Beauty from Ashes spring issue 2015
A product of Pure Design Ministries
What’s inside?
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2 spring fun 4 team! start 6 my 8space 12 17niner meet the
a brand new
spring devo
local artisans
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24 guy
pure design spring fashion:
26 46eyes with my own
modern
metallics
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P Happy Spring Designers!
Well, almost! Spring is around the corner, and I cannot wait! Flowers, warmer temperatures and new life are all a part of this beautiful season of “reawakening”. Ohio becomes green again and it is such an amazing time of the year after our long, dreary winters. So many things are happening with Pure Design Magazine, and I am truly grateful. This publication is a collaboration of so many gifted volunteers – designers, writers, crafters, and fashionistas using their talents and having so much fun! I am overwhelmed with gratitude each time a new issue is released. We are looking at ways to connect with and support some meaningful causes over the next year, so that we have an even greater purpose behind what we are doing. Keep watch for further information on how you might join us in this effort to make a greater difference. In this Spring Issue – “Beauty from Ashes”, we will be taking a look at how God often uses the hard things in our lives – failure, abuse, misunderstanding, and suffering to make us even stronger. There’s a scripture that says, “God uses all things for the good of those who love Him.” That being said, it in no way justifies the painful things that happen to us. God doesn’t desire that we walk through abusive relationships. He doesn’t cause one person to hurt another; that comes from innate sin within us as human beings. But He does promise to be with us through every difficult situation that we face. He promises not to leave us – ever. And He takes those broken pieces of our lives and uses them for His glory. When we cooperate with Him, He uses those very things that are painful and scarred in us to help others. He redeems and restores the shattered places of our lives and makes them whole and new again. In this issue we want to focus on the beautiful work of redemption in the lives of women and teens. We want to inspire and encourage anyone in the midst of a painful season that there is hope! Christ promises to bring healing and restoration to the shattered pieces of our lives. His love somehow mends and restores us when we surrender those broken places to Him. My prayer is that as you read on, God’s love and mercy will wash over you like a gentle spring rain. That as you turn the pages you will sense His unending love healing the fragmented places within your heart and soul. May you sense His power to restore you – giving you hope for your future. He promises to make all things new in His perfect timing. I hope this issue is part of that process. As always, thank you for your support for our magazine! We hope you enjoy this issue and pass it on to your family and friends! You can also find us on FB, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Affirming His Design,
Pamela Lozano
Founder/Executive Director
Pam Lozano executive director
Favorite worship song currently: In Over My Head by Jenn Johnson, Bethel Music
Favorite book this season: Reclaiming Your Heart by Denise Hildreth Jones
Favorite Spring Outfit: • A simple A-line skirt with tights underneath • Cardigan sweater with a simple tank • Infinity scarf • Bootie type heals – keeps your feet warm while you’re still stylin’
Favorite Bible verse currently: Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
n u f g n i r Sp
MARCH
National Nutrition Month/National Women’s History Month 1 - Peanut Butter Lover’s Day 3 - Happy Day 6 - National Frozen Food Day 8 - International (Working) Women’s Day 10 - Middle Name Pride Day 12 - Girl Scout’s Day 13 - Ear Muff Day 14 - National Potato Chip Day/National Pi (3.14) Day 15 - Ides of March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day 19 - Poultry Day – Eat more Chik’n 20 - International Earth Day 21 - Fragrance Day 24 - National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day 25 - Waffle Day 26 - National Spinach Day 29 - National “Mom and Pop” Business Owners Day 30 - National Doctor Day
APRIL
National Humor Month/National Poetry Month 1 - April Fool’s Day 2 - Children’s Book Day 3 - National “Walk to Work” Day 4 - Hug a Newsman Day/School Librarian Day 5 - Easter 7 - Carmel Popcorn Day/World Health Day 8 - Draw a Picture of a Bird Day 9 - Winston Churchill Day 10 - National Siblings Day 11 - National Barbershop Day 13 - Scrabble Day 14 - International Laughter Day 15 - Titanic Remembrance Day 16 - National Stress Awareness Day 17 - National Cheese Day 19 - National Garlic Day 20 - Patriot’s Day 22 - National Jelly Bean Day 23 - National Zucchini Bread Day/Take Your Daughter to Work Day 24 - Pig in a Blanket Day 25 - World Penguin Day 26 - National Pretzel Day 27 - Babe Ruth Day 28 - Poetry Day 29 - Greenery Day 30 - National Honesty Day
MAY
National Hamburger Month/National Photograph Month 1 - Mother Goose Day 2 - Brothers and Sisters Day 3 - World Press Freedom Day 4 - Star Wars Day 5 - Cinco de Mayo 6 - Beverage Day 7 - National Tourism Day 8 - No Socks Day 9 - Lost Sock Memorial Day 10 - Clean your Room Day/Mother’s Day 11 - Eat What You Want Day 12 - International Nurses Day 13 - National Receptionist Day 14 - Dance like a Chicken Day 15 - Bike to Work Day/National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day 16 - Wear Purple for Peace Day 18 - International Museum Day 19 - Pick Strawberries Day 21 - National Waitresses and Waiters Day 22 - Buy a Musical Instrument Day 23 - International Jazz Day 25 - Memorial Day/Victoria Day (Canada) 27 - Sun Screen Day 30 - Water a Flower Day 31 - National Macaroon Day
E W W HO D
E T R STAPure Design
Magazine was started by a mother-daughter team – Pam and Caeilen Lozano – as a vehicle to impact young women. Without prior experience in publishing, they courageously stepped out on a journey to inspire and encourage teen girls. Merging their gifts for writing and fashion, the Lozanos recruited several designers and photographers along with a team of teen girls to volunteer their time. Together, they have led their team in creating an outstanding magazine to motivate teenage girls.
