8 COCO MARKEE PHOTOGRAPHER FEATURE 16 JESSICA S EEGER MODEL FEATURE 22 S UZY GOODRICK PHOTOGRAPHER FEATURE 28 HOLIDAY MAKE-UP LOOK 29 MUSIC S POTLIGHT: RACHEL O 30 DO MEN WANT A PROVERBS 31 WOMAN? 32 KORY MILLER ARTIST S POTLIGHT 42 THE GIFT OF LOVE 43 S HANNON NOVAK TESTIMONY 48 KARYSSA HEGGIE TESTIMONY 50 VERSE 14 EDITORIALS 53 DESIGNER S POTLIGHT: LUCY B ROWNE 54 JASMINE KERBY TESTIMONY
W. ANGELICMAG. COM F. FACEBOOK. COM/ANGELICMAGAZINE I. @ANGELICMAGAZINE E. INFO@ANGELICMAG. COM
MATTHEW 6:33 "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS"
WE ARE ALL ABOUT COVERING COVERING YOU WITH AND COVERING YOU WI MODEST CLOTHING.YOU ARE YOU AR BE CONFIDENT IN WHO
WWW.MARQUEMODESTAP
G YOU IN THE LOVE OF JESUS, H ENCOURAGEMENT ITH FASHION FORWARD, E BEAUTIFUL.YOU ARE LOVED. RE YOU. JESUS MADE YOU TO BE.
PPAREL.COM/SHOPMARQUE
I
"CHRISTMAS"
don't remember most of the gifts I received throughout the years but I cherish the memories of spending time with my family during Christmas. I can't forget those moments. When I think of Christmas I think of the songs, the cold weather, cutting down and decorating our Christmas tree and all of the calories I'm going to regret eating later, but as I get older I'm starting to understand why Jesus is such a gift during Christmas. He is with me not just in the holidays but every day. In this season of giving though, He reminds me to give my time with a pure heart, to give it without expectation and to give it with open love. Christmas isn't about an exchanging of material items, it's about spending time with people, giving a part of yourself to them and cherishing your time spent with them. If you read this letter I hope what you take from it is to remember to take the time to cherish your loved ones this holiday season and remember to celebrate Jesus in this great season of our lives. Our greatest gift to people will be the time we took to spend with them. Merry Christmas to all who read and follow Angelic Magazine. I'm praying for your hearts and your spirits this Christmas season. May God cover you and your loved ones with His joy. See you in 2015.
MODEL: Ivonnah Erkskine STYLIST: Porscha Richards PHOTO ASSISTANT: Brandon Delaney PHOTOGRAPHY: Coco Markee
9 ANGELICMAG.com
“ You have worth “….”You have purpose”…”You are loved”. Growing up, these are words I never heard as a young girl, and didn’t fully understand until recently as an adult. For most of my life, I felt the need to seek the approval of the world and live up to its standards. I allowed the opinions and perceptions of others to control me. As a result, I remained unhappy, unfulfilled, empty, heartbroken and confused. I never knew which way to turn. I lacked rest on all levels. I was on a constant pursuit to “find myself”, not knowing that in Christ I had already been found. I searched for answers concerning myself in those around me, as I looked to please and become accepted. It became exhausting and unfulfilling. Something was missing. It was a void I soon tried to fill with guys I dated. I allowed them to treat me as an option. A box checked “maybe”. I was robbed of my emotional and mental peace. I accepted less because I didn’t know I deserved more, but I would soon find there was One who wanted to give me more. It was during my pain and darkness I learned that everything I needed was in Christ alone. He saw me as someone precious. Someone valuable. The bible tells me that while I was a sinner, Christ died for me. It was how God showed His love for me. I am in no way good,
nor worthy of this affection, but Christ made a choice. He chose ME! That’s Love. I recall the night I cried for hours after realizing how much of myself I had given away. I was tired of living in bondage and it was time to become free. To find out who I really was, I first had to find out who Christ was. He is truth. He is perfection. He is love. He is life. He is my joy. He is my guide. He is my shoulder to cry on. He is my healer. He is my strength. He is where I needed to go to become whole. He is all that I need Him to be. I am learning to trust Him with every part of my life. I like to take life’s lessons and use them in creative projects. My goal is to let women know who they are in Him. He loved us so much that he died for us. A true pursuit of our hearts. A perfect gentleman. Photography is my outlet, a source of healing. I aim to capture the essence of every subject. When I look through that lens, I am reminded that I am worth more than what the world says about me. I am reminded of Christ’s unfailing love for me, and to embrace all that I am in Him. I must not compromise this truth, even on the days I feel at my lowest. My feelings may change, but His truth remains the same. I am His, and He is mine. Forever. His death on the cross if proof of my worth, and no one can take that away. His love is the best gift that this girl has received, and He is the ultimate example. The standard is set. In Christ alone, I am enough.
