{3} ISSUE
L I V E LOV E | R E C E I V E G R AC E
{grace} magazine
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philosophy believe in miracles
on the COVER
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Corinthians 2
3:18
Model : Ally Coppell Photographer : Alexa Nikol Curran
happiness is
Spring Â
.
marvelous things allthemarvelousthings.blogspot.com!
from the EDITOR
I
continue to draw a blank… even as I’m sitting here facing the deadline of publishing this issue and I just can’t figure out what nugget of insight or wisdom or truth or whatever you want to call it, I want to share with you… and to be honest it’s teaching me an interesting perspective. We all have the valleys of the highs and the lows of life. Moments where you can either receive the blessing or moments where you can give one away, the moments where you can choose to inspire or deflate a person. Earlier in the week, I came across a scripture in my devotion that spoke volumes to me, regarding how we as Christians should conduct ourselves in all situations. “Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” - Philippians 1:27, this verse can take on so many perspectives. In this instance in my life, I think that it means that even during the days when I really don’t feel like following through… or being the bigger person… or frankly even smiling. I do it anyway. Christ calls us to be a light for this world. This means rising above and following a standard that has been set far higher than days we just… “may not feel like it”, because I am called to a higher standard of loving others and myself the way Christ loved me.
eliza
Eliza Beerbower, Editor in Chief eliza@magazine-grace.com
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the CAUSE Sex trafficking is not just happening in a faraway place. It’s an underground operation in America – in brothels, on the Internet, in motels, and on the streets we walk on. The girls are as young as 8, and are forced to go out to look for customers. If they are unable to meet the required quota for the night, they will get punished by their pimps. This issue is one that begins to look incredibly overwhelming the further you dive in and examine the details, but three women down in the heart of NYC have followed God’s calling and are doing something tangible every day towards the movement to ending modern day slavery through sex trafficking.
fighting evil stitch one
at a time
the CAUSE Meet Katie Martinez, Bethsaida Portalatin, and Wildy Sanchez, these woman when banned together form the passion behind the brand Elegantees. A label who ensures that their designs are both modest while remaining trendy & affordable. In addition, the label provides fair trade sewing jobs to survivors of human trafficking and supporting organizations like The Nepali Rescue Project and “Restore NYC”, Elegantees believes fully that through the empowerment given in such a healthy way, a world of difference is made towards their healing, restoration, and provision.
Elegantees with just $10K in the bank, some experience, connections, and a vision, became a reality. And while Martinez, founder,. has yet to take a salary yet, she is proud to say “I have fulfilled the first step of the dream: to give part or full time work to survivors.”. Once Elegantees is a flourishing company, it has full intent in donating all the dividends raised to the organizations fighting against human trafficking.
the CAUSE
“I love doing Elegantees because I'm able to do something to really help women rescued from trafficking. They are completely broken, and need healing and restoration. Sewing is a way to give each woman a means of support and to help her self-esteem again. The financial provision helps her from being lured back into it as well.”
- Katie Martinez
www.elegantees.com
the GUIDE
styleline…
all the rage this spring
Earlier this month, our friends over at Zondervan Publishing sent some of their new NIV bibles from the "Style Line" collection, to take a look at and I must say, it was like Christmas! We knew we were getting something but we had no idea how fun it would be! The first of the five was a turquoise bible with a bird on a branch on the cover. It has somewhat of a modern look a little whimsical. Every one at the coffee shop is going to be wondering what book you're reading when you pull it out for a little quiet time. The comfortable feeling of a quilt was the next experience as we took a look at the blue paisley bible. The fabric like cover gave it a homey appeal. It reminded me more of a journal but inside is the NIV translation of the Bible just as expected. Next it was a Metallic Blue cover that caught my eye. This flashy sharp looking designed cover was fun. This would be a great gift for teens and tweens both boys and girls alike. The Zebra immediately put me in mind of my 20 year old daughter. Animal print is her thing. And the size of this bible makes it easy to just pop in her purse, and what's better than pulling a zebra accessory out of your zebra trimmed purse anyway? The pink clutch was my favorite! Although it's the right size to fit into a purse, it doesn't require one because it zips closed and has pockets for things like money or my debit card.
the GUIDE Â It's easy to think of this collection as "What its always been and brand new all at the same time." Because although each of these bibles are different on the outside, the inside still contains the entire bible in the NIV translation. Some have what I like to call "Life Helps" such as What to read when... or What the Bible says about... I also like that the words of Christ are in Red and that cross references are provided. The only drawback I can find with these is that the clutch has a very small font type, but the adorable functionality will make up for that right away.
