Volume 2 Issue 2

Volume 2 Issue 2

If you do not stand firm in your faith you do not stand at all. –Is 7:09b I’m not a boy scout, but you should be prepared!

Beware of the Crush Monster...!

Table of Contents If you do not stand firm in your faith you do not stand at all.

-Isaiah 7:9b

Mission Statement…………..Page 1

String of Pearls……………………Page 23

Letter From the Editor……Page 2

The Story of Hannah

Shop Debu……….……………..Page 4

By Khloe Williams

Volunteer……………………….Page 5

Mirror On the Wall …Page 26

Inner Beauty …………………Page 7

Self Worth and Confidence

Part 2: Confidence

By Deb Jones

By Kylie Ramos Breaking Chains…………...Page 9

Top 10 Relationship Myths Debunked…….Page 28

Under Your Father’s Wing

Part 1: Beware of the Crush Monster

By Anonymous

By Kendel Garcia

Spirit Spotlight…………….Page 13

I'm Not a Boy scout…………………………….Page 30

Faithfulness

By Tiffani Hockings A Heart of Gratitude……Page 15 Seeking to Give Thanks For Every Thing

By Melanie Knapp When You Need To Belong…Page 19 Thoughts on Family

By Christina Polk

You should always be Prepared

By Christiana Shaw Guy Poll………………………………………..…

Page 33 Guys Answer Your Questions Those Who Made This Issue Possible…..Page 34

Our mission is to inspire teenage girls to surrender their entire lives to Christ and live radically for Him Page 1

A Letter From The Editor...

Dear Debu Sisters, I know you hear me go on and on about life and how quick it goes by every single time I write to you….and you’re going to hear me go on and on about it again. The preciousness of our short time on earth is something that God has truly been pressing on my heart lately (or maybe for the past two years). Why do we go about our days living in complacency and ignorance? Why do we shy away from problems instead of facing them head on and actually doing something about them? Why are we stuck in a generation that would rather communicate with others electronically than have face to face contact? Why do we choose to do life half way?

As I’ve started my first semester of community college in between this and the last issue of Debu, I have suddenly gone from a pretty “average” and mellow homeschooler life to the busy bustling life of a college student! Needless to say, the last two months have been overwhelming and exhausting. Sadly, I allowed a hectic schedule and lack of organization to put a damper on my relationship with God. I came home tired at the end of the day, and instead of spending fruitful time at my Savior’s feet I either fell asleep or “relaxed my brain” in front of the television. Not good.

The past two months have taught me that life is too short to let TV be your refresher. Life is too short to walk around campus like a zombie. Life is too short to skip calling your friend and asking if there is any way you can be praying for them.

Life is too short not to put bells on your heels and dance in the streets for Jesus. Life is too short to be caught up in complacency.

Life is the only time you have to impact the world for Christ. Today is all you are promised. Make the most of it.

Your Sister in Christ, Kendel Garcia

Founder and Editor in Chief of Debu Magazine

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Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. -Matthew 5:8

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Front print: Debu Magazine Back Print: Sand Firm Isaiah 7:9b 2 for $3 + shipping

Sizes XS—XXL Front Print: Debu Magazine Back Print: If you do not stand firm in your faith you do not stand at all –Isaiah 7:9 b $15+ shipping Page 4

Want to take the next step and volunteer with Debu?

Find out how by emailing debumagaine@gmail.com Page 5

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

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Inner Beauty Part Two “Confidence”

By Kylie Ramos What do you see when you are looking in the mirror?

Do see imperfections—maybe it’s some acne on your forehead or one eyebrow is thinner than the other? Is your mirror saying that you need to be skinny like the model in the magazine or your hair doesn’t shine like the girl’s hair on TV? Every girl out there knows what I’m talking about. It’s that dissatisfaction with the bodies God has blessed us with.

Now if you are at the stage I had mentioned before— not a believer in your true beauty—there are many ways to start your journey. First, every time you look in the mirror, say something (out loud) that you love about you. It is a great confidence booster and little by little makes a big difference. Second, clean out your closet. Find the clothes that make you feel beautiful, toss out clothes that are ill fitting, ratty, or old. Start buying clothes that enhance your God given beauty. You This is the good news: you aren’t by any means the should never settle for anything less then King. Third, make only girl in the world that has felt or is feeling this way. There some note cards with uplifting verses that gives you the assurare millions of girls, just like you, that have these thoughts. The ance that God believes you are beautiful (1 Peter 3:4, Psalm reason we make ourselves feel this way usually boils down to 45:11, etc.). Fourth, if you have any issues with your size, next CONFIDENCE. Such a simple word, yet it seems to have so time you go shopping be honest with yourself. “Am I buying much more behind it. these jeans too tight just because I want to be that size?” If so, I’ll be honest. I had a confidence issue growing up. I do you feel more beautiful when feeling restricted by our used to hide behind different things: large clothes, my glasses, clothes, or when your clothes fit the way they are meant to? and my hair. I didn’t realize I was doing this to myself, yet Remember to use God’s size chart (the one that is perfect for somehow the Lord awakened me. He said “Kylie, beautiful you). daughters of Mine aren’t supposed to be hiding behind things.

I hope that in reading this article the Lord has touched Rather, they should be glowing with their love for Me.” From your heart and is making you question if your confidence level that day on, I looked at myself differently. I started believing needs boosting. *Remember inner beauty is true beauty* that I was truly beautiful to the person I loved the most (the Lord).