I
haven’t always known the Lord. I thought I had for a long time but never fought for a relationship with Him. I only came to Him in times of need and I thanked Him for the blessing that I call my life, but only when I remembered. I definitely hadn’t incorporated Him into my everyday life. God and my religion was always something I was curious about and wanted to explore, but for some reason I couldn’t take that first step. When it came to religion growing up, I was only told that I was Christian and the very basics of what I was supposed to believe in. I just went with it and never actually gave it much thought, I never asked any questions. I tried doing the church thing a few times throughout high school but couldn’t commit, I kept making excuses. I think God meant for it to be that way though. I don’t know if I would have been prepared or as understanding of Him during an earlier time in my life. Just before I started becoming serious about my religion, someone very close to me was holding me back from everything I felt like I was meant to experience in life. I was getting through each and every day without purpose and with nothing to look forward to. After I gathered up the strength to let go of certain things and certain people, I didn’t know where to turn. So I turned to God. In the beginning, I was only going to church to become more knowledgeable because that’s all I really thought you could get out of it. Boy was I wrong. Then a few months later I had decided to go on a spontaneous adventure for one month traveling through Europe. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I kept the Lord with me throughout the entire trip, and that is when His presence became apparent to me and all of the glory that comes with Him.
Seeing and experiencing the beautiful world that He had created with new eyes is unexplainable. There is so much beauty in the world and so much more fullness to every moment when you are with the Lord. It is very difficult being a new/young Christian. I believe and I have faith, but it can be shaken very easily. Every day I strive to become closer with the Lord and I continue to ask questions. I constantly have to remind myself that it is a relationship that I am building with the Lord, a relationship unlike any other I have ever been a part of and I have to put in the work to keep it strong. I have gotten a taste of what a life with Jesus is like and I have experienced His unconditional love. I wouldn’t want it any other way. After experiencing God’s grace I couldn’t help but share this amazing journey with my family. Religion is a conversation that comes up quite frequently these days. My obvious love for Jesus compelled my atheist brother to give church a try. This was a big deal. The first morning of church he had attended with me, God spoke to Him, he felt his presence for the first time at the age of 31. Now, my brother prays every morning when he wakes up and he calls me every Saturday night to make sure I am picking him up for church in the morning. I think a lot of my faith comes from observing things like this. Watching God work through other people’s lives is where I feel his presence most. Finding God was the best thing that could have happened to me. I think it is only right to share his story and his unconditional love with the world. Whenever you are feeling lost, whenever you are searching for purpose and whenever you are in need of that unconditional love, I encourage you to find Jesus.
MODEL: JESSICA S EEGER HAIR: NICOLE ESTALA MAKEUP: S OFIA VERDUGO C LOTHING: PINK HOUSE
I
have been blessed in my life to have been a Christian since the age of 12 . When I was 10 years old my mother found Christ and I was there at that moment. I remember thinking this moment must've been very important. Within the year my mother met my stepfather in the singles group at church. Now being a Christian for over 15 years I realize the importance that Jesus has had in my life. When I was at the lows in my life getting divorced, going through physical and emotion pain, I realized I was never alone because Jesus was there and I had the strength to leave. When I had
my son in 2008 Jesus was alive within him and I felt his miracle. I have been blessed so much within my career. I have been able to work with top models, designers, make-up artist and through this I acknowledge being so blessed by the Lord for the opportunities. Every day I start my day with a prayer asking for piece, love and strength. I will continue my walk in life with Jesus by my side and continue to grow as a mother, daughter, wife and friend. I am blessed.
MODELS: B RIELLE WILLIAMS & JENNIFER GRIFFITH HAIR: KENZIE WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHER: S UZY GOODRICK
WHY IS JESUS REAL TO YOU? My faith in Jesus has become real to me in many ways since I was a child. I was raised in a hybrid of customs and traditions because my parents came to the States from Europe to be missionaries. Their boldness and willingness to obey the Lord showed me the importance of having a strong faith. From an early age I knew that my faith wasn’t just something my parents encouraged me to have, it was a real and unique relationship with the Father that’s developed over a lifetime.
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY? When I was a young girl, my dad had a film camera. He taught me how to use it and the basics of photography. I took a film class in high school and was hooked, I loved spending my hours in the dark room. Looking back, photography was a way to express myself. Today, photography is a source of joy and excitement to create something new. It’s an art form that had me captivated from the start. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR LEGACY TO SAY? There’s a phrase from the Bible that’s always carried me and pushed me closer to Jesus. I would love for the last line of my legacy to read, “To the Ends of the Earth.” For me, this means literally and figuratively. Yes, I want to travel, see the creation that God made, and make His name famous. But I also want Jesus to move mountains in my life, to have raw and authentic relationships with the people around me, and to intentionally show others who Jesus is to me.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT MODESTY & FASHION? Modesty and fashion reveal so much about a woman and who she is. I believe that fashion is an art form and a platform for women to express themselves and showcase who they are. Modesty is a part of that as well. When a woman wakes each day and decides what to cover and what to reveal physically, I think it’s a reflection of her heart and what’s inside.
