Aspiring to Be Magazine Summer 2018 Edition

ISSUE NO. 10 // SUMMER 2018

ASPIRING TO BE MAGAZINE

STANDARD OF GRACE Ashley Chambers pg. 07

Editor's Notes

05

Meet the Writers

07

Standard of Grace

10

That Great Love

13

Never Doubt God's Goodness

16

Like Vs. Love

20

Recommended Resources

21

Show Your Support

STNETNOC FO ELBAT

04

SETON S'ROTIDE

SUMMER SEASON Waves crashing, children laughing and people splashing are all sounds that summer is here. I can smell salt water and sunscreen or even bonfires and making smore's. These are all things I think about when I think about summer. I think of swimming and sunshine. Hanging out with friends and barbecue's. Celebrating Independence Day and enjoying the long sunlit days. I'm also one that enjoys being in the air conditioning because lets just say it summer time in the south is just so hot. No matter where you are or what you are doing this summer I hope it is blessed and you can sit down and enjoy this magazine while you take a break from the heat.

DIANNA AUTON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Meet Our Writers: Ashley Chambers is a wife and mother to 5. She is founder of Count it All Joy Ministry on Facebook. She is also a blogger for FOCUS Ministries and social media coordinator for the Girls Life group at Redemption Church in Knoxville, TN.

Kristi Willingham lives in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. She works in Social Services for the Salvation Army.

Jennifer Hill is the founder of Broken to Blessed Ministries. You can find more information about Jennifer and her ministry on their website: www.brokentoblessedministry.com .

Watch on YouTube and follow on Facebook.

Dianna Auton holds a Bachelor of Science in Christian Education. Her personal ministry is to encourage women of all walks of life to serve God in every area of life. She lives with her husband of 19+ years, Andy, and daughters in East Tennessee, where she serves in her local church. You can connect with her on her personal blog, "A Little Bit of Everything" at: diannaauton.wordpress.com

I WAS MADE FOR SUNNY DAYS. A U T H O R

U N K N O W N

STANDARD OF GRACE ASHLEY CHAMBERS

I declared that My house would be at least two

childhood gifts was the board game LIFE. I

stories and that I would drive a candy apple red

begged my sisters and dad to play with me. When

dodge viper, I wanted to get married when I

they wouldn't, I played alone. I loved it that much!

turned 27 and have two children two years later and two years apart so my husband and I could

I remember getting excited with each pay raise,

have some time alone together before starting a

upgrade and at times having so many children

family. I wanted one boy and one girl. The boy

that I needed to add a second vehicle. I longed

first so he could protect his sister. My dad asked,

for the day of beginning REAL LIFE as an adult on

and just exactly how do you plan to pay for all of

my own.

that. I replied that I was going to be a lawyer, doctor or movie star, I had not decided

My dad sat two of us three girls down at the

just yet which one. His reply was simply two

kitchen table one evening and asked us a few

words. DREAM ON.

questions about our future and what we had planned out. My sister very confidently stated that

I did keep on dreaming but never applied myself

she was going to have an average job, simple

to achieve any of those fantasies. Today my life

housing and drive a chevy cavalier. Well, I was a

looks different from what I imagined as a child

dreamer and my response was much different.

but its a wonderful life!

YROTS ERUTAEF

One of my favorite and most memorable

When you get tired of fighting I will be here. He is

life not selfish one as my childlike mind had

always waiting right where we left Him. Let's just

dreamed up. I happily am called mom by five

be women who choose to discover our

beautiful children. Three girls and Two boys, ages

uniqueness in Him. Our gifts, talents and hidden

18 months up to 15. I have my two story home and

beauty that He wove into our very being when He

my prince charming. My vehicles are nice and

knit us together in secret in our mother's womb.

large enough for our family. The "what" I do

And use them for GOOD. Covered in grace and

section of life is a smorgas board of great things!

sprinkled with the most astounding love of all. He

My adult life alongside my lifemate and best

loves us deeper, wider and more unconditionally

friend has been eleven years of ups, downs,

then we can even understand.

discovery, maturing and unfolding.

Ephesians 5:2 MSG Somewhere along the way I lost touch with reality

"Mostly what God does is love you. Keep

and became that dreamer again and also an

company with Him and learn a life of love.

avoider of reality. I started holding myself to a

Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not

standard of perfection and defined myself as a

cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order

diehard people pleaser. Rut roh. I did this for

to get something from us but to give everything

YEARS.

of himself to us. Love like that."

Left disappointed, dry, empty and exhausted I

"Finish day and be done with it.

knew something had to give! Let's be real

You have done what you could.

