Woman 2 Woman Lounge
"Uniting, Edifying, Inspiring, Motivating & Empowering Women"
February 6, 2008
This weeks woman in the spotlight is a wife, mother, and Entrepreneur. She is a native of Detroit, Michigan and operates her own candle business. Her name is Tawana Williams. Tawana has been in business for three years selling inspirational candles. Her candles are designed with you in mind. She can create any kind of candle for her customers. She offers all kinds of scented gel candles or wax candles and also offers non-scented ones as well. Anything from Apple to Strawberry.
Tawana makes candles for all occasions: Baby Showers, Weddings, Bridal Parties, Graduations, Birthdays, etc. Family is of the utmost importance to Tawana who credits her husband for being the biggest part of her support system in helping keep their family stable. We recently had a interview with Mrs. Williams who was more than willing to share her testimony with us and tell us all about her business.
W2W: Tawana tell us about your candle business and how you came to start it.
Tawana: Inspirational Candles has been in business for over 3 years now. I started making candles because store bought candle scents don’t last long. I started off making candles for myself and then family and friends started requesting candles and making candle orders, then I started having candle parties and the word got around, and here I am today!
W2W: How do you balance family, school, and your business?
Tawana: It is a job trying to balance it all but with much prayer, I am able to do it, and it helps having a supportive husband!
W2W: Tawana share with us your testimony and how you came to Christ.
Tawana: I grew up in the church and when I got older I began to know the Lord for myself and I have no regrets!!!! What brought me closer to God is when my daughter was very ill, with 2nd degree burns from dilitan and seeing her go through all that she went through I had no choice but to call on God, and just knowing where he bought us to and through, makes me a strong believer today!!
W2W: What are some of the things you want to teach your daughters about life?
Tawana: I want to teach my daughters to never give up, never let some body tell them that they cant do something!!! I also want them know, never be afraid to try,
if you don’t succeed try and try again!!!!!
W2W: What is your favorite scripture in the Bible and why?
Tawana: My favorite scripture is Psalms 1- 1 "I Will Praise The Lord At All Times And His Praise Shall Forever Be On My Lips"
This is one of my favorite scriptures because we were created to Praise The Creator!!! It is him who wakes us up!!, It is him who bless us to be able to move our bodies etc...
W2W: How have you seen the manifestation of the Lord in your life as far as growth in the past five years?
Tawana: I have seen the manifestation of the Lord by just a lot of things that I used to do I don’t do anymore and I don’t miss it either, I was able to leave certain friends alone, because as you grow closer to God sometimes some of your friends don’t and you come to realization that you don’t have anything in common anymore!!!!!!
W2W: Life is not always easy, for some its a struggle to keep marriage and family together, would you give any advice to women out there that might be going through storms in their marriages.
Tawana: Pray, Pray and Pray!!!!! A family that prays together stays together, you must have communication among you and your husband and kids, Life isn’t always easy but with prayer and a good Bible based church things will be okay!!!
Moms working for the Kingdom wants to thank Tawana Williams for graciously accepting to do this interview. You can find out more about Inspirational Candles by visiting: http://www.myspace.com/inspirationalcandles
or http://www.freewebs.com/handsofworshipgifts/candlesbytawanda.htm
Sherri Walker, Editor
Woman2Woman Lounge, & co-Founder of
Moms Working for Kingdom
http://momsworkingforthekingdom.org
February 13, 2008
Our woman in the spotlight this week is a wife and mother who has been writing for over 25 years. In 2007 she took on an amazing collaboration project with her then 6 year old daughter Sami. Her name is Caryn Fitzgerald and she is half of the writing team that produced the book “Fish Sticks, Books and Blue Jeans! Caryn is overjoyed in helping see the vision of her daughter come to life back in December 2007 when their book was published!
