WHATS THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN?

You pray about things and they manifest into your life. Opportunities present themselves that help you to grow and move forward and you sit immobilized worried more so about failure than about actually succeeding. Fear tells you don't give it a try, what if this or what if that happens. So do you succumb to fear or do you take the risk? If you decide to risk it, ask yourself what's the worst that can happen?

You try something out, you invest time, money; it will either work or not work, you will either succeed or fail. However, if you do not try you will always wonder what if.

Assuming the plan doesn't work out there are a few things I can guarantee:

• you learned something
• you grew from the experience
• you don't have to worry about what if

People are not successful because every venture they tried worked out just as they planned. They may have failed a few times yet each time they learned from their mistakes and continued to grow and improve their technique etc. A failed attempt the 1st time doesn't always mean to give up and throw in the towel. It is always good to analyze what went wrong and also what went right so the next time you do better. Yes the next time.

I know there are negative people in your life that will tell you see I told you so, I knew it wasn't going to work before you got started. And then you begin to think I knew it too I was a fool to try. If you don't try something you will never know if you have the ability to succeed at it! The last thing anyone in this world wants to live with is regrets. More often than not people regret the things that they didn't do more so than the things that they did do.

I am telling you when opportunity knocks, be sure to think things through, plan, analyze, and prepare. Just steer clear of negative people and negative thoughts.

In the end, what is the worst that could happen?

You could end up succeeding!

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - WEDNESDAYS

Cagney's 2142 N Clybourn Ave
$4 margaritas, half-price salads and sandwiches

Duke of Perth 2913 N Clark
$9.95 all-you-can-eat-fish and chips

In Fine Spirits 5420 N Clark Street
$5 flatbreads

Kit Kat Lounge 3700 N Halsted
Half-price cocktails and martinis, buy one entree get on free

Cans Bar 1640 N Damen
$1 hotdogs and sliders

Five Star Bar 1424 W. Chicago
$.25 jumbo wings, $2.50 tecate cans

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

ENCOURAGING WORDS

"Somtimes you just have to hold on, stay positive, and keep the faith. Even when it looks like it is time to throw in the towel, give up and give in I encourage you to keep going, try harder and keep pushing!"

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

#1 NEW YEARS RESOLUTION (SAVE MONEY AVOID GYM MEMBERSHIPS)

Every year millions of Americans make New Years Resolutions. At the top of the list is losing weight.

More people join gyms in January than any other month. Come February, 80 percent of memberships go unused. Before you sign on the dotted line, know that you can save money and get fit at home by following the components of a healthy fitness plan: cardio, to work your heart, strength, to tone your muscles. Myatt Murphy (Cooking Light)

All you need are some free weights and about 30 to 45 minutes and you can make a difference at home!

Spend twenty minutes doing the following cardio exercises ( choose 1 or alternate) be sure to warm up a couple of minutes before and after:

• marching in place
• jump rope (real or imaginary)
• jumping jacks
• alternate knee and arm raises

Then move on to strength doing 2 to 3 reps of each (all with hand weights except push-ups):

• Kneeling push-up
• curl press
• one-arm row
• lunge
• power plie
• side lunge

Finally for your core/midsection:

• bicycle
• side plank
• superman
• bridge

To enhance the intensity of your work-out and lose body fat purchase the Ardyss Corsett Vedette (suitable for workouts only but can be worn for up to 3 to 4 hours, helps reduce body fat visit www.ardysslife.com/epiphanyessentials to purchase this products and others that will give you energy Le Vive and eliminate waste with Digestive Support.

These are all things you can do at home and save hundreds of dollars on unused gym memberships!

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - TUESDAYS

Soiree 2438 N Lincoln Ave
$3 cocktails

6 Degrees 1935 N Damen
$3.50 Fat Tire drafts, half-price appetizers

English 444 N LaSalle St
$5 signature martinis

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

YOUR OUTLOOK MAKES A DIFFERENCE

This morning I woke up and as always while in the shower I prayed and sent praises up to the Most High. Then I woke my son up with kisses. The only thing was he didn't want to get out of the bed. So finally I picked him up out of the bed and placed him on his feet in order to make the bed.

He decided to sit in the floor although I told him it was time to go in the bathroom and brush his teeth, wash up etc. I am not the type of mother to continue to repeat myself. So I continued getting ready as he continued sitting on the floor. I began to tell myself despite this opposition today is going to be a great day, something great is going to happen to me today.

I arrived to work this morning pulled out a package of hot chocolate only to find someone had poked a hole in it and hot chocolate powder spilled everywhere in the kitchen. I still repeated in my head today is going to be a great day. After I added the hot water and proceeded to put the top on I accidentally stuck my finger in my hot chocolate causing some of it to spill. I still repeated and repeat to myself that today is and will continue to be a great day!

I do that because I refuse to be the type of person that allows something out of my control to ruin my day. Even if it were something that I could have prevented it is no reason to go through the day thinking this day is terrible and will probably get worse.

Our thoughts have power, they have energy and the ability to draw positive and negative experiences to us.

What's on your mind today? What will gravitate into your life today based on your thoughts?