Eliza having way too much fun with all her books to review.
Such a big thanks to Zondervan for bringing a little Christmas to us this Spring!
the GUIDE Spring Cleaning
Renew Your Health By Anna Shlachter MS, RD, LDN
Spring is around us (although with the way the weather has been in Illinois, it is hard to tell). If you look closely, you can see blooms starting to pop up and more color coming back to the grass, trees, etc. This is the time of year that we plant our gardens and the new soon becomes a bounty of food or flowers. It is also a great time to renew your commitment to health. Old habits can easily creep back into our lives, so take this time to “renew” your lifestyle. Think of it as spring cleaning for activity and nutrition habits.
MOVE- use the extra daylight to be active
The sounds and sights of spring and summer make it appealing to get outside and move. Find an activity you love and spring into action. Not sure how to get started? Walking is always a good activity.
Walking never goes out of style! I personally love lunch time walks- I am refreshed for the rest of the work day and the walk forces me to get away from my desk. Find a time that works best for your schedule. Buy a good pair of walking shoes and some colorful socks. When you don’t feel like getting out, put them on anyway and walk out the door- you might just find the motivation to continue!
the GUIDE REFRESH- stock up on items that will lead to successful habits.
Reorganize your pantry. Toss old items or foods that promote less healthy habits. Take everything out, wipe the shelves down and go at it with a plan. Did you buy too much of an item and do not think it will be eaten before it expires?
Donate it to a food pantry to help those in need.
Organize items by category, use, and finally date purchased. This will help you find things quickly and prevent over-buying in the future. Also, clear (labeled) containers work great. Find what saves the most space and makes sense for you/your family. Need inspiration? There are multiple articles and Pinterest boards on this topic.
Post your healthy choices and activities on social media for accountability and also you could possibly motivate others to choose healthy habits. You never know who you will impact. What other “health” spring cleaning will you be doing this month?
styleline Â
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w w w . s t y l e l i n e b i b l e s . c o m
the GUIDE
on the
BOOKS
shelf
The monthly guide to books, music, & media we love and know you will too
BEATS
BLOGS
Model : Sara Matin Photographer : Alexa Nikol Curran
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
Corinthians 2
3:18
welcome to
"ess
THE
One of the biggest dilemmas for both a jet setting career driven woman or a beyond busy mom who is with her kids all day, both equally love fashion and sporting the latest trends is finding space in her luggage or time in her schedule for all of it. Now add wanting to find versatility, comfort, multi-use, and functionality to the list and you would think it was a pretty tall order for one dress. Would you ever believe that we have not only found the solution but that it came in one dress?
www.hipknoties.com
the  TREND Â
the TREND No matter what age, what size, what style any women, can come up with their own way to wear a Hipknoties. Is there really a more perfect way to make her feel good about herself and in a fun & creative way then by giving her a limitless wardrobe all in one dress. Handing over the tools and making a style that is just her own…now that is what we call priceless.
hipknoties
Head over to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ magazine.grace. - to tell us how many ways you would wear your Hipknoties dress.
www.hipknoties.com
LIGHT THE WORLD
WINTER
35% off with the code
LOV E A N D L I G H T
#graceTRENDS
the TREND
introducing KIMMIE CARTER
The anchor is a symbol of hope. We, as humans, are adventurous creatures and raising the anchors of our ships in the old days was always a sign of exploration and of new things to come; New destinations, new experiences, new people to meet, and new things to learn. In addition, the anchor symbolizes stability. Once we have found something worthwhile, we drop our anchor and make sure we’re able to stay and enjoy the good times doing the things we love and spending time with the people we cherish. Because as those relationships become stronger, they can keep us stable so we can endure the harshest weather life throws at us.. When you think about it, is there really a greater symbol of love & trust to give someone? The launching of Kimmie Carter is both exciting and refreshing. An Arizona based brand, the signature collection has 12 different designs available in both gold & silver… so go ahead…
spread anchor love www.kimmiecarter.com
the GUIDE
Beauty on a
BUDGET With summer just around the corner… the days of exfoliating are here. Whether your wanting to catch some sun or not as the temperatures rise… the clothing will definitely begin to disappear and bright healthy skin is the first thing you’re going to want to see. Not everyone has it in their budget to spend a day at the spa, getting polished and primped so we come up with a super simple solution that you might end up leaving by your sink all year round.