Caryn and her daughter’s goal with this joint project is helping others and encouraging children to be thankful for the blessings they have in their lives instead of complaining about what they are lacking. Caryn and Sami are planting the seed of gratitude in the lives of young children with their book, a subject that needs to be addressed in every home, with every child, at an early age. We all need to be thankful unto God for the many blessings in our lives. How refreshing it is to have another book available for young ones to reinforce this much needed truth. Caryn Fitzgerald is grateful for the wonderful support she has received in helping this project come to fruition.
W2W: Caryn tell us about your collaboration with your daughter Sami that produced the book, "Fish Sticks, Books and Blue Jeans!”
Caryn: I have always heard that children are reflections of what they see, hear and experience. This past year, my 6 year old daughter, Sami, informed me that she wanted a gratitude workbook like the one I use in my daily life. Off to the stores we went and when a search of the stores, the internet and the library yielded nothing, she looked at me and said “that’s okay mommy, we’ll just do like Mr. Mark (Victor Hansen) says and make one.” This started as a project for my daughter’s usage and turned into a full-fledged creation for the world. It is an amazing journey and I am extremely proud of Sami, what she is accomplishing and how she is impacting the lives of others everyday. I am constantly learning from her and she reminds me daily that the mind of a child is the default setting we all start with, it’s okay to ask and okay to receive. I am very thankful for this daily reminder.
W2W: You have been writing for over 25 years, will you share with our readers some of the things you have written about.
Caryn: It’s amazing to me that I have been writing for over 25 years already! My earlier work includes poetry and short stories, more romantic in nature. My work tends to reflect where I am focusing my efforts during that time of my life. While working as a therapist in the prisons and community sector, I wrote on topics that society does not want to acknowledge, such as filicide (mothers killing their children), child violence in schools (ie: Columbine) and sexual abuse. Once I became a work-at-home-mom, my writings began to reflect this topic. I am fortunate in that I can write on just about any topic as long as my heart is in it. Currently, I have a romance / mystery novel ready for publication, just waiting on the title to come to me. I am collaborating with others and writing a chapter in a book on manifesting success due out in June, and my personal story is due for release in late 2008, early 2009.
W2W: What are you and Sami doing right now in conjunction with the book?
Caryn: Sami and I are traveling the country and speaking to children and adults on the importance of gratitude and how they can change their lives with these simple steps. It’s a blessing for me to be able to watch Sami talk with children…the energy that fills the room as she engages the kids in affirmations, it’s truly amazing. Sami has also recorded the affirmations from the book for children. She informed me that there are children that are too young to read or draw, but if she put the information onto CD’s the parents could play them for the children.
W2W: Looking back, did you have any idea that one day you and your daughter would be working on a joint project?
Caryn: In my heart I knew that there was a reason I was given the ability to write in the manner in which I do. If my work reaches someone who uses it to help themselves or others, then I have done what was intended. The ability to collaborate with my daughter while she is still so young is truly a gift I am blessed to have received. As a parent, I am very focused on doing what is best for my daughter. I have found that the best thing I can do for her is to allow her the space to express her creativity in a safe environment. This has allowed her to be surrounded by so many positive people and more continue to arrive into her world daily. What more can a parent want for their child than to have a life filled with blessings and success?
W2W: With all that’s going on in your life right now how do you stay balanced?
Caryn: (Smiling) Balanced? What is balanced? (Chuckles). Seriously, I have several methods to maintaining a balance in our lives. I think it helps that Sami is home schooled. Schoolwork and time with friends have always come first. I attend a workout camp three days a week to keep myself physically fit. My library consists of motivational and positive materials which keep my mind fit. We attend prayer services weekly and most importantly we eat well and drink plenty of water. I do carry a schedule and the majority of our events are short in length (45 to 90 minutes). As Sami is only 7 years old, we limit the number of events we book each month….ironically, this limitation has lead to an increase in demand and we are now booking events 4-6 months in advance. The most important thing for us is that we are all healthy, happy and enjoying what we are doing each and everyday!