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL MONDAY'S

Twisted Spoke 501 N Ogden
$10 burger and beer (11a -3p)

The 44th Ward Party 3542 N Halsted St
$10 for sandwich, side dish, and beer

Brownston Tavern & Grill 3937 N Lincoln Ave
$10 rib platter with beverage purchase

Houndstooth Saloon 3438 N Clark
$10 Miller buckets, 20 cent wings, $4 Jager bombs

Be a blessing and be blessed!
Epiphany Essentials

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Epiphany Essentials would like to wish all of you Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah.

The greatest gift to give at any time of the year is love.

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Epiphany Essentials

HAPPINESS!!!!!!

LIFE IS SHORT........

CHOOSE HAPPINESS!!!!!!!

BE A BLESSING AND BE BLESSED,

EPIPHANY ESSENTIALS

HOLIDAY DEALS

Christmas Eve

Kit Kat Lounge 3700 N Halsted
$5 specialty martinis and a drag show with Aurora Sexton buy one entree get one free

Christmas Night

Division Ale House 1942 N. Division
$5 stoli cocktails and $4 Lagunitas IPA drafts


Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - WEDNESDAY'S

The Call 1547 W. Bryn Mawr
$3 off specialty martinis and cosmos

Cans Bar and Canteen 1640 N Damen
$1 hot dogs and sliders, $2 off big cans

Cagney's 2142 N Clybourn
$4 margaritas and Sam Adams drafts, half-price salads and sandwiches

Fulton Lounge 955 W. Fulton Market
$7 fish and chips, $6 select cocktails

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

ALL CTA BUS RIDERS TEXT FOR BUS TIME

Chicago Tribune

CTA customers can now sign up for text messages telling them when the next bus will arrive at their stop!

The text-messaging service is being linked to CTA Bus Tracker. By sending a text message to 41411 with "CTABUS" and a bust stop identification number, riders will receive the estimated arrival times of the next two buses at their stop.

You can also access Bus Tracker at ctabustracker.com

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

LOOK SIMPLY FABULOUS THIS NEW YEARS EVE!

RESHAPE YOUR BODY AND FEEL GREAT!

With the New Year Approaching the #1 resolution every year is to lose weight.

You hit the gym
hard that first month but by February you have given up and are back to your old self until the
next January. Well, there is a product that will help you look good now and motivate you to work
out so that you no longer need the product to look that great!

ARDYSS BODY MAGIC PRODUCTS INSTANTLY
SLIM THE WAIST, IMPROVE POSTURE, AND
LIFT YOUR BREASTS.

If you are fighting the battle of the belly bulge the Ardyss Body Magic Reshaper is perfect for you.

If you want to work out and lose your stomach fat the Ardyss Corset Vedette is worn only when working out
and helps reduce body fat while doing it! Whether you want to fake it to you make it, enhance the results of your work-out or just look good in certain outfits when you are going out Ardyss

International has a product for you.

Click on the link below to view a brief presentation with before and after pictures

http://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0ASsr1-UfgR2-ZGRtaHBrajlfM2M0cXdrM2d4&hl=en

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

I am reading a book by E. Lynn Harris titled Mama Dearest. If anyone has seen the movie Mommie Dearest there are some similarities however in Harris' book Ava is the birth mother of Yancey.

In my experience it is difficult for women to get along young, old, single, married etc. most women do not have a lot of true and dear female friends and we tend to break relationships with one another more so than men.

Anyway, in this book and Harris' book Any Way the Wind Blows, Ava is dead set on upstaging her daughter and ruining her career as an actress/singer. Ava raised Yancey to be a no none sense bitch doing whatever it took to get what she wanted and where she wanted in life. While Ava was pursuing her own career she left Yancey as a young child and traveled the world, married different men, etc. She lived her life as if she were not a mother and felt that Yancey had ruined her life. The sad part about it is that Ava's mother told her that little bitch will ruin your life! So, when Yancey had a daughter Ava made her give the child up telling Yancey your career will be ruined this little girl will ruin your life and Yancey obliged her mother. Yancey also ended up being more like her mother than she would be willing to admit.

While this is fiction, things like this do occur in real life. Keeping in mind no person is perfect there will never be a perfect parent either.

Do you remember as a child saying when I grow up I am not going to be like my mother/father? Have you succeeded in not being like them or are you parenting and treating your children the same way you were treated although there were some things you didn't like? Just some food for thought. Even if the situation is not as extreme as Yancey and Ava!

Be blessed and be a blessing, Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - TUESDAYS

The Beer Bistro 1061 W. Madison
$4 draft of the month, $2 burger

Corcoran's 1615 N Wells
$5 pub burger with fries, $3.50 Blue Moon

Innjoy 2051 W Madison
$1 PBR drafts, half-price burgers

Junior's Sports Lounge 724 W Maxwell
$1 burgers with beverage purchase

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BODY MAGIC

Greetings All,

With the New Year approaching a lot of peoples New Years Resolutions are to lose weight.

Well what if I told you, you could put on a Ardyss Body Magic product and lose inches off your waist immediately!

Look no further the product is here and it works! Whether you are a size 8, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 this product will work and make a difference in your appearance immediately and I am now a proud distributor of Ardyss Body Magic products.

Not only am I a distributor but a user of the product and back it 100%.

You can look at the products online at www.ardysslife.com/epiphanyessentials and purchase them as well.

They have products for ladies and men!

We also provide vitamins and supplements needed to keep you energized and your digestive tract in order.

