February 2017

ANGELIC JESUS.

FEBRUARY

2017

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ANGELIC FEBRUARY2017 JESUS. MUSIC. FASHION.

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NGELIC M AGAZINE IS A MONTHLY PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATION THAT BLENDS MUSIC , FASHION AND THE REAL STORIES OF PEOPLE STRIVING TO LIVE FOR J ESUS .

W E BEGAN IN S EPTEMBER OF 201 3 FEATURING CONTENT SOLEY FROM THE SOUTHWEST OF THE U NITED S TATES AND SINCE OUR BEGINNING, WE' VE SPREAD TO FEATURE EDITORIAL CONTENT FROM THE PACIFIC TO THE ATLANTIC , AND BEYOND . W E HAVE READERS ABROAD COMING FROM PARTS OF E UROPE, S OUTH AMERICA, ASIA AND AUSTRALIA. ANGELIC HAS A MAGAZINE NAME BUT WE ARE A MINISTRY FOCUSED ON FEARLESSLY PROCLAIMING J ESUS .

W E SPOTLIGHT MUSICIANS AND BANDS WHO HEARTS STRIVE TO BEAT WITH H IS. W E FEATURE FASHION PHOTO -SHOOTS WITH PHOTOGRAPHER ' S , STYLISTS AND MODELS WHO DESIRE TO PROFESS THEIR FAITH IN H IM. O UR ARTICLES ARE GUIDED BY THE B IBLE. W E HIGHLIGHT ORGANIZATIONS AND MINISTRIES WHO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH . THE TESTIMONIES WRITTEN ARE FILLED WITH WORDS OF REDEMPTION AND GRACE. W E DESIRE TO STEP INTO THE WORLD AND BRING THE WORLD BACK TO J ESUS .

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ROMANS 12:9

"LOVE MUST BE SINCERE "

Devot

B Y ANGELIC

GOD' S WILL

In the hours before Jesus was to be arrested, thorns and nailed to a cross to die, He prayed He asked God if there was another way for death on a cross. Scripture tells us Jesus scriptures tell us His sweat looked like drops But something really important was praye you are willing, take this cup from me; yet no He prayed for God’s will to prevail, not His Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior wanted H God’s will to be lived out instead.

Are you prepared to pray that prayer? A pr to God so that His wants and desires for you The author A.W. Tozer has a great quote t nothing I want. Inside the will of God, there's Through God’s will on our life we get to e purpose of who He’s called us to be for Him want, and inside it there is nothing I will ever PRA

Lord, let your will be done in my life. I pray who I am. I'm asking for your wants and des you and I can become one. I pray for your Sp give my life to you Jesus.

tional

C MAGAZINE

L, NOT MINE

, publicly beaten, mocked, given a crown of d a prayer. r people to be saved through Him instead of was in anguish and prayed earnestly. The of blood falling from Him as He prayed. ed in Jesus’ prayer. He told God, “Father, if ot my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42 s own.

His own will to come to pass but He asked for

rayer of surrendering your wants and desires will come to life? that reads, "Outside the will of God, there's s nothing I fear." experience the richness and live out the full m. Outside of His will there is nothing that I r fear.

YER

y for your will to live through every aspect of sires to become my wants and desires so that pirit to lead me as I walk by faith with you. I

Blessed

PHOTOGRAPHY: KATRINA THAXTON ( K A Y L A J A N N I K A P H O T O G R A P H Y) MODEL : JENNIFER FERRELL LOCATION: RUBY BEACH, WA

Katrina Thaxton

I

PHOTOGRAPHER TESTIMONY KAYLA JANNIKA PHOTOGRAPHY COVINGTON, WAS HINGTON

grew up a military brat my entire childhood born in California and moving to Mainland Japan then 10 years of my father's Navy career in Okinawa. Eventually when he retired I was just about to start high school and my father decided to retire in the Philippines.

Being from the states and living there was such a big transition and I related more to the older kids there than the kids my age so that's who I hung out with. I went through a typical teenage phase, but instead with individuals already around 21 and technically adults. I went through a downhill path. I was always fighting with my family.

My friends were everything to me until one day I was taken advantage of at that young age by one of these so called "friends." I was so lost and didn't know who to turn to and just kept everything to myself.

I became a senior in college and met a guy who became my boyfriend who then invited me to his youth group and it all began there. I remember just being so drawn to the music as I stepped into that room.

Each week as the days got closer to our next youth group gathering my heart would get so excited for those few minutes that I can sing and feel closer to God than ever. It was when I was singing that I felt the closest to him.

My boyfriend and I were together for 6 years and within that time we were active volunteers at church part of every single event. I was closer to his family than my own. The church was my life and I was never home with my own family.

I had the courage to audition and after time and training became one of the worship leaders of the church. I also became one of the leaders for our youth and assisted in training new worship leaders for the church. Being a worship leader was my passion and leading people in song and seeing their connection with God and letting themselves go in that moment was such a blessing to witness and be a part of it.