OUTSIDE OF BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER, A WIFE AND A C HRISTIAN, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? Outside of photography, I spend my time writing, reading, and crafting. Spending quality time with close friends is really important to me. I’m an introvert, a calm adventurer, and a dreamer. I also eat copious amounts of ice cream and enjoying drinking sweet chai lattes.
SIMPLE BUT RADIANT LOOK FOR THE HOLIDAYS. What is the right look for all the holiday parties coming up??? Does one go with a smoky eye or a bold lip? How about a simple eye and a gorgeous red lip! Amy’s look is classic and clean. Her freckles are coming through her makeup and her lips a perfect matte red without looking dry. Amy is wearing NARS SHEER MATTE FOUNDATION all over her face with RADIANT C REAMY C ONCEALEr under her eyes. She did not need much coverage on the face. (With the cold weather, everyone needs to make sure they moisturize the face.) I wanted to keep Amy’s eye simple, I used NARS DUAL-INTENSITY Eyeshadow in Himalia. I wanted to use a gold/topaz color to emphasize the baby blues. I tightlined the eyes with NARS E YE PAINT IN BLACK VALLEY. The lashes that Amy is wearing are VELOUR Lashes in (www.velourlashes.com) Are Those Real? I wanted Amy’s lashes to be natural. On the lips, I used NARS VELVET LIP LINER in Nihiwatu. I applied it on the entire lip to help ensure that the color stays. I applied NARS AUDACIOUS LIPSTICK in Rita on top of the lip liner. (www. narscosmetics. com)
28 ANGELICMAG.com
RACHEL O SINGER/SONGWRITER PHOENIX, AZ
M
WWW.RACHELOMUSIC. COM
y journey with The Lord all started from birth. My parents, who were recent Nigerian American immigrants a year and a half before I was born, raised me in a Christian home. I was aware of Jesus but I would say that I really met and fell in love with Him when I was 17. Not long after, I felt The Lord speak and commission me into the world of music and worship. In the years to follow I learned to lead worship, play the acoustic guitar, and write songs for my youth group. After about 7 years of cultivating these gifts, I was inspired to take a leap and venture onto the singersongwriter path with my first album Borderline, released in ‘09. This was the first time I had stepped out of my comfort zone within the realm of worship and into avenues outside of the traditional church setting. The experience of jumping into the unknown was an eye-opening one and a challenging exchange of personal revelation into the type of woman and musician I desired to be. After many years of wandering and possibly still wandering, I am resolved to be the type of person and musician that is creatively authentic. In the mainstream arena, there are many voices and pressures directing creative types to “change this” and “do it this way” in order to be successful. Luckily for me The Lord brought me to a place where His voice is the only one that
gives me comfort in an ever-changing industry. He is my steadfast strength and my biggest support, whether I succeed or fail. This perspective led me to soul search a little deeper into the purpose of my craft. Singing and writing songs are great expressions to be shared but I was challenged to be cognizant of where I’m directing people in the midst of my art. I knew I wanted to point people toward Jesus, but I felt impressed to do it such a way that shared the good, kind, loving, and unwavering nature of Jesus. The church for many years has shown a judgmental and condemning version of God that leaves them believing He is waiting with a hammer of anger and scoffs at us when we fail. In my personal journey, I have learned that He is so much more loving than that and He desires to do the journey of life with us. Contrary to others, I believe He really isn’t fazed when we fall short and in our weakness we truly learn of His strong love towards humanity. He wants to help us discover more of who we are and who He has created us to be, in Him. This revelation led to the central theme of my newest project Discovery. When we discover that with Him all things are possible, we see life a little differently. My hope is that every listener of the album receives a new perspective that they are not condemned, but loved by a great Savior who longs to allow us to be known by Him.