Please send your feedback on this article to debumagazine@gmail.com Page 7

tervening on my behalf! Isn’t that an a.m.a.z.i.n.g promise?! I hope that gives you something to think about. Be encouraged, full of faith, and pray. Yep, I’m done now.*

“Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” -Psalm 37:7a

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The young lady was raped. Her brothers were furious. Her father silent. She was polluted, desecrated, impure, unclean. But was it really only Shechem's fault?

Didn't Dinah have anything to do with it? Yes, this is the story of Dinah from Genesis 34. And in what seems to be a mere story, a thing of history, I see a parallel with what happened then, what is happening today, and what could happen tomorrow for girls like you.

To understand this parallel, we need to dig deeper into the story.

Starting with verse 1, "Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land" (Genesis 34:1).

Here the chapter begins with Dinah leaving home and wanting to visit the neighboring towns. It would seem reasonable for Dinah to leave and want to build some female companionship, since Scripture does not mention Dinah having any sisters. Instead, Dinah is surrounded with only brothers. However, the reasoning falls when you look into the Hebrew culture. Jacob, her father, was a wealthy man. He had many servants, male and female, and wives. Women were available for Dinah to learn from, spend time with, and serve with. Therefore, if a lack of women was not the problem, why did Dinah head out to town?

The answer, I believe, can be developed from the Hebrew word for see. "Dinah...went out to see the daughters of the land." Strong's Dictionary defines the word with multiple meanings, including, "advise self, appear, approve, behold...enjoy, experience, gaze, take heed." When Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land, she went to advise herself on how these girls lived; she went to approve of them, behold, experience, and take heed of them.

Now, let's consider the culture of the land. Jacob and his family were the people God had called out from all nations. Since the days of Noah, no other family experienced the nearness and immanence of God as had the family of Abraham, Jacob’s grandfather. Jacob was continuing the legacy, the covenant, and the faith of his fathers. He was imperfect, yes, but he was nothing like the surrounding cultures. All other nations were ungodly, filled with dis gusting and dark rituals and practices. They adored and worshiped other gods, totally pagan. For Dinah to go and behold and take heed of the daughters of this land was one large step in the wrong direction.

Yet, is this not happening today? Biblical womanhood is lost. It is a puzzle some have been able to piece together and live in light of, but it is not the dominant picture

we see promoted throughout our land. A woman of today's civilization is strong willed, seductive, tempting, and secretive. She gets a lot of attention from her looks, with boys whistling and gawking as they pass by. To be blunt, the world defines a beautiful woman as sexually provocative.

Do you think the daughters of the land today are any different than they were in Dinah's time?

Prostitution was as rampant, if not more, in Dinah's culture as today. And that's what girls are doing when they go to behold and take heed to the daughter's of the land. When you are seeking to be attractive as defined by the world, you are prostituting yourself. You are causing men to commit adultery and fornication in their minds, which ultimately leads to the physical desecration.

Look at verse 31, "But they [Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers] said, "Should he treat our sister like a harlot?'" However, I think Shechem treated Dinah like a harlot because she was acting like a harlot. And sadly, the consequences were immediate.

"And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her" (Genesis 34:2).

The fact that Shechem drew her in probably shows that she was partly willing because he was labeled as one of the most honorable men in the city. Therefore, he probably didn't drag her. He probably seduced and played back in her acting as a harlot. Dinah was raped. What I find interesting is the word for raped, though, yes, it means defiled and forcible rape, is that it can also be translated as, "humble (self)...submit self."

Lust and seduction is a slippery slope. It degrades you, a daughter of Zion, into an object—an object for men's eyes to lust and slime over like slugs. The first couple of steps may feel good, satisfying, and fulfilling. But as your steps become a walk, the potential stumbling and falling spikes in probability. 1 Peter 5:8 depicts Satan as a devouring lion, seeking and searching on whom he may devour. Those who play the prostitute in their thoughts, actions, and apparel are easy targets. Why? Because they have already entered his territory, living as the daughters of his land. And when the consequence arrives, it is an abasing, scarring, and humbling experience.

To be honest, girls who hold to vanity almost have an arrogance as they constantly evaluate themselves by their looks. God resists the proud. The proud can expect nothing but to fall.

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Is this how God defines beauty? He defines virtuous beauty in 1 Peter: Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

enough to understand that he who pitches his tent toward the world must not be surprised when his kids act like the world...for if we allow our Dinah's and Daniels to interact with the heathen, confusion in our kids and problems in our homes are sure to follow. Heed the warning so clearly given here, dear dad and precious mom. It's not legalism. It's plain old wisdom.

Your Father has one of the most influential roles over your love life

Wisdom indeed.

Without the fatherly figure, your vision of marriage is detrimental.

Now, I understand not everyone has a father, and don't think because you don't have one your love life will never be as God wishes. You have a heavenly Father that is right there for you. Moreover, He has provided you with the church to have godly mentors, brothers, and sisters to aid and guide you in your journey. Never believe the lie from the pit of hell that there is no one out there who cares for you.

Once you have that fatherly figure in your life, you This leads me to the ultimate point of this article. need to open or reopen communication lines, especially The point is not to discuss the facets and characteristics of with your heavenly Father. Transparency and honesty will biblical beauty. Rather, it is discuss one of the great trainers open your eyes to see things as they are. I am sure Dinah and protectors of your beauty: your father. wished for a relationship like that with her father.