Photography was a hobby and during my time at that church in the Philippines everyone knew how much I loved taking photographs. Never did I know if was going to become my career. My boyfriend and I grew up with different plans for our future and broke up. It was the first time I heard God telling me to do something I didn't want to do, but I listened.

Leaving my church was a difficult thing, but I knew God had better plans for me elsewhere. I moved to the States then met my husband.

We grew up together in Okinawa from elementary until after middle school. His dad retired and they moved to Washington and he became a Marine. My husband and I crossed paths in California and we just fell in love so fast.

In 2011 we got married and knew we wanted kids right away. We found out he was deploying to Afghanistan and shortly after we found out we were having our first baby.

That deployment was one of the most difficult seasons of my life. I struggled through complications with my pregnancy due to the stress. I was alone in California and pregnant. God really has a way of bringing things together.

I reached out to my family and they helped me get through that deployment. Now my family and I are closer than ever and the bond my sisters and I have is so amazing.

On Christmas my husband gifted me with a camera. He knew my love for photography and said he wanted me to be able to take amazing photos of our baby girl. It was the best gift I ever received.

Five Marines didn't make it back from that deployment. I thank God everyday my husband made it back safe.

Eventually my husband and I got stationed to Okinawa where we met as kids. I started taking photographs of my daughter growing up, made friends who then wanted me to photograph their kids and family, and decided to make a business out of it once friends of friends started contacting me.

That was 4 years ago and I'm now 29 years old and confidently call myself a full time mom of two, a strong marine wife, a photographer and artist, stylist, traveler, and businesswoman. My life had so many different paths and God guided me to the right one each and every time even when I doubted it.

Things were meant to happen in my life to mold me to who and what I am today and I am beyond blessed to have such an amazing family and such a successful business.

ANGELICMUSIC

y b n w O L L E I V H N A S

,

T N

ANGELICMUSIC

Shane & Ashley Ownby S I N G E R

/

S O N G W R I T E R S

N A S H V I L L E

,

T N

1. What does your music sound like?

Shanes is a story teller from Nashville, TN and Ashley grew up on gospel and R&B on the CA coast. Our styles blend to form a soulful folk sound with swelling harmonies around a finger picked guitar. Our Album "Peace Comes In Pieces" was recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio with Nashville session players. People say we sound like The Civil Wars and Simon and Garfunkel.

2. Why would someone want to listen to or hear you perform live?

Our performances are intimate. We share our stories, our songs and ourselves. We play from the heart in hopes that our audience would feel uplifted and inspired.

3. What inspires your lyrics?

Our lyrics are honest. They're ​inspired by our personal experiences, the pain we've been through, things we hope for, questions we still have and the truth we have found so far.

4. Best part about being a husband and wife music team?

We get to share life together, every aspect of it. We've been on a wild adventure of faith since day one. Its a really special experience walking in the dark holding someones hand, and seeing together as the light shines on the path.

5. We blend Jesus, Music and Fashion into our magazine, how does faith influence you as musicians?

Our daily life and experiences are intertwined with our faith. We've taken leaps of faith and we've seen God come through over and over. This is what we write about and what fuels us not only as musicians but as husband and wife.

THE LOUDNESS OF THAT SILENCE B Y CLARE TUCKER

- @CTUCKY

"You came for me, I knew you'd come. You saved my heart, it woke up."

Listen. I was literally in the dark. You showed me a light. I started to see...fuzzy then clearer. It happened fast. You healed my blindness. All I could see ahead of me was a dark gray concrete wall before. Now, I see open heaven. Bright green grass and rays of light. Heaven comes down on me through the earth's sky all the time. God, its You telling me to open my mouth! Open my hand and write it out! Talk about this more. What you see, daughter. Tell the people I love what I am and what I give. Grace.

During worship, I let my hands go. Finally. A pain left me. A mental pain.

My anxiety. It left me through my chest when I finally opened my hands back up to Father God. It's been a long time since I reached for you Papa. I missed you Daddy God. I'm sorry. He quiets me. Stop apologizing, my blood was enough. You're my daughter. In fact, that's ALL you are. And that's enough. That's all you're supposed to be so stop trying to be anything more, or anything else. The other things you're trying to be and do, only I can supply them when you're following me, don't you see it's the point?

Walking with me means you don't be or do anything else. Do you see now? “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” {Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬}. And as I lift my hands and open them to Heaven, I look at the wall to my right side. I saw her. My face as an infant was lit up on the wall. The outline of my actual child face was shining on the wall.

