A State of Emergency: The Emotional Warfare Affecting School Children

By: Dr. April J. Lisbon

Children today are faced with a lot of trials and tribulations that we as adults may not have experienced in our past. With the influence of technology and immediate feedback, children are bombarded with positive and negative influences that shape their young minds.

Let’s take school bullying for example. The rise of school bullying at the building level and in cyberspace is creating unrest in children so much so that children as young as 7 have committed suicide. Why is this happening? Why are our children in a state of emotional unrest?

The reality is that there is a spiritual war against the minds of our young people. In Ephesians 6:12 (NLT), it clearly states “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Our children’s minds are impressionable and without words of positive love and light filling their hearts, their minds are unclear of who they are and whose they are.

It is vital that our children hear that they are “….fearfully and wonderfully made…” (Psalm 139:14).

We must take back our schools and create safe spaces for our children. We must be open and honest about the state of mental health in our society. We must advocate for our children today as they will be our future leaders of tomorrow. What good is it for our children to learn how to be great test takers if they are emotionally on shaky ground?

Take time today to connect with leaders within your school district to determine how you can use your voice to improve mental health services in schools. Connect with your local mental health organizations to see how you can lend your voice to creating change. Our children need you. They need to know that their lives matter and like them, our schools can no longer be in a state of emergency. With the blood of Jesus behind us, the war on our children is OVER!

Gospel Artist Jonathan McReynolds Earns Two GRAMMY® Nominations

Jonathan McReynolds, Billboard #1 album “Make Room” has received two grammy nominations for Best Gospel Album and Best Gospel Song/Performance. The 2018 GRAMMY ® Award nominations were announced Friday. The 61st Annual GRAMMY ® Awards will air live on CBS Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019.

McReynolds is recognized in GRAMMY® category 36, Best Gospel Performance/Song, for his single “Cycles.” Additionally, he picked up a second nomination in category 38, Best Gospel Album, for his third LP, “Make Room.”

Dove Award-winning, GRAMMY® and Stellar award-nominated gospel artist Jonathan McReynolds’ current album “Make Room” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Current Gospel Albums Chart and #2 on Top Christian/Gospel Albums. It broke into the mainstream charts at #27 on Top Current Albums and #97 on the Hot 200. The live LP is his third full album and the fourth overall release for the 28-year-old musician.  McReynolds also holds a Master’s in Theology from Moody Theological Seminary and is an adjunct member of the Columbia College faculty. The album “Make Room” was previously nominated for a GMA Dove Award earlier this year. “Make Room’s” lead single “Not Lucky, I’m Loved,” reached #1 on the current Billboard Gospel Radio Airplay chart earlier this year.

As a brand new author, McReynolds’ first book, “Make Room: Finding Where Faith Fits,” draws on testimonies in scripture and from personal experiences to invite readers to make room for God in every area of life. McReynolds emphasizes that readers make room for God in public and private, mentally and spiritually in order to experience the fullness that can come only through an authentic relationship with God. “Make Room: Finding Where Faith Fits” is available now on Amazon.com.

Check out more Motivational Music on BOLDJournal Motivation Music Playlist https://spoti.fi/2AOV2hW

[Video] 5 Life Lessons From Iyanla Vanzant On Leveling Up

Iyanla Vanzant once again lit up the stage with wisdom at the 2018 Essence Empowerment Experience in New Orleans, during the Essence Festival. Breath Of Life Daily was grateful to be apart of the experience and catch a few highlights from her powerful session. The full video can be found at Breath Of Life Daily on YouTube. Check out a few gems we gleaned from her session:

Seek To Evolve In Peace
Iyanla began with an empowering story of what it looks like to do the inner work of healing without interference. Get centered. Aim to be in a place without distractions or energy that weighs you down. Focus promotes fertility. "What you need is IN you."

Be Willing To Get Up. Do The Work
Elevate your Position, Posture, and Perspective, to better serve GOD'S Purpose for you.
Once we change our posture we'll change our position. Take an idea and stop talking about it. Iyanla is an advocate for people "doing the inner work" to become your best self. It's necessary. Her acronym for PAIN: Pay. Attention. Inward. Now

Be Fully Present
How are you standing up in your life? What is your posture some of us need to change our posture. Sometimes things fall apart, so they can fall in line with divine assignment. The struggles we experience help shape our character. We should utilize our trials like sandpaper to bring about something good. Honestly "Who would you be without your hard times, who would you be had you not learned how to make it on very little?"

Be Willing, Honest, Open
Your W.H.O is your H.O.W! If we wanna know how to get through, how to overcome, we have to be willing to take a look inside ourselves and be open to GOD's will for us completely. Who - Willingness Honesty, Openess. "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? - Matthew 16:25-26

Give every thought OVER 
Observation. Examination. Validation. Refrain. Be aware of what feelings and thoughts you come across but make sure to test the validity in them. "Validate what you're thinking. If you feel bad and you have that thought, feel bad, just don't dwell in it." "If you have a negative thought or heavy thought, tell somebody."