For those who want to lose weight the old fashion way I suggest the Corset Vedette that is worn only when working out and helps reduce body fat.

Ladies instantly lose inches off of your waist by just putting on the Body Reshaper Long, Body Magic, or try one of the corsets.

For those women who are petite but just want to look extra great in that outfit without the belly bulge that can sometimes occur after a meal, the T-shirt would be perfect for you.....Fake it to you make it to the new you, you desire.

If you are thinking I cannot believe this work I suggest you try it out for yourself. I will be having a show in my home in the upcoming weeks where you will be able to see actual people try on the product and possibly try them on for yourself. Click on the link below this is a good girl friend of mine from high schools before and after shot. She is also a distributor of Body Magic

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0Bysr1-UfgR2-ZTVmM2JhNWUtZWM3Yy00ZDk0LThiZDctOTE5ZDcwMmMwYTEy&hl=en

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

GIVING IN ACTION

Earlier this fall my cousin gave me a coat. At the time she gave it to me it was too big for my son but I told her I would just keep it until he grew in to it.

Then a friend of mine sent out an email a few weeks ago stating her organization was looking for donations for children in need. Last week however, a small voice said to me donate the coat that is in your trunk. Keep in mind the coat is brand new and still has the tag on it. So I chose to be obedient and Saturday I dropped the coat off to her home.

My friend looked at the coat, looked at the size and immediately told her husband the size and he began sending up praises, she started crying. She told me that I didn't know why she was crying and then expressed that they had been looking for a size 14 boy coat and had not found one. So there was 1 little boy that would have only received a pair of pyjamas but now he would receive a coat like every one else!

God is so awesome and He works through people. It is our job to be obedient whenever we hear the Spirit of the Lord speak to us.

Tis the season to give and bless others. It is always the season to do so and now is a great time like none other as there are so many in need.

Luke 6:38Give, 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."

2 Corinthians 9:7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - MONDAY'S

6 Degrees 1935 N Damen
$5 burgers and turkey burgers

T's 5025 N Clark Street
$5 burgers or veggie burgers

Kelly's Pub 949 W. Webster Ave.
$1 beef tacos, $1 Coors lie drafts

Tantrum 1023 S. State Street
$5 Absolut apple martinis and cosmos

Blue Frog 676 N La Salle Street $
2.50 Bud bottles, $.25 cent wings (4p)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

FAITH FRIDAY'S - PRAISE IS WHAT I DO

Going through and can't see your way through it or out of it....make praise a daily part of your life and watch the change that occurs. Be Blessed...

Praise Is What I Do

Shekinah Glory Ministry

Praise is what I do; when I want to be close to You.

I lift my hands in praise.

Praise is who I am, I will praise Him while I can; I'll bless Him at all times. And I vow to praise You, Through the good and the bad.

I'll praise You whether happy or sad.

I'll praise You in all that I go through; Because praise is what is what I do.

Cause I owe it all to You!

Praise is what I do; Even when I'm going through; I've learned to worship You!

No my circumstance Doesn't even stand a chance My praise outweighs the bad.

And I vow to praise You, Through the good and the bad.

I'll praise You whether happy or sad. I'll praise You in all that I go through; Because praise is what is what I do. Cause I owe it all to You!

Praise is what I do! Is what I do!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL FRIDAYS

Theory 9 W. Hubbard Street
$5 chicken fingers, $2 Miller Pints, $5 Russian Standard Vodka

Big Chicks 5024 N. Sheridan
$5 cheeseburgers, half-price select appetizers (5-10p)

Sopo 3418 N. Southport Ave
$3 glasses of sangria, $3 Miller Lite drafts

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BLESSINGS UNTO YOU

On this morning I speak blessings unto you and into your life and it is my prayer and hope that you receive them.

I speak blessings of love, hope, joy, peace, mercy, grace, and prosperity unto your life, your career, your business, your relationships, your finances, your health, your mind, your body and your soul.

Whatever it is that you may be going through or facing right now, you are blessed and it will work in your favor in the end. It may seem like right now you cannot see clearly and don't understand what is going on but trust and know that all is well with you right now as you read this.

Begin to speak of the things to come as if they are already so. Begin to praise, pray, and meditate and be thankful for those things right now as you read.

Your biggest enemy in life will always be your own thoughts! It is your choice what you think, believe, and act upon.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL THURSDAYS

Blue Line Lounge & Grill 1548 N Damen
$4 Mojitos and $3 Sangria Pints

Bridget McNeill's 420 W Belmont Ave
Half-price pastas, $4 Cosmos

Innjoy 2051 W Division
$1 select beer bottles, half-price appetizers

Salud 1471 N Milwaukee
$1-3 select appetizers, $3 Corona and Corona Light bottles

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

TREASURES IN JARS OF CLAY

2 Corinthians 4 (4:7)

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

I encourage you as you are going through things that seem unbearable to believe that God loves you and you can make it through. If you are a person of faith understand what you go through whether self-inflicted through your choices or just a causality of life, God loves you and wants nothing but the best for you. You shall not be destroyed. Keep your mind on the things above, meditate on what is noble, pure, and holy. Keep a spirit of faith, expectancy and a positive attitude being mindful of your words and watch the power of God move in your life!

