Nicole C. Mullen
Captivated
Maranatha Music
www.nicolecmullen.com

Dove award winning artist, Nicole C. Mullen’s latest release,
Captivated, is filled with ardent worship, deep appreciation, and
continual thanksgiving to the Most High God. Nicole has and continues to represent the very heart of those who worship in spirit and truth.
Noteworthy tracks include: “To God Be the Glory”; “I Can”, and “Captivated”.

The Grace Card
Provident Films
Sony Pictures
www.thegracecardmovie.com

“I promise to pray for you every day”
“Ask for forgiveness”
“Grant you the same”
“Be your friend always”

Michael Higgenbottom (Sgt. Sam Wright) and Michael Joiner (Sgt. Bill “Mac” McDonald) portray two police officers who partner on the force, but not in the spirit. One officer struggles with his faith, while the
other struggles to have faith, yet both find grace in the midst of their
needs. A simple, yet profound, “grace card” used at Eternal Light Gospel Church changes not only their lives, but the lives of those around them.

“For by grace, you have been saved”….Eph. 2:8
Also featuring, Louis Gossett Jr.

Available August 16th

Tonya Baker
The Live Encounter
Kingdom Records
www.tonyabaker.com

Universal Christian Music Groups’ Contemporary Jazz Gospel Artist, Tonya Baker, offers 16 tracks of passionate and deeply spirited praise and worship, deriving from the depths of her heart and spirit. To say the least, this project is personal in her adoration for God, yet corporate in her desire to share her joy with others.

Noteworthy selections: “Let Your Glory Fill This House” and “Bless Your Name”

Produced by Myron Butler, this live recording energizes you. Yet,
unlike most live recordings that just leave you with a good feeling; this
CD gives you a desire in your spirit to deepen your walk with God.

The Monster Behemoth
S.L. Russell
Bright Pen Books

The Monster Behemoth is a spiritually challenging fictional encounter set in the United Kingdom that shares the principal character Eileen’s quest to respond Biblically to the effects of change in her life. Eileen closes the door on her relationship with Christopher, sells her home in Holton, and moves to Allerton beginning a new life. Eileen becomes a friend you walk with through her life transitions, while learning from the challenges that change causes her to face.

Micah Stampley
One Voice
Music World/ Interface Entertainment

Available August 23rd

Micah Stampley is a psalmist with a incredible ability to lead the body of Christ into praise and worship, while encouraging devotion, obedience, and being a laborer in the harvest. His fifth offering, “One Voice” is a Macedonian call infusing each listener with a call to worship, a call to serve and, to use the lyrics from one of his tracks, “a call to love”.

Notable tracks: “Searching for You”, “Call of Love”, “One Voice”, and “Heaven & Earth”.

Have you ever found that your greatest weakness became your greatest strength? This became true for a woman we love, star of Style Network’s highest rated show, “Ruby,” Ruby Gettinger. Three years ago she set out to take America with her on a journey to overcome morbid obesity. The result became not only losing over 400 lbs. but inspiring countless people all over the world to take control over something they felt made them powerless.

“If it imprisons you, it matters because if something is causing you not to live your life, come out of your house, do things you can only dream about, or watch others do in movies, then you are in prison,” says Ruby.

It is never easy to face an imprisoning challenge, but Ruby has been generous and courageous enough to face such a private struggle in a very public way. The experience has been fruitful and life-changing for her and for everyone who gives a chance to the woman who makes weight-loss stylish.

HOPE: Who are you and what matters to you?
RG: What a great question! I really can’t give you one answer because I have so many people, places, things that have traveled with me through life. Through all this, I find I am still searching to find the missing pieces of the puzzle that will complete me. I believe in God, Jesus, family and friends, and my pups, I LOVE them with all that I am! I love spending time with them. I love to laugh and could do it 24/7. I think this is a great and bad quality of mine, but I truly believe in the impossible: I believe in mankind! My passion is God and people! And for me, and everyone, to live their God-given destiny! To laugh out loud and live a little, not care so much about who is looking or talking. Love your life!