Whether you realize it or not, your father has one As I look for a bride, I am looking not simply at the of the most influential roles over your love life. He depicts girl but the family. Is there a relationship between this girl what a man is to you. How a man is to treat a woman. As and her father that is godly and active? If so, I can expect you learn under your mother how to be a homemaker, you that relationship to transfer to me if I were to become her see how a woman is to treat and respect a man. Moreover, groom. If not, I can see a difficult road to develop that your father is to be your protector. relationship as she lacks the relationship that is so Jacob should not have let Dinah go to the town by foundational to our marriage. How involved and loving is herself. No brothers escorted her, nor was Jacob himself she to her family? Such will show how she will build her with her. Therefore, she had no men to defend her and future family. shield her from the cultural influences ad threats. She chose Sisters, I challenge you to be under your Father's to be strong willed and independent, and see where she wing. For there, you will be protected, defended, trained, ended up. and held sacred according to the beauty as defined by God's A lack of a godly example led to that slippery very Word. Without such guidance, you are left to fend for slope. A lack of a protector left Dinah helpless. yourself. And let me tell you, there are many Shechem's Such stories our rife today. Girls know no prowling and looking for Dinah's. Where will you be? different. And parents are losing that vision. One commentator concludes Genesis 34 by writing, Breaking Chains, ~Anonymous The story we have just read serves as just Please send your feedback on this Page 11 such a warning to every mom and dad wise article to

“Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today.�

-1 Kings 8:28

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debumagazine@gmail.com

Spirit Spotlight: Faithfulness

By Tiffani Hockings

The same God with you then, is with you now The same God who led you in, will lead you out So take all your fear and doubt

let me know! What almost all the versions actually say is, “…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6).

When I first read this verse, I was a little perturbed that (since it didn’t specifically say “faithfulness”) I wasn’t going to be able to use that verse in this article after all. But then it excited me. This The same God real “version” (in my mind) shows us His faithfulness even The same God, is with you now more! It says that He ‘will complete it [the good work] until the day of Jesus Christ’. He will not leave us or forsake us during The Same God ~ New Song any of this time before Jesus’ return. And once Jesus does return, Album: One True God we are promised in Revelation (specifically in chapters 21 & 22) How is it that our Abba Father can know all of our faults, that He will not leave us then either. our sins, our thoughts, our words, and still have mercy on It also tells us that when Jesus does return, we will then us? How can He still love us? How can He want to give us His be made complete. In Greek it can be translated: to fill to the top, Holy Spirit, who in turn makes us fruitful? It seems unfathomaso that nothing shall be wanting; to fulfill; to render perfect. ble. Completely beyond our comprehension. I'm trying really hard not to cry right now. I'm not at home…and I don't want peoSo that is God’s part of faithfulness. He tells us, “Be ple to get concerned about me. =P strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will The song above is my current favorite. If you’re like me, your not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). favorite song changes at least once a month…and frequently, even more often than that. But this one has stayed my favorite Our part is very important as well! =) faithfully for about 4 months now. It has one of the simplest melWhen I think of “faithfulness,” my mind immediately odies I’ve heard, but the words are so to the point that they went pictures a big adorable looking dog, laying at the feet his Master. right to my heart the first time I heard it and I started crying.

Looking up at Him with love and loyalty, tail wagging, waiting Then I suddenly found myself singing it all the time. expectantly to be told what to do, yet perfectly content to stay So I asked myself why this simple song had such an effect on me. right where he is.

And I realized that it displays one Fruit of the Spirit that—like all Shouldn’t that be us? (Minus the big dog, tail wagging the other 8—is so crucial to our salvation. Faithfulness. part of course =) .)

Without His faithfulness to us, we would be nowhere. Literally, We are supposed to wait on Him and be content where we probably wouldn’t even be here and we certainly wouldn’t we are in life, yet at the same time be ready to pack up and folhave His promises of eternal life. Without our faith in Him, we low where He leads. We are also supposed to be loyal to Him. wouldn’t be truly alive; again, we’d be nowhere. And without our We can only serve one master (Matthew 6:24 & Luke 16:13). faithfulness and devotion to Him, our lives would be meaningAnd I want to stay at my Abba’s feet, listening to Him, praising less…and we’d…still be nowhere.

Him, and following Him with faith and faithfully. * One of the most common Bible verses I hear quoted is “He who Send your feedback on this article to debumagazine@gmail.com began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” And if you can find those exact words in any version of the Bible, please Go on and lay them down

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By Melanie Knapp

Gratitude.

Ingratitude. So often it assails our hearts. ~

Previous to reading her book, I had never before pondered the fact that I “get” to live. I have hardly ever jumped out of bed with excitement looking at the day head.

I have been dictated by circumstances, have succumbed to temptations, and have allowed myself to sink into melancholy. Trials have clouded my vision from what is awaiting me.

I couldn’t help but eagerly open the crisp pages of Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts, when it first met my gaze. I was introduced to it a few months ago by a mom of some of my piano students. (One of those moms that makes you feel as if you could be her daughter—so But to ponder this…I have been given life. It is an cared for the minute you walk in the door—the aroma of opportunity. A gift. dinner cooking…the noises of ‘siblings’…just makes it feel so...so…welcoming. It’s a home.)

Gratitude is a choice.

I won the book in a giveaway a month or two later.

I had already fallen in love with Mrs. Voskamp’s writing style through her peaceful blog. I have no words to describe it other than simply, beautiful. I want to write like her. To inspire others…to reflect, sweetly and gently, His light and grace.