Treasures in Jars of Clay

1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL WEDNESDAYS

Cagney's 2142 N Clybourn Ave
$4 margaritas, half-price salads and sandwiches

Duke of Perth 2913 N Clark
$9.95 all-you-can-eat-fish and chips

In Fine Spirits 5420 N Clark Street
$5 flatbreads

Kit Kat Lounge 3700 N Halsted
Half-price cocktails and martinis, buy one entree get on free

Cans Bar 1640 N Damen
$1 hotdogs and sliders

Five Star Bar 1424 W. Chicago
$.25 jumbo wings, $2.50 tecate cans

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

LOVE

In recent news with the infidelity of Tiger Woods, Swizz Beats, Alysia Keys, Mashonda issue, Dwayne Wade allegedly leaving his wife for Gabriel Union etc.....I could go on and on even Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski, and recently a government official can't think of his name off the top of my head that admitted to lying and cheating on his wife.

Is infidelity within a marriage deemed as the ultimate betrayal? Is it something that couples should be able to work out and get past?

In my opinion it depends on a lot of factors but in the end the only people who can determine if a relationship or marriage is worth saving is the people involved. The best way to make this determination is not to involve anyone, I repeat ANYONE, in your personal business (less its a marital counselor or spiritual advisor). Friends, family, and strangers will have their opinions on what you should and should not do and what they would and would not do. These opinions can cloud your judgment and reasoning and have you doing, saying, and behaving in manners that you would not normally. From experience it will also have your mind racing, with all types of thoughts. Those thoughts will spill over into your actions whether good or bad and make take you to a place that you don't want to be!

Understand that some people will say things just to cause confusion and discord. Always examine the source of the information you receive. Determine if it is genuine, out of love, is it useful, helpful, inspirational, truthful, is the person giving the advice in a happy place in their life? Be careful of the people you have around you but more importantly those whom you share your innermost secrets with.

I believe that people are afraid of love. They are afraid to show love and be love to become vulnerable and express a dependence for someone else in their life. To truly let go and release and simply love. This fear may come because once you truly love and let go you relinquish some control. Some fear love out of a fear of being hurt.

I was speaking to a friend the other day and I asked her and I will ask you. How do you truly expect someone to love you unconditionally, for someone to never hurt you or disappoint you when you have done and will probably continue to struggle to do those things for yourself? You expect someone to love you 100% completely yet you don't love yourself!

This is not to say to let someone use and abuse you. It is to say that love is a process and a journey of learning and growing together. Your mate isn't perfect and neither are you so a perfect love you will not have but you can have the best, optimal love with each other if you put in the time, commitment, and effort to make it happen.

If you want to be loved start by loving yourself. Once you learn to love yourself half the battle is over. Then learn that love is a beautiful thing and be mindful and careful whom you give your heart to and whom you open up to be it a romantic relationship or simply a friendship/acquaintanceship!

There is nothing to fear but fear itself. Imagine how the world would be if we all just learned to love ourselves and love others and we love ourselves.....

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL TUESDAY'S

Atmosphere 5355 N Clark Street
$1 well drinks and Bud Light Drafts

Crew 4804 N Broadway
$1 tacos, $2.75 Bud Light pints

Kelly's Pub 949 W Webster
$1 burgers, $2 Bud and Bud Light bottles

Matilda 3101 N Sheffield
$1 fish tacos, $3 Dos Equis

Howl at the Moon 26 W. Hubbard
$1 burgers and hot dogs

Juniors Sports Lounge 724 W. Maxwell
$1 burgers with beverage purchase 5-7P

Toasted Ox 2470 N Lincoln
$1 tacos, $2 sangria and margaritas

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS

Yesterday morning I woke up and watched Bill Winston on television. The title of his sermon for the day was The Law of Confessions then I went to my church Mars Hill and my Pastor Clarence Stowers Jr. sermon title was Watch Your Mouth! Hallelujah talk about confirmation. That us get into the law of confessions

For the part that I saw as the law of confessions is a sermon series I was truly blessed. Have you ever said, My feet/back are killing me? I am dying to get here or see that? Look at that person driving like a fool he is going to cause an accident? When you said these things did you realize the Power of Your Words and how your words could cause these things to come to pass. Bill Winston said that Christian's learn to confess their sins, they learn to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord but in his opinion Christian's do not learn about confessing over their lives and how it affects their life! The enemy wants to defeat you and he will use your own words to do it!

If we knew the true Power of our words we would speak nothing but goodness and good things out of our mouths over ourselves and others all the time. Going back to when you may see someone driving erratically and say aloud that they are going to cause an accident. Later on down the road you see that they have done just that. And you think or say to yourself see, I knew that was going to happen. How about you spoke it which aided in the occurrence taking place. With the same tongue that you said he will cause and accident you could have also said although that man is driving like a fool it is my prayer or hope that neither he nor anyone else on the road is harmed by his driving/actions.

Many have heard it before and I will say it again as the bible says their is power in the spoken word. We have yet to receive the full power of our words because we do not understand the power that they have. Winston said you would never hear God say that his feet are killing him, that is not something that God could say because when God speaks things happen and become!

When you speak, things happen and become! As my Pastor said yesterday nothing is more dangerous than your tongue! Your tongue has the ability to

• direct where you want to go
• destroy what you have
• display who you really are!

So before you speak think about what you are going to say and determine if what you says has these 5 characteristics:

• Truth, Helpfulness, Inspiration, Necessity, and Kindness!