W2W: In closing, how can our readers be praying for you?
Caryn: We would be incredibly blessed in prayer if our word reach those that are most in need, that we are kept safe in our travels and that God continues to bring positive people, such as yourself, into our lives. My personal prayer is to have the continued ability to give to those who require what we have to share. Sami’s prayer is that her book will reach the hands of 1 million children, sharing gratitude with them and they in turn will continue to plant the seeds of gratitude as they attend their journey.
Woman2Woman Lounge wants to thank Caryn Gottlieb-Fitzgerald for this inspiring interview. You can find out more about Fish Sticks, Books and Blue Jeans
@ http://www.gratitudeforkids.com
Sherri Walker, Editor
Woman2Woman Lounge, & co-Founder of
Moms Working for Kingdom
http://momsworkingforthekingdom.org
February 13, 2008
Our Woman in the spotlight this week is a wife, mother, and an Ohio University graduate. She is a journalist, media coach, article writer, poet, Blog radio talk show host and author of books, "Mama Said There'd be Days Like This" and "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age". She is the one and only, Beverly "Baby Boomer Diva" Mahone!
Beverly writes about issues the affect middle-aged women. Her topics cover weight gain, menopause, dating beyond age 40, and leaving Corporate America at midlife.
Beverly had spent over 25 years in the radio and television news business and traded it all in to publish her book consequently becoming a work-at-home-mom. She is now using her media expertise as a consultant to train individuals how to market themselves to radio, television and newspapers professionals. She enjoys her lucrative speaking career in which she shares her life experiences with other women baby boomers. She has a weekly blog radio talk show that you can hear her speak for an hour each Monday called Passions. The show's focus is on baby boomers who are pursuing their passions at midlife. She plans to interview boomers from all walks of life who are on the move and making a difference. Woman2Woman Lounge was privileged to graciously receive an interview from Mrs. Mahone. We thank her for her time and willingness to share with our readers more than a little about herself.
W2W: Beverly what made you decide to give up a career in radio and television news to become a work at home mom?
Beverly: I didn't make the decision on my own. My employer gave me an ultimatum: If you publish your book, you lose your job. I chose to publish my book and ended up becoming a work-at-home mom.
W2W: What inspires you to write?
Beverly: I have a saying that I use: "I'm not a writer because I wrote a book. I wrote a book because God inspired me to write." I am inspired by life. I write from my heart about issues that I'm struggling with. I hope that, through my writing, I can be a blessing to someone else.
W2W: How do you try to reach women's needs through your books?
Beverly: I want women to know that they're not alone in the issues they're facing. One of the subjects I write about is menopause. It's always been considered a taboo subject but I believe my discussing it helps other women with their own physical and emotional symptoms. Another subject I write about is dating after 40. This is another experience many women are finding themselves in at midlife as a result of divorce or being a widow. I offer my perspective from my own personal experiences. In the next book, I'll be sharing how I finally found my soul mate!
W2W: What are two of your favorite scriptures?
Beverly: Just TWO?! Oh my! That's hard because now that I'm reading the Bible more, I keep coming up with a favorite scripture. I meditate on Philippians 4:4-8 when I feel like things are moving too slowly. That scripture reminds me that God has it all under control and if I remain patient and faithful, He will answer my prayer request.
My other favorite scripture is Psalm 121. It's also my mother's favorite and she used to recite it a lot to me when I was in college. I would call her in distress over an exam or a bad grade and she would always refer to Psalm 121 and tell me to look up to the hills for my help. It was many years later before I actually sat down and read the entire verse and then it all made sense. It is a great lesson for coping with life's issues.
W2W: Would you share your faith testimony with us.
