JESUS.
MUSIC.
FASHION.
ANGELIC MAY 2016
RAW BEAUTY ISSUE
ANGELICMAY 2첫16
JESUS. MUSIC. FASHION. @ANGELICMAGAZINE
OUR STORY MAGAZINE IS A MONTHLY PRINT AND DIGITAL PUBLICATION THAT BLENDS MUSIC, FASHION AND THE REAL STORIES OF PEOPLE SEEKING TO LIVE FOR JESUS. WE BEGAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2013 FEATURING CONTENT SOLEY FROM THE SOUTHWEST OF THE UNITED STATES AND SINCE OUR BEGINNING, WE'VE SPREAD TO NOW FEATURE EDITORIAL CONTENT FROM THE PACIFIC TO THE ATLANTIC, AND BEYOND. WE HAVE READERS ABROAD COMING FROM PARTS OF EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, ASIA AND AUSTRALIA. ANGELIC HAS A MAGAZINE NAME BUT WE ARE A MINISTRY FOCUSED ON FEARLESSLY PROCLAIMING JESUS. WE SPOTLIGHT MUSICIANS AND BANDS WHO HEARTS STRIVE TO BEAT WITH HIS. WE FEATURE FASHION PHOTO-SHOOTS WITH PHOTOGRAPHER'S, STYLISTS AND MODELS WHO DESIRE TO PROFRESS THEIR FAITH IN HIM. OUR ARTICLES ARE GUIDED BY THE BIBLE. WE HIGHLIGHT ORGANIZATIONS AND MINISTRIES WHO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. THE TESTIMONIES WRITTEN ARE FILLED WITH WORDS OF REDEMPTION AND GRACE. WE DESIRE TO STEP INTO THE WORLD AND BRING THE WORLD BACK TO JESUS. WE ARE NOT A RELIGIOUS MAGAZINE. WE STAND FOR JESUS.
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SONG OF SOLOMON 4:7 YOU ARE ALTOGETHER BEAUTIFUL, MY DARLING, BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY WAY.
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Singer - Songwri ter Showcase BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE ROASTERY & ANGELIC MAGAZINE
SATURDAY, MAY 14TH ‐ 7PM THE ROASTERY COFFEHOUSE LEX, KY SINGER/SONGWRITERS: JOE HAYES & JACOB HUNT KATRINA BARCLAY CARLY JONES JUSTIN CARLSON
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EDITOR LETTER RAW B EAUTY ISSUE
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his issue is featuring every fashion photo-shoot with no makeup. We're not anti-makeup. We're celebrating God's natural beauty. There's no illusions. Our heart behind this issue is to communicate that you are beautiful simply for who God made you to be. You are beautiful. Something you might not know is that for every 3 women who read our magazine, we reach 1 male reader. This issue isn't just to speak to women, but to speak to men too. I'm proud of our team for their insight and hard work on this issue, and I'm grateful to all the photographers and contributors in this issue who believe in proclaiming God's glory through natural beauty. I pray that God works through this issue in many ways, but ultimately, I pray that His glory will shine through each page of this issue. These are not our words, our photographs, our stories, but His. This is for Jesus.
-- Jesse Anaya
WELCOME TO RAW BE 2016 I
O ANGELIC'S EAUTY ISSUE
Unfiltered
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAKOTA NICOLE LOCATION
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PACIFIC NORTHWEST
UNFILTERED "AS HUMANS WE TEND TO FILER EVERYTHING…OUR LIFE, OUR IPHONE PHOTOS, AND YES, SOMETIMES EVEN OURSELVES."
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WRITTEN BY DAKOTA NICOLE od’s natural beauty is something I love to capture. Whether that’s hiking up to capture those stunning landscape pictures, or taking photos of people; everything He created is somehow different, and that fascinates me. For this specific photo shoot, I wanted to portray both the beauty of nature and the natural beauty of people. I had my model dress in an earthy/bohemian kind of wardrobe. I decided to go with this look because I wanted something fun, but also natural. As humans we tend to filer everything…our life, our iPhone photos, and yes, sometimes even ourselves. It’s so easy to feel like we have to wear makeup to be beautiful, but that is far from true. We don’t have to filter ourselves, for the Lord already made us so beautiful in His image. I had my model, Naomi, wear her best face, make up free, just the way God created her. This girl’s beauty is obviously radiant on the outside, but more importantly, on the inside, where it counts. Our idea of beauty should not be defined by the outward appearance alone, but more importantly by our hearts. The way to become more beautiful is not by caking on the makeup, but by letting Christ’s love radiate throughout our lives.
I am a child of God.
I am precious and honored in His sight.
JUSTIN C ANGELICMUSIC
B J A Jandustinworship Carlson is a husband, father of 2, singer/songwriter leader. Y ESSE NAYA
Originally from Nashville, TN, Carlson has found his way navigating the South from Tennessee to Virginia and now to Lexington, KY to pursue what Jesus has laid on his heart: To share Him with others through music. “I graduated college in 2004 and I’ve worked in the local church since then, through music, and anytime I’ve stepped away from that, in the worship realm, God pulls me back in. It’s really become clear to me, really in this last year where God has been refining that in me.” Carlson has a passion for worship leading, singer/songwriting and his heart is to build community within the church and outside of it. “I really long to communicate the beauty and the mystery of who God is, who Jesus is. I’m writing these songs really with a trajectory of hope, and that hope being Jesus.” “I want to see a space for artists to flourish. TO share the love of Jesus and see that play out in the community, in our work. How do we do this? What does it mean to be a faithful steward of the arts? I’ve been asking myself how to be faithful in doing this in Lexington.” Leading worship at a church in Roanoke, VA, Carlson was led to Lexington, KY. “I got a call from a pastor here in Lexington and over the course of a lot of conversations, God lead my wife and I here. That was 9 months ago and it’s been kind of a whirlwind. It’s been really good and hard. I’m really seeing for God to shape us to be more like Jesus, it’s not always a romantic thing. It’s exposing things in our lives, patterns and God has really been refining me and my wife, and it’s evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work. This season in Lexington has been a season of refinement.”
