Miranda A. Uyeh's Blog, page 22

October 26, 2017

Scoop ~ Interview With Celebrity Marriage Counselor, Tina Konkin

Celebrity marriage counselor and relationship expert, Tina Konkin, is the Founder and Director of Relationship Lifeline. Tina has counseled many celebrity and high profile couples, and her organization has seen a success rate of over 90%. She has appeared on Dr. Phil and The Real House Wives. In September, she released her highly anticipated book, Love, Sex & Money: The R3 Factor of Great Relationships, which she co-authored with her late husband, Ron. Tina took some time to share with the world on TBAP about her life, work, and faith. Follow our conversation below!

Miranda ~ Hello Tina! It’s a pleasure to have you visit TBAP today. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Tina: I am a mother to three, a grandmother to three, the Founder and Director of Relationship Lifeline, and a coach to many. As an author, relationship expert, counselor, and conference speaker, I have facilitated hundreds of seminars for youth, adults, couples, and families for over 30 years. Coming from a background of abuse and abandonment, my passion has always been to help heal the broken-hearted by giving them a clear path so that they can live the life they’ve always imagined.

Miranda ~ How did you discover God? What’s your story?

Tina: Even though I accepted Jesus at the age of five, I can truly say it was an experience that would never leave me, and one that has never left me. I remember it clearly because, the first story I heard in our cold basement Sunday school room was the story of the disciples telling the children to go away. God clearly knew I needed to hear that, and especially the outcome: how Jesus chastised them for shooing the children away. At the age of five, I could not imagine the ending of that story. It was already ingrained in my little mind that “children should be seen and not heard.” When the most important man in the story stopped them and called the children over, I was astounded and in complete disbelief, even at my young age! From that day to this day, I have complete confidence that there is nothing I could ever do to lose His love or approval!

Miranda ~ What led you into relationship counseling and, how did you find yourself counseling high profile relationships?

Tina: When my oldest daughter turned eight, I began to reject her as a child. I lost all maternal instinct of nurturing her. I tried traditional counseling, but only lasted about two, maybe three sessions. I did all that I could spiritually: from prayer to fasting, to seeking pastoral counseling, but nothing seemed to get to the root of my very serious problem. In 1992, I was invited to attend a 5-day intensive personal growth seminar led by Dr. Phil’s partner. It was a life changer. Not only did it heal me and remove the rejection of my daughter, but it healed my damaged marriage as well. After the five days, we decided that it was what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives, so we went into training for two years, and the rest is history.

Miranda ~ What is the underlying principle that guides the manner in which you counsel couples?

Tina: At our intensives the underlying principles that we take couples and individuals through are rolled into something we call the R3 Factor.

R1 – Reveal: It’s about revealing your yesterday. You cannot change or heal what you don’t reveal or acknowledge. So it’s about people acknowledging and revealing what’s in their heart. This is something that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 19:8: “Divorce was allowed, because of the hardness of the heart,” and that’s where we start. We look deeply at the hardness of the heart. That’s the reveal! Once we can acknowledge and reveal, then we are in position to rewrite, which is the R2.

R2 – Rewrite: Rewriting comes through forgiveness and compassion—looking from a different perspective and seeing people how Jesus saw them when He was on the cross. He said, “Forgive them for they know not what they do,” and in an unusual way, He almost made an excuse for them. That is what we call Rewriting. You can excuse, not what happened and not making it right, and understand instead that the things that have happened are not necessarily because people are evil, but because their actions could have come from a place of “hurt people, hurt people.” That’s the Rewrite, something that only comes from and through forgiveness. And the third is to Renew.

R3 – Renew: Renew is about making life better than it was before. Renew is about tomorrow; it’s about starting the rewrite today and entering tomorrow with a brand new perspective, knowing that life can, in fact, be better than it was before. That’s why the renewing of the mind and heart—and as the bible says, “Think upon these: Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are good, whatsoever things are of good report, and whatsoever things are pure”—is so incredibly important. That’s the principle of the Renew; we renew the mind by being aware of what we put in it, and by being aware of how we look at things through it.

That being said, these are not independent steps. They are a perfect union of three: Change can only come through us seeing the Reveal and the Rewrite, and only then are we ready to Renew. Those are our underlying principles.

Miranda ~ In what way do you believe that what you do will change the world, especially for Christian Couples?