Beverly: Back in 2006, my employer gave me an ultimatum. He said if I published my book (Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age) I would be fired because I was under contract with the company and they were claiming intellectual property. I had to make a decision so I took a few days off and went into my prayer closet and prayed. I even called on my prayer warriors to pray for me. To make a long story short, God told me my ministry at the television station was over and it was time to move on. He told me to proceed with publishing the book. I was obedient and tendered my resignation. That was a huge leap of faith for me because I walked away from a really good paying job and at the time I was a single mother with no other source of income.
But one of the things God promised me is He would never leave nor forsake me if I had the faith of a mustard seed. I never looked back. My book became a Best Seller on Amazon and I used my media expertise to establish my own media consulting business, which is doing very well. Of course, I take no credit for this because if I had done all of this on my own, I would've messed it up. God ordered my steps, lit my path in the darkness and wiped away my tears when I felt overwhelmed. Today, I move onward with grace, knowing that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord.
W2W: What advice can you share with anyone who might be considering a career in journalism?
1) Be serious about your English and Writing courses
2) Find a mentor in the business
3) Get an internship at a radio or TV station
4) Don't put all your eggs in one basket. By this I mean, don't just be focused on wanting to be an Anchor. Learn as much of the business as you can so you can be more of an asset to any news department. Anchors are a dime a dozen but if you have other skills, you become much more marketable.
W2W: What are you looking forward to in the year 2008?
Beverly: I truly believe I am in my season of abundance. I have been laboring and had some raging storms in my life. Through it all though, God has continued to pull me through and remind me of His goodness and mercy.
This year I look forward to a very successful Girlfriends Retreat where women will be blessed! I am excited about my growing relationship with Christ. I'm certainly not perfect---no even close but, thank God, I'm nowhere near where I used to be. Through God's Word, I am gaining such a deeper understanding of who I am and what is expected of me as one of His children. I still mess up from time to time but, unlike before, I'm making an effort to get it right.
Woman2Woman Lounge wants to thank Beverly Mahone for giving us an interview. You can find out more about Beverly Mahone @ http://www.talk2bev.com/
& http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com/
Sherri Walker, Editor
Woman2Woman Lounge, & co-Founder of
Moms Working for Kingdom
http://momsworkingforthekingdom.org
March 5, 2008
This
weeks woman in the spotlight is a mother and grandmother from New
Orleans, LA presently living in Jonesboro, GA. She has been enjoying
her life since she retired from her Job in January. She is also the
author of the book, Special Creation " A Psalmody of Encouragement. Her
name is Irma White.
In
1991 Irma had a life-changing experience that set her on the path she
believes God ordained for her before the foundation of the earth.
Although she grew up hearing about Jesus, she did not know Him nor the
vital necessity of reading and meditating on the Holy Scriptures. Until
that experience Irma says she lived a very mediocre life and didn’t
know how to change it. But, after reading one scripture verse in a
devotional, her life began to change. She grew thirsty for the things
of God and began to seek out God’s truths in His Word. She discovered
that there are certain rights and privileges that belong to a child of
God. She embraced those biblical principles and began to trust God with
her life.
Irma enjoys reading, sewing and painting. Her favorite book to read is the Bible where she gets her daily inspiration and encouragement. Irma also enjoys spending time with her family and friends which she no longer takes for granted, for they are all Hurricane Katrina survivors who are now scattered about. Irma says she treasures her family and friends and is blessed to still have her mom and her dad, and grandfather, who is 102 years old.
Her mission in life is to teach others how to be "doers and not just hearers of the word only" and to encourage them to become all that God has created them to be. It is my pleasure to have met Irma and be friends with her still today. I thank her for the opportunity to share her story with our readers.
W2W: Irma, thank you for allowing me to share your heart-changing journey with our readers. Tell us how you came to write Special Creation.
Irma: Sherri, thank you for this opportunity to share my journey.
