Nikki's platform is "HIV/AIDS Awareness and Prevention".

She strives to help educate the community about a virus that is 100% preventable. As Miss Black Oklahoma Nikki has aided in raising more than $3,000 towards HIV/AIDS education, as well as, has gotten many people tested in her state.

Nikki is a an active member of Women of Power, Black Student Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC. She enjoys hanging out with friends, going to church, and watching good movies. Nikki puts her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, first in everything she does. All the glory goes to him!

Madison Hamilton, Miss Black Oklahoma Talented Teen USA is a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Madison is a freshman at Classen School of Advanced Studies International Baccalaureate and Performing Arts. Ranked one of the nation’s top twenty high schools, where she is a vocal major. Madison is active in her church and has performed with the Oklahoma Ambassador Youth Choir. She has participated in numerous productions and plays at the Optimist Performing Arts Center. She has received several awards including Honor Roll, Freshman Homecoming Queen and Superior rankings in State vocal competitions. Madison’s hobbies include singing, dancing, cheerleading, acting, and reading.

Madison’s platform is Keeping Kids Confident: In spite of Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia. Informing the community about learning disabilities means a great to her. During the summer of 2006 she was diagnosed with Dyslexia and she learned to compensate for her disability and hopes to inspire others to do the same. She currently holds a 3.825 GPA so she knows firsthand that with hard work and dedication you can reach your goals. Madison is living proof that it can happen.

By

Tenita C. Johnson, Author of 100 Words of Encouragement 

      God has planted spiritual seeds in all of us. But it is up to God when those seeds come to fruition and begin to manifest in the natural realm. When a woman becomes pregnant, there are various symptoms. Most of the time, the symptoms are minimal signs of pain or discomfort in the body. She may experience morning sickness from time to time or even lose her appetite altogether. She is often tired; maybe even feeling like she is weighted down with 10-pound weights. But through all of the pain, discomfort and burden, she knows that this pregnancy is just for a season. For in due time, she will bring forth a child through the process of delivery. She doesn’t give up in the middle of the pregnancy. She has no choice but to continue to push forward until her due date.

      Just like a pregnant woman, you too can know when you are pregnant—that is, spiritually pregnant with something that God has planted in you for an appointed season. The struggle with a spiritual pregnancy is that one never knows when God will allow the delivery to take place. In a natural pregnancy, the appointed time is usually within nine months. Sometimes the delivery can take place earlier or later than the exact nine month period to the date, but usually by only a few days or a couple of weeks. With a spiritual pregnancy, an early delivery could cause utter chaos in one’s life or even destruction if the seed is forced to be birthed before its time. On the contrary, if a spiritual seed lies dormant for too long—meaning one either does not recognize the seed that is planted within or simply does not want to carry the seed—the pregnancy can be aborted.

      When you are spiritually pregnant, you too will have symptoms. These may include spiritual attacks on your family or household. It may include a physical attack through a car accident or armed robbery. For some, it involves the loss of a job or house. For others, it may involve the loss of a loved one and for many, it entails financial struggles. The attacks may start off minimal in the early stages of the pregnancy, but as you get closer to the promise and delivery, the attacks will come harder and faster. It will seem as though everything is coming at you at the same time. The enemy is trying his best to discourage you and get you to abort the seed God has impregnated you with.

      But through it all, as the Word of God says, stand still and know that He is God. He will never put more on you than you can bear. If He planted something in you, and gives you specific tasks to accomplish, know that He has already equipped you with everything you need to bring it to fruition. Don’t let the cares of this world force you into a spiritual abortion. Endure the labor and delivery for what is on the other side is priceless—and that is new life!

      Be forever encouraged!

      This article contains an excerpt from the inspirational novel 100 Words of Encouragement: Tidbits of Inspiration. Purchase your copy today at www.soitiswritten.net.

The Ministry of the Virtuous Wife

By: Tenita C. Johnson

            Marriage is ministry. Many women pray for God to give them a ministry or mission in life, but for the woman who desires to be a godly wife, her responsibility is the ministry of the marriage. Don’t get me wrong; in comparison of the enormous responsibility we have in the workplace and general life, it is a true balancing act. It is important for us to understand that a “true” virtuous woman desires to fulfill her commitments to the physical ministries she may be involved in at her church, commitments to her children as well as friends/family that may need her. But, all of these things should appear lower on her “To Do List” than the ministry of her husband. And if many wives will be honest with themselves, their husband requires more of their work than any ministry in the church or any girlfriend going through drama with her “baby’s daddy.” So then how is that we become virtuous women?