Keep connected with Pure Design on:
www.puredesignteenmag.com Instagram: PureDesignTeenMag Facebook.com/PureDesignTeenMag Pinterest.com/PureDesignTeenMag Twitter.com/PureDesignTeen
WHO
Pure Design Magazine was launched in 2012 as a free online quarterly teen girls’ magazine. The publication is “for teens by teens” and each month, passionate students come together with their mentors to produce a magazine that will inspire their peers in purity, modesty, faith, self-image and self-worth. Through mentoring articles and stories of reallife teens, plus top-notch fashion spreads, Pure Design is motivating young women to evaluate the choices they make and the influences they look to!
WE A
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OU Y W O
Join our Pure Design Community by liking us on FB, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest and posting your comments and thoughts about our fashion, quotes and fun finds. Contribute by being a model in one of our shoots for a future issue. Submit an article, poem, or recipe to be used in a future issue. Send in thoughts or ideas on things you’d like to see in future issues. Email the Pure Design team at: pam@puredesignministries.com
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P L E H AN
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Pure
Hannah photography intern
Design
Team Katelin media enthusiast
Amanda creative writer Paige writer, social media expert
Gabrielle photo shoot hair stylist
contributors this issue
Caeilen fashion guru
Kevin Campbell, Owner of 8 State Bistro This new upscale restaurant is the location for our fashion photo shoot. It is staged to open in the old State Theater in the heart of Uptown Westerville. 8 State will feature approachable, modern American cuisine and will celebrate the history and heritage of the old theater by showing silent black and white movies along with other pieces of memorabilia as part of its dĂŠcor. Kevin anticipates a late spring/early summer opening. Mallory Leigh Fry is a 27 year old Mary Kay Director In Qualification. She is married and a mother of one daughter living in Dayton, Ohio. Mallory joined Mary Kay Cosmetics in April 2013 to become a woman of confidence and integrity to set a great example for her daughter. www. marykay.com/mfry1016 4
Ruth photo director
Pam founder, executive director
Hannah photographer, design apprentice
Ashley designer, editor
Nicole publicist, events coordinator
Carrie editor, designer
Sarah blogger, creative writer
Natalie marketing director, copy editor
Morgan editor, designer
Sarah contributing writer
Kate art appreciator, fitness buff
Naomi writer, social media extraordinaire
Avery photo director, assistant
Arika photographer
Kerry creative writer
Sophia photographer, editor, designer
Written By Sonia Garcia
For God so loved the world, he gave his one and only Son. I am fortunate to say that I grew up in a Christian home. When I was younger, I remember attending Sunday school and church services with my family. My parents taught us about Jesus and how he died for our sins. Every night, my mother would put me to bed and I would pray: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” When I was about twelve, I prayed a prayer in church, asking Jesus into my heart. During that prayer, I felt the most extraordinary feeling. It is a feeling that cannot be described in words, only felt. I remember tears pouring down my face, uncontrollably. I could feel what was happening to me; I was feeling the presence of God, like I never had before. I will remember that day for the rest of my life. I wish I could say that since then, I have been living a perfect, Godly life. The misconception I seemed to have when I was younger, was that when we give our life to God, we no longer sin, and we stay on the path that God has flawlessly laid out for us.
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While I continued to attend church, and develop my relationship with God, the real struggle wasn’t until I got to high school, when I realized being a Christian in a sinful world was much harder than I could have imagined. When I was 17, I met an older guy who was about 19 at the time. I hadn’t seriously dated anyone through high school, up until I met him. My family cautioned me as I entered a relationship with someone who was older and did not have the same morals we had. All I knew was that he gave me attention that I had never experienced from a guy before, and I enjoyed that. As the months went on, I began to obsess over the attention he gave me, to a point where I began to lose myself all together. We fought daily about various things; however, the big problem was that I couldn’t stay at his house overnight. I found myself apologizing that my parents did not believe in me spending the night at my boyfriend’s house, when I was only 17 and not married. I apologized that they were “old school”, rather than standing up for what was right. In reality, I didn’t know what was right anymore. All of my friends did it
and their parents didn’t care, so was it really wrong? Seven months into our relationship, I moved out and began college. This was a turning point in my life; I turned away from God altogether, and focused all of my attention on making a single person, my boyfriend, happy. He and I broke up constantly, and were in consistent turmoil. I didn’t recognize it at first; but I went from the girl with many friends, to the girl with a boyfriend and no friends. He was all I had, or so I thought. I rationalized it as all of my friends were younger than him, so it was normal not to do anything with them. I remember getting text messages from my friends asking me to come hang out, or go out with them, and I would quickly brush it off because I knew he wouldn’t want to go, and I couldn’t go without him. At some point, I developed a sense that if I weren’t with him, he would go off and meet someone new. So any free moment I had, I spent with him. My mother, who I still to this day identify as one of the most important people in my life, would talk to me about how this was not how she raised me, and that I was going down a dangerous path. I was already miles down that path she referenced; I didn’t feel like I could go back. Naturally, my parents decided that he was not someone that they wanted to be around because of how he treated me. I defended him, and once again chose him. I stopped going over to my family’s house, because he was not welcome. I was angry with them and angry that they weren’t supportive of my decision to stay with him. After a year and a half of dating, he told me that he wanted to marry me, but my parents would not be invited to our wedding and that when we would have children, they would not be in their lives. At that moment, I felt the same feeling in my heart that I had felt 6 years ago when I accepted God as my savior. It was as if God was speaking through me, protecting me. I broke up with him that day, and never looked back. I began picking up the pieces to my life that I had shattered over the last year. I worked hard to repair the relationships I had damaged along the way, with the people that mattered most, including my relationship with God. I asked God into my heart again, and prayed to wash away my sinful life that I grew so accustomed to. Over the years, I stumbled and I had to work very hard to get to a place where I put God first. After some time, I was amazed with the things God was doing with my life. I would get the sense that he was whispering to me saying, “This is the life I have planned for you, you were meant for so much more than you had planned for yourself ”. I trusted him, and I knew that He loved me more than anyone else could.