CARLSON SINGER/SONGWRITER LEX, KY
PERFORMING AT OUR SINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE 5.14.16
"I WANT TO SEE A SPACE FOR ARTISTS TO FLOURISH. TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS AND SEE THAT PLAY OUT IN THE COMMUNITY" Carlson will be performing at our Singer/Songwriter Showcase on May 14th. “Stylistically, I’d say my music has some elements folk, some pop and Americana. In terms of inspiration, there’s a lot of times I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to pray. So the songs have really helped give me a language when I don’t have one.” “I’m recording an album of Psalms. I think God’s word is inexhaustible, and the theme of waiting on the Lord has really been resonating in me creatively.” We look forward to seeing how God will continue to work, refine and use Justin Carlson in Lexington in the seasons to come.
#SELFLOVE
"I WAS JUST TRYING TO HIDE MY FEARS BEHIND A SMILE. IN FACT, “SELF” FOCUS TENDS TO BREED SELF- CONSCIOUSNESS ."
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B Y S HANNON NOVAK f you’re on social media, you’ve seen it. There are 3,036,773* hashtags of it on Instagram, and Twitter has its share as well. #Selflove can be accompanied by a yoga pose, a flexing female, or an inspirational road map to success that places it at the top of the list. The phrase can indicate a host of meanings—a kudos to a healthy body image or the reasoning behind why someone allowed themselves to splurge on a two thousand dollar purse. I’ve seen it used as a way to promote happy and nice thoughts about “self” or in regards to eating clean. I get it. The idea of being nice to yourself, having good self-esteem, and eating right are all good concepts. In fact, they’re healthy. It’s the idea behind self-love that has raised a red flag in my mind because at the center of it all is one thing—self. I’ve noticed that, often times, when someone promotes the idea of self-love they tend to use it as a remedy for a deeper problem, such as anxiety and insecurity. The idea is, if they could just realize their potential, or accept themselves wholly, then they would be happy and secure. But, this idea is based all around being good enough for—well—yourself. It’s based on one’s own ability and born out of self-sufficiency. I’ve tried this before—leaning on my own abilities. To be honest, I didn't find that my anxiety or insecurity went away. Instead, it seemed like I was just trying to hide my fears behind a smile. In fact, “self” focus tends to breed self-consciousness. When all you do it focus on “self”, it can get pretty miserable—I mean, everywhere you go, there you are! For lack of a better description, the good, the bad, and the ugly are all there before you—all the time. And no matter how good you try to be or how often you build yourself up, failure is the inevitable result.
Why? Because God did not design human beings to be self-sufficient. He designed us to be God-reliant. We are a sin laden species, and nothing can fulfill the need in our hearts besides Him. To support that truth, the Bible says: God is our provider. Philippians 4:19: And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (NKJV). God is our guide. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. " God is our strength. Isaiah 40:29 "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. " God is our joy and salvation. Habakkuk 3:18 "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. " God is our protector. Psalm 18:2 "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. " God is love—real unconditional, fulfilling love. 1 John 4:16 says, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. " Self-love isn't real love at all. It is our feeble attempt to fill the void in our hearts by trying to be selfsufficient. It leaves us tired, empty, and wanting. God’s love, on the other hand, cleanses, heals, saves, and fills our hearts so that we are both humbled and completely secure. His love is what enables us to truly love Him back and to love others as well (1 John 4:19). There is no one else who can accomplish a love like that. When we decide to put self-sufficiency aside, and get on your knees before Jesus, only then will our anxiety, insecurity, problems, and sin be taken away. It is when we experience His love that we come to realize that it was never self-love we needed in the first place. All we needed was the love of Jesus.
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RAWNESS, BARENESS, AND VULNERABILITY
B Y KAYTIE GAUS // @KAYTIEMAY_
hen I got married, I thought my perception of my own beauty and worth would change. To be more specific, I thought my perception would improve and I would feel the most beautiful I ever had in my whole life. After all, I had found my true love, had the most beautiful and Christ centered wedding I could imagine, and I felt on top of the world. However, this wasn't the case. Real life began. I found myself growing tired from working two jobs and maintaining my house and trying to be the "perfect" wife. I found myself scrutinizing my tired and less than glowing appearance under a magnifying glass because I did not want my husband's opinion of me to change. I desired for him to see me as the young 19 year old that he originally met for the rest of our days. I spent my time complaining about my appearance and trying every new skincare routine and makeup look to see if it would make me more beautiful and desirable to him. My efforts faded as I realized my husband wasn't noticing. But now looking back, how could I blame him for not noticing I was wearing crimson red on my lips instead of a cherry red? Although he wasn't verbal about all the changes I was making, I found out he thought I was just as beautiful with bright red lips as I was with no makeup on at all. Slowly about a year and a half into our marriage, I started to wear less makeup not only around him, but in public. I allowed myself to lounge in bed a little longer before jumping up to get ready for the day. I found myself happier and relaxed when I realized my appearance and persona, not only to my husband, but to the rest of the world, shouldn't matter. I allowed the chains and expectations on the world start to come loose and I began to love myself and the skin I’m in. I've come to understand this- life begins once your face is washed off. Meaningful conversations are exchanged with your husband in bed after you take off your makeup. He watches with admiration while you dance around in the morning picking out your outfit before you start getting ready for the day.