If it does not keep it to yourself!

People believe that when they speak or they curse someone out they are showing their strength. In actually you are showing your weakness and showing that you lack control. Their is power in silence a power that you would not believe but it exists. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who persecute you. Do good and speak well of others all the time.

God created the heavens and earth through his Words. The Word says to speak those things that be not as if they were. I was watching Joel Osteen one day and a friend called a woman and ask her about her son. The woman said oh he is doing well, he is a great student, and a wonderful child, very obedient and loving. When the woman got off the phone her husband asked her why did she lie. She told him I did not lie about our son he is all of those things he just doesn't know it yet! Joel also talked about people that have been diagnosed with sickness. Do not claim anything that is unlike God do not say my high blood pressure, my diabetes, my this or that. Don't claim ownership of anything that is not of God!

The Power of Life and Death lies in the tongue. Your Words have the ability to build up or tear down. How do you choose to use your words? This goes for everyone you come in contact with not just those whom you like as if you are a Christian you are instructed to love all and do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

To sum it up watch your words began to declare great things over your life, your family, your friends, this nation, the world, over all!

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL MONDAY'S

6 Degrees 1935 N Damen
$5 burgers and turkey burgers

T's 5025 N Clark Street
$5 burgers or veggie burgers

Kelly's Pub 949 W. Webster Ave.
$1 beef tacos, $1 Coors lie drafts

Tantrum 1023 S. State Street
$5 Absolut apple martinis and cosmos

Blue Frog 676 N La Salle Street
$2.50 Bud bottles, $.25 cent wings (4p)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

FAITH FRIDAY'S - THE STORM IS OVER NOW

It's over now it's over now i feel like i can make it the storm is over now

It's over now It's over now i feel like i can make it the storm is over now

No more cloudly days there all gone, gone away i feel like i can make it the storm is over now

no more cloudy days there are gone away i feel like i can make it the storm is over now

If i walk alone I'm not on my own i feel like i can make it the storm is over now

if i walk alone i'm not on my own i feel like i can make it the storm is over now

ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, ohhhhhhhhooohhhh

no more(no more)cloudy day(cloudy day) the storm is (the strom is)over now (over now)

no more(no more)cryin at night (cryin at night) the storm is(the storm is)over now(over now)no more(no more)sickness in my body (sickness in my body)the storm is (the storm is)over now(over now)no more(no more)cryin at night (cryin at night) the storm is(the storm is) over now(over now)

(boy)no more(no more)tears and sorrow(no more)no more(no more)heartache and pain(over now)no more(no more)suffering(no more)no more(no more)it's over now(over now)ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhoh, oh , oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oooh

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

PRESIDENT SAYS HE SHOULDN'T PUT FOCUS ON BLACKS' TROUBLES

From the USA Today,

President Obama said Thursday that it would be wrong for him to narrowly focus on the troubles blacks face in the recession, rejecting criticism from the Congressional Black Caucus that the government is ignoring the economic plight of minorities.

"The most important thing I can do for the African-American community is the same thing I can do for the American community, period, and that is get the economy going again and get people hiring again."

"Its a mistake to start thinking in terms of particular ethnic segments of the United States rather than to think that we are all in this together and we are all going to get out of this together."

Your thoughts?

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL FRIDAYS

The Spread 2476 N. Lincoln
$4 you-call-its

Union Park 228 S. Racine
$5 martinis, half-price entrees

Rebel 3426 N Clark
$5 martinis and specialty cocktails

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL THURSDAYS

Cagney's 2142 N Clybourn Ave.
$5 bombs, $8 domestic pitchers, buy-one-get-one-free appetizers

Fion Wine & Spirits 426 W Diversey
Half-price glasses of wine

Durkins 810 W Diversey
$1 well drinks

Simone's Bar 960 W 18th Street
$4 beer flights

Cubby Bear 1059 W Addison Street
$3 you-call-its

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

By Anonymous

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there... to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be but when you lock eyes with them, you know that every moment that you are with them, they will affect your life in some profound way. And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, will power or heart.

Everything happens for a reason!

Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere, safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from....

In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things.

MAKE EVERYDAY COUNT!

Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people who you have never talked to before, and actually listen.

Let yourself fall in love, even if it doesn't seem right because you are too young or too far, just follow your heart. Surround yourself with those who make you smile, laugh, and make you happy.

Break free and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you.

Create your own life then LET GO and LIVE IT!

(Editors Note: It is amazing how this topic came to my mind this morning and I went on-line and found this. This is exactly what I needed for today. I pray that someone else reading this will be blessed by this. My finding and reading this was no accident at all but meant to happen at this very moment in my life. When you take time to reflect on your life, pray, meditate, and spend time alone the answers that you yearn and search for will be revealed to you!)