About a year and a half ago, I met someone who loves God fearlessly and faithfully, the way a Christian should. He isn’t afraid to speak about his love for Christ, or live a Godly life. I was drawn to him, in a good way. I admired how he witnessed to others, and how he lit up when he talked about his faith. We began dating and I am finally in a relationship that is centered on God, and not selfishly centered on us. We are getting married in June, and I get to spend my life with a man who loves God more than he loves himself. For that, I am forever thankful.
“I feel free; I am redeemed because of his unconditional love.” As a follower of Christ, I feel free; I am redeemed because of his unconditional love. I am in no way a perfect Christian, and there are many times I still stumble; however, I now know the power of God. Jeremiah 29:11-12 says, “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your whole heart”. I am grateful I aligned my heart to God’s plan for my life. His ways are always greater than ours. Hold out for what God has planned for you. He has amazing things in store for your life. Believe that what He has promised is true and do not settle for anything less!
About Sonia
Sonia Garcia is 24 years old and is a Behavioral Health Therapist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. She and her fiancé, Mike are getting married on June 5th of this year. They will live in Westerville, Ohio. Sonia also loves her dog Bennington.
Avery
ABOUT Avery M. is a junior at Westerville North High School. She enjoys music, being outdoors, and relaxing with her dog Tucker. Avery aspires to travel and do music full-time someday. Flip one page to read her story on our new Local Musician’s page!
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LOCAL MUSICIAN
AVERY
Avery M. is a junior at Westerville North High School who desires to have a career in music. Her whole life has involved music as she started playing piano when she was six years old. She then moved to drums when she was ten, picked up the guitar at the age of twelve and learned ukulele and banjo shortly after that. She has been writing songs all of her life as well. She desires to be able to share her music and affect people in deep and personal ways. Check Avery out on her YouTube channel or go to: http://youtu.be/ vMhYPOGQxrA to take a listen to her music.
Here are a few questions our team had for her: PD: What is your dream for performing and music? AM: My dream is to be able to share my music with anyone willing to listen. I would love to make a living at it someday. PD: What genre of music do you currently see yourself in? AM: I wouldn’t really put a label on my sound because I feel like by doing so I will limit the boundaries of creativity for myself. By the books, I guess people would say it is alternative/Indie, but I hope to become broader than just that. PD: What is it about music that inspires you personally? AM: What inspires me is that I can express myself in a deeper sense through music. It is just a way for me to let go and try to make sense of myself. It’s a way for me to connect to the real me. PD: Who are some of your favorite artists and why? AM: Shakey Graves, Twenty-One Pilots and Catfish and the Bottlemen are some of my favorites because I’ve known about them from the start of their careers and it has been amazing to watch them grow and see how their styles have evolved. All of these groups are very creative and inspiring to listen to. PD: Besides God, who or what inspires you to write songs? AM: My grandpa Doug. He has been making music since he was a teenager and he always tells the greatest stories of his band days. He’s given me every single musical instrument I have today and I want to make music to thank him and show him that he started this in me. I’ll be forever grateful. PD: What scriptures encourage your heart in music and writing? AM: Psalm 59:16 – “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” and Psalm 98:4 – “Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.”
gluten free
RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE COOKIES Ingredients
1 TBSP flax seed, freshly ground 2 TBSP warm water 1/3 C coconut oil 1/3 C dairy free cream cheese, softened 1/2 C sugar 1 C gluten free all purpose flour 1 TSP baking powder 1/2 TSP xanthan gum Pinch salt 3/4 pint fresh raspberries Zest of 1/2 small lemon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grind flax seed in blender,
Preparation
coffee grinder. Place 1 tablespoon ground flax in a bowl, add water and stir. Place in refrigerator to set into gel (replaces one egg).
Cream together coconut oil, cream cheese, and sugar; stir in flax mixture. Add flour to the top of this mixture, do not stir. Add baking powder, xanthan gum and salt, stirring into the flour before combining flour with coconut cream cheese. Fold in raspberries and lemon zest. Drop cookies by spoonful onto prepared (silpat, parchment) baking sheet, bake at 350 for approximately 15 minutes. 11
Spring Devo Guide March & April Esther – A Woman of Heroic Courage The story of Esther is about how God uses an ordinary orphan girl to save her people. Her courage and willingness to obey God at all costs allowed her to reveal a plot of destruction against the Jews. Esther honors the Lord by her faithful obedience and changes the course of a nation. Let this story inspire you to listen to the voice of God and courageously do the things He is asking you to do! As you read through the story of Esther, ask yourself the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
How would I have felt if I were in Esther’s shoes? How would I have responded when asked to confront the king? What lessons can you learn from her story? What do you see about her character? What can you learn about God’s providence from this story?
