Women of Diversity

By Dr. Brenda J. Norman, Rosetta Johnson, Evangelist Carolyn Mackey-Perry and 3 more

Co-Contributors: Rosetta Johnson, Evangelist Carolyn Mackey-Perry, Gail McPherson Mizell, Minister Rosiemariea Thomas, and TaNina. Simmons

Women of Diversity is book about strength, courage, faith, deliverance, and overcomers. It is a compilation of testimonies recommended for women of all ages. However, this book is highly recommended for the “significant others” of women. In this eloquently, well-written book, eight women from different walks of life come together with one common bond which is their love for God and a commitment to empower and encourage all women to recognize that they too, are God’s beautiful Queens.

Each chapter of this heart-warming and self-revealing book will render the reader speechless and misty-eyed. From the opening chapter to the final word on the last page, the reader will be on the edge of his or her seat with jaws dropped and asking, “How did this person survive all of this?” In her very own unique and courageous way, each author in Women of Diversity braves the tears, hurt, pain, embarrassment, and shame. They all went back in time and revisit a dark and traumatic period of their lives in hopes of being able to help another woman today to heal and get her breakthrough.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9781977263414

Dr. Brenda J. Norman

Contributing Co-Authors – Rosetta Johnson, Evangelist Carolyn Mackey Perry, Gail McPherson Mizell, Minister Rosiemariea Thomas, TaNina Simmons, Evangelist Audrey N. Mosley, and Elder Brenda W. Jones

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Women of Diversity

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2023 Dr. Brenda J. Norman, Author

Edited by Evangelist Audrey N. Mosley and Elder Brenda W. Jones

v3.0

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Outskirts Press, Inc.

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Cover Photo © 2023 www.gettyimages.com. All rights reserved - used with permission.

Interior Photos © 2023 Dr. Brenda Norman. All rights reserved - used with permission.

All of our Scriptures came from the Kings James Version (KJV)

Outskirts Press and the OP logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Table of Contents

Foreword

Book Dedication

1. Looking in the Mirror: From Tragedy to Triumph

Elder Brenda Jones

2. Living in Bondage Is Not an Option

Rosetta Johnson

3. God Has a Purpose for Your Struggles

Evangelist Carolyn Mackey-Perry

4. His Plan: She Did Not See It Coming

Audrey N. Mosley

5. Rags to Heaven

Gail McPherson Mizell

6. Choose to Change

Minister Rosiemariea Thomas

7. My Truth

TaNina Simmons

8. The Enemy Came In Like a Flood

Elder Dr. Brenda Norman

About the Authors

Foreword

If you were asked to name a woman of the Bible, immediately we would think of women such as Eve, Mary, Sarah, Miriam, Esther, Mary Magdalene, Ruth, Naomi and Rahab. There were also many other women in the Bible who were strong, courageous, capable, faithful, and feared God. These were ordinary women of the Bible that showed incredible strength and faith in God.

In this Book, you will hear from eight ordinary women from different walks of life who have come to share their unique story of how God has brought them through life trials and tribulations. These extraordinary women go beyond to share their Pain, the Ugliest, their Scars, their Hurt, and their Courage. They want you to see that when you PUSH, God will bring you through. This Book was written with the utmost openness to bless and inspire you to know that God still delivers.

Pastor James Williams

Book Dedication

This book is dedicated first, to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has been so faithful in our life. Secondly, to Bishop C. V. Russell, Jr, who is the Pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia, and Union Baptist Church in Suffolk, Virginia. We personally give a special thank you to Bishop for Preaching the Word In Season and Out of Season… (2 Tim. 4:2 KJV). You are indeed a great example of living a life of faith. You are truly a blessing to our church family, the community, and to the Authors in this Book. We sincerely appreciate your prayers, guidance, and encouragement. Thank you and God bless you for all that you have done in guiding us to write and share our story.

Looking in the Mirror: From Tragedy to Triumph

Elder Brenda Jones

My prayer is that as you read this chapter, you will be able to look into your own mirror and be inspired. Some of us don’t see the real value in who God created us to be. We don’t feel the inner peace, nor accept the inner beauty from within, that wants to radiate to the outside. Psalms 139:14 reads, I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. It’s time to look in the mirror and embrace the person that God wants to mold you into. No more living in the past and allowing it to hold you in bondage. God created each of us to live in the fullness of JOY. This chapter is written in hopes that you will no longer be entangled with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). It is time to leave the past in the past and press forward. Deliverance is at hand for the asking. Luke 11:9 says, ask and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Our Heavenly Father took His time in molding us into the creations we are today. As we look back into our very own mirrors, let us realize that who we are today is a walking testimony. We do not live in our past, but most definitely we should grow from our past. Life has numerous ups and downs, many trials and tribulations, storms and rain, mountain highs and valley lows, but one thing is for sure … God is still sitting on the throne!

As long as Our Heavenly Father still wakes us up every morning, there is still opportunity to grab your life back and start to fulfill the purpose for which you have been called. We all may get knocked down at one time or another, but remember this one thing … we may get knocked down, but we get back up again. Why? Because failure is not an option and we are still obligated to rise. Our past does not dictate who we have become, but we dictate where we go from here. Even with all the past heartaches, pain, rejection, abandonment, and much more, there is still so much greatness in each of us. What I want to share with you is just to embrace who you are, for your greatness is in the uniqueness of who God created you to be. On many occasions, I’m sure you have heard the song, "You don’t know my story or the things that I’ve been through. You don’t know my pain, or what I had to go through to get here." Or the phrase, "you don’t understand what it’s like to walk in my shoes." We all have a story and we all have experienced some pains. But, we all made it where we are because of our story. No, we do not walk in one another’s shoes, but we continue to walk the path laid out before us. We continue into our destiny. We continue to walk into our purpose. We continue to walk into our victory. Yet, the most important thing is that we continue to walk in the midst of the valley, where we will fear no evil, for our God will always be with us.

Let me tell you a story about a little lady who had to learn to grow and love who she was. Why? Even though she was cared for, she never really felt like she was loved, or that anyone really cared. Her confidence level did not measure on any chart, and her self-esteem remained at an all-time low for many years. Please note that after many years, she realized it was only her personal feelings at the time. There is one thing we need to remember is that when we are going through something, the only thing that seems real to us is our innermost feelings. In other words, she saw herself as just existing and was not realizing that there was so much more in store for her. She felt so much hurt, pain, and rejection, just as many of you do. This little girl cried at night, only to get up and do it all over again the next night. Let me take a sidebar here … A word to the wise … Never judge a book by its cover! You never know what a person has gone through in their life, so be mindful when you start to judge them.

Just for a little while, let’s peep into the mirror of her life and see how so many tragedies turned her life into triumph. In doing so, think back to all the things that have held you in bondage for so many years and what the devil meant for your bad. God will, can, and has turned it to your good. You could not see it then, but now that you can look back over your own life, you can see that you are still here. You may not be living up to your best potential, but because you still have breath in your body, the opportunity to move forward is within arm’s reach. Question … are you existing or are you ready for your greater??? Think about it as