Tina: I believe that what we do is heal relationships—one broken heart at a time. The reason Relationship Lifeline is seeing over 90% success rate with couples who have already broken up, or who are in the process of breaking up, is because we look at the hardness of the heart—something Jesus said is the reason for divorce. So if we can fix that primary issue and get couples to look at themselves and look into the depths of their own hardness, they usually change, which changes the relationships; and when that happens, compassion comes in, and then they are able to fully apply the R3 Principles. The success rate is beyond even our wildest imaginings. We witness miracles in the room every month as we are privileged to watch couples regain and even rediscover love they thought they had lost forever.

[image error]Miranda ~ Why did you decide to write the book, Love, Sex & Money: The R3 Factor of Great Relationships?

Tina: My husband and I co-wrote the book because we knew that if people could only get the “love, sex and money” thing figured out, they’d probably have a great relationship. Money issues and intimacy issues in relationships usually play a huge part in the breakdown of the relationship, and when that happens the love disappears. Also, we wrote the book after realizing that it would be impossible for us to reach everyone who might need to hear this information personally, and not every person would be able to attend our 4-day relationship seminar. So we decided this book could bridge that gap and allow us a way to get this vital information into the hands of everyone wanting to better their marriage. It was and remains our hope to educate people about how damaging and destructive hardness of their heart actually is. The baggage that people carry into their marriages can be overcome; healing is possible.

Miranda ~ When you stepped into celebrity counseling did it change your perception of the world of celebrities in any particular way?

Tina: No, it didn’t change my perception. It only made me realize that we all have the same issue: hardness of heart. Hurt people hurt people and broken hearts are all the same, celebrity or not. There is one difference I noticed: celebrities live life in the public eye so, when they fight or get divorced or are cheated on, that news, more times than not, ends up in the newspapers or somewhere online. We, common folk, get to grieve and cry and fight in private; celebrities are forced to do that in public. The price of fame is great.

Miranda ~ Who are the people who’ve influenced you the most, in life and work?

Tina: I would say that my first Sunday school teacher was one of the first people who steered me toward my destiny, and then, along the way God has brought a lot of mentors into my life. Pastors and spiritual leaders that I know have had a huge influence on me. Funny enough, though, one of the biggest “life changing” events for me has to have been a 5-day seminar that I was fortunate enough to attend, that was led by Dr. Phil’s company.

Miranda ~ What are you most grateful for generally and right now?

Tina: I am most grateful for my family at this time. My husband passed away Christmas Day 2013, and I thank God for the family that I have. I thank God that 20 years before he passed away, we chose to heal our damaged and broken marriage. We chose to make our relationship work. It was not in my husband’s nature to take the easy way out, even after infidelity had rocked us to our core.

Miranda ~ What advice would you offer a person going into counseling profession, especially one who wants to help high profile couples?

Tina: I would counsel them first and foremost, to look at their own calling and purpose. This type of work is trying, and one can’t live on a surface level. It requires 110% focus and engagement every moment, and that is not for everyone. I would also advise that they look at “famous” people with the same eyes they look at everyone else. If you can remove their celebrity status and are able to treat them as broken people with hurting hearts, you will be ahead of the curve. Celebrities long to be treated like “normal” people. They desire authenticity, especially when they are being asked to be authentic themselves.

Fun Q’s

Coffee or Tea? COFFEE

Dresses or Pants? Dresses

Boots or Heels? Heels

Vegetables or Fruits? Veg

Music or Movies? Movies

Juice or Smoothie? Smoothie

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate

Cooking or Cleaning? Cleaning

[image error]About Tina Konkin

Tina Konkin is an internationally acclaimed leader and speaker on the topic of relationships. As the co-founder and Executive Director of R3 Lifeline, Tina regularly speaks for men’s & women’s groups, couples conferences, church groups, and business organizations, as well as personal coaching focused on relentlessly achieving a life that rises to it’s full potential of God-given gifts and purpose.

Filed under: Author Feature, Book Feature, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Love & Marriage, Personality Tagged: Love Sex Money Book, Marriage Counselor, Relationship Expert, Relationship Lifeline, TBAP Interview, Tina Konkin

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Published on October 26, 2017 23:00

October 24, 2017

NEWS ~ The Emotional Wound Thesaurus By Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi Releases Today

The seventh installment in The Emotional Thesaurus series by co-authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi releases today. The book, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide To Psychological Trauma, will help writers better craft characters with emotional wounds so that they are relatable to readers. Find out more details about this book below.