I have the choice whether to be grateful or not. Whether to “give thanks in all circumstances” or to walk daily in the midst of a numb acceptance…that really is not acceptance at all, for it lacks that which is the essence of true acceptance: thanksgiving. If I am willing to truly accept something, will I not also be willing to truly give thanks for it? If I truly believe that my Father treasures and loves me, working all things for my good, will I not also be truly willing to lift my gaze to heaven with praise ever rising from my lips?

Gratitude is a choice

As I have been reading her ponderings, I have found myself stirred within the depths of my soul. One word has stood out to me from these disturbances within the silent recesses of my heart. This word?

I want to cultivate a heart of gratitude. A heart that sees the beauty in the ordinary moments. A heart that Page 15

praises Him for the steady rhythm of a clock or for the cup of steaming tomato soup that warms my frozen fingers. All of these, gifts I do not deserve, yet He lavishes.

I love prayer. But I so often lack the “thanksgiving” aspect. My Abba exhorts me: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

does not fasten to a life unless nailed through with one very specific nail at a time.”

Steady nailing. A steady realizing of each gift. Seeing it for what it is.

My reason for writing this? I’m taking the challenge too, and I wanted to invite you to do so with me. I have set aside a “gratitude” journal, where I am going to begin recording the things during the day I have to be How do I truly give thanks? By stopping and open- thankful for. ing my eyes to His bless1. Gusts of wind in early morning ings. hours What do I have to 2. A little girl with wisps of hair be thankful for? hanging loose More than I’ll ever … know.

4. Crushed berry juices dancing “Offer to God a on the tongue sacrifice of thanksgiving, … and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:14-15). Here the Lord is asking for a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Something that we come before Him with and offer to Him—even in brokenness. When we thank Him, we realize His goodness and His love even more keenly…we begin seeing, not just believing.

6. The Fall’s results magnifying God’s beauty.

7. Aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip-cookies.

The day before I started this challenge, I found myself keenly observing my life even though I hadn’t begun writing things down yet. So many little joys met my heart that day…joys that I often let slip by, un-treasured. I rush through time…I miss the moment. I’m so tired of rushing.

So tired of letting reality go by without drinking it in…

Mrs. Voskamp's, the author of One Thousand Gifts, every miniscule detail—an extra hug, another smile…one was challenged by a friend to write a list of 1,000 gifts in word pondered more…one less word spoken. Another opher life. Not in one day, but in time. Mrs. Voskamp's scribportunity to pour out, another opportunity to empty hands bled little things down each day, and in the end, she did not and heart and then be filled—one more minute to just bask stop at 1,000. The challenge changed her life. in His grace and just one more chance to love…

She writes: I speak to God: I don’t really want more time; I just I too, had read it often, the oft-quoted verse: “And want enough time. Time to breathe deep and time give thanks for everything to God the Father in the to see real and time to laugh long, time to give You name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesian 5:20). glory and rest deep and sing joy and just enough And I, too, would nod and say straight-faced, “I’m time in a day not to feel hounded, pressed, driven, thankful for everything.” But in this counting gifts, or wild to get it all done—yesterday. to one thousand, more, I discover that slapping a I want to live in this moment. Not to live in memosloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in ries from the past or cares of the ‘morrow. To be all here, my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few as Jim Elliot would say. things in my life. A lifetime of sermons on “thanks So I want to invite you to join me. To join me in in all things” and the shelves sagging with books on these things and I testify: life-changing gratitude beginning to give thanks in detail, and with an eager heart.

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To give thanks in all circumstances. To see His beauty.

Even the psalmist cried that the heavens declare God’s glory. Have you ever had your breath stolen away on a starry night? I want more of those moments. They are within my grasp; I just have to look. He is daily giving them to me. I want to live a full life of thanksgiving….to see keenly, to love deeply, and to pray strongly.

This act of naming grace moments, this list of God’s gifts, moves beyond the shopping list variety of prayer and into the other side. The other side of prayer, the interior of His throne room, the inner walls of His powerful, love-beating heart. The list is God’s list, the pulse of His love—the love that thrums on the other side of our prayers. And I see it now for what this really is, this dare to write down one thousand things I love. It really is a dare to name all the ways that God loves me. The true Love Dare. To move into His presence and listen to His love unending and know the grace uncontainable.

This is the vault of the miracles. The only thing that can change us, the world, is this—all His love.

I’m farther along now then I was when I first wrote the above. And I can’t explain the work God has been doing in my heart. Today I wrote my 145th gift. It’s been a couple weeks now. My eyes are slowly awakening to a heart of gratitude and to seeing His love in an even deeper way. How gracious He is with us…to draw us closer and whisper sweetly, “Come. See.” And then we awaken…like a butterfly from a cocoon and finally taste the flight of freedom surrounded by the beauty of Him. Don’t miss this chance to see His desires for you—His continual outpour of blessings. Circumstances don’t dictate these blessings (read that that again). They are always there. But do we see them?

There are also blessings in the ugly, hard things— what Ann Voskamp's calls the “ugly-graces.” Because from them Christ births beauty. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from

beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). His ways are higher than our ways. When life is darker, He shines brighter. And when trials come, we have the chance to raise our faces to heaven and choose—by His grace—to glorify Him in them.

In this—this glorifying Him—they suddenly turn blessing.

All is joy when lived with eyes open to see Him in everything.* Because He is love, and He is joy, and He is grace.