T
DO MEN WANT A PROVERBS 31 WOMAN? By Angelic Editor
his question isn't as cut and dry as it may But a Proverbs 31 woman is worth more than seem. rubies, she deserves more than average or a In order to specifically want a Proverbs 31 guy who won't reinforce where her worth is woman you have to value what she stands for found. and where she finds her worth. A Proverbs 31 Proverbs 31:26 “She speaks with wisdom, woman knows her worth is found in Jesus. and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” A man who doesn’t value his own A Proverbs 31 woman knows her Bible. relationship with Jesus will never value a When she speaks, wisdom is on her tongue woman’s relationship with Jesus. To get a girl, and gives faithful advice rooted from God’s some guys will pretend to be seeking Jesus but word. Not all Christian men or women can do there's a big difference between a man who this. illustrates a false perception of what he's worth Wisdom from God doesn’t grow over night, and a man who helps a woman see her worth. it’s a journey taught over time. A Proverbs 31 So what do most men value in a woman? woman doesn’t just happen, she matures into Guys want to be physically attracted to the her after time of diligently seeking God. woman they’re pursuing. Is she pretty? Does Proverbs 31:23 “Her husband is she have a nice body? Then, is she cool? Is she respected at the city gate, where he takes nice? This is the initial guy check-list when it his seat among the elders of the land.” comes to what they look for in a girl. When I picture this man, I picture a man of Christian guys are no different. We’re men, integrity, an honest man who is respected we’re still programmed the same way as other because of the respect he gives to others. He’s men but the only thing that separates the intelligent, patient and he too speaks with average Christian guy from the worldly guys is wisdom and gives faithful instruction. Men Christian guys ask all the above questions to aren't fooled by other men, we can see their themselves, but also ask one other question, is true colors in ways women can't see them and she Christian? this man is respected by other men. If she’s Christian that just puts the icing on Proverbs 31:18 “She opens her arms to the cake and that pretty much is the check-list the poor and extends her hands to the for the average guy who believes in Jesus. needy.”
"THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MAN WHO ILLUSTRATES A FALSE PERCEPTION OF WHAT HE'S WORTH AND A MAN WHO HELPS A WOMAN SEE HER WORTH. " A Proverbs 31 woman has a heart for others. It’s one thing to talk about opening your arms to the poor and helping the needy, and it’s another thing to actually do it. She puts action behind her words and only a man who shares the mindset of opening his arms to the poor and extending his hands to the needy will value this characteristic in her. Proverbs 31:10-11 “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” In Proverbs 31:11 it says her husband has full confidence in her. He believes in her and instills confidence in her through their relationship. He isn’t a flirtatious man, a man who’s insecure or a man who’s jealous. She feels secure in the relationship and in her partner. He reflects the noble character she possesses, and she is worth far more than rubies to him. He appreciates her because he values her. I've listed only 5 of the 21 verses that explain what a Proverbs 31 woman is. So, to answer the question do men want a Proverbs 31 woman, I think the greater question is what type of man will value and reinforce the worth of a Proverbs 31 woman?
Proverbs 31:29-30 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” A man seduced by charm or beauty in a woman isn’t pursuing her because of the spirit she exudes. Someone may desire you but it doesn't mean they value you. You'll know if he values you by the investment he makes in you. I'm not meaning a financial investment, I'm meaning what investment has he made to make sure you have a relationship with God and not just him? Any guy can buy a girl dinner, but does he invest his time and love into your relationship with Jesus? Exteriors fade, charm is deceptive, but a woman who fears the Lord is the fairest of them all. Her beauty is timeless. Many women do noble things, but she surpasses them all. God knows your heart. If you are a Proverbs 31 woman who is waiting on God’s timing to bring you the right man, God’s not going to bring you average. Don't settle just so you won't be alone. A man who will reinforce your value and worth is who God has for you. Faithfully seek Jesus, your faithfulness will be blessed.
"IN MY TWENTY- TWO YEARS OF LIFE I KNOW TWO ABSOLUTE CERTAINTIES, JESUS AND ART. "
cannot remember the first time I picked up a paintbrush. The callous on my right hand ring finger and the endless paint stains on all my favorite pairs of pants seem like they have been there forever. In my twenty-two years of life I know two absolute certainties, Jesus and art. I was born and raised in Flagstaff, Arizona where the art culture seemed to only care about representing watercolor landscapes of the Grand Canyon. However, in middle school my eyes were opened to street art through my youth pastor. I can recount the numerous summer evenings spray-painting graffiti on wooden particleboards and talking about God. Art became an addiction, something that breathed life into my soul. I would study famous street artists, copy their styles, and go on the endless journey of trying to discover my own. In the process of creating a lot of awful art I kept hearing the Lord tell me to persevere. Every time I messed up I would paint over the canvas and start fresh just like God gave me a fresh start every morning. The blank canvas kept calling me back and God’s grace kept knocking at my door. Artists are always asked what inspires them and every time I I
I think about this question the conclusion that I always come to is that my inspiration is derived from stories whether it be mine or someone else’s. It comes from the fact that God created us differently with each a specific story to tell. Who we are, what we experience, and most importantly who we were created by, is the life force behind anything that I paint. In this life we are all searching for something greater and it would be my hope that my art would expose truth and be a glimpse into the love and redemption that awaits us each morning. Painting has enabled me to serve and has shown me a piece of the heart of Jesus. I have used my passions to paint personal testimonies and connect with the broken. I have used painting to raise money to send kids to Young Life camps and to send our church to aid orphans in Africa. I have stood in front of hundreds of kids during Young Life camps and painted the redemption story of Christ dying for our sin. And through all of these moments the Lord humbles me, speaks his praise, and reminds me it is not about me. I stumbled upon profound wisdom a few months ago from a writer Ian Morgan Cron. His thoughts enabled me to put what I do as an artist into words. “All of us are meaning seekers. We approach every painting, novel, symphony, or ballet unconsciously hoping it will move us one step further on the journey toward answering the question, ‘Why am I here? We are homesick but have no home. So we turn to the arts and aesthetics to satisfy our thirst for the Absolute. But if we want to find our true meaning in life, our search cannot end there. Art or beauty is not the destination; it is a signpost pointing toward our desired destination.” I want to be a signpost-pointing people toward our maker. God is jealous for his children and I want to help bring as many as I can home. My paintings are not world renowned, they do not hang in famous galleries or museums, but they are created with the intention of waking people up and so long Jesus calls me to pick up the brush I will continue to figure out ways to glorify him.
