November 2020

Do you ever find yourself dreaming about entrepreneurship? I have. Initially, I “knew” that getting a college degree or two would be my way into a better life. A bigger title. An additional certification. Instead, as the years passed by, I found myself still not getting the recognition nor respect that I needed and began pulling away from my nursing career.   My reasons were as such: Student Loan debt felt like it was weighing me down without escape. An unfulfilled purpose loomed in my heart. Work/life balance felt to be out of whack. So many of us have various barriers that hold us back from becoming business owners, all the while feeling empty at the end of the day. The security of a paycheck can stop us from working for ourselves, and keeps us working a typical 8-5 work week. This shift can be so scary, but most often fearful. We have often heard the word ‘F.E.A.R.’ as a mnemonic only meaning

False Evidences Appearing Real. 2 Timothy 1:7 tells us “for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. As we prepare to step out on faith and commence our journey, lets discuss how we can prepare for this transition, and join team #nofear.

One: Find a Prayer partner and be patient! As Proverbs 27:17 New King James Version states:  “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend”.

A prayer partner can help keep your head up when it is low. Also, coming together at scheduled times keeps the spiritual momentum going and the vibes light. Remaining ready always and vigilant for your breakthrough as this will be the journey of your lifetime!

Two: Find your passion: in your prayers, seek The Lord’s face in what it is that he has created you to do. He has given us all special gifts and talents and we are to use them to help build the Kingdom. At the same time, he has given it to you for a reason, and he wants you and your family cared for just like the sparrow. So, trust that he has made a way for you to be provided for in this divine manner. Colossians 3:18 told you so! And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Three: Save. Budget. Tithe. We all know the cardinal law regarding the tenth or the “tithe”. Luke 6:38 tells us to “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” It is good to know that this is a positive way that we can be a witness for Christ. Others might see us in our business capacity as well as a tither, and it can help point them to Christ! Glory! We must always remember that there are others looking to us to display a Christian example in everything that we do, even in our business practices. We also receive that pressed down blessing that Luke talked about. BONUS!

This is just the beginning steps of becoming a Christian entrepreneur but a powerful one to say the least. I always like to remember that where there is a vision, there is provision! That is what brought me out of darkness and doubt and into light and faith!  Keep these words of David flowing out of your mouth day in and day out. Watch our God work the works!

Psalm of David 23: 1-6. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Amen.

Michelle G. Rhodes, MHS, RN is the CEO of Michelle Rhodes Media LLC who recently started her business as a Nurse Entrepreneur. She coaches and consults with Nurses who desire to grow beyond typical bedside nursing so that they might utilize their gifts and talents for Gods’ work, a higher purpose, a broader calling.

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Whether it’s the end of a relationship or the inevitable foreclosure of a home, some circumstances are simply beyond saving. Some situations have to run their course and other plans need to be made. But hopeless events don’t exclude the possibility of better days ahead. If you’re in a hopeless situation, letting go, learning, and moving on can be a great solution.

One year ago I felt life was hopeless. I felt that would never recover from my situation and life kept piling on. However, life changed because I changed. These scriptures lead my return back to a healthy lifestyle:

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 Isaiah 43:18

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose

Once my life got on track with God, I used these strategies to get back on track.

Try these strategies when it appears all is lost:

1. Let it go. If the outcome is inevitable, does obsessing over it ever help? This might feel like giving up, but how intelligent is it to continue with something that can’t possibly be won? Make the decision to let go and get on with the rest of your life.

2. Purge your emotions. Hopefully, you already know several healthy ways to make yourself feel better. Perhaps you feel better after a long exercise session. Others feel relief after a good cry. Maybe having dinner with a friend will boost your spirits.

• The key is to find a healthy solution. Drinking, drugs, and spending money irresponsibly are a few examples of unhealthy alternatives. Choose wisely.

3. Try to learn something. In most cases, hopeless situations are at least partially the result of poor decisions. Think about how you contributed to the situation at hand. Did you ignore warning signs when you first started dating your partner? Did you take out a larger mortgage than you could afford?

• It’s common to repeat our mistakes. What can you learn to avoid a repeat performance in the future? Imagine how great your life would be if you only made each mistake once.