A Providential Divorce • Pride on Display – Esther 1:1-4 • A Real Party – Esther 1:5-8 • Queen Vashti Summoned – Esther 1:9-12 • Counsel Proposals – Esther 13-18 • Queen Vashti is Banished – Esther 1:19-22
Esther Made Queen • Search for a Queen – Esther 2:1-4 • Esther Introduced – Esther 2:5-9 • Beauty Treatments – Esther 2:10-14 • Pleasing the King – Esther 2:15-18 • Mordecai Uncovers a Conspiracy – Esther 2:19-23
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Haman’s Plot to Destroy the Jews • Mordecai won’t Bow – Esther 3:1-3 • Haman’s Response – Esther 3:4-6 • Haman’s Plot – Esther 3:7-9 • The King Agrees – Esther 3:10-12 • The News is Dispatched – Esther 3:13-15 For Such a Time as This • Mourning – Esther 4:1-5 • A Request for Help – Esther 4:6-8 • Breaking the Law – Esther 4:9-11 • For Such a Time as This – Esther 4:12-17 Esther’s Request • A Bold Move – Esther 5:1-4 • A Divine Delay – Esther 5:5-7 • Haman’s Rage towards Mordecai – Esther 5:9-14 Mordecai Honored • Insomnia – Esther 6:1-3 • Misunderstanding – Esther 6:4-9 • Mordecai Honored – Esther 6:10-14 Haman Hanged • Plot Uncovered – Esther 7:1-4 • A King’s Outrage – Esther 7:5-10 King’s Edict on Behalf of the Jews • A Desperate Plea – Esther 8:1-6 • Another Decree – Esther 8:7-10 • A Joyous Resolution – Esther 8:11-17 Triumph of the Jews • The Tables are Turned – Esther 9:1-4 • Jews are Victorious – Esther 9:5-17 • Purim Celebrated – Esther 9:18-26 • Purim Established – Esther 9:27-32 The Greatness of Mordecai • Mordecai’s Fame – Esther 10:1-3
Continued on next page.
May Ruth – A Woman of Faithful Love In the story of Ruth, a young Moabitess woman loses her husband, along with her father and brother-in-law. Instead of returning to her own homeland where she might one day remarry, she chooses to remain faithful to her mother-in-law. God uses Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi to set her up to be part of the lineage of Christ. As you read, be aware of how God chose this ordinary girl to bring about His purpose of salvation for the world. As you read through the story of Ruth, ask yourself the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
How would I have felt if I were in Ruth’s shoes? How would I have responded to such loss? What lessons can you learn from her story? What do you see about her character? What can you learn about God from this story?
Naomi’s Loss • Naomi’s Loss - Ruth 1:1-5 • Naomi Releases her Daughters in Law – Ruth 1:8-13 • Ruth Clings to Naomi – Ruth 1:14-18 • Ruth and Naomi Return to Bethlehem – Ruth 1:19-22
Ruth and Boaz Meet • Ruth Begins to Work – Ruth 2:1-7 • Boaz is Kind to Ruth – Ruth 2:8-16 • Ruth tells Naomi of their Favor – Ruth 2:17-23 Naomi Sends Ruth to Boaz’s Threshing Floor • Naomi’s Instructions for Ruth – Ruth 3:1-5 • Ruth approaches Boaz – Ruth 3:6-9 • Boaz Pledges to Secure Redemption – Ruth 3:10-15 • Ruth tells Naomi – Ruth 3:16-18 Boaz Marries Ruth • Boaz confronts the unnamed Kinsman – Ruth 4:1-8 • Boaz Buys Naomi’s Property and Announces His • Marriage to Ruth – Ruth 4:9-12 • Naomi Redeemed – Ruth 4:13-17 • Genealogy of David – Ruth 4:18-22
Blue Skies by Noah and the Whale - Amanda Its a Beautiful Day by U2 - Arika Dare you to Move by Switchfoot - Ashley Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield - Caeilen Beautiful Mess by Faith Ecklund - Carrie Land of the Rising Sun by Ike Ndolo - Hannah Little do you Know by Alex and Sierra - Katelin The Kite Song by Heather Evans - Kate Here comes the Sun by The Beatles - Kerry
Team Playlist Keep your Head Up by Andy Grammer - Maddie Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams - Morgan Out of Hiding by Steffany Gretzinger - Naomi Changed by Rascal Flats - Natalie Not with Haste by Mumford & Sons - Nicole You make Me Brave by Bethel Music - Paige Lift up your Head by Laura Hackett - Pam Miracles by The FWD - Sarah 3three Little Birds by Bob Marley - Sophia 15
Spring thaw salad To make this salad, you’ll need: • Whole fresh blackberries • Fresh pear, diced • Leafy romaine lettuce Tasty, optional add-ins: • Sliced almonds or pecans • Fresh apple, diced Place all ingredients in a bowl or plate. Now it’s time to make some dressing!
Salad dressing ingredients: • 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar • 1/2 tablespoon of honey • About 1/4 teaspoon of dried basil • About 1/4 teaspoon of dried rosemary Combine in a small jar. Shake or stir. Pour over the salad. Savor and share!
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By Amanda R.
NINER Under the vast curtain of a steel gray sky, one girl stood alone at the starting line. While her fellow runners were seeking last-minute words of encouragement and hugs from teammates, she preferred to spend these last few seconds before the race on her own terms. Even though each runner was bigger, older, and more experienced than her, she was not intimidated. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.
Inhale. One, for God - The first priority in life. Exhale. Two, for her mother - who had been with her through everything. For each breath, she counted, a different inspiration filling her mind. Three, for family. Four, for friends. Five, for her teachers and coaches. Six, for every challenge she had faced. Seven for the scared little girl she had been. Eight for the woman she would one day become, and nine for whom she was at that moment and all she had done to get there. Breathing in deeply one last time, her thoughts were on God once more, and her absolute faith that whatever happened next would be His will. Exhaling slowly, she opened her eyes. With a mind that was clear and focused, she walked calmly to the starting blocks, smiled at the sky, and lowered herself into position. The gun fired, and she began to run. No one at the finish line knew that this quiet wisp of a girl who won by 10 feet in a 100 meter race had spent much of her childhood in doctors’ offices, Emergency Rooms and hospitals, agonizingly unable to do that very thing—run.