[image error]About the Book

Readers connect to characters with depth, ones who have experienced life’s ups and downs. To deliver key players that are both realistic and compelling, writers must know them intimately—not only who they are in the present story, but also what made them that way. Of all the formative experiences in a character’s past, none are more destructive than emotional wounds. The aftershocks of trauma can change who they are, alter what they believe, and sabotage their ability to achieve meaningful goals, all of which will affect the trajectory of your story.

Identifying the backstory wound is crucial to understanding how it will shape your character’s behavior, and The Emotional Wound Thesaurus can help. Inside, you’ll find:

• A database of traumatic situations common to the human experience

• An in-depth study on a wound’s impact, including the fears, lies, personality shifts, and dysfunctional behaviors that can arise from different painful events

• An extensive analysis of character arc and how the wound and any resulting unmet needs fit into it

• Techniques on how to show the past experience to readers in a way that is both engaging and revelatory while avoiding the pitfalls of info dumps and telling

• A showcase of popular characters and how their traumatic experiences reshaped them, leading to very specific story goals

• A Backstory Wound Profile tool that will enable you to document your characters’ negative past experiences and the aftereffects

Root your characters in reality by giving them an authentic wound that causes difficulties and prompts them to strive for inner growth to overcome it. With its easy-to-read format and over 100 entries packed with information, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus is a crash course in psychology for creating characters that feel incredibly real to readers.

October 23, 2017

NEWS ~ DREAM Label Signs Christian Pop Group, Mass Anthem

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Los Angeles (September, 2017) – DREAM Label Group is excited to announce the signing of Nashville pop group, Mass Anthem, to its growing roster at DREAM Records (Matthew Parker, We Are Leo, Landry Cantrell). Mass Anthem is comprised of brothers, Tyler Sowards, Chad Sowards as well as Joey Atansio.

“Mass Anthem has a passion for young people and the struggles they face on a daily basis. We want our music to be relevant to pop culture, but also bring a positive message and encourage people in their faith. All of our music is written from a place of honesty and struggles we have actually faced. We want kids to know that we have been where they are, and they can come out the other side stronger. We hope that when people hear our music, the lyrics speak to them and into their story.” – Chad Sowards, Mass Anthem

“We do music because we have a story to tell of Gods redeeming grace and the freedom we experience in Him. It’s a message of hope that many young people are so desperate to hear.” – Tyler Sowards, Mass Anthem

The band’s manager, Doran Eichenberg of Radar Talent Agency shared, “I haven’t been this excited about an artist since signing Nate and Darren.” Having discovered, developed, and launched the careers of both NF and We Are Messengers, the Radar Talent Agency owner/founder knows a thing or two about picking undiscovered new talent.

“God has truly blessed these guys with such an incredible gift of song,” said DREAM Label Group GM, Lance Brown. “Their hearts of ministry is incredible and DREAM feels blessed to know these guys. We are looking forward to what God will do for them.”

The group wrote their new album Through People Like Me with talented artists and writers from Tony Wood (Mandisa, Colton Dixon, Hawk Nelson), to Ben Calhoun (Citizen Way), to Jordan Sapp (Tauren Wells, NF, Blanca).

For more information about Mass Anthem, visit their Official website and social media: @MassAnthem

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Photo Credit: Annette McNamara

ABOUT MASS ANTHEM

Mass Anthem is a Christian pop band originally from the Chicagoland area now located in Nashville, TN. The trio is comprised of brothers, Chad and Tyler Sowards, as well as Joey Atansio. Their debut album “ALIVE” was released in June, 2014 followed by their record Through People Like Me released on June 2, 2017. “We hope this new album captures our creativity and energy that we bring to the stage every night,” says Tyler. “Our goal was to create a diverse album of fun, energetic music with lyrics that will encourage people to live a life for Someone greater than themselves, and we believe we have accomplished that goal with this album.”

Mass Anthem relocated to Nashville, TN in pursuit of furthering their music career and making roots in the Christian industry. “It’s been amazing making new connections with writers and other musicians since moving to Nashville. We know we are taking steps in the right direction and are so excited for what the future holds. As a band we always say, as long as God keeps opening the doors, we are going to keep walking through them,” says Chad, lead singer of the group.