Sugar Scrub 1 C. Granulated Sugar 2 T. Olay Daily Hand Renewal Soap Seriously, this is that simple… the smell is amazing and the formula doesn’t separate.
the WORD “Spring is here…Are you becoming more conscious about your appearance?”
It’s about equal minus swimwear... I am of course more conscious when in that. – TAMI Winter clothes do a lot to hide unflaRering parts so when spring comes I start to worry about the new fashions and how much skin they will be showing. For me modesty is key. -KIMBERLEY
Only where it comes to my toes... I love a good, bright, loud pedicure and spring/summer is the best time to show it of. – MELODY Living in the desert, I'm conscious of it more then when I lived in colder climates… – HEATHER
in words HER
the WORD
fragmented thoughts…
By Jen K
There is nothing like looking through the window on a plane ride that reminds you how tiny you are in the vastness of the world. Every time I see the countless rows of houses, each no bigger than an ant, I think of how each speck represents unknown stories of suffering and joy. This past week has been an emotional tidal wave. There were so many exciting things happening in my life, but the week ended abruptly with the news of two beloved people that died in my and Mr. Wonderful’s family. Coupled with the recent tragedy in Boston (where I had spent part of my childhood), life just doesn’t seem to make much sense at times. The uncomfortable questions in life, Is there really a heaven? Is there really a hell? become weighty and scary. Most of us tend to shove the doubts aside, because it’s more convenient to do that than to dwell on an answer that is uncomfortable. And suddenly, having a fashion column seems a little silly. The simple pleasures of enjoying food, laughing at a joke or watching a TV show become meaningless. Finding yourself annoyed at a loved one induces heavy feelings of guilt. I found it difficult to sit through work meetings all last week, pretending to care about something I really, just, didn’t. I forget that we take so much for granted. The act of waking up in the morning and breathing is a blessing, is it not? God, thank you so much for this breath, and my next. So many questions. So much is uncertain, except for this one fact: none of us will go untouched by the inevitable passing of life. And so the question is, how will you spend your life today?
Model : Kathryn Probus Photographer : Alexa Nikol Curran
Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God.
job
22:26
GLOSSYBOX w w w . g l o s s y b o x . c o m
the WORD change your perspective…
change your life By Melody Hawks
I am a very nostalgic person. I like for things from my past to stay the way they were when last I saw them or knew them. I like the fact that I grew up near rural areas that don't change much from year to year. The slow, sleepy towns where everybody likes things to stay just the way they are. I remember as a young child, visiting Disneyland in California and I was heartbroken when I learned that they decided to change with the times and update some of the rides and attractions. To me, they were messing with perfection.
In 2008 I visited my dad’s town in southwest Missouri. I enjoyed traveling from his town a short drive into the rural areas that were just like they were when I was a child. But that year, as I drove my own children through the beautiful fields and pastures headed toward my uncles old place, we noticed there were piles every so often of junk. Twisted metal, tree branches, corrugated metal and other random things all piled together in rows. I realized that these were piles of rubble and debris from a tornado that passed through 9 or 10 months earlier. I remember thinking how sad I was that my children didn't get to see the pastures undisturbed like I did when I was a child. Later as I thought about it, I realized that these piles which to me signified fear and destruction could very well be looked at like reminders or “pillars” of faith and hope.
the WORD In the book of Genesis, when God brought Abraham to a new place, Abraham often built an altar to God to mark the place where God had led him. These probably just looked like a stack of rocks to some people but not to Abraham and certainly not to God. It was a reminder to Abraham that God had placed him there and every thing that he went through to get there was a building block of his character. No matter if the journey was hard or easy, Abraham built an altar. Could it be that God is teaching us the same sort of lessons?