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL WEDNESDAYS

Bootleggers 13 W. Division
$3 well drinks

Houndstooth Saloon 3438 N Clark St
$1 tacos, $3 appetizers, $4 specialty margaritas

Matisse 674 W. Diversey
$4 chocolate martinis, half-price glasses and bottles of wine

Moxie 3517 N Clark St
$6 seafood dishes, half price bottles of wine

The Rail Bar & Grill 4709 N Damen
$.50 chili, $1.50 burgers with fries, $3 Sierra Nevada drafts, $4 bombs

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - TUESDAYS

404 Wine Bar 2852 N Southport
$15 build your own flights, $15 flight of the month

Aberdeen 1856 W North Ave
1/2 price bottles of wine

Gaslight Bar & Grille 2426 N Racine
$5 wine glasses

Hunt Club 1100 N State Street
1/2 price bottles of wine

Theory 9 W. Hubbard
$6 select wine glasses

Swirl Wine Bar 111 W. Hubbard $
3 wine tastings, $10 wine flights

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

A SECRET PLACE

Where is your secret place? Where is the place that you go to find solitude and peace and clear your mind? I have learned that when dealing with certain issues it is best to tell no one until you have gone to your secret place and taken time to reflect and pray and seek out a higher power to see you through. Sometimes the distractions of the world, friends, family, technology, can keep us from hearing clearly and receiving what it is we are meant to have.
So I ask do you have a secret place?

As the words to a song go, take me to your secret place. I'll run away with you. Talk to me face to face, I want intimacy!

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

GO WITH THE FLOW!

Good morning. Its not what the situation is, it's what we make of the situation.
God is LoveRev Run

A TAKE ON INNER CITY EDUCATION

"The first thing you have to realize, is that the public school system is not about educating black children. Never has been. Inner-city schools are about social control. Period. It's only when black children start breaking out of their pens and bothering white people that society even pays attention to the issue of whether these children are being educated. Just think about what a real education for these children would involve. It would start by giving a child an understanding of himself, his world, his culture, his community. That's the starting point of any educational process. That's what makes a child hungry to learn -- the promise of being part of something, of mastering his environment. But for the black child, everything's turned upside down. From day one, what's he learning about? Someone else's history. Someone else's culture. Not only that, this culture he's supposed to learn is the same culture that systematically rejected him, denied his humanity."

Excerpt from Barack Obama's book "Dreams of My Father"

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - MONDAY'S

1492 Tapas Bar 42 E. Superior Street
Half-price bottles of wine

DOC Wine Bar 2802 N Clark Street
Half-price select bottles

People Lounge 1560 N Milwaukee
Half-price bottles of wine, $3 sangrias, $3 tapas

Kirkwood Bar & Grill 2934 N Sheffield
$3 burger with 1st beer purchase

Plush 1104 W. Madison
$5 Smirnoff flavored cocktais, half price salads

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

BLESSED!

Blessed

by Fred Hammond

Blessed, blessed,blessed, blessed

We're blessed in the city We're blessed in the field We're blessed when we come and when we go We cast down every stronghold Sickness and poverty must cease For the devil is defeated We are blessed

Since thou has walked uprightly As a light in a dark land Since thou has placed in thy heart All the Lord's commands He's set thee above nations And cast thine enemies away He's standing up within thee So let me hear you say

We know that God's word Is clothed in truth and righteousnes We are his children And with our heart we do confess

Late in the midnight hour God's gonna turn it around It's gonna work in your favor

Be a blessing and be blessed,

Epiphany Essentials

UPCOMING DECEMBER EVENTS

Futuristically Fresh Fashion @ The Victor Hotel 311 N. Sanagamon @12am
Hosted by Tiffany Torrence Davis (Bad Girls Club 3, The Mr., The Mrs. and the Lover)
Today, December 4th! This event is for AIDS AWARNESS!!!! BET RIP the RUNWAY Tickets will be Raffled off. Get out and support a great cause!


Breakfast and Bowl with Santa at 10 Pin 330 N State Street
Saturday, December 12th 10a -12p Complimentary pictures with Santa. Breakfast buffet includes chocolate chip pancakes, frencht toast, sausage, fresh fruit and more! $6.95 for kids call 312-644-0300 for reservations


Happy Kwanzaa! AAABNA 7th Annual Kwanzaa Gala. Saturday, December 26, 2009, 6pm- 9:30pm At the Sankofa Cultural Arts & Business Center, 5820 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL. Join us for an evening of entertainment,food, and networking as we celebrate the principle of "Umoja" (unity).
Keynote speaker: Derrick Taylor,
Vice- President of The Black McDonald's Owners Assn.
Featured entertainment: Jazz recording artist Maggie Brown.
Tickets $35.00. (Tax deductible)
For more information call (773) 626-4497.


Celebrate with us on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. here at Mars Hill Baptist Church as we praise and worship God for His many blessings!

The festivities include song, dance, and drama. Invite your family and friends to celebrate the birth of our savior. Jesus is the reason for this holiday season!

Geneva’s Great Tree Lighting and Christmas Walk
At 6 p.m. on Friday, Santa Lucia arrives by horse-drawn carriage and Santa arrives to open the Gingerbread House. Enjoy carolers, the Great Tree lighting, roasted chesnuts, Swedish cookies, an old-fashioned candy cane pull and shopping. Five homes will also be decorated for the holiday and offer self-guided tours on Friday and Saturday. Where: Geneva’s Great Tree Lighting and Christmas Walk - When: Santa's Arrival and Friday Activities: 6 p.m.-9:30 p.m. House Tours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. SaturdayAges: Family/All AgesCost: Free, $28 for house tours paid in advance

Naperville Park District Santa House
Santa's little house on the Naperville Riverwalk will be occupied by Santa from Dec. 4-Dec. 20. Hours vary. Kids can visit with Santa and have their photo taken. Check Web site for details.
Where: Naperville Park District Santa House - When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, noon-6 p.m. Saturday and SundayAges: Family/All AgesCost: Free