Mass Anthem has a passion for the youth and the upcoming generation. They hope their music inspires today’s youth and encourages them with a positive message. “So many young people today put their identity in the number of followers they have or the likes they get on social media, rather than following the One who gives them their identity. We want to take back the youth and have our music point them to Christ and the freedom they can experience in Him,” says Chad.

About DREAM Label Group

DREAM provides artists with a genuine approach to how real artist development should be done. By allowing for a partnership as a business model, DREAM artists empower themselves to develop and carry out a real vision for their lives as they affect other people’s lives with their music and message. Incorporating social media, press, radio and touring, DREAM is helping its artists grow together as a family. DREAM was founded in 2008 and has grown to 17 different divisions comprised of multiple labels, merchandise, apparel, mobile, publishing and film.

Filed under: Article, Artist Feature, Entertainment, Music, News, Personality, Talent Tagged: Dream Label Group, Mass Anthem Artist, Music, Pop Music, TBAP News

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Published on October 23, 2017 06:55

October 21, 2017

Song Review ~ Mirage By Platon Emil & Stefan Nixdorf (Feat.Landry Cantrell & Kristen Hicks)

Kristen Hick’s, sister to Kelsey (wife of Landry Cantrell), joins Landry Cantrell and producers, Platon Emil & Stefan Nixdorf on a new track titled, Mirage.

Genre

Pop

Release Date

October 20, 2017.

Rating

4 Stars

Review

Mirage speaks of a place of darkness, but also of awakening. The metaphorical presentation, while emphasizing a phase of life where a person exists in a delusional world, also speaks of a moment of revelation: when things are made clear. Though the lyrics don’t directly point to one of Christian, it’s candor message reflects what everyone goes through at one (or more) point in their life.

The instrumentals are soft and easy on the ears and do not overpower the singing, making it an overall pleasant song.

Listen to Mirage

Filed under: Entertainment, Inspirational, Music, Music Producer, Song Review Tagged: Kristen Hicks Artist, Landry Cantrell Artist, Music, Platon Emil Music Producer, Pop Music, Stefan Nixdorf Music Producer

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Published on October 21, 2017 05:03

October 19, 2017

NEWS: Music Artist, Landry Cantrell Gets Married!

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Photo Credit: Meghan Johnson

A huge congratulations to DREAM Records music artist, Landry Cantrell, and longtime girlfriend, Kelsey Hicks, who on September 30th, got married. The exchanged wedding vows in front of friends and family in the backyard of their new home.

Kristen Hicks, Kelsey’s sister, had this to say:

“The wedding felt like a dream. There was no dry eye as everyone was emotional to see two best friends unite as one. I’m so happy for them and can’t wait to see what the future holds for Kelsey and Landry.”

Cantrell also voiced his happiness:

“Kelsey and I are so extremely happy, and can’t wait to begin this next chapter of our lives together. Life feels brand new again, and I’m so excited to see what God has in store for us!”

View more photos from the wedding on Landry’s socials:

Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram.

Cantrell, whose new album Projections, released June 16th this year (read the TBAP review here), saw his first single, Before You, gain much popularity with over 25M national audience listeners.

Listen to Before You

Filed under: Article, Artist Feature, Entertainment, News, Personality, Stories Tagged: Landry Cantrell Artist, Landry Cantrell News, Landry Cantrell Wedding News, TBAP News

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Published on October 19, 2017 03:00

October 15, 2017

I Am Daniel

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When you’ve been selected along with your peers for an enviable position, the natural tendency is to want to empress your superiors. You wouldn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize your chances. And if your moral compass isn’t what it should be, you might even consider compromising certain ethics and principles to make sure that your position is secure.

But Daniel wasn’t like that at all.

He took note of the fact that the food and wine being supplied to them were sacrificed to the Babylonian god before being served on the king’s table, and knew that to eat it would be to defile himself before God. Aware that it might offend the king and his eunuchs, he took the bold step of requesting for vegetables and water instead. In the end, along with Shedrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he offered a solution that worked for all and honored God.