HOPE: You are major inspiration to so many people. Your show is #1 on Style Network. You signed on to do your show in 2008. Since you signed on, what has changed about the purpose of the show, what you sought to accomplish, and your relationship to your weight?
RG: …my journey was about finding out the truth behind me being morbidly obese and getting healthy at the same time. The biggest accomplishment for me was when I started to change mentally, emotionally, spiritually not only physically. The biggest eye opener for me was, not after I lost over 400 pounds, but when I gained 60 pounds back and was truly blinded to myself. To find out we are truly in a fight for our lives and the only thing that can save us wasn’t a diet [or] exercise (even though they are great tools and essential) but only after we fix the mental/emotion/spiritual problem.

HOPE: Usually fitness products are endorsed by a seemingly fit spokesperson. However, people across the nation relate to you and trust you with their weight issues. (Why) do you feel that it is more important to have a person actually in need of the fitness journey rather than someone who can speak from having already done the journey?
RG: Because they are doing this with me and they are discovering with me! The great part about this journey is that we have each other. Everything I find out for the first time, they find out. Everything I do for the first time, they can do. We are all on the same journey!

Because of Ruby’s candidness, many have begun to trust her struggle with weight as her credibility for weight loss. With that, she offers her opinions on the process and what to consider for those who are waiting to begin their journey.

HOPE: What is more important, eating healthy or exercising?
RG: My personal opinion [is that] the most important is getting to the root of the problem which is fixing your mental/emotional/spiritual and the other important things will happen. If you find a trainer always make sure they know what they are doing and [that] it’s their passion. Drew and Shazi have been amazing to me because it is their passion!

HOPE: What is your favorite food and has that changed since you started living healthier?
RG: Sweets for days! It has changed! I find when I crave sweets, if I get an Atkins bar, it saves me. That is during PMS! I give you my word, when I did OurLife for 3 to 6 months it changed my palate! It took 3 months for it to happen, but thank God it did. I learned to love fish [and] veggies…

Ruby keeps in contact with her fans via her blog on Style Network Online. One of her most powerful messages stemmed from an entry she called, “If it imprisons you, it matters.”

HOPE: Why is this message important to those trying to lose weight?
RG: For me and others who have been caged by our addiction, and some home bound, they refuse to leave their homes because society doesn’t accept them! I am shouting out loud to them first: GO LIVE YOUR LIFE! YOU ARE ALLOWED TO COME OUT INTO THE WORLD! GO TO THE MOVIES, GO HEAR A CONCERT, GO AND SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! I know people will stare, but it will last five to ten minutes. Let them know you have every right to be where ever you want. Please start being free and as you take your first step out that door, your healing will begin! Fear keeps us frozen in time! The more we wait we gain, the more we avoid the problem and the longer we take to get help, the bigger the beast becomes and your prison becomes smaller! You are worth it!

HOPE: What is your source of faith and how has it affected your journey through life?
RG: My faith is God, Jesus, Bible and no matter where I am or how many times I do not get it right and fail, I will always have my faith to remind me I am worth it all and just because I am not perfect, I am still loved and have a purpose! In God’s eyes no one is better than the other. It’s a safety net you can’t put into words, you must trust it and feel it for yourself.

HOPE: Now having been on this journey for years, what is something you wish you had known before you started?
RG: Not to be so trusting of people that say they have your same passion.

Ruby’s followers can rest assured that she has the same passion for weight loss and healthy living as they do. More than the useful products or exciting new exercise plans, she wants her fans to know this, “To live your life right now! Start this very second and do not wait until tomorrow to dream or beat what you need to in your life! Tomorrow will not come for another 10 years or more and sometimes NEVER! It’s time to be free from the chains! It is never too late to live your God given destiny! I believe in you!”