You chose me -- before I was born -- to be Your daughter and walk with you. That's enough. That's who I am and it's all I am. Without it, I'm just alone in the dark. Just be God's every day. Be easy on yourself. Take the grace He's got reserved for you, then let His spirit enter yours and make you weightless. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” {Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬}

WHEN

I know to some, that title seem choose to love your spouse, lov you are saying in your head as yo to the next photoshoot or no however, know exactly what I am You've been there. Maybe yo argument, realizing the other is win. Maybe your spouse works e pick career advancement over s they don't celebrate holidays or they should. You've been in th spouse with distain, holding yo wish to say to them, but you cho to give grace, second chances, u love.

Again, you might think I am try to stick with me for a bit. Le husband and I got married, he w who celebrated my birthdays to e married, I expected him to celeb Each passing holiday and birth disappointment when I realized breakfast in bed and a day full making traditions. I would be let he spent so much time, tho accompanied by a card or even said anything to him about what to discourage the effort he had pu From day one of our marriag that my husband isn't going to lo that I "expected." But, He showe love my husband throughout the disappointed, angry, and carel feelings in my heart, but I still love to a man who loves me, and for me.

YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE TO LOVE YOUR SPOUSE

ms crazy. "You shouldn't have to ve is a feeling!" might be what ou are preparing to turn the page ot-so-insane article. Some you m talking about. ou are in the middle of a huge right, but you are still trying to endless hours and is appearing to spending time with you. Maybe r surprise you like you thought hese moments, looking at your ur tongue of all the things you oose to love instead. You choose understanding, all for the sake of

still on the crazy train here, but et me tell you a story. Before my as never a gift giver or someone extremes. However, after we got brate holidays in elaborate ways. hday lead me to a little more d he didn't wake me up with l of outings that would lead to t down when the valentine's gift ought, and money on wasn't wrapped for that matter. I never I "wanted" because I didn't want ut in, but still I was let down. ge, God showed me many times ove me in the way I "wanted" or ed me, I still needed to choose to ese times. Sure, I might have felt less, with not many "loving" had a choice to show and give d I know would lay down his life

BY KAYTIE GAUS

- @KAYTIEMAY_

From day one of our marriage, God showed me many times that my husband isn't going to love me in the way I "wanted" or that I "expected." But, He showed me, I still needed to choose to love my husband throughout these times.

If you and your spouse haven't read the book "The 5 Love Languages" by Gary Chapman, you should this year. When reading this book, I discovered that often, your spouse doesn't know "how" to love you in the way you are most receptive. My husband didn't know that gifts (material or even the gift of time or service) was high on my love scale. Just as I didn't know "words of affirmation" was high on his. My lack of communication and lack of thankfulness when he would give me gifts or time, was probably hurtful to him and I'm sure he was feeling similar ways as myself.

We have both grown in our walks with the Lord personally, and as a married couple and through real life trials and growing up, our love languages have changed, and we have been able to adapt to these new "love languages" and love each other better.

So if your spouse is putting in countless hours at work, thank them as they are probably doing their best to provide for your family. If you are in the middle of an argument and realize the other is right, admit you were wrong and choose to love them anyway. When you are mad that your spouse didn't buy you a gift or make you dinner on Valentine's Day, choose to love them and show you love them.

FEAR

PROVERBS 28:1 "THE RIGHTEO

LESS

OUS ARE AS BOLD AS A LION."

Alive

Myles Berrio

PHOTOGRAPHER TESTIMONY

ATLANTA, GA

I

"HE GAVE ME A WAY TO WAKE UP AND FEEL SOMETHING BEAUTIFULLY FULFILLING I HAD NEVER FELT BEFORE"

t’s not about who you are, as much as it is about, whose you are. That was hugely a part of what defined me as a, “who I was.” Was I as intelligent as I needed to be in order to land that American and iconic dream-job? Was I as wise enough to impress my peers and wow them with social intelligence? Was I as resourceful enough or talented enough or creative to create and sustain any sort of life I desired?

My story isn’t incredibly unique or really even emotionally overwhelming. Though, my story probably relates to many of you reading this, which in my opinion can be just as powerful.

None of who I was in the past had anything to do with an identity of belonging to a heavenly Father. My story doesn’t really involve me fighting depression, or anxieties but just as scary, the desire of materialism and the things I owned or accomplished that defined that scary place to live life in, who I was, instead of whose I was.

It mainly started in college, during my freshman year in order to financially support myself. I was working three jobs as well as studying at the University of Georgia full-time.

Now, like many young boys who get exposed to the “be your own boss, set your own hours, and have no limits to your income” idea of working in the sales industry, I became overwhelmed with imagination to the lifestyle and opportunities ahead. More importantly though, I saw this as an opportunity, that if I could make as much money doing sales part-time than I did basically working full-time with three different jobs, then I would leave all of my jobs and continue with the sales opportunity. That is exactly what happened.

Long before I knew it, I was 21 years old, earning more income than I should have been, purchased a 2013 C-250 Mercedes Sedan and living life with the mindset that I could “care less about a price tag.”