"I FOUND MYSELF GROWING TIRED FROM WORKING TWO JOBS AND MAINTAINING MY HOUSE AND TRYING TO BE THE " PERFECT" WIFE. I FOUND MYSELF SCRUTINIZING MY TIRED AND LESS THAN GLOWING APPEARANCE UNDER A MAGNIFYING GLASS BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT MY HUSBAND' S OPINION OF ME TO CHANGE."
After an argument, he holds you as tears are rolling down your face, breaking apart any makeup that was left on your face. Your bare forehead glistens with sweat after delivering your first born. You age together and your hands are stiff and cramped and no longer able to apply mascara like you used to and he looks at you with love in his eyes and thinks you can't get any more beautiful than you are at this stage of life. The most beautiful moments of life are lived out in this state of rawness, bareness, and vulnerability. Just last night, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and got into bed with a dark cloud hanging over my head from issues I had been wrestling with that day.
My husband could tell something was bothering me and as he pried, I longed to pull the covers up over my face as emotions began to take over my bare face. We talked and I cried as I expressed my inadequacies and feelings of doubt I had been having. There was something about having no makeup on that made me feel even more scared and ashamed of revealing my heart to him, but once it was all said and done, I never felt more beautiful
in that moment when he was consoling me and letting me know my worth. Ladies, allow yourself to be vulnerable. I pray you feel the release of your chains and are able to experience these precious moments while having a bare face. Don’t let the standards of the world over
My love BY JOSH
&
NAKIETA CURRIE
LOCATION
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NORCAL
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MY
W I F E AND I
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHER, JOSH CURRIE PHOTOGRAPHED HIS WIFE, NAKIETA.
WRITTEN BY JOSH CURRIE y wife and I have been together for 4 years, and for those of you who are married, you know there is no hiding your flaws. Whether those are personality flaws, physical flaws, emotional, or even spiritual, they will come out whether you want them to or not. You can’t hide them for long because God designed his children to be in relationship. Whether that’s within the bond of marriage or with friends and family, it is important to pursue others in the way that reflects how openly Christ pursues us. The most impactful and genuine of those relationships come from an environment of natural vulnerability and raw displays of character. My wife and I dated long distance for three years before we got married. Each time we saw each other we both had ample time to prepare not only our minds but also our bodies and appearance. Since we only saw each other about once a month we were able to display the best versions of ourselves for the limited time we were together. But now that we are with each other every single day, we see each other at our worst and least attractive more so than at what we would consider our best. What we both have learned over the years is that if we spend all our energy trying to impress one another then we aren’t leaving any room to pursue our God that brought us together in the first place. It is so easy for us to pursue our appearance, clothes, house, and talents instead of pursuing Christ. When that becomes our number one goal, our walk with Christ suffers. When our walks suffer, we create selfish ambitions within our marriage. It’s such a simple formula God gives us. The more I care about myself, the less I allow myself to receive that care God has for me. I forget that almost daily. Now an outsider might look at that as “letting yourselves go”, which is a false justification for why many relationships fail. I would argue that the fear of a declining appearance is something that has evolved and become more prevalent as we are continually engulfed by society’s definition of beauty.
" IF WE SPEND ALL OUR ENERGY TRYING TO IMPRESS ONE ANOTHER THEN WE AREN’ T LEAVING ANY ROOM TO PURSUE OUR GOD THAT BROUGHT US TOGETHER"
Christ didn’t reward me with a selfless wife for the amount of time I spent trying to get fit in the gym to impress her. Nor did Christ reward Nakieta with a loyal husband for changing her outfit 5 times in front of the mirror before I touched down at the airport. He rewarded us with a God fearing relationship because we trusted in Him and do what we can every day to put Him between us. I am very grateful that Nakieta is attracted to me and I to her. I think physical attraction in relationship is extremely important. Beauty is something that is the bases of Creation and Christ clearly thought attraction at every level is something of importance. We just have to ask ourselves to what are we basing our definition of beauty and to whom are we trying to be beautiful for. To me, the most prominent examples of beauty are nature and a newborn child. Both are shaped and molded solely by God with no influence on them other than the natural elements that exist on our earth. Now nature can become tainted when we make it something it wasn't intended to be and a child can slowly become groomed by a human interpretation of what a beautiful person should look like thus changing the intentions of what God created. It is inevitable that we are going to be concerned with these things because we are fallen and it is in our nature to seek worldly affirmation. But if we can start with having the understanding that a Natural Beauty is the purest example of what Christ intended than we will draw closer to the will of God which is to simply love Him and love what He created. So instead of spending 20 minutes in front of the mirror every morning attempting to mold and shape something that Christ has already deemed beautiful for the affirmation of others, let’s try and spend that 20 minutes with Christ gaining our everlasting affirmation.
