
ing the storms of difficulty. In order to receive the greatest possible return on our investment, we must acknowledge the sovereignty of God,
recognize what He has done in joining us together, invest in our relationship, demonstrate our love through commitment to each other, and
make it last forever.
Page 8 Honey Bee Press
The Sun Appears After a Heartbreak—by Erica Eaton
My heart was literally broken just one year ago…
On the other end of the phone line, my boyfriend of five months, asked if I was seated, “Yes, I’m in the car outside
of the nail salon” I replied, “What is it? What do you need to tell me?” I asked impatiently. He hesitated a bit be-
fore responding, “I don’t want this anymore.”
“You, what?” I questioned.
Undoubtedly I was totally confused by what I just heard. He was breaking up with me. I was shocked, filled with
grief, and felt utterly devastated. It was so sudden, so unexpected, and so matter of fact. Wasn’t this the guy that
I had just spent five wonderful days with in Costa Rica for my birthday? And didn’t we discuss what type of wedding we both desired during
the trip? I started hyperventilating, “What? Why?” He replied, “We are different people.”
REALLY! He said he came to this conclusion based on our conversations over the last several months. He was in the military and was about
to leave for a six-week assignment on the west coast. We were already in a long distance relationship with three hours between us, but nei-
ther of us felt that the distance was a concern in our relationship. We were having so much fun and everything appeared perfect from my
vantage point. I often asked myself how was I so fortunate to have met someone so awesome, so seemingly ideal for me after waiting for so
long. I believed that it was God’s will. Unfortunately, my prince charming did not feel the same way. Although, I am a hopeless romantic by
nature, I was a bit doubtful about this relationship as I had been about all my relationships up to this point. I had experienced several disap-
pointing relationships by then, that I really didn’t have any great expectations for this relationship. I knew that I really enjoyed his company
but I did not expect to fall in love, especially not as quickly as I did.
Although a few years younger than I, he appeared to have a bit more experience in relationships, especially with two failed marriages behind
him. He seemed determined to right all of his wrongs in this relationship. I did not have to ask for anything. He took charge of the relation-
ship by planning fun activities for us and fine dining excursions. He was an all-around charmer and I was thrilled to be with him! I told all my
single friends to join the social networking site where we met. It was indeed a whirlwind relationship. One evening during our nightly mini-
marathon chats, out of the blue he told me that he loved me. Yes, it was awkward and unexpected after only three months of dating and
although I wasn’t sure if I felt the same way, I acquiesced. Eventually, my feelings began to intensify. I hated leaving him after long fun-filled
weekends. I thought about him often. I cared for him deeply. I had been in love once before but I can honestly say it never felt this intense.
Since I had the privilege of working remotely, I often worked from his house especially toward the end of the week so that we could extend
our weekends together. I typically worked from his dining room table but on one particular day, I felt that I needed to enhance my focus and
asked if I could work from his office. He agreed and went to great lengths to set me up in his office, all the while ensuring that his laptop
would not be used due to some technical issues that I would not understand, etc... It wasn’t a big deal to me since I preferred using my own
laptop anyway. However, I felt it rather odd and amusing that he would risk being late for work to disassemble his computer to connect mine
for me. But after all, he was an IT expert so it was a cinch for him.
When he finally left, my mind began racing. Something told me to open his top drawer. Now normally I am not a snoop, but I am a strong
believer in intuition and at that point my intuition kept nudging me to open the drawer. I did, and low and behold there was another picture of
his ex-wife of four years. The first picture was strategically placed on the mantel in his dining room area. At first sight, the picture appeared
rather innocent since it was a picture of her and her child from her second marriage, but I often wondered to myself why it was even up. And
why was it so prominently displayed? Upon seeing the picture in his top drawer, my mind went back to our first date when he told me it was
love at first sight when he met his second wife. He seemed very passionate about sharing how they met. I was a bit confused and offended
that he even felt it appropriate to share the story with me at that point, but since he seemed so engaged in his story I wanted to loan my
compassionate ear.
When he came home from work that evening, I decided not to share what I saw because for one, I should not have looked through his drawer
and secondly because he said he ended his last relationship because the person went through his unlocked phone. I could only imagine
what else I would have found if I was allowed to use his computer that day. However, there it was on full display for me to observe and under-
stand that I was with someone who was potentially still in love with ex-wife but yet again, I ignored the signs. Soon after that day, I put a lot of
my suspicions behind me as we continued to share good times together.