I come from what is known as a “broken home”, a term I’ve fought against my whole life because in my case, it was only one member of the family that was broken. Growing up with an abusive father took its toll on many things, but I’m proud to say he never broke me. When you’re four years old and wondering why your daddy doesn’t love you, why he screams at mommy and gives you bruises – both physically and mentally, there’s not really an easy answer for that. But when his eyes say that you’re disgusting and when he does all that he can to ruin every good thought you have about yourself, it’s easy to think that it must be your fault.
But worse than the taunts and the tears, my life was tormented by a terrible cough. Even before I reached the age of two, I dealt with a horrible, deafening, hear-it-throughwalls kind of cough that would terrorize my small body whenever I laughed, cried, ran, or did much of anything physical. Therefore, the solution was that I couldn’t do much of anything. Instead, I watched while my friends had the kind of fun I’d like to have and tried to deal with the isolating fact that many parents didn’t want their children associating with a potentially sick girl. When I was five years old, I had my first surgery. For months afterward, I underwent blood tests, sweat tests, breathed into tubes, and ran on a treadmill with wires strapped to my chest. I drank bitter medicines, learned to swallow monster pills, and had two more surgeries, each more extensive and painful than the last. My mother and I said desperate prayers every night before bed, pleading for healing but nothing changed. Doctors would wonder, “Was it a rare form of cancer? Was there a genetic mutation in my lungs? Would this blonde-haired, wide-eyed child live to see 20?” Amidst all of this, my parents had divorced, but I still had to visit my father on Tuesday evenings and one day on the weekend – until one day, he went too far. I can still remember with perfect clarity that day in April when we went to children’s services to see the social worker. I can still remember the exact words she wrote on my file. “No further contact.” But clearest of all is my memory of the feeling those three words evoked. It was as if a dark cloud had lifted, like weights had been thrown off and that there just might be a small chance of being normal. When I woke up the next
morning, I immediately knew something was different. Within a week, I knew what it was – my cough was gone. Within a month, I ran. I prayed the cough would be gone forever. Years passed, full of easily tearing past the fastest boys in the school on field day, of laughter and sunshine, of making new friends and making up for lost time. Slowly but surely, I created a new life for myself. I had a close relationship with God, attended church, and memorized Bible verses for AWANA. I excelled in school, earned straight A’s, won academic and citizenship awards, and participated in every sport I could sign up for – softball, soccer, drill team, rock climbing, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track, and dance. I even broke three middle school track records. I did everything with an unbridled passion and always gave 110%. I was determined to make up for each second of life that my father took away, to fill the gaping hole he left with the very things he told me I could never do. As I entered my teen years, things began to change. My social life was getting more complicated as my friends started getting caught up with boyfriends, temptations, gossip and drama. Being mature for my age due to everything I had faced, I didn’t allow myself to fall into those patterns. I tried to help a friend who was in a situation similar to mine, yet in the end he chose a path of drugs and alcohol. School was getting increasingly difficult and left little time for family and youth group. I began to grow frustrated.
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On March 28th, almost seven years to the day of when the cough disappeared for good, something terrible happened. During the first softball game of the season, I was asked if I wanted to play one more inning or leave for band practice. Being a competitor, I jogged out to my spot in center field. The first pitch was a fly ball. As the ball was hit I said a quick prayer to God to help me catch it, and then the little voice in my head added that if it was His will for me to drop it, then that worked too. I sprinted as fast as I could, eager to prove myself and start the inning off on a positive note. The next thing I knew, I was on the ground, and I heard a horrible cracking noise. I had collided with my teammate in left field, and both bones in my shin had snapped in two. All I could think about was the excruciating pain. Later, in the hospital, when the doctors told me that I would need surgery that night to insert a metal rod and screws into my leg, they asked about my medical history. All at once, the memories flooded in. I was forcibly reminded of another hospital bed before a different surgery, when I had almost given up all hope of being able to run again. Had I really been saved from that fate only to have it returned to me seven years later? The X-Rays looked terrifying but the surgery was a success. My leg would never be the same again. During the healing process, I couldn’t do much of anything and the pain was unbearable. I had a lot of time to think and remember how devastatingly similar this situation was to my old life. It was
an awful feeling, being broken again. There were nights where I would wake from a nightmare because it felt like knives were ripping my bones apart and the medicine just wasn’t enough. I began feeling like I wasn’t enough. All of the old insecurities I had fought so hard to forget plagued me, and I worried that this time I might not be able to recover.
done, but because of my relationship with the Maker of the Universe. It will be because I surrendered my obsession for perfection, my thirst to prove that I was enough, and laid it all at His feet. There, he took my nine, my pitiful, human, unworthy nine, and He made it a ten.