The first time I saw her "I .W
FOUND A WIFE WHO IS MY EQUAL IN EVERY WAY HILE WE HAVE DIFFERENT GIFTS AND BRING DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES TO THE TABLE, WE STAND ON EQUAL FOOTING." B Y KARL MACCORCRÁIN he first time I saw my wife I was up on stage giving a sermon. I remember thinking to myself, “Who is that?” After spotting her among the crowd, I had to be careful not to look her direction too often for fear that I would lose my train of thought or that she might notice me noticing her. I must not have blown my cover too badly because right after the service ended she came up to introduce herself. My heart pounded. I discovered that she was from Australia, she was full of life and personality, and had a great sense of humor. As she walked away after our conversation, I thought to myself, “This could be something.” Having been raised in the church as a pastor’s kid, I knew Over the next few weeks I got to know her a little better and decided to ask her out. On our second date, she a lot about the Bible but she lived it better than I did. I found her beautiful because of how capable and remarked that being with me felt like home – a perfect competent she was; how she carried herself with description of what I felt being with her. It’s a funny thing, she was someone with whom I shared much in common but confidence. I grew up in a church culture where women were often completely dependent upon and subordinate to was at the same time so completely different to me. But it was not only the similarities that I found myself their husbands. This was something I always found confusing because attracted to but also the things that made us different. When I met Jess, I was part of a community that was from what I could understand, women were just as smart tight-lipped, where people were afraid to say what they and qualified as men with anything they set out to do. I really felt for fear of what others might think. She had wanted to be with someone who had respect for me but not come from the outside, from way Down Under. She was because she thought I was her superior, but as equals. In Jess I found a wife who is my equal in every way. this Aussie rebel who wasn’t the least bit timid about letting While we have different gifts and bring different attributes you know what was on her mind. It was like a breath of fresh air. Unlike me, she wasn’t to the table, we stand on equal footing. In theology this is referred to as mutual submission. We overly cautious about what she said or concerned with what people thought of her. She was completely comfortable in submit to one another as to the Lord. This partnership has resulted in some great things as her own skin and people loved being around her. She stole my heart not merely by her outward beauty but together we founded No Silence Alliance, a non-profit by the beauty of who she was on the inside. Jess was brave. organization that helps those suffering with mental illness She had spirit and fight in her, a thirst for life – even though (nosilencealliance.org) and Jess started her own business, MacCorcráin Designs (www.maccorcrain.com), a trendy at that time she was suffering with chronic fatigue. She cared about others a lot more than I did if I was jewelry and accessory company where a large portion of the honest with myself. I was someone who could give you proceeds go to support our non-profit as well as other decent Bible study on loving your neighbor as yourself – groups doing important work. These among many other reasons are why I find my wife Jess just did it. Something else that was so attractive about her was her beautiful both inside and out. I couldn’t have asked for a sincere and simple love for Jesus. She once told me that she better companion in this journey we call life. It’s been an constantly talks to God in her head throughout the day and adventure so far and I cannot see that changing anytime soon. has done so since she was a child.
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ARIANA INFOZINO , T
"I FOUND MYSELF CONTINUALLY
FALLING SHORT OF HIS EXPECTATIONS, FURTHERING MY DESIRE TO PLEASE SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT GOD. I CERTAINLY PUT THIS MAN AT THE CENTER OF MY WORLD. " life-any
DALLAS TX WRITTEN BY ARIANA INFOZINO here’s something so special about celebrating part of it. From a good cup of coffee, to a new apartment and everything in between. God puts sparkles in dark places, we just have to look for them. My childhood didn’t always feel this way. Although my parents tried to instill God’s values in me, their own relationships with Jesus weren’t mature enough to make me feel drawn to His direction as we were not a family focused on following God’s will or His teachings. My siblings and I were given everything we needed and more. Yet, there was an air in the house that felt dark for years. Something was missing. Sometimes it made me hide in my room for hours, organizing everything in sight or burying myself in my artwork. I focused on gaining my mother’s approval and trying my best not to make her angry at me or my siblings. We were quite the handful and I’m sure my attitude was on par with honey boo-boo at times. (sorry mom) My father was my biggest supporter but you’re only as happy as your happiest parent. All I wanted was for everyone to be happy. Perfection was my goal, and it made me extremely driven to accomplish goals. Achievements made me feel like I was gaining someone’s approval. My ambitious personality quickly led to the pursuit of a serious relationship that my teenage self was not prepared for. Gaining my partners utmost approval went on and off for nearly 6 years. During this length of time I was fortunate to study abroad session in Italy where I met one of my dearest friends. She shared with me about her similar Catholic upbringing and her mutual feeling of discontentment from the church. I felt God calling me back. Her story resonated with me and upon returning home, we attended her church together. I experienced a weekend of worship and scripture that truly spoke to me in a way that I can’t describe. In two separate services throughout this weekend, Matthew 26: 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter--this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me."
ANGELICTESTIMONY It became extremely clear that I was in complete denial of Jesus. I grew deeper in my faith and began understanding what a joy having a relationship with Jesus was. But again I pushed Jesus to the wayside, and ran back to the relationship I thought would fix everything. God had some major work to do in me but I wasn’t ready to change. I found myself continually falling short of his expectations, furthering my desire to please someone who was not God. I certainly put this man at the center of my world. We can’t forget that relationships are two sided however. I continued to carry the burdens of my childhood into this relationship creating toxic behaviors between us. On and off, we continued to date and I tried to understand why I wasn’t good enough for him to marry. I neglected fostering my relationships with my parents almost completely throughout college. I wanted to fix all the problems and everyone at home, but the only person who really needed fixing was me. I could be the light my family needed but I couldn’t be the savior. I was done carrying anyone’s burdens including my own. And then God brought me my husband. The healing that a Christ-centered relationship can bring is nothing short of lovely. I can say with 100% honesty that Jesus changed my heart. Once you know it, once you feel it, its unforgettable. He has shown me mercy I don’t deserve and love greater than any human could provide. Life is meant to be celebrated! I now adore my soon to be husband because God shines through him. I trust that God knows the desires of my heart to have given me an incredible man who makes me kinder and more confident in this world. We are both excited to celebrate in just several weeks by taking vows to serve God’s kingdom together. Jesus put the sparkle back into my life. He put it in the center of my life.
SHE'S MORE THAN HER MAKEUP A GUY'S OPINION B Y JESSE ANAYA
YAndou bring tenderness out of us. you inspire us to write poems and songs.