God has a funny way of showing you how important it is to set your faith on “solid ground.” Soon after, what I thought to be the peak of my career, I pretty much lost everything. My car, money, my business, everything. I always say though, I am glad God took away what I thought I wanted for what He knew I needed.

Because He then gave me my life back. He gave me a way to wake up and feel something beautifully fulfilling I had never felt before. He gave me a true purpose: photography.

But so where does photography come in the story? Well, right around accepting Christ into my life and letting go of chasing money and success. I transitioned into marketing consulting, using all of the creative knowledge and skills developed in my previous sales position.

I, then, moved to Atlanta where several of my clients with companies and brands were headquartered. I set up a schedule to meet with my clients once a week and consulted on how to effectively create more engaging content on social media and how to creatively engage with their audiences through these media platforms. The challenge was after finalizing what creative content would best accomplish this, I had never owned a camera myself. So, I would contract out friends of mine who had digital cameras to actually help create content for us to actually use. One day I randomly thought to myself, why don’t I just buy my own camera? Literally that weekend I ended up buying a used, cheap, T-5i Canon DSLR off of craigslist.

It has been 8 months since then and incredibly grateful, through crazy hours of dedication to practicing and studying, tons and tons of prayer, 8 months later, I now work full-time solely as a photographer. God has given me the blessing to photograph weddings and engagements regularly and enjoy every single bit of it, partner with 4 modeling agencies in my hometown of Atlanta, GA working with fashion models daily to help grow their portfolios and to have been contracted with UberEATS photography to create the photo-content of the food of the restaurants partnering daily.

I am extremely excited to grow as a photographer and business but more importantly, live a life o freedom. I live of freedom not tied to who I am with the things I have owned or accomplished but whose I am, by all of the incredible and powerful ways God will continue to use this amazing career to impact the lives of people in and around my life. A life saved by “solid ground,” an incredible Savior, Jesus Christ.

PHOTOGRAPHER: MYLES BERRIO

//

MODEL: ALEXIS ROBERTS

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LOCA

ATION

:

ATLANTA, GA

THE S EARCH FOR AUT

BY EMILY SENF

A

uthentic community.

You might have rolled your eyes a little just there. It seems that these words have been tossed around so often that they lose any value they might have had. When we read about an “authentic community”, the definition seems to have ebbed and flowed so far past anything concrete.

So let’s redefine it.

When I think of an authentic community, I think of a group of people that create a genuine, open space for connection with one another. It can be three people or thirty, and the point of a community like this is that each person can feel safe, encouraged and challenged where they are at. Authentic communities are made from genuine people, willing to be vulnerable with other humans.

This group is not exclusive, nor is it perfect; this is a gathering of real, flawed, persistent human beings that value connection over perfection and relationships over rivalry. This community is one where unknowns and questions find a resting place, and where passions and purposes are safe to grow.

In anything we set out to do, we aren’t as successful if we try and go it alone. Solo travellers might move quickly, but they don’t always get very far. It’s the quick and simple truth - we were never meant to do this on our own. More often than not, God speaks through people to directly affect our hearts. When we need encouragement or conviction, sometimes it is the voices of those around us that provide the most refuge. For each of us individually, authentic community looks like showing up. It means putting your feet on the ground, one in front of the other, even when it scares you. It’s being welcomed, just as you are, while being encouraged to bloom in all the places you might not be able to see from your own perspective. It’s welcoming others, imperfect as they are, to do the same.

THENTIC COMMUNITY F

- @EMSENFF

"A UTHENTIC COMMUNITIES ARE MADE FROM GENUINE PEOPLE, WILLING TO BE VULNERABLE WITH OTHER HUMANS. THIS GROUP IS NOT EXCLUSIVE, NOR IS IT PERFECT; THIS IS A GATHERING OF REAL , FLAWED, PERSISTENT HUMAN BEINGS THAT VALUE CONNECTION OVER PERFECTION AND RELATIONSHIPS OVER RIVALRY. "

Faced with this idea, there are some ways we can move forward..

In a culture of independence and originality, it seems like most connection to other people is either a competition or a networking game - we can fight against it. We are all coming at ‘authentic community’ from different experiences- you might already have a settled community that surrounds you, or you might see that it doesn’t exist for you yet. In a community, we can always reach out - we can reach out to join others and reach out to invite others. We can pray that God brings this kind of community to us, and we can pray that we might encounter others who would welcome the invitation. Are you unsure of where to start? As followers of Jesus, we belong to a family of believers that can lift up and encourage one another. We are here for one another. Think of the things that make you come alive, things that you love to fill your time with; there are certainly other people in this world who love these things just as much as you do. God has wired us for connection, and authentic community comes together when our paths cross with others who aspire to connect in the same ways that we do.

Through this month, my prayer for you is that you might find your authentic, encouraging, hopeful community - whatever it looks like for you.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Family

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALANIE SAYER THE MAYEUX FAMILY LOCATION: LAFAYETTE, LA

What is a Man of God? W GUY OPINION B Y JES S E ANAYA

hat does a man of God look like to you? What kind of hairstyle does he have? Is he funny? Is he charming and witty?