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:11). The night before I left the hospital, I was lying awake as usual when I remembered something. It was the small, hopeful prayer I said in my head when the ball was hit, and my willingness to follow God’s will. If he didn’t think I could have handled the pain, I would have just caught the ball. If he didn’t know from the day he made me that I would be strong and courageous in the face of a horrible experience, I would have had an easy, perfectly normal childhood with a loving father. As I thought about it more, I discovered that the reason my 110% wasn’t adding up was because I was trying to do everything myself and I expected it to work out. I saw then that I would never be the perfect girl. No matter how hard I tried, there would always be a piece missing from my life - the childhood that my father stole from me. I had spent every day up until that point trying to fill the hole in my heart with achievements and activities, never accepting anything less than perfection. Deep, deep down, I hated the fact that I was flawed. Then, I realized that I was only human. Romans 23 says that all fall short of the glory of God - which means that no one, no matter how impeccable their lives may seem, will ever reach God’s standards of perfection. On my own, I would never add up, but with Him on my side, I could become a new creation. I could have a new beginning. Now, I embrace the fact that I’m flawed. I love my scars, both on my leg and in my heart, because they remind me of what I faced, and that ultimately, I was healed and made whole. I embrace the fact that to me, nine is so much more than a number - it’s my way of saying that even though I spent many years trying to make up for my broken past, I will never truly be perfect. There would always be one piece missing: a nine out of ten. And that’s ok. One day, when I reach Heaven, it won’t be because of the things I’ve
After months of strenuous physical therapy and learning to walk again, I remember when I ran for the first time in almost five months. It was painful and laborious, yet it was just as freeing and amazing as the first time I ran without coughing. Both days marked a turning point in my life, turning away from the dark days and towards the welcoming light of a bright future. For every breath I took, I counted one inspiration per number, the way I would eventually prepare for a race when I got back on the track. It’s my reminder of my favorite verse, Jeremiah 29:11, that God knows the plans He has for us, plans to give us hope and a future. It is my reminder that I can’t do this on my own, but I have the help of everyone who supports me, and of the Ultimate Creator. It’s my reminder that sometimes beauty really can come from ashes – because there I was, doing the thing I loved, against all odds. Resilient. Unbroken. Niner. Amanda is a sophomore at Olentangy Liberty High School in Powell, Ohio. She enjoys as many activities as her schedule will allow, but a few of her favorites are: band, dance and creative writing. In her free time, she enjoys writing music, reading, and spending time with her family and her cat. Her favorite scripture verse is Isaiah 40:31.
erica s.
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Erica S. is a senior at Olentangy Liberty who loves being creative. She enjoys the conceptual process of art and being able to execute those ideas. She works in all types of media, especially acrylic painting and ceramics. She is an outgoing person who loves working with others and making friends. She loves trying new things, being adventurous and she loves the outdoors. She tries to be as passionate and intense as possible with whatever she does. She is involved in marching band and drumline, soccer, and her church’s youth group. She also teaches a middle school drumline as well. Being a leader is something she takes pride in. It allows her to be a good influence and try and show Gods light to people around her.
savannah c.
Savannah C. is a sixteen year old sophomore at Delaware Hayes High School. She loves art, soccer, Jesus, hanging with her family, friends and laughing. She enjoys doing art in her spare time.
ISAIAH 1:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion -
to bestow on them...
...a crown of beauty instead of ashes...
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GUY Andrew is a 19 year old post high school barista at Starbucks. He enjoys playing guitar, piano, and writing music. He doesn’t like cold weather, finger nail files, or brussel sprouts. Andrew Powers
All of us struggle with failure and making mistakes in life. Sometimes those failures become crippling if we do not deal with them properly. However, when we realize God can use even our mistakes, it becomes an opportunity to understand God’s love and grace in a deeper way. We begin to see that even our failures can bring about good in our lives. Our team asked Andrew Powers a few questions regarding this topic, here is what he had to say: PD: When something in life just isn’t happening the way you want how do you deal with it? AP: I try to figure out why it isn’t working the way I want. I mean, who doesn’t like it when things don’t go the way they want? But more and more I’m becoming okay with not getting my way all the time. Jesus didn’t want to go to the cross (Luke 22:42 says “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” [NIV]) But he did it because it was his destiny. I would rather have what God has for me than what I have for me.
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PD: When someone new comes in your life and at first it’s great, but then it turns out bad, how do you deal with it? AP: Nobody’s perfect. It’s what happens when you live in an imperfect world. Some people rub me the wrong way and when it happens I try to see them through God’s eyes. Jesus died just as much for that person as for me and it’s my job as a follower of Christ to love them no matter what the circumstance. PD: What has God taught you through mistakes you’ve made? AP: I used to have this concept in my mind that if you make a mistake that God can’t use you. I know my mistakes aren’t His will, but I’ve come to find that He so loves me that He uses my mistakes for His glory. My mistakes have taught me that I need to rely on Him all the more. PD: How do you overcome fear of failure? AP: I hate failure… a lot. But I would rather try something and fail miserably than never try. If I’m so afraid of failing that I never do anything then it is failure in and of itself.
PD: When God takes something really important out of your life, do you immediately get mad or do you sit down and ask him Him why he did this? AP: If God takes something there is a reason. Psalm 84:11 says “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk blamelessly” (NIV). So to answer the question I can get upset when something I categorize as “good” gets taken away. But I just need to trust that He knows what I need a lot better than I do and that His definition of good is much, much better than my own. PD: Have mistakes ever impacted your life for the better? AP: Yes. My mistakes have taught me more about God. If I didn’t make mistakes I wouldn’t know the true depths to His love. That even after all my mistakes and selfishness, He would still pursue a relationship with me is mind boggling. It makes me feel valuable and it encourages me to love others.
Q& A
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modern Metallics
MOTO STRIPS Stay cool in neutrals mixed with a pop of color and metallic neckwear! Play with skirts mixed with tennis shoes or a moto jacket. 28
BLINGY CLUTCH Repurpose a fancy clutch to dress up an outfit and add a little bling!
PASTEL POPS Spring is a great time to mix and match bright vibrant solids. Pastel colored jeans paired with vibrant tops help you move past the dark shades of winter.
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Chunky gold necklaces add a pop of attention to an otherwise plain neckline. Spring is also a fun time to try some dramatic shades of makeup such as the deep blue eye shadow shown here.