4. Enjoy yourself. Now might be the perfect time to visit your favorite restaurant, take a walk in the park, or see a movie with a friend. Just because life has thrown a curveball doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. Have a good laugh and forge ahead.

5. Keep up with your responsibilities. Your children still need your love and attention. The bills still have to be paid. Avoid letting the other areas of your life suffer.

6. Create a plan for the future. Looking forward to an interesting and exciting future may be the best way to move forward. If the future seems bleak, it’s hard to be happy. Allow yourself to be open to the possibilities and create a compelling future for yourself. Then take one small step towards making that future a reality.

7. Make a list of all the things that fill you with gratitude. It’s likely there are many people in the world with far more challenging circumstances. It can be easy to forget this fact. If you think about it, you have lots of things going for you. Make a list and add to it often.

8. Remember other situations in your life that seemed hopeless. Odds are you survived and ultimately came out on the other side more resilient and knowledgeable.

Hopeless situations happen. Not every situation is salvageable. Letting go and moving forward can be the best solution. Worrying has never changed the actual outcome of any situation. Allow yourself to enjoy life and create a future that keeps your eyes facing forward.

I say this from such a deep place of love. In 2020 please stop living life with one foot walking in the world and the other in the Kingdom of God. That’s the equivalent of being lukewarm, and it is not a good thing (Rev 3:16). If you’ve made it this far doing so, you owe God a Hallelujah! Hallelujah because He’s given you time (grace) to make a course correction.

“You only live once” and “God knows my heart” are not acceptable excuses for doing whatever we want when we truly know His expectations and standards for our life.

Dr. Brenda Jefferson of Tampa, FL has a wonderful song called “Heaven”. Some of the lyrics are:

I don’t want to spend my life on earth and miss Heaven.

That’s what it’s all about, folks; eternity. Life here on earth is meant to be fun and fulfilling (John 10:10) but Kingdom driven with eternity as the main focus. The life we live here on earth will dictate where we spend eternity.

“Choose ye THIS day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:15) Please don’t spend another day straddling the fence. Holiness is still right (1 Peter 1:16) and it does not have to mean living a boring life.

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Eph 4:7) Don’t let your grace run out. Grace is given by God as a gift. To each person He gives a different amount in various areas of life. We cannot afford to look at anyone else and think we are free to live according to their lifestyle because they seem blessed while not living holy. God may have chosen to extend more grace to them in that particular area of their life.

We were created to fulfill His purposes. (Eph 2:10) It is in our best interest to find our God-given purpose. We were not created to fulfill our own selfish, worldly desires. “What does it profit a man, if he gain the world and lose his soul?” (Mark 8:36)

The body of Christ has enough double-agents. Either we are with God are we are not. (Matt 12:30)

Perfection is not required, just genuine effort and a sincere heart to please and serve God.

If you are reading this and you’ve never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, now is a perfect time! Romans 10:9-10 will guide you through accepting Him as your Lord and Savior. When you read it, be sure to confess it with your words!

If you don’t have a church, make it a priority to find one in 2020. Be sure they preach truth and not just feel good messages. Balance is important but truth is paramount!

Lastly, if you don’t already know, I really do love you. May you find, have, and keep peace, prosperity, and joy in 2020 and beyond!

“Herb Roasted Chicken w/ Pineapple & Brown Sugar Glaze”

Ingredients

6 Leg quarters (cleaned & washed)

8 stems fresh thyme 

3 Tbs Olive Oil

2 Tbs Dried Rosemary 

Salt & Pepper (to taste) 

1/4 Cup Salted “Real” Butter

1/2 can Pineapple Chunks 

1/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar

3 Tbs Bourbon Whisky 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Massage chicken quarters with olive oil, then season with salt, pepper and rosemary. Place flat in roasting pan and add fresh thyme. Cover and bake for approximately 45mins-1hr (or until browned & fully cooked). While chicken is roasting, in frying pan melt butter, add brown sugar and stir thoroughly with wooden spoon. Add 1/2 can of pineapple chunks w/ liquid and Bourbon. Stir thoroughly. Reduce heat. Let cook for 3-4 mins. Once chicken is complete, coat chicken with glaze. Garnish with fresh thyme and serve. Super Easy & Super Delicious! 

