As we prepare for the miracle that is Christmas…. the celebration of the miracle birth of baby Jesus…..the miracle that is love….we want to remind you that how you think about Christmas, how you think about your marriage, etc. determines your experience. If you think it’s going to be a great Christmas, its going to be a great Christmas. If you think problem areas in your marriage can get better, they will. Our thoughts are powerful; they inform our beliefs about our marriages, which impacts our behavior…. the way we treat each other.

I recently completed the first level of a four-level training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and was surprised to learn that even though couples and couples’ therapists often want to focus on conflict resolution and communication when couples are experiencing marital problems, the thing that needs to be examined first is the status of their friendship. Friendship is the key factor in long lasting relationships. There are many couples who holler, scream and fight, but outside of their heated arguments, they are best friends, love one another dearly and enjoy one another’s company. Yes, they need to learn to communicate better, but at the end of the day, it’s the quality of their friendship that will sustain them.

So, in 2022, let’s commit to spending more time getting to know and understand our spouses better; work towards eliminating the behavior of looking for each other’s mistakes and correcting them but instead look to see what they are doing right; show our appreciation; and work to create a culture of fondness, affection and respect. 

Let's create friendships that looks like sitting close to one another on the sofa, holding hands, kissing, touching each other as you pass one another in the room, showing interest in what happens during each other’s day, sharing funny stories and laughing together, attempting to get back on track when things get off track, and taking a ‘you and I against the world’ stance on a regular basis.

I know that some of you are saying, “It’s going to take a miracle”…… well we have one….Christ was born in Bethlehem and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!

Merry Christmas and let's make it a Happy New Year!

Paula and Sherman Newman

Prayers that Prevail, reminds us that there is power in prayer; there is power in the Word of God; and when we combine these two sources with the power of the Holy Spirit, explosive spiritual energy is unleashed in our lives, resulting in renewed faith, victory and answered prayer. In Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”.

1) Pray according to the will of God- And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desired of him. (1 John 5: 14-15)

2) Pray in the name of Jesus- Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the work that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14: 12-14)

3) Pray in faith, nothing wavering- But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1: 6-8)

4) Pray with persistence- And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44); Men ought always pray and not faint (Luke 18: 1); the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16); Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

5) Be specific in prayer- Whosoever…..shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith (Mark 11: 23); be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God (Philippians 4:6)

6) Pray with humility- If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14)

7) Pray in the spirit- with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:18); but if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you….ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (Romans 8: 11-15)

8) Wait on God- But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:4); Thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me (Isaiah 49: 23); Blessed are all them that wait for him (Isaiah 30: 18)

9) Offer thanksgiving and praise- Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name (Psalm 100:4)

10) Abide in Christ- Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me….If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15: 4, 7)

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no division among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Corinthians 1: 10)

·        Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

·        Drain the Veg-All vegetables.

·        Drain the water chestnuts, chop slightly.

·        Slice the celery into about ¼ inch slices.

·        Dice the onion.

·        Grate the cheese.

·        Place the soup in a large mixing bowl.

·        Add mayonnaise.

·        Add cheese.

·        Fold gently to combine.

·        Add the veg-all vegetables.

·        Add the onions.

·        Add the celery.

·        Add the water chestnuts.

·        Fold gently to combine.

·        Lightly butter a 9×13 casserole baking dish.

·        Add the mixture to the dish, spreading out evenly.

·        Crush the saltine crackers.

·        Spread crackers over top of mixture.

·        Bake at 350F degrees for about 30-40 minutes until bubbly hot and slightly browned.

·        Remove from oven, place on folded towels to cool slightly.

Clever Girls Know: The Go-To for Debt Busting, https://www.clevergirlfinance.com/podcast/

Earn Your Leisure: Your Source for Investment Tips, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRVsqvXIdgyPVS-a6fGa1lA

Brown Ambition: A Toolkit for Better Money Decisions, https://brownambitionpodcast.com/

Two Black Guys with Good Credit: Information on Credit that Everyone Can Use, https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/two-black-guys-with-good-credi-133810

Journey to Launch: Your Blueprint for Early Retirement, https://journeytolaunch.com/get-started/

Link to Christmas Carols, Christmas Carols.pdf

OFF by Maxwell, https://youtu.be/kDaC0XkEYys

Off

·        Museum of Life and Science, https://www.lifeandscience.org/ 

·        Duke University Chapel, https://chapel.duke.edu/

·        Duke Lemur Center, https://lemur.duke.edu/

·        Eno River State Park, https://www.ncparks.gov/eno-river-state-park/home

·        Stagville State Historic Site, https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/historic-stagville

·        Pedego Electric Bike Rentals, https://pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/durham/rentals-tours/

·        West Point on the Eno, https://www.enoriver.org/what-we-protect/parks/west-point-on-the-eno/

·        Rolling View Falls Lake State Park, https://www.ncparks.gov/falls-lake-state-recreation-area/home

·        Hayti Heritage Center, https://hayti.org/

·        The Videri Chocolate Factory, https://viderichocolatefactory.com/

·        The Raleigh Warehouse District- Food Hall, https://www.morganfoodhall.com/

·        William B. Umstead State Park, https://www.ncparks.gov/william-b-umstead-state-park/home