In 1996 I prayed in the spirit a lot, and often times, sang in the spirit. I would then sit down and write what came to my mind. I think the first thing I wrote was “special creation” based on psalm 139:14. God was comforting me because at the time I really didn’t feel special. After I would write what the Lord gave me, I would immediately feel better and then would share what I wrote with others and they all felt the same way – uplifted and encouraged no matter what their situation. Everyone wanted copies of what I wrote and so I did. After a while, someone suggested that I get them copyrighted so instead of copyrighting them individually, I combined several of them into a book which was originally entitled “God Has a Plan For You” based on Jeremiah 29:11, the scripture that drew me into the kingdom. As you can see, it just evolved. I guess it was part of the plan God had for me.
W2W: Through your book, what is the main message you want to impart?
Irma: I want to impart that every one is special, fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God really does have a plan for them. The way to tap into the plan is to first be born again. In the back of the book, there is a prayer of salvation with an explanation of what that means. Many of the psalms encourage people to draw near to God and let them know that He is forgiving and won’t reject them when they do. I want people to know that they are not alone, that Jesus never leaves them, He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Finally, I want to let them know that when they spend time with the Lord, He’ll comfort them, encourage and strengthen them, and revelation knowledge and the anointing will flow to and through them. So, in a nutshell, I want them to be encouraged and inspired to find and fulfill the will of God for their lives.
W2W: What are you doing right now in conjunction with this book?
Irma: Well, I originally self-published the book in soft cover in 1997. I mainly sold to my local market. But, since I have learned internet marketing skills, I decided I could reach more people if I re-published it into a digital format and sell it online. It is available at my website http://www.Encourage-Meant.com. I also plan to sell it as a print on demand for those who prefer a soft cover copy.
W2W: How are you and your family? What has the journey been like for all of you since Hurricane Katrina?
Irma: Well, first let me thank God Almighty that I did not lose a family member to the storm so in that regard, we are all blessed. Even the few of us who were in the city during the storm survived the ordeal. My family spent a lot of time together but we are now scattered in different places and don’t see each other often like we used to. So, the biggest challenge was the isolation from family and life long friends. Time has taken care of that for me because I am now involved with various activities around the area. I haven’t seen my granddaughter since two weeks before the storm and that, of course, is very heart-breaking. My mom has bounced from pillar to post as she calls it and is presently living with her sister. She is currently rebuilding her home but the process is moving very, very slow. I have four brothers (no sisters). Two of them lived away prior to the storm. One lived in Atlanta which is why I came in this direction. In addition to me, he had 10 other evacuees living with him. Some of them stayed almost two years. One of the two brothers who lived there prior to the storm was separated from his family for almost a year because he had to work in New Orleans and the family lived somewhere else. My other brother is still separated from his wife. Her job transferred her and he still works there. As you can see, it has been really crazy. There is no one in New Orleans who was not affected in some way from that storm. Life as we once knew it will probably never be the same.
W2W: Irma, would you share your testimony with us of how you came to know Jesus?
Irma: In 1991, I was in the hospital which was routine for me over a 15 year period. One night I read a devotional in the Daily Word and what caught my eye was the scripture Jeremiah 29:11. I had never read or heard that scripture verse before that night. It was like God was speaking directly to me and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I did not get born again at that time (I didn’t know how easy it was) but soon after one of my cousins moved back into town after being gone for years. She was so happy and excited about Jesus and she would ask me to go to church with her. During that same time, I ran into a friend from high school who had the same excitement about the Lord. So, when I wasn’t going to church with her, I would go to church with him. So, of course, I got born again and eventually received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. That is really when things changed for me. Of course, as my relationship developed, I began to discover God’s plan for me. Consequently, I clearly remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the Lord called me into the five-fold ministry. I have since gone to ministry school and finished in 2003 at the top of my class.
W2W: What are your plans for the future?
Irma: For now, I plan to stay here in Georgia. I believe it is the best place for me to do what God is calling me to do. I spend a lot of time online encouraging people from all over the world. I am also building a home business, mainly through the internet and the telephone and this environment is more conducive to that than it would be if I were in New Orleans. Also, the Lord answered my prayer about finding a church home so I am settled in a Bible teaching church. In addition to my business, I have learned to quilt and have joined a guild. I have also joined a couple of local business networking groups so as you can see I am living a full and balanced life here.