A BOWTIFUL CLUTCH Add a fun vibrant clutch or bag for a pop of color and fun! 32
LACEY DAYS Springtime is the best for jeans, a simple sandal and a lace top. Add bangles and a statement necklace to complete the look!
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BOLD MAXIS Vibrant, bold maxi dresses are a great way to bring in spring. Layer it with a jean vest or jacket for those chillier days. Silver gladiators and jewelry complete this look nicely!
Chunky metallic necklaces add wonderful detail to a floral tank, solid cardigan and skinny jeans. Throw on a shoulder bag to complete the ensemble. 36
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“SUN”DAY BEST Elevate a sundress with geometric jewelry of a different shade. Add some metallic bangles and your ready to go!
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PRE-SUMMER CHIC White crop pants with detailed stilettos make for a chic look when paired with a colorful lace top over a neutral tank. A gold chain necklace adds nice detail to an otherwise “soft� look.
SILKY SARONGS Flowing pastel skirts matched with colorful crop tops make for a comfy yet elegant spring look. 42
Elegant flip flops add a wonderful touch to any spring combination. Fun casual accessories complete the ensemble.
AFFORDABLE PROM OPTIONS Prom season is around the corner, and finding a dress that is both flattering and affordable is important. This royal purple gown was purchased at Plato’s Closet for only $25, and the lavender dress was borrowed! Be creative and find ways to make your prom an inexpensive night to remember.
Romans 8:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Desmond Tutu
Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future. Robert H. Schuller Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Albert Einstein
PROVERBS 23:18 SURELY THERE IS A FUTURE, AND YOUR HOPE WILL NOT BE CUT OFF.
Isaiah 61:3 “He will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.�
Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears and he rescued me.
Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
HOPE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CAN MAKE THE PRESENT MOMENT LESS DIFFICULT TO BEAR. IF WE BELIEVE THAT TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER, WE CAN BEAR A HARDSHIP TODAY. THICH NHAT HANH
Youre going to go through tough times thats life. But I say, nothing happens to you, it happens for you. See the positive in negative events. Joel Osteen
Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. Lyndon B. Johnson
Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
Isaiah 43:19 For I am about to do something new; see, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
St re n g th d o es n ot co m e fro m wi n ni n g. Yo u r st ru g g l es d eve l o p yo u r st re n g th s. Wh e n yo u g o th ro u g h h a rd s hi ps a n d d e cid e n ot to s u rre n d e r, th a t is st re n g th. Arn o l d Sc hwa rze n e g g e r
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“I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” Job 42:5
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With MY OWN eyes
Chelsea Kay
As a freshman in college, I felt exhilarated when I sat down in my first literature class. I came to college ready to be a gleaming light in the darkness of secular academia. I wanted to have deep conversations about life and love and beauty and truth, and here was a perfect opportunity. This class was on Human Existence and Suffering and as I scanned the reading list I found to my great delight that it would include a book of the Bible - Job! I couldn’t believe my luck. How much easier could this get? I was practically being handed a platform from which to shout my message to the suffering world. But as we began to dig into the literature, the things I was reading were unsettling. There was human pain beyond belief and philosophies that I didn’t know what to do with. I felt like it was my job to make Christianity attractive to everyone. I felt like I needed to prove to them that life was better with God. But in this class, it was as if God was on trial for the suffering of the human race. Questions were being asked that made me cringe. “Why would God allow this kind of injustice?” “Perhaps God is not omnipotent?” “Perhaps God is not good?” “Perhaps God is not there at all?” Every book looked piercingly at the class and said, “I call the accused, God, to the witness stand!” and proceeded to bark its questions, its theories, and its evidence, at Him. Fingers pointed in the face of God, spit flew as lips curled back in a snarl of outrage, cases were made, gavels were pounded, and God remained silent, watching the whole ugly thing. I played the defense attorney, trying desperately to show how God was good, in spite of all this pain. My case was crumbling.
Finally, we came to Job. I naively thought that now everything would turn around. God would get to say His piece. I mean, this was His book, right? But Job complicated matters even more. As we began to read and dissect Job, I found that my position became steadily weaker. Let’s face it… what happened to Job seems incredibly unfair. I sat there at my desk listening to my classmates bring charges against the God I had always trusted to smooth out my life, and I hated to admit that He appeared to be guilty. Job had been a righteous man. Job didn’t deserve any of the traumas that he suffered. And yet, God allowed tragedy to sweep through his life and reduce him to a pile of grief. This wasn’t the grand sweeping testimony I expected God to stand up and deliver. And when Job cries out for an answer, God’s response amounts to little more than, “Who are you to question me?” I was dejected and confused and to be honest, a bit scared. If this was my God, and I was pretty sure that it was, then what was to stop all this from happening to me? And how on earth was I supposed to make this attractive to everyone else? I wanted to say that God would make life easier and happier. I wanted to give guarantees about life with God. But according to Job, and to God, that was not something I could count on. I read Job over and over again, trying to make sense of it. I wanted there to be, if not a Disney ending, at least a satisfying one where God justified himself and made Job’s pain worth it. I’d always believed that life with God was a neat equation - I follow Him and all goes well with me. But then there’s Job. And Job wrecks the whole thing. Night after night, I wrestled with Job, trying to find some meaning and finally it jumped out at me - this one little verse that, I believe, is the key to understanding Job… understanding Job and in fact, understanding my own life. Job says, “I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.” (Job 42:5) It is as if Job is saying, I knew ABOUT you before but through this suffering I came to KNOW you. And that is the hope of Job. I had gone through life believing that if I did everything right, my life would go well. Righteousness would be my ticket to happiness. Not so for Job. And to be honest, it hasn’t been so for me. Job says, “Though he slays me, yet I will hope in him.” I had lived a life that