Daniel understood that if God could grant him the favor of being selected by the king, then God could also keep him in the king’s graces. Daniel didn’t have to play games or compromise in any way to remain where he’d been promoted. He also recognized that no power under heaven could remove him if God didn’t allow it. In like manner, trust God for where you are and that He can sustain you where He’s placed you. As long as you follow God’s precepts, no power or scheme under heaven can undo what God has done in your life. Do not let fear take over to the point that you’re willing to compromise the truth. It never ends well to do so.

Finally, like Daniel did when Nebuchadnezzar declared himself the only god to be worshiped, always give thanks to God and remain worshipful no matter what; do the best you can, and always seek to glorify God in your way of life. Like in Daniel’s life, everything will fall into place as it should. Trust God and live holy. There’s a reward for those who hold on to the truth. For Daniel, he was promoted to the most prominent position, and his enemies were totally destroyed.

[image error]About the Editor

Miranda A. Uyeh is the founder and editor of To Be A Person (TBAP), the author of Christian Romance/Suspense fiction, To Die Once: Child of Grace #1, a Mogul Global Ambassador, and a copywriter. She was a one-time shortlisted judge for the Inspy Awards in 2014 in the Contemporary Romance & Romance/Suspense Category.

When Miranda isn’t reviewing books/entertainment or hosting interviews on TBAP, she’s writing, reading for fun or relaxing with a good movie! When she gets bored with the world, she talks to God about it! To learn more about her book, To Die Once, her journey as an author and her other activities, you can follow her personal website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+.

*The article, I Am Daniel, first appeared on To Be A Person (TBAP) and is part of the I Am series.

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Inspirational, Personal Development, Personality, Spirituality, Stories Tagged: Christian Article, I Am Daniel Article, Inspirational Article, Miranda A. Uyeh, TBAP Article

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Published on October 15, 2017 23:00

October 13, 2017

Artist Scoop ~ Interview With Music Artist Ayiesha Woods

Grammy Award-nominated artist, Ayiesha Woods is a familiar name in the Christian Music neighborhood. She’s the amazing voice behind the 2006 hit song, Happy. With three full albums, a holiday project, Christmas Like This, an early 2017 EP release, The Runaway Project, and her latest single, Stop, Woods has continued to shine in the Christian Music Industry. Taking some time with TBAP, Ayiesha got personal, allowing the world to have a peek into her life. Take a look!

Miranda ~ Hello Ayiesha! Glad to have you visit TBAP today.

Ayiesha: Hello, Thanks for having me!

Miranda ~ What led to you having a personal relationship with Jesus? Is there a particular redemption story?

Ayiesha: Many years ago, I had the opportunity to visit a very charismatic, lively ministry after having been raised early on in a conventional, religious setting. I walked in and saw people worshiping The Lord—singing and dancing in the aisles. Some were crying; some were knelt at pews. Flags were waving, banners were on display, the orchestra was playing upbeat contemporary worship, and it was something I had never seen before. The people seemed to actually KNOW God. They looked like they had a relationship with Him! I saw it and wanted it! I saw relationship and not religion, and I gave my life to Jesus that night.

Miranda ~ You were discovered by Toby Mac and then offered a record deal with Gotee Records, which launched your professional singing career. Could you describe the events that led to you meeting Toby Mac and being offered that record deal?

Ayiesha: Interestingly enough, I was in school for music business and merchandising at the time, and had released an independent record called What You Do To Me; in class one evening, we were studying Artists’ Production and Hospitality Riders—who’s rider did I end up with? None other than Toby’s. That same week, he called me. Apparently he had gotten hold of my Indy project while out of the country in Jamaica.

Miranda ~ When you wrote the song, You Make Me Happy, had a particular event inspired the moment that led you to the decision to make it into a song?

Ayiesha: Happy is the product of a collaborative effort. Jamie Moore, David Mullen and myself were in writing sessions after I signed with Gotee, and it’s one of several songs that came about in the collaborative process.

Miranda ~ What inspired the song, Jesus Lovin’ People? Who would you say you’ve been called to sing/minister to generally—the broken-hearted, lost, prejudiced etc.?

Ayiesha: My song, Jesus Lovin’ People, was primarily inspired be my wonderful family. I and my husband have 3 boys and every day I’m reminded of the fact that we’re called to Love God, Love People. Serve God, Serve People. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

Miranda ~ You released an album in 2017 after a long hiatus. Why such a hiatus and, why did you title the album The Runaway Project? Are you presently working on a new project?