It wasn’t until a few weeks before my birthday trip that I detected his moodiness and behavior change. I believed that the pressures of work
and school were getting to him and that our trip would help ease his burden. However, around that time I finally raised the courage to con-
front him about the picture on the mantel in the dining area and asked that he please take it down since I felt it was a bit of a distraction to
our growing relationship. After much hesitation, he finally agreed to take it down. Shortly after the trip, his mood swings reappeared. In fact,
he seemed disgruntled. I figured I’d leave before the weekend came so that he could study and prepare for his business trip. I tried to reach
him several times over the weekend but to no avail. This was strange behavior. I finally left an urgent message that it was important that he
reach me so that we could discuss my concerns about his behavior. He sent a text to let me know that we indeed needed to talk and that he
would call me that evening.
Sometime after that dreadful day, I checked his Facebook profile and quickly confirmed my suspicion that he was dating his ex-wife. The pain
came rushing back to me. It took me close to a year to get over that relationship. In my time of recovery, I pondered several questions that
kept swirling around in my head, like why did I have to experience that? Why did he use me? Why did he say he loved me when he really did-
n’t? Why did I feel so betrayed? Where was God in all of this? Why did I ignore the signs? What was my lesson in all of this?
I thought I would share some great tips from my recent leadership conference and pray that they will bless you as they have blessed me. This
summer I learned a valuable lesson about the importance of self-care for my mind, body and spirit. It seems that even during the summer
months, which were intended for some relaxation, I still felt the hustle and bustle of life rushing me through the day. There is always so much
to be done and so many demands from many directions, that life can sometimes just feel overwhelming. Having the opportunity to travel to
Nashville for the National Association of Elementary Principals Conference provided me with the opportunity to regroup, network and get re-
energized for the year. After attending session after session, I found myself still looking for a session to address my personal needs as a
leader and found my refuge in my final session, “Taking Care of Yourself.” With all of the never ending items on my “to do list,” I realized that
if I am not my best self, then I will not have anything to give to others; therefore, self-care must be a priority.
Scheduling time for you does not necessarily mean spending hours at the day spa (even though that would be great.) It simply means
setting aside a few moments each day for reflection and relaxation. Here are a few things that I am learning to do to as I force myself to
make time for me. (Yes, I said force, because as a parent, it is difficult to get even a minute to yourself.)
Start your day with a warm cup of lemon water. (This will clear your system of toxins and refresh your body.)
Drink plenty of water throughout the day. (This will keep your body energized and increase the elimination process.)
Start your day with prayer and meditation. (Allow your spirit to tune into God’s spirit before starting the day. Seek His will for the day
and cast any cares that you have on Him because He truly cares for you.)
Relax. (Upon returning home from the tasks of the day, take a warm bath or shower to “wash off the day.” Explain to your family
that you need a few moments before they start placing their evening demands on you. )
Make a vision board. (This is a great way to set goals for yourself and to actually have a visual representation with scriptures to
support your dreams.)
Laugh. (Enjoy those silly moments with your kids and stop being so serious. Life is too short to walk around grumpy and angry,
Laugh Out Loud!)
Exercise. (Begin or end each day with a 30 minute workout, nothing too intense if you have never worked out before, just
something cardio to get your blood pumping. This will also help you rest well at night and have energy during the day.)
Read. (We are always encouraging our kids to read for enjoyment; therefore, we should lead by example. Delete some of those
game apps off of your phone and download a good book to read. Enjoy reading while waiting in the gym during basketball practice
or while waiting for dance class to end.)
Rest. (Allow your body to rest and rejuvenate as this is essential to optimal health. If you are having trouble sleeping, place some
lavender in your pillow case or rub lavender oil on your temples to help you relax.)
Finally, prioritize your day to ensure that your mind, body and spirit are not overwhelmed or exhausted. Determine what is urgent, important
and what can just wait until tomorrow. After all, Jesus came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. That means that we
should be enjoying this journey, not dreading it.