SOFIA VERDUGO MAKE-UP
T
HOW CAN WE SHOW LOVE THIS DURING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON?
here are many four-letter words with the best known being LOVE; it transcends all language barriers and is something everyone can do. Love is something felt in the heart, spoken in our words, done in our actions. It is a gift. I believe love is so important this time of year because this is when we celebrate Jesus’ birth. We are reminded in Romans 8:39 that, “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If I had to choose just one word to explain Christmas it would be love. In 1 John 4:19 it says, “We love because He first loved us.” Christmas is the time where this gift and sacrifice that Jesus as our King came to earth to be fully human and also fully God is celebrated. Something we cannot fully understand but we feel that intense love that Christ has given to us, freely. So how can we show love this during this Christmas season? We can show Jesus’ love through small kindnesses like helping the homeless and talking to the Red Cross Bell Ringers instead of rushing past them and avoiding eye contact. Love does incredible things and its mysteries will be explained to us in heaven. Through love a multitude of things can be accomplished and sometimes love is strongest when it is silent. For instance letting someone behind you in a checkout line go before you if they have less items or seem in a hurry.
Smiling to the checkout clerks in the stores, giving them a few words of encouragement while they ring up your purchases. This is a busy month with many people hurriedly rushing around, it is easy to get frustrated when someone cuts you off but instead of honking the horn and getting angry give your frustration to Jesus in trust knowing that that strangers needed something much more than you did. When we believe in our hearts that love changes things; simply doing love is magic and to me that is the magic of this season. A gift is something that we did nothing for and can do nothing to repay it. A gift is not meant to be repaid it was given out of love without the expectation of receiving something in return. That is what gifts started as, from the heart with love as our only motive to give them. Nowadays that gift giving process can look a little different but let’s not forget how it all started. “For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His one and only Son,” John 3:16 We have all seen love but the greatest love I believe is not seen but felt by our hearts. This is my prayer for myself and for you this holiday season: Lord, help me to love your children in the ways they as individuals need love this month. Every human is YOUR child regardless if they have called you Savior or not. Your love never stops. Help me to be able to love those in my life and that I encounter with the same fountain of love that You have given me. Please work through me, love through me. Amen.
SAN DIEGO, CA
F
"I AM REMINDED TO
SIMPLY BE WITH MY JESUS—TO KEEP IT SIMPLE AND TO KEEP IT REAL . "
or a while I was under the impression that the story of how Jesus and I met wasn’t very interesting. I mean, He didn't meet me as I came down from a high or as I called out from a war stained ditch. There are no exciting moments of a prodigal daughter returning home after a fit of rebellion. In fact, I accepted Jesus at home when I was five years old. With my dad being a worship leader and my mom helping out at church all the time I really didn't know anything different from being a Christian. I knew about Jesus, sang about Him, and answered Sunday school questions about Him. Of course, now I know that the circumstances surrounding how we meet Jesus, no matter how exciting, are only the beginning of our story with Him. I may have met Jesus at five years old but it wasn’t until I was fifteen that I started getting to know Him. It was the summer of 2007 and I had just completed my first year of high school successfully. Every summer most of the students from my high school headed to a Christian youth conference where pastors would speak and hundreds of kids would respond. I watched. The kids I sat with hardly listened to what was being said, and, honestly, I wasn’t hearing anything I hadn't already heard before. We thought about the In-N-Out down the street while the man on stage spoke about the Bible stories I could probably tell better than him. But, by the final evening of the conference I was starting to get irritated with the kids next to me. For some reason I wanted them to sit quietly and listen. I wanted to listen. To this day I can't remember what the pastor on stage was talking about, but when he asked for the people to come forward who wanted Jesus I stood up.