Most people do their best to pay their bills on time. However, even with the best of intentions, anyone can fall behind due to circumstances beyond their control, such as injury, illness, job loss, or divorce.  Falling behind financially, under those circumstances, is stressful enough, but harassment from overly aggressive debt collectors can make the problems much worse.  In 1977, Congress investigated this issue and found that “Abusive debt collection practices contribute to the number of personal bankruptcies, to marital instability, to the loss of jobs, and to invasions of individual privacy.”

Congress acted against these abuses in 1977 when the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) was passed into law. The law prohibits debt collectors from engaging in many of the abusive practices that were causing harm to consumers.  If a debt collector violates the law, the consumer has the right to file a lawsuit against the debt collector in actual damages (such as medical bills or lost wages) caused by the violation. If actual damages cannot be proven, the consumer may still be awarded up to $1,000. The law also requires the violator to reimburse the consumer for their attorneys’ fees.  The law also enables the consumer to report violations to the Federal Trade Commission or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which can assess fines and other penalties against the violator.

Debt collectors must follow the rules when they contact you.

•    When a debt collector first contacts you, they must tell you that they are attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained from you will be used for that purpose.
•    Each time a debt collector contacts you, they must give you their name, and the name of the collection agency they work for.
•    Within five days after the debt collector contacts you, they must send a written “validation notice” stating how much you owe, the name of the creditor, and what to do if you dispute the debt.
•    If you dispute the debt, you must send the debt collector a letter within 30 days of receiving the “validation notice.” This letter should be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested so that you can verify that the debt collector received it.
•    If you dispute the debt, the collector must stop contacting you. However, they may begin contacting you again if they send written verification of the debt (such as a copy of a contract or bill).
•    Even if the debt is valid, you still have the right to request that the collector stops contacting you. This letter should also be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested. Once they receive the letter, they can no longer contact you except to tell you that there will be no further contact or that they intend to take legal action to enforce the debt such as filing a lawsuit.

Additionally, debt collectors are not allowed to do the following:

•    Threaten violence or harm.
•    Publish a list of names on a “deadbeat list.”
•    Use obscene, profane, abusive language, or insults.
•    Repeatedly use the telephone to harass or annoy someone.
•    Contact you at work if you tell them or they otherwise know that you cannot receive such calls at work.
•    Contact your friends, relatives, or others except to learn your whereabouts. (If they do it for that limited purpose, they must do it without informing them that they are attempting to collect a debt from you.)
•    Make false statements (Such as falsely claiming to be attorneys, government agents, or employees of a credit reporting company, using fake legal forms, or using a fake company name).
•    Misrepresent the amount you owe or collect interest or fees not authorized by the contract that created the debt or state law.
•    Falsely threaten you with arrest, garnishment, loss of property, or legal action that they are not permitted or otherwise have no intention of taking.

The FDCPA only applies to personal, family, and household debts such as credit cards, auto loans, home mortgages, and medical bills. However, it does not cover business debts. Additionally, it only covers debt collectors (such as collection agencies or lawyers) and not original creditors. However, many states have laws similar to the FDCPA that cover debts or creditors not covered by the FDCPA. Contact a local debtors’ rights attorney, the Federal Trade Commission website, or your state’s attorney general’s website to learn more.

When The Police Fail To Act

I must admit that I don’t plan on having any unnecessary interactions with the police. A nice hi-and-bye exchange is good for me. Despite my internal reservations regarding police, I recognize that there are times in life when police interaction is necessary, such as in a crisis or to restore order in a situation. This past week, I researched the U. S. Supreme Court’s stance on the role of police in rescue missions and in crisis situations. I researched U.S. Supreme Court cases because the Supreme Court is the highest federal court and, therefore, the decisions made by this court are to be followed by everyone in the United States. What I found brought chills to my spine. I found that police do not have a constitutional duty to protect citizens.

In DeShaney v. Winnebago County (1989), the court stated, “But nothing in the language of the Due Process Clause itself requires the State to protect the life, liberty, and property of its citizens against invasion by private actors… The Clause is phrased as a limitation on the State’s power to act, not as a guarantee of certain minimal levels of safety and security.” In other words, the state has restrictions on how it exerts its power over people but has no obligation to guarantee security to anyone.