If you're on the other side of the conversation and somebody is telling you about their pain.
"Just be present with them." It's not our job to try to fix or change anything. Sometimes it's good to just listen.

Iyanla charges each of us to work with ourselves in a more genttle, kind, and loving way and encourages us that we can do it wherever we are.

5 Essential Tools To Increase Your Spiritual Wisdom

At times multiple worries, anxieties, and to-do lists can weigh down on our spirits. Staying positive will usually help provide the solutions we need. Wisdom is the key! Worry and stress do not belong to us.  If worry or anxiety is looming around in your thoughts, just send it back to hell where it’s from! Wisdom is so powerful and so worthy nothing can touch it. When we put down worry and pick up wisdom, we reap the benefits:

1. Take Some Time Out To De-stress

“Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.” - (Proverbs 3:16) Wisdom makes life easier by helping us to stress less and providing enlightenment. Less stress equals longer life, medical reports will gladly back that up. Wisdom also holds wealth and honor, in modern terms that's fortune and fame. Not the fame that causes you to be exploited and ridiculed, but the one that causes favor and admiration. Worry has no results, but negative ones. Jesus once asked: "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" The answer is NO!  Wisdom on the other hand, holds Long life and Honor. Schedule a time to get centered, to study scripture and proverbs.

2.  Secure The Wisdom Before The Bag

You Better Ask Solomon! Solomon from the Bible chose wisdom over everything. 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 Because the King chose wisdom, God blessed him abundantly with wisdom and everything else he didn't ask for including riches, wealth, and honor. Wisdom rejoices in truth, it is the empowerment serum for the soul. It made Solomon's reign better and as a bonus he received the things that wisdom itself possesses. Wisdom is more valuable than any worldly thing we can ever clamor to possess.

3.  Leverage Scripture To Level-Up

Wisdom can upgrade you way better than Beyonce’! Because wisdom rejoices in truth, it helps eliminate unnecessary drama. The word says put wisdom first and you'll be promoted. A wise person is a blessed person. Wisdom is the key to fulfillment on so many levels. Wisdom can upgrade us better than anyone can claim or sing. Scripture says wisdom preserves us, keeps us, promotes us, honors us, gives us grace, and delivers a crown of glory and that's only the half of a scripture. We can do more with wisdom than we can ever do without it.

4. Seek Satisfaction In Truth

That snickers bar isn't what you're really hungry for. We can search for validation and try to fill our emptiness  with temporary fixes all we want, but it will never be enough. Even the best bread can't compare to wisdom: "Why spend money on what is not food, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare." - Isaiah 55:2 Wisdom is sweeter than the honey on a honeycomb. "I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path." - Psalm 119: 102-104 Hungry? why wait! Start digging into your word!

5. Replace Worry With Wisdom

There's a difference between wisdom and standard knowledge. Wisdom is more enriching. in Matthew 6, Jesus instructed people to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. The kingdom of God is filled with wisdom, and wisdom is filled with everything essential. Worrying about absolutely anything is useless. Wisdom is the antithesis of worry, and it's the actual cure. In the end, It doesn't matter if we have it "All Together" or even if everything looks right, with wisdom on our side we can’t go wrong! There's no need to worry when we walk in purpose, the word says God will supply our needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Follow your purpose passionately and leave the rest to God.

What are some different methods you use to grow your spiritual wisdom? Share in the comments section of this post or reach out to us online @BOLDJournal.

Microsoft Authors In Business Event (Recap)

Atlanta, GA. -- on November 5th 2016 Best-Selling Author and Business Owner Desiree Lee hosted the first ever "Authors In Business Microsoft Book Signing" at Microsoft Store in Lenox Mall.

The event featured 15 Dynamic Authors from the around the country who are apart of the “Authors In Business Self-Publishing Community".  

A few featured Authors from the event from (left to right): Melissa Ruth, Mark A. Jackson, Myra J, Stepter, and Khalilah Wilbourn.

Featured Authors Included: 

Tonia Quarterman

Tongela Curry

Synetta Crispin

Subira Folami

Rob Gegner

Myra J. Stepter

Melissa Ruth

Mark A. Jackson

Tyesha Peak

Debra D. Jones

Annah Lewis

Andrea Stickland

Rick Stickland

Lisa Halls

Khalilah Wilbourn 

Glendora Dvine

The Microsoft Store was packed with fans and onlookers, those who attended gained powerful insight from the Authors. Prizes were given away to audience members. The event was very engaging, from the ranging topics to the energy of the crowd, it was one book signing that did not disappoint. 

The atmosphere was filled with excitement as the Authors shared their wisdom and expertise.

VOW-Inspire Network was on hand to cover the event and got to feature some Great pictures on the fan page.

Pictured from (Left to Right): Hostess Desiree Lee, Event Attendee, and Featured AIB Author Lisa Halls.

If you would like to know more about the Microsoft Authors In Business Self-Publishing Community, the book signing, Authors, or get wisdom on Self-Publishing you can visit Desiree Lee's website: dleeinspires.com/publishnow and contact her directly through the webpage.