was more akin to - “I will hope in him so that I won’t be slain.” What now? It was through Job that I began to explore the idea that what we have to gain in life, the real treasure, the real hope, and the only thing we have to draw people to the gospel is God himself. As I have lived out that reality, I have begun to understand that God himself is no consolation prize; not cold comfort. God himself is life itself. He is everything. Now that I am a little older, I can look back at my life and mark tragedy after tragedy that felt like crossroads to me. I can point to the break ups, the betrayals, the dreaded diagnosis, the deaths, the sin against me, my own sin against others, the rejections, the loss of jobs, the failures and broken dreams and disappointments. Currently, I am in the deepest crisis of my life, the greatest pain I have ever suffered. I am walking through the kind of darkness and despair that threatens to destroy you. I am truly undone. I, like my class so long ago, can now turn my back on God, put Him on trial for my pain, and convict Him. Or I can, like Job, cry out, though you slay me, I will hope in you. And what do I gain by placing my hope in Him? I get Him. And this is no small thing. I cannot answer for God. I cannot explain why I, why we, suffer. Many have woven compelling arguments as to why God allows suffering. I encourage everyone to study them. But for the sufferer, they are empty. Theology is no comfort to the person with a broken heart. I have found in my suffering, that the only answer to my pain is the presence of the One who loves my soul. His presence is beyond words and goes to the deep places within me. I can remember the first time I experienced this kind of pain. I was experiencing rejection and betrayal on a level that made me want to die. I can remember wanting to do something to drown the pain and numb myself to the heartache. In that moment, I knew I could either turn to the things of the world to ease the suffering inflicted on me or I could turn to God. The Apostle Peter’s words came to me. After a hard teaching of Jesus’, many of the disciples began to leave. What He was saying was too hard. It was too confusing and uncomfortable. Jesus looked around at those left standing with Him and asked, “Are you going to leave too?” And Peter replied, “Lord, where else do we have to go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:60-68) I have learned through a life filled with difficulty,
(and every life is) that my suffering can lead me to emptiness and bitterness or it can lead me to know God. The Christian life has backed me into a corner of asking myself, do I want comfort or do I want God? I cannot offer a simple equation Christianity any longer. I cannot act as defense attorney for God, justifying Him to the world, so they might follow Him. Now, I simply bury my face in His chest and hold on to Him with all my might because He is my only hope. If I offer Christianity to the world, it is by taking the hand of those in pain, and leading them to the one who has the words of eternal life. And when I allow Him to be my Hope in the midst of my pain, I find life. Christianity is not a guarantee that life will be easy or comfortable or even happy. Christianity is a condition of the heart that says I have an answer to this pain and it is a person, not an equation. And in that person is life and love and beauty and truth and His arms are open wide to us all.
about
Chelsea Kay is a mother of three boys who she spends her days feeding, teaching and hugging. She loves reading anything she can get her hands on, hearing people's stories and writing to make sense of the world.
DIY:
BOOKMARKS Stuck inside because of spring showers? Cozy up with a cup of tea, your favorite book, and one of these cute DIY bookmarks!
If you want a simple white corner bookmark,all you have to do is cut the corner off of a mailing envelope! If you want a cute patterned or colored one, cut a 2-inch wide strip of paper (cut it about 6 inches long), fold over to the long edge of the strip, forming a triangle. Fold over to the opposite side once more, which should leave you with a triangle with one long edge and 2 shorter edges. Cut off the excess paper so that all you have is the folded triangle.
You should have one short side that is folded, a short side that is open, and a long side that is open. Tape the open short side closed, so that the only open side is the longest one.
Get creative!
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Behind the Scenes With the Pure Design Team!
SNEAK PEAK AT ISSUE 12! Summer is such an amazing season! For most of us it’s a time where life is a little more laid back, much more relationally focused, and when the weather cooperates a bit more (at least here in the Midwest.) The summer issue of Pure Design will be out June 1st and filled with some amazing stuff including some fun VINTAGE fashion. Summer is a time where many women and girls can struggle with issues of body image. It’s usually a season for shorts and summer tank tops, bathing suits and less clothing in general. For many of us, we can feel selfconscious and become overly aware of how we look. “Fitting In” is a broad theme that spans a large part of life. Many of us struggle to “fit in” in a variety of ways because we don’t live up to the standards society portrays. We feel awkward in social settings when our opinions or interests are different than those around us, and instead of embracing the differences, we tend to isolate and withdraw from one another. When we don’t measure up to the “beautiful” image that we see in magazines, on TV or in the movies, we feel less than perfect. We constantly compare ourselves to the stick thin models that walk the runways. We measure how we look against the airbrushed movie stars on magazines. These comparisons cause us to feel insecure, unlovely and deflated. We hope that as you look through this issue, you will catch a glimpse that we can ALL fit in. No matter what shape, size, color or race, we are all beautiful and have so much to offer! Check back on June 1st for more… Keep connected to our blog and quarterly magazines at www.puredesignteenmag.com. Share your thoughts with us by messaging us on FB or emailing pam@puredesignministries.com. Follow us on Pinterest and Instagram and please share our site with your friends!
Coming this Summer
• Some fun retro fashion trends • Real life stories from teen girls like you • • Pure Design Guy Article • Local Artisans • And a whole lot more •
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www.puredesignteenmag.com
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Instagram: PureTeenMag Twitter.com/PureDesignTeen 53
All contents copyright Š 2015 by Pure Design Teen Mag. All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the publisher. Please write to Pam Lozano at 18 N. State Street Westerville, Ohio 43081 or e-mail Pam@puredesignministries.com