Page 9 Honey Bee Press
Honey’s Health Corner
I can do all
things
through
Christ who
Dr. Lee’s Prescription for a Productive Year—Dr. Erika Lee
In my final summation of what I went through, my take away lesson from this experience has been that: 1) I had a lot of work to do to restore
my self-worth; 2) that I needed to do a better job at guarding my heart and; 3) God is always speaking to me but I need to do a better job of
listening… I wanted the relationship to work at all expense because I could not fathom that God had something better in store for me. I ig-
nored the signs because I did not trust God. On top of that, I failed to guard my heart. I didn’t do a good job of vetting th is person. It takes
time to get to know people for who they really are. I also realized that not everyone is worthy of my love and attention or even healthy enough
to receive it. It’s been a long journey and my work still isn’t complete but I am happy to report that I am in a place of peace again. I have ac-
cepted what has happened to me and have made peace with it. I am back to dating and carefully applying the lessons learned as I move
forward. God is love and He always has my back.
Advertise with us for a very low price!
Email [email protected] for more info.
Women on the Wall (WOW) began in 2008
in the home of Dr. Roxanna Perry who
serves alongside her husband, Dr.
Randolph Perry at The Shepherd’s House
of Restoration Worship Center in Clinton,
MD. The idea of WOW stemmed from Dr.
Roxanna Perry’s multiple encounters with
hurting, abused, financially troubled, sick,
and broken women. The majority of these
women were already a part of the Body of
Christ, yet still were experiencing these
hardships. Occasionally, she met women
in “the marketplace” with similar issues.
Oftentimes, these women felt alone in
their experiences and feared others would
judge them and not understand their pri-
vate pain. However, WOW understands
that “Sisters—need—Sisters” so we en-
deavor to support and celebrate the life
of each woman.
The mission of WOW is to bring restora-
tion, healing, and encouragement to
women of all races and religions.
Through prayer, worship, fellowship, and
hosting empowerment sessions, WOW’s
vision is to see women transformed by
the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and to
walk in greater understanding of what
God has called them to do in the earth
realm. It is clear from Jeremiah 29:11
that God’s thoughts toward his people
are good and that He has great plans for
their life. It is toward that end we move
with the heartbeat of the Lord Jesus
Women on the Wall: Breaking Down the Barriers that Divide Women
Christ to build unity among women and to
shower His women with compassion and love
as they forge ahead toward their destiny in
Christ.
With the launch of the Honey Bee Press, the
hope is that more women will be reached,
more insights will be gained and that women
will see that they are not alone. We thank
you for your support and look forward to
hearing your feedback.
The Honey Bee Press
The Shepherd’s House of Restoration
Worship Center
You’re Invited!
The Shepherd’s House of Restoration Worship Center
would like to extend an invitation for you to attend our
church on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. for time of worship
and empowerment through God’s Word. We are the
place where everybody is somebody and Christ is all.
We are located at 6200 Coventry Way, Clinton, MD
20735. If you don’t have any ministry or personal con-
flicts, we’d love for you to come fellowship with us
and bring someone along with you. If you would like
to be put on our email list so that you can be sent this
newsletter and any of our upcoming events or if you
have any prayer requests, please email us at
[email protected]. We would love to hear from
you.
sinners.
2. Believe that Jesus
died for your sins,
and that He rose in
victory over death.
3. Invite Jesus to
take control of your
life. Just give it all to
Him. He will wash
away the sin and
begin to change you
from the inside out.
Your whole life will
take on a new per-
spective. The past is
erased!
4.Only Jesus can
save you from hell.
Only your sincere
decision to accept
Jesus as your Savior,
(turning to God) will
save you. There is no
hope of obtaining
salvation through
any good works, acts
of kindness, priest,
saint or money.
We all need to
RECEIVE
CHRIST AS OUR
LORD AND SAV-
IOR. You see,
we are ALL sin-
ners and need
to be forgiven.
Wouldn't you
like to be 100%
sure that you
will spend eter-
nity with Him in
heaven? Jesus
is waiting for
you to ask Him
into your
life...to ask for
forgiveness and
a new life in
Him.
RECEIVING
CHRIST IS SIM-
PLE:
1. We must re-
alize our sin
separates us
from God. We
are all sinners.
We are born
In genuine sincerity, you can speak to Jesus...
Lord Jesus, I know that I am not the woman that you desire me to be.
I know I am a sinner and that my sins separate me from you.
I firmly believe that you died on the cross for my sins and suffered in
my place for the condemnation that I deserve.
I come to you now for forgiveness and to surrender my life to You.
Help me not to be ashamed of You. You have been patiently waiting
outside the door of my heart knocking. I now open the door. Come in,
Lord Jesus, and be my Lord and Savior forever. Help me live for you
from this day forward.
Do you want to know Him?
