MAGAZINE
VOLUME NO. 2 EDITION NO. 2 >>1<<
EDITION:
GROW
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A NOTE: Hello, and welcome to the eighth edition of Dear Magazine! This edition {grow} focuses on growth in all areas of life - from our walk with Christ to our insecurities to our recipe boxes. I write this note to you, staring at my new and precious baby boy. It seems that this theme is fitting for such a time of life. Never before have I been so challenged or blessed. My cup overflows from every side. I am full of so much anxiety and happiness, stress and ease, worry and peace. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve grown to learn that in each of those times, despite how I feel, the Lord is using me and directing my life towards his goal and He is so good. Faith in him is not wasted, not for even a second. The articles in this issue have spoken to me personally as many of them play into the struggles and victories Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gone through in the past few months. I hope you can relate to them as well and that you enjoy reading through the pages - and maybe eating some macarons? So, without further ado, please flip through these pages with an appreciative eye, and a sense of adventure, curiosity, and heart. Enjoy! -Jenny
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“ THIS LIFE THEREFORE IS NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT GROWTH IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT HEALTH, BUT HEALING, NOT BEING BUT BECOMING, NOT REST BUT EXERCISE. WE ARE NOT YET WHAT WE SHALL BE, BUT WE ARE GROWING TOWARD IT, THE PROCESS IS NOT YET FINISHED, BUT IT IS GOING ON, THIS IS NOT THE END, BUT IT IS THE ROAD. ALL DOES NOT YET GLEAM IN GLORY, BUT ALL IS BEING PURIFIED. MARTIN LUTHER
“
“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.” >> Nikos Kazantzakis << >>4<<
06-15 FA I TH : EVERYTHING FOR YOUR PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY Getting To Know God Why Christianity?
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I
’m not much of a gardener, but recently my family
One would speak and the other would respond. My
planted a strawberry patch. Before we could place
practical, black-and-white brain could not connect
the infant strawberry plants into the ground, however,
that to interaction with an invisible, inaudible God.
we had to lay a fertile foundation. Without that foundation, the plants would never grow well. They would
I needed a different answer. The best thing I could find
instead be swallowed up by weeds or stunted by the
was a rather legalistic checklist to use as my guide.
hard clay ground, never to truly live life.
As long as I read several chapters of Scripture, jotted down thoughts in my journal, and prayed through my
Life for us is so very much the same. Before we can
prayer list, surely my relationship with God would
grow, we must lay our own foundation of fertile soil
grow, right?
- the foundation of a relationship with God. That foundation will nourish us and grow us.
Looking back, I know I did grow during those years, but not because of the steps I followed. Instead, my
Sadly, many of us do not know how to build that foun-
hunger for a relationship with the Lord caused me to
dation. A relationship with God – a true, living rela-
discern the “real” moments in the midst of the step-fol-
tionship – is rather hard to define. And, it is even more
lowing commitment. Because I read and meditated on
difficult to teach. So, how do we learn to develop the
Scripture daily, forcing myself to process what God's
relationship?
Word meant, my heart was open to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Because I prayed for people, my heart was
When I was younger, I was told to just talk to Jesus
softened to sense the Lord's nudges in my interactions
as I would talk to my dearest friend. But, that never
with them. Yes, the steps got me started. But, only after
worked for me. My friends and I got to know one an-
years of step-following did I realize what truly went
other through conversation and two-way interaction.
into growing a relationship with God.
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WHY CHRISTIANITY? by : Hol d e n Su kut
There are times in life when Christians think to themselves, “Why did I choose Christianity?” And we’re not looking for the simple answer, such as, “It’s what my parents believed,” or, “I felt some conviction about it at some point in my life.” I’m talking about the moments that sneak into our thoughts as little whispers. They fill our thoughts with sweet promise that the grass is surely greener on the other side. There is an element of the sex, drugs, and rock and roll that appeals to each of us. It is a small voice that tells us it would be no big deal if we gave in to our desires. At the very least, why can’t Christianity be a little easier to live out?
And so, as Christians, we try to find a church that turns a blind eye to some of those “smaller desires.” Or we look for a church that presses those desires of ours so deep down in us, that sometimes we can fool ourselves into believing we might not have them anymore.
IN THE MIRROR BY: JENNY
It’s hard to look in the mirror sometimes. It’s hard to stare back at the face and body you’ve been given and to know that that’s it. This is me. This is what I look like.
Some days it doesn’t feel so bad. Some days I look okay. Some days I spend a few extra minutes getting ready and have a positive attitude about what I’ve been given. Some days, I’m wearing the perfect outfit - usually entailing several pieces of denim. Some days, I’m brimming with self-confidence and purpose. Then I am thankful for my body.