PERFECTION is constantly thrown in our face. Even

Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in;

subconsciously it is always there lurking around

forget them as soon as you can.

waiting to leech on to us and later torment us until

Tomorrow is a new day.

we fall into the destructive patterns of forgetting

You shall begin it serenely and with too high a

grace and holding on to perfection. Jesus said

spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense."

that he is a life giver and he does so in

Ralph Waldo Emerson

abundance. When I have lost my Joy, Peace and Hope the red flags start popping up like Whac-AMoles. We must stay on guard constantly.

At one point I truly thought that it was my obligation and achievable to uphold the position and image of the perfect EVERYTHING to EVERYBODY. I tried so hard to EARN love, acceptance, and approval that I forsook my own needs and even dare I admit my own family. UGH. I was chasing perfection.

I was left with the messy reality that I am real, human and flawed. No one can do it all and no one can do everything well all at once. Something will be lacking. What are we trying to prove and why do we hold ourselves to such an unachievable unrealistic expectation? So, what if instead, we chase grace and Jesus! The Lord said to me,

YROTS ERUTAEF

It is better than what I expected and it's a selfless

FINISH DAY AND BE DONE WITH IT. YOU HAVE DONE WHAT YOU COULD. SOME BLUNDERS AND ABSURDITIES NO DOUBT CREPT IN; FORGET THEM AS SOON AS YOU CAN. TOMORROW IS A NEW DAY. YOU SHALL BEGIN IT SERENELY AND WITH TOO HIGH A SPIRIT TO BE ENCUMBERED WITH YOUR OLD NONSENSE. RALPH WALDO EMERSON

THAT GREAT LOVE! KRISTI WILLINGHAM A little girl came into the shelter about a month ago. She couldn’t have been more than eighteen or nineteen years old. She listened with wide eyes as I went over what would be expected of her as a participant in the program, and we made plans for her to return in the afternoon to complete her paperwork and get settled into a room. She didn’t return that afternoon. Now I see that same little girl outside almost daily. She is pregnant and spends her days hanging out on the sidewalk or under the bridge; probably using, definitely being used.

There was another young lady on the sidewalk. The last time I saw her, the “man” she was with was cursing her and pounding her in the side of her head. We offered her a way out, but she wasn’t ready for it. I haven’t seen her in a while; and I can only hope and pray that she has finally had enough and gotten help.

There is a pain and weight in the carrying of the secrets of a thousand souls. I rarely forget one. Of all the girls who’ve crossed my path in the five short years I’ve been doing this, I rarely forget one of them.

I was thinking of something a guest speaker to our

Marcus Mumford puts it like this, “Love it will not

church recently noted about the experience Jesus

betray you, dismay or enslave you. It will set you

had in the Garden of Gethsemane where, while

free. Be more like the man you were made to be.

praying, His sweat became great drops of blood.

There is a design, an alignment, a cry of my heart

The speaker made the point that it was then that

to see the beauty of Love as it was made to be”.

His sinless and purest of hearts was beginning to understand for the first time what it felt like to

If you struggle with understanding God’s Love, I

carry the weight of murder, incest, rape, lust,

urge you to first initiate the relationship by

deceit, treachery, and the billions of other sins of

inviting Jesus into your heart and life; then take

every person that had ever existed and would ever

some time and ask God to allow you to see

draw breath on the planet Earth. That Jesus, fully

yourself the way He sees you. Don’t be afraid,

God and yet fully a human man who had known

God is only good; He is the author and finisher of

no sin up to that point suddenly, in that instant

our faith, therefore he always speaks faith over

took on himself the weight of the sins of billions.

us. And I believe you will be surprised at the

Almost too much for our Savior to bear; and yet,

beautiful and sometimes whimsical ways He will

He chose to put His will under and submit to the

show you exactly how much He loves you!

will of the Father. That kind of love! That Love!

That Great Love!

The Cherokee have a word: Gvgeyu'i, pronounced Goo Gay U He which means “I love you”. But to say “I love you” in Cherokee is closer to the Agape love of God. To say, “I love you” in Cherokee is to say, “I care for you - I will give my life for you – I willingly surrender my happiness for yours – that you will eat even if I do not – that you will be safe even if I must put myself in danger – that I will protect you with my very breath”.

But even though the potential for God’s Love and Forgiveness is always there, we must initiate the relationship. We must take the step in turning towards Him; in relating to Him in prayer, both with the understanding and in the Holy Spirit. In allowing our Beloved to “kiss us with the kisses of His mouth” by reading His Word daily and saying it back to Him in faith-filled conversation. By believing beyond any shadow of a doubt that Jesus loves us with a Love so complete, it takes on the very nature of creation. All-encompassing Love; steadfast and unchanging.

Romans 5:5 speaks of a Hope that does not disappoint us, because God’s Love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

A SINGLE SUNBEAM IS ENOUGH TO DRIVE AWAY MANY SHADOWS. S T .