HOPE: What is the first thing that comes to mind when you see read these words?

Change: Freedom
Food: Healthy
Home: My Photos
Happiness: Foxy, Lucy, Mellie, Rinny, Angel, Jim, Georgia, Jeff, Ben, Zach, Kayro, Mom, John, Leslie, Greg, McGinty kids, Denny, Kristie, 6th street, family and fins! Hearing from everyone on my blogs or meeting them different places…
Strength: six sense
Purpose: to help others
Success: Loving others

HOPE: What do you HOPE for the most?
RG: To bring a true face to obesity, to get to the higher ups- the President and First Lady, Senate etc. - so we can start fixing the problem. I want to help me and everyone else be free!

Whether or not Ruby has been a part of your journey, regardless if obesity is one of your personal struggles, her mission and message is universal: Live your life now and don’t be imprisoned by your fears. Ruby has become not only a motivational leader, but a spokeswoman for Life. And for that, she is a Woman We Love.

Finally it’s warm enough to break out the swimwear! If you’re like me you probably have the same two swimsuits you’ve been wearing since 1984. Ok, maybe not that long ago but it is definitely time to update your swimwear. With so many different shapes and options it can be fun yet overwhelming to find the right fit for you.

Large bust: Try choosing a halter swimsuit. This will give your bust the enhanced support needed.

Large bum: Stay away from string bikinis! A string bikini will not give you the support you need to hold in place. Try going for a hipster shape. The higher rise usually has more material which will cover the majority of your bum.

Full figure: Nowadays one piece swimsuits are just as cute and trendy as two-piece swimsuits. Not only will you be comfortable but you will fashionable too!

A fun trend with swimwear is mixing and matching pieces. You don’t always have to be matchy-matchy with your swimsuits. Get creative and mix it up! For example, pair a neon pink top with a neon yellow bottom.

Overall, it is all about comfort. Wear what you are comfortable in and your confidence will shine through!

Pictures provided by asos.com & isme.com

Dr. Jacqueline Del Rosario, America’s Marriage Doctor

The statistics about marriage are enough to put anyone off from walking down the aisle: According to some sources, nearly one-third of all marriages fail in the first five years and more than one-half end in divorce. Marriages often collapse because couples are not prepared to go the distance and withstand the inevitable conflict that comes as the years go by.

Even those “honeymoon years” may seem more like “boot camp” after just a few months of trying to acclimate to each other’s personality differences and habits. The irritation and tensions that arise are inevitable as two independent lives try to merge into one. Yet, when couples do not understand this fact, they may start looking for the exit door, thinking that they have made a grievous mistake.

Finding common ground is easier when focusing on the fact that everyone really just wants to be happy. And, what better way to enjoy life to its fullest than to find a partner to share it with? Because of this shared value, the idea of marriage is still relevant and valuable today. Numerous published studies have concluded that a happy marriage is more likely to lead to enhanced physical and mental health.

But, too often, people enter the bond of marriage, hoping it somehow results in a harmonious alliance without realizing that they have the power to ensure the health and happiness of their relationship. That power lies in the quality of your communication with your partner. Below I have identified the most important communication keys necessary to help a marriage not only survive, but thrive so that both partners can actualize their dreams of “happily ever after.”

5 Communication Keys to Survive…and Thrive
Consider these five communication keys that you can take hold of and unlock for the benefit of your own relationship:

1.Considering the benefits of arguments. Some believe that the ideal relationship is one that is argument-free. As a result, those who do start arguing may devalue the relationship by concluding that this is a sign that it was not meant to last. Not true! Many couples have been put off by their arguments and have ended their marriages. Why? It’s because they were not communicating. Even if communication at times means arguing, at least opinions and feelings are being shared.