21.Bubblegum …

26. Tangled vacuum chords …

44. Powder-sugar clouds glowing with sunlight …

54. Lost credit card …

76. Birds with yellow hidden under feathers …

82. Clouds that make me feel so small …

100. Emotions I don’t understand …

107. Little girls’ bursting giggles …

123. Froth resting on steaming hot cocoa …

124. Conversations that lift soul and remind that “uglygraces” are beautiful So I want to ask you, will you join me on this quest for a heart and lifestyle of gratitude? Of joy? Come. *stretches out hand beckoning eagerly.

Come.

Let us learn gratitude together.* Page 17

m e h t t a e n k a w o m d l l i e w w k o a ve “I d b m n and I ha a e t , a t m co r fee w th o u n o y mk “ . u b e o 9 h y : t ed 3 n v o i t lo a l e v -Re

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Belong

Need To

When You

By Christina Polk It has always puzzled me why I expect to have a perfect family in what will always be a fallen world. And yet, I have desired the precise, cookie-cutter Christian family more times than I can count—where both parents have grown up in the church and my grandparents are in the choir, where everyone has get-togethers and both sides of the family laugh together, and in-laws don’t have that certain connotation of dread and dismay. It has been my birthday and Christmas wish for many of my eighteen years, and I have asked God again and again why, why He does not want me to have the joys of my heart. Perhaps it is because my joy is not God’s desire. Perhaps it is the growth of my faith that God wants, that innate longing for His will to be done, even when it does not correlate with my own. This is hard to do. I have walked this road of being estranged from my dad’s parents for eighteen years, and I have seen what divorce can do to family members whom I love dearly. I have wondered and doubted and cried at the ways of God. I cannot stand up here and write an article and say that I have overcome my feelings of anger and sorrow towards relatives of mine who never came to my birthday parties when I was little, never saw me walk across the stage at my high school graduation as one of the top ten in my class, and have never seen my tears from the ache ripped jagged across my heart. I cannot pretend that life living with a family in a fallen world is perfect. It is not. I would, however, like to suggest that we, as believers, have another family that we all too often forget about and isolate ourselves from.

prayer and didn’t understand how the passage of scripture we read related to anything in life and how we failed last week’s test after studying for hours. We might reveal our true selves, and that is a dangerous thing based on the average person’s experience in the world.

Too often, we bring our baggage from our earthly family into our relationships with our Christian friends. The worry of being let down again, the hurt from broken promises, the ache from fragmented relationships—we bring all of it dragging behind us, years of the walls we’ve been building around our hearts, some so high that they seem impossible to break down. Trust seems altogether a waste of time, because how long will it be before we are hunting for a new friend again that won’t be like the old one?

And yet, God calls us into relationships, because this is His way of leading us towards His heart. In the body of Christ, there is no guarantee of never being let down or never being hurt by other people, because we are, after all, people—part of the mass of humanity that lives in the broken, fallen world. However, while walking the Christian journey, we are learning to chase after God’s heart, being refined by the fires of trial and tragedy, and though we fall and stumble and wreck plans for spiritual growth daily, we are walking with God. We are walking with the King, and He holds our hand. He is there beside us because He wants to catch us when we get lost in the forest of the world and can’t see the way out through the tangle of the brush surrounding us. This is what makes the family of Christ something worthwhile to be a part of. God sees us with all of our junk that The body of believers, the family of Christ is at our fingerwe pull behind us, a suitcase that keeps expanding with the errors of tips, and yet how often do we rely on our Christian brothers and sis- the human heart, and He helps us to pull that burden. Not only does ters for advice, encouragement, and strength for the struggles at He see our mess, but He puts Himself in the midst of it and therefore, hand? Of course, if we share more than the average Sunday morning, in the midst of us and our heart. God is not like the family member “I’m great; how are you?” we might get into how we really are, and that runs away when times get rough and we can’t see the light and the mess of the week, and how we yelled in frustration and skipped life is too dark to live in; God is the one who answers when we call.

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Not always with the answers we seek after, but answers nonetheless.

home, we are all born with talents and bestowed with spiritual gifts to use in the kingdom of God that reflect His glory.

In God’s family, the concept that everyone has something that they are good at is not lost. Not everyone is cut out to lead worship; many don’t have the best hospitality skills; certainly everyone is not cut out to be a preacher for Sunday morning service. But, hear me when I say this: We are all created and were born to shout and praise His name, both in our words and in our actions. As Christians, we cannot live by just doing good deeds in the name of Christ. I have known multiple atheists who were very kind and considerate and led service organizations like National Honor Society. If believers do good deeds, then people must know why. They want to know why because there is so much more curiosity about the character of God than one might ever imagine. All we have to do is tell them about this character.