It’s not your makeup that we adore. It’s you. To picture our lives without you is picturing a solemn life incomplete. A wedding day without our bride. Our child without their mom. A life with no love. We don’t like to dance, but for you, we’ll 2-step the night away. We don’t do picnics, but with you we’ll have a picnic every day. We don’t like to show we cry in movies too, but you, you make it safe for us to show our tears. It’s not your makeup we adore. It’s you. When you’re cold, we want to build you a fire. And if you’re still chilly, we would give you our last sweater. We don’t like flowers or things like that, but for you, we’ll handpick crimson roses. We don’t want to do life without you. Because you make Sunday mornings better. Your smile lives in our heart. It’s not the way you look that we adore, it’s how you look at us that we can’t forget. You’re more than your makeup. You’re so much more.
R A W B E A UTY:
YOU CAN DO IT.
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DON’ T FEEL PRESSURED TO LOOK A CERTAIN WAY BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE LOVES IT. B Y KAREN HIGUERA // @HIGUERAHEALTHANDHAPPINESS
eople say: Don't you want to look good? Don't you worry people will think you're unattractive? Don't you worry people won't follow you if they don't like how you look? Wouldn't you be more comfortable without your breakout showing? Sure I do! I'm only human, but that's not how I work out! Yes, I love makeup. I wear it every day for work and I do feel beautiful getting ready for date night with my favorite lipstick on and hair curled cute. I post lots of pictures eating during the day or out and about while I am wearing makeup because that's me. When I work out though, I like when my face is red from a rough workout because it means I worked hard. And while I hate breakouts and they make me self-conscious just like anyone else, it's the real me. Here I am, in the flesh, just how God created me. I am NOT ashamed of how I was created. That wasn’t always the case though and I struggled with serious body image issues like so many other women and men. I'm not here to provide a fantasized idea of working out or tips on how to look great working out. I'm here to provide a realistic look at how even juggling so much in our lives and being imperfect as we all are, we really can achieve our dreams. I fall over sometimes during my workouts, I miss workouts, I don't have a six pack, sometimes I cheat with my food, sometimes I wear makeup, and sometimes I don't. I'm here to inspire you to love yourself while achieving your goals and living the healthiest and happiest life possible. Don’t feel pressured to look a certain way because someone else loves it. We're all different and that's what makes us AMAZING. So be fearless this month. You CAN do it.
Karly & Layla PHOTOGRAPHED BY KAMILLE DORR LOCATION
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OKLAHOMA CITY
MY SISTER
" THERE WAS NO BETTER WAY TO REPRESENT MY VIEW OF NATURAL BEAUTY THAN WITH A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER- THE MODELS BEING MY SISTER, KARLY, AND MY NIECE, LAYLA."
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WRITTEN BY KAMILLE DORR hen I think of natural beauty I think of many things. I imagine breathtaking landscapes, the faces of my dearest friends and family, relationships, laughter, the way sun illuminates the world at golden hour, and the list could go on and on. Unfortunately, the term ‘beauty’ is frequently used to denote a state of perfection or flawlessness, often dealing with physical appearance alone. Media tends to persuade people into considering one look or style more beautiful over another - whether this be with makeup, hair, or clothing. In order to be beautiful you need to “do this” “buy this” “wear this.” Society’s perception of beauty is ever-changing as new trends and products become available. Natural beauty, however, doesn’t require people to change because it is seen in the uniqueness and individuality of God’s creation. It is honest, pure, and genuine. Natural beauty goes much deeper than the surface level beauty as seen on TV, makeup commercials, or in magazines. The most radiant instance of natural beauty that I can think of would have to be the bond between mother and child. There is no worldly love more pure and honest. A child needs not to do anything other than be his or herself to receive the mother’s unwavering love. A mother sees her child as beautiful no matter what. Sure, we often think that our mothers’ opinions are biased because they are indeed the ones who birthed us, but they really do see our true beauty that runs so much deeper than outward looks. And after all, they often know us better than anyone else. Mothers see their children as the entire package, for they find beauty in personality, quirks, smiles, and individuality. I know this because of how my mother raised my sisters and I. And I now see this in the way my siblings raise their children. My mother always makes
sure to remind us that we are loved and beautiful, even when we may not be wearing any makeup, even when we may be upset with our looks or size, even when we make mistakes. It is because of her that I feel so passionate about the importance of natural beauty. With that being said, I decided there was no better way to represent my view of natural beauty than with a mother and daughter- the models being my sister, Karly, and my niece, Layla. I decided I wanted to capture them on parts of their daily routine, so I photographed them out on their land while they went for a nature walk, picked flowers, and collected eggs from the chickens and ducks. It’s such a wonderful experience to watch my sister, Karly, and brother-in-law, Israel, as they do an amazing job of raising Layla. Karly is one of the most beautiful people, and she has one of the kindest hearts. She is much like our mother, and its so inspiring to see her similar love and passion in raising her own daughter. It is easy to notice the way Karly’s eyes light up when she looks at Layla, and the glowing smiles they exchange. There is so much beauty in their relationship, seen in the gentleness, patience, kindness, and unending love that Karly provides to Layla and Layla reciprocates. While Layla is just nearing the age of three, it is already becoming evident that she is taking after the ways of her endearing mother by the way she treats others - both humans and animals. On their land, they raise chickens, geese, and ducks and Layla likes to pretend like she’s their mother. She calls them her babies and likes to check up on them several times a day, makes sure to feed them, and she also likes to pick them up and rock them (which is adorable and equally hilarious). While it may sound cheesy, true beauty really does come from within and it shines outward. You can easily spot it in the warm gestures and genuine smiles of the people closest to you.
I am crafted in His image.
I am wonderfully made.