The stage looked miles away and my heart was like a jack-hammer in my chest, but the closer I got the more I felt Him. When I got to the front all I could feel in my heart was Jesus’s love for me. So, this was the God I knew so much about. He was so much better in person! I had made a decision as a small child to believe in Jesus, but at fifteen I made a decision to know Him. Since that summer night in 2007 Jesus has been constantly reminding me that He wants a relationship with me. He doesn't want me to complicate things by trying to earn his favor. He’d rather that I crawl up in His lap and talk with Him. As I sit with Him and read His word, He chisels and remolds my heart. Sometimes He takes me through seasons of blissful beauty where everything is peaceful and rest comes easy. However, there are also seasons of great difficulty and darkness where He has shown me my great desperation for Him and His great love for me through the means of pain. There are mornings when I wake up, open my Bible and, quite honestly, I forget what I read twenty minutes later. Other times I feel like my prayers are hitting the ceiling. Of course, there are also sweet mornings when my heart feels so full of Jesus’s presence I just want to cry! Our relationship is an ever growing one where I am reminded to simply be with my Jesus—to keep it simple and to keep it real .
MODELS: KARYSSA HEGGIE & CALEIGH WINKYAW PHOTOGRAPHER: KAT PATRICK STYLIST: TORI NORDMAN C LOTHING: PINK HOUSE
KF ARYSSA H EGGIE , AZ LAGSTAFF
N
"GOD IS MY SAVIOR AND LIVING MY LIFE FOR CHRIST IS WORTH IT. "
either of my parents are Christians, so I wasn't raised believing in God. When I was very young my parents got divorced after my dad cheated on my mom. My brother and I split our time going back and forth between our mom and our dad. When my dad started dating someone we would go to her church, but when the relationship ended so did going to church. Sunday school taught me the basics of the Gospel, that Jesus died for my sins and that God loves me, but that's where it stopped. Growing up my dad was never there for my brother and I, he prioritized his job and girlfriend above us. I had to grow up really fast and do things that my father should have done, like the laundry and taking care of my younger brother. During my sophomore year of high school my dad's new girlfriend went to church so my brother and I were once again forced to go. At first I didn't want to go but I ended up really liking the church and became involved in children's ministry. Although I was involved at church, I still didn't have a relationship with God or know what living a Christian life meant. My relationship with my dad became very strained during my senior year of high school. My dad was very manipulative and controlling and I didn't want him dictating my life anymore. He had plans for where I was supposed to go to college and what I was allowed to study. He said he would only help me pay for college if I followed his plan for my life, but I
wanted to make my own choices about my future. At this point our relationship crumbled. The last time I saw my dad was at my high school graduation, three and a half years ago. My dad and his side of the family no longer speak to my brother or I. I ended up going to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. My freshman year of college I claimed to be a Christian, but I wasn't living my life for Christ. I hated NAU my freshman year and didn't want to go back. Thankfully I decided to give NAU one more year. My roommate and best friend Caleigh became a Christian during the summer between our freshman and sophomore year. She invited me to go to a church that had just been planted, Redemption Flagstaff. Within the first month of going to Redemption God began to work in my heart and I became a Christian soon after. I am so thankful that God opened my eyes to the truth of the Gospel. I didn't deserve it, yet God pursued me anyway. God has blessed me with an amazing church and community who point me toward Jesus every day. I am thankful for a God who loves unconditionally and has the perfect plan for my life. I recently reached out to my dad in the hope of re-establishing our relationship. I know that there is a good chance my dad doesn't want to have a relationship with me, but I am trusting in God's plan. Although there is a lot about this world that I don't know, there are two things I know for sure: that God is my savior and living my life for Christ is worth it.
T
"I GET SO EXCITED FOR THE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE, PRETTY CANDLES, AND BEAUTIFUL HYMNS. I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED FOR THE NEXT MORNING FULL OF HUGS, SLEEPY SMILES, AND SEEING THE JOY ON MY NIECE AND NEPHEWS' FACES" By Katie May - Verse 14 Ministry
his holiday season is arguably the best time of year. As the holidays approach, so does the shopping, the food comas, Michael Buble’s Christmas album on repeat, and the nights I cuddle up on my couch watching It's a Wonderful Life. But there's something bigger that weighs on my heart so heavily and so lightly at the same time. For those long, anxious weeks after Thanksgiving, I have this wakening joy in me. I step out of my own little self-centered bubble, and remember what this time, and this entire life is about. This man named Jesus; born on Christmas day an innocent baby with a tremendous purpose. Because Jesus took our place and died on the cross for us, we are able to have eternity with Him. And during this time of year I'm able to somewhat grasp that. There's a part of me that really gets it. I get so excited for the Christmas Eve service, pretty candles, and beautiful hymns. I'm even more excited for the next morning full of hugs, sleepy smiles, and seeing the joy on my niece and nephews' faces (maybe for reasons other than our Savior's birthday). With that joy though, comes a strong conviction. How ashamed I am that I live every day of my life worrying about myself, and forget the promise of eternal life I've been freely given through Jesus. Ahh, the everyday struggles of being a Christian. But I'm going to challenge myself as this year comes to an end, and I encourage you to too. Forget about your fears and insecurities. Forget about your worries of who you'll be in the future. Let it sink in who Jesus is, who He has been, and will always be. I want to live with the excitement that Jesus HAS saved me, that I HAVE a relationship with God, and that I WILL spend eternity with Him. Christmas may have become commercialized, but I kind of enjoy the elaboration of it. Jesus deserves a big celebration. This is a party, guys. I hope you enjoy this holiday season knowing how deeply loved you are by the birthday boy Himself. 50 ANGELICMAG.com
AM I CONTINUALLY PRODUCING FRUIT IN MY LIFE? AM I MAKING MYSELF GROW TO KNOW JESUS MORE?