In leading worship, we proclaim God’s character through the words that we sing, the choruses of His faithfulness that we repeat. When we have skills of hospitality, those gifts should be used for His glory, for bringing people together to tell of His love and what He is doing in our lives. If one preaches, then they are responsible for clarifying the scriptures for people, for encouraging people in their daily lives, and for praying over people. There is no reason why people have to compartmentalize themselves into doing only sections of the Christian life, but just as someone who hates technology would not decide to fix their computer at

Within the body of believers, there is an innate identity that comes when one joins together with others who share the same values of the heart. There is a sense that wandering around aimlessly has come to a screeching halt, and now, there is a group where we belong. We can stay within the group of brothers and sisters that we are walking with, and we can laugh long and smile wide and sing no matter how in tune we really are. It is such a blast to be within a group where the masks slide off and we are left with open hearts and hands ready to give and receive the wisdom that others have to offer. It is a gift to be with others who radically want to share in what God is doing and who are enamored with God’s heart. The gift of God and His children who follow Him is a joy waiting to be realized. And although earthly family is important and we are most certainly allowed to be close with the people we share a roof with, it is such an honor to share the identity in Christ with brothers and sisters all around the world—all around our country, all around our state, all around our city. When the body of Christ walks in His love, hearts are changed for the better and lives are touched forever. When we sing, the roofs raise and we realize that we really aren’t just singing songs; we’re singing verses written for a King, and worship contains a whole new element of reverence. And when the family of God works together, laughs together, shares gifts together, and builds lives as one, I firmly believe Jesus smiles with joy.*

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"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. “ -Matthew 5:16 Page 21

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.�

-Psalm 119:11 Page 22

Have you ever wanted something and didn’t get it?

Think back. Did you ask for it? Typically if we ask we get an answer—yes or no. What have you asked for? There once was a barren woman who prayed and asked God for a baby— something that appears foolish and impossible to the human eye.

Despite the fact that this request seemed positively unanswerable, she asked anyway, full of faith. You know what happened? “... the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made him” (1 Samuel 1:17). If you paid any attention to the reference I just gave, I’ve already given away the identity of the woman I’m talking about. She was barren, and prayed to God, promising if He would give her a son she would return Him to the Lord.

Granting her request, God gave this barren woman a son. She named him Samuel (which means “heard of God”) and he became a great man in the eyes of the Lord. Meet Hannah. Her name means “grace”. This is her story.

We don’t know much personal background about Hannah, but what we do know slaps us with a sharp and painful reality. “There was a certain man... whose name was Elkanah... He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other was Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children” (1 Samuel 1:1-2).

Obviously, we are observing an awkward situation. A well-known, modern commentator named John MacArthur wrote a book titled Twelve Extraordinary Women. In this book Dr. MacArthur features a chapter on Hannah and paints a good depiction of what her home life may have looked like. He begins by explaining the marriage situation Hannah is in. When we read the names of Elkanah’s two wives, we read Hannah first. This most likely means that Elkanah and Hannah either married for

love or were married upon the arrangement of their parents. Before their marriage, Elkanah and Hannah were most likely unaware of the fact that Hannah was barren. Once this fact was discovered there was a temporary impasse. At this time in Israel the importance of a male heir to carry on the family name and receive the family inheritance was so high that Elkanah entered a polygamous relationship so as to produce a male heir. Peninnah then became the burr under Hannah’s saddle. As the years passed, Peninnah bore Elkanah many sons and daughters, and this only strengthened the tension between the two women. Provoking Hannah to the point of fasting, Peninnah seems to have found some pleasure in emphasizing her many children alongside Hannah’s infertility. Though she was barren, Hannah knew Elkanah loved her. He often outwardly showed his affection for her by giving her double portions to sacrifice (1 Samuel 1:5).

But Hannah must have still felt like something in her was missing.

It isn’t until one year when Elkanah takes his whole family, as usual, to Shiloh to offer sacrifices that Hannah seems to have come to an end of herself. Ever been there? It’s very challenging, isn’t it? Hannah is fasting and weeping for her lack of children. Attempting to console his wife, Elkanah pleads with her, “Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8). Finally, Hannah seems to be briefly consoled.

When deep distress and weeping do return to her, she goes to the temple seeking to be near to her God. Eli, one of the most famous priests in the Old Testament, is sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple. Hannah prays earnestly in her heart before the Lord; her lips move, but no voice is heard. Observing this, Eli takes Hannah for a drunken woman and rebukes her.

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Explaining the situation, Hannah communicates that she is not drunk, but she is a woman troubled in spirit. “...But I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation” (1 Samuel 1:15b16).

Take a note here. Hannah is “pouring out {her} soul before the Lord”. She was casting her cares at the foot of God’s throne. She was asking. She was pleading in faith for what she most desired. Without asking what Hannah’s petition was, Eli blesses her saying, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have made to him” (1 Samuel 1:17). What a wonderful promise! All the years of heartache— the season of barrenness and being the object of jokes—finally, it all slowly fades away, and all Hannah sees is the faithfulness of her God. We are told “... the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.’” Today’s translation of the name Samuel is “heard of God.” What a beautiful fulfillment of God’s promises!

Isn’t that amazing! Hannah was faithful to God, loved, and served Him. In her time of desperation and need, she turned to Him! She asked and was given what she asked for. If we think about it, it sounds very odd for this to have been the first time Hannah asked for a baby. Was there something going on in her heart that the Bible doesn’t record? Do you think that maybe once Hannah reached the point where she just couldn’t go any longer, she just let go? I doubt she “let go” of her desire to be a mother, but I think that maybe she realized that all of her agonizing wasn’t getting her anywhere. Hannah had a new promise from God, through Eli, and she could go home with a happy heart. Quietly imagine the day when Hannah found out she was pregnant. I can picture great rejoicing in Hannah’s heart and home!

Matthew 7:7-11 says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which

one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Now, this is not a promise that we will receive everything we ask for. But it is a promise that God knows what we need and will bless us more than any earthly father ever could or would. All we have to do is ask!