More importantly, it is important to reshape your thoughts around arguments. Conflict is a sign that the relationship is trying to evolve. Arguments simply signify that we are now being brought into position for transition in a relationship. If anything, these verbal sparring matches are ways to address an impasse in the relationship so that a new phase of relational growth can occur. Friction starts and arguments tend to follow a theme. When the argument circles on the same issues time and time again, each person can make a conscious decision to undertake changes to help the relationship move beyond this impasse. However, this can only happen if both parties understand and appreciate the reason for all this seeming adversity and friction. When couples do not understand the role of conflict in the relationship, a negative thought process causes them to doubt the security of the relationship and thoughts of jumping ship prevail.

Action Items: Think about putting your energies into resolving the conflict and moving to the next phase in the relationship. Let your understanding of the role of arguments dispel all fear. Put a positive spin on the arguing to uncover what needs to change and the specific actions each person can take to help propel the relationship beyond this impasse.

Catch the next key next month.

“America’s Marriage Doctor” Jacqueline Del Rosario, Ed.D. is President and CEO of Recapturing the Vision International, an organization dedicated to promoting healthy marriages and family strengthening. Also a published author, speaker and nationally regarded media personality, Dr. Del Rosario has been a certified pre and post-marital counselor for more than 20 years. Her cutting-edge series, Marriage Solutions and The Marital Constitution™, help couples successfully work through problems and find healthy solutions. She may be reached online at www.doctordelrosario.com.

Thought from my reader:
Dear Lindsey, it is hard to be single and I feel lonely A LOT… If I am being honest, I wish I were married by now.

My response:

Summertime in California sometimes makes it difficult for me to be holy and sexually pure. I am from Colorado where people wear parkas for the majority of the year. In San Diego however, summertime includes half-naked muscular guys at a beach! But keeping my thoughts pure is only one of the difficulties of being an older single woman during the summertime; the other is the lack of having a husband and a family to share it with. Summertime is more fun when you can share it with your loved ones.

Because I am single, and many of my best friends are married with kids, I am constantly asking God what He wants me to do with my free time (especially on the weekends). I don’t want to be busy, I want to be fruitful. I know God holds me accountable for my time and I don’t want to waste it by wishing I had something else (like a husband and a family). But sometimes being single feels lonely… and apparently it is starting to show.

This summer at my friend’s baby shower I met and (apparently) completely astonished a pregnant woman my age. She asked me what I do for a living and when I explained my book she said, “Well, I would have never guessed that you are 32; you look so young! And I had no idea that you are a virgin and single; you don’t look like a virgin. I mean, you look so happy… and you are so pretty!”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to what seemed like a back-handed compliment, but then I realized what her words implied; single women my age tend to look sad, bitter, or depressed because they are lonely and want to be married.

Her words struck me. Not only do older single women tend to look haggard – which is never a good thing- but by looking depressed the chances of an older single woman ever getting asked out or married are dismal. Who wants to look like that? What guy wants to date a woman who looks like that?

I am not going to sugar-coat the truth, being a single 32 year old virgin can be hard, frustrating, and lonely at times. Recently I realized that I haven’t been asked on a date in over two years… and I am not getting any younger! At the times when I get sad, confused, or frustrated about my singleness, God always graciously reminds me that I am not alone; I have Him.

Although I sometimes wish I had a tall, dark-haired, muscular husband who I could love and make love to, it is in those times of loneliness and discouragement, that, if I am able to take my focus off of myself and redirect my focus to God, somehow He comforts me.

So, instead of feeling depressed and looking worn-down, how fun would it be for single women everywhere to totally revive what it means to be a single woman!

We don’t have to look haggard and we don’t have to feel like we are all “called to singleness.” Instead, we can be fruitful and useful so that when God is ready to bless us with a husband, we are ready! And if God never brings us a man, we won’t feel like we wasted our singleness. After all, God was the one who breathed life into us and He is the one who can take it away. If we spend all our time pining about our singleness, it’s not our time we are wasting, it is God’s!

Singleness is either making you bitter or better. Choose the latter!