·        JC Raulston Arboretum, https://jcra.ncsu.edu//

·        Fayetteville Street District, https://www.visitraleigh.com/plan-a-trip/cities-and-towns/raleigh/downtown-raleigh/fayetteville-street/

·        RDU Observation Park, https://www.rdu.com/observation-park/

·        New Year’s Eve 2022: Dressed Up to Get Down, Friday, December 31^st at 6:00 p.m. at Tin Roof, Raleigh, NC

·        Mixtape- 90’s and 00’s R&B, Hip Hop, Pop Tribute, Thursday, January 6^th at 8:00 p.m. at Tin Roof, Raleigh, NC

·        Greensboro Hip Hop Festival on Saturday, January 8^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC

·        Boys II Men, Sunday, January 16^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), Durham, NC

·        Wale: Under a Blue Moon Tour on Tuesday, January 18^th at 8:30 p.m. at The Ritz, Raleigh, NC

·        Hillsong UNITED and Chris Tomlin on Wednesday, February 9^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC

·        Heather Headley on Saturday, February 12^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts, Greensboro, NC

·        The Temptations and The Four Tops on Friday, February 18^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts, Greensboro, NC

·        Black Violin on Saturday, February 19^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), Durham, NC

·        Dancing with the Stars: LIVE 2022 Tour on Sunday, February 27^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC

·        Stephen Marley on Tuesday, March 8^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Cone Denim Entertainment Center, Greensboro, NC

·        Maxwell: The Night Tour on Sunday, March 20^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC

·        Dreamville Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3^rd at the Dorothea Dix Park, Raleigh, NC

·        Elton John: Farewell Yellow Brick Road on Tuesday, April 19^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, NC

·        Shirley Caesar presented by Pine Cone on Thursday, May 5^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC

·        North Carolina Central University Eagles, https://nccueaglepride.com/

·        University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tarheels, https://goheels.com/calendar

·        Duke Blue Devils, https://goduke.com/

·        North Carolina State University Wolfpack, https://gopack.com/

·        North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Aggies, https://ncataggies.com/

·        Wake Forest Demon Deacons, https://godeacs.com/

·        East Carolina University Pirates, https://ecupirates.com/

·        University of North Carolina at Greenboro Spartans, https://uncgspartans.com/

·        Carolina Hurricanes, (FPHL), https://www.carolinathunderbirds.com/events

·        Rent (Touring), Friday, January 28^th at 8:00 p.m. at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), Durham, NC

·        Romeo and Juliet, Thursday, February 3^rd at 7:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC

·        NC Symphony: All Strings, Friday, February 4^th at 12:00 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC

·        Margaret Cho, Friday, February 4^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Raleigh Improv, Cary, NC

·        NC Theatre Presents Sister Act, Tuesday, February 8^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC

·        NC Symphony: Dancing in the Street: The Music of Motown on Thursday, February 10^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC

·        Disney Presents The Lion King (Touring), Wednesday, February 23^rd at 7:30 p.m. at the Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts, Greensboro, NC

·        Russian Ballet Theatre Presents Swan Lake on Thursday, February 24^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Carolina Theater, Durham, NC

·        Adele Givens on Friday, March 11^th at 7:00 p.m. at Raleigh Improv, Cary, NC

·        Tracy Morgan: Working It Out on Friday, March 18^th and Saturday, March 19^th at Raleigh Improv, Cary, NC

·        Hamilton (Touring) on Wednesday, April 6^th at 7:30 p.m. at the Steven Tanger Center for Performing Arts, Greensboro, NC

Candlelight Christmas Evenings at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC- https://www.biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/christmas/candlelight-christmas-evenings/

·        Magic of Lights at Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, 3801 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh, NC, starting Wednesday, December 1^st from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., https://www.ticketsales.com/walnut-creek-amphitheatre/69532/Magic+of+Lights?gclid=CjwKCAiAwKyNBhBfEiwA_mrUMjRcZQAwpKRE35QsXI1oyzECoUtRK33nlQoh56PfTKYcM3FruuXUJxoCukMQAvD_BwE

·        WRAL Nights of Lights, November 26- December 24 at the Dorothea Dix Park, 1030 Richardson Drive, Raleigh, NC, https://www.wral.com/WRAL-presents-Nights-of-Lights-at-Dix-Park-tickets-times-holiday-lights/19317026/

·        Lights on the Meadow- Christmas Light Show, December 4- January 1, 9301 Hay Meadow Court, Raleigh, NC, https://meadowlights.com/schedule-%26-directions

·        North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at Koka Booth Amphitheater, Cary, NC starting November 19^th through January 9^th with nightly stage performances at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m., https://www.boothamphitheatre.com/events-tickets/events/chinese-lantern-festival

Tri Team Unlimited, LLC- Upcoming Couples Workshops, https://triteamunlimited.com/upcoming-workshops/

·        Let’s Talk About the “F” Word- Fighting Fair Conflict Resolution Workshop, Saturday, January 8, 2022, 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

·        Start Right- Stay Connected Pre-Marital Workshop, Saturday, January 22, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, January 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

·        True Colors Workshop, Saturday, January 29, 2022, 8:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

·        Lifetime Love Affair, Sex & Intimacy Workshop, Saturday, February 5, 2022 and Sunday, February 6, 2022, 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.