What could be easier than that? Imagine what an aid, what a weapon these verses can be to us! It takes a step of faith for us to humble ourselves, admit that we can’t do everything on our own, and ask God for the things our heart desires. But the beauty of surrender is the gift of peace that you are given in return.

At the time of Hannah’s trial, these verses (Matthew 7) didn’t exist. But that didn’t stop her from asking her Creator to do the impossible and to give her a son. She vowed that if God would give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor should never touch his head.

Isn’t it amazing how Hannah is willing to relinquish her heart’s greatest desire—to “…give him back to the Lord all the days of his life”? Would you be willing to ask for something, then turn around and surrender it to your heavenly Father? Hannah’s faith is beautiful!

What do you have to ask? Are you asking in faith? Are you asking your biggest requests? Don’t be afraid! Please be encouraged by Hannah’s example. She asked, was given a gift, and returned it with open hands. God knows what we need, desire, and want. He is a good heavenly Father and will surely bless the children that He has gone to great lengths to adopt as His own. Christ died so that we would have access to God; Christ died so we could come into God’s presence and make requests. And you know something else? We are told Christ sits at the right hand of God interceding for us! Do you know what that word means? Intercede means to plead on behalf of, to mediate for, or to intervene for someone. Christ Jesus is in-

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“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.”

-Psalm 40:2

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By Deb Jones

Let's start off with a question. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see? Are you really looking at yourself or just the image of yourself? When you look, do you see all your 'Flaws', or your 'Imperfections'? What is your time like when you stand in front of the mirror? I have talked to many young ladies about this very subject. I have been in youth ministry for 16 years now and what girls tell me is how they see themselves. It is a sad picture of beauty. I have talked to countless individual women and have asked, “How do you see yourself?” Girls, I have some sad news to tell you. If you do not start seeing yourself in the mirror as beautiful now, you will struggle as an adult.

only sweet affirmation to yourself. Being accountable to someone else helps us stay on the right track. Tell someone how you are seeing yourself after a week. Different? If the same, continue and report to a friend again in another week. Ladies, I still have to do it. Why? Because, I 'Self Hated' my self in the mirror for MANY years. Now I have to plant many seeds of kindness in my mind concerning how I look to not see the negative about myself.

Let me just say also—this is not about being prideful or conceited. Satan is after taking us DOWN!! How we, as ladies, see ourselves can cripple how we show up everywhere else in life. It can even make us so depressed that we don't want I am sure you are asking yourself, have you, Deb, ever to show up in life. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE ENEMIES struggled with self image and seeing yourself in the mirLIES!!! You are VALUABLE, IMPORTANT, BEAUTIFUL, ror? Yes, I have and unfortunately still do. But how can I, AND HAND CRAFTED BY GOD!! I love this quote: when I am a Christian woman? I did not know that how I "Woman are the crown of creation—the most intricate, dazviewed myself as a teen (with self hate), would impact me as zling creature on earth. an adult. I would tell myself, "Debbie, you are FAT, your legs She/WE have a crucial role to play, a destiny of her own...And and butt are HUGE… one man will just looooove my packWE, too, bear the image of God." (John & Stasi Eldredge, age…I hate my freckles, and why can't my hair be a different Captivating). Think about that....we bear the image of God...the color?” and the list would go on. See, when we talk to ourmost beautiful in ALL creation!! WE girls posses it. In all difselves in the mirror we are speaking either 'Life' or ferent forms, sizes, and shapes. DO NOT LISTEN to the ene'Death'. Which one do you speak? If we give into our bad my that you are NOT ENOUGH!! You are!! I challenge you— thinking, we speak it and then 'Live it out'. Our attitudes see yourself this week. What do you really see and change for the day, week—and eventually—months, because how many loving words can you say over yourself? Love on we don't like how we feel in our skin. the creation Young Ladies, I want to encourage you to stop hating God created...YOU.* your bodies. LOOK at yourself in the mirror and say nice things about yourself. Start by seeing yourself. REALLY, look Send your feedback on this article to at your face and find all the things you like about it, focus on it, debumagazine@gmail.com THANK God for them. When you look at your body, yes— with or without an outfit on—say good things about what you see. DO NOT FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE!! Promise to say Page 26

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Relationship myths debunked Part 1

Myth # 1: Having a Crush is a Sin I have had many girls ask this question, in fact, when I lead a Bible study on purity this summer, we devoted a whole meeting just to talking about this question. Is having a crush a sin? No! Admiring a young man and being attracted to him is not wrong. However, there are a few characteristics of a “Crush Monster”, a Crush Monster is sin…so beware.

How to spot a Crush Monster:

1. Lust “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman man with lust for her him has already committed adultery with her him in his her heart.” –Matthew 5:28 (pronouns changed) A Crush Monster’s biggest tactic for getting you to slide into sin is lust. What is lust you ask?

Webster’s Online Dictionary defines it this way, “To have an intense urge or need; crave; specifically to have a sexual urge.” If you are allowing yourself to travel to places you should go in your thought life you have… SIN. Beware of the Crush Monster.

2. Idolatry God wants you to love Him first. If your crush is taking precedence over your walk with the King. God wants to be first in your life, “You shall have no other gods before me.” –Exodus 20:3. An easy way to spot if your crush is becoming an idol is if you seem to be in a relationship by yourself. If you are putting an inordinate amount of effort into impressing this guy and not as

much effort into being an exemplary daughter of the King, then you my friend have a Crush Monster.