Maybe that's how we should look at the things that happen in our lives that we wish we didn't have to go through. Maybe somehow we should make monuments or alters, if you will, to remind us of the things that God has brought us through. I think of so many times in my life when I struggled or when I was treated unfairly or wrong and I realize I have two choices. I can be a victim of my circumstances, a victim of someone else’s actions or I can have victory over it, realizing that not only did God bring me through it he made me stronger because of it!
God's Word promises in Romans 5 that while we endure a trial, it builds our perseverance and as our perseverance is being built we develop character. As our character is developed we are blessed with hope and the Word says that “hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Once I realized this and equated it to trials that I had in my life, I understood that all the trials that I have endured in my life were growing times. They were times that God was growing my perseverance and in so doing, grew my character and ultimately my hope and that hope has guided me and sustained me through other trails in my life and allowed me to endure trials with others as God was developing in them, perseverance and character and hope.
the WORD Â We are not in this world alone. And although sometimes I do find myself lonely, I think that it is up to me to find others to interact with so we can help each other to understand that when we look around and see a pile of rubble in the pastures of our life, we might take a different perspective and realize that those are the times when God was building our perseverance and our character and our hope and encourage each other to share that hope with others. I suppose God could have left me like I was when I was a child. After all, it seems like in my mind that's what I expect of Him. But then I couldn't grow or learn the things He has taught me over the years. Maybe I should build alters of hope to commemorate the great things God has done in my life and take a different perspective when I see altars that others have built. Because I don't always see what they see.
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the WORD
in his words…
As a professional working in an industry that is predominately known for saying and doing anything for shock value, where did your point of view begin in wanting to keep your comedy clean? My comedy always had truth to it. But, when I was a new comic, I had a headliner touring through a club I was always at see me perform. He said I have great presence, great writing ability but that if I could just keep it all clean then I'd have no problem in this business. That always stuck with me. Plus, I enjoyed the challenge and some of my favorite comedians are clean acts. i.e. Bill Cosby, Brian Regan, etc.
ROBBY WAGNER
Do you have an understanding of where your initial fear of public speaking came from? I am not sure completely. I remember childhood was tough because I was always self conscious, being an overweight kid growing up. I got made fun of a lot. I do remember one time in first grade, the teacher was doing a math problem on the board to teach us "subtraction" - it was "6-2=___". Clearly the answer was "4" but I raised my hand and asked "what if it was 6 - 7?" Instead of answering me, she made me feel dumb for asking such as ridiculous question by ignoring the question. Kids were laughing in class and that may have been a start to why I was so shy to speak out loud in front of others.
the WORD How do you find ways to incorporate Christ into your life and career? I'm thankful for the passion and the gift. I thank the Lord before each performance and ask Him to be with me. My comedy has nothing to do with Christianity in itself but following the passion and using it to entertain, bring out laughter and joy in others is a better way to describe it. I just feel that if God gave someone wings, it'd be a waste not to fly. We should appreciate the talent we've been given. As in any work, it can be used to be helpful and positive or not. I think I'm obeying God by using it to be positive, which works for me because the humor and stories I like just so happen to be the ones that are helpful to others. Double win.
To find Robby’s schedule of performances as well as to keep up with his entertainment career head over and “like” him on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/fitnesscomedian
the WORD Â
What became the tipping point for you regarding your faith? I'd say it was the moment my passed away, I was holding her hand til her last breath. Felt a very painful, yet divine, feeling overcome. In that moment, I knew I wasn't alone and I felt God for the first time. Since then, I've searched for something but didn't know what. I needed to connect with my mom again and I think because of her always talking about Jesus and her Faith, it was something I came back to and became open minded to. And I just refused to think that that was the end of my mom that there's nothing after death, I know she's in a better place and that its real.
connect WITH us
- we love engaging with our readers, if you have a story, photo, praise, or prayer request you would like shared with our community you can find us at the following…
or on the web @ www.magazine-grace.com