The Purple Orchid | Page 3

President’s Perspective LEAN FORWARD | by Founder Vila-Sheree Watson, National President “Sisters, I do not consider that I have made it on my own. But one thing I do: ‘forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the I upward call of God in Jesus Christ.’” —Philippians 3:14 ESV t’s time for the Winter Olympics. One of the events that even a non-sports lover like myself can appreciate are the bobsled races. The races look very exciting! The teams make runs down a narrow, twisting, banked ice track in a gravity-powered sled. They use their body weight, combined strength, and natural law to push the sled forward. As they get to the turns, everyone leans forward and to the left or forward and to the right, depending on the turn. The key is that everyone on the team leans the same way. As members of Delta Psi Epsilon Christian Sorority, Inc., we thank God for the longevity of this organization, in this our 15th year. That came from using divine law and leaning together down the straight ways and even in the twisting, narrow, banked, icy tracks. You nor I, can make it without each other. As Hezekiah Walker says, “I need you to survive.” I admonish you as we look forward to 25... 50... 100 years of Delta Psi Epsilon—we must lean forward. Paul said it so beautifully to the church at Phillipi, “I didn’t make it on my own. I’m throwing away what was in the past and I’m straining forward, because the call of God on my life is the goal.” If we think of the past, simply say, “Thank you Jesus!” But, do not stay there. We are leaning forward… as the scripture says straining forward to what lies ahead! | Words to Live By MOVING FORWARD | by Soror Alisha Simmons, National Min. Director I am so excited about what God is going to do in the lives of our members and those who are impacted by our organization because of the mantle of favor that we carry and the anointing that we embody. This year, 2014 is a year that we as an organization will collectively MOVE FORWARD. Moving forward is something that God is calling us to do in this season of our lives and in the life of our organization. Moving forward means we are declaring that what was done in the past, whether good or bad, were all experiences that have shaped us and molded us into the women that God is calling us to be in 2014. Many of us have endured challenges, adversities, and hardships last year, and although we endured them, they didn’t destroy us—they made us stronger. It is my prayer that in 2014 we will be in agreement with the statement that the Apostle Paul made in Philippians 3, he admonishes to “press toward the mark”. Delta Psi Epsilon. we are not perfect, and we have a long way to go, but in 2014 we are MOVING FORWARD and we will continue to strive to be more and more like Jesus Christ. We must continue to PRESS through our challenges, PRESS through our weaknesses, and really PRESS TOWARD THE MARK so that we can walk in comple є