I do, however, plan to rebuild my house in New Orleans. I will either rent it out or have a second home. The State of Louisiana put so many stipulations on how to qualify for the money that the federal government allocated for the rebuilding process, that they actually denied my application. So, I am believing the Lord for the finances to fix it up. Of course, if anything happens to my mom and she needs me, I would go home immediately.
W2W: Would you take a moment and give a word of encouragement for those reading this interview?
Irma: I would say that it doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on in life, God has not forgotten you. He has a plan for you and it is a good plan, a plan to give you hope and a future. You are needed in the earth for such a time as this and there is greatness on the inside of you waiting to be discovered by you. And, if you “acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall prosper and great] good shall come to you.
W2W: How can we pray for you over this coming year?
Irma: Thanks for asking. Please pray that I have the wisdom to market my book and that people will see the value in it and purchase it for themselves and recommend it to others. Also, as I mentioned, I would like to rebuild my house in New Orleans so be in agreement with me that the resources will be provided so I can do so.
Sherri, again, thank you for this opportunity to share my story. You are doing a great work, and I pray that you are blessed exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think.
Irma enjoys reading, sewing and painting. Her favorite book to read is the Bible where she gets her daily inspiration and encouragement. Irma also enjoys spending time with her family and friends which she no longer takes for granted, for they are all Hurricane Katrina survivors who are now scattered about. Irma says she treasures her family and friends and is blessed to still have her mom and her dad, and grandfather, who is 102 years old.
Her mission in life is to teach others how to be "doers and not just hearers of the word only" and to encourage them to become all that God has created them to be. It is my pleasure to have met Irma and be friends with her still today. I thank her for the opportunity to share her story with our readers.
W2W: Irma, thank you for allowing me to share your heart-changing journey with our readers. Tell us how you came to write Special Creation.
Irma: Sherri, thank you for this opportunity to share my journey.
In 1996 I prayed in the spirit a lot, and often times, sang in the spirit. I would then sit down and write what came to my mind. I think the first thing I wrote was “special creation” based on psalm 139:14. God was comforting me because at the time I really didn’t feel special. After I would write what the Lord gave me, I would immediately feel better and then would share what I wrote with others and they all felt the same way – uplifted and encouraged no matter what their situation. Everyone wanted copies of what I wrote and so I did. After a while, someone suggested that I get them copyrighted so instead of copyrighting them individually, I combined several of them into a book which was originally entitled “God Has a Plan For You” based on Jeremiah 29:11, the scripture that drew me into the kingdom. As you can see, it just evolved. I guess it was part of the plan God had for me.
W2W: Through your book, what is the main message you want to impart?
Irma: I want to impart that every one is special, fearfully and wonderfully made, and that God really does have a plan for them. The way to tap into the plan is to first be born again. In the back of the book, there is a prayer of salvation with an explanation of what that means. Many of the psalms encourage people to draw near to God and let them know that He is forgiving and won’t reject them when they do. I want people to know that they are not alone, that Jesus never leaves them, He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Finally, I want to let them know that when they spend time with the Lord, He’ll comfort them, encourage and strengthen them, and revelation knowledge and the anointing will flow to and through them. So, in a nutshell, I want them to be encouraged and inspired to find and fulfill the will of God for their lives.
W2W: What are you doing right now in conjunction with this book?
Irma: Well, I originally self-published the book in soft cover in 1997. I mainly sold to my local market. But, since I have learned internet marketing skills, I decided I could reach more people if I re-published it into a digital format and sell it online. It is available at my website http://www.Encourage-Meant.com. I also plan to sell it as a print on demand for those who prefer a soft cover copy.
W2W: How are you and your family? What has the journey been like for all of you since Hurricane Katrina?