In Castle Rock v. Gonzales (2005), the Supreme Court spoke on the discretion of police officers, stating, “A benefit is not a protected entitlement if officials have discretion to grant or deny it,” and “A well-established tradition of police discretion has long coexisted with apparently mandatory arrest statutes.” Therefore, police have the discretion to help you and, because of this discretion, the police “helping you” is not a benefit that is a protected entitlement. Additionally, even if the police are supposed to arrest someone, they have the discretion to make such an arrest.

Based on the U.S. Supreme Court’s views, people apparently can’t rely on police protection or reasonably expect to have a successful lawsuit against police for failing to act. However, some people are optimistic that a modern court may view the role of police differently. These optimistic individuals have filed two lawsuits in Florida State Courts that may one day come before the U.S. Supreme Court and change the legal duty that police have to act.

In June of this year, a lawsuit was filed against Orlando police officers regarding the 2016 mass murder shooting at the Pulse nightclub. The lawsuit alleges, among many things, that some police officers stayed outside the club as the massacre took place. In this tragedy, 49 people were killed and over 50 others were wounded.

In April of this year, a lawsuit was filed against a former Broward County Sheriff officer for his actions on February 14 at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, during a school

Swat officers with gun and shield

shooting. In this unfortunate event, 17 people were killed. The lawsuit alleges that the former Broward County Sheriff officer failed to enter the school during the shooting. The former sheriff was an armed resource officer at the school.

The general public should follow these two cases very closely. Not only do both allege that officers failed to act, they both allege officers waited outside buildings when they knew people were getting slaughtered inside. If police ever had a duty, shouldn’t it be to protect those who are in locations where they are known to be vulnerable with less than adequate means to defend themselves? (Last I checked, you can’t have a firearm for protection in a club or in high school.) Additionally, both of these cases may include some type of video evidence, as limited footage has been leaked from both shootings. Such footage may play a pivotal role in how these cases are viewed by the public.

The U.S. Supreme Court is made up of people. People have opinions and opinions change. This is why the law is ever-changing. I’m not sure what law changes lie ahead; however, I pray a change is made regarding police and their legal duty to act.

FOOTNOTES

1. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/489/189
2. https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/04-278.ZS.html
3. https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/08/us/pulse-shooting-civil-lawsuit/index.html
4. https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/30/us/parkland-school-resource-officer-sued/index.html

The Lyfe Magazine recognizes the struggle many of us are facing during this time. We Would like to take a moment each week to recognize someone who is working and helping others during this stressful period.

Each week we want to honor someone, to let the everyone know there are genuine heroes in the world!

This week we honor Sharnice Senior!

What is your name? My name is Sharnice Senior.

What is your occupation? I am a nursing clinical technician on labor and delivery, and I am also a birth doula.

How long have you worked in this field? I’ve been on labor and delivery for two years, I’ve been a birth doula for almost six.

What has been the biggest challenge so far? The most challenging thing has been adjusting to the normal. Every time you turn around, there’s a policy change, or updates coming out every second of the day. It’s tough just getting used to new protocols and practices.

As far as my doula business, my challenge is not being able to support my clients through this most wonderful yet scary time in their lives; the birth of their children, the birth of their families because we’re not allowed in hospitals.

Do you foresee anything good coming from all of this? Right now, I can’t say if I foresee anything good coming out of this. There is no more “normal” or going back to normal in the medical field. After this, there just isn’t. I mean, new protocols, new trainings, new meetings, new drills, etc.

Do you think life in your field will go back to normal or have things changed forever? Please explain. What we thought was normal, a month ago, two months ago, is no longer normal. Things are happening now that we were told wouldn’t or couldn’t happen before, and now they’re happening.

Do you think the lockdown is working? As for the lockdown. I think it’s working for the people who are practicing it properly. For those who are halfway doing it or not taking it seriously, I don’t think that it’s working at all. I don’t think it will work until they shut everything down, stores banks, everything they deem essential. Except hospitals, of course.

What advice would you give people during this time? My advice for people during this time is to stay at home. Do your part, your part is bigger than you think it is. Stay home guys and bond with your families and get to know each other all over again. Pick up a new project or hobby or finish what you’ve been procrastinating on or, you know, if you’re a single individual, focus on yourself. Some self-care, self-love and take this time to just really enjoy yourself. Unplug and take in all the things that’s taken for granted in your entire life.

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