ANGELICMUSIC
Carly Jon
Before I could speak, I was singing the song, Somewhere Over the
Rainbow. Singing has been an innate passion of mine since I can remember. At 5 years old I knew that I wanted to become a singer. That passion has not died once. Growing up, I got involved in many opportunities to use my gifting. My mom was the worship leader at our church and used my vocals as part of the team beginning at age 11. I remember my first solo, petrified yet dying to do it again. I continued to lead worship through high school, as well as partake in musicals, including lead role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. I picked up a guitar for the first time my junior year of high school and began writing songs. I attended Anderson University in 2007 and declared a Marketing major my sophomore year. Getting a degree in something other than music was a safety net for me. If music didn’t ‘pan out’ the way I wanted it to, I could always fall back on my degree. Although I was not studying music, I took advantage of many opportunities to advance my career. Competitions like Indiana Superstar helped build my confidence in being critiqued as well as performing on stage in front of an audience that was not my church. I continued leading worship at my church, as well as leading one year at Ohio State Youth Convention. The summer of my junior year I attended Lake Tahoe Summer Project through Campus Crusade, and was chosen to be the worship leader for the remainder of the project. I continued to write songs and began performing originals and covers outside of church. Being in the studio on campus a few times got me familiar with the process of recording and I fell in love with a side of music I had not experienced prior to this. After my husband and I got married in 2011, we moved from Ohio to California for his job as a youth pastor. I experienced many emotions being a newlywed and living so far from home.
LEX
nes , KY
"I EXPERIENCED MANY EMOTIONS BEING A NEWLYWED AND LIVING SO FAR FROM HOME. THESE EMOTIONS SPILLED OUT INTO SONGS, WHICH LATER GREW INTO MY FIRST ALBUM, L ETTING GO. " These emotions spilled out into songs, which later grew into my first album, Letting Go. I learned an enormous amount about music business through this project; from creating my website, to designing business cards, to performing, to promos, to digital distribution and sales. Once again, I had fallen in love with everything that music had to offer. I decided to pursue music more actively. I continued to lead worship at my church, partake in various local singing competitions, and even auditioned for The Voice where I was asked to fly to Miami, FL for a call-back. Though the audition lead to an end with The Voice, I learned a great deal about myself and what was required of me to work successfully as a business-woman and artist.After 3 years serving in California, my husband and I felt called to help lead at our current church, Eastland Church of God, in Lexington, KY. Not only did we desire to be closer to family as we anticipated growing our own, but we wanted to take my music career to the next level. Since living in Lexington, I have performed locally at several coffee shops, restaurants, and other local organizations. I have also recorded several songs with Digitracks Recording Studio, and have a new single being released May 6th. I continue to learn about what it takes to be a successful artist. I also continue to learn about embracing the unknown and anticipating what is yet to come. Being content in all situations is not an easy concept to grasp but because of the hope we have in Christ, you and I are able to take big leaps of faith. We are able to be confident in our callings. We are able to live without safety nets. I am happy to be doing what I love and also to share the message of Jesus through my music.
SINGER/SONGWRIT SINGER/SONGWRITER PERFORMING AT OUR SINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE 5.14.16
Chosen
PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHEYANNE PAREDES LOCATION
:
PHOENIX
,
AZ
I am chosen.
I am loved.
WHEN THE SCROLLING BEGINS TO BREAK YOUR HEART SOCIAL MEDIA
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T // @ Iamazingknowandshe'shasB theC"literally perfect." She's gorgeous and most de-cluttered, modern-chic-rusticY LARE UCKER
CTUCKY
esque, stark white, furry, velvety, simple yet elegant work desk you've ever seen...on Instagram. I get that her and her boyfriend are seriously the cutest couple ever and are always doing something so fun and adventurous while you're sitting alone, bloated, eating carbs, with no makeup or bra on, lifting and toning‌your right thumb. Even if you got up right now, worked out like hard core, got a spray tan, washed and dried your hair, put on some of the $200 worth of makeup you own yet barely ever use, and slipped on the cutest outfit from that trendy boutique you follow, you still probably couldn't catch up to like... one-tenth of her life right now. She's known her purpose for living ever since her early 20's... Probably never disappointed God in the ways you have and seems to have met her soulmate way before she's 30 and over it. You should probably leave the insta-blogging up to her... She would probably be a more ideal candidate to do kingdom work and get married and procreate like God expects of all 22-25 year old southern belles, ultimately helping to make the world a better place. She's beautiful. Her Instagram account is gorgeous. She finds a way to pay her bills, or still not have any, style the most adorable outfits and be picture perfect ready no matter what the agenda is for the day. She finds time to bake treats and clean her toilet and dust her room/office and do Pinterest projects...successfully. Her bed is always made. Her pillows are so fluffy and clean. She has a purpose. She has it all together. She is really going to make a difference in this crazy world. She's going to make some equally gorgeous guy the luckiest man in the world and have a perfect family. She makes God so proud. And what are you doing with your life? Well, God may have chosen her. But He chose you too. He may have chosen her way earlier than you and it may seem that He spared her from a lot of crap in life that you had to go through. But who's going to identify with her? Well, millions of girls who probably won't relate to or care about you or your amateur, mediocre social media accounts.