Then there are the other days. Days when all I can see is the ugly parts of me - the awkward smile, the unshapely thighs, my less-than voluminous hair. It seems as if that’s the only thing I can see. There is nothing to take my attention off all my flaws. No clothes will fit. No makeup will look right. No curls will hold. It’s all just wrong. I’m just wrong. My body is wrong.
And to make things worse, I know these thoughts will be dismissed. Christians say it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Our outward appearance doesn’t matter that much. We can’t be focused on our looks. They’re just a distraction - a flawed part of this world that we are supposed to try to cover up and overlook.
But I can’t.
Look at me, I’m right here and I do have this body. I can’t just act like I’m not tied to it. Certainly there is some part of me that has a right to be concerned with the way I look on the outside? Right?
>><<
The answer is a tricky one - a paradox like most other answers Christianity has to give - and it lies in the balance of both outlooks. It is true that it is who we are inside that counts and that we should not focus so heavily on our outward appearance. It distracts us from what truly counts.
But it is also true that we are tied to our physicality - flesh to spirit - in such a seamless and beautiful way that we must not take our body for granted. God created us in his own image, with the most uniquely special form. By overlooking it, we would be ignoring one
LOOK 1: VINTAGE + GREEN + PINK
SOFT LOW BUN + KNOTTED SCARF
PINK + GREEN JEWELRY
GINGHAM GREEN SHORTS
VINTAGE FLORAL FLATS
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SIMPLE EYELINER & LIGHT PINK LIPS
MESSY WAVES + RETRO SHADES
SIMPLE PEACH BUTTON-UP
DARK GREEN CIGARETTE PANTS
VINTAGE FLORAL FLATS
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LOOK 3: ARTSY DENIM + SEMI CIRCLES
HAIR CLIPPED HALF-UP
ALL-DENIM ROMPER
RUSTIC BAG
NEUTRAL & STRAPPY SANDALS
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LIGHT MAKEUP + SEMI-CIRCLE JEWELRY
SIMPLE DENIM DRESS & TIE
BRAIDED TAUPE WEDGES
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CITRUS BATH BOMBS Relax in a refreshing orange and lemon scented bath with these super simple citrus bath bombs!
INGREDIENTS: 1 Cup Citric Acid 1 Cup Baking Soda ½ Cup Cornstarch ½ Cup Coconut Oil >> melted 5 Drops Orange Essential Oil 5 Drops Lemon Essential Oil Silicone Molds // Cupcake Tin Red & Yellow Food Coloring DIRECTIONS: 1. Combine citric acid, baking soda, and cornstartch together. Add red and yellow food coloring to the mix and combine with your hands. 2. Melt the coconut oil and stir in essential oils. Slowly pour the coconut/essential oil mixture into the dry mixture while stirring continuously. Use your hands to finish combining the wet and dry mixture. When you’re done, it should feel a little bit like wet sand and hold its shape when you squeeze it. 3. Transfer mix to your mold (here I used some vintage cupcake tins) and tamp it tight. Let your bath bombs dry in their molds for 24 hours before removing and viola! Bath bombs complete. Tip: Try and use your bath bombs sooner rather than later because they start to loose their fizziness after a while.
F R E E PAT T E R N S :
Botanical Embroideries
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E V E RY T HING G REEN SALAD Brighten things up with this fresh, healthy, and green salad this summer! Ingredients: LEMON-PARMESAN VINEGARETTE: Lemon juice Olive Oil Parmesan Cheese >> grated Mustard Honey Salt+Pepper >> Optional: Poppy Seeds SALAD: Spring Mix Lettuce Avocados Pears Lemon-Parmesan Vinegarette Directions: 1. Combine all the vinegarette ingredients to taste - the great thing about this dressing is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completely customizable to your taste, so just eyeball everything and adjust till you love it! 2. Cut up pears and avocado and place on top of your lettuce. Add a splash of dressing and enjoy!
BEING PRODUCTIVE What does productivity look like as a Christian young woman? Let me share with you one of the most inspiring verses in the bible that will set the stage for the rest of this article: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” –Proverbs 4:23 Just like when you are trying to lose weight or clear your skin, when you desire to live an organized, well-ordered and productive life, you must begin from the inside. God is clear about this in the verse I shared above, which encourages us to maintain our heart with all diligence. Often times we become so preoccupied with the world around us, that we quickly forget to truly live out our calling, which is first and foremost to bring glory to His kingdom. Living a well-ordered life can be a challenging task, but it is more than possible to accomplish.