F R A N C I S

O F

A S S I S I

NEVER DOUBT GOD’S GOODNESS JENNIFER HILL

the midst of living in that environment the Lord

always has your best interest at heart, always. The

was still good to me. I can look back now and see

Bible even tells us that we are the apple of His

that it was His love and goodness that kept me

eye. (Psalm 17:8) I have seen Him do so many

alive. He has always been with me, and whether

wonderful things in my life over the years. My life

you believe it or not, He is always with you.

was not at all a good life for nearly the first 20 years. I grew up in such an abusive home, every

Let me take you on a little of my journey since I

kind of abuse imaginable. I just wanted to get out

got out of that house. When I first married, I was

of that house and be/live a normal, healthy life.

full of so much fear and depression. I had major

When you grow up in such toxicity and abuse, you

panic attacks and would out of the blue go in a

just never think anything will be good. I felt so

deep depression. It took many years of me and

unworthy and undeserving of anything good ever

Tim praying and he would often lay hands on me.

happening in my life, I didn’t even think I was or

The panic attacks were around for about 10

could be a good person. I mean, how can you be

years, and 1 day at Church my Pastor prayed over

a good person deserving of love or anything if your

the congregation and said, “some of you have

own parents abuse you? But, even then, even in

been fighting the same battle for a long time but

YROTS ERUTAEF

You can never doubt the goodness of God. He

known this for years, but had to wait til God’s

trips to the ER, no doctor visits, the Lord’s

perfect timing. So many amazing and wonderful

goodness is what stopped them. I have 2

personal things have happened since I completely

beautiful, healthy, and Godly children. Tim and I

separated myself from my abusers. The most

will celebrate 24 years of marriage at the end of

recent is we are having our house built. This has

this year, and we are healthy and still so in love.

been a dream of mine for years. We are about to

We have Amazing Pastors and have been part of a

live in our forever home and be Debt Free at the

Church family for over 16 years. The last 3 years

end of this month. It is no exaggeration at all,

has been some of the most amazing years of my

when I say, Life Is Good!! Sometimes things take

life. Broken to Blessed Ministry started about 3

time, God’s time and it doesn’t mean everything in

years ago, and this ministry has blessed so many, I

life is easy, but God’s Goodness is all around us!

love the positive feedback. Ministering to hurting

~Blessings~

people, especially women, is my calling. I’ve

YROTS ERUTAEF

after today the door closes forever. No meds, no

KEEP YOUR FACE TO THE SUN AND YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE SHADOWS. H E L E N

K E L L E R

LIKE VS. LOVE DIANNA AUTON

Recently the other writers and I started making

You may be thinking that I am completely off my

time to get together where we can build a

rocker by saying that but it is true. Here is how I

relationship and chat about things we might need

explain it: Like is how someone makes you feel, or

to pray for in our personal lives and ministries, as

how well you get along. You can like a persons

well as for the magazine. Since we started doing

outfit or personality. You can like the way they

this I have grown so much and God has used each

treat you or even how they speak to you.

of these women to impart things into me.

But Love, oh love is so much deeper. Love is an On our most recent time together the Lord

action word. It is a choice to treat somone with

brought the concept of like and love back to my

respect regardless of how they treat us. It is a

rememberance. I was explaining how shocked my

choice to share the message of what God did for

youngest daughter was when she had discovered

them even if they are someone we normally

that I did not always like her behavior but would

would not talk to. Love is not a feeling. It is not

always love her. She couldn't quite get the fact

something you fall into. It is not something you

that like and love are, in fact, completely

can fall out of, because, you can love someone

unrelated things.

whether you feel like it or not.

Once you make up your mind that there is a

I want to give you an opportunity if you haven't

difference and that you have to make the choice

made Jesus your Lord and Savior, then you can

to love people daily. Then and only then will you

do that right now no matter where you are.

see how God chose to give up His only son for us.

Romans 10:9 & 10 says "that if you confess with God gave us the sacrifice of Jesus because of His

your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your

love for us. Not because He liked everything we

heart that God has raised Him from the dead,

said or did. That, my friend, is the epitome of true

you will be saved. For with the heart one believes

love.

unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Repeat this prayer: "Lord Jesus, I take you today as my Lord and Savior. I believe in my heart that you raised Jesus from the dead. I don't want to waste time any longer following after this world and sin. Sin has no more hold on me. Satan you are not my God. Jesus you are my God. I thank you father for hearing my prayer. In Jesus name. Amen!"

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the Kingdom of God. You are now family. Now there is one more step you need to take. You need to tell 2 or 3 people what you have just done. This is the confession part.

If you prayed that prayer please let us know by emailing us: aspiringtobemag@gmail.com

We would love to hear from you and help you begin this new journey.

LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE. SWIM IN THE SEA. DRINK IN THE WILD AIR. R A L P H

W A L D O

E M E R S O N

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