Winter Lights Festival
Enjoy wagon rides in the park, pictures with Santa, carols, cookie decorating and a craft. 4-7 p.m. Nov. 21. Drive through the park to see the displays 5-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday Nov. 27-Dec. 27.
Where: Winter Lights Festival - When: 4-7 p.m. Nov. 21. Drive through the park to see the displays 5-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday Nov. 27-Dec. 27Ages: Family/All AgesCost: $5 per car

Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier
Enjoy a winter wonderland of hundreds of trees, thousands of lights, non-stop holiday entertainment, rides, indoor ice skating and family-style attractions. Visit Web site for times and schedule of events.
Where: Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier - When: Visit Web site for times and schedule of eventsAges: Family/All AgesCost: Free admission, activity wristbands $16-$19

ZooLights
The zoo becomes a winter wonderland illuminated by more than 2 million lights. Watch live ice carving, prepare family crafts, and enjoy the animal exhibits.
Where: ZooLights - When: 5-9 p.m. Friday-Sunday November 27-December 13, nightly December 18-January 3.Ages: Family/All AgesCost: Free

Holiday Walk and Tree Lighting
The Forest Park Chamber of Commerce's annual Holiday Walk features live-action store window displays, Santa and his reindeer, horse-drawn carriage rides, a marshmallow roast, caroling, merchant open house, face painting, music and more.
Where: Holiday Walk and Tree Lighting - When: 6-9 p.m.Ages: Family/All AgesCost: Free to attend

Daley Plaza Santa House
Visit Santa on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Daley Plaza Santa House - When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.Ages: Family/All AgesCost: Free

2nd Annual Lincoln Square Christkindl Market
The second annual event will feature German food served under a heated tent; vendors selling crafts, jams and chocolates; holiday music from choral groups during the day, with rock and jazz at night; and a Kids Korner with arts and crafts, entertainment and gingerbread making.
Where: Lincoln Square Christkindl Market - When: Noon-10 p.m. Dec. 4, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 6Ages: Family/All AgesCost: $3, kids free

Symphony in Lights
See a display of 250,000 LED lights embedded in holiday foliage and choreographed to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Where: Symphony in Lights - When: 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Nov. 14-Dec. 31Ages: Family/All AgesCost: Free

Mistletoe Magic Arts Walk
Stroll through downtown Batavia storefront locations hosting visual and performing artists.
Where: Mistletoe Magic Arts Walk - When: 5-9 p.m.Ages: Family/All AgesCost: Free


Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL - FRIDAY'S

Theory 9 W. Hubbard Street
$5 chicken fingers, $2 Miller Pints, $5 Russian Standard Vodka

Big Chicks 5024 N. Sheridan
$5 cheeseburgers, half-price select appetizers (5-10p)

Sopo 3418 N. Southport Ave
$3 glasses of sangria, $3 Miller Lite drafts

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

HOW TO WORK WITH OTHERS TO CHANGE YOUR COMMUNITY

How to Work with Others to Change Your Community
Whitney Hopler

Editor's Note: The following is a report on the practical applications of Shane Claiborne & John M. Perkins's new book, Follow Me to Freedom: Living as an Ordinary Radical, (Regal Books, 2009).

If God has given you a desire to take up a cause in your community - from empowering the poor, to reconciling people in conflict - you'll be much more effective working with others than alone. Significant and lasting improvements can result when you learn how to work together well in teams.

Here's how you can build skills as both a leader and a follower to help change your community for the better:

Build real relationships.
Rather than just trying to help people through a temporary service project and then losing contact with them, aim to develop meaningful and lasting friendships with the people you hope to help. Commit to being a stable presence in your community, giving to others over time. Ask God to bring you and the people you reach out to together in unity, so that all of you can draw closer to Him through your friendships with each other.
Follow a clear vision. Ask God to give you a clear vision for your work together. Individually, ask how your gifts intersect with your community's needs. Together, ask where God wants you to go as a community. Challenge each other to seek God until His answers become clear. Once you discover the vision, articulate it and encourage everyone in the community to embrace it as their own.

Listen well.
Listen carefully to God as speaks to you about the work He wants you to do. Listen to the people you're hoping to help - to their words, but also to the feelings behind what they say. Let them know that you want to work for their best interests.
Affirm people. Affirm who people truly are - beloved children of God who've been made in His image - and by doing so, you'll help them reclaim their dignity. This will motivate them to work to help themselves while you're also working to help them.

Take action.
When you feel disturbed by some injustice, don't wait for others to right the wrongs. Take action yourself whenever you sense God leading you to do so. Remember that it takes more than just a good idea to change a situation; it takes someone willing to act on it to get progress started. Resolve today to become a person God can use to transform your street, neighborhood, workplace, school, church, and other parts of your community.

Move past fear.
Don't let fear stop you from moving forward with the work God is calling you to do. Courage is not the absence of fear; it's the ability to follow your convictions in the face of fear. Pray for the strength you need to move forward when you feel afraid.