AND YOUR WORTH
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But she has a certain audience which God designed for her. And you do, too. Your story will reach the millions that will never relate to HER insta-goodness. That feel-good social media presence doesn't make everyone feel good. But when they hear you talk about what a hot mess you were and kinda still are, and how Jesus still came for you, chased you, offered you freedom and new life and stays pursuing you every day, even the long, hard, depressing ones, that hits her heart like a ton of bricks. That one is part of the audience He designed for YOU. You don't envy her and you don't conform to what she does because that's none of your business, it's not in your blueprint of kingdom work. You have a lane, handed down by Heaven, stay in it or you could miss out on Greatness. God's heart never sees her in IG or snap chat filter form, as with you. He knows the countless selfies she took to get the right angle and lighting, and how much crap is on the other side of her room to make her perfect "home office" look so dang simplistic and just uncomfortably white. He made you both, and beautifully so in His image. That kind of beautiful that won't go away when you get old and your body starts to fail you. This beauty you don't see in an Instagram post won't fade when you get handed a crippling disease or near fatal accident that leaves you unrecognizable. It's important we know how much we mean to our creator and that it has ZERO to do with any aesthetic proportions, flattering shadows, angles, and filters on our faces and bodies. Raw Beauty is learning to look at yourself in the mirror, stripped down and bare and say, "God loves you. He picked you out of the universe. I love you. I am proud of you. You are such a beautiful you. Your skin, your hair, your body, your nose, your teeth are all your own and no one else could play the part of you, they'd never live up. God gave you a radiant, free heart and that shines through to the outside, and people see THAT! They think you're beautiful, too. You're a saved daughter who got promoted to a princess of the universe." You are amazing and your Father traded Heaven to give you this life. Being beautiful goes so much deeper than your face, your body, your perfect relationship or your gorgeous life on Instagram. Remember this when the scrolling begins to break your heart.
Envious Appearance, Confidently Beautiful B Y LAUREN PRATHER // @THESTYLISTLAUREN
A s a licensed cosmetologist, most would probably
consider me the exact opposite of a natural beauty advocate. The features and unique beauty that God has given each and every one of us is what I strive to bring to their beholder’s consciousness every single day. What I have found in my profession is that Satan has made women blind to their beauty. Many women the instant they sit in my chair they start picking themselves apart. “I’m sure you noticed my double chin, so my hair can’t go any shorter than this, but I just hate it and want something different.” We magnify our flaws and believe they characterize who we are. Speaking from a woman’s standpoint, our looks have set us out against other women as well. I’ve listened to women rip each other apart strictly based on looks. Before even meeting someone, you can already decide if you like them or not, simply based on appearance. So there are two things appearance has inspired us to do: not like ourselves and not like other women. The world tells us we need to work on our appearance, but what God sees, and what he has crafted is beauty. God did not design our looks to inspire hatred, jealousy, envy, or pride. He designed us to reflect Him and all of His glory. It’s so easy to listen to our environment screaming that we aren’t good enough, pretty enough, thin enough. You need to change your appearance and strive for this unattainable, everlasting youth. All the while His soft, still whisper is telling us “You are beautiful.” God will make you feel beautiful if you let Him. He will show you why you were created, and that He loves every little thing about you. When you walk in confidence knowing that you were created, and you were created beautifully, then, you can find it in your heart to celebrate other people’s beauty.
"I never realized the bondage I was held under envying other women. I couldn’t go anywhere without surveying the room all the while belittling myselfin my head. " I never realized the bondage I was held under envying other women. I couldn’t go anywhere without surveying the room all the while belittling myself in my head. “Oh no, she’s prettier than me. Oh no, she’s skinnier than me.” If I was feeling really selfconscious that’s when I would start belittling them in my head or even out loud. It took quite some time for me to allow God to let me feel confident. My husband and I go hiking every chance we get. The thing I like most about walking in the woods is taking in all of God’s creation. Every leaf, every tree, every rock formation and flowing water was designed by our Maker. I find comfort in knowing that I was part of that creation as well. God saw fit to make all the beauty from the mountains to the ocean, but it wasn’t complete without me. That’s what gives me confidence and allows me to see other women as sisters and not as a threat. To celebrate their beauty, and not envy them. Walking in the woods has also given me grace with myself. It has made me come to terms with Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time…” My looks aren’t the same now being almost 30 as they were when I was 20. Just as every season is beautiful in its own way so are we in the different seasons in our life. Winter does not envy summer, spring does not envy fall. It all has its purpose and is beautiful in its time. You are beautiful right now, back then, and still tomorrow. “…He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Amen.
ANGELICMUSIC ‐
ANNALYSE CROWDUS
ST. LOUIS, MO SINGER/SONGWRITER
"THE MONSTER WAS GIVEN A NAME, AND I WAS NO LONGER A MYSTERY PATIENT. FIBROMYALGIA IS WHAT THEY’RE CALLING IT. "
O
n the inside, the monster was still eating me alive. I spent my private time crying out to God, desperately pleading for a miracle, an answer, something that would bring clarity into my medical situation. I was reaching my wits end, wanting any sign He was willing to give. Finally, September 24, 2015, the monster was given a name, and I was no longer a mystery patient. Fibromyalgia is what they’re calling it. According to Mayo Clinic: “Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.” I was so overwhelmed by emotion in this moment, both joy and complete destruction passed through me upon receiving the news. Thoughts like “I have an entire life ahead of me” and “this is never going to end” came over me. But I was also thankful, because I finally had the answer to my almost 3 year prayer. Since I’ve been diagnosed, I’ve struggled through the acceptance of my condition and how my life has been changed by it. I still have the same dreams I had when I was just 6 years old, staring wide-eyed into the television screen at the American Idol stars. I’ve considered how it will affect my career as a musician. What if I will be in too much pain to attend practice, go on tour, sit through a week- long recording session, go to photo shoots, interact with people? Lingering questions, fears, doubts, and insecurities have developed. Through it all, I have been drawing closer to God, asking him to reveal to me what it is he wants me to do, something I will be able to handle with my fragile condition, while still fulfilling my calling and pursuing my gifts to benefit the Kingdom.