Irma: Well, first let me thank God Almighty that I did not lose a family member to the storm so in that regard, we are all blessed. Even the few of us who were in the city during the storm survived the ordeal. My family spent a lot of time together but we are now scattered in different places and don’t see each other often like we used to. So, the biggest challenge was the isolation from family and life long friends. Time has taken care of that for me because I am now involved with various activities around the area. I haven’t seen my granddaughter since two weeks before the storm and that, of course, is very heart-breaking. My mom has bounced from pillar to post as she calls it and is presently living with her sister. She is currently rebuilding her home but the process is moving very, very slow. I have four brothers (no sisters). Two of them lived away prior to the storm. One lived in Atlanta which is why I came in this direction. In addition to me, he had 10 other evacuees living with him. Some of them stayed almost two years. One of the two brothers who lived there prior to the storm was separated from his family for almost a year because he had to work in New Orleans and the family lived somewhere else. My other brother is still separated from his wife. Her job transferred her and he still works there. As you can see, it has been really crazy. There is no one in New Orleans who was not affected in some way from that storm. Life as we once knew it will probably never be the same.
W2W: Irma, would you share your testimony with us of how you came to know Jesus?
Irma: In 1991, I was in the hospital which was routine for me over a 15 year period. One night I read a devotional in the Daily Word and what caught my eye was the scripture Jeremiah 29:11. I had never read or heard that scripture verse before that night. It was like God was speaking directly to me and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I did not get born again at that time (I didn’t know how easy it was) but soon after one of my cousins moved back into town after being gone for years. She was so happy and excited about Jesus and she would ask me to go to church with her. During that same time, I ran into a friend from high school who had the same excitement about the Lord. So, when I wasn’t going to church with her, I would go to church with him. So, of course, I got born again and eventually received the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. That is really when things changed for me. Of course, as my relationship developed, I began to discover God’s plan for me. Consequently, I clearly remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the Lord called me into the five-fold ministry. I have since gone to ministry school and finished in 2003 at the top of my class.
W2W: What are your plans for the future?
Irma: For now, I plan to stay here in Georgia. I believe it is the best place for me to do what God is calling me to do. I spend a lot of time online encouraging people from all over the world. I am also building a home business, mainly through the internet and the telephone and this environment is more conducive to that than it would be if I were in New Orleans. Also, the Lord answered my prayer about finding a church home so I am settled in a Bible teaching church. In addition to my business, I have learned to quilt and have joined a guild. I have also joined a couple of local business networking groups so as you can see I am living a full and balanced life here.
I do, however, plan to rebuild my house in New Orleans. I will either rent it out or have a second home. The State of Louisiana put so many stipulations on how to qualify for the money that the federal government allocated for the rebuilding process, that they actually denied my application. So, I am believing the Lord for the finances to fix it up. Of course, if anything happens to my mom and she needs me, I would go home immediately.
W2W: Would you take a moment and give a word of encouragement for those reading this interview?
Irma: I would say that it doesn’t matter where you are or what’s going on in life, God has not forgotten you. He has a plan for you and it is a good plan, a plan to give you hope and a future. You are needed in the earth for such a time as this and there is greatness on the inside of you waiting to be discovered by you. And, if you “acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall prosper and great] good shall come to you.
W2W: How can we pray for you over this coming year?
Irma: Thanks for asking. Please pray that I have the wisdom to market my book and that people will see the value in it and purchase it for themselves and recommend it to others. Also, as I mentioned, I would like to rebuild my house in New Orleans so be in agreement with me that the resources will be provided so I can do so.
Sherri, again, thank you for this opportunity to share my story. You are doing a great work, and I pray that you are blessed exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think.
http://www.Encourage-Meant.com
Sherri Walker, Editor
Woman2Woman Lounge, & co-Founder of
Moms Working for Kingdom
http://momsworkingforthekingdom.org