Be humble.
Remember: It's all about God, not you. Don't let the importance of your work lead you to a prideful attitude that will render you ineffective. Always keep in mind that you're joining God in His work, and let your gratitude for how He is choosing to use you - despite your sins and weaknesses - motivate you to serve with humility. Keep in mind that your goal isn't a sense of achievement, an award, a word of praise, or even the specific changes you hope to see happen. Your real goal is to work for God's will to be done in your community.

Start where it hurts.
Identify what's causing pain for the people you're trying to help, feel that pain with them, and lead them to the hope God offers them. Share stories of how God has healed your own brokenness, and be willing to struggle alongside others as they pursue healing for the pain in their lives.

Be the answer to some of your own prayers.
Recognize that sometimes, when God urges you to pray for a particular situation, He wants to use you to be the answer to your prayers about it. So, when you pray for the hungry, donate to a local food pantry. When you pray for the unborn, welcome single mothers and adopt abandoned children. When you thank God for creation, plant a garden and buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. When you pray for the poor, invest your money into micro-lending programs.
Gather the right people to help. When you don't know an answer or can't meet a need, admit it, and look for others to join your team. Qualities to look for in people include: a strong commitment to Jesus, thoughtfulness, honesty, strong communication skills (writing as well as speaking), passion for people, a lot of energy, good discipline, a large worldview, thriftiness, and joyfulness.

Use your job skills.
Consider how you might apply the skills you've gained in your career to your volunteer work, or even change your job so you're working in a more meaningful way. For example, if you develop luxury condos, you could shift your business' focus toward developing affordable housing for poor people. Do whatever you can to use your talents and skills to bring about more justice in your community.

Deal with sin wisely.
Don't become desensitized to the sin in your own life while you're focusing on helping others overcome the sin in their lives. Confess your sins regularly to God and some other believers you trust. Repent of the sins you confess. Don't judge the people you're trying to help. Instead, remember that Jesus didn't come to save the righteous, but the broken.

Take a stand through civil disobedience when necessary.
Since God is the ultimate authority, don't hesitate to stand against unjust laws or oppressive systems that contradict His Word. When your conscience urges you to act, go ahead and protest - but do so peacefully.

Give your best.
Don't settle for less than a standard of excellence for yourself, and expect excellence from the others around you.

Form disciples, not just believers.
Aim to do more than just introduce the people in your community to Jesus. While evangelizing is important, it's also crucial to help people move beyond belief alone to actually living their lives in faithful ways. Mentor them to help them grow spiritually, and ask some believers who you respect to mentor you so you can continue to grow spiritually yourself.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL THURSDAY'S

Reggies Music Joint 2105 S. State Street
Half-price burgers and sandwiches with fries, $4 bombs and Malibu cocktails

Lucky Number Grill 1931 N Milwaukee
$4 wings bucket, $6 wings and domestic beer combo, $1 mini burgers 404

Wine Bar 2852 N Southport
$15 build your own flights

Bowman's 4356 N Leavitt
Half price shots, 30 cent wings (minimum 10 wings and 1 drink)

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

HOME AFFORDABLE MODIFICATION PROGRAM

Home Affordable Modification Program November 30, 2009 - CBS 2 News at 11AM

If you're worried about losing your home to foreclosure, the Obama administration may have some good news for you. It plans to expand a program to help keep people in their homes by increasing the rate at which troubled loans are converted into new ones - with lower monthly payments. Under a $75 billion treasury program, mortgage companies that agree to lower payments collect $1,000 from the government for each loan, followed by $1,000 annually for up to three years.

More information about the Obama Administration’s mortgage modification program can be found at www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov.

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

POWER OF LOVE

Good morning. When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace - (Hendricks) God is Love Rev Run

I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love has power, when you truly love yourself, God, and others you treat them with patience, kindness, etc. If you consider yourself a Christian one of your biggest duties is to love all with the love of Christ. Christ loved those who forsake and persecuted him. So I want you to ask yourself is the love of Christ within you? Is the love of God within you? Is love in you at all? If you operated and did things out of love and not out of power or selfish gain would your life change?

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DECEMBER CONCERTS

The Hidden Camera Dec. 3rd at Empty Bottle

Field Music Dec. 5th at Beat Kitchen

Arctic Monkeys Dec. 6th at Riviera Theatre

Underoath Dec. 6th at Metro

Mew Dec. 7th at Metro

Russian Circles Dec. 12th at Lincoln Hall

Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Fest Dec. 12th at Congress Theater

Andrew Bird Dec 14 - 17th at Fourth Presbyterian Church

John Legend Dec. 30th at the Venue

Girl Talk Dec. 31st at Congress Theater

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials

DAILY DEAL WEDNESDAYS

Cafe Matou 1846 N Milwaukee
3-course meal $24

Chicago Curry House 899 S. Plymouth
$10.95 all you can eat buffet

La Tache 475 W. Balmoral
Half-price martinis, $10 burger w/ beer, $16.95 all you can eat fish fry

South Water Kitchen 225 N Wabash
Half-price bottles of wine (4-6P), $9 build your own red wine flights

DOC Wine Bar 2602 N Clark
Ladies Night Out includes comp manis and massages & $7 glasses of sparkling wine rsvp info@shequechicago.com

Hunt Club 1100 N State St.
$5 specialty martinis, $5 blue cheese stuffed burgers

English 444 N LaSalle St
Half-price bottles of wine, $5 signature martinis and cocktails

Be a blessing and be blessed,
Epiphany Essentials