Ayiesha: The Runway Project was released as a reminder to all that God is not finished with me in terms of music and ministry; as a matter of fact, as the song says, “I’m About To Take Off!” We’re just getting started in this new phase of what God has called us to do.

Miranda ~ Who would you say have greatly influenced your unique style of music? Also, who are the people who’ve influenced you in life, generally?

Ayiesha: Musically speaking, Fred Hammond and Commissioned…definitely staples for me! As for influences in a general aspect, my parents, without a doubt, and, my in-laws!! Love them to life and I appreciate them more than they know!

Miranda ~ You are now a wife and mother. Could you tell us your love story? And, in what particular way can you say that being a wife and mother has changed your perception of life? Also, how do you successfully juggle family with ministry/career?

Ayiesha: Consequently, I met my husband at a music workshop back in Orlando, FL in 2001. Neither of us was going to attend, but thank God we, in spite of our inhibitions, DID! We may have missed out on this beautiful work of art God was (and is) creating! Long story short, my family moved to TX about a month after meeting Joseph, and we simply kept in touch. We maintained a solid friendship over the years, but I wasn’t ready to entertain the thought of life partnership until he gave me an ultimatum of sorts. We went our separate ways for about 2 weeks when I decided I didn’t want to do life without him. I simply couldn’t see it. So after 9yrs of one of the most constant things in my life, we moved beyond the ‘Friend Zone,’ got engaged in July of 2010, and married in November of the same year. We have 3 beautiful boys, and, yes, my perception of life has changed. My general prospective has changed. I thank God for parents that set a stellar example for us (me and my siblings) and were intentional about stressing the importance of FAMILY. Now that I have a family of my own, those same values are of the utmost importance as well. Family First. As for juggling ministry and music…whew! I utilize any help that is offered! I solicit prayers! And I call on the Holy Spirit for His counsel!!!

Miranda ~ Did your perception about the industry change when you became a part of it? How so?

Ayiesha: To be very honest, I was GREEN when I became part of the industry. I had no point of reference or previous experience. I will loosely say this “I DID think that everyone that sang Christian music were Christians!”

Miranda ~ Considering your unique story in entering the industry, what advice would you offer a person with the desire to go into professional singing?

Ayiesha: The best advice I suppose I could offer an ‘up and comer’ is to first be sure that you have a solid, personal relationship with Jesus Chris and secondly, KNOW what He has called you to do.

THIS IS THAT (THE FUN QUESTIONS!)

Coffee, Tea or Mocha? Tea

Dresses or Pants? Pants

Boots or Heels? Boots

Breakfast or Dinner? Dinner

Books or Movies? With 3 kids, these days…movies!

Juice or Smoothie? Smoothie

Chocolate or Vanilla? CHOCOLATE

Scarf or Gloves? Scarf

Thank you, Ayiesha, for stopping by today! Thank You for having me!!

[image error]About Ayiesha Woods

Singer, songwriter, musician and now wife and mother, Ayiesha Woods, is a multi-talented Artist who has certainly made her mark in Christian music industry and ministry. Ayiesha was born in Long Island, NY and spent her early childhood on the British island of Bermuda, where she attributes her roots for diversity and her eclectic musical pallet.

Ayiesha began writing songs at an early age and in her late teens realized that it was the direction in which the Lord was calling her. She recorded an independent record that was later discovered by record label executive, Toby Mac. Ayiesha signed with Gotee records in 2004 and released her debut project entitled Introducing Ayiesha Woods (2006), which went on to receive a Grammy Nomination, Dove nominations, and Marlin Awards.

Her sophomore project on Gotee Records entitled Love Like This was followed by a timeless holiday project Christmas Like This, which was also nominated for a Dove award. Her third album, It’s Time, was followed by an early 2017 EP, The Runway Project.

In collaboration with industry giants, Ian Eskelin, Barry Weeks, and Tony Wood, Ayiesha is excited to introduce the world to her newest single, Stop. The new single will build upon her early successes in Christian music while infusing a new high energy vibe.

Ayiesha and her husband, Joseph, have 3 boys: Joseph II, Benjamin & Asher (Culled from Official Website).