He has been so faithful in calming my fears, allowing me to enjoy the therapeutic side of music, which I never tuned into before. This year has been a period of rest, preparation, and peace. God has called me to take a break from my fast paced, artist lifestyle, and sit back to marvel at how good He is, and how He is molding me into the person He wants me to become. I have not given up on my dreams, if anything; I have reshaped them to be more practical and realistic for my health condition. This season of life has given me opportunity to hone in on my songwriting skills; a beautiful gift God has given to me that has become a source of therapy, and worship since this diagnosis. Though I never would’ve pictured this for myself, nor would I have wanted it, I am thankful that God has allowed for it to happen, because it has drawn me closer to His heart, and has revealed to me just how precious life is. I recognize that God is a big God, who is capable of anything, so I am not going to let fibromyalgia get in the way of His perfect plan for me. As I choose to rise above the condition that I suffer through every day, I remember this quote: “I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night” (Sarah Williams). Life is too precious to focus on the pain. I look life in the face, and I can’t help but see it through the eyes of a child again. May we never lose our wonder of this great big world, our great big dreams, and our Great Big God.
I SEE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL MATTHEW, CHAR & OLIVER GARTRELL
Iexternal t is no secret that when most people hear a woman described as beautiful, they immediately think of beauty. However, beauty is far more than an external attribute. WRITTEN BY MATTHEW GARTRELL
When I look at my wife I see something beautiful, deeper than external beauty. I see true beauty; I see character. I see a woman that walks in grace and dignity. She has the strength to carry me on my weakest days, and she does not fear the future. Her words are always kind and full of wisdom. It is true what it says in Proverbs 31:28-30 "Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.” My wife is an example of true beauty found in Christ Jesus.
I am forgiven.
I am set free.
SEEING BEAUTY P B B HOTOGRAPHED AND WRITTEN BY RUCE ARONE
I
I BELIEVE, MIRACLES FOR US TO SEE EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AND BE ASTONISHED. AND EVERY DAY GOD’ S GRACIOUS GIFTS APPEAR.
believe I have been given a great gift from God. A gift for seeing beauty. A gift of love, compassion, and astonishment. Every day I strive to find, see, experience and share the richness of the ordinary in the everyday. Sharing this beauty on social media and my website. I believe I am making the world a better place with my beautiful photography. To see. To be astonished. There are, I believe, miracles for us to see everywhere throughout the day. And be astonished. And every day God’s gracious gifts appear. Truly, it is about looking. But this is not so much about me as it is glorifying God; “Let all that I am praise the Lord”’ (Psalm 103:1 NLT) I am blessed I live down the street from Mittineague Park in West Springfield, Massachusetts. I have walked the paths at this park hundreds of times. I have photographed the paths, pastures, stone walls, stone bridges, birch canopies, and waterfalls thousands of times in all kinds of weather, including snow and rain—in fact, I have stood in the pouring rain with an umbrella in one hand and camera in the other hand! And I have been inspired to write numerous poems about the park. The park, for me, is a place of grace. A church. A temple of nature. A sanctuary. Birds singing songs of praise and joy. Doves, finches, woodpeckers, crows and robins. On one walk I saw a fox on the path in front of me. Another time hawks circling overhead. A Green Heron in the water. I walk my dog, Freddy, a mini-labradoodle, there a few times every week. One time, without incident, we walked, and every few minutes I talked, “Good dog. Good dog.” On we walked past Meadow Trail and Beaver Brook. All the time my dog acutely aware and when I wanted to stop and photograph, I said “Freddy, sit.” And he sat. And he waited. And when I said “okay” on we went. Every time I walk these paths I am filled with great joy. I am truly seeing God in the world. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:2 NIV) The park is a canvas that God is always changing. In winter snow blankets the fields and paths. In spring the forsythia glistens in the bright light. Rushing water in the stream. In summer tall grass sways in the pastures and voices of children playing soccer or baseball echo throughout the park. In autumn the park is a garden of leaves; so many glorious pantone colors---Goji Berry, Jalapeno Red, Plum Truffle, Lime Popsicle, Tangerine, Minion Yellow, Nacho Cheese. And what better place to photograph my friend, Katherine Mary Kraver, author and teacher, adventurer and humanitarian, than this park where God’s beauty is so wonderfully reflected in nature; capturing God’s raw beauty in both the park and Katherine. Working together, and filled and fueled with spiritual energy and enthusiasm, we sought to create photographs of joy, beauty, happiness, wonder, innocence, positivity and peace. “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 NLT)
I am to dream.
I am ready to walk on water.
Agape Love
"GOD CREATED MEN TO SEE WOMEN AS THEIR LIFE PARTNER, A MASTERPIECE TO BE CHERISHED."
T hrough this raw beauty photo shoot, I tried to illustrate what a true masterpiece we are as God’s people. We fit perfectly in the world he has created, through each sunrise, sunset, and PHOTOGRAPHED AND WRITTEN BY RUTH GRACE MOORE
mountaintop. Our society today has developed this belief that women are not beautiful without makeup, that they have to cover-up who they truly are to be beautiful. The belief is that people are not good enough just being themselves. Jesus coming to die for us defied this belief however, saying by his death that we are worth enough for him to take on all of our sins and be forgiven. He pours out grace, never-ending love and mercy while the world gives us shame and tells us we still don’t measure up. The beautiful thing is that God created men to see women as their life partner, a masterpiece to be cherished. The same love that Jesus gives us daily is what we model our relationships after, sacrificing our desires for the sake of love. When a couple is seen truly exemplifying this kind of agape love, we as people are drawn to their story which made me choose Daniel and Jennifer to photograph. It was absolutely breathtaking to see that a true man of God saw a woman of God as a masterpiece with her raw beauty being shown.