O
By Brittney Wilson - Verse 14
ne of the many reasons why I love living in Arizona is because I can lay out by the pool and get a tan in the middle of December. The sky is always clear and the temperature is a continual crisp 65 degrees. I was laying out by the pool one morning in my backyard, and I noticed my neighbors orange and grapefruit tree overflowing to our side of the fence. I sneakily picked some for myself and took them inside to eat for lunch. Did you know that a fruit tree will bear fruit for 20-60 years? These things last forever! The fruit never stops producing! As I carried on with my day, I kept thinking about what my life was producing. Am I continually producing fruit in my life? Many people believe that once you belong to Jesus, your need to grow any further stops there. I mean you’re already saved right? True, we are saved and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, but if Jesus paid our debt on the cross, giving His life for me… why would I not want to know Him better? Why would I not want to live a full life through the power of His love? Why would we not want to bear all the spiritual fruit that we possibly can through the short time we have here on earth? Much like a fruit tree that bears fruit, we as Christians are to do the same. In Matthew 7:16, God says: “You will know them by their fruits.” Am I constantly allowing the Holy Spirit to pour into me through His Word and through other people like minded? We NEED people with good soil who can enrich
growth, color, and vibrance to our life. Have youhad a person that sucked the lift out of you? I have. That’s why Jesus says in Proverbs 12:26, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” We need to choose who we surround ourselves with cautiously, so we can produce and experience the fullness of His love through the people He’s made. Apart from His Word, true fruit cannot be produced. Galatians 5:22-23 says that, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” I personally lack in patience. That is an area in my life where God is constantly refining me. This is where I have to be honest with my sin and learn to repent and allow God to change me. And know that it’s not by my efforts, but CHRIST changing me. I have to constantly pray that God will provide opportunities in my life where I can practice patience. When God begins work in your life, when you immerse yourself into His Word, this is when we are impacted by His love, and the Holy Spirit begins to work in us. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Where in your life do you lack fresh produce? Ask God what it is you need refinement in today, and immerse yourself into good soil to grow into an overflowing fruit tree like the one outside your yard.
Y
WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING WE'RE PRAYING ABOUT AND WAITING FOR GOD TO ANSWER, SO WHAT DO WE DO IN THE WAITING? By Kaylie Brittain Verse 14 Ministry
ou have a promise. A God given desire. Although it is small now give it time and it will
grow. But it is a process. Sometime ago I felt like the Lord gave me a promise. I KNEW it was mine. It was like an indelible mark on my heart. All I had to do was wait. Honestly, I felt like a farmer who had just sowed an entire field then brought out a stool and waited for breakthrough. Or even just the confirmation that the corn seed which was just sowed was indeed going to yield corn. What do we do in the waiting? That was my big question. Then I remembered a character in the Bible who had also been promised something, dear sweet Mary. Mary was around 14 when she was visited by an angel who promised her she was going to have a child. But not JUST a child...but the savior God. Real moment...If i were Mary I would have been like, " Seriously, God you couldn't have picked a married person?!" Whined about it in typical tween fashion. But praise God that it’s not what Mary did, which is obviously why she was Mary and I am not. After the angel left she had a few options. 1) Rationalized: Mary thinking " its been a long week...going to take a deep sea salt bath and chalk it up to stress" 2) Said no: She could have rejected the promise, and said no. But she said, "Let it be unto me as the Lord has said". Talk about obedience. She looked down at her stomach which was not immediately showing, packed up all her belongings and went to Elizabeth's home. Elizabeth was old and barren. But through the promise of the Lord she conceived a son, John. Knowing this, Mary took her small promise and went to Elizabeth whose promise was already showing. Like Mary when we are carrying a small promise we need to surround ourselves with people whose promise is already showing. People who will encourage us, lift us up and draw us closer to Christ this is where we go in the waiting. Mary left everything to be with Elizabeth, even if it was only for three months. There is a price for our promise. It’s in the waiting process. This is the MOST important part. You want your promise to come out healthy with all its hands and feet right? Absolutely. Dear friend do not forfeit the process for the promise. About a month ago, I received my promise. It was healthy and I was in awe of God's faithfulness. "Blessed is she who believed that God would fulfill the promises he made to her" Luke 1:45 Sweet friend, God has promised you mighty things.
HI lovei everyone! I’m Lucy. designing and I love fashion.