Filed under: Album Feature, Artist Feature, Entertainment, Entertainment Interview, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Music, Music Artist Interview, Personality, Songwriter, Songwriting, Stories, Talent Tagged: Ayiesha Woods Artist, Christian Music Artist, TBAP Interview

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Published on October 13, 2017 07:46

October 10, 2017

Album Review ~ Different By Micah Tyler

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October 8, 2017

Given Over To Death That Life May Be Revealed

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The desire to know God will always conflict with the desire to love the world. The ways of the world are alluring such that it is tempting enough to want to forsake a life in Jesus. This is because life in the Spirit is not nearly as tangible as the pleasures of the flesh (2 Cor. 4:18). If you will be successful in a life of faith, you must make up your mind to believe that God is love (1 John 4:16) and that His Word is absolutely true (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Armed with this, and by the power of His grace, you can accept a life of suffering or persecution when they come (Matthew 5:11-12), and you will not be swayed by anything that the world deceitfully offers (2 Cor. 6:16-17; Eph. 4:14).

Interestingly, when the world figures out that you have no interest in it, it begins to unveil its true nature—one that the people of the world are queerly oblivious to. You’ll see the world for what it really is—its nakedness and ugliness—because it will show it to you. The more it reveals its true colors, the more clearly you’ll see its depth of deception, and that the freedom it promised was only a path to eternal damnation. You’ll discover that the world is cold and lonely, and worse, it is dying; its embers will never be fanned back to life because a new one is coming (Rev. 21:1). All you can do is lead people to Christ so that their souls will be eternally saved (John 3:16).

Why does God let us experience these things?

Because with each trial and temptation thrown at us by the enemy, we witness a truth that draws us closer to God and builds us into the image of Christ, which is the ultimate goal of God for man (Eph. 4: 12-13). For instance, in persecution, you tap into a strength that lets you know that you’re not alone or abandoned by God (2 Cor. 4:9a). And when the world insists on being brutal in hard pressing the children of God into a corner because we speak the truth, in the end we’re not crushed (2 Cor. 4:8a). Even when we’re struck down in sickness and in death or some form of persecution, we know that our souls are not eternally destroyed like our bodies are (2 Cor. 4:9b), because of our hope in the life to come (1 Cor. 15:19). We may witness an astonishing degree of depravity, perversion, and wickedness in the world and be perplexed by it, but we do not despair that the darkness will overshadow the light of God in this world (2 Cor. 4:8b), because He [Jesus] that is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Because Jesus has overcome this world (John 16:33), so we too by faith have overcome (1 John 5:4-5), and so we’re more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Therefore, we are treasures hidden in jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:7), but only for a while—until we are given eternal bodies that will never rot or die (2 Cor. 4: 16-5:1-10). These sufferings on earth require the virtues of perseverance and patience, which bleed out sin and produce holiness in us. The more we face the evil, the more God’s righteousness is revealed in us in the manner in which we respond to it. So we’re given over to these deaths that life in Christ may be revealed in us for the world to see as a testimony of God’s love, for only God can produce the gracious love displayed by His children, giving all glory to God, our Father in heaven (2 Cor. 4: 11-12; 15)! This makes all the suffering worth it.

[image error]About the Editor

*The article, Given Over To Death That Life May Be Revealed, first appeared on To Be A Person (TBAP).

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Personal Development, Spirituality Tagged: Christian Article, Given Over To Death That Life May Be Revealed Article, Inspirational Article, Miranda A. Uyeh, TBAP Article

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Published on October 08, 2017 23:00

October 6, 2017

Movie Review ~ The Case For Christ By Pureflix

[image error]About the Movie

A hard-driving journalist, Lee Strobel was exactly where he expected to be at work: on top. His award-winning investigative reporting recently earned him a promotion to legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. But things weren’t going nearly as well at home where his wife Leslie’s newfound faith in Christ went against everything Lee believed—or didn’t believe—as an avowed atheist.

Utilizing his journalistic and legal training, Lee begins a quest to debunk the claims of Christianity in order to save his crumbling marriage. Chasing down the biggest story of his career, Lee comes face-to-face with unexpected results that could change everything he knows to be true.

Based on Lee Strobel’s award-winning bestselling book and starring Mike Vogel, Erika Christensen, Faye Dunaway, and Robert Forster, THE CASE FOR CHRIST is now showing in theaters. It’s an ideal Easter-season movie for anyone who has ever pondered the existence of God … and what role He could play in their lives.

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