Do you have a Crush Monster? Do not fret, I know Someone who is willing and able to forgive all sins. Having a Crush Monster is a serious battle, please do not let ungodliness take over your heart and mind. Take an honest look at yourself and ask God whether your crush has taken you down the path of sin. Pray and ask His forgiveness, and then, “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,” -2 Corinthians 10:5.

Myth #2 All Attraction is Bad Some of you may be thinking, my crush isn’t a Crush Monster....Am I still sinning? Nope! There is Godly attraction that is GOOD. You see, I’m pretty sure God has put some amazing men in your life that demonstrate some amazing qualities of virtue, it is good to see them as they are. When I find a guy that demonstrates the qualities I am looking for in a husband (A passionate love for the Lord, gentleness in how he treats me and the other girls around him –especially mom-, affirming words, a heart if purity, a desire to save sacred things for marriage, etc.)

I mentally put him in the “Possible Interests List” and then watch him closely when I am around him. Seeing men that “fit the bill” is not a bad thing, being attracted to them is not a bad thing. Its important to know what kind of man you would like to spend the rest of your life with. If it is your personal choice not to date then the “Possible Interests List” is a useful tool I encourage you to use. Put God’s will first in your desire for a future husband and wait on Him. * Please send your feedback on this article to debumagazine@gmail.com Page 28

r. . u. te yo ou ugh a ve for y yd I lo em ar ied

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By Christiana Shaw One thing that my mother has tried to me over the years is an extremely difficult concept for me to grasp. The sheer complexity of this issue has been difficult for me to learn and close to impossible to actually do. I’m almost afraid to tell you due to the fact that you might try it yourself and become discouraged. But alas, you must know. The topic I’m speaking of is….preparation (shudder). Not exactly what you were expecting was it? Unless of course you read the title you may have been….prepared (groan).

This has become a problem for me over the years, I tend to start projects without reading directions/recipes/ manuals, which leads to said projects being thrown away, broken, or started over. And all of this due to a lack of….preparation (Urgh). A particular case I can think the day before we were due to go on an excessively early morning trip, all day long Mom had prodded me to get my clothes for the next day together, or to gather up any books or games I wanted to take with me. Of course with me being myself, I put it off with the age old response of “I’ll do it later.” Eventually it was time for bed and I still hadn’t accomplished any of Mom’s suggestions.

The excuse by now was “I’ll wake up way before we have to leave and get everything then.”

hour into the drive and upon waking up, I quickly discovered that I had no snacks, my socks really didn’t match, and my only companions in the backseat were the founding fathers. Needless to say it was not the best road-trip I’ve ever been on. And all because of a lack of….preparation (ouch).

In our relationship with God, we can at times act in the same way that I did. We put off time with God saying “I’ll do my devotion later” or “I’ll wake up really early and start my day off with prayer”. But sooner than later we procrastinate and forget to spend that time with God. As Christian girls, there are so many obstacles and challenges we come up against, and because of our “busy” schedules we often forget to prepare our hearts and minds for difficult situations. It is so important that we approach God with humility and the patience to see what He has in store for us. My heart today for you is that you can learn to prepare yourself with God, carve out a specific time every day where it’s just you and God, and go to Him saying “Lord, today I want you to prepare my heart and mind for whatever I may come across, help me to not only prepare myself spiritually, but physically, and mentally for whatever I may face.”

30 minutes before we had to leave I struggled to get my As for me I need to start packing for summer camp! eyes open. 10 minutes before leaving I managed to get out of Preparations kinda my thing now!* bed. As we finally left, I was bedraggled, not sure if my socks Please send your feedback on this article to matched, and I had grabbed the book closest to me, which ended up being a history textbook (my mom was very happy about debumagazine@gmail.com Page 30 that). I climbed in the car, and promptly fell asleep. Half an

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Debu: What is the number one quality you look for in a girl?

Brian, 17: She HAS to be Christian

Rico, 17: She has to be a Christian. I have nothing in common with a non believer.

Zeke, 14: She would have to have a really good sense of humor. And not afraid to he herself.

Joseph, 15: She has to be kind and she has to have a good sense of humor.

Gale, 16: Id have to say its someone who cares more about how God views their actions then anyone else. If they have the right focus in life (Christ) it speaks volumes about their character.

Now that's definitely not the ONLY thing, but its without a doubt the number 1 quality :-)

Wynn, 32: Christian! But a real one, not just someone who goes to church.

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Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.

Then Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that. “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’” Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

-Mark 4:1-20 Page 33

Those who made this issue

Melanie Knapp

possible:

Neely Moore

Editors-

Nela Holmes

Kendel Garcia Editor in Chief

Sierra Brewer

Kylie Ramos Managing Editor

Ty Skramstad

Melanie Knapp Executive Editor

Models-

Writers-

Ashley Bicket

Anonymous

Alexandria Brewer

Christiana Shaw

Cody Knapp

Christina Polk

Carleigh Skramstad

Deb Jones

Emma Williams

Kendel Garcia

Hannah Seals

Khloe Williams

Hannah Ruzicka

Kylie Ramos

Kendall Hayden

Melanie Knapp

Kendel Garcia

Tiffani Hockings

Khloe Williams

Photographers-

Kylie Ramos

Carleigh Skramstad

Melanie Knapp

Fawn Lawson

Neely Moore

Kendall Hayden

Sierra Brewer

Kendel Garcia Khloe Williams Page 34

Debu Magazine Volume 2, Issue 2 All For His Glory!