Does he have a deep voice or regular guy-like type of voice?

Does he own a collection of cool pairs of shoes?

1 Samuel 16:7 “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes, “But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.”

Righteousness. Godliness. Faith. Love. Steadfastness.

Gentleness.

This is what a man of God is.

To be righteous is to acknowledge you need Jesus because to think we are righteous without Him is to be self-righteous, which is not righteousness at all. Most men, and I’m speaking as my own experience as a man, we men are prideful.

A man after God’s own heart is a man who desires a deep meaningful relationship with God and for us men we’re told we’re supposed to be tough. To have a deep meaningful relationship with another man is the opposite of the male masculine ideal we are told we need to be. And the devil distorts the idea of having a meaningful relationship with God into something to be ashamed of, not proud of.

But to know God is to know there is no shame found in Him. Godliness.

To be Godly is to not be pure of sin but to know “although our sins were like scarlet, He has washed them as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18 Godliness is not about us but He who is in us and to be a man of God is to allow God to be alive in you. To be Godly is to surrender our flesh to His Spirit. And as men, since we are prideful, are we willing to surrender our pride to Him? Faith.

In Romans 10:17, scripture tells us “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

To be a man of faith is to hear and know the word of God. It’s not enough to merely believe in God because the devil himself believes in God. God’s word must be rooted in you.

To know scripture and to allow that scripture flow out of you is to be rooted in God’s word, and to be rooted in God’s word is to be connected to Him. If you are connected to Him, you are in consistent communication with Him and to communicate with Him is to know Him. John 15:5 puts it like this, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Love.

A man who does not love, is a man who is nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2) To love is to honor Jesus’ command to love as He loved. A man of God will love His family, His friends, His neighbors and the strangers He meets with a Christ like love.

Steadfastness.

Jesus told a parable of two men who built houses. One man built his house on the rock and the other built his house on sand. When a storm came both men experienced the storm but the man who built his house on sand, his house blew away.

A steadfast man knows where his foundation rests. If your foundation is built on the rock, built on Jesus, you will have the foundation to experience all that life will bring you because you know you are loved by God and that He is with you through and through.

Gentleness.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth.”

A gentle man is not thought of to have the same reverence as the brave man. But gentleness is a virtue as you align it with the qualities of a man of God. Gentleness instructs with steadfastness, love, faith, Godliness and righteousness.

To be gentle is not to be mistaken as fragile; to be gentle is to be like Jesus and Jesus’ is the bravest man who ever walked the earth.

Vulnerability

"VULNERABILITY WAS ALWAYS TOO RISKY. PEELING BACK LAYERS OF EMOTION, BAGGAGE, FEARS AND BURIED FAILURES . IT WAS EVERYTHING I HAD BEEN RUNNING FROM"

E

B Y ANDREA MARLOWE

very time I get in my car, I face a small domino with the word ‘vulnerability’ written on it in permanent marker.

It rests on my dashboard. I attended a women’s conference last February, and a speaker challenged participants to determine a word as their theme for growth in 2016, and write it on a domino piece. I knew instantly what word I needed to choose. I can proudly, yet unfortunately, say I’ve often been someone accredited with strength and an empowered self-will. My mom has been celebrating my ambitious independence since I was potty trained at the age of 18 months.

Though those highlighting these personality traits bring them in waves of compliments, I have just as often seen these traits contribute to a closed in, boarded up existence; often lacking appropriate emotion and sentiment in many situations and relationships. My previously determined areas of strength began to haunt me as potential downfalls.

Had I been striving so hard to appear strong and independent that I had created no room for realistic weakness in my life? I quickly scribbled the word ‘vulnerability’ down, finally ready for the challenge I had feared for years.

This area has never been my strongpoint. It has always been a foreign concept, exotic and distant. It seemed too dangerous, too challenging. Vulnerability was always too risky. Peeling back layers of emotion, baggage, fears and buried failures. It was everything I had been running from, and everything I had just signed up to face head-on. I had marked 2016 a year to be open, exposed and vulnerable. It wasn’t going to be pretty, but I knew it was needed.

Like anyone else’s story, mine has its own amount of hurt and pain. Yet I’ve learned that while trudging through my own despair, I can often become closed into a mindset that I’m alone in that situation. I can convince myself that no one else has felt that low, or that guilty, or that shamefilled. The list goes on. But in the midst of the hurting, is a possibility for healing. We just have to remember there are always others waiting to share their similar struggles,

‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly ofmy weaknesses, so that the power ofChrist may rest upon me.

For the sake ofChrist, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, I am strong.’

-2 Corinthians 12:9-10 others waiting to challenge us towards redemption, and others waiting to walk with us along the path that takes us there.