I find a lot of my inspiration through life experiences, the way something smells, people, art, culture, and music. After two years at Mesa Community College, this year I have built up the courage to pursue my dreams and aspirations as a Fashion Designer. Opportunities have always come my way; some good, some bad. I have always tried to turn to prayer when making big decisions; whether to choose to take it, or wait patiently for another opportunity. Most recently, I went through an unpleasant experience that really affected me in my designing experience. I constantly kept thinking to myself why this would happen to me. I had a choice to either pursue monetary and litigation, but chose differently. Through this experience, I realized it wasn’t the Godly thing to do. I decided to put the situation in God’s hands and keep praying for the individual. I never gave up hope that something good would come of the situation, so I continued to patiently wait for another door to open. Months go by and I received a message from Jesse, the editor Angelic Magazine asking if I was still sewing and designing. He asked if I would be interested in being apart of Angelic’s Jesus Music Fashion event in October. The first thing that came to mind was that God hasn’t given up on me. So I said YES! When I look back on how I envisioned my career path with Fashion Design, I didn’t have enough faith and trust in him to accomplish my goals the way I wanted to. At that point, God was not in the picture and I was solely focused on what I wanted and not what God had planned for me. I grew up in a non-denominational church and when I was older, I felt church was a routine and it didn’t inspire me to become apart of the Christian community. I went to a college retreat one summer and this experience opened up my eyes to what else was out there.
I began to question whether this church I was going to was the right home for me. After that experience, I was on a journey to find my place in a faith community. From this point I have started attending services at different places of worship. I am constantly learning and growing as a child of God. I want to change the world of fashion with my creations and to share my experiences with others. I don’t only want to encourage them, but to let them know all things are possible through Christ. My design esthetic is more conservative with a lot of inspiration from the different time periods in history. I believe that what I create empowers women to be confident for who they are. You can dress fashion forward while being conservative and modest at the same time. When I design, I want women to have a little memento of the muse that sourced the end result. I find inspiration not only through the events in history, but by my surroundings. Being authentic and true with my designs is the first most important aspect of designing. Although creating women’s apparel is second nature to me. I find a huge love for couture and Avant Garde designs. I always love connecting with each individual who wears a design that I created just for them. I know I couldn’t be where I am today without my family, friends, and mentors, but most importantly God! I’m forever grateful for my older sisters who are constantly pushing me to be a better designer, individual, and my journey with God.
M
y life is one that started with sexual abuse later encountering verbal abuse then rape, but ending with the cross. From the outside looking in, my life growing up seemed normal. I became good at smiling and laughing on the outside when all I really felt was worthless and lonely. Eventually the facade I was trying to uphold became too overwhelming. I wanted to know what it was like to really be happy. It was such a foreign concept. I thought maybe if I talked about my feeling of worthlessness it would just go away. But instead the words “mom, I have been sexually abused” spilled out of my mouth. I immediately wanted to take back my words and hide them deep within me like I had done for so long. I wanted to talk about how I felt, but I didn’t want to let anyone get too close either. That same year I was placed in therapy, forced to talk about my feelings while being told none of this is my fault and that I am someone of value. I couldn’t see it. Maybe it was more like I refused to see it. Why? I was bullied. I will never forget the prank phone call that was made to me one summer night. A boys voice at the other end confidently told me he wished my suicide attempt was successful. Another night, I was told that I needed to stop taking up the good oxygen. Thirty-six more months go by when a “friend” took advantage of me. His friends laughing as my body was used as a sex object are forever a memory. Any chance of me developing a positive image of myself became non-existent at that point in time. For the next two years I was filled with pain and numbness. I consumed myself in sports for the distraction and surrounded myself with people so I wouldn’t be left alone with my thoughts. I got really good at faking happiness, hoping the
the cliché fake it till you make it would become my reality. But instead I felt a sense of emptiness I never knew existed. My heart felt hollow, and my body was just going through the motions. With nothing else to lose I agreed to go check out a church with my mom just to get her to stop asking. The next day is when my life changed. It was the day I believed for the first time I was worth something. God had just been waiting for me all this time to kneel at his feet and give Him my broken heart so He could mend me back together. The journey to healing is long and grueling. All of my insecurities and hurts are a daily matter I still need to submit to the Lord. The enemy knows what to use to attempt to bring me low again. But the truth is that Christ never and will never cease to be enough. Jesus is my redeemer, protector, my strength, my joy, my peace, my past present and future. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Each day is a gift given by Him. He wakes me up every morning and because of that I choose to be excited. I’m excited because I get to spend another day with the God who created the universe and loves me more than I can ever attempt to comprehend. “..when I was brought low, He saved me..” Psalm 116:6 “..do not tremble; the battle is not yours..” 2 Chronicles 20:15
MODEL: JASMINE KERBY DESIGNER: LUCY B ROWNE PHOTOGRAPHER: MISSY S CHWARTZ
MODEL: KAT MESSNER Designer: LUCY B ROWNE PHOTOGRAPHER: MISSY S CHWARTZ