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Make sure to Give God the time He asks for and everything will fall into place: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33. Time may seem limited some days, but I can assure you that when you start your day with God, everything else will flow in its proper order. Manage your time on social media. I know this is something that is preached about almost every Sunday (at least at my congregation it is), but how do we really go about this practically? “Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” –Titus 2:22. Like it is mentioned in Titus, we must renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, which can many times include social media. A really good tip that works great for me, is to make sure that the time you are giving to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter is less than the time you are spending fulfilling God’s purpose in your life; which is most definitely not spending two hours editing your latest selfie or spending an hour verifying who is and isn’t in a relationship. Create a schedule and stick to it. Often times we go about our day, going with the flow, getting distracted by that new Pokemon game, and we forget about our tasks that we have to accomplish that day. I don’t know about you, but when those days happen I usually find myself feeling extremely unproductive at the end of that day. Not only do I feel terrible about how I’ve wasted the time my heavenly Father has given me, but I know that I’ve failed to be that ideal woman God is looking for, who works vigorously and is honored for her hard work (Proverbs 31:17,31). Prioritize that schedule. Remember, no matter what you are going through in life- be it, a final exam, planning a wedding, or building friendships, God deserves the number one spot in our lives each and every day. I for one, am guilty of waking up to check my Facebook feed or waking up to study for an extremely important nursing exam, which often leads me to forget about giving time to the Lord and making sure my relationship with Him is first in my life. A practical step towards prioritizing your schedule goes along with the first bullet point: make sure God is at the very beginning of your day and from there, make sure to dedicate appropriate time to school work, a job, household duties, your church family, your relatives, and your friends. With God at the center, He will always provide sufficient time for everything in your life. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” –Ephesians 3:20 One of my most favorite stories in the bible has much to do with the productive life we are called to live. Proverbs 6:6-9 shares a little insight on the diligence and handwork of ants! “It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Wow, what an incredible example from one of the tiniest creations on Earth, of the life we are expected to live. We have so much to do and so much to give as daughters of the King. In a world filled with so many things, we can quickly find ourselves drifting into a sea of distractions. Instead, we should challenge ourselves daily to be filled with the light and direction that only comes from above. Cultivating an organized life is one of the most important goals we, as Christian women, should have. Our lives should be filled with order, peace, and productivity; Why? Because that is exactly what God brings when He is brought into the center of our lives: “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace…”-1 Corinthians 14:33. So, if you are living a rather stressful life and sometimes find yourself overwhelmingly unorganized, I encourage you to spend a little more time with God, indulging in His word, and discovering how you can apply the tips shared above to live a productive and God-honoring life. by: Sara Negron
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I N F E R I O R I T Y A N D T H E I M AG O D E I : W h o A r e Wo m e n M a d e t o B e ?
“To bear the image of God is to be the person whom God has entrusted to rule the world on God’s behalf…The kind of rule God has in mind is not a ‘masculine’ rule, but a masculine plus feminine, male plus female, rule. Only this kind of shared participation in representing God’s reign to the world is capable of doing justice to the God whose image we bear.” J.R. Daniel Kirk, “Imaging the Biblical God” When I asked young women to reflect
Being a woman becomes a weakness and
upon what it meant to be a woman, it
a hindrance as we consider the activities
didn’t take long for me to confirm that
we will participate in, the hobbies we will
things are not as they should be. As a
embrace, or the careers we will pursue.
woman myself, I knew what to expect, but
The female experience of discrimination
I was still shocked at the frequency and
shapes the little decisions, too: Should I
prevalence of adjectives like “lacking,”
express my opinion? Can I be a leader?
“limited,” and, perhaps most dishearten-
Are my contributions valuable? Am I
ing, “inferior.”
valuable?
The female experience of prejudice on
This deception of inferiority is not only
account of gender is a historical and
a misunderstanding of God’s purposes
global reality, seemingly on par with
in the creating of humanity, but has truly
universal laws like gravity, or the neces-
dangerous implications for our under-
sity of oxygen for life: it’s so widespread
standing of God himself. These insecu-
and consistent that it’s difficult to see until
rities lead women to limit severely their
you’re forced to take notice. Young wom-
spheres of influence, while the Gospel of
en in America constantly receive messag-
Jesus Christ breaks down the barriers be-
es of unworthiness everywhere they go,
tween people and throws open the doors
and these messages are often internalized
of opportunity and responsibility for all
until women simply believe themselves to
his followers. Therefore, any conversation
be less valuable than men. These messag-
concerning prejudice against women
es are played on repeat in our minds until
should really begin with the question,
they shape every aspect of our lives.
“Who are women made to be?”
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