Vulnerability, in its messiness and feared demeanor, might be the most direct bridge connecting hurting and healing. Here I am a year following that decision to become vulnerable. Most of my emotional exposition came through a relationship that forced me to face struggles I had left lingering in the past like self-doubt, pride and lack of trust.

Needless to say, I have realized a lot of things about myself. As each layer continued to be pulled away, I began seeing rooted areas of anger, impatience, pride and others begin to surface. And as they each became exposed and approached for resolution, I saw how unholy these roots were; keeping me from following Christ and advocating for Him in my life.

But most of all, in becoming vulnerable to these discussions and open spaces for growth, I saw myself from an outside position and not a merely filtered or foggy reflection of my inner perception. It was when I became vulnerable that I was able to open myself towards healing.

Even more, there is freedom within the weaknesses we show if we approach them with the mindset of exposure and redemption as the goal. They allow us to be free from the stigma of perfection we hold ourselves to, and provide God and other people He has placed in our lives to prove how truly impactful grace is.

Va lenti nes Da y: I

love

you

"S OME PEOPLE MAY FIND A DAY SPECIFICALLY DEVOTED TO TELLING SOMEONE YOU LOVE THEM A BIT CHEESY, I FIND IT ESSENTIAL."

I

B Y LAUREN PRATHER

- @THES TYLIS TLAUREN

Love You. These three, simple words can be the hardest to say, best to hear, and have the capability to change someone’s world. My question is, why don’t we say it more often?

I am of the belief that actions speak louder than words. Every day I try to act out love for others through service or encouragement, but I often forego actually saying it. I love you.

In a world where being vague is so readily available, love is easily lost in uncommitted notions, vague texts, or even a pointed post on social media with no real reference to whom it may concern. With so much room for interpretation in this damaged world, love is often the last assumed meaning.

Some people may find a day specifically devoted to telling someone you love them a bit cheesy, I find it essential. We need to tell each other we love each other. Despite our sins, despite our differences. We all sin, we aren’t always going to agree.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 When you truly love someone, you are showing them God. Love transcends this world and opens a little bit of heaven in its exchange.

My Valentine’s day challenge to you is to simply tell someone you love them, and mean it. It doesn’t have to be a significant other, you don’t have to put pressure on finding your soul mate to this one day. Tell your mom, your dad, a teacher or a friend. You never know what little bit of heaven you may be shining

LOV

JOHN 3:16 " HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY S ON, THAT WHOEVER

VED

BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE."

C RAFTED . C OEUR D ' ALEN P R A I S E

A N D

W O R S H

ANGELICMUSIC

NE , I P

I DAHO

B A N D

DAKOTA BARTON

-

JUSTIN ALDRICH

1 . WHY DO YOU MAKE MUSIC FOR J ESUS? We believe we owe the gifts He's given us all to Him. That our music would minister to people and make Jesus famous.

2. WHAT IS YOUR STYLE/SOUND LIKE? Being a new band, we are in the fun part of still experimenting with our sound, but we think it's being dialed into a rock/pop worship sound.

3. WHO ARE YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES? Hmm, from bands like switchfoot, Elevation Worship, newsboys, Red, Disciple, John Mayer... A little bit of everything. We love music.

4. WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT WHEN THEY HEAR YOU PERFORM LIVE? They can expect a comfortable energetic atmosphere where people can meet Jesus face to face. We love to have fun with our shows, but Jesus is always the focus.

5. WHAT DOES WORSHIP MEAN TO YOU ?

Worship is everything to us. It's not just music but it's a lifestyle. That anything we do will align our heart to his.

The ground shakes as our hearts align to His. Worship is gonna change the world.

-

S

STEPHEN CANNON

-

LANCE GODFREY

"W O R S H I P

IS EVERYTHING TO US. I T 'S N O T J U S T M U S I C B U T I T ' S A L I F E S T Y L E"

ANGELICMUSIC

TES TI MO NY: C A

P

"THE HOPELESSNESS

THAT HAD BEEN BUILDING THROUGHOUT THE YEARS CAME TO A HEAD. I ATTEMPTED SUICIDE SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE LAST TRY HOSPITALIZED ME."

PHOEN

eople say, “If you have a grandma praying for you, you’ll b was 19, she had a clear vision from God for me: My family and and I was on the other side. A glass wall blocked me from hear grandma pled with me, “COME INTO THE LIGHT, CAMILLE! In reality, I was in the psych ward. I used to think psych wards my cold room. I couldn’t hear or feel anything except the heavin was my reality. I had been living on the other side of the canyon f There was a time I had been on the other side. I gave my heart made me different. Yes, I was loud by nature; however, it wasn’t I literally preached to my younger brother. I sat him down and op As life continued there were bumps in the road and I began to experience with sexual abuse in elementary school and it contin still love me after what was done to me? Why didn’t God prote heart drove me deep into rebellion. I had no idea how to proce wasn’t for me or didn’t protect me, why should I live for him?

I started to do whatever it took to fit in. The typical party girl age 5 spoke to me once in a while, but it hurt too much to let him being a popular, student council kid to a depressed girl who wat stumbling. Even though every weekend I made sure to go to ch complete mess. I so badly wanted to be in the presence of God. I On Halloween during my sophomore year of college, I wa devastated that the God I loved let this happen to me. The hope head. I attempted suicide several times, and the last try hospitaliz Here I was at the psych ward. I laid on the bed with my Bible o you are real. Please do something. Anything.”

That summer I found myself in Tacoma, WA, at a missionary t getting plastered at the Drake concert was now at ministry schoo teaching about our identity in Christ and hearing from God. Th oppression that had been deep in my heart for so long was lifti from depression and anxiety by asking me to flush my many med My grandma’s fervent prayers have been answered. I can hear me from hearing him has shattered. I think about my first tattoo, haze. It’s Psalm 37:24: “Though they may stumble, they will nev “spoke to me” so many years ago has held true. I’ve stumbled fla

AMI LLE S WARTZ

NIX, AZ

be fine.” My grandma has prayed for me since Day One. When I friends were on one side of the Grand Canyon calling my name, ring them. My side of the canyon was an oppressing black. My ” didn’t even exist. “HOW DID I END UP HERE?” I screamed in ness that lingered throughout the hallways. My grandma’s vision for a while and I was finally at my breaking point. to Jesus at age 5. I knew then that God had given me a voice and about the volume of my voice but messages God gave me to say. pened up the Bible and spoke what God told me. ask, If God really loved me why did this happen? I had my first nued throughout junior high. I questioned everything: Does God ect me? I thought God cares for me? The torment entangling my ess the trauma and believed it was my fault. In my mind if God

stereotypes became my identity. The voice of God I knew from m in. I didn’t want to hear it. Throughout high school, I went from tched Forrest Gump all day every day. I entered college at ASU hurch with my parents, I usually came hung over, looking like a ugly girl cried all through worship. as raped. I almost died, and it was a miracle I escaped. I was elessness that had been building throughout the years came to a zed me. on my chest. I couldn’t open it. I wept and prayed, “God, I know

training school. Yes, the girl who was just in the psych ward and ol. The first day of class, I got called up to the front. They were hree people prayed and prophesied over me. The heaviness and ing. I physically could feel “chains breaking.” He delivered me dications down the toilet. r God clearly now, the wall in that gaping canyon that prevented one I decided upon by flipping open the Bible in the middle of a ver fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” The scripture that at on my face, but the Lord is with me and calls me into the light.

Identity

Lafayette, Louisiana I haven’t always known God. I’ve always believed in His existence, but I haven’t actually come to know Him until about four years ago.

I wish that I could say it was this dramatic “makes a really cool story” thing that happened to cause me to turn to Him, but it wasn’t. It’s as simple as me waking up one day and realizing that my current lifestyle always left me hanging, never fully satisfying my soul.

Night after night, I sought the partying lifestyle to fill the void in my heart and the confidence I lacked. Little did I know, there was only one solution to that problem. His name is Jesus Christ.

About four years ago, I had a lunch date with my best friend who had been going to church for a while. She changed her life around while I was still trying to find mine. She invited me to her church multiple times before but church was the last place I wanted to go, until that day.

I began to notice how happy she had become. If anyone has a tragic yet encouraging story, it’s she. To know what she has gone through and to see her suddenly have life again astounded me. I wanted what she had. I wanted real, authentic happiness, confidence, and freedom. I decided to give in and go to church with her and that is the day my life changed radically.

I began to go to church with her every week, sometimes twice a week.

I just couldn’t get enough of the newfound hope I had found. I gave my life to Christ, was filled with the Spirit, and got water baptized.

I left the partying lifestyle, which caused me to lose all of my friends.

I guess this is when I should say that things got tough after that and that it really hurt me, but truthfully, I wanted God more.

Ever since that day, I have never gone back to my old habits. I can hardly recognize the person I once was. In fact, I feel like the “old me” was just a figment of my imagination. However, it was real, so very real.

My “old self” struggled with identity confusion from middle school all the way into my college years. I was constantly trying to be like the next best person. I also struggled with fear of rejection, which is what I believe led into my people-pleasing obsession.

PHOTOGRAPHER TESTIMONY

I have to admit, that even today, I sometimes allow that fear to creep up again and that’s when the enemy tries to throw identity confusion in my face. However, the beautiful thing I have come to learn is that when you know WHO’S you are, you know WHO you are.

When I met Jesus, I found my identity in Him. I realize that it is only human to be afraid sometimes but it is so important to know the loving God that we serve and that He is so much bigger than anything we face. Recently, the Lord gently tugged on my heartstrings when He gave me this truth: He showed me Jesus carrying the cross when suddenly there was no cross, only me.

So many times, God directs me to a place where He wants to propel me but I cramp up at the fear of rejection. When God gave me this vision, I immediately found myself head under water completely immersed in His Presence, His security, His love. There’s just something about jumping in deep waters, not knowing what’s next, but knowing that Jesus is carrying you.

Though the enemy throws things in my way in hopes that I fall, I may stumble but I will never fall. I will never go back to what the enemy wants me to be. I will never be confused on my identity because I am who I AM says I am. I will never stop running towards Jesus. It is only the beginning of 2017 and I have already witnessed God’s Hand in my life more than ever. He has placed new dreams and visions in my heart and I’m running full force with Him towards every single one of them.

PHOTOGRAPHY: ALANIE SAYER MODEL : KATELYN LOCATION: LAFAYETTE, LA

Ordained love PHOTOGRAPHY: DAKOTA AU STIN BRIDE AND GROOM: CLARE AND TRUITT LOCATION: ATLANTA, GA

The continuous debt to love B Y JES S E ANAYA

Love

We are nothing without having love for others because to love someone else is to love God. The Apostle Paul puts it this way: 1 Corinthians 13:2 “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

You can never love too much but you can love too less.

1 John 3:18 “let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

In your own life what can you do to love people or specifically your significant other more? Maybe it’s taking time out of your schedule to spend quality time with them. Maybe it’s being more patient and kind to them. Maybe it’s cooking dinner for them. And maybe it’s doing all of those things for them, and reminding them with a handwritten note that you love them.

Love can be expressed in many ways but the one consistency of love is that it gives. Love does things for people. Love builds relationships. And love heals.

As you take in the last moments of your life one day and reflect on your legacy, will it be a legacy filled with love or a legacy filled with personal selfishness?

Genuinely love people. How we treat and love others is a direct reflection for how we treat and love God. Romans 13:8 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love”

BLES

PSALM 56:9 "THIS I KNOW

SSED

W, THAT GOD IS FOR ME."

Purpose

NICOLE THOMSON ENID, OK

"HE HAS BLESSED ME WITH THE ABILITY TO CAPTURE THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS HE HAS CREATED. AS A RESULT, I SHOULD THEN BE A GOOD STEWARD OF MY TALENTS .

S ELF-PROMOTION IS NOT ON THE FOREFRONT OF MY AGENDA, BUT TRUSTING HIM EACH STEP OF THE WAY."

E

xpectations and unknowns. My life has never looked the way I expected or ever really had any form of predictability. I have slowly learned that the Christian life is exactly that. An unpredictable journey.

From an early age, life was full of twists and turns. I was blessed to grow-up in a family of believers, but life was hard. My brother is deaf, Autistic and has a host of other impairments that created uncertainty at times and anything but a normal childhood. Paired with that, my family seemed to experience a myriad of health related trials when I was a teenager, including my father almost passing away in front of me from a heart attack.

Fast forward to my adult years. I was very successful in the tech industry, but my life was dominated by long work hours and health issues. Not to mention, my romantic life was non-existent. I remember thinking at 28 “is this it?” I had followed all the rules as a Christian growing-up, but I was not being rewarded, or at least not from my perspective.

When I met my husband at 29, I had no idea how my life was about to drastically change. Little did I know God would be calling me to whole new level of unknowns and unmet expectations. My husband is an Air Force pilot, which means we move and essentially re-start our lives every few years.

I spent our first year of marriage trying to find a job in my career field, yet living in the middle of nowhere, not to mention find “my place” in our community. Every direction I turned, doors seemed to be closing and loneliness established deeps roots. Being alone didn’t scare me, as I am a natural introvert. It was lost friendships not being replaced and a deeper sense of not using vocational God given abilities.

After a little over a year, God clearly opened the door to photography. What was a passionate hobby quickly turned into a business? When it seemed like God had closed all doors, little did I know He was funneling me to a pipe dream.

I have always had a camera in hand and taken photos for people here and there, but truly never thought I would have the opportunity to make it my job.

It has is one of the few things in my life I have quickly excelled at.

Photography has been a reminder that God is the ultimate creator.

He has bles should then but trusting Life has b He has been more than I proven Him my heart tel “Have I discouraged I alway Ultimately, instrument,

PHOTOGRAPHER TESTIMONY

ssed me with the ability to capture the beautiful things He has created. As a result, I be a good steward of my talents. Self-promotion is not on the forefront of my agenda, Him each step of the way. been full of unexpected twists and turns. Journeys I never anticipated experiencing, but n faithful. God has certainly called me out onto uncharted and unknown territories, I would like, stretching and deepening my faith with each step. Even though He has mself to be trustworthy and good, I continually doubt. My mind knows the truth, but lls me lies. This is when I remind myself of Joshua 1:9: I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be d, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.� s knew my life would be anything but normal, but isn’t that the Christian life? the question is, will I participate in the story He is telling through my life and be an or will I fight back?